Aries: The Emperor

This month, with 6 planets in your public / professional sector, it’s going to be time to step up and approach your responsibilities with confidence and authority.

The Emperor card — this version from the Ostara Tarot — is all about power, success, reputation and public standing. But these are all relative terms and are not necessarily related to profession. They’re just as likely tied to responsibilities around the home or within a group of peers.

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.

You may be asking yourself whether you want to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond. It’s all about gaining perspective and establishing priorities.

As the Emperor also relates to the “Laws of the Land,” some of the less pleasant manifestations of this card include things like being on the receiving end of legal or professional disciplinary actions, dealings with the IRS or government, or having to deal with an oppressive boss or coworker.

Although there are masculine elements to the Emperor 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 as well. It can also refer to a man in your life (or someone new coming in) who embodies these qualities.

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 bear in our card, a protective gentle approach is just as important as a firm steady hand.

TAURUS: Eight of Wands

You’re starting the year off with a pileup of planets moving through your 9th house. This  is the area associated with growth, progress, evolution and expansion. As a result you may feel like things are moving very quickly for you, and that you’re going to stay on your toes to take advantage of all the opportunities coming your way.

The Eight of Wands — this version from the original Mythic Tarot — also refers to mobility and change, almost always for the better. This is a time of bursting with new and fresh ideas, juggling interests and overseeing several different projects at once.

is all about action, progress and momentum. It’s about getting things done and making things happen.

It may be as simple as ticking off all the little things on your to-do list, and it may be as significant as making great headway on an important project.

While it might feel to you like there just aren’t enough hours in the day, you could be surprised when the month is over to see how much you really accomplished.

The Eight of Wands is a high energy card and also sometimes refers to travel. In that respect it relates to being literally and physically on the go. Are you planning a weekend getaway? Use this extra energy to make preparations for your trip.

There’s a sense of progress and swiftness in this card, as if to say “things are happening, and they’re happening NOW.” Everything (the ship. the waves, the dolphins) moves seamlessly forward in this card with all of it gathering momentum. That is the essence of the Eight of Wands. It’s about staying focused and present and aligning yourself with what’s happening around you so that you become a part of it rather than fighting against it.

GEMINI: Six of Pentacles

This month you may be called upon to open your heart and loosen your purse strings, as a measure of generosity and goodwill.

The Six of Pentacles is all about benevolence — giving what you can afford to give: whether it’s of your time, your money or your energy — to someone who needs it more than you do.

This card speaks of understanding the pathways between giving and receiving, to the extent that there are no expectations for being repaid. You give because you can and because the gratitude you receive in exchange is more than enough reward.

The Six of Pentacles — this version from the Light Seer’s Tarot — is a card of abundance and good-will. It’s about aligning yourself with the concept of money as energy that both flows to you and from you with ease. You neither hold onto it too tightly (as with the fours) or worry that you don’t deserve it (as with the fives).

You may run into unexpected good fortune this month, 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 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.

It’s about 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.. 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.

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.

Cancer: The Lovers

With five planets moving through your relationship sector this month, this will most likely be your greatest area of focus as you start the new year.

That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, as some of these transits are questionable at best. But it should be “interesting” at the very least.

The Lovers card — this version from the fantastic Tarot of Zirkus Magi — brings all of your relationship issues to the forefront. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

It refers to decisions that must be made — sometimes between two lovers, and sometimes between love and something else — as well as all the temptations, fixations and complications that are a part of that elusive and intoxicating mystery we call Love.

If you’re dealing with challenges in your own relationship, it may just be a matter of getting out of your own way. You don’t want to be creating problems where there are none to begin with. If you’re just now discovering that Love is not all it’s cracked up to be, join the crowd. You would do well though to put your own needs, expectations and agendas aside.

Check out the figures in this card. Who would have thought the Clown and the Bearded Lady could portray such a fantastic representation of Love? Yet all the pieces are there. The comfort, the closeness, the intimacy — even the whole world fading into the background behind them — are all beautifully rendered here. The angel statue blesses their union from above and who are we to question it?

When things are in sync with our relationships, everything else just seems to falls into place. And when they’re not, you’re going to have to do something about it. The challenges you face may turn out to be blessings in disguise. You can’t fix what’s wrong unless you know something’s wrong in the first place. And if it turns out that that “something” was you, then making the necessary adjustments will only benefit you in the end.

