Aries: Ace of Bows

This month — with five planets (including your ruler Mars and the New Moon) moving through your 5th house — the area related to self-expression and creativity — you want to be thinking about your dreams, desires and intentions; as well as the actions you can take to turn them into a powerful reality.

The Ace of Bows (Wands in most decks) speaks of directing your energy toward your goals with purpose and intent: much the same way you’d take aim with an arrow and launch it at a distant target.

If you’ve ever done any archery, you know that you don’t just pick up an arrow and fling it haphazardly into the air. You have to pull back, focus on your objective and become one with the bow before you even shoot. Once you let go of the arrow, you’re committed to the outcome so you have to put everything you have into hitting your target.

This is the energy you want to keep in mind as you work on manifesting your goals. This card — called the “Spark of Life” here in the Wildwood Tarot — refers to that raw, pure, unharnessed energy that is the Ace of Wands as it changes energetically from spark (idea) to flame (intention) to contact (manifestation).

What is it you really really want that you haven’t (up to now) put your whole heart and soul into? And what are the chances of making it a reality unless you do? These are the questions you want to be asking yourself this month.

The Ace of Bows is about offering your intentions up to the Universe with every reason to believe you will be rewarded for doing so. With this in mind, it’s time to push all negativity aside and replace it with optimism and inspiration. If you’re truly serious about manifesting your desires, there is no time like the present to do it.

TAURUS: Four of Spirals

This month you’ll have five planets moving through your 4th house — the area associated with home, family and emotional security. As such, it’s going to be a time for honoring your relationships with loved ones and family members.

It’s going to be a time for rejoicing and celebrating — whether this means planning for a party or special event, or getting yourself out of the doldrums and washing away the blues.

The Four of Wands — this version from the beautiful Chrysalis Tarot — takes the “dream big” energy that came with the Three of Wands and turns it into something tangible, solid and lasting. It represents a joyous celebration, such as a marriage, a promotion, the birth of a child.

It tells you that “this is only the beginning” of something you’ve already established and that it’s bound to just keep getting better.

You may be planning a special event — one which will be way more fun than you are anticipating. You are likely to meet people, have fun, put your worries aside and focus instead on the promise of friendship, companionship and socializing. Or you might be focused more on entertaining in your home, inviting new people into your inner circle or keeping the home fires burning.

This month is about expressing love and affection for those who are there for you even when the going gets tough. It’s about basking in the power of love — like the two bunnies in this card.

No matter what else you’re up against remember to be grateful for what you have. It’s not the time to isolate or withdraw from social opportunities. Look around you and take note of all you’ve accomplished thus far. Chances are good there’s a lot to be grateful for and a cause for celebration right there in front of you.

GEMINI: Page of Swords

This month should be loaded with opportunities for you to go back and clear up some unfinished business. With your ruler turning direct (after three weeks in retrograde motion) and with 5 planets moving through your 3rd house, it’s time to \tie up loose ends and put the past behind you.

An important part of this is going to be acknowledging and then learning from your mistakes.The Page of Swords — this version from the Ceccoli Tarot — is all about clearing the air and cutting to the chase. It’s about seeking out the truth and being honest with yourself, even when it hurts.

It’s also about communications, ideas, information and news. The Page of Swords is generally very curious, a good judge of character, quick to size up others and able to see through ulterior motives and agendas.

Like all the Pages, it’s a messenger card so you want to pay attention to any messages you receive. You want to remember that things are not always as they seem. And while it’s not the time to take things at face value, although you don’t want to be so focused on ferreting out hidden information that you become paranoid.

The third house is your “home base”. It’s the house that Gemini rules naturally and with 5 planets moving through it this month you’re going to be right at home in all things associated with communications and ideas.

It’s also associated with strategy, trickery and an insatiable curiosity. As a result you may uncover a deception or meet with someone whose motives prove to be disingenuous. Or you may have to be the bearer of uncomfortable news yourself, in which case you find yourself needing to deliver it carefully and diplomatically.

But there are positive attributes associated with this card as well. There’s an effortless buoyancy and an childlike inquisitiveness that’s hard to find anywhere else. These are the gifts that come with the Page of Swords — which can inspire you to reach your purest potential.

Cancer: Queen of Pentacles

This month — with a lineup of planets moving through your 2nd house (the area associated with income and earnings) you may be thinking about ways to establish security for yourself and your loved ones. This means financial security first and foremost, but ties into other areas of your life as well.

Building a solid foundation in your relationships for example. Making sure you’re where you need to be with respect to your education and professional credentials. Establishing clearer boundaries. And fortifying your relationships with family and friends.

The Queen of Pentacles — this version from the Morgan Greer Tarot — is all about security and longevity. She appreciates the finer things in life and is not afraid to work for them. But she also wants to see returns on her efforts — material and otherwise.

