major arcana – Just the Tarot

Seven Lessons the Tarot Can Teach About Surviving the Holidays

Feeling overwhelmed by the holiday season? The Tarot has a surprising amount of wisdom — and humor — to offer.From The Fool’s fresh start to The World’s end-of-year perspective, these cards remind us that the holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

A little humor, a little magic, and just enough perspective will get you through the Holiday Haze.

1. The Fool — You’re Allowed to Start Fresh

Every holiday season is a reset button.

Don’t carry last year’s stress into this year’s festivities.

Don’t walk off of emotional cliffs at family dinners.

Leap lightly… but maybe look down for gift-wrapping paper on the floor.

2. The Magician — Use the Tools You Actually Have

Trying to make a perfect holiday with imperfect resources?

The Magician whispers: Use what’s already on the table.

Don’t overspend now and stress later.

Aim for gifts that are magical, not expensive.

3. The Lovers — Choose Peace, Not Drama

The holidays tend to bring opinions.

And relatives.

And opinions from relatives.

The Lovers reminds you: choose connection, not combat… or at least choose silence and pie.

If one of your loved ones says something absolutely outrageous, remember that you can just put a piece of pie in your mouth and smile. Add whipped cream to make it an extra sweet conversation.

4. The Seven of Cups — Beware of Overcommitment

Shopping! Baking! Parties! Rituals! Volunteering! Travel!

The Seven of Cups says: You cannot say yes to all seven.

Pick the cup with the least glitter and the most sanity.

You don’t have to be all things to all people – just be the you that people love.

5. The Nine of Swords — Anxiety Lies

That nagging feeling that everything will go wrong?

It’s just the Nine of Swords doing its nightly stand-up routine.

Thank it for its service… and then ignore it.

Don’t just make it a holiday – make it a vacation from worry.

6. The King of Pentacles — Treat Yourself Like a Honored Guest

Warm food, soft blankets, comfortable socks —

This is not indulgence, this is holiday self-care strategy.

Just look at all the things you’ve done for other people! Don’t you deserve a little pampering, too?

The King of Pentacles approves.

7. The World — You Made It Through Another Year

Pause. Breathe. Celebrate the cycle completing.

On the Winter Solstice, the solar year will end. Take the time to reflect, to congratulate yourself for another trip around the sun.

Give yourself credit for all the chapters you survived this year — and all of the growth that went along with that.

Bonus Holiday survival secret:

Lower expectations. Raise kindness. Wear stretchy pants.

The Top Ten Tarot Cards Indicating Conflict

A quick, insightful guide to the ten Tarot cards that most often signal conflict—from chaotic energy and power struggles to hidden tension and emotional fallout. This post explains what each card means and how to navigate challenging situations with clarity and confidence.

There are days when Tarot feels like a warm hug…

…and days when it slides a little warning across the table and whispers,

“Brace yourself.”

Conflict is part of life, part of growth, and definitely part of the Tarot.

“Just the Tarot,” by Dan Adair – Available on Amazon

Whether it’s inner tension, relationship friction, or someone else’s chaos spilling into your lane, some cards show up to say:

“Something here needs attention.”

Here are the top ten Tarot cards that most strongly signal conflict — and what each one really means beneath the surface. If you’d like to download this list as a PDF file that you can add to your Tarot notebook, click here.

1. Five of Wands – The Classic Chaos Card

If conflict had a mascot, this would be it.

The Five of Wands shows:

– competition

– ego clashes

– mixed agendas

– flailing energy everywhere

It’s not necessarily destructive — but it is noisy.

Message: This isn’t war… it’s everyone talking at once. Calm the room.

2. Five of Swords – A Battle Nobody Really Wins

This is the energy of:

– arguing to be right

– unhealthy victories

– someone taking more than their share

– hurt feelings afterward

Message: Winning at all costs comes with a bill. Choose integrity.

3. Seven of Wands – Defend Your Ground

This is conflict from the outside:

– critics

– competition

– pressure

– feeling outnumbered

But the card says you can stand firm.

Message: Don’t fold. You’re stronger than the opposition.

4. The Tower – Major Disruption

This isn’t a small disagreement — it’s a smackdown from the universe.

Think:

– sudden revelations

– arguments that break things open

– emotional earthquakes

Message: The old structure needed to fall. Liberation follows.

