The Bruja's Guide to Tarot

Ten of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A family stands beneath a rainbow of ten cups.

General Themes: Emotional fulfillment, harmony, shared joy.

Ten of Cups Upright

Ahhh…what a lovely card. Harmony has been restored. Your relational life is abundant and joyful. What more could a person ask for?

The figures in the card look up at a rainbow that covers them, their home, and the land before them. This card calls you home. Family, however you define it, is where your focus should be. You’ve spent a tremendous amount of energy and time in the outer world (all that pentacle energy!), and now it’s time to ground that abundance in hearth and home.

This might be a time when you are more focused on your personal life rather than your professional one. For now, follow your bliss and contentment will blossom.

Lastly, although this card represents the close of a cycle, as all Tens do, we are always unfolding into a new chapter. Similarly, one part of our life might feel like it’s in the Tens while another is at the Aces or perhaps the Fives. That doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the shared joy of this moment. In fact, the more you lean into it, the more your relational cup will fill.

Ten of Cups Reversed

The reversal of this card is less romantic than its upright form. It asks you to enjoy certain relationships for what they are without unrealistic expectations. Knowing people’s limits or the limits of a specific situation can help you appreciate what there is to appreciate without expecting something people or the situation can’t give. This isn’t about normalizing toxic energies, to be clear, but recognizing that not all people need to be pulled close like family.

This card does, however, ask you to seek common ground to forge healthier connections. This is not a time to emphasize differences or instigate conflict. Nourish what is meaningful and generative and leave the rest. Healthy boundaries lead to a flourishing relational life. 

This is also a great card for exploring what love and healthy relationships mean to you.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Ten of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: A figure carries a heavy bundle of ten wands toward a town.

General Themes: Burden, responsibility, overload, hard-earned progress.

Ten of Wands Upright

The Ten of Wands upright invites you to release unnecessary burdens. Often, we take on responsibilities and labor that aren’t ours to carry. This is especially true for those of us who are in caretaker roles or empathetic professions. We get used to carrying more than we should and normalize the oppressive weight of it. That’s terrible!

This card asks you to really look at what you’re carrying and what you need to let go of. You don’t have to work as hard as you have in the past to bring something to fruition. You also aren’t responsible for other people’s baggage. Just because you have a lot of fire energy doesn’t mean you need to be giving it away.

Be strategic about where you spend your energy and allow yourself to refuel. It is not your responsibility to carry the weight of the world, or even ten wands, on your shoulders.

Ten of Wands Reversed

The reversal of this card reads much the same as its upright form, but with a lighter feeling. You still need to release unnecessary burdens here, but it’s not as hard for you to let them go. In fact, you feel downright energized!

The Ten of Wands reversed gives you permission to let go or ask for help. You don’t have to shoulder things on your own. Playing the martyr is never a good idea, so loosen your grip on things and get support if you need it.

See how light you feel? Move forward with that energy.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Ten of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: A figure lies face down with ten swords in their back beneath a dark sky.

General Themes: Painful endings, betrayal, collapse, finality.

Ten of Swords Upright

Ouch. There’s no two ways about it. This is a brutal card. But as with all heavy cards in the tarot, the Ten of Swords paves a path toward healing if we’re willing to sit with the pain and listen to what it’s saying. Like the Nine of Swords, this card wants you to face your fears.

It might sound like hollow encouragement, but there’s no place to go but up when you get this card. You feel like you’ve hit rock bottom. You feel betrayed (literally stabbed in the back) by someone or by a situation. There’s no going back from this point. Your only way forward is to let things end, however painfully. Once you do that, there is hope—notice the sun rising in the distance.

You can’t fix what brought you to this terrible collapse, but you can understand it and take that wisdom into your next chapter. Look for new potential rather than fixating on the pain of the past.

Ten of Swords Reversed

Conversely, this card feels much more uplifting when it is reversed. Like its upright form, it asks you to leave pain in the past. Pick yourself up and move on—with the knowledge you’ve gained from this terrible situation.

This card, in many ways, is about having the courage to work toward a brighter future despite major setbacks and disappointments. What’s more, the reversal indicates that you are ready to move on, both mentally and emotionally.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Ten of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: A multigenerational family gathers in an archway filled with pentacles.

General Themes: Legacy, stability, wealth, long-term security.

