Aries: Three of Cups

This month, with the Sun, Mercury and New Moon all coming together in your 5th (romance, love affairs and creative self-expression) house, it’s going to be a good time for you to let your hair down, kick your heels up and have some fun!

This is the Three of Cups from the Deviant Moon Tarot. This card is all about people gathering together to connect, interact and celebrate. It’s a happy, joyful energy that can manifest as a party or celebration, or it could be as simple as a girls night out.

Look at the figures in this card. They’re all so different, yet they’ve found a common ground and embrace one another with a the kind of joyful camaraderie that says they know how to have fun.

They rise up from the belly of a monster fish. Are they celebrating their impending release? Or are they resigned to a more sinister fate and engaging in one last last hurrah?

Either way this card is all about socializing and participating in group activities. Hanging out with like-minded people and expressing feelings of affection and good-will.

This month you want to leave your troubles at the door and go out and have yourself some fun, There’s no room for fretting about work or other mundane concerns.

No matter where the people in your life have come from — no matter what your connection or history or relationship with them is — the Three of Cups is a card of companionship and camaraderie. It serves as a reminder that there’s always something to be grateful for, and always someone to share your gratitude with.

TAURUS: The Empress

This month is going to be more about getting in touch with your feminine side — your loving, nurturing and caring side — than it will be about getting down to “business.”

The Empress card — this version from the beautiful Archeon Tarot — is associated with beauty, fertility, creativity and love. She represents the aspects of ourselves that evoke the principles of feminine strength and power. As the counterpart to the Emperor card, this archetype is all about the yin or feminine aspects of parental authority and protection, regardless of gender.

Where the Emperor focuses on wisdom, stability and responsibility, the Empress relates more to nurturing, comfort, support and emotional security. It is the “Earth Mother” archetype personified.

This card represents fertility and abundance. Surrounding yourself with all things living and growing. Being in touch with the earth and your sexuality, as well as your ability to create and foster life.

The Empress is a mother, as depicted in this card. But that doesn’t always translate literally. It can refer to mothering impulses, such as tending to the needs of others. She’s surrounded by flowers and herbs in this card, and if you look closely you can see that even her headdress and gown are “alive” with plant-life and forest greenery. This is the essence of the Empress card.

You do want to make sure you’re not neglecting your own needs while you’re busy taking care of others. You want to tend to your own gardens and nourish your own soul. But as you can see in the imagery in this card, what you give out will come back to you in ways that reverberate endlessly.

GEMINI: Eight of Pentacles

Now is the time to throw yourself into your own personal labor of love.

This is the Eight of Pentacles from the Shadowscapes Tarot Deck. It doesn’t refer to punching a clock somewhere and wishing the day was over so you could get back to whatever it is you really enjoy. It’s about finding that thing you truly want to do and figuring out a way to turn it into a livelihood.

The Eight of Pentacles is first and foremost a craftsmanship card. It refers to honing and refining your craft in a way that only you can. What better representation of this is there than a spider spinning a web?

There is perfection in the imperfection, as seen in the elegant gossamer strands that interconnect with one another to create a masterpiece.

The “pentacles” in this rendition are eight shimmering stars woven into this spider’s web. The morning light reflects off of them — a testament to this spider’s early start. She wouldn’t rise so early to do something she didn’t want to do, and ideally neither would you.

The Eight of Pentacles can refer to an all-work / no-play mentality. But this is all relative, as the hours that you’re putting in will likely not feel like “work” at all. Not if you truly love what you do. This is about being fully engrossed in what you’re learning, creating or developing.

It may be that you’re considering going back to school or learning a new trade. Or you could be working on your own personal Magnum Opus. Getting an advanced degree, writing a dissertation, launching a new business — these are all good examples of the Eight of Pentacles’ labor of love energy.

Take some time this month — even if you’re still somewhere punching that clock — and think about what you really want to be doing. Chances are good that once you start seriously thinking about your options, taking steps toward making them happen will come to you naturally.

Cancer: Two of Pentacles

This month you may find yourself juggling the different areas in your life, as you strive to maintain your equilibrium. You’re going to need to be flexible and adaptable, and will need to find ways to shift from one task to another without losing focus.

You may be weighing the pros and cons of an important decision. Whether this is tied to business, relationships, money, or even a new way thinking, it’s bound to be weighing heavily on you.

It could be work and responsibilities vs. pleasure and play. It could be head vs. heart or relationships vs. autonomy. Or it could even be up time (productivity) vs. down time (rest).

Whatever it is, you don’t want to be so focused on weighing your options that you lose sight of what’s going on around you.

In this version of the Two of Coins — from Nigel Jackson’s beautiful Medieval Enchantment Tarot — the coins seem to be levitating above the woman’s uplifted hands.

They look identical, and this may refer to their level of importance in the realm of larger considerations. But as far as what you want to accomplish this month (as opposed to what needs to get done), they’re probably not equal at all.

