21 Comments
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Patty's avatar

phewwwww some heavy energy arriving this month! I like how it combines with the Hermit though - a strong reminder that painful experiences are not in vain and that we will come out more wise after them!

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Yeah, we've had a great run of cards in recent months, I was wondering when we might see one of the more challenging ones. The strong message as I was putting this reading together really was... don't panic... it'll be interesting to see what it is that we shouldn't panic about 🧐

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Patty's avatar

Would be interesting to come back to this reading at the end of the month and share what we all individually experienced

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tarotbyphil's avatar

I would absolutely love it if people were willing to do that! What a great topic for discussion… thanks for suggesting it 🙏🏼😊

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Patty's avatar

Of course!! 😊

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tarotbyphil's avatar

I'll look forward to that! 🤓

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Forest Monarch Tarot's avatar

That’s a beautiful way to look at it!

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Leo in L.A.'s avatar

thought provoking!

I think I will look at it this way, with The Hermit being a prominent visitor to me lately.

As I reconstruct my own life from the inside out, I will guard against the temptation to absorb all the should’s and shouldn’t’s and uninvited advice and negativity coming from the outside world, the Five of Swords.

And because the Five of Swords is an air mental element, rather than an earthly one, I think those battles will all be fought in the battlefield of mental health. 🙂

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Hiya Leo 👋🏼

Yes, that sounds like a great way of looking at it, especially if all of the 'shoulds' and shouldn't's' would be your normal default position! The five indicates change, and approaching intellectual (Swords) solutions in a different way... I think that sounds like your battlefield.

Fight bravely, mon brave... and trust your Hermit will advise you honestly and sagely 🙏🏼🕯️

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Forest Monarch Tarot's avatar

I did a party over the weekend (over 50 individual readings) and the Hermit came up in at least 20 readings, I think there is a lot of collective energy with the Hermit right now!

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tarotbyphil's avatar

That sounds like a busy evening! 👍🏼

Yes, I know what you mean about Hermit energy. It's a huge part of my experience this year, and working through each card of the month in combination with it is really deepening my understanding of it, too. For me, Hermit energy is my happy place and I'm loving it's presence this year 😊

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tomrambler319's avatar

Wowsers! That's a lot to unpack, and I am definitely not going to panic! Setbacks are moments to reflect which unite us with The Hermit once more. Thank you for your excellent work as ever! Sending you Blessings 🙏✨🦋

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Namaste, Tom 🙏🏼

You are absolutely right about setbacks, without them learning becomes a much slower process, but reflection takes us forward in new and helpful ways... I love that old IX·The Hermit energy... it always come back to my preference for taking time to understand something before I break it anyway! 😅🕯️

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Forest Monarch Tarot's avatar

This is so fitting with the yearly wheel I pulled for each month on New Year’s Eve for 2025. I got the Queen of Swords for June in my spread. This is making me THINK about the similarities between the 5 of Swords and the Hermit compared to the Queen of Swords. What a fun combo! I am excited to revisit this post at the end of the month!

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Ooh, please do! Would you be willing to share your findings then, too? 😊

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Margaret Estelle's avatar

I feel seen by this card combo! I really need to get it together 😂

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Yeah, me too!!! 😀

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It's Hell, Actually's avatar

Damn. I thought may was difficult. So I ask with a shakesperean intonation, WHYYYYY)

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Becaaauuuusse... life without difficulty would be too easy, and we've all been sent here to suffer... so, looking at it that way, it's the right card of the month! 🤣

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Thanks very much for the restack, Ryan. I appreciate it 🙏🏼🕯️🙂

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tarotbyphil's avatar

Thanks for the restack, much appreciated 👍🏼🕯️😊

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