I literally just got off the phone with my daughter, who lives, works, and attends university in another country. She may have an opportunity to volunteer at a world-renowned speech language institute, but she's worried about the time it will take away from her job, which is cashier work at a grocery store. 

I reminded her that her Dad and I swore up and down we'd support our kids throughout university so that they didn't have to stress about unpaid internships like this, or try to hold down jobs that take away from school, etc. But the fact remains that things are getting a little tight around here. My youngest will start school this fall, meaning our three kids are in University. Plus I'm in Grad school, so that's four of us all in college, all supported by a few pennies I earn from book sales and tarot readings, but mainly my husband's income.

It. is. tight. It's not quite the reversed four of pentacles, as we're not spending willy-nilly with disregard to our future, but damned if it doesn't feel like it every time those tuition bills come in. 

I used to be a grant writer, so I might try to find work like that again to keep us afloat. My daughter begged me not to, as she doesn't want me to give up my grad school dreams. She's the best. But if she can hold down a grocery store job, and volunteer weekly, and attend full time school, I'm sure I could go back to work, too. I'm going to eat some waffles and check the passport safe to see if there is any money left in there.

Upright, the Four of Pentacles is the money lover, one who clutches at material goods and does not let go. Although this card represents a pleasant chapter of your life where your needs are met, it is also a warning not to be selfish about what you have acquired.

Reversed, it is the exacerbation of the upright meanings. One might be so comfortable that they are reckless with their resources, or they may be extra greedy, hoarding money they don’t need to hoard.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Four of Pentacles:
Who? The big spender
What? An extravagant purchase
Where? At a shopping center
When? The middle of January; When you make a donation
Why? “Hoard food and it rots. Hoard money and you rot. Hoard power and the nation rots.” ~Chuck Palahniuk
Yes or No? No

The reversed Four of Pentacles as:
…an action?

• Make a donation to a charity
• Buy yourself something nice

 
…a place in your house?

• A trophy shelf
• The safe
• The pantry
• A storage unit

…a place in your city?

• The shopping mall
• A brokerage

 
…a place in the world?

• China
• Las Vegas, NV
• Edmonton, Alberta
• London, England

…something to eat?

• An expensive organic restaurant
• Eggo waffles

 
…something to clean?

• Empty out a bank account

 
…where to find the missing item?

• Someone else has it

 
…a color? purple; gold; green
 
…a movie theme? Hoarding; spending too much

• Brewster’s Millions
• The Big Short
• Parasite

 
…a new career?

• Grant writer
• Business reporter
• Foundation or nonprofit work
• Financial executive

 
Four of Pentacles reversed
Before any card: The financial control of (card)
After any card: giving away resources; hoarding

For more on the reversed four of pentacles, check out Applied Tarot Reversed!

I have a 5,000 word essay for school due in a week and I haven't started. I've known about it for three months now, but every time I sit down to start it, something else comes up. Today it's this blog. Tomorrow it will be caring for my puppy. The day after that it will be a doctor's appointment (which only takes 15 minutes, but which I have to mentally prepare for all day - I have doctor anxiety issues I won't get into.) and so on, and so on.

This lack of ability to get going on furthering my education, starting my project, or asking for help with time management, is an entirely reversed three of pentacles way to be. My effort is lacking, I'm apathetic, and I'm just plain lazy about it. 

The reversed three tells me to take one step toward the project, which might mean just opening a word document and writing my name at the top of it. It also tells me to order some takeout and watch La La Land, so I might do that, too. 

The Three of Pentacles upright is about collaboration and mastery, artistic ability, education, and teamwork.

Reversed, this card indicates one hasn’t learned from their mistakes, isn’t growing or expanding their education, or lacks the commitment necessary to complete a task nor work with a team.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Three of Pentacles:
Who? An unskilled worker
What? No goals; apathy
Where? Sitting on a bench
When? The beginning of January; when effort is lacking
Why? “Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.” ~Aristotle
Yes or No? No
 
The reversed Three of Pentacles as:
…an action?

