Stressful economic times call for creative and inventive solutions. As a Tarot reader with a focus on business mentoring, I help clients realize which of their assets, strategy, and talents lead the way to prosperity. The Tarot cards can reveal new ways to help your business thrive because they carry the soul's message (which is not filled with stress and worry) and instead point out the traits upon which to focus.

Now more than ever you need to stand out and have unique offerings for your new and existing customers, as well as understand and develop your strengths. The reading I've designed will guide you for optimal business results.

This simple Tarot spread will show you a business action plan that includes bringing out the very best in your own nature.

Separate your cards into the four Pages of the suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles) and place the Empress card in front of you. The Empress represents the theme of your spread, because she signifies growth and tangible abundance.

This spread has three cards; this is the number of growth attributed to the Empress. The Empress card is central in the spread and you'll place one Page above her to represent the quality that you'll be utilizing in the present time and immediate future. The second card, another Page, is placed below represents the future steps to take when you feel you've utilized the first Page's message to its fullest capacity.

Place the four Pages face down and mix them. Pick one while face down and place it above the Empress. Then pick a second to place below. Turn them both over. Read the first one for current guidance and which steps to take next; the Page below will guide you later on in your business's future.

Page of Wands (and the Suit of Wands in general)
If you've chosen the Page of Wands, your focus should be people-oriented. This is the suit that highlights the idea of networking and who you know. Present yourself face to face and allow your brilliance to shine. An acceptance of the spotlight is important, as is the willingness to compete.

Success in business comes from optimism and a visionary product or service. This is also a message about courageously going to your destiny. Helping others to achieve or define their vision, aspirations, ambition, and desires is your strong suit. Warmth, optimism, and encouragement are beneficial. Success colors include gold, orange, yellow, and red; these can be used on business cards and logos, as well as clothing and décor. The best times of year are during the fire signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

Page of Cups/Suit of Cups
Your focus will be hospitality. Both attending and planning functions, parties, and gatherings will benefit you. Entertaining and entertainment will attract success. Focus on the creative, artistic, enjoyable, and sensory aspects of your business. How your business makes people feel is a key element, so provide a comfortable, welcoming, safe, happy, and pleasurable atmosphere. Nurturing other people's dreams, their creativity, and families is advised. Dream facilitation (such as the dream home, job, body, or mate) is of benefit.

Trust your intuition and develop your communications and strategies partly using your sense of what the future holds and partly using feelings about what the current situation requires. You could become a trusted advisor, mentor, or guide because you have a sense of future trends. Colors for success are blues, purples, and greens, with white and silver. Favorable times of year are during Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Page of Swords/Suit of Swords
This suit highlights communication in all forms. The message is the medium, and you need to communicate yours via a variety of avenues. Advertising, marketing, and getting the word out are indicated. Brochures, interviews, media appearances, talks, presentations, interviews, articles, and websites (to name but a few publicity avenues) will attract success. Speaking, teaching, writing, and your education should be highlighted.

How that message is perceived is key, and the qualities of integrity, honesty, knowledge, and trust are vital. How you walk your talk is important, as is what you know and how clearly you can convey thoughts to others to guide, inform, and educate. An emphasis on healing; elimination of outworn/unwanted people, places, or things; and improvement-oriented services and products will attract success. An ability to listen, perceive, and intuit needs and trends and synthesize that information into your business plan will be helpful. Successful colors include silver, white, yellow, blue, and lilac. Advantageous times of the year are during Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.

Page of Pentacles/Suit of Pentacles
This suit emphasizes talents and their full development through cultivation and practice. Develop yours fully and highlight their value. This will attract those who want to invest in quality and valuable resources that you may own, produce, or possess. The monetary value of your business, its resources, and its profitability should be emphasized. Use endorsements by respected people that relate to your business.

Consider how valuable your experience and knowledge are, and how they can make others wealthy. Sell your wisdom as a guide, mentor, advisor, consultant, manager, and trainer of others' talents and resources. Emphasize your stability and experience. Long-term strategies will help you and your associates; you are good at analyzing and organizing this information as well as staying the course.

A business that promotes the greening of an industry and a relationship to nature will be profitable. The colors for success are earth tones, gold, green, and black. The best times of year are during the earth signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

The timely, innovative Tarot ideas provided by this simple reading will help you focus on what is important to emphasize in your business and how to get what you need for growth.

Marcia Masino has been a contributor to the Llewellyn Tarot Calendar, written two books on the Tarot (Easy Tarot Guide and Best Tarot Practices), and designed two Tarot decks. For more information, visit http://www.marciamasinotarotshop.org.