5. The Five of Cups – Emotional Fallout

Not a conflict card on its face, but it often shows up after one:

– regret

– grief

– disappointment

– unresolved conversations

Message: You’re grieving what was lost. Healing begins when you turn around.

6. The Devil – Power Struggles

This card signals:

– manipulation

– obsession

– toxic dynamics

– control games

– addictive patterns in relationships

Message: This conflict has a hook. Break the chain, not each other.

7. The Knight of Swords – Rushing Into Battle

He is smart, fast, determined…

…and doesn’t always think things through.

Shows:

– heated arguments

– impulsive reactions

– someone charging ahead without listening

Message: Slow down before your mouth outruns your wisdom.

8. The Two of Swords – Silent Conflict

Not all conflict is loud.

This card is conflict frozen:

– denial

– avoidance

– stalemates

– tension beneath the surface

Message: Peace requires a decision. Open your eyes and choose.

9. The Seven of Swords – Sneaky Energy

Not direct conflict — but conflict waiting to happen.

Signals:

– deception

– half-truths

– secret plans

– someone acting behind the scenes

Message: If something feels “off,” it probably is. Trust your intuition.

10. The Ten of Wands – Overwhelm and Burnout

This appears when conflict comes from:

– taking on too much

– carrying other people’s problems

– no boundaries

– pressure that builds until you snap

Message: Put down what isn’t yours. You’re not meant to carry it all.

Final Thoughts: Conflict Isn’t Always the Enemy

Conflict in Tarot isn’t punishment — it’s information.

The cards don’t show conflict to scare you…

They show it to help you:

– redirect

– set boundaries

– speak truth

– release what’s toxic

Because once conflict is acknowledged, transformation can finally begin.

Surviving the Season: A Light-Hearted Guide to Beating SAD Without Losing Your Mind

This post explores the realities of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with a humorous twist — why the winter blues hit so hard, how light deprivation messes with our brains, and what actually helps. From sunrise-mimicking light boxes to Vitamin D3 and CBT-SAD reframing techniques, this guide offers practical, affordable ways to lift your mood when the days get dark. Includes a free downloadable PDF of 15 winter affirmations to help rewire your thoughts and make the season feel gentler, brighter, and a whole lot more manageable.

Are you still suffering from the cosmic hangover known as the time change?

Maybe you can’t sleep at night but can barely keep your eyes open during the day. Maybe you’re stumbling through the month like a melancholy robot — mostly upright, mildly conscious, but deeply unimpressed with existence.

And isn’t it cruelly ironic that exactly when we’re all miserable from light deprivation, the government decides to turn the lights off an hour early?

Thanks, folks. Really helpful.

Light and Happiness (a Love Story as Old as Humans)

Humans have a deep evolutionary connection with light — not metaphorical light, not spiritual light, not “good vibes” light — we’re talking about actual photons hitting your eyeballs. For centuries, nearly every culture has tried to cheer up the dark months by adding more light: bonfires, candles, lantern festivals, torches, flaming wheels, glowing turnips… you name it, someone set it on fire.

Even our pop songs know what’s up:

• You are the sunshine of my life.

• You light up my life.

• I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.

• Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.

But when there isn’t enough light?

We become depressed, anxious, sluggish, and mildly feral. We want to curl up under a quilt with a 40-pound bag of potato chips and hibernate until April.

In short:

Light = joy.

Dark = sadness.

This is not complicated.

The Sun Tarot Affirmation Poster available on Etsy

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): The Winter Blues With a Capital B

The official psychological name for the winter blues is Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD — which is honestly too accurate. It ranges from “a little down” to “I may never be cheerful again and also don’t touch me.”

Depending on which study you read, SAD affects anywhere from 5% of Americans to 10 million people, with symptoms like:

• chronic sadness

• sleep pattern chaos

• irritability

• carb cravings

• emotional flatness

• hiding from society like a depressed woodland creature

If you’ve ever had it, you know what a total beast it can be. While everyone else is decking halls and singing carols, you’re sitting at home thinking:

“Crap… three more months of this.”

I’ve had SAD kick my ass more than once, so I was very happy to discover that it’s now the subject of its own therapeutic specialty:

CBT-SAD — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

And it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

The Three Pillars of Beating SAD (According to CBT-SAD)

1. Increase Your Light

This one feels obvious:

If darkness is the problem, light is the solution.

