Reading the sky, listening to the cards, and finding the magic in between

Astrology and divination have always danced together, they are part of the same symbolic language. To me, they do have their differences – one looks up, charting the stars and planets, and the effect that their positions and activities have on us and our lives. The other looks within, drawing on symbols, tools, and intuition. At their heart, both are about understanding cycles, patterns, and the unseen energies that shape our lives.

In many forms of divination — from tarot to oracle cards, pendulum readings to runes — astrological symbols quietly guide the message, adding flavour, timing, and deeper insight.

If you’ve ever seen a card marked with a little glyph or felt the tug of a planetary influence during a reading, chances are astrology was whispering through the symbols.

Why Astrology Belongs in Divination

Astrology offers us a language of timing, archetypes, and energetic themes. Each zodiac sign, planet, and house carries its own personality — and when these energies show up in a reading, they help you tune into the when, how, and why of a situation.

Astrological symbols often show up in:

• Tarot (especially in the Major Arcana)

• Oracle decks

• Birth chart readings

• Planetary dice or astro cards

• Themed spreads based on moon phases or retrogrades

Understanding even the basics can give your readings an extra layer of depth and cosmic timing.

Common Astrology Symbols in Readings

♈ Aries – Boldness, beginnings, impulse
Often appears as a spark of energy or a call to leap into something new.

♉ Taurus – Stability, sensuality, grounding
May suggest a need for patience, security, or tending to your body.

♊ Gemini – Communication, curiosity, duality
Symbolic of learning, talking, networking — or a decision on the table.

♋ Cancer – Emotion, home, intuition
Often tied to themes of nurture, roots, and emotional protection.

♌ Leo – Confidence, visibility, creativity
Brings energy to be bold, share your gifts, or take centre stage.

♍ Virgo – Detail, healing, service
Signals a time to refine, organise, or look after your wellbeing.

♎ Libra – Balance, beauty, relationships
May point to partnerships, fairness, or choices needing harmony.

♏ Scorpio – Transformation, intensity, depth
Symbolises emotional truth, endings, power, or healing from within.

♐ Sagittarius – Expansion, learning, freedom
Often connected to travel, higher learning, or spiritual growth.

♑ Capricorn – Responsibility, ambition, mastery
Shows up when long-term plans, structure, or discipline are needed.

♒ Aquarius – Innovation, rebellion, collective vision
Brings change, new ideas, or a call to be unapologetically you.

♓ Pisces – Dreaming, intuition, compassion
Speaks to surrender, spirituality, and deeper emotional waters.

Planetary Energy in the Cards

Beyond zodiac signs, planets themselves have energy — and many decks symbolically reference them.

☉ Sun – Clarity, vitality, purpose
☽ Moon – Mystery, intuition, emotion
☿ Mercury – Communication, ideas, movement
♀ Venus – Love, value, beauty
♂ Mars – Action, drive, conflict
♃ Jupiter – Luck, growth, expansion
♄ Saturn – Limits, lessons, responsibility
♅ Uranus – Change, breakthrough, rebellion
♆ Neptune – Dreams, illusion, spirituality
♇ Pluto – Transformation, power, shadow

These planetary vibes can help you time a situation, understand where tension or flow exists, and guide you toward what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Bridging Sky and Symbols

You don’t need to be an astrologer to weave astrology into your readings.
Even just recognising that the Moon card in tarot may carry Pisces energy, or that a spread feels loaded with Mars-like drive, can shift your understanding entirely.

Try this:

• Pull a card and ask: What zodiac sign or planet might be influencing this?

• Look at a full moon or retrograde and ask: What area of my life is being highlighted right now?

• Notice recurring signs — do Gemini themes keep showing up in your spreads?

The stars may not force your hand…
But they definitely help shape the path you’re walking.

With deep roots and an open heart,
Sarah x

Seeing beyond the surface into the language of light

When you look at a tarot or oracle card, what catches your eye first?

Often, before the symbols or the figure or the message… it’s the colour. And that’s no accident. Colours carry energy. They stir emotion. They bypass logic and go straight to feeling — and in divination, they often act as the mood music behind a message.

In fact, colour can shift the whole tone of a reading. Imagine drawing a card that features fire — but it’s set against a pale blue sky versus a black one. That background changes everything.

Let’s explore how colour plays a powerful, often overlooked role in tarot, oracle, and other visual forms of divination.