Ten of Pentacles Upright

Wow! This is a joyful card, though we often don’t think of it in this light, given how grounded it is in sturdy structure. But it is full of abundance—pentacles everywhere—canine companions, family, and a Two of Cups–like union.

Here, abundance is the new normal. Get used to the joys of a full life, including material wealth and meaningful relationships. You’ve come full circle. Now is the time to lean into this next chapter of your life. The Ten of Pentacles reflects the maturation and stability that come with life experience and a desire to always be growing.

Your focus on building a solid foundation has paid off. Your journey from the Aces to the Tens represents the closing of a cycle. So your story isn’t just Ten here, it’s Ten, Nine, Eight…and so forth. Every second of your journey was integral to who you are today. You’ve achieved long-term security—enjoy it!

Ten of Pentacles Reversed

The reversal of the Ten of Pentacles invites you to rethink who you share your abundance with. Energy is everything—be mindful of who you let into your life. This isn’t about isolationist or misanthropic tendencies, but understanding that being open to life and healthy relationships doesn’t mean you have to be open to everything. Instead, cultivate meaningful connections and projects that resonate with your energy. This, in turn, affects everything, from finances to overall stability.

Sometimes this card appears reversed when we’re reluctant to let go of old connections or perspectives that no longer nourish us. They might have been meaningful to us at one point but now feel hollow or draining. This often happens when we’ve outgrown a space or situation and haven’t caught up to that fact yet. Don’t be afraid to embrace new connections—and the good fortune that follows. We often can’t grow professionally or personally unless, like trees, we’re willing to shed what no longer brings us life.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Nine of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A seated figure displays nine cups arranged behind them.

General Themes: Satisfaction, emotional fulfillment, gratitude.

Nine of Cups Upright

Unlike the Seven of Cups, which represents illusion and glamour, the Nine of Cups is about wishes coming true—if you put in the work. Here, a figure is seated and surrounded by nine upright cups. He is overflowing with abundance!

What’s more, the figure feels a deep gratitude for all of the proverbial wealth he’s accumulated. He doesn’t take anything for granted and likewise doesn’t hold back when it comes to celebrating his hard-earned prosperity.

Express gratitude for what you have. You’ve earned it.

Nine of Cups Reversed

Reversed, this card reminds us that happiness comes from within. All the wealth in the world won’t satisfy us if we’re drawing from an empty inner well. This is often considered the wish card, so ask yourself…are you wishing for the right thing? Will it ultimately bring you happiness?

When the Nine of Cups reversed appears, it invites you to redefine what success means to you. Sometimes, we get lost chasing external validation or accomplishments at the expense of our personal or internal lives. Remember, you can have abundance in all things, including your relational life.

The reversal can also caution against empty hedonism. Moderation in all things begets more abundance. Enjoy yourself, yes, but don’t get lost in self-medicating or the frivolous accumulation of goods. True abundance is in knowing when you have enough.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Nine of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: A wounded figure stands guarded, holding a wand with eight behind them.

General Themes: Resilience, persistence, boundaries, endurance.

Nine of Wands Upright

The figure in the Nine of Wands upright looks battered and bruised, but he’s still upright. This card wants you to hold your ground. You might not feel like you have the energy for it, but it’s important that you stay true to your mission.

Reinforce boundaries. Notice the ring of wands surrounding the figure. You are protected even if you feel low energy at the moment. Avoid giving out more than you have. Remember, protecting your energy is a form of magic. Resilience is key, as is learning from this hard lesson.

Nine of Wands Reversed

If the upright form of this card is about staying on guard, this reversal asks you to lower your defenses. You don’t always have to be looking for the next fight.

This is a great time to explore who you are outside of your warrior identity. What would it feel like to put down your wand and stand upright without fear? What would you do if you weren’t always scanning for threats? Let go of the need to fight for everything. Sometimes, the boundary is redirecting your energy to other, more life-affirming things.

Now is the time for rest, healing, and enjoyment. Resilience is important, yes, but so too is knowing when to stop fighting.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Nine of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: A figure sits upright in bed, distressed, with nine swords hanging above.

General Themes: Anxiety, worry, mental anguish, overthinking.

Nine of Swords Upright

The Nine of Swords is one of those cards people dread getting. But this card isn’t the doom and gloom people think it is. It’s about facing your fears. The figure in the card sits upright in bed, as if awakening from a nightmare with a start. This is not a time to ignore the monster under the bed or the thing keeping you up at night.