But not just any light.

You need a blast of sunrise-level brightness first thing in the morning — something that tells your brain:

“Hello, it’s daytime, stop making melatonin.”

Enter: the mood-enhancing light box.

These used to be huge contraptions you practically had to strap to your head. Now they’re about the size of a tablet, reasonably priced, and honestly kind of pleasant.

Light boxes work because they:

• mimic sunrise

• raise serotonin

• lower melatonin

• reset your circadian rhythm

• tell your brain to get out of bed and stop being a raccoon

This is the one I use because it’s inexpensive and has great reviews:

2. Vitamin D3 (Your Winter Sunshine Backup Plan)

We naturally get Vitamin D from sunshine — so of course, in winter, our levels tank. Add the fact that we’re bundled head-to-toe like sentient laundry bags, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for deficiency.

Low Vitamin D contributes to:

• low serotonin

• flat dopamine

• brain fog

• irritability

• low energy

• general “I’m over this” mood

Supplementing D3 helps stabilize:

• serotonin

• dopamine

• inflammation

• sleep-wake cycles

• mood regulation

And best of all: it’s cheap.

You can grab it on Amazon or at the pharmacy.

3. Reframing the Way You Think About Winter

This is where the cognitive part comes in.

My sister once pointed out that constantly referring to winter as “the dark times” might not be the healthiest mindset. Fair enough.

If we’ve had rough winters in the past, we tend to brace for them like emotional storm preppers:

• “I hate winter.”

• “I dread those long dark months.”

• “Wake me up when it’s spring.”

These thoughts become self-fulfilling prophecies.

CBT-SAD teaches us to rewire those expectations and rewrite our inner scripts — not with toxic positivity, but with seasonal intelligence.

For example:

• Winter is not the enemy — winter is the exhale.

• Early nights are invitations to gentler evenings.

• Light is scarce now, so I become intentional with it.

• Winter is not a shutdown — it’s a recalibration.

These reframes help your brain reinterpret winter as:

• restorative

• quiet

• intentional

• gentle

• rhythmic

Instead of something to dread, it becomes something to work with.

I’ve included 15 winter reframes as a free downloadable PDF that you can get by clicking here:

CBT_SAD_Winter_Reframes Download

Final Thoughts (and a Pep Talk)

If SAD is hitting you hard, it’s worth finding a good therapist who understands seasonal depression. But even without professional help, these three pillars can make a huge difference.

Hopefully, this little article gives you a few ideas about how to get the Bah Humbug out of your brain and bring some light back into your winter.

And remember:

Light returns. It always returns.

The Fool as Antidote: The Dictator Versus the Inflatable Frog

From inflatable frogs to the Tarot’s Sacred Jester, here’s why humor and play can puncture authoritarian posturing—and help renew our courage.

Is it possible that what may save us from the political disaster we’re living through is pure Fool energy? Could it be that—more than protests and lawsuits—what ultimately rescues us is dancing, delight, and unapologetic Foolishness?

Portland, Expecting Doom… and Choosing Play

For months I dreaded a federal show of force in Portland, Oregon. My intuition said it was the logical target for a maximal authoritarian flex. Portland has all the necessary history. It was the headquarters for the American Nazi movement prior to World War II. And then there was a long, loud counter-history—artists, woo-woos, college kids, mystics, nude bike rides, and the endlessly invoked specter of “Antifa.” In short: the perfect symbol for the far right to try to crush.

When deployment was announced—National Guard plus a strong contingent of the ICE Orcs — I braced for the worst. Instead, Portlanders greeted it with protesters dressed as inflatable frogs and dancing bananas. Someone declared an “emergency nude bike ride,” and thousands of bare bodies on glittering bicycles poured into the streets.

The effect? Paralysis by absurdity. How does a macho, heavily armed ICE Orc “win” against a dancing banana? Left-brain force met right-brain play and simply short-circuited. The nation watched inflatable amphibians wiggle across our screens—and we laughed.

Remembering the Original Fool

We forget: in the oldest Tarot, The Fool wasn’t a tidy wanderer in tailored tights. He was a street entertainer—juggler, dancer, illusionist—utterly at home in an inflatable frog suit. In medieval courts, the Fool doubled as Sacred Jester, the one person allowed to lampoon the king and point out when the Emperor had no clothes.

