One-Card Tarot Spread

Visiting a New Shopping Mall

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Fool

My parents and I were attending my younger sister’s graduation ceremony this morning. When it was time for my parents to enter the graduation hall (as there were only two admission tickets available), I got ready to go to a nearby shopping mall that I had never been to as planned. After having my self-prepared quick breakfast, I drew a tarot card of the day, and The Fool could not have come at a better time!

Along the way to the destination, I was not sure about the right direction, so I asked an old lady, and she kindly guided me as she walked to a bus stop on the same path to the mall. I thanked her before proceeding on my own. In the mall, I was fascinated by the beautiful Christmas decorations like a child and discovered many interesting shops.

So here the old lady was represented by the dog, and I, of course, The Fool exploring a new area.

Doing Something Different

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Fool

Feeling bored from my own mundane tasks, I decided to go shopping with my mother in the morning. Without anyone else, I saw an excellent movie alone in the cinema. Then we browsed various items in the mall after having lunch that was different from usual. As suggested by The Fool tarot card, it felt great to break the routine once in a while before going back to my ordinary daily life.

Free from Negative Thoughts

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Fool

I’ve had so many negative thoughts during these weeks. Just last night before sleep, I found that I’m the only one who was being too hard on myself this whole time. No one’s even forcing me to do anything. Today, The Fool tarot card confirms that I’m actually free!

Heeding the Inner Voice

Tarot card position 1

Event

The High Priestess (reversed)

I had a vague idea how I felt before. Were the feelings mine? I was easily influenced by others. However, I have been practising to distinguish them for quite some time.

Particularly today, upon drawing this tarot card, the High Priestess inside me somehow tells me to listen to her and take action accordingly.

Calm Amidst Chaos

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Emperor

I drew The Emperor while working in the morning.

This tarot card’s calm energy had come at the right time as I’m overwhelmed by my job’s pressure recently. Fortunately, just like The Emperor, my boss is good enough to extend the deadline for me.

And who knew there were more setbacks throughout the day? The train coming late and repeating tasks due to WiFi disconnection tested my patience. I tried to stay grounded to remain in good mood. In the end of the day, those matters weren’t a big deal to me.

Dilemma About Liking a Game

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Lovers

Due to moderately draining experiences from mobile games in the past, I tended to avoid all of them for quite some time. Then one day when I saw my favorite game publisher released a seemingly interesting game for the mobile platform, I decided to give it a try for the first time in a while and ended up liking it.

However, in order to prevent the same negative pattern from recurring, I uninstalled it before digging deeper, but it did not last long as I could not resist its fun gameplay, so I reinstalled and enjoyed it for another round. This cycle of uninstallation and reinstallation went on a few times spanning a few days until I gave in and accepted it wholeheartedly on the day I drew The Lovers tarot card, which told me to be vulnerable to new things (and in this case, a game) after being healed.

Status Inequality

Tarot card position 1

Theme

The Lovers (reversed)

Today, I decided to meet my ex-coworker in order to respond to his job invitation. This tarot card showed up when I asked about what energy I should bring upon meeting him, but I was confused because I’d likely accept his offer. The conversation was smooth and he even told me to consider him a friend as we’d worked together before in good terms.

In the end of the day, I wonder if The Lovers tarot card in reverse is telling me not to see him as equal after some contemplation. This idea struck me when I was asked about my expected salary while considering his current social status.

No Hurry

Tarot card position 1

Advice

The Chariot (reversed)

I have a decision to make. I wonder if I should return to workforce or continue to pursue my own projects, which currently haven’t produced the expected result yet. The Chariot tarot card in reverse told me to take time to think while doing my own thing without rushing.

Approaching the Way Out

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Hermit (reversed)

Strangely, I had had a mental debate with my ex-boyfriend, whom I had broken up with some years ago, in these two days. I always felt judged and criticized when being around him. In other words, I was emotionally drained. This kind of energy had lingered around me for as long as I can remember, even after the breakup.

I had been trying to heal myself and let go of him continuously, but why did I strongly recall this painful experience particularly recently? The answer might lie within myself. My current job is not satisfying and my own web business has not produced significant result yet, either. I am attracting the old judgment and criticism from him because I am beating myself up.

