5.12-5.18.26: Temporary Discomfort

May 12

For this week’s collective reading, I asked “What’s the energy of the week? How can we best work with it and how does the energy support us?” I received The Moon (XVIII), the Two of Pentacles, and The Hanged One (XII).

The throughline between these three cards is a theme of discomfort—the discomfort of unearthing emotions you’d rather keep hidden (The Moon); the discomfort of juggling competing priorities (Two of Pentacles); and the discomfort of feeling stuck in limbo (The Hanged One). Let’s break these three Tarot Teachers down a bit, shall we?

We’ll start with The Moon. Whenever I pull The Moon, I like to look at what the actual Moon is doing, to let the Astrological energy inform the message. What sign and phase is the Moon in? This week, we’ll have a New Moon in Taurus. As I’m sure you’ve heard me say before, New Moons provide the ideal condition for planting seeds of intention. This New Moon in Taurus reminds you to not only plant those seeds, but also to water them and give them light. To weed around them and nurture them as they begin to grow and become seedlings. To have patience and faith—even if (especially if) those around you don’t believe in your vision.

The Moon is exalted in Taurus, which, according to astrologer Chani Nicholas means it “finds comfort and stability (there). Though Luna waxes and wanes each month, this fixed earth sign stays grounded and centered. Together, they specialize in resting, relaxing, and self-soothing. Think: snacks and sweatpants. And if drama comes up, this pair has a talent for channeling tricky feelings creatively. When life gives you an emotional roller coaster, Moon in Taurus knows how to turn it into art.”

To look at The Moon card a little less literally, its presence implies that this week may bring opportunities for shadow work. Ask yourself: what is it I’ve been keeping under the surface out of fear or shame or insecurity or… (insert any uncomfortable emotion). Maybe it’s time to give a little sunlight and attention to that area of life. Maybe it’s time to turn that pain into art.

A couple weeks ago, the collective reading featured a different Two in the middle—the Two of Swords. That two felt like a choice. This week’s “Two in the middle” is of the Pentacle variety, and feels more like competing demands or priorities. I don’t know about you, but the madness and stress of “Maycember” is alive and well in my household—and in the other two WWW founders’ lives as well! Between the three of us, we’ll be celebrating four of six kids’ birthdays this month, as well as: dance recitals, mountain bike clinics, music classes, Track & Field days, field trips, end of school year parties, and the list goes on. Add these “extra” things on top of life’s everyday stressors and it’s a recipe for burnout. Anyone else? The Two of Pentacles is here to remind you that you simply cannot hold it all. Something must give. Normalize asking yourself and others “What should I deprioritize in order to make room for the additional things I’m taking on?” See if you can remove one thing from your to-do list each day this week—save it for another time, delegate it, or drop it completely. Feeling lighter yet?

And lastly we have The Hanged One. For a lot of folks, the imagery on this card strikes fear and dread. But The Hanged One is honestly one of my favorite cards in the Tarot. Stick with me here… I know our upside down friend doesn’t look very comfy, suspended and dangling by one foot. But if you look closer, you may notice they’re actually quite chill. They aren’t being tortured. They aren’t in distress. They’re not even fighting the bondage. In fact, they have quite a serene look about them, and a glowing halo around their crown that implies divine wisdom and transcendence. This card is appropriately ruled by the planet Neptune, which represents the dissolution of boundaries, pushing beyond material reality toward artistic inspiration, empathy, and spiritual enlightenment.

The Hanged One calls to mind the act of surrender. For me, it always reminds me of the Pigeon Pose in yoga—come to think of it, the pose actually kind of looks similar to that of the figure illustrated on this card. But that’s not where the comparison ends. Pigeon is one of the most uncomfortable and intense yoga poses I’ve experienced. Pigeon pose requires surrender. If you intend to sit in Pigeon for several minutes, you must release the impulse to fight the discomfort. You must release tension and breathe through the discomfort. You must trust that the intensity is temporary and that your body can withstand it—and ultimately benefit from it. And the same goes for this card. If you find yourself “stuck” in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar place this week, remember that it is temporary. Don’t try to fight it or rescue yourself from it. Sit with the discomfort. Breathe through it. Let it move through you and trust that what comes on the other side is a more elevated, more relaxed, wiser, kinder you.