• Engage in a networking activity
• Watch how-to videos
• Take the first step toward completing a project

 
…a place in your house?

• An unfinished project
• The garage
• Unhung artwork

…a place in your city?

• Auto repair shop
• An art studio
• A construction company

…a place in the world?

• Black Hills, SD
• Morocco
• Spain
• Bermuda

…something to eat?

• Rice
• Take-out

 
…something to clean?

• A workstation or crafts area
• Complete an unfinished project

 
…where to find the missing item?

• Where you last gave up on a project

 
…a color? Dark blue, beige
 
…a movie theme? Mistakes; apathy; no goals

• Lost in Translation
• Everything Must Go
• La La Land

 
…a new career?

• Outpost work
• Park ranger
• Accountant
• Production line work
• Tree trimmer

Three of Pentacles reversed
Before any card: An unwillingness to learn (card)
After any card: Apathy; a lack of goals

For more on getting started with the reversed Three of Pentacles, read Applied Tarot Reversed

Somehow every February I end up with a lot of crap on my plate and on my mind. I have bills to pay, taxes to start preparing, court stuff to deal with, new medications to sort, my small business to manage, and this blog to post - which I completely forgot to do earlier this week. 

I am dropping my balls left and right. Such is the story of the reversed Two of Pentacles Tarot card. It is the inability to keep up with all the work that needs to be done, or the overwhelming amount of it all. Tie it up in a nice bow with a pandemic, and it's even worse.

Adulthood - what a thing.

This week, the reversed two of pentacles tells me to try focusing on one thing at a time, and work on my academic and financial stuff first. I can do those things. I can also eat a handful of blueberries and watch The Greatest Showman, too. Might do that instead.

Upright, the Two of Pentacles is the juggling card. It is about balancing resources, exchanging goods, transferring funds between accounts, or the basic economics of everyday life.

Reversed, there is stress involved in the upright meaning. Perhaps there is a delay in a financial transaction, one’s bills are overwhelming, or there is a lack of planning leading to the “balls being dropped.”
 
Questions answered by the reversed Two of Pentacles:
Who? An overwhelmed person; a poor juggler 
What? A letter
Where? At a circus; in a ball pit
When? The end of December; two days ago; during times of stress
Why? “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.” ~Leonard Bernstein
Yes or No? Maybe

The reversed Two of Pentacles as:
…an action?

• Focus on one thing at a time
• Double check your finances and plans

 
…a place in your house?

• The kitchen floor
• Under a desk

• The mailbox

 
…a place in your city?

• A furniture store
• A sports arena

 
…a place in the world?

• New York City
• Panama City, FL
• Austin, Texas
• The Ukraine

…something to eat?

• Blueberries
• Brazil nuts

 
…something to clean?

• Sweep the floors
• Throw out old leftovers

 
…where to find the missing item?

• On the floor, perhaps rolled under a desk

 
…a color? Orange, red
 
…a movie theme? Dropping the balls; financial messes

• Big Fish

• The Greatest Showman
• Dumbo

 
…a new career?

• Academia
• Warehouse work
• Locksmith
• Author

 
Two of Pentacles reversed
Before any card: A lack of balance with (card)
After any card: poor financial decisions; mistakes

For more on the Reversed Two, read Applied Tarot Reversed:

The other evening I was having trouble falling asleep, so at 1am I started applying randomly to jobs. It was a calming mechanism intended to knock me out, and it worked. I fell asleep shortly thereafter. The problem was I woke up to a hundred emails from random companies I'd forgotten about, thanking me for applying and that they'd be in touch if I'm a fit.

That's great and all, but I don't actually have time in my life for a career. I will after my degree is done, and when my puppy is just a bit older, but for now I have to try and trim the budget the old-fashioned way - by actually not shopping. 

It's hard. It's very reversed Ace of Pentacles.

We have three kids heading to college this year, plus myself in grad school, so that's four tuitions that my husband's income has to pay for. It's a lot. It stresses me out, which is why I find myself looking for work every evening in order to calm down. Job hunting makes me feel like I'm contributing, even though it would ultimately be a mistake to go to work right away. 