LEO: Four of Swords

You start this month with 5 planets and the South Node all moving through your 6th house. This is the area associated with work and health — both of which may have contributed to some added stress for you over the last several weeks.

The Four of Swords — this version from the Shadowscapes Tarot — refers to the period of silence, stillness and recuperation that is so necessary when chaos and turbulence surround you.

It encourages you to ponder, reflect and meditate rather than “act.” It speaks of detaching from the whirlwind of activity around you and choosing to observe rather than participate.

Swords represent thoughts and ideas and Fours are all related to some kind of structure. Sometimes that structure is positive — as in forming a concrete plan — and sometimes it can be limiting, as in feeling boxed in or restrained.

You may need to step back and disengage from the distractions around you and to find your strength through recovery. It could be as simple as getting away for a few days to relax and recharge your batteries. And it could be as profound as going on a life-altering pilgrimage or spiritual retreat.

Take some time for yourself this month, 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.

VIRGO: Six of Cups

There’s a childlike innocence and wonder associated with this card. In fact children may figure prominently for you this month and the thoughts of your own childhood may be triggered by their presence. If so consider it a call to observe their ability to live in the moment and follow in kind.

The Six of Cups is all about finding pleasure in the simpler things in life. It says it’s time to kick your shoes off and have fun rather than getting bogged down with responsibilities. All those will be exactly where you left them when you come back to them later on, so for now put them all aside and try to recapture the spirit of those carefree days gone by.

It’s also a good time to surround yourself with children — your own or someone else’s. Seeing the world through their eyes can help you to recapture the innocence and wonder that comes from seeing things in a different light, and not allowing yourself to become jaded by life’s small disappointments and letdowns.

This is not the time to bring old grievances back to the forefront. It’s time to focus on pleasure, playfulness and joy, and working on creating new memories with those you love.

You may have been taking life too seriously and find yourself needing to get in touch with your inner child. Or you now may have to let your guard down and allow yourself to trust again — especially if you’ve been trying to guard your heart from pain. The Six of Cups is about sharing and bringing the happier memories from your past forward to today.

Libra: Empress

This month, with five planets moving through your 4th house — the area associated with home, family and emotional security, you’re going to be getting more in touch with your feminine side — your loving, nurturing and caring side — and focusing less on mundane or professional concerns.

The Empress card — this version from the beautiful Wild Green Chagallian Tarot — is associated with beauty, creativity and love.

She represents the aspects of ourselves that evoke the principles of feminine strength and power. As the counterpart to the Emperor, this card is more 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.

Scorpio:  The Hierophant

This is going to be an important month (and likely year) for you, with 5 planets — and a major conjunction involving your ruler (Saturn) and Pluto — in your 3rd house. This is the area of communications, thoughts and ideas.

As a result you’re going to be shifting your focus toward pursuing knowledge, studying tradition and reflecting on Universal laws and principles.

This is the Hierophant from the Wild Unknown Tarot. He is depicted simply and poignantly here as a raven perched on an old-fashioned skeleton key. Flashes of brilliance and insight are imparted to him directly by a bolt of lightning in the background. He of course then imparts all that he’s learned onto others.

The Hierophant is a student and a teacher, a mentor, a scholar, a harbinger of new and radical ideas, and a seeker of information. He seeks to carry the wisdom of the ancients forward — as a means of gaining a greater understanding of himself and others.

You may be immersing yourself more deeply in your studies this month; or you may be embarking on a spiritual journey. You may also be called upon present your ideas to others — either formally or informally.

If you find yourself having to defend your views, do it in a calm, practical manner. This card is not about being contentious or fanatical. It’s about building on the conventions of those who’ve come before you and presenting your ideas with clarity and precision.

Sagittarius: Wealth

With a lineup of planets — including your ruler, Jupiter — all in your income and earnings sector this month, it’s going to be a good time to thinks about your future, especially with respect to your security and financial stability.

Ths card — the Vision Quest Tarot’s Ten of Pentacles — is about building your empire, on whatever scale that might be.

It’s about achieving success through hard work and determination, as well as the satisfaction that comes with knowing that it’s all going to pay off in the end. Not just for you but for family and loved ones, as this card is also about creating a legacy that can be built on for generations to come.

