ARIES: Four of Cups
With your ruler (Mars) moving through Pisces and your 12th house this month you may be asking yourself: “Is that all there is?” especially if you’ve attained something you so desperately longed for in the past, only to see it differently now that you’ve attained it.
It may represent a relationship that’s lost its luster, a job that turns out to be tedious rather than rewarding, or a set of ideals that under the harsh light of day no longer seems so inspiring.
The young mermaid in this card — from the gorgeous Shadowscapes Tarot — looks bored and uninspired. She gazes down at her reflection, idly tracing ripples on the surface of a stream.
The Four of Cups can relate to a lack of motivation or a lethargy so profound that it threatens to numb you or trap you in your sense of boredom. It can have you wondering whether there might be something else out there that would excite or inspire you.
It can also relate to a lack of energy, which may mean it could turn into period of inertia where you don’t feel like doing much of anything. It speaks of wondering whether there might be something else out there that would excite or inspire you.
The Four of Cups is a card of apathy and ambivalence. The focus may be on what is lacking in your life, rather than what’s right there before you. One of the positive aspects though is that it reveals to you exactly what’s “wrong with this picture” and allows you the opportunity to make it right.
It can get you thinking about how things could be — in an ideal world or at least with respect to following your dreams — and then what you can do to make those dreams a reality. While you may start out thinking “what’s the point?” you’ll have a clearer idea of what’s worth salvaging and what could use a little more work in the end.
TAURUS: Death
This should be a month of transformation for you, with four planets (and the New Moon) all moving through your 8th house. This is the area associated with endings, and corresponds to the tarot’s Death card.
The Death card is scary for some. Because it represents having something we’ve grown accustomed to taken away. But this card — from the beautiful Hudes Tarot — focuses on the transformative elements of “Death,” with the combined symbolism of a skeleton and a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
It tells us that energy never dies and that nothing we’ve lost is ever really gone. It’s simply transformed and renewed, reminding us that endings always lead to new beginnings.
Sometimes the Universe shows us just what we don’t need by removing it from us forcefully from our grip. In this sense the “death” can be a painful undertaking. But if you choose instead to cooperate, it can be an incredibly liberating experience.
This month your ruler (Venus) also moves back into your relationship sector, having transited back and forth over this point (due to its having gone retrograde) for the last several weeks.
As a result you may find that your relationships have undergone similar transformations; you may ended some relationships and begun to develop new ones. Or you may have had to find ways to release certain expectations and salvage what is left. Whatever the case, with Venus moving forward again, you’ll know it’s time for you to do the same.
You may have to accept that the very thing you so desperately cling to is the one that’s holding you back. In this respect, it’s more about leaving behind something that probably wasn’t working for you anyway and moving toward something that you’re naturally more aligned with in the end.
GEMINI: Eight of Pentacles
What are you working on this month that you’ve put all of your heart and soul into? Whatever it is, know that now is the time to get the ball rolling and focus on making your plans manifest.
This isn’t about 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 known as the “apprenticeship card.” It refers to developing craftsmanship and expertise; putting your all into a project and being satisfied with the results.
It can be as simple as being 100 % focused on your work and wanting to show the powers that be your level of dedication and service. And it can be as innovative as taking something you are uniquely capable of and turning it into a career.
The Eight of Pentacles — this version from the Gypsy Palace Tarot — is all about dedicating yourself to perfection and craftsmanship. It relates to fully investing yourself in a skill or trade. It’s not about seeing what you do as drudgery, but being totally engaged in the process. In that respect it’s not “work; it’s a labor of love.
That doesn’t mean there’s no return on your investment. And it doesn’t mean that whatever you’re doing ever has to become boring or routine. This card can also refer to shifting gears — as in finding your calling at a point where you might have already considered yourself well on the road to success in some other profession.
Your challenge this month is to embrace that aspect and apply it to your work. Whether that means improving upon something you’re already good at, or learning to master new skills. Like the figure in this card, it may be a stepping stone to something bigger and better down the road. But taking pride in your work and honing your skills now will see you one step closer to those goals.
Cancer: Seven of Cups
This month, with Venus in your romance sector and Mars / Neptune moving through the area associated with foreign lands, you may feel the urge to embark on a far-away journey, or escape into the fog of romantic reverie.
You may find yourself walking around in a haze; lost in thought or daydreaming about a different reality.
The Seven of Cups — this version from Timothy’s Lantz’s Archeon 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 can also be a case of wishful thinking or foolish day-dreaming that can interfere with actual progress.
You may feel like 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 Chalices compels you to escape from what may seem like a dull or ordinary existence, into a world of daydreams and fantasy. It may not be productive or practical but it can get you out of a funk.
There are elements of seduction 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. 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.
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.
LEO: Ace of Bows
This month, with four planets — and the New Moon — all moving through your house of creativity and self-expression, and with Uranus moving back and forth across your career axis, 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).