That’s what Portland’s play did: it punctured the costume of power.

Why Laughter Works

Authoritarianism demands reverence. It thrives when we’re solemn and frightened. Laughter breaks the spell. It reveals the man behind the curtain, the baggy suit, the orange pancake makeup. Humor pulls us back into the Universal flow of playfulness and creativity, where life replenishes itself. Authoritarianism sits outside that flow; it eventually collapses under its own rigidity.

A Fool for Dark Times

We often gaze at the modern, elegant Fool and forget his deeper medicine. The original Fool brought giggles and belly-laughs during dark eras. That may be precisely what we need now.

Does this mean we abandon lawsuits, organizing, or policy? Of course not. It means we season courage with joy, protest with parody, pressure with play. When we add the Fool, we recover something essential: our sovereign refusal to be grim.

The Vanguard in Frog Suits

I didn’t expect the resistance to arrive on two wheels in nothing but body paint, but here we are—and it makes perfect sense. The antidote to the present darkness may well be to harness Fool energy and refuse to stop playing.

Let’s keep showing up with discipline and delight. March and mock. Organize and improvise. Because when we laugh together, power’s mask slips—and light gets in.

“Just the Tarot,” by Dan Adair – complete definitions and layouts for doing your own Tarot readings.

The Top Ten Tarot Cards That Indicate Healing

Discover the top ten Tarot cards that symbolize healing, recovery, and renewal. From The Star to The Hermit, explore how the cards reveal your path toward balance, peace, and wholeness.

When you’re working with the Tarot, certain cards appear as gentle messengers of recovery, renewal, and wholeness. Whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, these ten cards remind us that balance and well-being are always within reach.

1. The Star

The ultimate card of healing and hope. It promises renewal after hardship and invites you to open your heart to divine light and self-trust.

2. Temperance

Balance, integration, and moderation — the alchemy of opposites. Healing flows when extremes are softened and peace returns.

3. The Sun

The warmth of vitality and joy. The Sun restores the life force, illuminating health, positivity, and the return of childlike energy.

4. The Four of Swords

The body and mind’s call for rest. Recovery through stillness, meditation, and withdrawal from stress.

5. The Six of Swords

Moving away from turbulence toward calm waters. Healing through distance, clarity, and emotional peace.

6. The Ace of Cups

Renewal of the heart. Healing through love, forgiveness, and self-compassion; a cleansing flow of feeling.

7. The Queen of Pentacles

Earthy nurturing energy. Healing through care, nourishment, and connection to the body and natural rhythms.

8. The Three of Cups

Healing through friendship and community. Emotional recovery by rejoining the circle of support and joy.

9. The Ten of Pentacles

Long-term stability and health. Healing in the sense of “wholeness” — when life feels safe, abundant, and grounded again.

10. The Hermit

Healing through introspection and solitude. Finding the inner light that guides you back to your own wisdom.

Using the Cards for Healing

When these cards appear in a spread, ask yourself: What part of me is ready to recover?

Healing doesn’t always mean fixing something broken — sometimes it means remembering you were whole all along.

“Just the Tarot,” by Dan Adair – a complete set of definitions for all of the cards, including layouts and instructions, available on Amazon.

The Magician: Symbols of Manifestation

The Magician shows how thought becomes form.
From roses and lilies to the infinity symbol, every detail reveals the art of manifestation — the meeting of spirit, will, and action.
Discover what each symbol means and how The Magician teaches conscious creation.

The Magician stands at the threshold between spirit and matter, reminding us that creation begins in consciousness. Every element in this card — from his roses to his raised wand — tells the story of how ideas become real.

Let’s look closely at the symbols that make the Magician such a powerful image of manifestation.

🌹 Roses and Lilies – Desire and Purity

At the Magician’s feet, red roses and white lilies intertwine. The roses symbolize passion and vitality — the raw energy of desire. The lilies represent purity, clarity, and spiritual truth.

Together they tell us: creation requires both — the fire of wanting and the innocence of trust.

✋ The Raised Hand and Pointing Finger – “As Above, So Below”

With one hand holding a wand to the heavens and the other pointing to the earth, the Magician enacts the Hermetic axiom: “As above, so below.”

He channels divine inspiration downward into form, bridging worlds. It’s a reminder that every idea you manifest must be grounded in action.

