Aries: Judgment

This month — with your ruler (Mars) finally crossing its shadow point, it’s going to be time to think about reinventing yourself.

The Judgment card — this version from the beautiful Guardian of the Night Tarot — represents a day of reckoning.  It calls for self-evaluation and awareness, a need to develop enough spiritual altitude to look objectively at your mistakes and shortcomings as well as your triumphs and victories.

It serves as a powerful reminder that in order to put the past behind us we must let go of prior judgments and heal the wounds that have been holding us back.

It’s a card of eternity, infinity and timelessness. Of atonement and forgiveness. Of unconditional love, understanding and acceptance, for both ourselves and for those who’ve hurt us or let us down.

This card represents a summation of all that has come before, and an awareness that each step taken — from here on out — leaves an indelible imprint on our future. On a personal level, this card speaks of compassion, forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance.

Take this time to tie up loose ends. This can be a literal letting go of the past, but it will more likely relate to putting yourself in other people’s shoes and seeing how the mistakes they’ve made or the grief they’ve caused have been just as much a part of being human and flawed as any direct attempt to cause you pain.

TAURUS: Queen of Pentacles

This  month, with Jupiter and Saturn having just stepped into your 10th house — the area associated with goals, aspirations and public standing, you should have lots of opportunities to climb the ladder of success.

This is the Queen of Pentacles from Dana Driscoll’s Tarot of Trees. This card is all about establishing security — financial and otherwise. It represents a strong, practical and hard working individual who knows how to appreciate the finer things in life and to savor every moment.

She’s not afraid to work for what she wants. But she wants to be able to appreciate it too. She wants to surround herself with opulence and splendor, knowing she’s earned and deserves it.

The Queen of Pentacles  may represent you and it may represent someone in your life. It can also indicate a state of mind that’s necessary for you to adopt.

Whatever (or whomever) she represents, know that it’s time to get serious about creating the life you want, and enjoying yourself in the process. It’s time to think about your long-term goals and what you’ll need to do 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.

GEMINI: Eight of Disks

With a lineup of planets moving through your 8th and 9th houses this month, you’re going to be thinking about honing your craft and turning your skills into something you can be proud of.

The Eight of Disks  — this version from Eden Gallanter’s beautiful Cheimonette Tarot — is a card of craftsmanship — however that might apply to you. 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 Disks is also known as the apprentice card. It refers to taking on an interest — a brand new one or a lifelong dream — and devoting yourself fully to it. It doesn’t have to be career related, but because it’s a labor of love wouldn’t it be great if it were? Doing what you love and seeing the money follow is something we all aspire to achieve.

The Eight of Disks can refer to an all-work / no-play mentality. But this is all relative, as the hours that you’re putting in will likely not feel like “work” at all. Not if you truly love what you do. This is about being fully engrossed in what you’re learning, creating or developing.

Take some time this month — even if you’re still somewhere punching that clock — and think about what you really want to be doing. Chances are good that once you start seriously thinking about your options, taking steps toward making them happen will come to you naturally.

Cancer: Seven of Swords

This month you might need to hold back on expressing your ideas, or to at the very least develop a filter.

The Seven of Swords — like all Sevens — speaks of consequences that come from compromising your own principles. In this case it has to do with words, opinions and ideas (Swords) which may be in serious need of a 5-second delay.

It’s one thing to express yourself openly but another thing entirely to insult, offend or attack others.

There’s a danger of being too cocky or of being so sure of yourself that you don’t think about how your words can affect those you care about. Others may take what you say out of context too,

This version of the card — from the Deviant Moon Tarot — has a harlequin-like figure with her legs in the air and a sword balanced precariously on her feet above. Another sword dangles from its hilt and hangs mere inches from her open mouth.

Is she too confident in her abilities? Too pompous to even consider the repercussions? Or too reckless to care? She may be all three. But if any of them cause her to slip up, the damage will be irreversible.