Why Colour Matters

Colours evoke emotion and instinct. In spiritual and symbolic traditions, each colour carries meaning — tied to elements, chakras, planetary influences, and emotional resonance.

In a reading, colour can:

• Emphasise the energy of a card

• Reveal hidden or intuitive layers

• Guide your interpretation even before you know the traditional meaning

The more we learn to feel colour as well as see it, the more nuanced and intuitive our readings become.

Key Colours and Their Symbolism in Divination

🎨 Red – Passion, courage, anger, life force
Associated with fire, blood, root chakra, and vitality. Red in a reading might call attention to your physical body, assertiveness, or a rising emotional charge.

🎨 Orange – Creativity, pleasure, confidence
The colour of the sacral chakra, movement, and self-expression. It can point to desire, artistic energy, or emotional openness.

🎨 Yellow – Intellect, joy, clarity
Linked to the solar plexus and the sun. Yellow brings mental sharpness, optimism, and personal power — but in excess, it can highlight overthinking or anxiety.

🎨 Green – Growth, healing, compassion
Heart chakra energy, nature, and abundance. A green card may invite you into emotional healing, connection, or a season of new growth.

🎨 Blue – Communication, intuition, truth
Blue connects with the throat chakra and often shows up when expression is key — whether it’s speaking your truth or listening more deeply.

🎨 Indigo / Dark Blue – Mystery, psychic insight, dreams
Tied to the third eye chakra, this colour points to inner wisdom, spiritual messages, and things just below the surface.

🎨 Purple – Spiritual power, transformation, higher connection
A colour of royalty and deep magic. Purple in a card often asks you to look at the bigger picture — or to connect with your higher self or guides.

🎨 Black – Protection, the unknown, shadow work
Black absorbs. It represents mystery, depth, and things not yet revealed. When black appears strongly, it may suggest something hidden or potent beneath the surface.

🎨 White – Purity, clarity, spiritual renewal
Often used in cards that suggest fresh starts, divine presence, or truth. White brings light — and can cleanse or clarify the surrounding energies.

🎨 Gold – Enlightenment, abundance, divine spark
Gold is radiant and sacred. It often appears in cards that speak to destiny, soul purpose, or deep confidence.

🎨 Silver – The moon, feminine energy, reflection
Tied to the tides and intuition. Silver shimmers between what is known and what is just out of reach — a colour of dreamwalking and deep listening.

Let the Colours Speak

When interpreting cards — especially in decks rich in visual symbolism — take a moment to notice which colours dominate. Do they clash or blend? Are they soft or bold? Do they mirror a chakra, an emotion, or an energy you’re holding?

And sometimes, the colour that stands out most to you might not be the most obvious. Trust that. Your eye is being drawn there for a reason.

Because colour doesn’t just decorate the reading —
It deepens it.

With deep roots and an open heart,
Sarah x

Understanding the messages behind the math

Have you ever noticed the way a single number can shift the whole energy of a reading?

Numbers are more than just quantities — they are symbols, patterns, and vibrations. In divination, they act like tuning forks for energy, helping us understand the flavour, direction, and tone of a message.

From tarot and oracle cards to runes, dice, and even the layout of your spreads, numerology is everywhere. And when we begin to notice it — not just intellectually, but intuitively — we start to see the universe speaking in a language older than words: the language of number, pattern, and form.

Why Numbers Matter in Divination

Numbers carry universal energy signatures. Each number holds archetypal meaning — the essence of beginnings, relationships, growth, mastery, endings, and beyond. When these numbers show up in your divination tools, they offer clues about what is happening, how it’s unfolding, and why it matters.

In tarot, each Minor Arcana card is tied to a number. In runes, certain shapes echo number-like progressions. In oracle readings, repeated number patterns (hello, 111 and 444!) are often the first thing people notice. Even in pendulum or scrying work, the presence of symbolic geometry — spirals, triangles, circles — whispers of numbers and sacred forms beneath the surface.

Let’s take a brief walk through the core energies of numbers 1–9 — the most common across systems:

🔢 1 – The Spark

New beginnings, individuality, potential. The purest “yes” from the universe.
In sacred geometry, this is the point — the first mark of intention.

🔢 2 – Duality

Balance, reflection, partnership, intuition. The tension and harmony of opposites.
Think of the line — connection between two points, choice, contrast.