In our effort to silence our fears, we only make them louder. Self-doubt works the same way. The more you feed it, even by suppressing it, the more you risk creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, wrap that rose-patterned blanket around you, take a breath, and face the scary thing you’ve been trying to ignore.

Here’s the thing…that nightmare? It’s a message, not a prophecy. If you shift your perspective from defending yourself against it and instead asking it what it wants you to hear, then the medicine will follow. So go on then. Make friends with the monster under the bed.

Nine of Swords Reversed

The Nine of Swords reversed ushers in good news. You’re coming out of a nightmare situation. Often, you’re leaving behind a toxic spiral that keeps you stuck in your head, manifesting your worst fears. This is the moment you choose not to feed those thoughts.

It’s not that you suppress them anymore, either. No, you brought them into the light, looked at them for what they were, and made the conscious choice to move on from the self-doubt and negativity that kept you stuck in the past. That’s no small thing.

Now, you are integrating this shadow medicine. Let sacred, simple pleasures heal your soul and show you the way forward.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Nine of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: A well-dressed figure stands in a lush garden with pentacles and a falcon.

General Themes: Self-sufficiency, refinement, independence, material comfort.

Nine of Pentacles Upright

This card is the embodiment of grounded joy and fulfillment. You are abundance incarnate! Enjoy the fruits of your labor—you’ve earned it. The Nine of Pentacles often appears when you have resolved the heavier issues of the Eights and have learned to celebrate the life you’ve built for yourself. Don’t shy away from fully embodying this stable and abundant phase of your life.

The figure in the card represents refinement, self-sufficiency, and empowerment. Notice the beautiful robe they wear. It is the epitome of luxury and refinement. The upright version of this card invites you to celebrate your hard-earned, luxurious lifestyle. Sometimes this card can come up when we’re feeling guilty for the abundance in our life and wondering if we deserve it. If you’re not quite at the stage of your life where material comfort seems achievable, this card appears to remind you that you have more than you think—and exuberant stability is within reach.

This card isn’t just about literal wealth. It’s about taking pride in your craft and knowing your worth. Gone are the days of having to prove yourself. You’ve arrived.

Nine of Pentacles Reversed

The reversal here enters your life when self-doubt and impostor syndrome sneak in. Ugly questions crop up like, “Do I really deserve all this? Did I earn this? Am I capable of conjuring all this?” These mental weeds have a nasty tendency to spread, so it’s important to address the underlying anxiety that caused these weeds to sprout in the first place.

Often, this card appears reversed when we are feeling isolated or wondering if we are all accomplishments and not much else. Other times, it speaks to your insecurity. From the outside looking in, it looks like you have it all together. On the inside, though? You’re wondering if this abundant life is something you can hold on to. You might be struggling to feel grounded or wondering if your life will flourish in other ways beyond finances.

Take a breath and look around. You’ve cultivated a beautiful paradise and have clothed yourself in luxury. If you can do that, you can make your next dream a reality. Reclaim your balance by saturating yourself in embodied joy.

In the end, the remedy here is the same as the upright card’s wisdom: enjoy the fruits of your labor. Know your worth and don’t get lost in things that make you feel small. Stay open and let the energy flow. You’ve got this.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Eight of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A cloaked figure walks away from stacked cups beneath a moon.

General Themes: Emotional departure, seeking deeper fulfillment, release.

Eight of Cups Upright

This is a heavier card because it demands a time of introspection. Where the Seven of Cups was about cutting through illusions in the outer world, especially in terms of the seemingly limitless options for your path, the Eight of Cups is about acknowledging what’s missing in your life.

In this card, a figure walks away from eight stacked cups. The second row of the cups shows a blank space. Clearly, something is missing. Here, it’s okay to mourn what you don’t have. The ache is a necessary part of growth. If you suppress it, you only feel the longing more deeply.

So it’s time to do a little soul-searching. This isn’t a card of dissatisfaction, like the Four of Cups. Rather, it’s about appreciating what you have, even as you long for more. You can feel whole where you are and still want that next part of your life to blossom. But you have to feel the longing deeply in order for that energy to move.

