Movement is life | One-card tarot
After three years of healing from burnout, I'm ready to step back into action. The Eight of Chalices reminds me that stagnant water becomes rotten - and movement is life. It's time to leave my familiar hiding hole and step into the light.
Starting a new daily blogging experiment today!
Yesterday I mentioned wanting to incorporate a one-card tarot pull for my posts, so here's my first attempt.
My process so far: I'll continue my daily doodling practice, pull a tarot card, then photograph the card centered on my doodle as the backdrop. This seems like a good approach for my first try, but of course, I'll keep exploring different ways to combine my artistic practice with my tarot practice.
How will I approach the formatting for these one-card pulls? Shall I provide a personal interpretation, share guidance on how this card and energy might apply to you as the reader, a mixture of both, or even the varying definitions and histories?
To keep things simple, I'll start off with what immediately jumps out and connect it to my current life, mood, and challenges.
As we've just passed the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and entered into Cancer season, I have noticed a personal shift in my energy to being more productive, active, and engaged.
I think the Eight of Chalices, or the Eight of Cups in Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition, is asking me to reflect on what I left behind in order to embrace this new energy for the summer and the second half of 2025.
I've really been sinking my teeth into healing, rest, and stillness. After spending a majority of my life being in hustle mode and constantly analyzing my "place in the world", a little rest was overdue.
One year of burnout recovery turned into three – this coincided with my Saturn Return in Pisces... no surprise there, right? Finally, when Saturn transitioned to Aries, I was ready for change. I desired real exertion, action, and ambition.
The saying goes "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"; but have you heard about the alternative phrase, "All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy"?
Now, I wouldn't say I was "all play" by any means – healing and rest is serious work. I just mean that forgoing external exertion for a prolonged period of time made me restless.
I've become antsy to "get back out there" and give life and my career the good ol' college try.
Given that context, what does the Eight of Chalices mean for today's one-card pull?
To me, it means stepping away from my familiar hiding hole where I've been shrouded in obscurity. It means stepping into the light of life again, armed with more self-confidence after spending these past 3 years addressing my shadows.
Sure, there will always be more healing and shadow-work to do, but the differences between 3 years ago and now are drastic. It's the difference between being in the ICU for 24/7 monitoring and going in for weekly check-ups.
I do have real fears about finding myself in complete burnout again, but the Eight of Chalices offers a warning about the dangers of "Indolence":
in·do·lence/ˈindələns/
noun
avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.
When water is stagnant for too long, it becomes rotten. What could be life-giving instead becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, and other serious hazards.
Given that we are mostly made up of water, and my personal birth chart is heavy on water signs, the effect of avoidance and inactivity can only be ignored for so long.
Movement is life, and if we don't take action, especially purposeful action, life might just pass us by. This card suggests that waiting for the perfect conditions might result in bitterness, disease, and extreme resentment.
Thus, here I am. Showing up. Taking up more space and being unapologetic about my expression. Trusting that I'll catch myself when I make mistakes and understanding not to take failures personally. Also having faith I'm not alone, that I have a growing support system, and the world needs all of us now more than ever.
Keep leaving behind the dead weights of the past: old beliefs and limitations, toxic environments, habits, or even relationships that have grown apart.
It's okay to want more for yourself, but no one is going to do it for you.
Thank you for being here.
Sincerely,
Nadine of the New Moon ♥