Although random panicked job hunting is a very reversed Ace thing to do, I think I'll follow some of its other advice instead, like noshing on carbs and watching Ocean's Eleven. Maybe I'll get some tips on casino robbery. That will calm me down. 

Upright, the Ace of Pentacles in a reading is an extremely positive message about an upcoming productive or rewarding period in your life.

Reversed, there is greed, unhealthy decisions, or a period where the financial flow is lacking. You may be so focused on acquiring more stuff that you are failing to find gratitude for what you already have.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Ace of Pentacles:
Who? A greedy person 
What? A lost opportunity
Where? In a bank
When? Spring (Northern Hemisphere) or Autumn (Southern Hemisphere); Yesterday
Why? “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Yes or No? Maybe

The reversed Ace of Pentacles as:
…an action?

• Take a bath
• Eat yummy food

 
…a place in your house?

• The garden
• A safe
• A young child’s room

…a place in your city?

• The bank
• A big box store
• A fancy hotel
• A resort

…a place in the world?

• The UAE
• A tropical resort
• Australia
• North America

…something to eat?

• Carbs
• A milkshake

 
…something to clean?

• The safe
• The children’s toys

 
…where to find the missing item?

• In a vault or secure location
• Near the fridge

 
…a color? Yellow
 
…a movie theme? Greed; missed opportunity

• Wonder Woman 1984
• The Producers
• Ocean’s Eleven

 
…a new career?

• Wall street broker
• Used car salesman
• News anchor
• business startup

Ace of Pentacles reversed
Before any card: A missed opportunity involving (card)
After any card: Greed; instability

For more on the reversed Ace of Pentacles, read Applied Tarot Reversed. Free on Kindle Unlimited. 

When the pandemic started (two years ago, if you can believe it) and the world shut down, my partner and I started working together from the dining room table. He enjoyed having someone in his "office" and I enjoyed the company. A year later, he returned to his actual office, and I remained at the dining room table, where I continue to work from to this day.

I own an office right here in this house, you know. It's a massive space with a full desktop computer, dual 27-inch monitors, two printers, a laminator, and various other awesome fittings.

Unfortunately, over the course of the last two years, it's become a dumping ground for random stuff we aren't sure what to do with. I started a collection in there of things to donate for when the donation place opens up again... and then the donation place closed permanently. Someone broke a chair, so I put it in the office - why? I don't know. I'm never going to fix that chair. I should just put it out with the trash. I adopted a puppy who needed my attention, so disappearing to the office became difficult, but that dog is now almost 15 months old and would probably be totally fine if I started working in there again.

What this all has to do with the reversed King of Swords is that yes, he can be tyrannical and manipulative, but he can also be messy, cynical, and slow to get his affairs in order. He's also the boss of the office, and now that we're talking about him, I'm reminded that I own one of those and really need to clean it up. So, I'm going to disappear into the office this week and I won't come out until it's clean. 

Upright, the King of Swords is kind and helpful, but can be dominating and assertive. However, the king knows what they are talking about.

Reversed, this King is irrational, cynical, and manipulative. It is best to avoid this person, or change your ways if this is yourself.
 
Questions answered by the reversed King of Swords:
Who? An abusive man
What? A lawsuit
Where? A tyrannical place; a difficult workplace
When? Mid May to early June; After a loss; When the tides turn
Why? “When one with honeyed words but evil mind
Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.”
~Euripides
Yes or No? Yes, but be very cautious

The reversed King of Swords as:
…an action?

• Check your facts
• Don’t believe everything you hear
• Contact a professional
• Do not take action at this time

…a place in your house?

• The phone
• A high storage area or shelf

 
…a place in your city?

• The capitol building
• A power plant

 
…a place in the world?

• Cuba
• Vietnam
• Saudi Arabia
• The UK

…something to eat?

• Steak and potatoes
• Shark fin soup
• Pomegranates
• KFC

…something to clean?

• High shelves
• The entire office and do not ask again until you are done

 
…where to find the missing item?