This card is so fitting for the current Sun and Jupiter transit through Sagittarius. With the symbol for Sagittarius being the “archer” and the Sun representing the life force, this card reminds you that you have all the tools that are necessary to manifest your reality.
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.
VIRGO: Six of Stones
This month you may feel the need to reach out and lend a “helping hand” to someone. Or — with the holidays upon us — you may find that you’re more into the spirit of giving (and receiving) this year than you have been in some time.
The Six of Stones is all about benevolence — giving what you can afford to give: whether it’s your time, your money or your energy — to someone who needs it more than you.
In this version of the cards, from the beautiful Chrysalis Tarot, the Six of Stones is called “Caritas,” a reference to the spiritual act of charity and kindness that so many of us strive for at this time of year.
Money is only one form of energy. And yet most of us struggle trying to balance the value we place on it with the value we place on all other forms. We think mainly of money when we think about giving — but as we all know, the things that matters most turn out not to be “things” at all. It’s more likely to be words of encouragement, validation and support.
This is the attitude you want to hold onto: that there is always enough for everyone and that prosperity and abundance can be continuously replenished.
The Six of Stones serves as a reminder to pay attention to (and be grateful for) the blessings that you receive. You may find yourself loosening your purse strings after all, or you may find yourself the recipient of someone else’s good will.
Either way, it’s all about appreciating the pathways between giving and receiving, to the extent that there are no expectations for being repaid. The Six of Stones encourages you to give because you can and because the gratitude you receive in exchange is more than enough reward in the end.
Libra: The Tower
This month starts with your ruler (Venus) opposing Uranus and squaring the North and South Nodes. This is a “grand cross” — an intense and potentially cataclysmic configuration that ties in perfectly with the Tower card.
The Tower — much like this aspect — refers to abrupt and unsettling changes that can take you outside of your comfort zone, through the sense that everything happening around you is completely outside of your control.
In most versions of the card the “tower” is a literal fortress that’s been struck by lightning and is crashing to the cliffs below. People are falling out of the structure while flames and smoke shoot from the shattered windows.
In this version — from the Tarot of Trees — it’s storming and the tower is in danger of falling into the sea. It’s already partially destroyed, never to be fully restored. A tree has uprooted itself and is hanging on for dear life while the world crashes down all around it.
Yet if you consider the source of the destruction — the one earth shattering lightning bolt — you can see how it lights the whole sky, making everything momentarily clear. It is this flash of insight that all of us need to be paying attention to, especially at this time. Rather than running and hiding — or hanging on for dear life — cooperating with the process may go a long ways towards mitigating the destruction.
You may feel like your carefully-constructed world is falling apart or that all you’ve held near and dear (and previously thought was indestructible) is no longer capable of sustaining you. And you’d be right. But look closely at the card and you can the makings of another tower deep within its recesses. It tells you that all is not lost here after all, and that there is still hope for renewal.
Scorpio: Three of Coins
This is a good time to put your head together with others and work on bringing a project to fruition. The Three of Coins — this version from the Joie de Vivre Tarot — is a “teamwork” card, among other things.
It’s about hitting your stride and seeing initial results of something you’ve been working hard on. Sometimes you need help to take it to the next level, even if that comes in the form of a critical eye.
The Three of Coins — like all threes — refers to the initial stages of progress where you’ve taken an idea (the Ace), put it into production (the Two), and are making progress now toward creating something real (the Three).
The imagery in this card describes this process beautifully. All three of these creatures are working together in harmony, with the central figure holding a coin that has a Full Moon inscribed on it while the other two are presenting him with coins of their own: one with a crescent (New) Moon and the other a crescent (Balsamic) Moon. These three phases of the Moon refer to the stages of a project from start to finish.
There’s an interdependence depicted here and a camaraderie. Each of these figures needs the others and all of them are contributing equally. It’s a good time to reach out to others and ask for help if you need it. It can’t hurt to offer it to those who’d benefit from your assistance too.
You may need a little push to get past a hump, or you may need the discerning eye of someone you trust. The Three of Coins says that you’re making progress and should be feeling good about what you’ve accomplished so far. But there’s still work to be done, and you won’t be able to do it alone.
Sagittarius: Ten of Wands
With both of your rulers, Jupiter and Neptune, now moving forward and at home in their own signs, you may find that you’ve got more drive, determination and motivation than you’ve had in a long time.
That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. You may need to muster up some of that drive to do what must be done, even if the task before you seems daunting.
The Ten of Wands — this version from the stunning Mary-el Tarot — is all about rising to the occasion and taking care of business, no matter how difficult or arduous that may be. It’s about stepping up to the plate and shouldering responsibilities — or like the figure in this card, moving through hell or high water to get the job done.
What would happen if the man and his horse were to slow down or stop in their tracks? They’d be consumed by the flames that are already engulfing them. They’d surely perish on the spot.
