As the semester transitions from the midterms into its final third, the tone on the Northern Essex Community College (NECC) campuses shifts. The chaos of the midterms has passed, but the initial burst of energy is long gone. Students are now battling fatigue, staring down finals, and wrestling with the temptation to simply coast along.

This critical period is not just about survival; it’s about strategic action.

The tarot deck, far from being just a tool for prophecy, is best used as a road map for energy management and willpower. The following three cards offer some symbolic advice on how to switch from simply enduring the semester to driving toward a successful completion.

A Note on Methodology

The modern relevancy of tarot lies in the symbolism of each card, which together represents a framework for navigating life’s challenges. As a seasoned tarot reader, I selected these cards for their direct relevance to the common struggles faced by students at NECC during the final third of the semester: harnessing willpower, managing energy sustainably, and courageously defending personal boundaries.

Tarot breakdown: The final strategic push

1. The Chariot (VII) — The Card of Victory, Willpower, and Focused Drive

The Lesson for NECC: This Major Arcana card is the ultimate call to action. After dealing with obstacles, The Chariot provides the surge of energy needed for the final sprint. It is a symbol of victory through relentless, disciplined effort. The Chariot tells the NECC student to stop allowing distractions and harness their focus—like a driver gripping the reins—to propel themselves toward the finish line.

The NECC Academic Coaching program is designed to deliver this very focus. Coaching will help students “become a more effective learner, not simply to survive the crisis of the day”. The program explicitly provides support focused on “goal setting” and “motivation and encouragement” to ensure students have the disciplined direction The Chariot symbolizes. The card reminds you that you must actively steer your course past procrastination and fatigue. Victory isn’t about luck; it’s about determined, focused will.

2. Temperance (XIV) — The Card of Balance, Moderation, and Sustainable Flow

The Lesson for NECC: The Temperance card, often showing an angel carefully mixing two liquids, is a powerful reminder that the goal is not to burn out, but to finish strong. While The Chariot demands action, Temperance demands moderation. For the exhausted student, this is a lesson in sustainable flow: you must find a healthy mix of intense work and crucial rest. Pushing too hard now will lead to burnout just before any final exams.

To help students achieve this flow, the SOAR Program regularly plans workshops on “personal health and wellness activities” and “self-care”. This proactive, moderated approach reflects Temperance’s lesson that sustainable success requires strategically mixing hard work with rest, thereby managing energy all the way to the end.

3. Seven of Wands — The Card of Courage, Defiance, and Defending Your Position

The Lesson for NECC: The Seven of Wands often depicts a figure fighting off multiple attackers from high ground. For the NECC student, this represents the pressure of the final weeks: friends asking for help, family demands, and the sheer volume of deadlines closing in. This card encourages you to stand your ground.

Academic support services are critical in establishing this boundary. NECC’s Academic Advising and Coaching teams help students work closely with an advisor on essential skills like “time management,” “organizational skills,” and “setting priorities”. This directly aligns with the Seven of Wands’ message: courageously establishing and defending your priorities is necessary to protect your final academic position and secure your success.

Conclusion: Time to Drive

These cards all point to the same truth: the end of the semester is not a gentle wind-down, but a period requiring intense, focused willpower and strategic energy management.

The cards provide the strategy, but all the NECC resources give you the tools and resources available to finish your journey. Whether you need help harnessing The Chariot’s energy, learning moderation with Temperance or establishing The Seven of Wands’ boundaries, remember that help are available to anyone willing to take the steps necessary to obtain it.

• Counseling and Psychological Services: Available to all students, these services offer confidential, short-term counseling for stress management, anxiety, and personal issues. To make an appointment, call 978-556-3730 or email counseling@necc.mass.edu. 

• Academic Advising/SOAR Program: 

This program provides personalized coaching to manage academic load, major exploration, goal setting, and plans for transferring or career entry. Contact them at academiccoaching@necc.mass.edu to schedule a meeting. 

• Success Workshops: Regular workshops and coaching sessions dedicated to time management, overcoming procrastination, and building crucial life skills. Check the NECC Student Success Center homepage for the latest schedule

Tarot talk: What the cards have to say about your semester at NECC

Faced with academic pressure and life-defining choices at Northern Essex Community College (NECC) this semester, some students are finding unique insight in the tarot deck—a set of 78 illustrated cards. Long seen as a tool for fortune-telling, tarot is now being embraced on campus as a powerful resource for self-reflection and personal guidance when the path ahead feels uncertain. (Keep in mind that tarot is generally written in lowercase.) 

