ARIES: Five of Pentacles

You may start the month going through a bit of a rough patch. The Five of Pentacles is all about questioning your own values — whether that means mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially.

As Pentacles relate to physical, material and tangible concerns, you may be struggling with money and material possessions. But this is also ties into your own sense of self-worth.

You may be asking yourself “What do I have to offer and what is it worth to others?” There’s a sense of loneliness and feelings of inadequacy associated with this card.

But if you look at the images in this version, you see not one person but two. And they seem to be holding each other up — supporting one another.

This is the message behind the Five of Pentacles: it may be cold outside and you may have suffered a recent set-back or a blow to your self-esteem. But all you have to do is look around you — and be willing to reach out for help.

We can’t any of us make it through this world alone. This card is all about reminding ourselves that there is help if we are willing to ask for it, and in doing so will usually come out stronger in the end.

TAURUS: Three of Pentacles

By now you’ve probably figured out that there is safety (and progress!) in numbers.

The three of Pentacles refers to joining with others, putting your heads together and combining resources so that the end result is better than anything you ever could have dreamed of on your own.

Perhaps you have a great idea but lack the skill-set to see it turned into something tangible. Or maybe you have the skills but lack the financial backing to see your vision made manifest.

Whatever it is, you can make it better by joining forces with like-minded people. If you can get past your (and everyone else’s) ego, there are ways to pool resources and build a better mousetrap.

The age-old axiom about the sum of the parts being greater than the whole is no more evident than it is in this card. It reminds us that two heads are better than one, and that three are better than two.

In fact — when it comes to this card — you might as well consider going all out: the more the merrier!

GEMINI: Magician

You may feel like you’re “back in the game” after a period of restless uncertainty.

The Magician card speaks of tapping into all of your own ingenuity and transforming it into something “magical.”

You may have struggled in the past with scattered energies. You’ve always been somewhat of a jack of all trades, as evidenced by the tools that are present in this card. There’s a wand, a sword, a cup and a pentacle: all of them right there at your psychic fingertips.

If you look at the woman in this card, you can see that her eyes are closed. She’s so good at what she does that she doesn’t even have to work at it — her ability to tap into her many talents is natural and innate.

What is it that you can do so well that you do it with your eyes closed? And what skills do you possess that you can work on honing now for future reference?

There’s a virtual cornucopia of possibilities inherent in this card. Now you just have to grab onto them and show the rest of the world what you’re made of.

CANCER: Eight of Wands

You’ve got places to go and people to meet this month.

It may feel to you like certain relationships are up in the air –especially those where differences of opinion have caused them to stall them in their tracks.

But this card speaks of not only communicating effectively, but also clearing the air and getting back in sync with those you may have had differences with.

Notice how the 8 wands in this card are all moving in the same direction. And notice the butterflies whose flapping wings seem to be guiding them forward.

There’s a a sense of progress and swiftness in this card, as if to say “things are happening, and they’re happening NOW.”

The Eight of Wands sometimes refers to travel. And it sometimes refers to messages that come (in the form of good news) from afar.

Either way, you’ll have opportunities to hear and to be heard this month, so be careful not to squander them.

LEO: Ten of Swords

Now you’ve gone and done it! You’ve taken the steps that have been long over-due to put something to rest that should have been finished a long time ago.

The Ten of Swords speaks of inevitable endings. These usually refer to something that’s been held onto well past its expiration date — such as a job you’ve outgrown, a relationship that’s run its course or a friendship that is no longer supportive.

There’s a bit of a dramatic conclusion in this version of the card — as there very well may be in real life. We see a swooning woman with 10 swords piercing her flesh. Are are they? If you look closely you’ll notice that there is no blood. And all of the swords are crooked. Perhaps they’re not stuck into her after all.

Whatever it is you’re being forced to let go of, just know that it was no longer serving its purpose. There are indications here — just as there are in every version of this card — that the worst is over.

You know what you’re up against: there’s no more fretting and worrying about the future (as that was left to the 9 of swords). Now it’s time to pick up the pieces and move on.

VIRGO: The Moon

You’ll be getting more in touch with your intuition this month. This can sneak up on you unexpectedly — starting with vivid dreams or waking that develop into full-blown psychic impressions.

While you may ordinarily consider yourself a facts and figures person: good with ideas and analysis and not so good with intangible psychic wisps. But no one sees patterns or understands how things interconnect with one another better than you do, and this can be your saving grace.

You may start noticing synchronicities or experience moments of deja vu. The Moon relates to the unconscious — as well as the collective unconscious — which is where all psychic phenomenon resides. But for this very reason it can also be confusing, as it’s hard to tell what is real and what’s just a product of an over-active imagination.

You can ground some of this energy by working with it rather than resisting it. For example through art, music or poetry, all of which also originate in the collective mind.

If you express yourself creatively and embrace the messages you receive through that process, you may just learn that they’re not so frightening after all.

 LIBRA: Eight of Pentacles

What are you working on this month that you’ve put all of your heart and soul into? The Eight of Pentacles is sometimes referred to as the “apprenticeship” card as it relates to fully investing yourself in a skill or trade.

This is usually a labor of love. It’s not about seeing work as drudgery, but instead being totally engaged in whatever it is you’re devoting your time to.

The Eight of Pentacles also sometimes has to do with changing gears — as in finding your calling at a point where you might have already considered yourself well on road to success in some other profession,

See the woman in this card putting the finishing touch on one of her pieces. All the others are displayed with pride on the wall behind her. She’s not hunched over some desk crunching numbers: she’s got a smile on her face and a bounce in her step.