⚡️ The Double-Ended Wand – Energy Flows Both Ways

The wand itself has two tips, showing that energy moves in a circuit. Inspiration doesn’t just descend — it also ascends, rising from the material back into the spiritual.

When you create something authentic, the universe responds in kind. Power flows in both directions.

🌀 The Infinity Symbol – Eternal Creative Flow

Above his head floats the lemniscate — the sideways figure eight of infinity — mirrored again in his serpentine belt, the ouroboros that eats its own tail.

These symbols whisper that creation is endless. There is no true beginning or ending, only perpetual transformation. Every manifestation becomes the seed of the next.

🎀 The Headband – Focused Intention

Around his brow, the Magician wears a simple white band. It signifies concentration — the mind harnessed and directed.

Magic without focus is daydreaming; focus without inspiration is drudgery. The headband marks the moment when clarity and will fuse.

❤️ The Red Robe – Passion in Action

Red is the color of vitality, courage, and physical energy. The robe says: ideas alone are not enough — they must be acted upon.

Beneath the robe, his inner tunic is white, showing that true power is driven by purity of motive, not ego.

🌞 The Yellow Background – Light of Consciousness

The entire scene glows in radiant yellow, representing illumination and awareness.

This is the color of intellect, clarity, and awakening — the mind fully alive. The Magician works in daylight because his magic is conscious, not hidden.

🧰 The Tools on the Table – Mastery of the Four Elements

Before him lie the wand, cup, sword, and pentacle — the emblems of fire, water, air, and earth.

They show that he commands all aspects of creation: spirit, emotion, thought, and matter.

Nothing is missing; he already holds everything needed to bring vision into being.

🔢 The Number One – The Point of Origin

As the first card of the Major Arcana, The Magician represents beginnings — the spark of individuality, the “I am” moment.

He’s the point where potential first becomes personal power. Every creative act starts here: the decision to say yes to your own ability.

🌟 Bringing It All Together

Every symbol in The Magician tells the same story: you are the conduit between heaven and earth.

Your thoughts, feelings, and actions are the instruments on his table.

When you align them with clarity and purpose, magic isn’t mysterious — it’s inevitable.

So the next time you draw The Magician, take a breath and remember:

You already have everything you need. All that remains is to raise your wand — and begin.

“Just the Tarot,” by Dan Adair – a guidebook for reading the cards with complete definitions and sample layouts, available as an ebook on Amazon.

The Karma Cards of the Tarot: Lessons, Consequences, and Course Corrections

Some Tarot cards seem to carry more spiritual gravity than others — the ones that reveal how actions return, lessons repeat, and growth becomes inevitable. These are the “karma cards,” reflecting the Kybalion’s Principle of Cause and Effect. Each shows us where the soul confronts the consequences of its choices — and how to rise into a new level of awareness.

What We Mean by “Karma”

Karma isn’t punishment or reward — it’s simply the universal law of cause and effect. Every thought, every word, every choice sends ripples into the field of consciousness, and those ripples eventually return to their source. When we see a “karma card” in a reading, it doesn’t mean the universe is judging us. It means the universe is teaching us.

In The Kybalion, this is expressed as “Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause.”

In the Tarot, that principle unfolds symbolically through specific archetypes that reveal how energy cycles back around, how old patterns resolve, and how the soul grows through awareness.

The Major Arcana Karma Cards

Justice (XI) — Karma in its purest form

Justice is the balancing of the scales — the moment when truth emerges and consequences unfold. It represents the return of equilibrium after imbalance, reminding us that integrity, fairness, and honesty always realign the cosmic order. When Justice appears, something in your life is finding its balance again.

Judgment (XX) — The higher reckoning

This is karma’s spiritual octave — the point of awakening. Judgment calls us to review the past with clarity and compassion, to rise from the old self, and to claim renewal. It shows that karmic patterns are completing because understanding has dawned.

The Wheel of Fortune (X) — The turning of cycles

The Wheel reveals how karma is always in motion. Life rises and falls, fortunes shift, and every chapter becomes another turn in the spiral of growth. This card reminds us that luck isn’t random — it’s the natural consequence of the energy we’ve set in motion.

The Hanged Man (XII) — Seeing karma differently

When we find ourselves “stuck,” suspended between worlds, it’s often because the universe is asking us to pause and see things from another perspective. The Hanged Man teaches surrender, acceptance, and the wisdom that comes only when we release control. Sometimes, karma simply says: Wait. See. Understand.

