ARIES: 7 of Disks

This month your values are likely to be tested.

You may be presented with several different opportunities — none of which are ideal, and most of which require you to make sacrifices you’re not prepared to make.

A “get rich quick” scheme or opportunity that seems too good to be true are just two examples.

If you look at the imagery in this card, you can see that both paths lead to the same point on the horizon.

One requires you to carry a heavier load, but the riches at the end are more plentiful. The other path is lighter, but leads to a less bountiful outcome.

You’ll have to keep your eye on the prize — and remember that all that glitters is not gold — if you want to navigate this next chapter toward the best possible conclusion.

Don’t be tempted by detours or shortcuts: the end result depends on both your willingness to stay on track and your refusal to compromise your principles.

TAURUS: 9 of Disks

This month you’ll start seeing the fruits of all of your labors; in both the spiritual and material realms.

This marks a period of satisfaction for all you’ve achieved: not because you’ve been lucky or have been the benefactor of someone’s generosity, although we know that none of us gets to where we’re going alone.

This card refers to the alchemical processes of regeneration and renewal. It’s the transformation of earthly values into something more powerful and more transcendent.

Like the three-headed rendition of the Baphomet deity depicted here, there’s an awareness of past, present and future that is central to your world-view.

The dual desires of the soul are also depicted here.

As you reap the rewards of your efforts, there is the ever-present need to renew and replenish.

Know that all you put out there is mirrored back to you, so be mindful of your thoughts and actions during this time.

GEMINI: the Hermit

You may feel like retreating from the outer world this month and turning inward toward your emotional center.

This can mark a period of quiet reflection and contemplation, during which all of your psychic impressions are intensified.

Here the Hermit is submerged deeply into the realm of the unconscious, as shown by the waves surrounding him in this card.

He blends in so completely that he becomes one with them, a reflection of the need to immerse yourself fully, which is the essence of this archetype.

His lantern provides illumination, but he doesn’t even glance at it.

He doesn’t need it.You spend so much time in your head that you may be missing out on all that is available to you beneath the surface.

This card challenges you to quiet your mind, sharpen your intuition, and reach deep within your psyche for the riches that abound.

CANCER: 10 of Swords

You may be coming to the end of a harrowing and deeply painful personal cycle.

While you may have been confronted with more than your share of loss, grief and even tragedy in recent months, there is also a sense of triumph implicit in this card.

You’re tying up one chapter and embarking on a new one.

How successful you’re going to be will depend on your willingness to face and accept defeat.

This is a necessary part of letting go of that which was not meant to be in the first place — knowing that a new challenge is before you: one that is ripe with possibility.

The juxtaposition between so many different opposing forces — light and dark, death and rebirth, endings and beginnings — reflects the same cyclical prospect that is before you now.

Facing that without fear is but the first step forward in the rest of your journey.

LEO: 2 of Swords

You’re striving for equilibrium today, as a means toward balancing all of the dichotomies in your life.

Whether you feel yourself being pulled in two different directions — between head and heart, for example — or just need a break from the chaos surrounding you, this card encourages you to take a step back, be still in the moment and reflect on what you want, removed from any external distractions.

You may wish to “rise above” all of the turmoil that is festering beneath you, but as with the imagery depicted in this card, you won’t be able to completely escape it.

The juxtaposition of opposing forces (moth vs. snake, day vs. night, life vs. death, hibernation vs. metamorphosis) reminds us that there is a brief moment in between. And it’s in that moment — the stillness and the presence of mind that occurs only there — where clarity, perspective and understanding are born.

Trust your instincts and work on following your intuition. This card requires you to access both hemispheres of your brain, whether that relates to creative, practical or even spiritual considerations.

VIRGO:  The Hierophant

You’ll be thinking about which of your attitudes, opinions and convictions are in need of an overhaul this month.

Belief systems that have served you in the past may be out-dated now or not in alignment with where you see yourself heading.