🔢 3 – Creation

Growth, expression, creativity, expansion. The triangle — a symbol of harmony and manifestation — belongs here.

🔢 4 – Foundation

Stability, structure, routine, order. Four walls, four elements, four directions — the square that holds it all.

🔢 5 – Change

Instability, freedom, curiosity, challenge. The number of the human experience (head, arms, legs). The pentagram lives here — movement, transformation, wild energy.

🔢 6 – Harmony

Compassion, healing, beauty, sacred union. In sacred geometry, six forms the hexagram and the flower of life, symbols of balance between spirit and matter.

🔢 7 – Spiritual Growth

Mystery, introspection, sacred truth. Seven is the seeker — the mystic. It shows up in the seven chakras, seven classical planets, seven-pointed faery star.

🔢 8 – Power

Strength, abundance, mastery, karmic cycles. Often tied to infinity (the lemniscate) and the energetic balance of giving and receiving.

🔢 9 – Completion

Endings, wisdom, wholeness, letting go. The number of the elder, the teacher, the full moon of a cycle.

Sacred Geometry & Divine Pattern

Beyond basic numerology, there’s a deeper layer woven through — sacred geometry. The symbols found in mandalas, crop circles, ancient temples, and yes, in some tarot and oracle decks, are number made visible.

• The spiral shows growth and evolution (often linked to the Fibonacci sequence).

• The triangle (3) brings together body, mind, and spirit.

• The square (4) roots us in the physical world.

• The circle (the shape of zero and of wholeness) symbolises eternity, unity, and the divine feminine.

When these shapes appear in divination — whether in the art of a card, the formation of a crystal grid, or the path of a pendulum — they’re not just decorative. They’re energetic blueprints.

And your subconscious? It recognises them. Even if you can’t put words to it yet, your soul knows these forms.

Seeing the Patterns

Next time you pull a tarot card, pause and ask:

• What number is guiding this message?

• What energy does that number hold in this moment?

• Are there repeated numbers across the spread? What’s the pattern?

Whether it’s a card, rune, dice roll, or the time on the clock — numbers are little nudges from the universe, drawing your attention to something sacred, something aligned, something waiting to be noticed.

Because the language of the universe?
It’s written in numbers, and spoken through symbols.

With deep roots and an open heart, 
Sarah x

The creatures that carry wisdom across the veil

Animals have long been seen as messengers — not just in divination, but in myth, folklore, and dreams. Whether they show up in tarot, oracle decks, runes, or even as a spirit guide during a meditation or journey, animal symbols bring powerful energy into a reading.

Their meanings often run deep — shaped by instinct, archetype, and ancestral memory. And because animals speak through image, energy, and metaphor, they can reach us on levels words sometimes can’t.

Let’s explore some of the most common animal symbols you might come across in your divination practice — and what they’re whispering when they do.

Wolf – Intuition, Loyalty & the Call of the Wild

Wolves often symbolise intuition, independence, and the pull between the lone path and the pack. They’re highly social, but also powerful alone — reminding us to find balance between our need for connection and our soul’s unique path.

When a wolf appears in a reading, ask:

• Am I trusting my instincts?

• Where am I being called to lead — or to listen?

• Am I honouring both solitude and support?

Snake – Transformation, Healing & Shedding Skins

Snakes often make people nervous — but in divination, they are potent symbols of rebirth, healing, and deep change. Across many cultures, the snake is associated with kundalini energy, sacred medicine, and cyclical growth.

When snake energy appears:

• What are you ready to shed?

• Are you resisting change — or evolving through it?

• Is there healing rising from within?

Rabbit – Fertility, Fear & Fast Movement

At first glance, rabbits may seem soft and sweet — but their energy is complex. They’re symbols of abundance, sensitivity, and instinctive action. In some readings, they speak to fertile opportunities; in others, to anxiety or a need to move quickly.

When rabbit hops into view:

• Are you leaping forward or fleeing?

• Is fear guiding your decisions — or are you trusting opportunity?

• What’s ready to grow?

Animal Energy in the Everyday

You don’t need to wait for a card or rune to connect with animal symbols. Sometimes a creature appearing repeatedly in your life — a feather on the path, a dream visitor, or a fox crossing your road — is the message.

Whether you’re pulling cards, casting lots, or just paying attention, animals often come to guide, protect, or stir something deep within us. They speak a language beyond words — one the soul never forgets.

