You Are Enough Right Now

You have everything you need right now.

That’s the message at the heart of The Magician. It doesn’t mean you have everything you’ll ever need. It simply means that at this moment — at this stage of your path — you don’t need anything more than what you already carry.

People might argue otherwise. They’ll tell you that you must have certain qualifications, tools, or years of experience before you can start. But that’s not what The Magician is about. This card doesn’t ignore the need for growth or learning — it simply reminds us that we’re more equipped than we think.

I can remember plenty of times when I told myself I wasn’t ready. That I couldn’t take the next step without the right tools or the right title. But The Magician doesn’t wait for perfection. He works with what’s available. He’s resourceful. He knows that enthusiasm, curiosity, and intention are powerful in themselves — and that the first step doesn’t require permission.

We live in a world that constantly sells us the idea that we’re not enough. That we need more — more gear, more knowledge, more stuff — before we can begin. I’ve seen it everywhere: people who believe they can’t be a “real” witch without the right altar tools. Readers who think they need one more deck before they can trust their intuition.

But that’s just noise.

The Magician reminds us to look around and within. To gather up our passion, our ideas, the books on our shelves, the notes we’ve scribbled in journals, the courage we’re just starting to find — and to use all of that as the spark for something new.

You have everything you need right now.

© Steven Bright, 2025

Breaking the Rules

I watched a two-part documentary this week on The Jesus Army — an organisation formed in the 1960s that lasted into the 2000s. In its early days, it was seen as a radical expression of Christianity, encouraging followers to hand over their money and possessions in order to live communally, in what they believed was the way Jesus intended.

But that’s not the controversy that ultimately defined it. By the time the movement came to an end, hundreds of allegations of abuse had emerged — some directed at the organisation’s founder. This, to me, is the reversed Hierophant in action.

The misuse of power is clear: institutional corruption, manipulation, and grooming. But as I sat with the card and the documentary, I found myself drawn to another aspect — one that felt more personal. Many of the early followers chose to step away from the norms of conventional life in order to live differently, outside the rules. And I can relate to that.

I don’t work a 9–5. I don’t keep the same sleep schedule as most people. My work — tarot, writing, creativity — is often seen as unconventional. So when I drew the reversed Hierophant this morning, I initially connected it to the disturbing revelations of the documentary. But with time, I saw how the card was also speaking to something closer to home: the choice to live outside society’s rulebook, to walk a path that doesn’t follow tradition.

I’ve often felt guilty — or been criticised — for not living like others. Sometimes, the way I live has been more of a problem for other people than it ever has been for me. But the reversed Hierophant isn’t always negative. While it can represent the abuse of power and distorted authority, it can also symbolise those who break the rules with integrity and intention — and who find freedom in choosing a different way.

© Steven Bright, 2025

The Fine Line

It’s been a long time since I last turned this card, and I’ll admit — I was surprised to see it today. That in itself probably says something about how I see myself, or perhaps how I think I’m seen by others.

The 6 of Wands is a card of recognition and visibility. A moment of being elevated, acknowledged, maybe even celebrated. But I find it brings up complex feelings for me. When I look at the central figure, I don’t immediately feel inspired — I feel a little uneasy. Not because of the card itself, but because of everything that surrounds the idea of being ‘seen’ these days.

As a child, my parents played down my achievements — probably because they’d seen other parents push their kids to the front. They didn’t want me to be one of those children. But I wonder if that quiet messaging shaped more than they realised, because as an adult, I play down my achievements too. 

We live in a time where visibility can be confused with value. Where having an audience is sometimes treated as proof of worth. I often feel a quiet resistance to what I see online — not just celebrity culture itself, but the way it creates distance and hierarchy. The way people give so much of themselves to follow or defend people they don’t truly know. I struggle to understand the pull of celebrity.

At the same time, I can see that there’s a very human longing underneath it all — to belong, to matter, to feel connected. But what does recognition look like when it’s quiet? When it’s genuine? When it comes from people who truly see us?

While confidence and pride in our accomplishments are important, the 6 of Wands also asks us to reflect on how recognition is carried. There’s a fine line between self-assurance and showmanship — between being seen and seeking to be admired. This card reminds us that true confidence doesn’t need to shout.

© Steven Bright, 2025