• Where you last yelled at someone

 
…a color? Yellow, brown
 
…a movie theme? Controlling leader, cold-heartedness

• 1984
• Black Mirror (TV)

• Enemy of the State

 
…a new career?

• CEO
• Lawyer

• Clergy
• Journalist

King of Swords reversed
Before any card: Be cautious when working with (card)
After any card: Lack of structure; ruthlessness

Do you ever have one of those Mondays where nothing goes right and your brain is a confused jumble of negativity and failure? No? Just me?
​
That's my Monday this week. I tried to get all my phone calls out of the way, and none of them went right. I couldn't get through to the dog's vet. I booked the cat's vet on the wrong day. I can't renew an important prescription because my insurance won't cover it, and offering to pay out of pocket confuses the pharmacist. It's only eleven dollars, I'm sure I can cover it! 

But no, it's just going to be one of those days where nothing goes right and everything is a big pile of bewilderment and misery. It is a reversed Queen of Swords kind of Monday. I guess I'll sit by the window and eat a scotch on the rocks.

​The Queen of Swords is self-aware, fiercely individual, and unique. This perfectionism may be a cause of pain or sorrow, however.
Reversed, we see the pain and sorrow come out as an overly pessimistic or critical person. The queen is manipulative, rude, and lacks empathy. Sometimes she is infertile or very confused.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Queen of Swords:
Who? A malicious woman 
What? Miscommunication
Where? A trauma center
When? Mid-September to early October; When you are suffering emotionally
Why? “Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction.” ~Criss Jami
Yes or No? Probably not

The reversed Queen of Swords as:
…an action?

• Be cautious when sharing information
• Stop lying to yourself about your situation
• Hold back criticism

 
…a place in your house?

• A window
• The attic

 
…a place in your city?

• A dorm or sorority
• A strip mall

 
…a place in the world?

• Las Vegas
• Russia
  
• Greece
• China

…something to eat?

• Ice
• Liquor

 
…something to clean?

• The windows
• A box from the attic or high storage

 
…where to find the missing item?

• At the bottom of a drawer

 
…a color? black, beige
 
…a movie theme? Manipulation; criticism

• Trainwreck
• Captain Fantastic

 
A new career?

• Marketing
• Software Engineer

• Program Manager
• Locksmith

Queen of Swords reversed
Before any card: Someone is being lied to about (card)
After any card: Manipulation; criticism; pessimism

For more on this and other reversed Queens, read Applied Tarot Reversed

We have reached the mid-point of my youngest son's final year of high school. I have been counting down the days, literally, on my personal Facebook page. I can't wait to be out of this school system. They have jerked my kids around a million times in a million different ways, and I'm just ready to be done already. 

So we find ourselves at the reversed Knight of Swords. This guy literally represents the middle of the school year, or mid January to early February, which is when I'm first posting this.

What do I do about the conflict and disagreements I've had with the school district? The reversed knight says back away, leave it alone, think before I explode. Alright, alright, alright. It also suggests I get a JOB at the high school, but I think we'll skip that option, thankyouverymuch.

​The upright Knight of Swords charges into battle with focus and purpose, but is prepared for inevitable turbulence.

Reversed, this knight may have missed an opportunity, or been far too aggressive in his pursuit of success, leading to bullying behavior, conflict, and cowardly actions.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Knight of Swords:
Who? A rebellious teen 
What? A dispute
Where? A locker room; a “boy’s club”
When? Mid-January to Early February; The middle of the school year; The time has come and gone already
Why? “No one heals himself by wounding another.” ~St. Ambrose
Yes or No? No

The reversed Knight of Swords as:
…an action?

• Think before you speak
• Back away

 
…a place in your house?

• A basement bedroom
• A phone charging cable

 
…a place in your city?

• A schoolyard
• A gym locker room

 
…a place in the world?

• Portugal
• Austria
• The West coast of South America

 
…something to eat?

• Food you bought with other people’s money
• Meat and eggs

 
…something to clean?

• Fix holes in the wall

 
…where to find a missing item?