So, the next time an animal appears in your reading or your day, pause and ask:

What are you here to teach me?

With deep roots and an open heart,
Sarah x

Earth, air, fire, water, and spirit — the sacred energies guiding every reading

When you work with divination, you’re not just interpreting tools — you’re dancing with the elements.

The five classical elements — earth, air, fire, water, and spirit — appear again and again across divinatory practices. You’ll find them in tarot, oracle decks, astrology, runes, scrying, pendulum work, and even in the quiet messages from the world around you.

Each element carries its own energy, symbols, and lessons. Tuning into them helps you read not just the message in front of you, but the energy behind it — the pulse of what’s really being asked.

Let’s walk the circle together.

Earth – Grounded Wisdom & Practical Magic

Earth is the keeper of roots, bones, and boundaries. In tarot, it governs the suit of Pentacles, connecting to the body, money, work, health, and home. Earth grounds the reading — asking: What are you building? What needs tending? Where do you need more stability?

When earth energy appears in a reading, it might be:

• A nudge toward patience, presence, or long-term planning

• A reminder to connect with your physical body or resources

• A symbol of something solid, dependable, or deeply rooted

It shows up in steady rhythms, in the weight of a stone or a crystal, in cards that speak of slow growth and quiet strength.

Air – Clarity, Intellect & Sacred Truth

Air is breath, thought, movement, and language. In tarot, it flows through the Swords, bringing messages of truth, insight, and often, challenge. Air cuts through confusion. It brings light to what’s been clouded.

When air moves through your reading, you may notice:

• A call to speak your truth or examine your beliefs

• Sharp thoughts, decisions, or shifts in perspective

• Symbolism around movement, communication, or mental clarity

It’s the wind in your mind’s sails — sometimes gentle, sometimes a gale — but always in service to truth.

Fire – Passion, Power & Soul Spark

Fire is the creative force, the flame of will, the divine “yes.” In tarot, it burns through the Wands, showing up as action, inspiration, and transformation. Fire brings energy — for better or for chaos.

When fire shows up in divination, expect:

• Creative or spiritual breakthroughs

• Invitations to act, speak up, or change something

• Passion, purpose, and sometimes, challenge

Fire is bold and illuminating. It’s the leap before you’re ready, the inner torchlight saying, you’ve got this.

Water – Emotion, Intuition & Sacred Flow

Water is the realm of dreams, heart, and healing. In tarot, it glides through the Cups, expressing love, longing, grief, and deep soul connection. Water doesn’t always speak in words — it speaks in feelings.

When water appears, it might be asking you to:

• Feel something fully — not fix it

• Listen to your intuition or the subtle energies around you

• Open to compassion, release, or emotional truth

Water reminds you that softness is strength, and that your heart is an oracle too.

Spirit – The Thread That Connects It All

Spirit is the element that holds the other four. It’s the breath between moments, the wisdom beneath the surface, the part of you that remembers. Spirit doesn’t have a tarot suit — because it’s in all of them. It moves through everything.

In divination, Spirit is:

• The intuitive nudge you can’t explain

• The synchronicity that makes you smile

• The sacred space you enter when reading for yourself or others

It’s what makes the tools work. It’s the invitation to trust, to surrender, and to remember that you are more than this moment — you are a spark of something eternal.

Reading Through the Elements

When you notice which elements are present (or missing) in a reading, the picture becomes clearer. A spread full of earth might suggest grounding and patience. Fire and water together could point to emotional conflict or creative tension. When Spirit speaks — it often feels like stillness, like knowing without needing proof.

The elements don’t just shape the reading — they shape you.
They show you where your energy lies, where you need support, and how to return to balance.

So the next time you light a candle, draw a card, or ask the pendulum for guidance, take a breath and ask:

Which element is guiding this moment — and what is it asking of me?

With deep roots and an open heart,
Sarah x

A story of transformation told through symbols and soul

The Fool stands on the edge of a cliff, a small satchel slung over his shoulder, a white rose in his hand, and trust in his heart. With his loyal companion by his side and the sun at his back, he takes a step into the unknown — and so the journey begins.

This path, known as The Fool’s Journey, is the heartbeat of the tarot. Each card of the Major Arcana marks a stage along this soul-led adventure — and within each stage lies a rich tapestry of symbols waiting to guide us, challenge us, and awaken us.