The Seven of Swords is sometimes associated with duplicity. There’s often a devious / shifty vibe to this card. But this version seems to emphasize the sort of recklessness abandon that can cut just as deeply. The lesson here is the same as it is with all versions: be careful what you say as words are powerful and can end up doing more damage than good.

LEO: Four of Wands

You’ll have much to look forward to this month with the Full Moon in your sign, the New Moon in your relationship sector, and both of your relationship rulers together in that house.

The Four of Wands — this version from Cathy McClelland’s beautiful Star Tarot — often refers to a literal celebration — such as a wedding or birth of a child — but it can also indicate a time of rejoicing and celebrating happy news.

This card is not about work or productivity. It’s about taking time away from chores and responsibilities to celebrate life’s important milestones. It’s about meeting and greeting, putting aside biases and preconceived notions and breaking bread with others. It’s also about creating new memories and sharing your joy with loved ones.

If you’ve been so bogged down with work and responsibilities that you find yourself making excuses when opportunities present themselves, now is a good time to turn over a new leaf.

You could be planning a party or even a casual get-together; or you could be making plans to attend one on someone else’s turf. Either way, this is a time for rejoicing and celebrating. It’s not a time to isolate or withdraw from social opportunities.

VIRGO: Temperance

Your card this month — the Swan (Temperance card) from the Animal Wisdom Tarot, describes a need to go with the flow and to bring the conflicting desires of your being back toward the center.

This is a time for putting some of your recent disappointments and setbacks behind you, so that you can focus on bringing balance and harmony back into your life.

This card is called the Angel of Alchemy in this deck. And it certainly looks like an angel. Its beautiful wings are spread wide and welcoming and it’s snow white feathers glisten above the surface of the lake. It glides just inches above the water (feelings, emotions, the unconscious, etc.) — not so far removed that is detaches completely, but not so close that it allows itself to become immersed.

We could all take a page from the Swan’s book in our dealings with others as well as the ways we treat ourselves. Getting just enough altitude to see things from a clearer perspective without neglecting what lies beneath.

The Temperance card refers to bringing the opposing facets of your personality (or your relationships, or your desires) into alignment by finding the perfect middle ground. It represents peace and harmony, synthesis and equilibrium, moderation and restraint.

As you can see from the glorious Swan in this card, nothing needs be sacrificed in attaining that balance. Just remember to rise above whatever situations in your life that are pulling you down, without rising so high that you neglect them or fail to take advantage of opportunities to learn from or grow from them.

Libra: 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 Mary-el 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 emphasized the team-work aspects which tie in beautifully with your current transits. Your 4th (home and family) and 5th (children) houses are now lit up — with 7 planets occupying those sectors by month’s end — imply that you’ll be devoting more time to those areas.

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.

Scorpio: Six of Cups

This month you’re likely to find yourself surrounded by friends and loved ones as you take time to stop and smell the flowers or reminisce about the past.

Whether you’re physically with those who are near and dear or just revisiting them in your memories, you’re likely to taking a trip down memory lane.

The Six of Cups — this version from the World Spirit Tarot — speaks of innocence, sentimentality and memories from days gone by. You may be missing someone, longing for the comforts and companions that have gone by the wayside over time.

You could also hear from an old friend unexpectedly; someone who’s been on your mind and who reaches out across the miles, reminding you of long-forgotten events that come rushing back in a wave of nostalgia.

You may also feel the urge to reach out to those who remind you of life’s simpler pleasures, such as a family member or a childhood friend. And if you’re lucky enough to be surrounded by loved ones this month, you should have no problem recapturing those memories.

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 — like the Rabbit in this card — and bringing the happier memories from your past forward to now.

Sagittarius: King of Swords

With your ruler (Jupiter) now in Aquarius, you might be feeling a lot more like taking risks, shaking things up and breaking new ground in all the different areas of your life.

This is going to be especially true later in the month when a square to Mars, Uranus and the Moon takes shape.

This transit can indicate as an innovative and electrifying change in direction, but it can also be aggressive and volatile and can manifest as  an abrupt and unsettling wakeup call.

