Speak Your Mind

The element of Air rules over speech, probably because our words are carried on our breath. (Go ahead—try holding your breath and speaking at the same time.) Many of us have a hard time saying what is really on our minds. We either hold back from speaking because of insecurity or fear of causing a fuss, or we speak too freely or clumsily, never quite managing to say what we want to the way we want it to come out. Open, honest communication is hard. But it is also the cornerstone of all good relationships, whether personal or professional, so it is worth making the effort to get it right, no matter how difficult that might be.

If you have trouble speaking your mind, try practicing in the mirror or with a friend you trust. If you are going into a difficult situation where you will need to be speaking, ask the element of Air to lend you its power and feel that power with every breath you take.

If you pull this card, the universe is probably telling you that you need to speak up. Is there an issue or situation that you have been struggling with, maybe keeping silent when you had something important to say? Do you feel as though you are not being heard at work or in your personal relationships? Remember that you can speak your mind politely and assertively without being nasty or argumentative. If you get to speak your mind, that means you have to listen too. But don’t let anyone or anything rob you of your own voice.

Sometimes it takes extra courage to be able to speak up when it is easier or safer to remain silent. If you need a boost, call on Mercury, the Roman god of eloquence and communication. Mercury carried a staff known as the caduceus, which is a stick with two snakes wound around it, sometimes topped by a pair of wings. If you are going into a situation where you need to be able to speak your mind with strength and conviction, draw (or download and print out) a picture of a caduceus and write your name across it. Ask Mercury to bless the staff and your voice and carry the picture with you when you need it.