Beloved game show host and television personality Pat Sajak announced last year that he will not be returning to host "America's game," Wheel of Fortune, in 2025. After 41 seasons of watching that wheel spin round and round while contestants attempt to uncover a mystery word letter by letter (my personal favorite category is "Before & After"), he has decided to step away from the monotonous world of Deborahs from Columbus, Marks from Phoenix, and Erins from Providence, to experience a new kind of inertia in his life: retirement.

However, beyond the impending departure of the show's longest-acting host, we forget that another influential star sits on the Sony Studios sound stage—and no, it's not Vanna.

When my husband and I first started dating, and I began to share my interest in Tarot with him, we discussed specific cards that we identified with or found striking. Naturally, I informed him about my passion for the Page of Cups and how I came to select it as my significator card* many years before, along with other cards that I found impactful. When I asked him what his favorite cards were, surprisingly he only had one: The Hermit. At that time he had a basic understanding of Tarot and a working knowledge of the card itself—its meanings, influences, and overall energy. However, in my head, I was convinced that he was more of a Knight of Pentacles, a King of Cups, or even a Magician, but most certainly not The Hermit!

To be completely honest, I've encountered some difficulty in finding the starting point for this essay. I suppose one could say that I didn’t have the “strength” to write it (excuse the lameness of that joke 😅). Strength is such a complex topic that attaching an anecdote or personal story to it can be overwhelming simply due to the abundance of possibilities.

Over the weekend I shared with some close friends that I was struggling to discern a path forward on this topic. They graciously offered their insights into what it means to possess strength, power, and, most importantly, what it means when we activate (or fail to activate) both of these elements simultaneously.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” — Ferris Bueller

I have vivid childhood memories of my parents telling me to "slow down" on more than one occasion. Whether it was rushing through my homework to go outside and play, skipping steps in a new hobby I was trying for the first time, or devouring meals like a wild animal, I've always had a tendency to barrel through life at a somewhat erratic pace. While I can't pinpoint the root cause of this behavior now, as an adult, I have a better understanding of what Ferris Bueller meant when he delivered that iconic movie quote.

How The Lovers are breaking barriers.

Getting reacquainted with The Hierophant.