Knight of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A knight rides calmly while holding a cup before him, often crossing a quiet landscape that suggests emotional or spiritual quests.

General Themes: Romance, emotional pursuit, intuition, creativity, following the heart.

The Knight of Cups Upright

The Knight of Cups is a lover, not a fighter. You could say he is the Warrior of Love, championing meaningful connection and joyful passion. What is life without the sweeter things to soften the heartaches?

This card is a delicious invitation to invest in your personal life more and the world of passion—not your vocational passion or passion project, as with the other cards, but your Eros energy and sensuous side.

Seek out beauty and harmony. Fill your life with things that bring softness and soothing. Flowers in your home. Perfume that makes you feel beautiful. Even a coffee mug that a loved one gifted you—all of these are things that return you to the present and reconnect you to your body and emotional life.

Let your inner romantic be your guide. This card isn’t just about romance. It’s about romanticizing your life (in a healthy way, of course). Take a moment every day to pause and appreciate what makes your day magical. Tune into the little things that bring you joy. This will keep you open to new experiences and healthy connections.

The Knight of Cups Reversed

On the other hand, there’s such a thing as romanticizing your life too much and getting lost in daydreams. Don’t just fantasize about what you want, actively work on bringing those things into your life. Sometimes it’s as simple as doing an energetic check-in and seeing where stagnant energy is keeping you from being open to new relational energy. Sometimes it’s as simple as slowing down and practicing self-care so you have the energy to cultivate and tend healthy relationships. We often don’t tend our inner and personal lives in the same way we do our professional lives. But your personal life can’t grow if you don’t leave space for it to develop.

This card can also appear when you are allowing yourself to fully feel what you need to feel. This is where the Warrior of Love comes in. He wants you to free yourself by expressing your emotions in healthy ways and acknowledging that you have a heart and a body, as well as a head. This reversal wants you to embody Eros energy, but in a more grounded way—not the hyper-fantasy of romance, but by figuring out what it means to wake up and love your life every day.

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.

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Knight of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: A knight rides a rearing horse across a desert landscape, holding a wand as if charging forward with enthusiasm and momentum.

General Themes: Action, passion, bold movement, adventure, impulsive energy, pursuing inspiration.

The Knight of Wands Upright

The Knight of Wands, much like the Knight of Swords, is about seizing the moment and charging forward. Only this card is a touch more grounded than the Knight of Swords. The energy is there for you to take this opportunity to make things happen. It’s time to pursue your passion!

Likewise, now is a great time for an adventure. This is not a card for the shy or demure. Put yourself out there and watch the Universe match your energy. Just don’t get reckless. The Wands carry a lot of fire energy, so it’s best to temper it. Tend the spark rather than burn too hot. Balance your enthusiasm and inspiration with some old-fashioned common sense and you will go far.

The Knight of Wands Reversed

In reverse, this card is a caution sign. Avoid impulsive behavior and chaotic energy. Think things through before making a rash decision. You might be itching for a change when you get this card, or otherwise anxious to get going. Resist that urge—slow down and examine where this panic energy is coming from. Once you get to the root of your restlessness, you can move forward in a healthier way.

You might find yourself in a high-drama situation that seems to have no end. Don’t feed the flames here. Withdraw energy and remove yourself from the situation. Chances are, you’ll find that the chaos fades when you stop feeding it. Turn your attention to your passions instead and develop a realistic plan to grow them.

At the same time, this card can sometimes appear when you’ve been burning too hot and need to step back from whatever it is you’re working on. It is important to know when to work and when to rest.

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!

Knight of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: A knight charges forward on a galloping horse with sword raised high as storm clouds swirl in the background.

General Themes: Determination, intensity, intellectual drive, decisive action, rushing toward truth or confrontation.

The Knight of Swords Upright

This is an intense card! Like the Eight of Wands, the Knight of Swords wants movement and action. So dive into those passion projects…just stay centered as you do so. Sometimes this card is a caution not to get carried away. The knight is literally trying to rein in his horse, so you might want to rein in your enthusiasm just a bit.

