Sometimes our ideas are dismissed by our surroundings as being mere fantasies and fairy tales. Sometimes we do a pretty good job dis-empowering us ourselves. Today we run the risk of doing just that, so let's make a resolve right here, right now; now matter how unusual the idea, we are going to take ourselves serious and take the time to look at our own creative processes without dismissing them right away. That in itself is a wholesome exercise for some of us!

The Reaper is here to help us with a difficult step in our process; The project is over, the book is not going to be written, someone else had gotten the job we wanted or death has come to collect a suffering loved one. Whatever it was, it has come to an end and, if we are honest about it, that is not altogether a bad thing. Sometimes things can drag out too long. In the ending of it there is the seed of a new beginning. Do not feel guilty for mourning over what is lost and simultaneously  rejoicing in that what is yet to come. It's all part of the cycle of life.   

The Wise Woman together with the Nadir coin and the Opponent spells trouble; somebody thinks they know everything better than we do. Judgmental, competitive and maybe even a little bit vindictive, this person is trying to make us look bad and steal our thunder. Don't let them get away with it! We are wise in our own ways and we will stand our ground. With dignity because we do not engage in shouting matches. We're above it!

Somebody doesn't tell the truth. We need to be on our guard for deceivers. Whenever we hear a story we need to ask ourselves who stands to benefit by the narrative that is presented. It might reveal the source and motivation of the story so we can make an informed decision whether we are going to believe it or not. Lives depend on honest decisions!  

Time to add a new skill to our already impressive set of accomplishments. Now let's not do ourselves short here: every single one of us has more skills than we realize! So let's be happy and excited to learn yet another thing. Not by extensive study while staying in the comfort of our homes, but by going out and actually do stuff. Experience is the best teacher, so let's allow ourselves to experience something new today and learn from it. 

Preparing ourselves for the future by making plans and setting aside some money to fulfill them is in itself a virtuous thing. To a certain extent it ensures our safety and stability. However, whenever the Challenger is on the table, we know that the Oracle is warning us not to take things into the extreme. We run the risk that worrying about the future is taking the pleasure out of the present. Life is that which is happening today while we are preparing for tomorrow, so don't miss it!

No matter how much we know about something, there are always new things to discover. Keep an open mind to all opinions and keep gathering more information. Than, let that input simmer for a while before coming to a conclusion. Maybe avoid the internet for a day and relax with a book. I don't know how what the weather looks like in the rest of the world, but in my country it rains. So snuggling up on the couch with a book or two is just up my street!

Stern convictions and rigid ideas lead to arrogance and self-righteousness. What is it that keeps us on our high horse? Is it simply that we are right or are we sometimes prone to arrogance? If we want to move forward in life and be pleasant people at the same time, than some soul-searching is definitely advised! Let's work on being the person we truly want to be.  

Do not give up on your current project! It is so tempting to start something new to pour all our enthusiasm and energy into it...but is this the right time? If we are honest with ourselves, did we properly finish the last project we started? Do we really have the time to throw ourselves into a new endeavor? When we start something we need to see it through as well, otherwise we leave a trail of orphaned projects behind where-ever we go and that benefits nobody. So let's take responsibility for the things we have committed ourselves to before taking on any new projects.

With everything that is going on in the world it is only natural that we worry about the future: "How is everything going to play out, will life get worse, will it get better, what can I do to make sure that I stay safe, comfortable even, what do I need to do? These are all valid thoughts and at the same time, let us not forget to stop breathing. Yes the future is uncertain but the truth is: it always was and always will be. Worrying is not going to change our future, it will only taint our present. So let us not forget to cherish what we have today!

Something comes to our hands without us expecting is. We get a present or we simply find something of which we cannot track the owner. In that case it is probably meant for us to have. So let us enjoy the little gifts and the simple pleasures that life sometimes bestows on us. There is enough hardship in the world to lose our sense of gratitude, so let us practice being thankful for gifts that are given to us.

The Wise Man is about experience, about the fact that no matter how great the education we have received, some lessons are best learned through living them. Today we celebrate the personal power that comes with lived experience. May we explore the world without fear or inhibition!