Dear Oracle, after this crazy pandemic year, I am choosing to take a big risk and leave my draining corporate job for another one in a new field. The new one has promise for growth (which my current job does not), aligns with my personal values, and promises a much-needed work/life balance. The downside is that I’ll be taking a pay cut, which is scary! However, I still feel like this is the best decision for me. Do the cards have any advice as I go forward on this new adventure?—Risky Business
Cards: Knight of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles reversed, King of Cups, Two of Pentacles
Dear Risky, First off, Mazel Tov on quitting your job and welcome to the workers’ revolution! It is a scary process to take your needs seriously, but you should be proud of yourself for striking out to find a way to do just that.
In this spread, you’re represented by the Knight of Pentacles. Pentacles are the suite of material wealth and work but also other “earthy” things like health and home. It’s grounded in the here and now. The Knight of Pentacles is someone who can take that grounded energy into battle. It’s level-headed and calm. From both your letter and this card, I’m going to venture that you didn’t make this decision all willy-nilly. You probably made a list, crunched numbers, and did some soul searching before turning in your two-week notice.
And that calmness is great because it’s going to help you deal with your ultimate worry of not having enough goddamn money a la Nine of Pentacles reversed.
In America, we live and work in a capitalist system without a robust social safety net, so money is crucial. Emergency room visits can set you back thousands of dollars even if you have insurance; moving requires deposits on top of rent; a year of child care is more expensive than a year of college at a state school, and that doesn’t even include typical bills.
It is hard to intellectually divorce from the idea that “more money = better life” because money makes things easier. It might not “buy happiness,” but it certainly pays off a lot of stress. But, you say that you’re taking a pay cut, not that you can’t make rent/pay bills, so it’s essential to channel that Knight and stay grounded. You might not be able to go H.A.M. at Hyde Park Village, but you’ll be alright.
What’s going to help you through this is the King of Cups. Not to be too hetero about it, but King of Cups is often a husband or a romantic partner who is calm, loving, and wise. If this sounds like your partner (or someone else in your life), go ahead and lean on them. They can be your cheerleader in this. If it is a partner or someone you’re financially tied to, they can also be a calming force and remind you that, yes, you can afford to make this decision.
Which brings us to the entire reason you left your job anyway: you want a work/life balance.
The final outcome is the Two of Pentacles, which is all about balancing work, life, and dreams. A common complaint about the work/life balance being out of whack is that you have no energy to do anything else at the end of a workday. It’s difficult meeting basic needs (grocery shopping, laundry, general parenting) and nearly impossible to have the energy to do things for pleasure.
But we need that time for leisure. We need time to see our family, to work on hobbies, to spend time with friends, or to fall asleep in a sunbeam like a cat. Rest is essential for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Leisure time can also lead to profound ideas, creativity, and discovery about ourselves and the world. (see: every philosopher, artist, and explorer/scientist pre-1900 and plenty of them after.)
Keep calm, Risky. Go bravely into this chaotic capitalist world, lean on those who love you, and remember why you are doing this in the first place.Best of luck, my dear!
Dear Oracle, I’m not sure if this is something you can help us with, but we have a specific question about our future. We have a lot of things happening right now, including our wedding in the fall, but we really want to get a dog. We lost our old boy last spring and feel ready to let a new pup into our hearts/house. Should we wait until after the wedding to get a dog, or is it alright to get one sooner?—Down for Dog Time
Cards: The Lovers, King of Pentacles, Six of Swords
This is a difficult thing for me to make a call on because 1.) I love animals 2.) the majority of pets I’ve ever had just showed up one day. My childhood dog appeared as a collarless puppy when my parents were on a walk, and we found our cats as kittens in our garage and garden.
I’m a big believer that if an animal friend finds its way to you, then it’s fated to be. So if you’re John Wick’d a dog, congratulations, you now have a puppy.
However, in typically wet-blanket fashion, the cards suggest a more “responsible” and “serious consideration” approach. There is clearly some Big Big Love in your heart for a new dog (The Lovers), but it is a journey that requires some serious thought (Six of Swords), and you need to be grounded and responsible before you get one (King of Pentacles.)
So you should do some dumb responsible thinking and consider what would be best for the dog. Will you be traveling for your wedding/honeymoon? Will you have to board your dog? If you’re getting a puppy, will this affect their training schedule or vet checkup for shots or spay/neutering?
Look at your schedules and be honest about what could work for you and your new furry friend. Best of luck!
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This article appears in Jul 1-7, 2021.