Summer is a slow time for my (restaurant) industry in general, but this year has been particularly hard on my business. I’m very worried about surviving until the end of the year. I’ve trimmed back where I can, but I worry I won’t be able to keep supporting my small (and loved) staff. Do the cards have any advice?—Summer Slump
Cards: Four of Wands, Six of Wands, King of Cups, Two of Cups (reversed)
Dear Summer,
I know this business means the world to you. It’s a passion project and something you love doing. The cards drawn here are the kind I’d expect to see in an answer to a relationship question or a question about an artistic journey—something deeply emotional and fiery and life-giving.
This is not just about a job. This is a calling for you.
The good news is, I think your business is also loved by people other than you. The Four of Wands is a card of community, family, and stability. Your restaurant, I’d venture, is a place that means a lot to the community at large.
The fact that you’ve made it through several summers before speaks highly of your business—especially since many restaurants shutter in less than a year. The Six of Wands is about celebrating a victory—you made it!—but one victory doesn’t necessarily mean a goal has been met. What are you envisioning for your business? What would it look like to not just survive but grow?
As the King of Cups, you’re both the heart and brains behind your business. This place is your baby and you’re giving all you can, which makes sense. It is your calling after all, your vision. But carrying all of that weight can be a lot for one person. Which leads us to the one card that can be interpreted as business advice…
What would it look like for you to have a business partner?
The Two of Cups is a card of partnership, particularly ones that share the same emotional core. If you were to have a partner, it would have to be someone who shared your vision of the place, who understood what made it special, and who would share the goals you have for the business. Maybe this would just be an investor. Maybe this would be someone who would focus on running one side of the business while you focused on the other. Perhaps it’s partnering with community members for events. I’m not sure.
I know that bringing in another person to your passion project can feel fraught. You’ve been at the helm and, whatever happens, it’s not because someone else fucked it up. But perhaps the way to grow is for there to be more hands on deck. It might involve letting go of some power, but perhaps another set of eyes will help you get to calmer seas. (Or, at least, another cash flow to tap into.)
I do hope you’re able to make this work, my dear.
Dear Oracle,
I’ve always loved my longtime friend…but I think I might actually be falling in love with her. We live on opposite sides of the country and she’s in an “open-ish” relationship, which doesn’t make it easier and isn’t ideal. And obviously, I don’t want to ruin our friendship. Do the cards have any advice on what to do?
—Friends-to-lovers?
Cards: Nine of Pentacles (reversed), Knight of Cups (reversed), King of Pentacles, King of Cups
Dear FTL,
Congratulations and condolences on falling in love with your longtime friend. While friendship is certainly the basis of long-lasting love, it can be tricky to make that transition—as so many movies, TV shows, emo albums, and novels tell us.
I think you hold your friend in the greatest of esteem. The Nine of Pentacles is a card of genius and extraordinary wonder. It’s a lush garden full of beautiful cultivated fruit and a woman, powerful and at ease. It’s also a card of intimidation—who wants to pick such exquisite fruit?—and I think you’re probably a little moonstruck by your friend.
The Knight of Cups also suggests that she is a charmer, someone who inspires little and big “R” romantic feelings in many. Which is to say, it makes sense that you’re falling in love with her. How could you not?
Together, this paints a picture of someone who’s captivating. And someone who you’re definitely intimidated by.
But the cards do offer a bit of a pep talk. You certainly bring wonderful traits to the table, too. The pentacles are often symbols of work and finances, but they also symbolize what money can bring—stability and safety. The King of Pentacles is certainly a provider of stability and grounding presence, something wonderful to have in a partner.
The King of Cups is also a deep romantic, but someone who is more mature in their love. To this King, love is not just an emotion but also an action, something you do daily. It might not be as flashy and passionate as, say, the actions of Knight, but it’s enduring. Again, this speaks to a stability and safety that you can offer in a relationship.
Of course, the only way to figure out if your friend would like to become more than friends is to talk to her about it. (Or get a trusted third party to ask if she likes you.) That might not be a door you’re ready to open. Judging by the cards alone, I think you both might be well suited—but relationships are more complicated than a four-card spread allows.
Perhaps at this stage, you might just need to start internalizing that you are actually a worthy partner who can bring a loving stability to the table. And maybe, in time, your friend will see that too. And even if she doesn’t return the feelings, I think you’re emotionally sound enough to handle that rejection without the friendship souring.
Whatever you decide, I hope you feel safe and loved.
Best of luck, my dear.
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This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2025.