Arcanum – Day 1 – A New Chapter: The Six-Card Journey

Date: July 19, 2026

Question

What should we be working on for the next 21 days?

Today marks the beginning of a new phase in my tarot practice. Rather than continuing with a three-card spread, I’ve decided to move to a six-card spread. My goal isn’t simply to receive more information, but to expose myself to more cards and their traditional meanings as I continue learning tarot through the Arcanum deck. The six positions are: Present, Past, Future, As Above, So Below, and Clarifier (see my public facing “first look” video to see an explanation of how I designed this spread).

The Reading

Present – Strength
The central message of this reading appears to be one of developing inner strength. Rather than focusing on external obstacles, the deck seems to be directing my attention inward. The work of the next 21 days is not about acquiring something new but recognizing the strength that already exists within me.

Past – The Magician Reversed (Disempowered)
The past position suggests a tendency to underestimate my own abilities. The card reminds me that I possess talents, gifts, and potential that I haven’t fully trusted or utilized. The issue isn’t a lack of capability—it’s a lack of confidence in what I already have.

Future – Wheel of Fortune (Good Luck)
The future card is encouraging. It suggests that once I begin trusting those abilities and putting them to use, circumstances begin to shift in my favor. Rather than waiting for luck to arrive, good fortune seems to follow the decision to step into my own power.

As Above – Queen of Swords (Wisdom)
Spiritually or mentally, the message is remarkably direct: I already know what I need to know. Instead of constantly searching for new answers, I’m being reminded to trust the knowledge, experience, and judgment I’ve already developed. Wisdom comes from believing in what I’ve already learned.

So Below – Ten of Wands Reversed
Practically speaking, the lesson is to avoid carrying every burden myself. If responsibilities become overwhelming, I should delegate where possible instead of trying to prove I can handle everything alone. Confidence also means recognizing that asking for help isn’t weakness. (NOTE: That this card was not actually reversed according to my own rules and I didn’t catch it. I may have read this card wrong but I’m sticking with my initial thoughts. In the future I will be sure to catch the orientation of the “so below” card better).

Clarifier – Six of Cups (Nostalgia)
The clarifying card ties everything together by pointing back to my past. My childhood and life experiences have shaped me into a unique individual with valuable perspectives and abilities. Rather than viewing my past only through the lens of old wounds or self-doubt, I’m encouraged to recognize that it also gave me strengths worth trusting.

Reflections

What strikes me most about this reading is how consistently every card points toward the same lesson. Whether viewed through the lens of strength, wisdom, good fortune, delegation, or nostalgia, the message remains remarkably consistent: trust yourself.

This feels like another deeply personal reading. The focus isn’t on predicting external events but on changing the way I see myself. If there’s a theme for the next 21 days, it is developing confidence in my own abilities, relying on the knowledge I’ve already gained, making practical use of the people around me when necessary, and recognizing that the experiences that shaped me have also prepared me.

The challenge isn’t becoming someone different. It’s believing that the person I’ve already become is enough.