The Fool isn’t foolish — he’s open. The symbols in his card remind us of innocence, potential, and trust. His little pack suggests that he already has all he needs. The white rose he carries symbolises purity, and the dog at his heels speaks of instinct and protection. Together, they step into life’s great mystery.

Soon, he meets The Magician, who stands before a table adorned with a cup, a wand, a sword, and a pentacle — tools representing each element and suit. The Magician’s raised arm channels energy from above to below, a symbol of manifestation and focused intention. The lemniscate floats above his head, whispering of infinite potential.

Not long after, he encounters The High Priestess, seated between two great pillars — one black, one white. She holds ancient knowledge, hidden behind a veil patterned with pomegranates. Her crescent moon crown and scroll suggest that not all truths are revealed through logic — some must be felt.

Then comes The Empress, radiant in a field of wheat beneath a star-crowned sky. She embodies abundance, nurture, and divine creation. The Fool learns to feel deeply, to connect with beauty, to rest in the fertile embrace of the Earth.

But with creation must come structure. Enter The Emperor, stern and steady on his throne adorned with ram heads. Here the Fool learns about boundaries, stability, and leadership. The world begins to take form.

He is then guided by The Hierophant, a figure of tradition and spiritual teaching. The crossed keys at his feet symbolise the unlocking of sacred wisdom. The Fool absorbs lessons that have been passed down through generations — some to hold close, others to question.

His heart stirs as he stands before The Lovers, faced with a choice. In the garden of Eden, beneath the watchful eye of an angel, he begins to understand union — not just of romance, but of values, desires, and sacred decision-making.

With new clarity, he mounts The Chariot, pulled by two opposing sphinxes. Though there are no reins in his hands, he learns to steer through willpower, not force. The stars above remind him that his journey is both earthly and divine.

In a quiet glade, he meets Strength — not a warrior, but a maiden, gently taming a lion with love. Her symbol of infinity hovers above her head. The Fool realises that true strength lies not in control, but compassion.

Seeking solitude, he climbs a mountain and meets The Hermit, lantern in hand, offering light born from reflection. The Fool learns to pause, to listen within, to trust the silence.

As he descends, The Wheel of Fortune turns before him. Creatures of the four corners spin with the wheel. The Fool begins to understand the rhythm of change — that fortune rises and falls, and nothing stays the same.

Next comes Justice, seated with sword and scales. Here, the Fool is asked to examine cause and effect. What has been sown must be reaped. It is a moment of clarity and balance.

Then comes a choice: to let go. The Hanged One appears suspended, calm, turned upside down to gain a new view. The Fool learns surrender, sacrifice, and perspective.

Darkness follows. Death arrives not as an end, but as transformation. A white rose blooms once again. The sun rises behind the scene, reminding the Fool that every ending brings a beginning.

From the ashes, Temperance emerges — an angel blending fire and water, foot in water and on land. The Fool learns the art of balance, of integration, of healing.

But then the shadow calls. The Devil binds figures in illusion, but their chains are loose. The Fool begins to see how fear and desire can entrap — and how awareness can set him free.

Then the storm hits. The Tower crumbles under lightning’s strike. The Fool falls. Everything he clung to is shaken. But in that collapse is truth, and in truth — liberation.

When he wakes, he is beneath the stars. The Star shines above, and he feels hope again. He kneels, vulnerable and whole. The waters he pours nourish both earth and spirit.

Then comes The Moon, and with it, uncertainty. The path winds between towers. A crayfish crawls from the depths. The Fool must navigate dreams, illusions, and emotional tides.

Eventually, the sun rises. The Sun brings clarity, joy, and childlike freedom. The Fool rides forward, no longer questioning his worth. The sunflowers bloom behind him — symbols of life and vitality.

As he nears the end, Judgement calls. An angel’s trumpet sounds, and the Fool is asked to rise, to shed the old, to be reborn. He sees himself more clearly now.

And finally, he reaches The World. Wreathed in victory, surrounded by the four elemental beings, the dancer floats — whole, complete, and yet… ready to begin again.

Symbols as Soul Markers

The symbols in the Major Arcana aren’t just ancient — they’re alive. They’re woven into your dreams, your choices, your cycles of becoming. When we follow the Fool’s journey, we follow our own. And when we learn to recognise the symbols along the way, we gain tools not just for divination, but for transformation.

Which part of the journey are you on today?

If you’d like to know more about the Fool’s Journey, check out the upcoming masterclass here