Seven of Air

A hiker has paused on his journey to consult his map and to consider his destination. He needs to make plans for the next stage of his walkabout. Shall he climb the mountain, or follow the river down into the valley? Shall he seek the company of others, or continue to go it alone? Shall he take a shortcut, even though he might get caught in the “slough of despond?” What inner journey does this outer journey symbolize? He makes his plans and his strategies and — if he's wise — he leaves room for serendipity.

Divinatory meaning: It is time to strategize, plan and prepare to take a new direction. When we examine a map and consider all the alternate routes we might take, the map itself begins to form our worldview. We might stop to consider these questions: What has been left off the map? What is there that we haven't noticed? And what landscape lays just beyond the edge of the map?

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Seven of Fire

A blacksmith stands at a forge, raising her hammer high to strike the red-hot iron rod and transform its shape into something exciting and new.

Divinatory meaning: Fire is symbolic of personal power, creativity, energy and passion. It's time for you to take a risk for personal growth and stand up for your authentic self. You are learning to trust your own strength and sense of personal power.

And of course, you must “strike while the iron is hot”! Don’t miss an opportunity when it presents itself, for that’s when transformation can occur.

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Seven of Water

A man has chosen one dream out of many possible dreams, and is drinking it down. He has let go of dithering over this fantasy or that option and has made his choice. It's the moment of commitment for him. Perhaps he listened when a life coach encouraged him: “Say no to the good, in order to say Yes! to the great."

Divinatory meaning: “The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings,” goes the nursery rhyme. But it may be time for you to narrow down your options and choose one dream or fantasy over many others. Follow your intuition — lift that cup with your left hand! Drink deeply, and let your well be filled.

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Seven of Earth

A woman plants a red cedar sapling near a creek where salmon spawn. She is volunteering for a habitat restoration project in an area that was once heavily logged. Western Red Cedar is a slow-growing species that won’t reach a mature height of 150 feet for a hundred years. As it grows, it helps to shade the stream, keeping the water cool so young salmon can thrive.

Divinatory meaning: It may be time to set a goal for yourself that involves long-term planning on a practical level. Don’t expect to see results immediately, but be content to know that you are working slowly and steadily toward your goal. You will learn to be patient. You’re not on your own timeline here — instead, you’re on Mother Earth’s timeline! You learn to live in synch with Her rhythms and cycles. You trust that your efforts are worthwhile, even if you don’t see the fruits of your labors for a very long time.

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