• Where you last looked - you missed it

 
…a color? Black, green
 
…a movie theme? Bullying, aggression

• The Grinch
• Napoleon Dynamite
• The Prom

 
…a new career?

• Engineering manager
• A job at a high school
• Boss

 
The reversed Knight of Swords
Before any card: Thoughtless disregard about (card)
After any card: Rudeness, aggression

So far today I have not experienced any reversed Page of Swords energy. Knock Wood.

I do want to speak about gossip for a minute, however, as it's this reversed Page's modus operandi. Somehow, over the course of the last 500 years, the Patriarchy convinced us that gossip was bad, and that people (particularly women) who gossip are evil or witches. However, gossip has its beginnings in the very early days, when stories weren't written down but instead shared orally. Gossip is just storytelling. Whether it's told in hyperbole or not, all gossip has its roots in truth. If it didn't, it would just be a lie. That's a different entity. 

So, when you find yourself in a circle of gossip, don't feel bad. It's a way to communicate with your friends, get some inside scoop on what's going on in the world (very helpful at a time like this!) and become closer to everyone. If you do feel like the gossip is getting out of control, make a note to yourself to only gossip with what you know to be true. If you're not lying, you're storytelling, and that's what gossip is supposed to be. 

Grab some hot tea and spill the tea! 

The Page of Swords upright heralds the beginning of learning something new, or a fresh academic start. Although stubborn and intensely opinionated, the upright page is curious and intellectual. 

Reversed, this page brings bad news, bad ideas, and a lack of education. They might be cynical, deceptive, or gossipy and opinionated.
 
Questions answered by reversed Page of Swords:
Who? A dimwit 
What? gossip
Where? The coffee shop
When? The entire season of Winter (Northern Hemisphere), or Summer (Southern Hemisphere); When your head is in the clouds
Why? “Those who seek to know gossip will hear ill about themselves.” ~Kate Morton
Yes or No? No

The reversed Page of Swords as:
…an action?

• Tell the truth
• Be wary of someone who may be taking advantage

 
…a place in your house?

• The internet router
• A whiteboard or message center

 
…a place in your city?

• The coffee shop
• The hair salon or barbershop

 
…a place in the world?

• Bolivia
• The Caribbean
• Portugal
• Cambodia

…something to eat?

• Hot tea
• Juicy fruit
• Turkey and stuffing

…something to clean?

• Teacups
• Coffee machine

 
…where to find the missing item?

• Near your coffee mug

 
…a color? Green
 
…a movie theme? Mental manipulation; gossip

• Inception

• Mean Girls

• Crazy Rich Asians
• In the Heights

…a new career?

• Communications and Informatics
• Private investigator
• Flight attendant

 
The reversed Page of Swords
Before any card: Someone is being dishonest about (card)
After any card: Bad news, lies

For more on this storytelling Page, read Applied Tarot Reversed

As we crawl our way through this unending and miserable Pandemic, we can begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel. My oldest and youngest children are getting their Booster vaccinations today, which I'm very excited about. My friends have all seemingly avoided the big C this winter, which was very hard to do, and despite the news media saying "we will all get Omicron, the question is when?" I'm doing okay hiding out in my little cave and avoiding other humans. I have enough happy pills to keep me smiling instead of worrying.

We will get through this, and the getting through this is The Reversed Ten of Swords. It's recovery or finding one's way out of disaster. On it's most negative side, it is regret and an inability to move on, but it still implies that the worst is behind us now. 
​
I'm going to go pop some vitamin C and watch Chef.

​Upright, this Ten is pain, destruction, defeat, and a terrible end. There is nothing positive about this card. Even reversed, it can often represent clinging to disaster and not being able to move on.

However, there may also be some positives to the reversed interpretation. You could be rising above your difficulties, through the worst of a disaster, or your life could slowly be improving after a devastating event.

This is one Tarot card where the reversed interpretation might be better than the upright one.
 