Be decisive in your actions and intellectual clarity, but don’t rush into anything foolishly. Think of yourself as a grounded conjurer who can cut through the noise and see the heart of the matter. There’s no need to force a confrontation here. Sometimes, the insight is enough to restore boundaries or help you move forward.

The Knight of Swords Reversed

The reversal of this card is a sign to slow down. Like right now. Don’t go charging ahead until you cool off and look at the situation logically and with emotional distance. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you say or do something you can’t undo.

Get grounded and rethink your game plan. Trust your intelligence and experience to guide you through this moment, and don’t hesitate to gather your resources and supporters. It is more important to think everything through and have a solid plan than to try to solve things on your own or fix them immediately. Slowing down here ensures a better outcome.

Focus on realignment instead of brute force to resolve this issue. Remember, if you are whole and aligned within, it is easier to navigate the external world.

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!

Knight of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: A knight sits steadily on a still horse, holding a pentacle while surveying fertile fields.

General Themes: Persistence, responsibility, steady progress, patience, dedication to long-term goals.

The Knight of Pentacles Upright

The Knight of Pentacles is the grounded presence of a responsible soul. This figure wants you to steadily work toward your goals with dedication and patience—not haste. Get used to slow but consistent progress. Embrace routine and savor the ordinary magic that comes from investing in your calling.

Real conjuring happens when you show up every day and do the work. It might not seem glamorous or exciting, but it’s where the real enchantment happens. Too often we look to big revelations or dramatic shifts to move forward in our lives, including professionally or financially. But the truth is, that only happens when we stay consistent. It’s like the Universe needs to know we’re willing to put in the work and not looking for quick fixes.

So, in short, invest in the process. That’s where magic happens.

The Knight of Pentacles Reversed

On the other hand, when this card appears reversed, it’s a reminder that perfection is overrated. Invest in the process, sure, but don’t go overboard trying to make everything perfect. Part of showing up, day in, day out, is knowing that things are never simple or flawless. This card often shows up when you are getting rigid in your thinking or practice. Loosen up! You don’t always have to be working in order to make progress.

Work steadily on your goals, but find new inspiration. You might be feeling stuck right now and could use an infusion of passion. Let go of your need to control everything and get back to a sense of play and exploration. What inspired you about this calling or project in the first place?

At the end of the day, inspiration and discipline are a winning pair.

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 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!

Five of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A cloaked figure mourns spilled cups while others remain standing behind.

General Themes: Grief, disappointment, emotional focus on loss.

Five of Cups Upright

This card is similar to the Four of Cups. It appears when you feel as if something is missing in your life. While the Four of Cups invites you to stop fixating on what you don’t have and appreciate what you do, the Five of Cups wants you to take a serious look at what you’ve lost and what is missing in your life. Allow the grief to wash over you and then let it go.

Mourn your losses, sure, but don’t wallow in self-pity. Take this as an opportunity to redirect your energy to the parts of yourself and your life that you haven’t fully nourished. Let the sadness you feel guide you — what is missing in your life, and how do you cultivate space for it to emerge naturally? What do you need to let go of so you can move forward?

As promised with all introspective cards, a shift in focus here will reveal new magic and possibilities if you are willing to learn from your past. The three cups scattered before you can be put upright again if you’re willing to do the work. And don’t forget the two upright cups behind you. Let their stability will help you set the others right.

Five of Cups Reversed

This card, when reversed, is much like the Five of Swords reversed, only it tends to deal more with emotional or inner conflict. Cut your losses and move on. There’s no resolving this issue, be it a search for relational closure or internal healing. You’ve been wounded, and it’s not something that will ever feel healed—and that’s okay. The important thing is not to pick at the wound.

Don’t look back. Right now, forward movement is the only vital path you can take. Time and distance, are the best healers. Keep moving forward, even if it’s hard, and, again, shift your focus to new conjurings. Closure comes from letting go and looking to the future.

