Articles By Mel and Chris

About Mel and Chris

We’re both full-time professional astrologers with more than 30 years experience (studying, teaching, writing and consulting) individually. We met several years ago while doing online consultations and have been collaborating on weekly and monthly horoscopes for the last five years.

Dec 03 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Dec 3, 2015 — Five of Arrows

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Five of Arrows

Today you may need to work on directing your attention to one (or two) clear goals rather than allowing your energies to scatter.

You may be frustrated with occurrences that catch you off-guard and by your inability to act as quickly as you feel you should.

The Five of Arrows is the Wildwood Tarot’s version of the Five of Swords, a card that’s often linked with discord and hostility. And there is some of that here, although it’s less the “me against the world” mentality that’s usually seen in this card, and more about being your own worst enemy.

Are you worried about missing out on an important opportunity, or afraid that when one does present itself you’ll end up missing the mark? Or perhaps you’re frustrated by your inability to see your target clearly in the first place.

This is the predicament the figure in this card finds himself in. He knows he needs to act quickly, but it’s clear that flinging his arrows in every direction but the one that counts isn’t going to land him the prize. He’s shot four arrows and all of them missed. Will he get it right with his fifth and final arrow?

The answer depends as much on his willingness to see where his inability to focus has tripped him up in the first place. And this is something you want to keep in mind today too.

You may have to look at where your own impatience and frustration have prevented you from reaching your goals in the past, and then think about how you can do things differently moving forward. You’ll get much better results by focusing your energy in one clear direction than you will by flinging it haphazardly into the air.

Dec 02 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Dec 2, 2015– Page of Pentacles

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Page of Pentacles

Today you may be feeling more inspired and ready to put some of your bigger ideas into practice.

The Page of Pentacles is enthusiastic, filled with promise and excited about putting plans for the future into motion.

It refers to dreams and ideals that may not even be fully formed. There’s an air of anticipation that goes with wanting to see them come to fruition and that may have just needed a nudge to turn them into reality.

The Page of Pentacles — this version from the Shadowscapes Tarot — is a both a self-made individual and a work in progress. But it’s not all about “work” in the sense that it’s tedious or uninspiring. It’s about craftsmanship and inspiration as seen in the colorful figure in this card.

You could find yourself putting the finishing touches on half-finished projects in order to clear the way for something else. You could be polishing off your resume, purchasing business attire, or boning up on your studies, in anticipation of something bigger and better on the horizon. Or you could be getting ready to start something brand new — like heading off to college.

The Page of Pentacles is excited about creating something and perfecting it, whether it’s on the job or in other areas of his life. Whether this refers to you personally or to someone in your life who reflects these qualities, the idea is to take the ball and run with it. While you may be overwhelmed with the work that’s set out before you, if anyone is up to the task it’s you.

Dec 01 2015

Current Astrological Transits — Dec 2015 Monthly Calendar

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The calendar below show the transits, aspects, ingresses and Moon phases for the current month.

This calendar is set for Universal Time and is updated on the first of every month.

The current Moon sign is shown in the upper right corner of every day, with void of course times marked below. The current Moon phase position is at the bottom of each day.

Ingresses are shown throughout the month as well as stations and retrogrades.

The five main Ptolemaic aspects — as well as semi-sextile and quincunx (inconjunct) aspects are shown.

Dec 01 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Dec 1, 2015 — Knight of Wands

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Knight of Wands

Today you want to work on gathering up the courage and confidence that are needed to go after your goals.

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. 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.

The Knight of Wands — this version from the Arcus Arcanum Tarot — encourages you to move past your fears and go after your dreams with the attitude that nothing can stand in your way.

You don’t want to waiver or second-guess yourself; you want to grab onto opportunities that present themselves without a moment’s hesitation.

If this is someone in your life, you will know him by his larger-than-life personality. You’ll know him by his act-first / think-later approach to life. And while he may not be off fighting battles, you’ll know that if he were, he’d come out on top.

He may he here to teach you the importance of embracing some of these qualities yourself. If so keep in mind the importance of making preparations and pacing yourself so you don’t run out of steam.

The Knight of Wands tends to run on adrenalin and has been known to lose interest in projects once they become routine. But overall he’s here to teach you how to challenge yourself to set your goals in motion. If you temper them with a enough discipline and perseverance, you just may see them come to fruition.

Nov 30 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 30, 2015 — The Emperor

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Emperor

As the Sun and Saturn form a conjunction today, you may start to feel like it’s time to take charge of your life and your responsibilities.

The Emperor card — the version from the World Spirit Tarot — indicates a call to step up to the plate and assume 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.

