Us vs. Them

"You're on a planet right now. You think you're in America right now? Zoom out. You're on a space rock floating in nothingness."
– Pete Holmes

The tarot card brought forward in the channeled reading for October is the Seven of Wands. In the image, we see a person holding a long, straight branch – a staff or "wand". The staff is held in an apparent defensive posture countering the six staffs lining the foreground. The suit of Wands is associated with the element of fire and connected with action, discourse, and conviction–or strongly held beliefs. The figure in the Seven of Wands is warding off the other staffs. Could these represent these differing perspectives? Or perhaps real or imagined threats?

This symbolism feels especially timely. We live in an anxious era – much of our stress doesn’t come from what is happening, but from fears of what might happen. In an era of almost unrelenting uncertainty, even today’s news is unsettling: the US federal government shut down after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement. Layer that onto the deep polarization in our culture, and it becomes all too easy to slip into an “us vs. them” mindset, with each side feeling under siege.

A 2021 study at Brown University sheds light on why. Researchers examined the brain activity of 44 people who identified as strongly liberal or conservative. Participants watched three kinds of videos: a neutral news segment on a politically charged issue, an inflammatory debate, and a soothing nature documentary. When politics entered the frame, brains synced up along ideological lines – a phenomenon termed “neural synchrony.” The team also measured participants’ scores on the Intolerance for Uncertainty Scale, which includes prompts such as: “My mind can’t be relaxed if I don’t know what will happen tomorrow” and “It’s unfair having no guarantees in life.” The results revealed a strong link: the less tolerant someone was of uncertainty, the more rigidly partisan their brain responses became. As one researcher summarized: "Biased information processing wasn’t unique to any one political persuasion – it was tied to uncertainty-intolerant partisans across the board."

The Seven of Wands, then, mirrors more than personal struggle – it reflects our collective discomfort with uncertainty and the defensive postures it provokes. But the card also offers a challenge: how do we cultivate higher tolerance for the unknown? Some supportive practices include:

• Pause and name the feeling when uncertainty sparks discomfort.
• Challenge the story your mind invents about what could go wrong.
• Redirect focus to what you can control.
• Strengthen adaptability – experiment with small changes, try new experiences, or say yes to the unexpected.

The Seven of Wands reminds us that when can approach the unknown with curiosity (instead of as a potential threat) we can gain powerful insight and perspective.

Monthly Guidance for Sun and Rising Signs

♈ Aries
Affirmation: I welcome new insights and understanding.
Reflection: What shifts in perspective help me see things in a new way?

♉ Taurus
Affirmation: I release limiting beliefs about my life.
Reflection: In what ways has a fear of failure held me back?

♊ Gemini
Affirmation: I remain curious amid uncertainty.
Reflection: What is the best case scenario?

♋ Cancer
Affirmation: I am at home in my life.
Reflection: How can I invite in more ease in my day-to-day?

♌ Leo
Affirmation: I allow inspiration to guide me beyond self-doubt.
Reflection: Am I willing to surrender perfectionism to foster creative breakthroughs?

♍ Virgo
Affirmation: Mistakes can open new doors.
Reflection: How can I welcome in a little more improvisation?

♎ Libra
Affirmation: I trust the bigger picture.
Reflection: Where is uncertainty nudging me to trust the bigger picture in my relationships?

♏ Scorpio
Affirmation: I release attachment to outcomes.
Reflection: Can I redefine success as giving my all?

♐ Sagittarius
Affirmation: I have a confident relationship with the unknown.
Reflection: How does the unexpected help me see the bigger story of my life?

♑ Capricorn
Affirmation: I rely on my intuition.
Reflection: How does my inner compass hold me steady in uncertain times?

♒ Aquarius
Affirmation: Good things are coming.
Reflection: What am I looking forward to? If that feels overwhelming, start with something small.

♓ Pisces
Affirmation: I focus my attention on what is working.
Reflection: Are there people in my life I haven't thanked in a while?