In the Every Little Thing You Do is Magic tarot deck, the Seven of Wands is illustrated as a pair of open scissors hovering above a field of flowers. Bright marigolds, sunflowers, sea kelp, and seven wooden wands grow upward, while the blades hang above them, ready to cut them down. When I began shuffling for this week’s reading, the deck caught on the Seven of Wands. The cards wouldn’t move past it. I took that pause seriously, pulled the card and paused. Sometimes what gets “stuck” in a reading is exactly what wants our attention. After a few smooth, intentional shuffles, I pulled the next card, trusting it would show us how to move through whatever had been held there. Before I share the card that will help you through, let’s explore the Seven of Wands. To receive weekly tarot readings in your inbox, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Seven of Wands * A Gem: SapphireA bringer of protection, confidence, and ancient wisdomIt asks us to believe in our own ability to protect ourselves which requires us honoring our every emotion. * A Song: “Under the Table” by Fiona AppleFeel how anger can be the fuel that keeps you going, loving yourself despite anyone else’s mistreatment. * Scent: Cinnamon, Cloves, and GingerSpices to match the fire of your spirit These looming scissors represent the voices that cut you down when you were young. The first ridicule. The first “no” in response to your self assured, “I can do this.” The first moment someone saw you reaching toward something bright and decided to shrink you instead of support you. Those voices live on in the body. They repeat themselves later when you try to grow, change, or move toward something meaningful. And ooh, those voices have been bubbling up the last few days. This reading is coming to you right when you need it, my friend. This week, you’re going to overcome a major hurdle that has been preventing you from moving on and upward. You are not the single, delicate flower of your past. Today, you are the whole field of flowers. You harness water, earth, fire, and air to help your own growth and that of others. You hold experience, insight, and resilience. What still holds you back is not your lack of ability. It is an old story that learned how to sound like your own voice. When those stories get activated, you feel it. Heat in the chest. Tightness in the throat. A rush of shame or defensiveness. A need to fight or disappear. That sensation is not weakness. It is a part of you that learned how to survive. And this week, that part is asking to be heard through the Seven of Wands. Anger, memory, and what your nervous system is trying to say Sometimes the anger that was once directed at you gets stored inside. When you finally begin to speak about what happened, it can come out sharp or charged. That does not mean you are becoming the person who hurt you. It means your body is releasing something it has been holding for a very long time. This is where empathy becomes your source of healing. When someone listens to you without fixing or minimizing, your nervous system finally gets to exhale. The same is true when you offer that kind of presence to someone else. This week, let your willingness to listen with empathy be the practice for your own release that deserves to be heard. If someone in your life feels reactive or overwhelmed right now, this reading may be inviting you to listen first. Not because their feelings are more important than yours, but because being heard is often what allows clarity to emerge. A simple response like: “I’m hearing that you’ve felt alone, overwhelmed, and not listened to for a while. That sounds painful.” can soften a moment that might otherwise turn into conflict. When people feel understood, they are more able to find what they actually need. When you offer this response to someone else’s anger, leave space for them to respond. Your pause, your simple affirmation, not an interruption of seeking to solve, gives them the opportunity to explore what they need to move forward. Anger carries information.Empathy gives that information somewhere safe to land. The Magician: choosing with care instead of habit Our helper card this is The Magician. It is the card of conscious choice. It represents the moment when you step out of automatic patterns and begin responding to your life with awareness. The Magician * A Gem: HemaliteConfidence, Willpower, and ResourcefulnessA gem that doubles down on the spirit ignited by the Seven of Wands. Your flame grows even bigger, as does your capability. * A Song: “Power” by Little MixRev up it up baby, whoever you turn to for support is here to listen, affirm, dance it out and lift you up. You’re in control of your life, and they’re here to hype. * Scent: Nag Champa IncenseAn earthy scent, a reminder of your own roots based in earthly goodness. * Numerology: 1Representing the Sun, initiation, and willpowerA direct, intense energy that is all about positivity