You’ll have to figure out what’s most important to you and give that areas more consideration. As Coins also relate to money, you may be trying to decide where to invest your assets. Or you may find yourself juggling finances, as in figuring out which bills to pay and which ones can wait.

Think about what you need to balance in your own life as opposed to what deserves your undivided attention. It may require levels of skill and dexterity that you didn’t even know you had. If you can pull it off though and find ways to satisfy one area without neglecting the other, it should be tremendously rewarding for you in the end.

LEO: Page of Wands

You may be ready to chase after a dream you’d set aside because you lacked the time, energy or resources to follow it n the past.

This is the Knight of Wands from the Joie de Vivre Tarot. And like the figure in this card, you may be ready to pursue an interest that’s been calling out to you that’s no longer possible to resist. Or you may be thinking about  something (or someone) you’re passionate about that you’re only now in a position to pursue.

With the New Moon and Mercury in your sign this month, you may even feel a bit like tooting your own horn.

with respect to the quest for adventure associated with the Knight of Wands, it helps to pace yourself (like the version in this card) rather than to charge off after something that you haven’t quite figured out.

You can’t know all the answers: even this Knight doesn’t know what’s on the other side of that cliff. But you can increase your odds of succeeding by adopting a “look before you leap” attitude, for this or any venture

As is also the case with all Knights — and with all of the court cards in general — this may represent an individual in your life. If this is the case with you, know that he or she delivers an important message. It’s time to set things in motion to go after your dreams.

VIRGO: Four of Swords

There’s a lot pf astrological activity in your 6th and 12th houses this month, which may see you needing to pay more attention to the needs of your body, mind and spirit.

This is the Four of Swords from the World Spirit Tarot. It emphasizes the need for a spiritual retreat as much as it does a physical recuperation, although both may be on your radar this month.

You may feel the need to take a breather or shift your focus toward getting some much needed rest.

In this version of the card, three of the four swords are placed within the church windows above the woman, pointing up toward the heavens. The fourth is mounted horizontally beneath her, a reference to the need for stillness and quiet.

The crutch off to the side indicates a need for rest and recovery. It may be figurative or literal. You may have overextended yourself in recent days or pushed yourself past the point of exhaustion and are now faced with the consequences of having taken on too much.

Like the woman in this card, you may just need to take some time away from all the noise and distractions that surround you. Take some time for yourself, and listen to the needs of your body (and your soul). If you can’t get away there are other ways to regain your sanity. Meditation, breathwork, self-imposed silence, etc. — any one of these can help you to de-stress and restore your equilibrium.

Libra: Wheel of Fortune

This month you may be looking at the ups and downs in your life and thinking about how they’ve led you to where you are right now. The Wheel of Fortune card is associated with fate, destiny, “karma,” life cycles and both good and bad luck.

Sometimes we blame ourselves for the down times (assuming we’ve “brought it all on ourselves”) while viewing the up times as outside of our control.

We all experience these up and down cycles — and we all try to maximize the former while minimizing the latter. But the Wheel of Fortune — this version from the Amazing Fortune Telling Cards deck —  tells us that both are necessary and that the good times wouldn’t be good without the frame of reference of the not-so-good times.

In some versions there are more ominous connotations of those ups and downs, but as this deck was designed for children, the imagery is more positive, playful and whimsical.

We see a roulette wheel in the center with four sets of lucky symbols — hearts, 4-leaf clovers, horseshoes and brass rings — and eight sets of numbers around the perimeter.

The “eight” theme is repeated there in numerical increments as well. Rounding out the imagery is a pair of lucky white rabbits at the top of the card and a pair of unlucky black cats at the bottom.

If you’ve been feeling low or find yourself in the midst of a “down cycle,” remember that things can only get better. And if you’re riding high now and find yourself at the top of your game, remember that it’s the entire spectrum of experience — both good and bad — that’s allowed you this perspective.

Scorpio: Six of Wands

This month should see you getting some much-deserved approval or recognition from your peers. The Six of Wands refers to support, approval and acclaim, brought about by something you’ve worked hard to achieve.

You may have been putting a lot of effort into your work and not even realizing that others have taken notice. Or you could be unexpectedly pulled aside by a loved one, just to tell you how much you’re loved and appreciated.

In this version of the card — from the Wild Unknown Tarot — we see a beautiful blue butterfly emerging from a sparse landscape of dried-out brush. This simple rendition perfectly depicts both the sense of “standing out in a crowd” and of “rising above triumphantly” that is so much a part of this archetype.

The Six of Wands is a card of appreciation and admiration. You “win” something and have earned the right to be satisfied with the spoils of your victory. This isn’t about ego or conceit and it’s never at someone else’s expense. There’s a strong sense of being supported and lifted up by others who rejoice right along with you.

You could be in line for a promotion or award at work. You could be given the ok to go ahead with a project you’ve been excited about. Or it may be as simple as pat on the back and some words of encouragement by those who look up to you.

Whatever form this takes for you this month, know that you’ve earned it and that you deserve it. It may just give you the incentive to keep shooting for the stars and manifesting your highest goals.