Explore new horizons, either literally in the life you create or metaphorically by sitting with the emotions you haven’t always let yourself feel. What do they tell you about your capacity for experiencing a full and vital life? Even these hard emotions are proof of our profound capacity for connection and expansiveness. The figure here moves on from the cups before him in search of what he’s missing. You should too.

Eight of Cups Reversed

This reversal hits hard. It’s time to give up lost causes and empty nourishment. Things that may have once nourished you no longer do, and that’s okay—to everything there is a season and all that. This card can also appear when you’ve been giving a lot of time and energy to a person or situation, only to realize that it will never be what you want it to be. The only solution is to stop giving it energy and see where the road takes you next.

This is an important time to explore what fulfillment means to you. It can mean various things to us at different times in our lives. We tend to fixate on external markers of fulfillment, like a job promotion or a new house, but internal ones are just as important. Think of waking up ready to greet the day or feeling connected to yourself and others throughout the day. Those are types of fulfillment too.

This isn’t a time for lots of social activity. Answers can be found in solitude, when you let yourself feel the hard stuff and then find a way forward. Remember, feelings are gifts: they tell us when we’re moving in the right direction and when we need to make adjustments to realign with a more vital path.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Eight of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: Eight wands fly swiftly through open sky.

General Themes: Rapid movement, communication, momentum.

Eight of Wands Upright

Wow! This card has a lot of juice to it. As the only card in the tarot without a human figure or part of a human figure, the Eight of Wands is pure energy. There’s no mistaking its meaning when it appears: seize the day!

Enjoy this influx of energy and don’t be afraid to make things happen. The universe is on your side right now. Don’t hold back and don’t be shy. Just go for it and trust that the momentum of these fiery wands will take you where you need to go.

Seriously, just get moving! The rest will follow.

Eight of Wands Reversed

Reversed, the message of this card is equally clear: slow down! You’re moving too fast. It’s important to get grounded before moving forward. In fact, rooting yourself in the present moment is the best way to move forward.

Like many of the Pentacles cards, the Eight of Wands reversed advises you to work steadily toward your goals. A strong foundation will lead to lasting results. There is still quite a bit of fire energy in this reversal. Only here, think of it as a hearth you tend rather than the wild energy of its upright form. Don’t burn too hot, or your energy will fade. Don’t burn too cold, or you’ll never achieve your goals. Just tend your proverbial hearth daily and appreciate how a steady presence can transform a situation.

This one reads great — energetic but grounded. The hearth metaphor is especially strong and ties nicely into your elemental framing. If you’d like, we can now polish Eight of Cups to complete the set.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Eight of Swords

Eight of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: A blindfolded figure bound and surrounded by swords.

General Themes: Mental restriction, limiting beliefs, self-imposed barriers.

Eight of Swords Upright

This card reminds me of a saying a psychologist friend once told me when it comes to dealing with certain things: the good news is that it’s all in your head. The bad news is that it’s all in your head. The figure in the card is surrounded by swords…and yet she can easily escape her prison if she just takes off the blindfold and sees the opening before her and a sanctuary in the distance. The Eight of Swords begs you not to let fear trap you.

You have more agency than you think. Take a breath and locate the origin of your fear. You might be feeling trapped in your head or cycling through old trauma loops. Figure out what triggered the sensation and then proceed from there. Once you know what is causing the panic, it’s easier to map a way forward.

Don’t let what’s going on in your head keep you trapped in negative cycles. Give yourself permission to let go of old scripts and move past the mental block you’ve created. As with many cards in the tarot, this one reminds you that a fresh perspective is key to moving forward.

Eight of Swords Reversed

This reversal echoes the Seven of Swords reversed, in that you want to look for unexpected solutions to your problems. You’re feeling trapped, which is why your vision feels narrow and your options limited.

Part of the problem when this card appears is that your inner critic is louder than the expansive, playful voice that can get you out of this mess. Get out of your head—and your own way! Remember that the critic only appears when self-doubt flares up, and it only strengthens when you feed that voice. So turn your gaze toward a meaningful solution, even something as simple as allowing yourself to move out of the ring of swords.

We can hold on to outmoded beliefs because they are familiar and feel safe. Dare to liberate yourself through a change in perspective.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Eight of Pentacles

Eight of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: A craftsperson diligently works on carving pentacles.

General Themes: Skill-building, dedication, apprenticeship, focus.

