Pile 1 – Eight of Wands

What does your spending reveal about what you are seeking emotionally?

You’re trying to get there faster.

The Eight of Wands is a card of accceleration, speed, and forward movement. When I look at it here, I don’t think you’re particularly attached to the things you buy. I think you’re attached to the person you hope they’ll help you become.

Perhaps you buy another notebook because this one will finally be the one where you organize your whole life. Perhaps you buy a new planner because surely this is the planner that will transform you into someone who always has everything under control. Perhaps you order another book because learning one more thing feels like it might shorten the journey. Or maybe you buy the beautiful handbag, the expensive watch, or the elegant jacket because somewhere inside there’s a hope that stepping into that version of yourself will make success arrive a little sooner.

None of those purchases are really about paper. Or leather. Or fabric. They’re about acceleration.

The thing is that you’re often trying to buy the feeling of already being on the other side. The organized person. The successful person. The confident person. The healthy person. The creative person.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, those purchases often reveal something beautiful. You believe in growth. You genuinely want to become better.

The Eight of Wands asks a question. “What if you’re already moving faster than you think?”

Sometimes we become so impatient for the destination that we overlook how much progress we’re already making. We buy another productivity system instead of trusting the one we’re already using. We buy another course before finishing the first. We keep preparing for the person we’re becoming instead of noticing that we’re quietly becoming them already.

I also have the feeling your heart is searching for progress more than possessions. The purchases are simply symbols. A reminder that you’re moving. That life isn’t standing still. That you’re becoming someone new.

Perhaps that’s what your spending has been trying to tell you all along. You don’t need more things to prove you’re changing. You need more moments where you stop, turn around, and notice how far you’ve already come. Because I have a feeling the future version of yourself you’ve been trying to catch… isn’t as far away as you think. And maybe the next step isn’t buying another shortcut. Maybe it’s trusting that you’re already walking the right road. 🚀🤍

Pile 2 – Five of Swords

What does your spending reveal about what you are seeking emotionally?

You’re chasing the feeling of winning.

Not necessarily owning more. Winning.

The Five of Swords has a wonderfully competitive streak, and I think it shows up in surprising places. When I look at this card, I don’t see someone who enjoys spending money for the sake of spending it. I see someone who loves walking away thinking, “I got a fantastic deal.”

Imagine two people buy exactly the same iPhone. One pays full price. You somehow found it on Craigslist in perfect condition for half as much. Which part of that story makes you happier? Probably not the phone. The victory. I mean, actually, you beat the system and I’m somehow convinced that, more often than not, you keep that fact for yourself 😉

Or Black Friday arrives. You don’t only come home with a television. You come home with the television that was 45% off.

Somebody else sees a discount. You see a trophy.

I also think you’re the kind of person who checks the little shelf at the back of the supermarket where damaged packaging gets marked down. The shampoo costs three dollars instead of fifteen because the bottle has a tiny dent. Perfect. Into the shopping cart it goes.

Coupons? You’ll use them. Loyalty points? Absolutely.

The freezer is full because the ground beef was half price this week. You didn’t only save money. You won.

There’s another interesting side to this card. I wouldn’t be surprised if you occasionally buy lottery tickets, not because you’re convinced you’ll become a millionaire, but because there’s something exciting about the possibility of beating impossible odds. The chance itself becomes part of the fun.

The Five of Swords enjoys the game. That’s the emotional thread running through all of this.

The thing is that your purchases aren’t really about the objects. They’re about the story attached to them. When you’re in the mood, you’ll even tell people, “You’ll never believe what I paid for this.” But more often than not, you’ll keep it as your little secret and let people think you somehow can afford the iPhone Duo and the 99 inch TV out of your pocket for full price.

Either way, the object becomes proof that you were clever, resourceful, patient, or simply luckier than average. And honestly… That’s a satisfying feeling.

The Five of Swords simply asks another question. “Where else in your life are you trying to keep score?” Because sometimes the joy of winning quietly becomes more important than asking whether you actually wanted the prize in the first place. Perhaps that’s the message hidden inside your spending. You genuinely enjoy the thrill of outsmarting the system.

There’s nothing wrong with that. Just don’t forget that sometimes paying full price for something you truly love is a victory too. Because in the end, the greatest win isn’t always getting the biggest discount. Sometimes it’s buying something that genuinely makes your life better, whether it was on sale or not. 🛒🏆🤍

Pile 3 – Page of Pentacles

What does your spending reveal about what you are seeking emotionally?

You’re seeking the feeling that you’ve earned it.

The Page of Pentacles doesn’t usually spend impulsively. In fact, I have the feeling that many of your purchases are secretly attached to an achievement. You passed the exam. Now you can buy the earrings you’ve been looking at. You got the promotion. Now the handbag feels justified. You finally finished the project. Now it’s alright to book that weekend away.

It’s almost as though you’ve made a little agreement with yourself. “First I’ll prove myself. Then I’ll allow myself something nice.”

There’s something admirable about that. You enjoy celebrating milestones, and your purchases become little trophies that remind you how far you’ve come.

The interesting part is that this pattern also has another side. Sometimes you don’t reach the goal. Maybe you didn’t get the promotion. Maybe the exam didn’t go as planned. Maybe the business hasn’t taken off yet. Suddenly, the reward disappears too. Almost as though you’re telling yourself, “I haven’t earned it.” When I look at this card, I wonder how often you’ve postponed little moments of happiness because you were waiting to deserve them.

The Page of Pentacles loves growth. Sometimes, though, growth turns into a system where your worth and your rewards become tied together. The purchase stops being about the object. It becomes a certificate. Proof that you did well enough.

Perhaps that’s what your spending has been trying to show you. You aren’t really buying the purse. Or the earrings. Or the nice dinner. You’re buying a moment where you can finally look at yourself and say, “Well done.”

That’s a beautiful instinct. Celebrating your achievements matters.

The Page of Pentacles asks a question. “What if you didn’t have to earn every little joy?” What if buying yourself flowers didn’t require a promotion? What if the good coffee didn’t have to wait until Friday? What if the new sweater wasn’t a reward for surviving another difficult month? Because your achievements deserve celebrating. But your humanity deserves kindness too.

Perhaps the greatest gift you could give yourself isn’t another reward after success. It’s learning that your value doesn’t disappear on the days when things don’t go according to plan.

You’re allowed to celebrate your victories. And you’re also allowed to be gentle with yourself while you’re still working toward the next one. Those two things can exist together. And I have a feeling your heart has been waiting to hear that for quite some time. 🌱🤍