Sagittarius: Three of Wands

Now is the time to look all around you and see how the world offers infinite possibilities. It’s time for painting your own canvass and creating your own destiny, courtesy of the Three of Wands from Dana Driscoll’s fabulous Tarot of Trees.

Moving ahead means you may be leaving something behind. Something like a dull dreary existence or a reality that no longer suits you.

It may mean taking a risk, striking out toward unchartered territories and expanding your horizons so far and wide that you not only don’t know where the road you’re on leads, but are ready to make your imprint on it wherever you go.

The Three of Wands is a card of expectation and anticipation. It’s says that you’ve already started to hit your stride. It says you’ve already done the groundwork and are now ready to strike out and make all that you’ve dreamed of a reality.

It’s about opening the door to possibility and setting your sites on distant horizons. What can I do with what I already have to make a difference in the world? What do I have to offer that will bring the greatest reward? These are the questions you want to be asking yourself right now.

The Three of Wands encourages you to push past your limitations and expand your worldview. It will mean stepping outside of your comfort zone and exploring uncharted territories. And while you may run into pitfalls or have to take detours along the way, know that these are often blessings in disguise that can open you up a whole new world of opportunities.

CAPRICORN: Seven of Swords

The question you’re going to have to ask yourself this month is how much are you willing to give up to attain what you desire?

The Seven of Swords — this version from Carol Herzer’s Illuminated Tarot — requires you to evaluate all the different sides of a complicated situation, and arrive at a solution that causes the least amount of anguish or distress.

This is a tricky card that relates to an equally tricky dilemma. Do you risk letting go of the thing you treasure most just to save your neck? Or do you hold on for dear life, knowing that what you lose may be a far greater sacrifice in the end?

Sometimes this card emphasizes treachery and evasion. And you do want to be on your guard against suspicious actions and behaviors. Feeling like you’re being spied on, cheated, stolen from, or lied too are all common aspects of this card. But here the emphasis is on planning, cunning, ingenuity and problem-solving.

The Seven of Swords can refer to a moral dilemma or one with no easy answer, such as a decision that favors the head over the heart. But it also involves strategy, planning and cunning.

There are elements of mischief, trickery and even thievery in this card. You may be tempted to engage in practices that are not aligned with your principles. Or you may be the recipient of someone else’s duplicity. But these same elements can be used to your benefit.

The Seven of Swords represents skill and ingenuity as well. Opportunities come your way, but there’s always a catch. You must have a sharp mind and a vigilant approach if you’re to navigate some of the obstacles before you this month.

AQUARIUS: Eight of Buckets 

The past and the present collide for you this month as you transition from one chapter in your life to another.

The Eight of Buckets refers to making a conscious decision to leave behind something that is no longer sustaining you — physically, emotionally or spiritually.

It’s possible that that “something” isn’t a thing at all, but a lifestyle or set of attitudes that you’re no longer aligned with. It can also be a job that’s run its course or a relationship that is no longer fulfilling.

The elephant in this card has turned his back on the eight buckets that are lined up behind him. They may contain food or water, or they may be empty (they look empty to me). But it doesn’t matter — he’s walking away all the same. As forlorn as he looks trudging away from those buckets, I’d like to think he’s moving towards something that has the potential to “feed” him in other ways.

Jupiter has now retrograded back into your sign, bringing with it opportunities to revisit the past and deal with unfinished business. It also gives you a chance to tie up loose ends.

Just like the elephant in this card, you may find that turning your back on one set of values opens up pathways to another. The inscription on this card: “All out and Over” implies that something has come to an end. But rather than mourning the life you’re leaving behind, now is the time to embrace the new one, just around the bend.

Pisces: The High Priestess

With Jupiter retrograding out of your sign and back into your 12th house this month, you may feel the urge to turn inward and explore the deeper, darker, more mysterious regions of your psyche.

The High Priestess — this version from the Anna K. Tarot — represents a call to listen to your intuition and heed your inner voice. It challenges you to look beneath the surface and find hidden nuggets of information that can help you round out the vast reservoirs of knowledge you already possess.

She is the feminine counterpoint to her predecessor, the Magician. Where the Magician is all about accessing mastering your skills and abilities, the High Priestess masters the rich inner world. It seeks to understand what feelings, intuitions and perceptions. What we don’t always reveal to others. And what makes us tick.

She’s associated with wisdom and insight, psychic awareness, and a sense of “knowing” even when there is not a factual basis for it.

The High Priestess is at home in the world of arcane knowledge and esoterica. She’s both young and old, masculine and feminine, innocent and wise. She is the keeper of secrets, knowledge and mystery.

You may be getting more in touch with your own intuition or experiencing profound instances or deja vu or synchronicity. It’s important to embrace these visions and try to understand them, rather than shying away from them. They can bring insights into not only your own personal choices, but the direction you need to be heading in the coming days.

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This month’s tarotscopes feature some of Ask the Astrologers all time favorite cards.

We hope you like them too! 

August 2021 Tarot Scopes

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