Eight of Pentacles Upright

This is one of those cards that reminds us that our daily work is sacred. The magic is in the repetition of our skills. So often we want loud, splashy, and big. But much goodness is conjured when we show up every day to do what we need to do. It’s not glamorous or flashy, but it makes for the longest-lasting change.

Appreciate all you’ve mastered and don’t take your experience and wisdom for granted. Remember when you wished to be in this place? You’ve come a long way. But there is always more to learn. Isn’t that wonderful?

This card is an invitation to keep learning, keep growing, keep refining your craft. Then enjoy the magic you make from your devotion.

Eight of Pentacles Reversed

Like the Four of Swords (both upright and reversed), this reversal gives you permission to rest. In fact, rest is the most productive thing you can do right now. We need to appreciate our fallow periods just as much as our high-producing ones. I think of this in terms of my garden: sure, I love the growing season and enjoying all the fruits of my labors. But that abundance can only come after a season of rest. The soil needs to rebuild itself, and seeds need stratification. Even in spring, we seldom see all the growth that goes into new life until those seeds break the surface. So rest. It’s an integral part of growth and development.

When you are ready for more extroverted productivity, work smarter, not harder. Think about the big picture and where you can best apply your energy to produce results. Sometimes this card appears when we’re getting down on ourselves. Either impostor syndrome flares up or we’re dissatisfied with how something turned out. Just take a step back to get some perspective and remember, perfection is overrated.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Seven of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A figure faces seven floating cups filled with alluring images.

General Themes: Illusion, choice, fantasy, discernment.

Seven of Cups Upright

This is a card of illusions. It seems like you have infinite choices and unlimited possibilities. They are all so dazzling! In reality, you can’t do everything in this world, and not everything is meant for you. Don’t get lost trying to have it all. Instead, commit to what is meant for you—your heart knows the truth of the matter and can help you look past any glamours that make certain options seem better than others.

Focus your energy on what you want to see blossom. Daydreaming is good and well, so long as you are working to make those fantasies a reality. How are they feeding you? Make sure they aren’t used to compensate for lack, but actively nourish the life you are building for yourself.

It’s one thing to dream big, but it’s equally important to stay grounded. Let go of the clutter and turn your attention to the things that matter most. There is something deeply liberating about letting go of everything so you can commit to what is really meant for you.

Seven of Cups Reversed

Focus on your long-term goals here. Don’t get distracted by short-term results or quick fixes. Likewise, avoid anything that sounds too good to be true. You can have what your heart desires, but you have to work toward it. That’s the only way you know it will last.

It helps if you keep a clear head and remind yourself why you do what you do. Why is it your passion or your calling? Remember this when doubt sets in and avoid any distractions that would take you from it.

There is something deeply magnetizing about using your time and energy on what you know is yours. Sometimes we feel a lot of options means more freedom, but this card suggests otherwise. Letting go of illusion deepens our relationship to self and opens us up to meaningful connection with others and our calling.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Seven of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: A figure defends their position against multiple attackers.

General Themes: Standing your ground, courage, maintaining conviction.

Seven of Wands Upright

This is a heavy card, in many respects, as it’s asking you to fight for what you believe in, even when you’re surrounded by opponents. Keep holding your ground. Sometimes this refers to a literal battle, but more often, it refers to a mindset shift. If the world has been making you feel small, this card asks you to get big and celebrate your unique way of viewing the world.

Notice that the figure wears two different shoes. You’re allowed to be complex and unconventional. Trust your magic and your courage. Often, this manifests as a quiet, internal knowing, not a grand gesture, like the card implies.

Seven of Wands Reversed

While the reversal of this card also emphasizes that you need to stand your ground, it’s more in the context of getting over the perpetual need to be liked. You can’t please everyone, so get comfortable with healthy tension. What matters is truth to self, not making everyone around you feel comfortable. This isn’t about causing deliberate harm, mind you, but acknowledging that not everything is yours to fix or manage.

What’s that witchy saying? Cause no harm, but take no shit. That’s this card in a nutshell. Don’t apologize for who you are and don’t water yourself down for anyone.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Seven of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: A figure sneaks away carrying swords from a camp.

General Themes: Strategy, secrecy, avoidance, cleverness.

Seven of Swords Upright

This card has a lot of trickster energy! Just look at the figure sneaking away with a stash of swords, glad to be free of whatever they’ve just left. It’s time to leave a tricky situation behind. Get out while you can and preferably while others are distracted. You don’t want to create a scene or make an issue of your departure. Just disappear so you don’t get stuck in the muck.

