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- Tarot Tip: Minor Arcana as Energy Demands
- Wald's Words of Wisdom
- Mind Your Own Business: Emergency! Emergency!
- Upcoming Events
This month you came from:Australia, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States!
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Here in the Northern hemisphere, today is Beltaine, the ancient Celtic fire festival that marks the beginning of summer and the full transition into the light half of the year. It is a day associated with joy, movement, and the living energy of the season.
Traditionally, bonfires were lit as symbols of blessing, vitality, and the light returning in power. The Beltaine fires were believed to have magical properties, too. Their flames, glowing embers, ashes, and smoke were all believed capable of granting health and protection.
This brings to mind the 4 of Wands. This celebratory card shows garlands raised overhead, people gathered in happiness, and a sense of welcome and shared delight. As part of the suit of Wands, it carries the Element of Fire in its aspect of warmth, enthusiasm, life, and the spark that draws people together.
The 4 of Wands reminds us that celebration has value of its own. There are times to strive, build,
and overcome but there are also times to pause and recognize what is already good, growing, and worthy of gratitude. As May begins, Beltaine and the 4 of Wands together offer a simple message: honor the light, appreciate the good things in your life, and share the joy!
This past Monday, we taught a ground-breaking class about the enigmatic Depths on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Though the Depths have long been mentioned in lists and
traditional sources (starting over 1,000 years ago!), they had never before been explored or explained in any practical way. After a
lifetime's immersion in tarot and deep contemplation on the subject, Wald shared his understanding of these mysterious realms and their relationship to the Minor Arcana. He has a talent for taking a complex subject and teaching it in a way that's instantly accessible. (Our students can back me up on that!)
If you've been looking for something brand new in tarot, the replay is available upon request for only $15. We also have a catalog of over 200 past classes to explore.
Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter with other Tarot Enthusiasts!
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Tarot as a Field of Engagement with Life:
Energy in Motion – Understanding the
Numbered Minor Arcana
©️2026 Cheryl Ryder, Albuquerque Tarot Tribe
In our previous exploration of the Four Powers of Tarot, we looked at the suits as domains of human experience—places in life where we act, care, understand, and build.
🔴 Wands
Domain of Life: Action / Movement / Initiative
Power to: Act
Guiding Question: What can I do?
🔵 Cups
Domain of Life: Relationships / Values / Connection
Power to: Care
Guiding Question: What matters?
🟡 Swords
Domain of Life: Clarity / Discernment / Logical Coherence
Power to: Understand
Guiding Question: What's happening?
🟢 Pentacles
Domain of Life: Resources / Stability / Structure
Power to: Build
Guiding Question: What's supports this?
The suits show us where in our Life Domains something is happening – the same four domains we explored previously.
The numbers show us something equally important: how the energy in that domain is moving.
The Numbers Are Not a Collection of Meanings (Tarot Tips Feb 1, 2026, “Beyond What it Means” https://tarotschool.com/TarotTips260201.html
Many tarot readers learn the numbered cards as keywords and meanings to memorize. When we look more closely—especially at practical systems like the Tarot School’s “Upside and Downside Issues”—a different pattern emerges.
Across the cards, we repeatedly see what people are doing:
- struggling to begin
- making choices
- testing ideas
- stabilizing something
- facing disruption
These are not fixed meanings. They are phases of experience.
The numbers describe the movement of energy through life.
The Dynamic Flow of Life Energy
Number: Energy Phase
Action Verbs – What the Energy is Doing *
* These are just examples; your own verbs may vary.
Ace: Emergence
appearing, initiating, arising, entering awareness, forming potential
Two: Tension
opposing, polarizing, choosing, relating, balancing, orienting
Three: Activation
engaging, expressing, expanding, interacting, developing
Four: Stabilization
structuring, consolidating, stabilizing, grounding, organizing, containing
Five: Disruption
challenging, destabilizing, disrupting, disturbing, breaking apart, forcing change
Six: Realignment
adjusting, restoring, rebalancing, redirecting, harmonizing
Seven: Testing
asserting, challenging, defining, positioning, testing, defending
Eight: Engagement
focusing, committing, refining, sustaining, applying sustained effort
Nine: Integration
compressing, consolidating, intensifying, integrating, completing internally
Ten: Denouement
manifesting outcome, resolving, culminating, resulting, revealing externally |
The number shows the phase of the energy movement.
The suit shows the domain where it is happening.
Example: A Closer Look at the Fives
In traditional esoteric systems, the Fives are often described as loss—“Lord of Defeat,” “Lord of Loss in Pleasure,” and so on. These titles can feel heavy, even final. When we look at lived experience, something more useful appears. What we are encountering is not necessarily loss. It is disruption of belief: something that we believed was stable or unalterably true is no longer holding. That disruption shows up differently in each domain:
🔴 5 of Wands
Disruption in the Domain of: Action / Movement /
Initiative
Guiding Question: What can I do now?
Use Power to: Act
Example: Can describe disruption of organized action
🔵 5 of Cups
Disruption in the Domain of: Meaning / Connection / Values
Guiding Question: What matters now?
Use Power to: Care
Example: Can describe disruption of values and connection
🟡 5 of Swords
Disruption in the Domain of: Clarity / Understanding / Logic
Guiding Question: What is actually happening?
Use Power to: Understand
Example: Can describe disruption
of clarity and logical communications
🟢 5 of Pentacles
Disruption in the Domain of: Stability / Resources / Support
Guiding Question: What will restore support?
Use Power
to: Build
Example: Can describe disruption of stability and support systems
The esoteric titles describe how this moment is interpreted as loss. The Power to Understand reveals what is actually happening. And when we can see what is happening, we can respond intelligently and intentionally.
Beginning with Understanding
When a card evokes a strong reaction, it can be helpful to pause and ask a simple question: “What is actually happening here?”