However, I am still working towards my goal despite the negativity. Having drawn The Hermit tarot card in reverse for two days in a row, I hope that the exit, as guided by my inner light, is near.

Healing Relationship Karma

Tarot card position 1

Event

Wheel of Fortune (reversed)

Today, my client declined a coffee invitation from an online acquaintance whom she’s only started chatting with on a dating site since two weeks ago. Having been learning more about healthy relationship recently, her declination was straightforward, honest, and quick in order not to leave him hanging.

In the past, she used to hesitate to give an immediate answer to an invitation, but it doesn’t mean she was playing hard to get. It’s just that she was shy and overthought everything. She still is and does, but at least she’s trying.

I hope that this reversed Wheel of Fortune tarot card is an indication of restoring her karma soon so that she can have a healthy relationship with someone in the end!

Off the Hook

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Hanged Man (reversed)

Having drawn The Hanged Man in reverse, three things happened to me today.

This morning I saw my love interest sitting on the same bench at the train station for the first time in a while when I arrived. I did not get near him this time as he used to play hard to get (read: mind game) with me. I am not a puppet.

Another one is that I felt in control with the unrealistic expectations from my job.

And lastly, feeling dissatisfied with my job, I enjoyed myself with my hobby which is blogging at night, which might hopefully earn me a living one day.

I was off the hook!

Letting Go of Old Behavior

Tarot card position 1

Advice

Death

Last night, I dreamed of being invited by a stranger partner to go travel on a journey by train immediately. Realizing that I had to pack up in a hurry, I deliberately refused to join him, even though funnily and conveniently, the train station was just located behind my backyard.

On the next day, I spent hours trying to interpret what the dream means to me. What I found is that I dislike to be rushed by people, but upon deeper examination, others are just reflecting back the very action I am doing to myself. Then I recalled having drawn the Death tarot card yesterday morning and I wonder if it foretold that this major change would happen in my real life soon as long as I let go of that old behavior by cultivating more patience towards myself and taking things slow.

I really hope that is the case because I want to end this negative pattern that has haunted me for so many years, perhaps due to the stress caused by deadlines from academy and career.

Less Expectation

Tarot card position 1

Advice

The Star (reversed)

My ex-coworker invites me to join his company he’s working for. As an introvert, I can’t stop myself from gathering information about his company before I make the decision, in order to know whether the workplace is suitable for me. From the company website and his social media profile, I realized it’s an open office and the coworkers were often seen at happy hour. I should have expected less when The Star tarot card in reverse appeared.

Animated Movie Dream

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Moon

I forgot what I dreamed of last night until I drew The Moon tarot card. I did look up at the moon in the dream after moving to an unfamiliar place which is under construction and surrounded by trees but with a few kind people and a lake nearby. Like being inside a video game in 3D, I also had the chance of getting into the world of an animated movie riding vehicle with one of its characters!

Dreamed of Working

Tarot card position 1

Event

The Moon

Last night, I felt nervous when I was trying to sleep imagining the situation of possibly working in a new workplace where my friend is employed. Then in the next morning when I was awake, I felt like I’d been working with his coworkers all night in the dream. I was stimulated and tired, and The Moon tarot card that I drew in the morning just confirmed that.

An Introvert’s Victory

Tarot card position 1

Event

Four of Wands

This is a pretty long story. I drew this tarot card—the Four of Wands—two days after the event in the following story. It was also the day I finished writing it. To me, it’s a very important personal victory, and this tarot card confirmed it. I think it might resonate with other introverts as well. So here it goes:

“Your attendance will automatically be confirmed if I don’t receive your objection by the expiry date,” I interpreted it in this way ironically.

It was a social gathering that I was not allowed to miss. My mind anticipated a lot about what would happen during the event. My heartbeat raised and I couldn’t help. I gave myself some time to think while controlling my emotions.

“Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! … Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! …” It was time to wake up. I’d tried my best to calm myself into sleeping although I was awake for once in the process.

It was today that I must join the rest for the groupthink, outside of the ordinary place, but in a similar closeted area. I felt grateful as it was not jam-packed inside the car. It was just that the non-stop radio talking is a little annoying.

All of us had arrived at the room. I belonged to one of the random groups. What kinds of activities lying ahead were unbeknownst to me.

It was break time. I hid myself into the washroom for a few minutes. Then, I walked around to view the scenery, took a few fresh breaths, and captured some photos … alone.

