The context of the reading is the way the heart is affected by the winds and storms that assail it. A tree on a cliff that has been weathered and shaped, some would say mangled, by the forces that bear down up on it. But it survived because it was shaped and changed to survive. It’s not like other trees, it doesn’t just grow upright because it’s in the middle of the forest. It Is unique and contains strong roots, deep striving fingers. The question becomes what is it that you truly desire. Your wish, not a fleeting fancy, but the deeper desire within your depths, that is what your waves can bring you. Examine the things you want and see what is beneath them, what is driving them. That is your true desire. How are your emotions filters for how you understand what’s around you. How are you examining the world? What does your desire have to do with that view? Jealousy and inspiration can draw breath from the same thing, but one will drown you while the other will lift you up, carry you forward. Now is the time to take action, to burn brightly with your generative fire and do something. Break it down, find a way. Make the little changes and take the little steps. What we do, we do for others, whether we know it or not. You have an effect on the broader community and you must accept that as part of why you take the actions you do. Big or small, there are reverberation in the cosmic ocean. What will you resonate?

For context we return to the intersection of akasha and akasha, how what is right is influenced by what we deeply know. The idea that perfection is the enemy of good, but that we need to strive for the good even when the universe can’t tell us something hard and true. It’s all relative and there isn’t a deep set of laws that we can follow that will be true in all cases and for all people. So we are the Primal, a first mover, the one who creates the elements that make up the world. The power to live a moral life is ours and we must pursue it. It comes from within us, not from without. Then comes the storm that gives us pause. Lightning strikes and provides clear relief to something that had been merely a concept in our minds, now made real and practical. There is a moment of destruction or collapse that we face as we must live out our moral ideas in reality and then deal with the consequences of those actions. We live the book of our lives, our internal world a rich tapestry of thought and ideas, yet everyone else experiences the movie of our actions without that rich context. So we come to the question that eats at everyone with the privilege of debating morality, what do we do when we have excess. What is the right thing to do with what we have but do not need. Is there more goodness in giving, regardless of why or the consequences. Lastly, we are reminded to rest. Even in the face of the struggle to be moral, to know truth, we have to pause and allow our pursuit to settle so that new pathways, new reactions can take hold.

When the ether, akasha interacts with your fire, your core, what does that mean. Are you a beacon, a shining light in the darkness, a lighthouse on troubled waters? How does your authentic self look like in the dark vastness of space. How does the orbit of others affect you and your light. You are the ever burning flame, the source of fire in your life and the lives of those around you. You have to love learning, feeling the flames and gravity of others in your life. The fuel you burn comes from the stardust of others, the shared energy that crosses your threshold and makes up the secretions of your life. There are dreams in your depths that you have to trust to rise up and be seen. To share them with others as they share theirs with you. Again we are focused on the intersection of the third eye and the heart. Lovingly seeing others, imbibing others, feeling others. The reminder, the message, is to shine, to act, to do, but to be conscious of where your flame comes from, what you burn and what you shine.

What are the pretenses that you have formed that block the truth from flowing, that keep your core from really giving you the power to live. What is your authentic sparkle and how have you been either finding or ignoring it because of other whips and whispers. Everything changes. Change is life. Change is what happens if you live and move and breathe. It is inevitable. But you can find yourself in the midst of that change and align your chakras to uncover your authentic self, find your sparkle and shine. When the storms come you can be washed clean of things that you don’t need. You may have wanted them, but you don’t need them, not for what comes next. The storms show you what truly matters. A home is a home, even if it’s not perfect.

The reading begins with a poignant reminder to be aware of the ways in which information influences emotionality. When we look around to observe, perceive, and learn, it is vital to understand that our emotions are a filter that influences how we process what we know. Rather than allowing information to pull us in all directions, there is a better way, a middle way. One that is emotionally intelligent and intelligently emotional. From this place of balanced understanding, it is easier to know that what wells up from our dreams is a representation of who we are actually are: A person who deserves to be treated with respect and care. If we have filtered the learning and understanding to a high degree, then we can move confidently in the direction of our goals. In treating oneself as preciously as platinum, we instruct others in how to do the same. Where as the Gold Rule is externally focused – and often fixated on sacrifice – the Platinum Rule gives us the ability to share of ourselves from a place of abundance, rather than impoverishing sacrifice. Once all this is understood, the moment has come to act. You know you are well informed, you trust your intent, and you share without sacrificing – now go! Do that which has been sifted, cleaned, and checked for impurities. Act knowing that it is an accurate expression of yourself. In manifesting your will, it becomes clear that you see your purpose and accept it to be good.

The reading opens with a reminder that true friendship is a rare and beautiful light that nourishes us, and gives us the energy we need to thrive and put forth fruitful harvests. The cards then remind us that we are freed of our guilt, and that this happens by way of the connections we make. We learn from other people not only when we have erred, but how we can make amends and continue to grow. Coming out of these conversations and interactions we learn more about our moral drivers and motivations. The Sage makes an appearance to remind us that sometimes we learn the most when we take moments of silence to reflect and consider what we have done, said, or thought. And during these meditative times, the decks wanted us to remember that curiosity and deep analysis are vital for understanding everything we are trying to accomplish.

The context for today’s reading is the idea of how our emotions intersect with how we express ourselves. As with the instruments in a band or symphony, the meaning the plays out with our expression changes based on intention. The same metal flute with the same air moving through it can play the same notes an infinite number of ways, and that is one way to think about how our emotions color our words. Remember that you might not play the same melody in the same way on a different day, and take responsibility for the consequences of what you put out into the world. When your words cause a reversal for yourself others, remember to clear the rubble from your third eye to perceive better what has happened and why. Allow new information and understanding to reform your context and intent, then use that rubble to build something new and wonderful. The stones from a Roman ruin can be used to build a cathedral. You are that cathedral, that progress in work, that project that takes a lifetime. It is the living that matters, even more than the tasks themselves. As the storms come and go, as they will forever, remember your cathedral can withstand them. With each storm, you make repairs. You stay out of your own way, and allow yourself the grace to realize that guilt and shame are distractions once their lessons have been learned. If there is grief, consider how it might be a hole, and you can fill it with anything you want. What building material will you choose?

We navigate the world based on how we perceive it and what we know and learn from it. But our emotions and instincts are a filter, and we must be aware of them as we process the information that comes our way. Sometimes those experiences root themselves within us as shame, and this impacts our choices for the worse. Being free of shame releases energy once used for defense to be allocated instead toward growth. Making a safe space (both internally and literally) provides a respite, but guard against guarding so much that no one can climb the walls around your garden. Otherwise a transformational experience is not actually able to affect change in your life. Be aware of whether compasses that are externally set to true north haven’t been substituted for dials that can be set by biased hands. And finally, recognize that the safe space you built isn’t only for you, so remember to include features that benefit the community of people you love.