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!

Five of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: Five figures clash with wands in a chaotic scene.

General Themes: Hollow victory, conflict.

Five of Wands Upright

The Five of Wands, like the Five of Swords, is about hollow victories and conflicts that seemingly have no end. It’s important to know when to walk away. This card wants you to redirect your energy to more life-affirming pursuits. It’s one thing to fight for what you need to, but the presence of this card indicates that the fight here is not worth your time or energy.

Walk away from conflict that doesn’t generate healthy change. Shake off the stagnation of constant strife. In this instance, it’s important not to fight change that can only come through flow, not force.

The Five of Wands can also show up when a lack of communication creates more conflict than is necessary. Slow down and cultivate healthy conversations about what needs to get done or fixed. Not everything gets resolved through battle.

Five of Wands Reversed

The reversal of this card indicates that you need to let down your guard. You don’t always have to be ready for a fight. In fact, that’s a good way for trouble to find you! Instead, shift your frequency. Sometimes the best way to avoid drama is to simply shift your focus to more generative things. If you don’t feed the conflict, it can’t grow.

It’s one thing to wrestle with something, but do so in a way that’s generative. Explore. Examine. Research. Feel. But don’t fixate on a specific outcome. See what makes the most sense when you look at the situation holistically. 

Instead of constantly pushing forward or striving to conquer the next big thing, focus on what you do have. Cultivate contentment, and you will find less desire to chase after pointless conflict.

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!

Five of Swords

Element: Air

Imagery: A figure gathers swords as others walk away defeated.

General Themes: Hollow victory, conflict.

Five of Swords Upright

Like the majority of the Fives in their upright form, this is about facing grim realities. The thing you were fighting tooth and nail for is not meant to be yours. It’s time to cut your losses and move on. There are some battles you can’t win, and the only way through this situation is by surrender.

You can waste a lot of time trying to make things work, but it’s better to let go and move on. Look to the future and remember that there are better ways of doing things that don’t require you to waste time or energy on issues that will never move forward.

Sometimes this card comes around when you do win—only the victory feels hollow. What were you fighting so hard for again, and why? Rethink your goals and shift your perspective. Don’t grasp for something that comes at too high a cost. It’s never worth it. Instead, withdraw and look for a smoother way forward.

Five of Swords Reversed

Like its upright form, the reversed Five of Swords signals that you’re in the middle of a battle you can’t win. The only thing you can do to maintain your dignity and remaining energy is to walk away. Find your equilibrium. Remember who you were before this ordeal took over your life.

The best way to resolve this conflict is to let it go and move on with your life. Broaden your horizons and look for the bigger message. When things get too hard, it can sometimes be a sign from the universe that you are moving in the wrong direction. Our egos want to push back against healthy limits, which isn’t good for us in the long run. The best way to restore equilibrium is to get grounded and listen to this message from life. Where does it want you to go instead? The answer is in the path that restores inner harmony.

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!

Five of Pentacles

Element: Earth

Imagery: Two figures struggle through snow beneath a stained-glass window.

General Themes: Remembering support exists; you are not alone.

Five of Pentacles Upright

The Five of Pentacles is a card of despair and isolation. Typically, you pull it when you are feeling left out in the cold, like the figures in the card. This could be because you are feeling disconnected from loved ones or because you are disconnected from your true self.

Like all Fives, this card flips the script on how we read upright cards. It comes to shake us up after the security of the Fours. Suddenly, you feel less secure and might struggle to make your way in the world. Remember, tarot is all about energy, so this could be literal (you got fired from your job or you’ve been iced out of your social circle), but more often than not, it’s about an energetic freeze.

As with all things, a return to your soul center is required. Let go of outer scarcity and turn to your inner light. See the stained-glass window in the image that shines a light on the figures trudging through snow? That’s the card’s promise that warmth and connection are within reach, if only we look up.

Five of Pentacles Reversed

This card is like a deep exhale after holding your breath for a bit, waiting to see how things will pan out. You survived. The sad energy of the upright form is banished in this card’s reversal.