Now, the first activity started. The voices gradually rushed into my ears and soon filled the whole room. It was the distraction battle between the heroes and the villains for an innocent. I stopped and looked. Some looked highly active, some were warming up, but the happiest men at the moment seemed to be the organizers.

At one point, the noise level had reached to the like of a live show’s as a result of constant screaming by many people at once. My heart beat rapidly. The game rules seemed to suggest that the louder might likely win, but the quieter would certainly lose.

The time for enjoying the lunch in the restaurant and resting in the personal room slowly was at its best although the combined duration was not considered long enough before the second activity came up.

We were now gathering in the same room as before. Next, we must provide different solutions to a common problem using our brain power as the only available resource for research under an hour or so—including break time.

I was unable to think much in the brainstorming session and my heart rate remained the same as if I were still staying in the previous activity. Outburst might occur if I was the one pushed to the front doing the speaking afterwards.

After a nice warm shower and a great concentration on dinner, the final activity of the day that minimized privacy and image but increased embarrassment and awkwardness began.

I couldn’t wait to sneak back into my little comfortable bedroom again while others were still energetic to plan for additional activities to the midnight. However, I was unable to fall asleep immediately even with my exhausted mind and body. The activities were still catching my mind like they were still happening. My heart was also still pumping fast. In the end, I experienced insomnia for less than four hours.

The next day after breakfast, another physically draining activity took place before the event officially ended.

Congratulations to myself, for at least having gone through it. “Quiet,” “no team spirit,” “antisocial behavior,” and “living in my own world” were the words that I heard during the event, but I intended and challenged myself to receive such criticism anew that I’d always doubted and disliked in the past.

There were so many things to do, yet there was so little time. There were a little to no careful considerations. There were more spontaneities on the spot.

I feel like a few days have passed instead of the mere one-and-a-half. The event is still playing on my mind. So here I am, retreating, reflecting, and recovering.

Achievement Milestones

Tarot card position 1

Event

Four of Wands

I don’t usually review what I’ve achieved during a year, but today, the New Year’s Eve, this Four of Wands tarot card showed up.

Come to think of it, I did reach some milestones such as taking care of myself, restoring my finance, meeting a few online acquaintances for the first time, gaining (yes, gaining) some weight, setting boundaries in relationships, letting go of toxic people, getting close to a crush, the hobbies that I continue pursuing like writing, learning a language, translating, reading tarot cards, exercising, eating healthy, and so on and so forth, in no particular order of importance.

Whew! So those are mine, gratefully. What are yours?

Argument Among Emotions

Tarot card position 1

Event

Five of Wands

Today, I watched a good movie about five different emotions. Just like this Five of Wands tarot card I drew today, they seem to always argue, but in this case, it is about which emotion a person should feel at a particular moment.

Among the emotions, one would always want the protagonist they handle to be happy and to never let sorrow get in the way, one would just rage, another would refuse anything below the standard, and the last one would cause phobia.

In the end of the day, various emotions were felt. The movie is touching and meaningful.

Runny Nose

Tarot card position 1

Event

Five of Wands

My nose started to feel runny since yesterday, and drawing the Five of Wands tarot card today did not make me feel good. Going through the day, I experienced sudden, frequent, and annoying sneezing and post-nasal drip. Even during sleep, I was awakened due to fever, headache, and increased heart rate, and I felt restless at midnight. Thankfully, the two tablets of paracetamol let me sleep better after sweating for a while. So the card was trying to tell me that the flu virus was about to run berserk!

No More Frustration

Tarot card position 1

Event

Five of Wands (reversed)

After over a month, I finally decided to let go of other websites I was maintaining and merge the essential contents into one site. This direction certainly feels the best and has liberated me. I am glad to be out of confusion and frustration, as indicated by the reversed Five of Wands tarot card.

Stressful Company Change

Tarot card position 1

Event

Ten of Wands

My company had been acquired by another company recently. As a result, many changes are gradually taking place. For example, management, working style, and culture.