The “pentacles” in this version are ten intricately woven baskets, displayed alongside a bountiful harvest of summer fruits and winter vegetables. These are seen as a reminder of the importance of both appreciating what you have now and planning toward the future.

The greens and golds so prominent in this card are also significant. These are the colors associated with wealth, prosperity and abundance. Notice how the baskets are fashioned in the shape of a human form, lifted up on plentiful hills of grain — the earth’s most sustainable resource.

The Ten of Pentacles is about establishing a lasting legacy for yourself and your loved ones. It’s about enjoying and appreciating what you have while planning ahead for the future. No matter how successful you are there’s always more to be done, especially as it pertains to creating something that will live on long after you’re gone.

You may be thinking of starting a family or putting money aside for children you already have. You could also be in the process of giving birth to something else — a business, a creative endeavor or a body of work. Whatever it is, know that this is something you want to be proud of, so put the extra energy into making sure you do it right.

CAPRICORN: Ten of Wands

As we begin the New Year, you’ve got five planets in your sign, including your ruler which is conjuncting Pluto for the first time in almost 38 years. As a result you’re going to be focused on all the “work” that has to be done, which is not necessarily tied to your career.

This is a time for increased strength, determination and fortitude, even if the tasks before you seem daunting and overwhelming.

The Ten of Wands — this version from the 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 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. And 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 in the months ahead. 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. Put your energy into doing what must be done, knowing it will all pay off in the end. It’s true that Saturn can be a tough task-master, but he never fails to compensate for a job well done.

AQUARIUS: The Star

Your 12th house — the area associated with dreams, visions, ideals and psychic phenomenon is the one that will be most emphasized this month, with 5 planets there (including one of your ruling planets Saturn) as well as the South Node.

The Star — this version from the beautiful Tarot of the Origins — is a card of Hope and faith in the Universe. It tells you that in spite of all your trials and tribulations,everything is as it should be, and in the end everything is going to be alright.

This card encourages you to stretch out beyond your personal value systems and embrace the Universe as a whole. It invite you to open your eyes and see the vastness of the world around you, the billions of stars in the night sky and the billions of people that make up humanity.

The Star card is associated with Aquarius as the Water Bearer archetype for which you are known. It is a card of inspiration, intuition and faith. It serves as a reminder that even in our darkest hours there is still room for hope. There’s still compassion, redemption and the promise of salvation.

As it follows the Tower card — the one that is associated with disaster and destruction — The Star card also represents a sense of rebirth and renewal. It can serve as a welcome refuge or a beacon of hope. It’s the sense we have that everything will be alright — even if we have to push past our own doubts and fears. It’s also about transmuting those fears and finding a productive outlet for them.

You want to steer clear of negativity during this time — yours and everyone else’s. Focus on what is right in your world rather than what could possibly go wrong. if you can do that you’re bound to come out on top.

Pisces: Princess of Cups

This month may see you putting yourself out there more and opening your heart to love.

You may feel like wearing your heart on your sleeve today, courtesy of the Princess of Cups.

The Princesses in the Star Tarot deck are the female versions of “Pages” in traditional decks. They’re youthful, sensitive, and sincere. They’re full of potential, lacking in worldly experience and sophistication and may be overly idealistic and naive.

In this card the Princess rises up from the sea like Aphrodite. Turtles and dolphins play at her feet, while the fish sprout wings and and become birds. She stands in a star-filled sky under the light of a brand new Moon, and raises her golden chalice into the night.

As the embodiment of the first Water sign (Cancer in this case), this Princess expresses a more idealistic and less refined version than the other court cards. She’s pure of heart and gentle of soul, seeing only the good in others with the hopefulness that comes from youth and inexperience.

She’s romantic, sensitive, loving and kind. She’s also incredibly idealistic.  If she appears in your life this month — as a young person, an event or even another version of you — know that she’s come to encourage you to let go of your mistrust and cynicism.

Because the Pages and Princesses embody such youthful and unrefined energy, we tend to forget that they too have much to teach us. But the presence of this card for you is an important reminder of how much more we all still need to learn.

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

We hope you like them too! 

January 2020 Tarot Scopes

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