Death (XIII) — Karmic transformation

Death ends what has outlived its purpose. It’s the natural completion of a karmic story — the moment when the past dissolves so new life can begin. In karmic terms, Death is liberation, not loss.

The Devil (XV) — Karma we create ourselves

The Devil shows entanglement — the cycles of desire, addiction, and illusion that keep us bound. It’s the reminder that we forge our own chains, and the key to freedom lies within. Whenever this card appears, it invites us to stop creating new karma and start unbinding the old.

The Tower (XVI) — Karma as course correction

When we resist growth, the universe sometimes intervenes dramatically. The Tower represents those moments of sudden change that dismantle illusion and force renewal. It’s not cosmic punishment — it’s divine intervention, clearing away what can no longer stand.

The World (XXI) — Karma fulfilled

Here, the cycle completes. The lessons have been learned, the soul has integrated its experiences, and balance has been restored. The World is the joy of completion — the karmic graduation that makes space for a new beginning.

Karmic Echoes in the Minor Arcana

While the Major Arcana show the grand architecture of karmic movement, echoes of those same lessons appear in the Minor cards.

• Ten of Swords — the final reckoning of a mental or verbal pattern.

• Ten of Wands — karmic burdens carried too long.

• Six of Pentacles — the law of giving and receiving, the return of generosity.

• Eight of Cups — walking away from a karmic cycle that has served its purpose.

Each of these cards shows a microcosm of cause and effect — personal moments of realization that mirror the larger soul journey.

The Deeper Message

The Tarot doesn’t show karma as destiny written in stone — it shows movement, opportunity, and awareness. Every card offers a chance to respond consciously, to change course, to balance energy, and to evolve.

When we recognize a “karma card,” we’re not seeing a sentence. We’re seeing a mirror.

And in that mirror, we find both the story of what has been — and the power to write what comes next.

Please feel free to leave questions in the comments section and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

The Alchemy of the Mind: Transforming Your Life With the 7 Principles of The Kybalion by Dan Adair – A kindle ebook available on Amazon.

The Influence of The Emperor Card

The Emperor in Tarot represents structure, authority, and the disciplined use of power. When paired with the other Major Arcana, his influence reveals how stability, order, and leadership shape every phase of life—from creative beginnings and relationships to transformation and mastery. This chart offers quick interpretations of The Emperor in combination with all 22 Major cards, including reversed meanings. Perfect for Tarot readers seeking deeper insight or a printable reference for their readings.

In the absence of a regular blog post for today, I’d like to offer a chart detailing the influence of The Emperor card when paired with the other cards of the Major Arcana. Please feel free to print this and use it for reference in your readings.

Or, if you’d prefer, you can download a PDF version here. Just click on the link and, when it comes up, go to your browser menu and select Print.

The Emperor + The Fool

Establishing order within spontaneity; bringing discipline to new beginnings.

Reversed: Rigidity crushes adventure; fear of chaos blocks growth.

The Emperor + The Magician

Structured willpower manifests results; mastery through disciplined focus.

Reversed: Control issues distort creativity; misuse of authority for personal gain.

The Emperor + The High Priestess

Balancing logic and intuition; wisdom gains form through structure.

Reversed: Repression of the intuitive or feminine; ignoring inner guidance.

The Emperor + The Empress

Perfect union of order and creativity; leadership joined with nurturing power.

Reversed: Domination smothers harmony; imbalance between authority and compassion.

The Emperor + The Hierophant

Law, tradition, and moral authority combine; social order strengthened.

Reversed: Dogmatism or oppressive systems; blind obedience replaces wisdom.

The Emperor + The Lovers

Commitment grounded in integrity; love stabilized through loyalty and structure.

Reversed: Control in relationships; emotional manipulation disguised as protection.

The Emperor + The Chariot

Directed ambition achieves victory; leadership in motion.

Reversed: Power struggle; lack of self-control undermines success.

The Emperor + Strength

Calm authority; inner strength expressed through steady leadership.

Reversed: Harshness; using force instead of gentle courage.

The Emperor + The Hermit

Solitary leadership; wisdom applied in governance or mentorship.

Reversed: Isolation through pride; refusal to listen to guidance.

The Emperor + Wheel of Fortune

Mastering change through stability; fate meets steady will.