The idea here seems to be that once the task is started there’s no turning back. The rider pledges his commitment (notice his hand held over his heart) and the horse gathers speed. He may have taken on more than one man can reasonably expect to accomplish, but he’s not going to throw in the towel.
This is the essence of the Ten of Wands. Upholding your responsibilities may be more than you bargained for, but that doesn’t excuse you from doing them.You may be overwhelmed with all that’s laid out before you. And you may be wondering whether you even have it in you to keep on going. But as you can see from this card there’s no turning back.
There are obligations and responsibilities to uphold as well as people who depend on you who’d likely be hurt by your neglect. The question you might want to ask yourself this month is this: “Is life (or love) supposed to be this hard?” The value of whatever it is that’s taxed you to your limits probably needs to be reassessed.
CAPRICORN: Knight of Swords
With the New Moon in Gemini and the Sun in your sign this month, you may find yourself needing to think and act more quickly than usual. Gemini is the most restless of all the dual (mutable) signs so this kind of being on your ties and acting with lightning speed may be up your alley anyway.
This version of the Knight of Swords — from the original Mythic Tarot — has two Knights not one. These are Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri) — known to us as the twin stars in the astronomical constellation Gemini.
The Dioscuri were warrior twins — one mortal and one divine. They spent their days alternating between heaven and earth after Pollux was killed and Castor was stricken with grief.
This is the volatile, unpredictable energy that Mars in Gemini is so well suited for. It requires us to be flexible and adaptable; in fact it embraces constant change.
The Knights in this card appear to be very much in sync. But you can see that there are storm clouds on the horizon. The true test of their allegiance will come when those clouds produce results and threaten to disrupt their world.
This is what you want to be thinking about this month when life throws you curve balls. Are you prepared to act quickly and decisively when things don’t go as planned? Or will one minor change in your schedule upset everything and throw you completely off kilter?
The Knight of Swords encourages you to not only roll with the punches but be open to unanticipated disruptions in your carefully constructed life. These may not only become blessings in disguise, but can also steer you away from pitfalls you might otherwise have not foreseen.
AQUARIUS: Two of Swords
You may be feeling like you’re pulled in two different directions this month. Or you could be struggling with important decisions that have been weighing heavily on your mind.
The Two of Swords — this version from the gorgeous Ostara Tarot — can refer to an impasse or stalemate that’s more likely than not a result of your own indecision. It can refer to a pivotal moment in time where you recognize that the options before you are equally appealing (or terrifying) and that whatever decision you make will have a huge impact on your life.
In this respect the Two of Swords can refer to inaction and immobility. Sometimes this is due to fear: “What if I make the wrong decision?” But it’s just often related to a desire to not have to choose at all.
Alternately you may have come to an impasse with someone and are actualizing this energy through passive resistance. This isn’t a better solution and it won’t solve anything: while you may need some time to pause and reflect, you’re going to have to take a stand.
Like the bluebird in this card, you may find yourself precariously perched in between two options and if you’re leaning toward one, you’re not ready to take a stand.
But this is the dilemma with the Two of Swords. It tells you that while either decision leads to a different outcome, you can’t know the exact nature of that outcome until you make your choice. The inertia that comes from choosing not to choose can prevent you from moving forward at all, so you’re going to have to make a decision in the end.
Weigh your decisions carefully this month, knowing that they can have far-reaching repercussions. While you may need to step back and consider each option carefully, in the end you will have to decide and then abide by that decision.
Pisces: Big Medicine Wheel
Your card this month is the Big Medicine Wheel, Vision Quest Tarot’s version of the World.“ This is a really positive card for you, and is fitting, as both of your rulers (Jupiter and Neptune) are now each moving forward in their own signs.
This card is all about looking at the big picture and being able to trace the steps that have brought you to where you are today.
It’s a card of fulfillment and completion; recognizing milestones that have passed and goals that have been achieved as you prepare to close the door on one chapter in your life and open another.
You may be setting new goals in place or you may be taking some time to celebrate how far you’ve come.
As the last card in the tarot, the World complete’s the Fool’s journey, with the understanding that he’s grown, evolved, matured and flourished along the way.
This card can also have you thinking about where you fit in in the world and about your contributions to humanity. It speaks of not only realizing your dreams and achieving your goals, but also becoming one with the Universe, becoming fulfilled and whole.
You may be tying up one cycle this month and preparing to embark on a new one. Whether you’re taking some time to relish the satisfaction of having achieved something, or are ready to dive back in and start again, the message behind the world card is best received with insight and awareness.
Ask yourself: “What is is I’ve learned through all that I’ve experienced in this chapter of my life?” and “What must I now give up in order to start anew?” If you can answer those two questions with honesty and humility, you’ll be able to carry those lessons into the next chapter.
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This month’s tarotscopes feature some of Ask the Astrologers all time favorite cards. We hope you like them too!
Don’t forget to check out this month’s Horoscopes too!
November 2018 Tarot Scopes
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