The Seven of Swords is about being cunning. Force won’t work in this instance, so be smart about what you’re about to do next, so things don’t backfire. It’s time to start a new chapter, and the only way to do that is to out-think your opponent or the thing that’s trying to keep you stuck in the past. Don’t blab about your new ideas or ventures—just quietly begin your next move.



Seven of Swords Reversed

This card, in reverse, is more about thinking outside the box. In fact, forget there is a box at all! The situation makes you feel trapped. Imagine an alternate way forward — you aren’t stuck, you just need to shift your perspective.

If this card were to be defined in one word, it would be cleverness. Where can you innovate? Rethink your strategy? Outsmart brawn? Given the trickster energy of the Seven of Swords, this reversal is also an invitation to get playful and flexible with your thinking. Look for creative solutions and don’t be afraid to make an unconventional move.

Oppressive systems want us to be inflexible, with narrow visions. Flex your imaginative skills and find the loophole in your current situation.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Seven of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: A figure pauses to assess growing pentacles on a vine.

General Themes: Patience, evaluation, long-term investment.

Seven of Pentacles Upright

In this card, a figure pauses in their labor to take stock of the pentacles, or coins, they have amassed. Notice how the coins seem to grow from vines, as if they were fruit. That’s how abundance works. We tend things, nourish them, and watch them grow. When the Seven of Pentacles appears, it’s an invitation to pause and take stock of your wealth in all aspects of your life. Get a big-picture perspective of your life and the growth you’ve manifested. Sometimes we forget how far we’ve come when we’re working hard.

And speaking of working hard…this card invites you to work smarter, not harder. Labor is only as useful as the results it brings, so don’t waste time toiling away on things that won’t bear fruit. This is an important skill to learn on the road to an abundant life. It’s easy to get lost in the daily grind or take on too much. Here, however, wealth comes from carefully tending what is yours to tend—no more, no less.

Invest only in what will pay off in the long run. Now is the time to be strategic.

Seven of Pentacles Reversed

Reversed, the Seven of Pentacles is pointing to some sort of leak—energetically or monetarily. Take careful stock of where you are investing your time, energy, and money. Where are you losing valuable resources? Where is your investment paying off? You have to stop the leak if you want to rebuild your proverbial pile of coins.

Stop investing in dead-end situations, relationships, or ventures. You can’t cultivate an abundance mindset if you’re leaking energy—including engaging in low-vibe behavior like negative thinking. That makes it impossible to ever advance in your profession or other parts of your life. Remember, money, at the end of the day, is about energy. So if you’re losing it somewhere, you have to find the cause of the energy drain.

Invest instead in what provides concrete, stable returns. This isn’t about fast-acting results or too-good-to-be-true get-rich-quick plans. It’s about giving your time and energy to things that will eventually bloom and grow as you tend them.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Six of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A child offers a cup of flowers to another in a quiet village.

General Themes: Nostalgia, innocence, kindness, emotional memory.

Six of Cups Upright

This is a gentle card, tinged with nostalgia. The nostalgia here, however, isn’t fanciful or idealized. Instead, it’s reminding you of who you were before adult life took over. What do you look back on fondly? Bring more of that energy into your life. How you feel about your past, both the good and the bad, can help you shape your present in healthy ways.

It’s time to let your inner child out to play! We get so wrapped up in the daily grind, it’s important to allow time for leisure. Goof around, have fun, lose track of time. Remember what it was like to see the world through fresh eyes.

Relearn the wonder of daily life. Don’t forget that magic is all around us, if only we pay attention.

Six of Cups Reversed

Much like its upright form, the card wants you to embrace your inner child. This reversal comes when you have been feeling heavy, stressed, or traumatized. It’s a gentle reminder that life can be joyful and full of wonder. Open up and be curious about the places in your life that you want to grow into. Tending these dormant parts of yourself is an adventure and an opportunity, not a task.

Now is the time to cultivate playfulness and wonder. Twirl in the grass. Blow bubbles. Talk with the moon and wear flowers in your hair. Do you remember what it was like to lose track of time simply by enjoying the beauty all around us?