Questions answered by reversed Ten of Swords:
Who? A survivor 
What? An escape from disaster
Where? At the end of a long road or dark tunnel
When? The middle of June; After a devastation; ten days
Why? “Freedom is what we do with what is done to us.” ~Jean-Paul Sartre
Yes or No? Yes

The reversed Ten of Swords as:
…an action?

• Fix something
• Celebrate your small accomplishments

 
…a place in your house?

• The toolbox
• The bathtub

 
…a place in your city?

• The river
• An event venue

 
…a place in the world?

• Switzerland

• Seattle, WA
• New Zealand

 
…something to eat?

• Vitamin C
• Berries, fruit, veggies, and nuts

 
…something to clean?

• Restock the first aid supplies
• The emergency prep storage

 
…where to find the missing item?

• On a tidy surface
• Someone else will find it for you

 
…a color? Rainbow; bright
 
…a movie theme? Recovering; surviving disaster

• Chef
• The Martian

• Stranger than Fiction

…a new career?

• Start a new business
• Knife salesman
• Chef
• Go back to school

 
The reversed Ten of Swords
Before any card: Surviving the worst of (card)
After any card: Regeneration; recovery

Oh Hey, my friend Jesikah wrote a book and you should read it. It's sci-fi, magic, romance, and suspense all rolled into one! It's very Ten of Swords Reversed! and it's only 99 cents right now!

Well, I've had it. 
The pandemic has reached the worst it has ever been. I wish I could say it's the worst it'll ever get, but honestly I thought that was four months ago. And six months before that. And six months before that. So really, who knows? On this date in time, the Omicron virus is spreading so rapidly that an hour ago my kids' school sent a notice that they were moving back to remote learning, effective immediately. They made it 80 days into the 21-22 school year before they had to call it. They just don't have the staffing. Everyone has the virus.

On the plus side, I'm now in two kinds of therapy - talk and medical! I have been prescribed panic attack medication, anti-anxiety medication, anti-depressant medication, and the latest: ADHD medication. I am FLYING HIGH. It's great.

It is both these ups and downs that the reversed Nine of Swords represents. It is either intense fear and giving up (the viral worst!) or it could be a light at the end of a difficult tunnel (my new meds!) Or it's both! 

Don't mind me, I'm going to mow down on some potato chips and rewatch Groundhog day, because right now I feel like I'm reliving the past 700 days over and over and over again. 

Upright, the Nine of Swords is a card of anxiety, pain, and nightmares.

Reversed, it is often about seeing the light at the end of a tunnel, being able to let go of some of the anxiety and negativity, and taking help when it is offered.

However, in rare instances it might be even worse than its upright meaning, and could represent extreme night terrors or a complete nervous breakdown.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Nine of Swords:
Who? A guilty person 
What? A bad dream
Where? At the therapist’s office; at recovery
When? The first week of June; When the light at the end of the tunnel becomes apparent; nine days
Why? “Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.” ~Steve Maraboli
Yes or No? No. Do not start serious things now

The reversed Nine of Swords as:
…an action?

• Practice coping mechanisms
• Accept or ask for help
• Write in a journal

 
…a place in your house?

• A chair in the bedroom
• The light in a dark closet

 
…a place in your city?

• A tunnel
• A bookstore

• A recovery center
• A self-help group

…a place in the world?

• The Portland Underground
• Montreal, Canada
• Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland
• Spain 

…something to eat?

• Salty food
• Coffee
• Tapas
• Honey

…something to clean?

• The attic
• A dark drawer or cabinet

 
…where to find the missing item?

• In your bed
• Under the furniture

 
…a color? White, Yellow
 
…a movie theme? Learning to cope; accepting help

• Groundhog Day
• The Incredibles

 
…a new career?

• Early shift work
• Tunnel or cave maintenance
• Psychoanalysis

 
The reversed Nine of Swords
Before any card: Severe anxiety associated with (card)
After any card: Nightmares, Being frightened

Need to journal your worst nightmares? Pick up a copy of the Applied Divination Journal. With spaces for drawing, writing, and a helpful daily quote, this journal is... oh, what the hell. It's a blank journal. Just do whatever. I give up today.