This is the essence of the Eight of Pentacles: It’s all about perfecting your skills and doing it with such joy and contentment that the finished product is something you can be proud of.

If this isn’t you — yet — take a moment to think about what you’s be doing if you could do whatever you wanted. And then find a way to spend the rest of your life doing it.

SCORPIO: The Empress

The Empress card is all about getting in touch with your “feminine” side. This is not related to gender — it’s more about the qualities that are traditionally associated with anima-type energies.

These are more sensitive, intuitive, reflective and passive. They are introspective and creative as opposed to extroverted and dynamic. But they are just as powerful and can enrich your life in ways you never dreamed were possible.

There is a rich inner world that each of us — male or female — possess, yet few of us take the time to fully explore. It’s a lush, fertile garden where primitive instincts and natural desires reside.

The woman in this card is at one with nature. She’s at home among the exotic animals, fruits and foliage that surround her. She’s nurturing yet commanding and exotic yet organic. This is the essence of the Empress card.

This card encourages you to put aside your worldly ambitions long enough to explore your inner world. This fertile, mysterious, sensitive and intuitive energy that in turn can be phenomenally productive.

SAGITTARIUS: Justice

This month you’ll be called upon to rise above your personal desires and biases to see where all of your decisions and actions have led you to where you are today.

The Justice card refers to the Universal laws of karma and justice. There may be a need to right a previous wrong, or to balance culpability with contrition.You may also have to accept that justice meted out in a legal capacity has been done with fairness and impartiality, despite protests to the contrary. 

The Justice card speaks of Universal justice as well as balancing the scales of right and wrong. The karmic aspects of this card are not punitive: It’s not about someone “getting what they deserve,” it’s about life lessons that promote soul growth and sometimes those lessons are harsh. 

The woman in this version appears as a fairy, with a sword (authority) in one hand a scale (harmony) in the other. She’s balances the firm grip with which she holds the sword with her delicate grasp of the scales. There’s also a heart at the center of the scales, reminding us that justice requires compassion to be fully just.

You may to face consequences for your actions this month, or you may have to mete out justice to another. As long as you do it with fairness and without bias, you will have served the purpose of this card.

CAPRICORN: Queen of Swords 

This month you’ll be called upon to use your wisdom, skill and intellect to make some important decisions. You may not be very “popular” for it in the end, but you will know that you’ve upheld your values and principles nevertheless. 

Alternatively, you may have to deal with someone like this — usually a woman — in a position of power or authority. A boss, a judge, a parent or even a friend who pulls no punches and tells you exactly what’s on her mind.

The Queen of Swords can be powerful adversary. She’s not someone to be trifled with.  But she’s honest and just and will say exactly what’s on her mind with consideration for someone else’s feelings.

In this respect she can be a good business woman. She’s serious, aggressive and potentially even forceful. if this is you — or if you’re called upon to take on these qualities in making an important decision — you would do well to temper some of that aggression with kindness.

If it’s not you — if it’s instead someone you are forced to deal with in a professional capacity — remember that she also appreciates honesty and candor. You can learn some important lessons from her as long as you’re willing to listen and hear what she has to say.

AQUARIUS: Ace of Wands

The Aces are all “energy” cards, as in raw unformed energy that has not yet been molded into something tangible.

With the Ace of Wands (associated with the Fire element) it’s all about passion, inspiration and self-discovery. Who are you and what is it you’re most passionate about? What truly inspires you? These are the questions you’ll want to be asking yourself this month.

In this version of the card, a small pixie child rests atop of a wise old owl. Tiny sparks of magic flow between her wand and the clouds above. Even the clouds themselves appear to be sprinkled with “magic.” There’s a playful exuberant energy in the imagery of this card and combined with the wisdom of the owl, the sky may just be the limit!

Think about ideas that have been floating around in your head that you haven’t yet given the proper consideration. You may have struck on something truly valuable and pushed it aside to focus on mundane tasks.

But the Ace of Wands encourages you to do take those ideas, turn them into plans and put those plans into action. This could be the beginning of something big — you just need to make the choice to go for it!

PISCES: Two of Cups

You may feel as though you’ve met a kindred spirit this month. This could mean a blossoming relationship, a soul-mate connection or even a new friend that you sense an immediate rapport with.

However it plays out, it has a calming, soothing and balance affect on you and makes you feel more “complete.” In this version of the card, we meet male and female counterparts who are at first glance very much alike. Yet when you look closely you see small differences: one has a cat at her feet and the other has a dog at his. One has a dragon fly buzzing around her and the other has a bumble bee. And one holds a fan while the other holds a small bouquet of flowers. Even their head-dresses are slightly different.

But these differences are minor and only serve to enhance the connection between complementary opposites. After all, none of us a evolve through our own experiences the way we do through interactions with others.

If you meet someone like this this month, consider it an opportunity for growth. It could be the yin to your yang — or it could just be a friend who shows you the true meaning of the word. Whatever it is, be grateful for the opportunity to see yourself through someone else’s eyes.

February 2014 Tarot Scopes

By Melodie Sheppard

The Paulina Tarot is designed and illustrated by Paulina Cassidy and published by U.S. Games. Her deck — and full sized prints are available on her website and her Etsy storefront.  This deck is also available for IPhone, IPad and Ipod Touch through the Fools Dog website.

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