Oracle of Ybor: You can't be a 'Florida Man' forever, so take that new job up north

Dear Oracle, I’ve been living in Florida my whole life. Recently, I got offered a promotion… in the Midwest. While the job is more money and the cost of living is cheaper there, I’m having a hard time deciding if I should take it or not. I love my life here and, to be honest, I’m worried about how boring the new city might be. (it’s a small city in a pretty rural state.) Do the cards have any advice if I should stay or go? -Sunshine State of Mind

Take the Job: Four of Wands, Six of Wands, Knight of Cups (all reversed.) Stay in Florida: Nine of Cups, Four of Swords (rev), Justice.

Dear Sunshine,

Despite being the butt of so many national jokes, people still aspire to live in Florida. Our winter is non-existent; you can watch the sunrise over the Atlantic then drive 2.5 hours to watch it set in the Gulf; you got theme parks (if you like mice) and sprawling nature preserves (if you like snakes) and all the citrus you need. It’s not a bad place to live—which is why so many people from the north and Midwest retire here. (that and our tax code, but I digress.)

But Florida is not always Spring Break 4Ever. The Nine of Cups is a card of rosy-eyed glasses, of seeing what you hope for and possibly getting swept up in a fantasy. Florida is great, but it might be promising more than it’s delivering for you. The Four of Swords reversed suggests that you might be limiting yourself to just being a “Florida Man.” This identity could be true—you might get out in the Midwest and think, “fuck the snow”—but it’s important to find the truth of it. Justice is a Major Arcana about seeking capital “T” Truth and coming to it from a place of balance, not ego.

As for taking the job, it’s a path of potential vs. a path of the known. With all the cards reversed, there is nothing established yet. All of it is potential. But the cards aren’t bad here. Four of Wands is one of community, and this new city might be a place where you do find stronger ties to a community. You might even find yourself with a packed social schedule thanks to The Midwestern Nice. The Six of Wands is also a card of victory, and if you’re going for a job, this might be a place where you really can rise to your potential. We also have the Knight of Cups, who, funny enough, is heading off to a snowy mountain range in my deck. There’s potential here for you to love your new city and possibly inspire some emotional growth as well.

I know how difficult it is to give up on a life you love for the unknown, so if you need an escape latch, think of it this way: with a higher paycheck and lower cost of living, how long would it take you to save up to move back to Florida if you really hate it? Three months? Six? A year? Could you tolerate it for that long? If so, why not try? Who knows? You might find yourself happier in the mountains than you were at the beach.

Dear Oracle, I recently got a promotion at work, and now I’m in charge of a team of two. One of the co-workers is totally fine with this. The other is not. This co-worker started by saying we should have a meeting to hash out “how the hierarchy should work to benefit everyone on the team,” My boss told her, “the hierarchy is X is your boss. ” But still, she keeps saying things like “this is a collaborative partnership, there is no boss” when I am, again, her boss. Any advice on how I should deal with her? - But I am your boss, babe.

Cards: Ace of Wands (rev), Waxing Gibbous, Ace of Pentacles, Three of Wands.

Dear Boss,

All of the cards above have something to do with “potential.” This potentially could become a great team of three. This also has the potential to become a passive-aggressive torment.

I suggest gently but firmly shutting this shit down now. You’re just starting out in this role, and you have all this strong force in you (Ace of Wands), but you want to make sure that you’re shaping your role into something you can work with( Ace of pentacles.) You need to lead in a sustainable way, so I suggest the scepter instead of the sword. Being diplomatic and giving her no fodder for drama is the way to go.

The waxing Gibbous is about refining, so when your co-worker says things like “there is no boss,” say matter-of-factly, “I am your boss.” What is she going to say? “No, you aren’t”?

It’s a silly and passive-aggressive move and if she keeps refuting basic facts, feel free to say calmly, “That isn’t correct. How can I help clear up your confusion?” The Three of Wands is about looking towards the future, and I’m not surprised to see that here for your team of three. If this woman is going to be with your team for the long game, you need to play it as such. Don’t fall for her weird fact-disputing bait, and don’t let her get you riled up.

The Ace of Wands is a hopeful card about new beginnings, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she was gunning for this job before you were promoted. It would certainly explain the denial. If you want to lend a sympathetic ear to her, feel free to do so, but you certainly don’t have to. Lead your team with diplomacy and if she continues, get things down in writing and meet with HR. If she doesn’t recognize your authority, she’ll certainly recognize theirs.

Best of luck!