Reversed: Resistance to life’s cycles; attempts to control the uncontrollable.

The Emperor + Justice

Fair authority; order maintained through truth and balance.

Reversed: Corruption, hypocrisy, or biased rulings; justice twisted by ego.

The Emperor + The Hanged Man

Surrendering control to gain new perspective; discipline through acceptance.

Reversed: Stubbornness; refusal to yield or adapt leads to downfall.

The Emperor + Death

Transformation of power structures; endings that lead to renewal.

Reversed: Fear of change; clinging to obsolete authority.

The Emperor + Temperance

Measured leadership; control balanced by moderation and patience.

Reversed: Extremism; misuse of authority through lack of balance.

The Emperor + The Devil

The darker side of control; domination and attachment to power.

Reversed: Breaking free from tyranny or self-imposed limitations.

The Emperor + The Tower

Collapse of rigid systems; false structures destroyed to rebuild truthfully.

Reversed: Denial delays the inevitable; abuse of power leads to ruin.

The Emperor + The Star

Hope finds structure; inspired vision made practical through planning.

Reversed: Cynicism and loss of faith; suppression of creative dreams.

The Emperor + The Moon

Authority guided (or confused) by emotion and illusion.

Reversed: Paranoia or manipulation; losing control through fear and fantasy.

The Emperor + The Sun

Confidence and vitality in leadership; stability brings joy and success.

Reversed: Arrogance; demanding recognition rather than earning respect.

The Emperor + Judgement

Accountability; renewal through responsibility and moral clarity.

Reversed: Refusal to own past actions; defensiveness when challenged.

The Emperor + The World

Achievement through mastery and structure; completion of a lasting legacy.

Reversed: Fear of letting go; rigidity blocks full integration.

“Just the Tarot,” by Dan Adair – A Kindle E-book available on Amazon

Donald Trump and the Dark Archetypes of the Tarot

A closer look at the dark archetypes the Donald Trump embodies and has brought into our national consciousness.

Most of us embody certain archetypes as we move through life.

Some of us are “The Wounded Healer” and endeavor to share our personal healing with others. Some of us are “The Magical Child,” who lead others back to their own creativity and wonder. Yet others are “The Wizards,” who have a deep understanding of life’s mysteries.

Donald Trump seems to embody several archetypes symbolized in the Tarot—none of them good—and it might be interesting to take a look at them.

THE MAGICIAN REVERSED

In order to really understand this one, we need to look at the older version of The Magician from the original Tarot decks. Contrary to the shining image portrayed in the modern decks, The Magician was much more of a street performer than an occultist. The closest we have to that in modern life is the stage magician who makes flowers appear out of his sleeve or pulls rabbits from his hat. In a word, he was an illusionist.

Another version of that is what is referred to as a “flim-flam man” in the South. He’s the guy who sets up three shells on a table and you have to guess which one the pea is hidden under while he shifts the shells faster than the eye can see. He’s also known as a con artist.

Trump is very much in that tradition. From his fake university to his fake charities to his golden tennis shoes and engraved guitars, he’s been conning people his entire life. He is such an excellent illusionist that he’s actually managed to con his way into the White House—not once but twice.

THE HIEROPHANT REVERSED

The Hierophant is basically a religious leader—more specifically, a leader of a formal religion rather than a spiritual path. When he’s reversed, he’s a false teacher, a pastor who’s leading his sheep-like followers down a path to the slaughterhouse.

This “religious” aspect of Trump may be the most surprising of all. As many people have noted, his most devoted followers have all of the characteristics of cult members. Despite the facts that he’s a serial adulterer, a pathological liar, a convicted felon, and an adjudicated rapist, they’re convinced that he’s been sent by God to watch over the United States. He’s violated every single teaching of Jesus Christ, yet he’s become the de facto leader of Christian nationalism.

JUSTICE REVERSED

The Justice card is strongly associated with the legal system. Quite simply, when it’s upright it indicates a fair and balanced outcome in the law. Reversed, it indicates injustice and a lack of fairness.

Using his immense wealth and a stable of crooked lawyers, Trump has managed to evade 90% of the legal consequences that he should have faced. Yes, he fomented an insurrection; yes, he stole top secret documents and lied about it; yes, he’s committed one impeachable offense after another. But he continues to skate on the consequences. When his pet attorney general says, “No one is above the law,” she means no one but Trump.