Unfortunately, I’m still having a hard time getting used to the changes, or rather, I dislike most of the changes. Particularly today, I felt somewhat uneasy after drawing the Ten of Wands tarot card…

The tarot card’s energy started with my boss asking me to change something in the task I’ve done. So far, I’ve been bogged down by the constant progress tracking that feels like micromanagement. The next pressure was that with unclear direction from my boss, I felt like I was walking on eggshells, knowing that I’d fail no matter how I did it…

Creativity Initiated

Tarot card position 1

Event

Page of Wands

I finally initiated my creativity by starting online blogging, as depicted in the Page of Wands tarot card. Before this, I was seemingly held back by many other creative ideas. I’m glad I’ve let go of those that don’t serve me anymore. I hope more visitors will come read what I’ve written and find them helpful.

Friendly Terms

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Two of Cups

My mother seems to still dislike some of father’s bad habits like paying too much attention to smartphone. She will ignore him if she sees any. Fortunately, they will be on good terms again after some while, as indicated by the Two of Cups tarot card. I observe that she’s learning to improve her behavior by ignoring him for shorter period of time.

Incompatible Crush

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Two of Cups (reversed)

For the first time in a while, I chatted with him, whom I assumed had a crush on me, via an app on smartphone. But he claimed that his actions in the past were just to help me. I seemed to have misunderstood him this whole time.

He has good traits, but I think we aren’t compatible anyway, and the reversed Two of Cups tarot card seems to agree as well.

Smooth Job Interview

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Three of Cups

My younger sister, who is a fresh graduate from college, went for a job interview in the morning today, and the Three of Cups tarot card was what I drew for asking how the interview went. She got the offer right away to start working on next Monday after some smooth conversations with two female interviewers, test, and body check-up.

Moving on from Old Thought

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Five of Cups (reversed)

I’m maintaining websites but had never served advertisements on web pages because I disliked the idea. Thinking of having another source of income, it took me long enough to abandon that old thought. Even though the result is still not immediate, I’m grateful to move on with it, as suggested by the reversed Five of Cups drawn earlier.

Greeted by the Intuitive Queen

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Queen of Cups

The Queen of Cups is the first ever tarot card that I drew from my physical, pocket-sized Rider-Waite tarot deck that freshly arrived from an online book store located in United Kingdom, after I tried to experience it by shuffling eagerly and enthusiastically for the first time. Before this, I just referred to websites and books for the illustrations of the cards.

I was surprised to see her appeared because she looked as though she was welcoming, greeting, and telling me to look deep down into the subconscious just like she does, with this deck.

New Mobile App

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Ace of Swords

My previous smartphone launcher had some additional items which were uncustomizable, and that made some of the functions I wanted to perform get in the way. So today I drew the Ace of Swords tarot card and decided to browse for a probable replacement casually.

Thankfully, I found a new and free app that has the features that are similar to my previous launcher, and what’s more, it also helps me to declutter the unnecessary items so that I can access the functions directly and efficiently while saving myself some time.

Do Not Disturb

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Two of Swords

Despite having been busy switching to a new gym for my new fitness direction as a beginner for the first week, yet still wondering whether the decision is right while gaining such related knowledge through reading, I stopped and let myself relax by temporarily shutting the world out, as illustrated by the Two of Swords tarot card drawn in the morning, and doing my favorite things such as playing video games for the weekend.

Looking for Open Doors

Tarot card position 1

Advice

Two of Swords (reversed)

Dissatisfied with the job opportunities, I find it difficult to make a decision these days. So instead of procrastinating, I searched the Internet for some legal online income sources. And I like what I’ve found.

This reversed Two of Swords tarot card tells me to look for open doors.

Outside Perspective

Tarot card position 1

Event

Four of Swords (reversed)

Being overwhelmed by my job’s nonsense and relationship issues recently, I’ve been reflecting for quite some time in order to find a way out. I’m glad I’m getting better at controlling my thoughts so that I won’t feel as bad.

It was Christmas today, and I drew the reversed Four of Swords. At night, I called it a day by snapping out of it and decided to go shopping with my parents. When I returned home, I felt so refreshed and re-energized that I could continue pursuing my hobby, which is writing, in a smooth way until midnight. This was one of those rare times I, as a homebody, got a new perspective out there.

Resuming Task

Tarot card position 1

Event

Four of Swords (reversed)

During the days of confusion of my current task at my workplace, I was trying to calm myself down and pray for clarity without beating myself up after I’ve asked my manager, but to no avail…

Thankfully, the Universe answered my prayer today finally, as confirmed by the reversed Four of Swords drawn in the morning! I could then, of course, proceed more smoothly even though I didn’t finish it before leaving the office.

