It's hard to believe that our son is starting 5th grade today. This summer was immense in terms of growth (physical and psychological), and I'm eager to see how this year plays out.

Last night, before bed, I asked him if he'd like to do a reading to see how things fall for his 5th-grade year. We spent some time this summer reviewing Tarot, and he understands the (very) basics of it and knows the meanings of some of the cards. He agreed, and I wanted to share the reading here to demonstrate the types of readings I do (although I don't typically do readings for children).

Typically, for such an event, I would consider the traditional Celtic Cross spread, but honestly - it's too much information for his little head, so I opted for my favorite spread: The Rose.

To start with our reading, we look at the spread as a whole, looking for themes and anything in particular that stands out. In this particular reading, I see two points of interest:

1. There are two cards from the Major Arcana (and in the placement of the Root and Stem) which would indicate that the themes of these two cards are larger and more impactful than just the start of school. They provide overarching details that will pertain to this entire period, if not life-long (considering the spread).
2. I see cycles of personal growth from the 9 of Pentacles, 10 of Cups, and Ace of Wands (all in reverse). Tarot loves its cycles, and this spread really represents that, appropriate for the last grade of elementary school, the onset of puberty, and all that personal development that's happening as he's growing up.

So let's dive in and take a closer look at each of the spread positions.

1. The Root: What is beneath the surface of the situation and feeds your flower? In the position of the Root, we have the Justice card. Personally, I find this card a bit ironic knowing my son because he definitely has a black-and-white mentality. Things are binary - right or wrong, true or false. And if there was ever a card to represent the pursuit of truth and understanding, it's Justice. I see several things in this card: first, our son's constant pursuit of knowledge to understand things and why they are the way they are. He craves knowledge. Secondly, I also see this as a card of separation. The figure in the card holds a Sword (a reminder, that swords are mind-based, knowledge, wisdom, and communication). They use it to separate fact from fiction, but I also think, in this case, it's separating his childhood from this new puberty-laced period of being a tweenager. His brain understands and comprehends things differently from even 3 months ago. He's using this Sword of Justice to cut out the things that no longer serve him.
2. The Thorn: What part of your flower causes discomfort and pain, the proverbial thorn in your side? In the position of the Thorn, we have the 10 of Cups, reversed. For me, I tend to read reversals as an internalization or corruption of the energy of the card. The 10 of Cups is traditionally about attainment and unity, particularly of a family structure (but not solely). In the reverse, however, I see this as being a period of pulling away and a search for independence. While I don't necessarily feel this is contentious, I feel there are mixed feelings where he wants to be with the family and maintain that closeness, but at the same time, also wants his freedom to expand and learn things that will help develop who he is as a person. The painful part comes with the separation and possible conflict that comes from wanting to stray from the family unit. As this card is also a 10 - it's the closing of a cycle. Yes, the end of elementary, but the closing of a chapter in his childhood. I also love the presence of the rainbow as it illustrates the richness of other colors that exist in the world outside his traditional black-and-white viewpoint.
3. The Stem: What structure is visible in supporting your flower? What is holding everything together? Holding his flower in place is the Stem, identified as Temperance. I really love this card because I feel like it often represents the "best" of our potential. To start, Temperance traditionally represents harmony, balance, and moderation. When I mentioned this during the reading - I said, "And what is the saying?" He quickly responded, "Moderation in all things." Yasss, little boy. The stem of his flower is threaded with a reminder to maintain balance in all aspects of his life (cough Fortnite cough). It's a reminder to maintain important relationships as you venture out to do other things. Temperance is also a card of alchemical transformation, about blending different aspects of ourselves to become a more complete, unified whole. It's also a card of adaptability. As he learns new things in school (secular, emotional, physical), he will need to be flexible to allow his strict world of "black-and-white" to expand to allow for more shades of gray.
4. The Bud: What part of myself or my situation should I focus on and nurture? The Ace of Wands, reversed, comes in as the Bud, a representation of what he needs to nurture. Being an Ace, this is now the beginning of a new cycle and is an invitation to be open to discovering new interests and passions, forming new friendships, and having that desire for personal growth and excelling at something new. It's an invitation to step outside of what he knows to get a taste of new things, be it a new hobby, friendships, new sports, activities, or other secular interests. The point is to grow and nurture what you are passionate about.
5. The Blossom: What is the most beautiful expression or best possible outcome for this situation or person? The final card in the spread is the Blossom, as represented by the 9 of Pentacles, reversed. The 9 of Pentacles is traditionally a card of attainment through independence. I think this is a gorgeous card for the Blossom position. It shows that hard work pays off, and not just pays off, but allows for a life of comfort amongst all the beautiful things. However, because this card is in reverse, I feel like it serves as a reminder/warning that he needs to recognize the support structures around him that allow him to succeed. He will still need to put in the effort and hard work to see success, but there are those around him (parents, family, teachers, and friends) who are there to help support him, teach him, guide him, and cheer him on to success. He cannot be an island and hope to succeed. The hard work, however, is all him.

I also pulled a Shadow Card for this reading (the card pulled from the bottom of the deck that typically provides the underlying theme of the reading). The card was the 6 of Cups, a card of childhood and nostalgia. I actually feel like this card was intended more for me (as his dad) than him as it serves as a reminder that even though he is growing up, he's still a kid and needs the open arms of a parent (both physically and emotionally). I need to remember what it was like for me when I was his age and the challenges I dealt with. Certainly, everyone is different, but this card serves as a reminder that childhood is fleeting, and we should enjoy what remains of it before new responsibilities and "life" get in the way.

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