THE DEVIL

If The Lovers card exemplifies love, then The Devil exemplifies hate. Trump is very fond of saying that he hates his opponents, he hates Democrats, he hates liberals, and he hates immigrants. In many ways, he’s hatred and vindictiveness personified.

Moreover, The Devil is a card of people being chained to their basest instincts. Trump has an amazing power to bring out the very worst in people. In just a few short years, he’s managed to turn half of the country into xenophobic, homophobic, misogynist racists who are happily ripping up our Constitution in order to celebrate their prejudices.

THE MOON

At its root, The Moon is the card of insanity. It’s the card of both delusions and illusions. You only have to listen to one of Trump’s speeches to know that he’s out of his mind. From rambling about sharks eating electric boats to windmills driving whales insane to his obsession with toilets that won’t flush, he’s a never-ending fountain of gibberish and word salads.

And beyond that, he drives the rest of us to the verge of insanity. He’s like this brain virus that’s slowly eating away at our serenity and sense of well-being. His view of the world is so skewed, so bizarre, so out of touch with reality that it’s astounding—and yet, here he is in our daily lives, ranting and raving and frothing at the mouth.

CONCLUSION – NAMING THE ARCHETYPES TO WEAKEN THEM

Archetypes are powerful forces shaping our destinies, our worldviews, and even our collective behavior. When they surface on a national scale, they can feel like hurricanes we can only endure.

But awareness is its own kind of power. By recognizing these archetypes and calling them by name, we loosen their grip. We stop being unwitting participants in someone else’s drama and begin to reclaim our agency. In a time when dark archetypes seem to walk among us, simple recognition is a first act of resistance.

The Top Ten Tarot Cards Indicating Something Is About to Change

Feeling stuck in life, like the gears just won’t move? Tarot can reveal when change is on the horizon. Here are the top ten cards that signal transformation, progress, and fresh starts are just ahead.

Are you feeling like your gears are stuck in park and you just can’t make any progress?

Life has those frustrating phases when nothing seems to move forward, and it feels like the universe hit “pause.” But in Tarot, there are clear signs that the stillness is temporary — that something is about to shift. When these cards appear in your spread, they often signal that change is on the horizon.

Here are the top ten Tarot cards that whisper, “Get ready — things are about to give.”

If you’d like to download this list as a PDF file to use in your reference library, please click here.

1. The Tower

The most dramatic of them all. The Tower represents sudden upheaval, breakdown of old structures, and unexpected change. While often unsettling, it clears space for new growth that couldn’t happen otherwise.

2. Death

Not about physical death, but transformation. The Death card announces the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Something old must be released so something new can be born.

3. The Wheel of Fortune

The cosmic gears are turning again. The Wheel reminds us that nothing stays the same forever — what goes down must rise again. Big shifts in luck, fate, or perspective are coming.

4. Judgement

This card calls for awakening and renewal. Judgement often signals that a chapter is closing, and you’re being invited to step into a new version of yourself.

5. The Fool

When The Fool appears, it’s time to leap. New journeys, fresh starts, and adventures are right around the corner. Change is already waiting at the door.

6. The Hanged Man

At first glance, this card seems like being stuck — but it’s the pause before release. The Hanged Man invites you to surrender, gain a new perspective, and prepare for the shift that follows.

7. The World

Completion is at hand. The World marks the end of a major cycle and the transition into the next. It’s change with a sense of wholeness and accomplishment.

8. Eight of Wands

Fast movement! When the Eight of Wands shows up, delays are ending, and events will soon speed up. It’s the card of sudden progress, news, or opportunities arriving quickly.

9. Ace of Wands

The spark of something new. This card often signals a breakthrough — fresh energy, creative drive, or passion ready to ignite. It marks the turning point from stagnation into action.

10. Five of Pentacles (Reversed)

In upright form, this card shows hardship, but reversed it often signals recovery and things turning around. Change is coming to lift you out of difficulty and into support, healing, or new resources.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been in one of those liminal phases where nothing seems to move, these cards are reminders that stagnation never lasts forever. Whether the change comes suddenly like lightning (The Tower) or slowly like the seasons (Death, The World), the Tarot assures us: movement is inevitable.

So if your spread shows one of these cards, take heart — the gears are about to shift, and your story is moving forward again.