Feeling Somewhat Negative

Tarot card position 1

Event

Nine of Swords (reversed)

I used to program for a living, but yesterday’s task for my own project left me exhausted, which is why I decided to take a break from the career in the first place. Once I woke up in this morning, I felt somewhat negative about programming. I’m thankful that it’s not enough to make me cry, though! The reversed Nine of Swords tarot card that I drew after breakfast showed me those qualities.

Rapid Task Execution

Tarot card position 1

Event

Knight of Swords

After letting the uncontrollable things be on their own for a couple of days, I am finally able to continue my tasks at a rapid pace like the energy emitted from the Knight of Swords tarot card, no matter how mundane they appear to be. Of course, the process is smooth with the Knight’s energy, and above all, I don’t force myself to do it!

Not Rushing

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Knight of Swords (reversed)

This reversed Knight of Swords tarot card reminds me of a four-word Chinese idiom, which is, literally, holding one’s horse at the cliff. It means waking up and repenting in time on the brink of danger.

Even though there was no harm involved in my life today, this reversal gave me the calm energy that I always wanted the whole time as I never like to rush things. I went with the flow and my productivity of my own work increased.

As for my job, I like to pause for a moment before tackling a task so that the ideas have a chance to come to me.

Independent Needs

Tarot card position 1

Advice

Six of Pentacles (reversed)

I wonder if this reversed Six of Pentacles tarot card reminds me that I can’t beg for things that other people are unwilling to give. Maybe the things begged for aren’t even for my own good. For example, an unfulfilling job or love. Begging will only make me poorer, so I’d better be independent so that I can stop being a victim and start to know and satisfy my true needs.

Comfortable Meeting

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Nine of Pentacles

Just knowing a seemingly nice man on a dating site and chatting with him online for some while, I drew a tarot card for the physical connection between us, and the one that appeared was the Nine of Pentacles. The lady in the Rider-Waite tarot card looked worry-free, so I was relieved.

The man and I agreed to meet two weeks later, and on the meeting day, guess which tarot card showed up again? Yes, the Nine of Pentacles, so I was relieved, once again. The man confirmed with me that we would meet tonight. So I left the office at night and took a train to the station near his house. As we had not yet decided a restaurant, I found a suitable one with a quiet and comfortable environment in a few minutes after reaching there.

He arrived and waited at a store, and I called him from behind. Then we walked to the restaurant. I had a glass of warm water and he tea. We talked to each other before, during, and after our dinner. After about two hours there, I agreed to leave when he suggested it, perhaps because he sensed that I felt tired. He walked me to the train station before parting to the other bridge over the rails.

The meeting was smooth, or so I thought, at least with the Nine of Pentacles tarot card as backup, right? However, I did not hear from him since then. When I contacted him, he sounded cold, so I decided to give him up after some attempts with the same behavior from him, fully acknowledging the one-sided comfort as the true meaning of the tarot card in this situation.

Unusual Design Paths

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Ten of Pentacles (reversed)

Having drawn the reversed Ten of Pentacles tarot card and acting on a whim, I followed an unconventional path by doing different designs for different web pages after realizing that most websites have a single, consistent design only. The result I produced made me satisfied and lively. Above all, it opened my eyes.

Letting Go of Financial Goal

Tarot card position 1

Advice

Page of Pentacles (reversed)

With the reversed Page of Pentacles tarot card, you may be advised to let go of the new financial goal temporarily and take a break before picking up where you left off if you feel that something is wrong and are getting drained as time goes by, even after you made some efforts such as planning and designing, initiating the project, and proceeding steadily, continuously, and routinely.

Taking Care of Myself

Tarot card position 1

Theme

Queen of Pentacles

I think I just realized how important it is to take care of myself after analyzing what I’ve been thinking of these days even though it’s holiday within holiday due to unemployment. I let myself rest without doing my own tasks, have delicious food that I used to love, and watch videos.

Coincidentally, when I was watching TV on the same day, my cat lied her head on my left lap and started purring and kneading while I was petting her, imaginatively like the illustration of Queen of Pentacles tarot card. It was tickling.