You may need to take a walk down memory lane to reclaim this childlike exuberance. Enjoy your time there, but don’t get stuck in the past. Revisit what you need to so you can bring that innocent vitality into your present.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Six of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: A rider crowned with a wreath is celebrated by a crowd.

General Themes: Recognition, confidence, visible success, leadership.

Six of Wands Upright

You’ve reached an important turning point in your life. Time to celebrate! Be loud in your joy. Don’t hold back—you’re worth the party! It’s important to celebrate your accomplishments, big or small, especially if you’re used to downplaying your achievements.

Don’t be shy about putting yourself out there. It’s easy to want to fade into the background, but this card asks you to shine brightly. Bask in this well-earned recognition and success. Fully feel your confidence. And remember: this confidence and abundance generate so much good energy, giving you even more to be thankful for.

Six of Wands Reversed

Reversed, this card welcomes quiet celebrations and small victories. You might be celebrating an emotional breakthrough or a shift in perspective—things that are hard to explain to others but feel big nonetheless. Honor these accomplishments just as much as you would a job promotion or other external milestone.

The card can also suggest that you’re on the road to success. You might not see victory just yet, but stay steady and it will come. It’s an auspicious card for those moments where self-doubt sets in. Don’t give up—what you want is just around the corner.

Lastly, the Six of Wands reversed can also prompt you to redefine what “winning” means to you. Sometimes winning is taking more time for self-care or enjoying life, guilt-free. Other times, winning is being able to assert yourself appropriately in a given situation. And yes, sometimes winning is the full parade of the upright version of this card. But never forget that winning looks different for everyone and is no less special when you pause to celebrate it.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Six of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: Figures travel across water toward a distant shore, swords upright in front of them.

General Themes: Transition, relief, mental passage, leaving turmoil behind.

Six of Swords Upright

This card can feel a little heavy. You might pull this when you’re in the middle of a transition, literal or energetic. As with many Swords cards, it asks you to focus on what’s next. That might feel hard to do, given the swords blocking your view. Just keep going.

Time to leave the familiar behind and risk the journey into the unknown. You’re not quite ready to let go of the ideas and energies holding you back (like those swords clouding your vision), but you will be soon. Then comes the relief.

Six of Swords Reversed

This reversal points to a blockage. Perhaps you are afraid to move forward into the unknown, or life seems to be holding you in place. In either case, the healthiest thing to do right now is to shake off stagnation and lean into change.

Surrender. Lay down your swords. Flow with life. Leave old baggage in the past. More often than not, this is about fundamentally changing the way you think. Let go of outdated ideas and limiting beliefs. Learn to see the world through a new lens—better ideas will follow.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!

Six of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: A wealthy figure gives coins to others while holding scales.

General Themes: Generosity, reciprocity, fairness, material balance.

Six of Pentacles Upright

This is an interesting card, metaphysically, although I suppose I could say that about all the cards. The Six of Pentacles is about a generosity of spirit. What you give out comes back to you in one way or another. While the Two of Pentacles cautions against miserliness, this card celebrates that giving spirit.

That said, as someone who has perpetually given out too much because of that generosity of spirit, I want to offer this card with a caution. This isn’t about giving freely at the expense of your own well-being. In fact, that’s not healthy for you or the people you’re giving to (or worse, you’re letting energy vampires feed off you—bad stuff!). Rather, this card is about enjoying a healthy flow of energy and knowing that a healthy sense of generosity to yourself and others is magnetic.

Perhaps more significantly, this card is about tending the impoverished parts of yourself. Where have you been stingy with yourself? Where have you cut off the flow of joy? What parts of you have gone dormant? Send energy their way. Relax into those spaces. Turn your attention toward nourishing them. You are allowed to be a whole person.

Six of Pentacles Reversed

Again, the reversal of this card begs you to be generous with yourself. You don’t always have to be giving and giving until your inner well runs dry. Be as generous with yourself as you are to others. Indulge. Relax. Feed the parts of yourself that are starved for nourishment.

While the upright form of this card speaks to an abundant spirit both with yourself and others, its reversal explicitly invites self-care and self-love. Be kind to yourself. If you are used to being the caretaker, it can be hard to let go and apply that energy to yourself. Give yourself permission to fill your inner well without apology.

Imagine what your life would look like if you fed the impoverished parts of yourself. See how you will flourish!

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday…and good conversations with the tarot, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s to a magical life!