Dear Oracle,
My daughter and I are very close. I was not excited that she and her now husband moved from Florida to a very rural part of Missouri, a town of only 150. But I got it. Florida is crazy expensive, and they would have never been able to buy a house or thrive here.
She is a high school science teacher, he works from home as an insurance agent. His mother recently moved in to help with a baby that was a surprise to everyone. They planned on having a child, but he came a little sooner than they had planned. They live in such a remote area —20 minutes or more to medical, conveniences, no real other families in the area. I just worry about what kind of life might be in the cards for this new family. They have had some relationship struggles, as this is her first real, serious relationship, and he is eight years older. He is a very kind person, but can freak out over the slightest thing. He is a bit ADHD and cocky. She’s particular and can be a bit controlling, wanting things to be just so. They are both Pisces.
I just worry that they are too remote for their son to have any social life in the future, if they can keep their personalities in check to avoid conflict that may cause emotional stress, whether or not living in such a remote area is healthy for them as they seem so isolated. I want the best for them. She is doing great as a new mother so far, and having his mother there will be a huge relief when she goes back to work because there aren’t any established daycares in the area. I just wonder how long they can survive the rural farm life. He always has these glorious ideas for this, that, and the other, but never follows through. I’m just curious to see if this lifestyle is sustainable for them.—Mom now Grandma
Cards for Missouri: Two of Wands (reversed), Nine of Cups (reversed)
Cards for Marriage: Five of Swords (reversed) Ace of Swords (reversed
Cards for Family Needs: Seven of Wands (reversed) Six of Swords (reversed)
Cards for How To Get There: The Seekers (reversed), Justice
Dear Mom,
Thank you so much for trusting me with your questions. While you do express some direct worry about the future of your grandson, what I hear most in your question is a worry about your daughter. In a few short years, her life has changed completely. It’s very understandable to see all of this newness and worry, so here is some insight from the cards.
As far as Missouri goes, I think your daughter is still very hopeful about its potential. The Nine of Cups is a card of wish fulfillment and the Two of Wands can be a call to adventure, so I believe that she’s trying her best to have a rosy outlook on things. However, she might not be satisfied. The Two of Wands is also a card of feeling a bit stifled (hence wanting an adventure), and the Nine of Cups can also appear when one is trying to hold onto a fantasy instead of facing reality. Without speaking to your daughter, I can’t be sure, but I do wonder if this farm life is something that she really did want but is finding it to not be what she expected.
You mentioned that your daughter has had some issues with her marriage, and the cards show that as well. With the Ace of Swords, I think both your daughter and son-in-law fell in love with each other’s mind. I believe they deeply value each other’s thoughts and opinions, and both might be prone to fantasy above reality. However, I think these two strong personalities are known to clash. With the Five of Swords, they both let their own ego get in the way of things. You mentioned your daughter can be very particular about things and your son-in-law can be very cocky. To me, this sounds like two egos that can dig their heels in and wait for the other to relent, which will not happen. (It’s one of the things they love about the other.)
However, I do think they also understand that this stubborn dynamic isn’t working. With the Seven of Wands, I believe they understand that they are at a point where they have to make some sort of change. As someone with a toddler, I remember the newborn stage well and know that tiny problems pre-baby become HUGE problems when no one is sleeping for months on end. With the Six of Swords, these two have to let go of their old patterns and leave behind their egos to move towards a more balanced future for their new family. If they’re open to it, a couple’s counselor might be beneficial to them.
The last two cards are what your daughter and son-in-law need to do to get them to a more harmonious place. With The Seeker, I think there needs to be deeper conversations with them about what they truly want, what they find nourishing, and how they can be fulfilled. This is a large picture conversation. It’s about what they want their life to look and feel like.
The final card, Justice, is the only right-side-up card in the entire spread. It’s a card about truth and balance, and I think your daughter and son-in-law need to be honest with themselves and each other about what they want—and both need to learn how to give up a little bit on control. Justice invites us to let go of petty and self-serving behaviors and to step into a life of balance.
As a family unit, balance is crucial because every person matters: mama, dada, and baby.
Finally, I know a small town can seem so foreign to city-dwellers, but the good news is they don’t seem to be that isolated. Twenty minutes might seem far for convenience, but compare that to traffic on the streets and highways here, and we’re all probably 20 minutes away from something we like to do. It’s an adjustment but hopefully she can still get the help and socialization she needs.
I hope this transition for her and her family goes as smoothly as possible and that they all get to grow and flourish in the most wonderful way.
Take care.
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This article appears in Nov. 13 – 19, 2025.