You’ve come back to yourself after an ordeal. Heal. Decompress. And appreciate being on the other side of things. Remember this too: you are never truly alone. That stained-glass window above the figures always promises light and belonging if we’re willing to reach for it.

In fact, the Five of Pentacles in reverse is a somber reminder that abundance and connection come first and foremost from being true to self. Return to your inner light and everything else 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!

Four of Cups

Element: Water

Imagery: A seated figure beneath a tree, focused on three cups while a fourth is offered by a divine hand.

General Themes: Emotional withdrawal, dissatisfaction, introspection, and gratitude.

Four of Cups Upright

Upright, this card asks—no, BEGS—you to re-enchant your life! It’s easy to get stuck and feel like your life is going nowhere fast. What’s needed is a change in perspective. Instead of fixating on what you don’t have, take a breath, look around you, and notice what you do have.

Look at the figure in the card. His arms are crossed and he’s looking away from three golden cups right in front of him. He doesn’t even notice the fourth cup, a divine offering, practically falling into his lap. He’s miserable!

And to think, if only he’d look up. Take a deep breath. Uncross his arms and look around. He’d see that the world is conspiring in his favor. If this isn’t an invitation to practice the art of joy and curiosity, I don’t know what is.

Consider where you put your time and energy. Also consider where your mind goes most often. Are these thoughts generative and life-affirming? Or do they restrict flow?

Take a moment. Look up. And be open to everyday magic and synchronic happenings. Seems like a better way of going about life than always looking for what you lack.

Four of Cups Reversed

Reversed, this card offers an opportunity to clear through stagnation and old perspectives. Step back and look at your life. Really look. Don’t just look for what’s missing. Notice what’s there, especially the things that enhance the quality of your life. Make a list if you need to. You’ll find you have rather a lot more than you realized.

New opportunities and energetic shifts will come from this pause.

At its most magical, this card is about shifting out of scarcity into an abundance mentality. Pure gratitude floods your heart and you’ve learned not to take your life and healthy relationships for granted. This shift is everything. Suddenly, you can enjoy the bounty of the three golden cups before you and trust that the fourth one will find you when you’re ready.

You’ll be surprised how magnetic gratitude can be. It’s revitalizing. It’s contagious. It’s an invitation for good things to come into your 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!

Four of Wands

Element: Fire

Imagery: A garlanded archway supported by four wands; figures celebrate beneath it.

General Themes: Stability, homecoming, communal harmony, a safe container for joy.

Four of Wands Upright

Like the Three of Cups, the Four of Wands is a celebration card. It’s time to appreciate the good things in life. Honor even the little things and take time out of your life to celebrate the really big stuff. Have some fun!

You have reached a state of stability and sustainable abundance. It’s safe to let down and relax now. Center yourself—think of your body as hearth and home, the root of your abundant spirit. The more you ground yourself in what matters, the more you will flourish.

Four of Wands Reversed

The Four of Wands reversed still carries the joyous energy of its upright form. Here, though, it’s more about inner harmony, something we don’t celebrate enough. It is no small thing to find your way back to yourself. Some people never do. So take this time to honor this pivotal moment.

Now is the time to release worry and negative self-talk. Just because things don’t seem to be moving forward in the outer world doesn’t mean you aren’t growing. The deepest work is quiet, almost imperceptible—and the longest lasting. So enjoy the process and release the need to control the outcome, a temptation which is often at the root of worry and negativity.

In its most alarming form, it can reflect a time of instability and upheaval, particularly in your personal life. Your life feels like it’s turned upside down! But, as with the Hanged Man, this card offers a new perspective. Look at things from a new vantage point and see what this topsy-turvy energy can teach you. Maybe you’ve needed to loosen up or let go of things you can’t control to restore harmony. Maybe this friction shows you what you need to remove from your life in order to thrive. Pause and take in the scene. The answers will come. And when they do—celebrate.

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!