This Queen is not a pushover. She’s practical, disciplined and efficient. She also tends to move a little more slowly, for two reasons. One, she knows from experience that practical choices are more likely to pay off than get rich schemes in the end. And Two, she wants to savor the life she’s built rather than scrambling to earn her next buck without taking the time to appreciate her gains.

This could be a person in your life or it could refer to qualities that you need to incorporate into your own personality. She wants to be ready for the future. Notice the fall colors and foliage in this card. You could say she’s getting ready for a long cold winter and is not about to face it ill-prepared.

This month you want to be thinking about your long-term goals and what you might need to do in order to bring them to fruition. It may require you to make some short-term sacrifices. But what you gain in return — through hard work, discipline and patience — will make it all worthwhile in the end.

LEO: The Magician

This should be a high energy month for you, with five planets (including the Sun and New Moon) moving through your sign. However there’s going to be just as much potential for things to go haywire as there is for magic to transpire.

The Magician card — this version from Nora Huszka’s Gypsy Palace Tarot — encourages us to make the best use of all of the resources at our disposal. Especially during stressful times. The Magician — like the Fool — already has everything he needs. But unlike the Fool, he’s consciously aware of it.

Sometimes it’s about learning to harness those energies and sometimes it’s about keeping them afloat. And sometimes it boils down to a precarious balancing act.

Notice the black cat exiting the stage on the right. He’s left his paw prints all the way down the wall and across the backdrop. He’s traipsed all over the stage yet doesn’t seem to have distracted the Magician at all. That’s the kind of composure you want to cultivate during this time.

The Magician has all of his “tools” at his disposal, and this month — with all of those planets in Leo — so will you!

Take some time to think about what makes you unique and what skills you and you alone possess. Every one of us has something that we’re so passionate about — and properly channeled, this passion can become your calling.

It’s all about making the best and most powerful use of that thing that makes you YOU. Like the Magician in this card, you’ll want to remember that all of your resources are right there at your disposal, and will only need to be accessed in order for you to create something “magic.”

VIRGO: High Priestess

This month (with five planets moving through your 12th house) you may be feeling a greater urge to turn inward and explore the deeper, darker, more mysterious regions of your psyche.

The High Priestess — this version from the beautiful 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 necessarily show to the outer world. What makes us “tick.” She’s associated with wisdom and insight, intuition, 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.

Libra: Hummingbird

This month — with five planets moving through your 11th house (the area associated with friends and acquaintances) you’ll likely be feeling more outgoing and sociable than you have in some time. \While it may not be exactly a popularity contest, you’re bound to be seen as someone that people want to know and get close to.

At the same time you could have so many opportunities that it’s hard to spend too much time focusing on any one relationship or connection. Like the Hummingbird in this card you might find yourself flitting from one social engagement to another.

The Hummingbird is the Animal Wisdom Tarot’s version of the Six of Wands. It’s known as the Victory card in many decks and can very well manifest for you as some sort of professional recognition.

You may be feeling like you’re on the road to success. And whether it happens now or it happens for you months down the road, remember that it’s always a process and not an event.

As colorful and vibrant as the Hummingbird and flowers are in the foreground of this card, you almost don’t notice the fireworks in the background. It tells you that there’s cause for celebration and you might as well enjoy it.

Don’t shy away from celebrating your achievements with others. Even if it feels premature at this stage know that you’re well on your way and that the fun doesn’t have to stop once you reach your goals. Embrace the accolades that are coming your way as confirmation that you’ve earned and deserve them. And don’t forget to thank those who’ve helped you along the way.

Scorpio: The Emperor

This month, with your ruler in Capricorn and five planets moving through your career and public persona sector, you should be feeling like it’s time to take charge of your life and your responsibilities.

This is the Emperor card from Dana Driscoll’s Tarot of Trees. It represents worldly acclaim and ambition. But it’s also tied to personal obligations, such as areas in your life where you may need to take on a parental role.

Hard work, perseverance and determination are all required: nothing will come to you through sheer luck or wishful thinking.

It’s about stepping up to the plate and assuming a position of authority. It’s about striving for personal and professional success. And it’s about wielding your personal power in a fair and just manner.

The message behind this card is one of taking care of business. It’s not the time to be passive or wishy-washy. It’s all about stepping up and taking control of a situation that requires a firm hand and authoritative presence.

Whether you are a parent doling out “tough love” or a supervisor having to strong arm an employee or just taking back your power in a personal relationship, remember it’s important to temper that with kindness and compassion. Just like the wise old Emperor in this card, a protective gentle approach is just as important as a firm steady hand.

Sagittarius: Nine of Cups

You should be reaching for the stars this month and be open to all of the blessings that the Universe is willing to bestow upon you.

The Nine of Cups — this version from Nigel Jackson’s Medieval Enchantment Tarot — is a card of contentment and complacency. Happiness, fulfillment, Love.

Everything about this card is pleasant and peaceful. There’s a rainbow spanning the sky and stars poking through the billowing clouds. An ornate and graceful heron flies over a kingdom below, while a tiny sailboat sets off for parts unknown.