The modern relevancy of tarot lies in the symbolism of each card, which together represents a framework for navigating life’s challenges. Each of the 78 cards represents a part of the human experience, from celebrating victory and mourning losses to making critical decisions as well as taking time to rest. The cards become a relatable language when it comes to the hurdles students face. 

A Note on Methodology

As a seasoned tarot reader who uses the cards primarily for journaling and meditative self-inquiry, I selected these three Major and Minor Arcana cards for their direct relevance to the common struggles faced by students at NECC: balancing responsibilities, taking initiative, and maintaining hope.

Tarot breakdown: Three cards for your college journey

For students at Northern Essex Community College, tarot’s most powerful messaging often lies in any card that addresses the universal themes of new beginnings, balance, and resilience. Here are three major cards whose symbolic lessons speak directly to the pressures and possibilities of academic life: 

1. The Magician (I) — The Card of Resourcefulness, Manifestation, and Initiative

The Lesson for NECC: This card, often depicted with a figure standing over a table holding all the tools of creation, is a powerful reminder that you already possess everything you need to succeed. The Magician tells the NECC student who feels overwhelmed by a challenging course or a big project to stop looking externally for help and start utilizing their own skills, knowledge, and the resources available to them (like the NECC library, tutoring centers, and faculty). It’s a call to take decisive action and manifest your goals instead of just dreaming about them. 

2. The Two of Pentacles — The Card of Balance and Juggling

The Lesson for NECC: The Two of Pentacles is the definitive card for the community college student. It shows a figure gracefully juggling two coins (pentacles) against a backdrop of turbulent seas. This card perfectly represents the act of balancing school with work, family, or other commitments. It’s a non-judgmental acknowledgment that life gets busy, yet it also advises the student to stay flexible, manage time wisely, and find a sustainable rhythm. When this card appears, it serves as a prompt to check your schedule: are you over-committed, or are you managing the juggling act with necessary grace? 

3. The Star (XVII) — The Card of Hope, Healing, and Inspiration

The Lesson for NECC: Following cards that represent major crisis, The Star is a symbol of calm, tranquility, and profound optimism. It is often seen as a cosmic blessing after a period of stress or burnout. For the NECC student facing the fatigue of late nights or recovering from a difficult semester, The Star is a guiding light. It encourages you to have faith in your long-term vision (your degree, your career path) and to maintain hope. More practically, it suggests a period of renewal and finding inspiration to move forward, reminding you that your future is bright, and you are exactly where you need to be on your journey. 

Beyond the ‘Magic’: Using Tarot Responsibly

While tarot offers a captivating lens for self-reflection, students and experts alike emphasize that the cards should be a tool for introspection, not an alternative to professional advice.

The cards are not a substitute for clinical support. For students feeling truly overwhelmed by the “Two of Pentacles” struggle, or lost on their career path despite the “Star’s” message of hope, Northern Essex Community College offers several tangible, free resources: 

• Counseling and Psychological Services: Available to all students, these services offer confidential, short-term counseling for stress management, anxiety, and personal issues. To make an appointment, call 978-556-3730 or email counseling@necc.mass.edu. 

• Academic Advising/SOAR Program: 

This program provides personalized coaching to manage academic load, major exploration, goal setting, and plans for transferring or career entry. Contact them at academiccoaching@necc.mass.edu to schedule a meeting. 

• Success Workshops: Regular workshops and coaching sessions dedicated to time management, overcoming procrastination, and building crucial life skills. Check the NECC Student Success Center homepage for the latest schedule.

Conclusion: Your Own Agency

The resurgence of tarot on campus speaks to a generational search for meaning and control in a world that often feels chaotic. Whether a student uses the imagery of the cards to journal their feelings or simply to pause and reflect on their week, the practice itself encourages a form of self-care.

Ultimately, the tarot deck is a set of picture prompts. 

It may illuminate a student’s hidden potential or warn of impending burnout, but the responsibility—and the power—always remains with the individual.

As students at Northern Essex Community College look to the future, the message is clear: You are the author of your story. The cards can only offer a suggestion, but the final, most powerful move belongs entirely to you.