The King of Swords — this version from the Gypsy Palace Tarot —  is a powerful and masterful king. He’s progressive and forward thinking and even a little eccentric.

He is intelligent, inventive and accomplished. He’s innovative and progressive. And he’s an expert at communicating his ideas and getting people to listen.

Look at the King in this card. He’s a bit more colorful and flamboyant than we’re using to seeing with the King of Swords. He’s usually rather stoic and somber. But this whimsical version says that you can have the best of both worlds if you want.

It doesn’t have to be all work and no play. And you won’t get anywhere if it’s all play and no work. Think about putting your own unique and creative spin on whatever you’re trying to accomplish. You can expect good things if put yourself out there, and if you play your cards right you can do it without sacrificing any of your own personal flair.

CAPRICORN: Ace of Wands

Things are really going to start looking up for you this month with your ruler (Saturn) now in Aquarius and Jupiter still in very close orb.

You may have been feeling out of sorts for the last couple weeks (more like the last two and half years!) but now it’s time to turn over a brand new leaf and start moving full speed ahead.

This is Ace of Wands from the Druid Craft Tarot. The imagery is powerful in its simplicity. There’s the Sun and Moon both representing new beginnings (with the crescent moon and just risen sun) and a stag at the edge of a steep mountain  precipice.

The stag will have to take a leap of faith to get to the other side. He’ll need to access his inner pools of drive, determination and courage to get there, and there’s no question that he will.

This is a good time to visualize and then work on manifesting your goals. It’s a great time to start a new project or to start thinking about where you want to go from here..

The Ace of Wands invites you to ask yourself what you really want to do that you can put your whole heart and soul into. It invites you to offer your intentions up to the Universe with every reason to believe you will be rewarded for doing so.

AQUARIUS: The Magician

This month should see you tapping into your own creative energy and harnessing “powers” that you didn’t even know you had. The Magician card — this version from the Feng Shui Tarot — refers to making something happen through your own skill, cunning and initiative.

Think about areas in your own life where you’ve felt you didn’t have what it takes to accomplish your goals.

It could be a career move or a relationship decision or even a personal change such as dieting, quitting smoking, tackling self-defeating thought processes, etc.

The Magician cards tells you that you not only do have the powers to make these things happen, but you’ve had them all along.

The Magician in this card is standing high up in the mountains amidst the clouds and open air. The four cardinal points of the compass — the Black Tortoise, Red Phoenix, White Tiger and Green Dragon — are all here. They correlate archetypally to the four elements (fire/wands, water/cups, air/swords and earth/pentacles respectively.

The Magician himself is poised gracefully in their midst. This is a common theme among the different versions: having all of the necessary resources within reach.

Fire = action, initiative and drive. Water = emotions, feelings and intuition. Air = intellect, ideas and decisions. Earth = Structure, boundaries and material concerns. Together these assets make for some powerful “magic” that you can tap into and harness at will.

Pisces: Page of Cups

This month you want to be more ready than ever to open yourself up to new romantic possibilities. You might fall in love — or fall in love with love — as this card bodes very well for the prospect of a new relationship.

The Page (or Princess) of Cups — this version from the Ceccoli Tarot — is youthful, sensitive, and sincere. She’s full of potential, but may be lacking in worldly experience and sophistication. She also has a tendency to be naive.

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 faith that comes from youth and inexperience. She’s also romantic, sensitive, loving and kind.

If she appears in your life at some point during the 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. She’s here to reintroduce you to the idealism and hopefulness of youth. And she’s here to teach you to open your heart to love.

The Princess of Cups is fearless, because he (or she) doesn’t know that there’s any real danger out there. And as such, s/he’s unlikely to attract it. S/he knows instinctively that the Universe is abundant and that the well will never run dry.

Because she embodies such a youthful and unrefined energy, we might forget that she has much to teach us too. But her presence in the cards this month may be an important reminder of how much more we 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 2021 Tarot Scopes

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