Think about what makes you happy and chances are good it’s the simple things in life. Home, family, friends, health, financial security and peace of mind. This is what the Nine of Cups is all about and if you’re not where you want to be just yet, think about how you can change that.

The Nine Cups in this card are always full. They’re filled with love, gratitude and abundance, which are endlessly intertwined. They’re also filled with hopes and dreams and miracles, which are yours for the taking.

The Nine of Cups is a card of satisfaction, fulfillment and contentment. It speaks of being more than just satisfied with your lot in life, but also feeling truly blessed and grateful with where you are. It’s called “Happiness” in some decks and the “Wish card” in others. But those aren’t always the same thing. So be careful what you wish for as it may or may not bring you happiness.

Take some time to think about what you really want  — and don’t forget to be grateful for what you already have. There’s an intricate balance between gratitude and personal fulfillment, so make sure you’re putting enough energy and effort into both.

CAPRICORN: Six of Pentacles

This could be a good money month for you, with five planets (including the Sun and New Moon) moving through your 8th house, the sector associated with assets, investments and joint resources.

This card — the Six of Pentacles — is a card of giving and receiving, sharing the wealth, being willing (and able) to lend a hand to others while being open to receiving the same for yourself.

You may run into unexpected good fortune or find yourself the recipient of someone else’s generosity. Or if you’re in a position to help someone else then by all means do so.

This version of the card — from the Tarot of Dürer — shows an eagle flying high with a sack full of coins and dropping them from overhead. They scatter in multiple denominations onto the kingdom below.

The Six of Pentacles is about giving and receiving. It’s about sharing. It’s about random acts of kindness. And it’s about the exchange of energy — which often takes the form of money or financial assistance.

These are things you want to think about this month.Things like kindness, compassion and consideration.  Kindness and consideration, compassion, generosity. But most of all gratitude. These are all Six of Pentacles attributes.

This isn’t about giving what you can’t afford to give. That can create hardship and ultimately resentment. And it’s not necessarily about giving money anyway.

Whether you’re the benefactor this month or the recipient, know that this is a never ending cycle and you’ll find yourself in both roles. Be prepared to jump in and participate fully — either through offering help to another or expressing gratitude for the help you receive.

AQUARIUS: The Lovers

A lineup of planets — including the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars — will move through your relationship sector this month, shifting your focus to (and putting you in the mood for) love. Whether you’re single, dating, married, separated, divorced or widowed, chances are good you’re going to be thinking about relationships.

The Lover’s card is about “love.” But it’s not always an easy or definitive love. Sometimes there are feelings of ambivalence or uncertainty, and sometimes there are choices to be made that can complicate things even more.

The figures in this card are lost in world of their own. They hold each other in a loving embrace, oblivious to the world around them. This version of the card — from the beautiful Jaen Tarot — emphasizes love and affection.

But life — and love — is not always so simple. This card can also indicate uncertainty in relationship or a decision that needs to be made. You may be wondering where you stand or whether someone you care about feels the same.

You may also be ready to fall head over heels in love and wondering when someone new is coming in.

If you’re in love now and happy with your choices, remember to celebrate that love with the object of your affection. And if you’re not — if you’re out there like so many of the rest of us single and still looking — then you won’t want to give up. Your card this month (and the 5 planets moving through your relationship sector) just : don’t give up.

The Lovers card — and this one in particular — can serve as a reminder that there’s someone out there for all of us, and that what is most important is having a great big old open heart that you’re ready, willing and able to share with another.

Pisces: White Tiger Seven

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 the Feng Shui 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. Notice how the tiger in this image has used his ingenuity to rise above the raging waters below him, without even a minor misstep.

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. You must have a sharp mind and a vigilant approach if you’re to navigate through some of the obstacles before you. Opportunities come your way, but there’s always a catch. Just like the raven whose cunning and prowess has rewarded him with the fiery sun, but whose feathers have become permanently charred in the process.

—————————–

This month’s tarotscopes feature some of Ask the Astrologers all time favorite cards. We hope you like them too! 

August 2019 Tarot Scopes

By

Thinking about learning Astrology? I highly recommend Stephen Arroyo’s Chart Interpretation Handbook and Demetra George’s Astrology for Yourself.</p>

Steven Forrest’s Inner Sky and Changing Sky books are classics that every serious astrologer has in their library, as is Tracy Marks’ Art of Chart Interpretation.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases such as these, so please do take a moment to check them out.

I am available for live chat consultations in 30 and 60 minute increments at the rate of $4 per minute for 30 minute sessions and $3 per minute for 60-minute sessions payable through PayPal.

Please note that I do not offer free readings and these are the lowest rates you will find me at online. I am located in the US, in the Eastern time zone. Payment links are accessible through the sidebar on the right. Feel free to pop into my chatroom if you see me available live, or email me to schedule a session if you don’t.

Visit my website