This card symbolizes 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.

You may be called upon to counsel another or to offer guidance based on the wisdom of your own experience. Or like the Emperor in this card, your greatest gift may be the ability to truly hear what others have to say without judgment or censure.

Although there are definite masculine elements to this card, the references don’t only apply to men. It can refer to a single mother, a career-woman, or a woman with important responsibilities. It can also describe a man in your life (or someone new coming in) who embodies these qualities.

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.

Nov 29 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 29, 2015 — Temperance

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Temperance

Today’s Sun / Neptune square may see you feeling like getting away from it all, or escaping into a world of fantasy and illusion.

There’s a nebulous quality associated with this transit that can manifest as feeling overly dreamy, romantic and idealistic. But it can also translate to a desire to escape — away from the cold harsh glare of reality.

Like the figure in this card — the Temperance card from the beautiful Ceccoli Tarot — you may find comfort and contentment in your dreams, where you can be one with the Universe and where all things are possible.

With the Sun in fiery Sagittarius and Neptune in ethereal Pisces, you may find yourself at odds between what you should do and what you’d much prefer to do. And while there is some “fire” in this card (the muted orange colors on the fish that are floating in the clouds), it’s clear that Neptune wins. There are Piscean fish symbols all over this card.

The Temperance card is associated with finding balance in your life and bringing the disparate areas back into harmony. And the Neptune / Sun square is tied to the dissolution of ego and boundaries. Both of these things are depicted in this card.

You may feel lacking in energy or motivation today, and if you can take some time to rest, then by all means do so. There’s a lot to be said for putting all your worries aside and floating off somewhere on a cloud of contentment.

Nov 28 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 28, 2015 — The Priest

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Priest

Today, as Chiron turns direct — after 5 months in retrograde motion — you may be thinking about all that you’ve gained through the trials and tribulations in your own life, and how you can pull from those experiences to help others.

You may be coming out of a period of soul searching and personal reflection, which when filtered through the Chironian impulse to consider the welfare of others, can act as a powerful conduit to heal those who need healing and acceptance — now more than ever.

This is the Samurai Tarot’s version of the Hierophant card. It’s called the Priest in this deck, and as you can see from the imagery in this card, the focus is as much on helping those who need assistance as it is on spiritual enlightenment. But perhaps the message here is that these are one and the same.

Chiron is called the “wounded healer” — a reference to the ability to bring comfort and guidance to those who need it, even if you’re still struggling to heal your own wounds. And as you can see in this version of the card, the Priest must rely on his own walking stick to reach the stream he’s guiding the thirsty woodland creatures to.

In this respect they may be healing him as well. We all know how powerful the idea of being useful is, and we all know important it is to feel that we’re making a valuable contribution.

The Priest card comes as a reminder that there’s always something to learn and always something to teach. There’s also always something to give, knowing that what we get back in often far greater in the end. We just need to step outside of our own biases and preconceived notions, and be willing to lend a helping hand.

Nov 27 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 27, 2015 — Queen of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Queen of Cups

Today is a day for taking care of yourself as well as others and if there has been any imbalance between the two lately then it’s time to take a look at that.

The Queen of Cups — this version from Charissa Drengsen’s Steampunk Tarot — is sensitive, loving, nurturing and maternal. She may take on a motherly role among friends and co-workers. People look up to her and rely on her for guidance.

If this is you, you may need to remember how much people value you in this role. If you’re so caught up in business or social affairs that you don’t have time for one-on-one with those who matter most, it’s time to take a second look at what’s most important to you.

The Queen of Cups though may be someone in your life — a parent, older sibling, friend or supervisor. If this is someone in your life, know that she’s got your best interests at heart.

She may be the person you need to turn to when you’re feeling insecure or uncertain. She may also be a version of you that needs to be brought to the forefront.

Either way — it’s all about giving and receiving comfort. Making others feel at home. Letting them know you are there for them. And being willing to take off your business attire and assume that role yourself.

Nov 26 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 26, 2015 — The Magician

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Magician

No matter where you are in the world today, it’s a good day for giving thanks and for honoring those who have brought love, peace, joy and comfort into your life.

It’s a day for counting your blessings and expressing gratitude for all that you have. It’s a day for gathering together with those you love and acknowledging their place in your world.

The Magician card — this version from Kat Black’s beautiful Golden Tarot — refers to manifesting your goals and transforming them into something tangible and real.

In this version there are symbols of love and acceptance — for all creatures great and small. The Christ figure beckons the animals that surround him with one hand and bestows on them the classic blessing mudra with the other. He honors them and acknowledges that he is one with them at the same time.