and adventure. We all have an internal operating system designed to avoid pain and seek comfort. It shapes our habits, our relationships, and the way we move through the world. When we are unaware of it, we live on autopilot. But when we become aware, we gain choice. That is the Magician’s work. The Magician within you does not make things easy.They make the work intentional. And through your thoughtful decisions and actions, magic abounds. In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, one of the first steps is clarifying your values. We’re not talking about the values which your parents and caregivers placed upon you. Decisions made based on their values is simply people pleasing. It’s your inherent values, unique to you, that actually drive your magic filled decision making. When you know what truly matters to you, you can begin to act in ways that support your values, even when it feels uncomfortable. This is how change actually happens. Jessica Dore writes: “Any time that you do something that breaks from the operating system of maximum pleasure for minimal discomfort, you’re doing magic.” This week, magic looks like choosing kindness over thoughtless habit.Truth over fear.Care over criticism. A Daily Habit Guided by The Magician Each morning this week, grab a journal and begin with: “What do I need today?” Not what do I need to prove.Not what do I need to accomplish.Just what do I need. Let that question guide you in 5-10 minutes of stream of consciousness writing.Perhaps you were raised to put others before yourself, allowing their needs to define how you operated that day. If you play a caregiving role in your home, you are likely programmed this way. But this week, out of love for yourself AND others, you will start your day, each day with: “What do I need today?” At the end of the week, journal about how your perspective, your confidence, and your decisions changed because of putting your needs first. Practice: Clarifying Your Values Your values are what give your choices meaning. They are the quiet guides that help you decide what is worth your time, your energy, and your heart. If you find yourself feeling lost in your career right now, unmotivated and directionless, let this activity be the source to your future success. Your values are your well established roots from which everything will grow in abundance. Use the list below to notice what resonates with you. Write on a piece of paper, the words that resonate with you. Common Values AuthenticityBeing honest about who you are, even when it would be easier to perform a version of yourself that feels more acceptable. CompassionResponding to suffering, your own or someone else’s, with care instead of judgment. CourageDoing the thing you are afraid to do because it matters more than your fear. CreativityUsing your imagination to make, solve, express, or see things differently. Not just art, but creative thinking in daily life. CuriosityWanting to understand instead of immediately judging or shutting down. FairnessTreating people with equity and integrity, and caring about how power and resources are distributed. FamilyPrioritizing the people who are part of your chosen or biological family and tending those relationships. FriendshipInvesting in relationships that offer mutual care, honesty, and shared history. FreedomHaving room to choose, change, and live without being overly controlled by others or by fear. GenerositySharing time, attention, or resources in a way that supports others without abandoning yourself. GratitudeNoticing what is good and meaningful, even when life is complicated. HealthTaking care of your physical and mental wellbeing so you can actually live your life. HonestyTelling the truth and being transparent, even when it is uncomfortable. HumorBeing able to laugh, especially when things are heavy or absurd. LearningStaying open to growth, new information, and changing your mind. LoveShowing care, commitment, and warmth toward others and yourself. MindfulnessPaying attention to what is happening right now instead of living entirely in your head. PerseveranceContinuing to show up and try, even when things are difficult or slow. RespectTreating yourself and others as worthy of dignity, boundaries, and consideration. ResponsibilityOwning your choices, your impact, and your role in what happens next. SecurityValuing safety, stability, and a sense that your basic needs will be met. SpiritualityConnecting with meaning, purpose, or something larger than your individual self. TrustBelieving in the reliability and honesty of yourself and others, based on consistent behavior. Questions to Clarify What Matters to You * What consistently brings me a sense of meaning or satisfaction? * When do I feel most engaged in my life? * What am I most proud of, even if no one else knows about it? * What qualities do I respect or admire in other people? * When I imagine a life that feels right, what is present? * What is
