With the Ace of Cups, we circle back to a sense of both creativity and love. Credit: Alexis K Grimsley / Shutterstock.com

Dear Oracle, I always try to do too many new things in January, and when I fail, I feel like I’m screwing up the whole year. How should I use this January to feel at peace for the year to come?—Rushing in

Cards: The Hermit, The Empress (reversed), The World, Ace of Cups

Dear Rushing, January is an interesting place to start a new year. The feeling of a fresh year causes a lot of people to kick into high gear and implement change (no drinking, workout daily, KonMari the whole house!), but the natural world isn’t exactly bubbling up to match our energy.

The night still comes early, the cold lingers about. Hibernating creatures are still asleep, plants are dormant, and plenty of us are trying to muddle through with whatever cold/flu we picked up. It’s not exactly a “LET’S GOOOO!!!!” vibe.

While it can be tempting to start the year with a lot of action, January might be a better time for you to turn inward and think about how you want the year to unfold.
With the reflective Hermit, it might serve you to think about your goals for this year not as something you can check off but in ways you want to feel. If you’re looking to feel more at peace, connected with others, or to feel mentally challenged, what might help you get there? This might require a deep look at what you want from life and how to go about it.

Send your questions for the Oracle to oracle@cltampa.com or DM @theyboracle on Instagram.

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Once you figure out those goals, you’ll be able to work towards them. The Empress reversed means you have the self-discipline to carry these out, but life is chaotic, and we all only have so much energy. The Empress is a compassionate leader, so if you feel yourself slipping into an “all-or-nothing” mindset, remember: anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. Can’t run your three daily miles? Jog around the block. Hour of reading cut short? Try five minutes. The same principle can be applied to fitness, hygiene, artistic pursuits or any other habit—a little is better than nothing and if you don’t have the energy to do anything? Tomorrow is a new day. Have grace with yourself.

Being conscious of your goals and how you go about them will pay off, as we see with The World. This is a card of both completion and rejuvenation, of ending and starting again. It’s a very positive card and can speak to a feeling of true accomplishment.

With the final card of the Ace of Cups, we circle back to a sense of both creativity and love. If you are moving towards a goal that you actually care about (like “feeling strong” rather than “go to the gym five days a week”) and have multiple ways to approach it, it’s going to be hard to “fail” at it. They’re lanterns guiding you rather than goalposts.

So curl up with a journal and a bowl of something deeply comforting, and think about how you’d like to move through this year.

Dear Oracle, I come from a passionate Italian family and was raised in an environment where yelling at one another was commonplace. This could be if we were angry or happy, so there was definitely a lot of noise. As I move through my adult life and attempt to adjust my emotional response to one that is appropriate and more quiet, what are tools I can use to slow my quick to yell reflex?—Boisterous Bella

Cards: The Chariot, Two of Cups (reversed), Nine of Wands, Ten of Cups

Ciao Bella, as someone who comes from a similarly passionate ethnic background and married someone who’s also loud, part of me wants to say “fuck that WASP nonsense” because, really, we’re talking about two different cultural norms.
But, with the Two of Cups here, I’m guessing you have a partner who isn’t as loud and grew up in a quieter household.

You are a passionate person. The Chariot hammers that point home, but The Chariot is not a card of obsession. Your emotions may get the best of you at times, but you are in control of them and are able to steer them. We are products of our culture, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that those elements are fixed in us.

The biggest question is why do you want to be more “appropriate and quiet” because, with the Nine of Wands, the reason is the difference between a hard struggle and a breakthrough. If you just try to tamp down your enthusiasm because that feels “adult,” then you’ll probably resent it. But, if you want to temper your responses (especially in anger) because you don’t like yourself when you yell or because it overwhelms your partner, then you’re doing it out of love, not conformity.
While I don’t think being quick to unbridled joy is bad, losing your temper often isn’t good. The only people who get to scream when they’re upset are babies. Everyone else needs to learn to keep their cool.

This might require some deeper work with a therapist, doing some anger management techniques, and practicing the art of letting shit go. (If you find yourself short on patience—a skill—there are a bunch of ways you can build that up.) There is an entire subsection of mindfulness techniques specific to anger. I encourage you to explore that.

With the Ten of Cups closing us out, I think you’ll be able to find a balance of expressions and create a safe home for everyone and a place where you feel like you can be yourself. Again, not all noise is nefarious. Laughing loudly, celebrating fully, rejoicing in the splendor is what makes life fun. I fully support ignoring anyone telling you your enthusiasm is too intense or that you need to “chill” with your giddy glee. If they’re annoyed, they can get over it.

But yelling in anger can hurt others, often emotionally and sometimes psychologically, if it’s happening enough. We have the right to live loudly but not to cause others pain. I think you know the difference, and with some resources and open communication, you’ll be able to make a change you want to see in yourself.
I hope that life is filled with plenty of laughter for you and yours. Ciao, Bella.

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This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2025.