The Magician card speaks of gathering together all of your resources and using them to create “magic.” As magic takes on many forms, it reminds you that you have everything you need right there at your disposal (notice the cup, the wand, the pentacle and the coin on the Magician’s table) to manifest your heart’s desires.

Ask yourself: “What is it I have to give today?” or “What is it I have to offer?” The Magician encourages you to tap into your highest personal reservoirs and to access skills you may not even realize you have. Whether you are spending the day with loved ones or sending them powerful vibrations from afar, take some time today to remember how you got here and who has helped you along the way.

Nov 25 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 25, 2015 — Seven of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Seven of Cups

Today’s Mercury / Neptune square may see you feeling torn by competing interests and pulled in different directions — either away from the things you really want to do, or towards the kind of mindless diversions that cause you lose sight of your priorities.

The Seven of Cups — this version from the Hanson-Roberts Tarot — is a card of temptations, often fueled by irrational thoughts or fantasies. There can be too many options available, which makes it hard to decide. But it’s often a case of wishful thinking and foolish day-dreaming that can interfere with actual progress.

The wizard in this card gazes down at Seven goblets, each more tempting than the last. There’s an octopus, rainbow, dragon, castle, fairy, jeweled crown and a cup full of stars. These are tied to the Seven deadly sins and in fact this card is called “Debauchery” in some decks, referring to the superficial appeal of things that most of us only think will make us happy.

This is the dilemma with the Seven of Cups. What you long for looks so appealing while what you have appears so drab. But it’s just an illusion and even if it weren’t — even if it were perfectly attainable — it’s not going to come about by sitting around daydreaming about it.

There are elements of seduction also inherent in this card. Being seduced by something intangible or just out of reach, or being lured in by a fantasy that falls short in the harsh light of day. Notice the wizard’s almost hypnotic gaze toward all of the trappings of fame, glory, power, wealth and acclaim, which are just hollow victories in the end.

While you may think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, chances are good that when you got there you’d want nothing more than to return back home. The message behind this card is to aim for reachable goals and to participate in attaining them rather than allowing yourself to fall into the trap of wishful thinking.

Nov 24 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 24, 2015 — Seeker of Pentacles

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Seeker of Pentacles

Today’s Mercury / Saturn conjunction should see you getting a firmer grip on your plans for the future as you take a more serious look at what you want to accomplish in the weeks and months ahead.

The Seeker of Pentacles — the World Spirit Tarot’s version of the Knight of Pentacles — is known for both his dogged determination and his willingness to do whatever it takes (no matter how long it takes) to achieve his goals.

He’s steadfast and consistent but may also be a little too cautious or conservative. Notice that even the his trusty steed is plodding along carefully in this card rather than chomping at the bit to get moving.

Still, the Seeker keeps his eye on the prize and this is exactly what you want to do if you’re going to get where you want to go without letting the detours along the way discourage you from reaching your destination.

The Seeker of Pentacles is diligent, determined and unwavering. He’s not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get to work if he knows it will to pay off for him in the end.

If this is someone in your life, know that he’s here to teach you something about patience and perseverance. He’s here to guide you toward embracing these qualities for yourself, and to start preparing for your future by building a solid framework for it now.

Nov 23 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Nov 23, 2015 — Two of Coins

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Two of Coins

Today’s Venus / Uranus opposition can drive home the importance of bringing your external goals and responsibilities into alignment with your personal relationships.

The Two of Coins sees this as a precarious balancing act, where you have to be careful not to let one set of priorities outweigh the other, even if you find yourself pulled in several different directions.

This card is often seen as juggling interests or responsibilities, and there’s some of that here. But in this version of the card, from the beautiful Chinese Tarot — the emphasis is more on bringing the disparate parts of your life into harmony, by maintaining your spiritual center.

The figures in this card are demonstrating their willingness to meet in the middle by bringing their coins together, doubling their value. The Full Moon illuminates this scene from behind.

The Two of Coins reminds us of the need to remain centered, despite all the changes that are taking place all around us. It encourages us to attend to one set of responsibilities or interests without neglecting another. And it reminds us to balance out our priorities by devoting as much time and attention to the important areas in our lives (friends, family, health, spiritual fulfilment, etc.) as we do to those that require our attention.

You may find yourself needing to weigh your options today and finding ways to bring all the disparate areas of your life into harmony. Whether that means responsibilities vs. pleasure and play, or relationships vs. autonomy or up time (productivity) vs. down time (rest), it will be up to you to find ways to answer the call of each. Giving into one desire without neglecting another should be foremost on your list.

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