Cards: Page of Cups (reversed), Page of Cups (reversed), Queen of Swords, The Emperor
Dear EF, most of my close friends live far away. Some I talk to regularly, some I don’t. But if any of them called and asked me to fly across the country to help them with something serious, I would be there within 24 hours. Long-distance friendships have their struggles, but you shouldn’t assume that silence is resentment or hostility. When we don’t see our friends regularly, we end up missing out on the minutia of their daily lives and don’t know the whole picture. It’s best not to make any assumptions without facts.
As the Page of Wands, you’re open to the world and bustling with energy, itching to explore and bring your friends along. L, on the other hand, is the Page of Cups: dreamy, poetic, maybe even a little shy. I don’t doubt that you two are still fond of each other, but I think the more sensitive L is dealing with things that are taking up a ton of mental space.
The Queen of Swords has to be “on” all the time. It’s a position that requires us to be eagle-eyed and vigilant, occasionally shrewd, and determined. This queen also used her determination to bring about change.I think L is in a position where a lot of balls are in the air, and she’s spending a ton of mental energy keeping things together and working towards something.
Again, we don’t know the details of her life at this exact moment. She might be getting a promotion at work, dealing with a health scare, dealing with relationship issues or a house that’s falling apart, starting her own company, or preparing for a cross-country move. We don’t know what is going on, but it seems that her energy is being directed elsewhere—and, for better or for worse, you aren’t part of the equation.
This can feel like a blow, but remember that close friendships are often a long game. Right now, channeling the diplomatic energy of The Emperor is a good place to start. L has not told you that she wants nothing to do with you, so don’t assume that’s true. Still, reach out with that movie recommendation, meme, or occasional email update. (Don’t, however, spam her looking for a response. The Emperor has dignity, after all.) Welcome her communication, but don’t take silence as passive-aggressive.
Hopefully, there will come a time down the road when both of you will be in the right place to reconnect on a deeper level. Until then, keep that door open, extend grace, and make plans with other friends who text back.
Best of luck, my dear
Dear Oracle, I want to open up a bookstore/coffee shop that can also work as a community center. What should I do to make that happen?—Bookworm
Cards: Seven of Wands, Six of Pentacles (reversed), Six of Cups, The Magician (reversed)
Dear Bookworm, as an avid book lover, I applaud your plan and would love to be a patron whenever you set up shop.
The key to making your dream into a reality is to actually move forward with it and prepare. The Seven of Wands is a turning point but also acts as a defense. You can’t just fantasize your way into a business. How is it going to work? What type of space would you need? Would you want to sell a general collection or a specialized one (children’s books, romance, mystery, etc.)? Learn how to write a business plan, how to do basic accounting, what the margins are, and steel yourself for the bumpy road of building a business with overhead.
Speaking of which, you’re going to need money. Banks are obviously the first place many people go for a loan, but if you don’t have a long credit history (or a great one), that might be difficult. It might be best to start courting the kindness of strangers. The Six of Pentacles is a card of generosity, of freely giving. You need to find where that giving is coming from. Maybe it’s a personal loan from a family member or through crowdfunding or arts endowment grants. Look around (after you have a plan!) and see if there’s any money on the table.
With the Six of Cups, I believe this would be a true passion project for you, and it’s important to remember that and feel that child-like excitement. Because you’re going to have to do A LOT. As The Magician, you’ll control the elements to make this work, but you’re also the only one responsible. It’s going to be your magic (and blood/sweat/tears) that transforms your dream into not only a reality but a reality that can make monthly loan payments.
You should learn everything you can about the bookselling business (if you don’t already know) and the coffee business—or get a partner who will handle one side while you tackle the other.
There’s no real secret in how to make your dreams come true. It’s mostly just trying to do it and, if it fails, figure out why and try again. Luck certainly helps, as does money, but it’s mostly treating your dream seriously and working towards it.
If it fails, it fails. So what? As long as you have an accountant who can help you figure out when your “shut it down” line is, go forth and hustle your cozy cafe con booknook, my dear.
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This article appears in Mar 6-12, 2025.