Blog
Artist Feature - Sav
What led you to BTS? My best friend had gotten really into them and I wanted to know more about them; they seemed like an important part of her life so I wanted to learn about it. I let her show me music videos, YouTube compilations, interviews, Run BTS episodes, and so on, and I was like, “okay wow, I’m really into this!” Their music is just amazing; that plus the choreography and music videos really drew me in for their talent.
ACE OF SWORDS
The Ace of Swords represents a moment where we’re presented with a kind of understanding – a truth revealed, a sudden mental connection, new data, a primordial idea. When it shows up for us, all we have to do is be curious and open to what’s happening in our life. It might not be obvious, but try to pay attention to any shifts, omens or messages. What conversations, sources and thoughts are coming through? Give them the space they might need to bloom.
Artist Feature — Shayna
What led you to BTS?
About 5 years ago, I had this friend that always dragged me to watch the Go Go dance practice everyday during our recess (this was after DNA comeback and promotions if I’m not wrong). I used to always declare to everyone how I will never ever like this Kpop thing. And for what reason? I do not know at all. I have no clue, no idea.
SEVEN OF WANDS
The Seven appears as a reminder to be honest with yourself about the challenges ahead of you but not to dwell on them too long. There’s a difference between strategizing and spiraling, and you don’t want to lose the momentum you’ve built.
Artist Feature - Nicole Salcedo
What led you to BTS?
A friend of mine put me on to BTS, she showed me their SNL performance back in 2019, I would listen to their tracks here and there, but it wasn’t until February 2020 when they released the video for ON that I truly became hooked and started watching more edits and fancams. I think lockdown just sped up the inevitable, I was able to spend more time consuming 7 years worth of content. Their music really helped me deal with adapting to our new pandemic reality. They really do come into your life when you need them the most.
Artist Feature - Madi
What led you to BTS?
I remember the day vividly. I was sitting in the library at my school, working diligently on some project or assignment. It was dark at 4 PM, cold, and it’s safe to say I was in the trenches. I saw my sister texted.
It’s time to test the waters.
Unless you already have
In the case you haven't:
Serendipity, UGH!, Run, Lie, Inner Child, Singularity, Butterfly, House of Cards
Listen for homework and report how your listening experience was.
Safe to say that was my introduction to the real BTS.
SIX OF WANDS
The Six of Wands is the card of hard-won victory. It’s not the end of the road (though, truly, what is?) but it’s the moment when you can see your efforts beginning to pay off and your vision starting to crystalize into something more tangible. If you push and push yourself without taking the time to rest, to recharge, and to recognize how far you’ve come, the only thing you will be left with is demoralization and burnout. It is exhausting to go through life feeling as though all your efforts are simply not good enough.
Artist Feature - Dion
What led you to BTS?
The culprit was none other than my best friend. Prior to officially becoming an army, I had vaguely heard about BTS and how they were breaking through into the western music scene. I remember hearing and watching their performance at the AMAs back in 2017 and how important it was, but I didn’t pay them too much mind after that.
SEVEN OF CUPS
The Seven of Cups is often depicted as a card of confusion, overindulgence, or delusion due to too many options. It can be totally overwhelming to sit in the fog, unsure of which cup to choose. We may feel pressure to make the “right” choice, even when we aren’t ready.
THE HANGED MAN
The Hanged Man is card 12 of the Major Arcana, and one that I always put into context with its ensuing card-Death. Meaning, this is the soupy space we must sit in before a transformation. It is the time to invite stillness, even if it’s uncomfortable. The more we struggle, the less we hear our own inner knowing. And so, we can be curious about where this discomfort is coming from. Listen deeply in this stillness to our needs, no matter how quiet the voice. Release what isn’t working in order to make room for change.
Artist Feature - Tyler
What led you to BTS?
I think bts make their way into army's lives when they need them most. For me that was 2017. I was still in secondary school which was quite a rough era of my life. I was struggling with expressing myself and accepting who I am. One night I was scrolling through pinterest and saw this wallpaper with these 7 guys. I remember saving the photo because of “the guy with the mint hair”. From there everything spiraled. Now in 2022, I’m in such a good place. Bts helped me understand that not only is it okay to be myself but also that I should be proud of who I am too.
FOUR OF SWORDS
The Four of Swords is a card that quite literally offers us a pause amongst the challenges of its suit. Traditionally, we see images where someone is lying still and at rest, whether literally or symbolically. When we take this in the context of the suit of Air, we can understand the Four of Swords as being about finding ways to quiet and calm the mind.
THE HIEROPHANT
The Hierophant is a card that represents tradition, belief structures, learning and growth. It tends to appear as a reminder that our inclination toward rebellion may not always serve us well — there are times when breaking the rules liberated us and there are times when it simply creates more work for ourselves. Why make things harder by reinventing the wheel when we can follow the tried and true patterns others have left for us?
THREE OF WANDS
Like all the Threes, the Three of Wands represents a foundation, specifically that which we build all our dreams upon. Because Wands are such an intangible suit, this tends to speak of our vision for our goals and what it looks like if we should reach them. Simply put, it’s difficult to make progress when one is wandering aimlessly or has a vague idea of what success would even look like; how can you break down the steps necessary to reach your dreams if you don’t even know what you’re dreaming of?
FIVE OF SWORDS
The Five of Swords isn’t a light card, even by this suit’s standards. Like the other Fives, it represents a kind of crisis point – in this case, we’re working with the mental aspects of difficult emotions. As with many of the Swords, the Five really shows us how tricky our relationship to our own minds can be. It’s often when something goes wrong and/or we feel hurt that we’re most prone to getting tangled in the noise of our more unhelpful thoughts.
THREE OF PENTACLES
The 3 of Pentacles is about putting effort towards building something tangible and long-lasting – something bigger than the sum of its parts, whether it’s a project or a space. It speaks to collaboration, asking us to understand our unique skills and abilities. Beyond a capitalist understanding of productivity, this card draws our attention to what we can contribute and put into the world, brick by brick.
FOUR OF WANDS
Like all the Fours, the Four of Wands represents a natural pause. It’s a moment to breathe, to reflect, and appreciate your efforts thus far. Let’s face it - starting a new project or journey takes a lot of work and energy. It’s relatively easy to come up with new ideas and passing inspiration, but actually finding the motivation to put them into action is a feat in and of itself.
EIGHT OF SWORDS
The 8 of Swords, like its siblings in the other suits, is about choice and having faith in the process of change. Often, it depicts situations where we’re kept stuck by our own thoughts, fears and lack of perspective. Our brains are wired to feel that what’s familiar, even if harmful, is safer than the alternative of the unknown, and this card asks us to work on rewiring those patterns so we can grow.
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Whenever I draw The Wheel of Fortune for myself or others, I find that it’s usually this invitation to check where we’ve tightened our grip to avoid the negative. Where we’re clenched, where we’re hoping to stay in control of flawless outcomes. We want to seize the wheel and control its direction, rhythm, and velocity so that we don’t get hurt.
Artist Feature — Anaïs C.
What led you to BTS?
I first heard about BTS when they released Boy With Luv. I was listening to Halsey a lot back then, but I didn’t really pay attention to Bangtan. To be honest, I remember telling a friend while watching an old YouTube rewind "I don't get why kpop is such a big thing. No one's talking about it around me, I don't recognise myself in their music. This is loud," or something like that. I was listening to a lot of rap back then and I think it just didn't suit my taste.