This question engages the Power to Understand.
Instead of immediately identifying with the figures in a card—or the emotions it stirs—we observe:
- What actions are taking place?
- What has changed?
- What is no longer working?
This shifts us from reaction to awareness. From there, we can engage our other powers:
- What matters here? (Care)
- What supports this situation? (Build)
- What can I do? (Act)
From Prediction to Participation
When we read the Minor Arcana this way, something important changes.
The cards are no longer telling us what will happen.
They are showing us:
- where we are in a process
- what phase the energy is in
- and which of our own capacities are needed now
The tarot becomes about participation in life.
The cards are not disempowering our capacities or removing our agency;
They are showing us ways to develop and use them.
What do you think?
About Cheryl Ryder:
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60-years of tarot use and study, a tarot workshop developer and the leader of the Albuquerque Tarot Tribe Meetup Group for the past 12 years. Cheryl has grown the group from 150 members to over 1200 using innovative and interactive teaching methods.
You all know her: a 10-year Readers Studio veteran, 7 years of Coordinating the Tarot Ambassador Team, occasional First-Timer Initiator, Merchant Faire Vendor, and in 2024, the Facilitator of the Sunday morning Tarot Incubator Discussions.
Cheryl’s ongoing programs and discussion groups on the Albuquerque Tarot Tribe’s platform (open to anyone interested in tarot globally) continue to inspire people to expand and deepen their learning of tarot and their worlds.
https://www.meetup.com/the-albuquerque-tarot-meetup-group/
Email: ABQTarotTribe@gmail.com
To submit a question to be answered in a future issue of Tarot Tips, send us an email at tarot@tarotschool.com
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Wald's Words of Wisdom
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Mind Your Own Business
EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!
5 tips to protect your tarot business during tough times
By Patti Woods
It’s always a good idea to be prepared for an emergency. How many of us have batteries, flashlights, canned goods and water ready to go in case something happens? Hopefully you never have to use them, but having these things ready can bring peace of mind. The same can be said of your tarot business. Whether you read cards as a side gig or as your full-time career, it’s good to have a plan in place in case something comes up. Illness, caretaking and natural disasters can occur unexpectedly at any time.
In December, I had a family situation arise where I knew I would have to take some time off from my tarot business. I wasn’t sure how long it would last, but I had to prepare for a significant chunk of time. This can be a really scary proposition. I’ve worked hard to build up a strong, steady clientele, and the thought of not engaging with them for awhile was a little unsettling. Would they forget about me? Would I lose the foundation I had created? I had to trust that I wouldn’t, and took some actions to prepare for the uncertainty of the coming months. Here, then, are some tips to consider if you should ever find yourself in a similar situation.
First, the obvious. If at all possible, it’s helpful to have a nest egg put aside for times when you might not be able to see clients. A financial cushion will help reduce some stress, even if it’s just a little bit. This is something to start creating when times are good. Even a few dollars a week can add up.
Next, let your clients know you’ll be taking a break. I pinned a post on social media saying that I’d be taking some time off. In addition, I sent out a newsletter explaining that I’d be pausing bookings while I tended to something that needed my full attention. I created a waiting list and offered clients the option to add their names to the list in the event that I had unexpected availability. (As it turned out, I did have two or three days where I was able to do a few readings.)
Third, tend to your website. I put up a landing page saying that I was currently not booking, but also included a link for people to sign up for my newsletter so that they could stay informed.
Fourth, pause any unnecessary payments for you and for your clients. For example, I run a Patreon group and I paused payments for the members. I didn’t want them to pay the monthly fee when I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up with posts.
Lastly, take care of yourself. During high-stress times, personal boundaries can become blurred. Some clients may not respect your space. Be prepared to say no to requests for “just a quick reading” or “could you squeeze me in?”
Being a solo business owner is a wonderful thing, but it certainly comes with its challenges. Emergencies are bound to arise at some point, so being prepared ahead of time can help ease the situation. This week, take an hour or two to craft an emergency preparedness plan for your business. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it will make you feel calmer knowing it’s there.
About Patti:
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Patti Woods is a writer and tarot reader with over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. Having served as an editor for both newspapers and magazines, she transitioned into freelance writing, contributing hundreds of articles to major publications such as The Boston Globe, Business Insider, Wine Spectator, Parade Magazine, The Week, Christian Science Monitor, Vegetarian Times, and Health, among many others.
In addition to her writing career, Patti is the founder of Mind, Body & Tarot, a business featured in Business Insider, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, Fodor's Travel, and more.
She is also the author of Lost Restaurants of Fairfield, published by Arcadia/The History Press, and has contributed to several anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Learn more about her services and offerings at www.pattiwoods.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boozytarot
IG: boozy_tarot
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Upcoming Events: 
Tarot Salon on Zoom!
7:00 – 9:00 pm EDT
Our popular Monday night classes are held over Zoom so you can attend no matter where you live.
Classes are recorded and all levels of experience are welcome!
MAY 2026:
4 - Symbols of the 3 of Swords
11 - Symbols of the 4 of Swords
18 - Birth Cards: The Fool
25 - NO CLASS (Memorial Day)
Get on the notification list to see what we'll be teaching each week.
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Readings with Ruth Ann
Running The Tarot School with Wald keeps me pretty busy, but I still love giving readings! My specialty is using your Birth Cards
and Elemental Array (techniques Wald and I have developed) in conjunction with random draws to give you an extremely personalized and powerful reading.
If you are familiar with the Tree of Life, you may request a Birth Cards Synastry Reading. I will compare your Birth Cards with those of one or two others to give you a deeper understanding of your relationship with them.
I excel at giving Readings for Readers so if you're always giving readings to others, let me help you with some self-care for a change!
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