There’s a certain dogma associated with the traditional aspects of this card.

The Hierophant can be too conventional, to regimented and too self-righteous.

But this portrayal alludes to the problems that can arise from the inability to wean yourself from that which is no longer sustaining you.

In this rendition, the Hierophant is sad and overburdened; the babies are insatiable yet malnourished. What may have been a symbiotic relationship in the past is no longer conducive to your well-being.

It’s time to let go of those things that no longer “feed” you, and allow yourself to be open to a new set of ideals.

LIBRA: 5 of Cups

You may be struck by a sense of discontent and disillusionment in your relationships this month.

What may have seemed like a “magical” union at one time starts to develop cracks as you find yourself hurdling back to earth and back to the reality of your situation.

The Unicorn carries with it certain connotations of mythological love, beauty and rapture.

But in this rendition, we see her trapped in a well, weak and hobbled.

She looks forlornly toward the tree that is thriving and bountiful (the past), and away from the one that is barren and withering.

The “lost-love” aspect of this card is evident. But it doesn’t have to translate literally.

There is a need to face certain realities — no matter how painful — before you can truly assess the damages.

Letting go of false ideals can be liberating, and can lead to a more rewarding relationship in the end.

SCORPIO: 2 of Cups

Sparks fly for you this month in the love department.

Whether you’re in an established relationship or just venturing out into the dating scene, there’s an animal magnetism present that gets you in sync with others who are on the same wavelength.

There is a certain harmony depicted here in the imagery of these magnificent creatures, even though they’re portrayed in different colors and adopting different stances.

The concepts of opposites attracting, sexual / primal urges, and anima / animus projections are all beautifully referenced here.

The masculine and feminine archetypes as depicted in this card are just as powerful as they are simplistic.

While the urge to merge is going to be particularly strong, you can take comfort in the knowledge that maintaining your identity is a welcome part of this process.

SAGITTARIUS: Queen of Swords

How often have you been guilty of opening your mouth and saying the first thing that comes to mind, undaunted by the prospects of consequences or repercussions?

This isn’t an entirely inadmirable quality: after all, you do have much wisdom to impart.

But the Queen of Swords appears to you this month as a harbinger, heralding a better approach toward meeting your objectives.

It’s a call for you to listen, use your head, think strategically, and make sure that what you say doesn’t get drowned out by all the static reverberating around you.

Your goal this month will be to streamline your ideas and express yourself with clarity and purpose. You may have to cut through some noise.

But you’ll be a lot more effective in getting your point across by looking before you leap and thinking before you speak.

CAPRICORN: 8 of Disks

After working so hard to fine-tune your skills, now is the time to start thinking about showing the rest of the world what you’re made of.

This card describes the precarious balance between passion and discipline, as you hone your craft to perfection.

You’re taking a pivotal step in your journey toward achieving what you’ve set out to achieve. The lions in this card, like pillars of strength and virtue, leave little room for error.

It takes focus, determination and preservation (notice the lamb so peacefully situated between the two pillars) to achieve this level of mastery.

Are you protecting the lamb or are you preparing to devour it?

The desire to hold on to your work may be just as compelling as the need to set it free.

The symmetry here, along with the 8-pointed star at the apex, reminds you that balance, harmony and synchronicity are all important features of this process. Keep this in mind as you work toward manifesting your goals.

AQUARIUS: 7 of Swords

The question you’re going to have to ask yourself this month is how much you’re willing to give up in order to attain what you desire?

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?

The imagery in this card portrays this quandary perfectly. Traditional interpretations speak of cunning, duplicity and deception.

You’ll have to give up one thing to hold onto another, which is the predicament you find yourself in.

Just as the snake encircles the raven and systematically tightens his grip, so must you weigh the consequences of holding too tightly to what you value, especially if it means giving up something far more precious.

PISCES:  The World

As you prepare to embark on a whole new chapter in your life, you’ll be reflecting on both how far you’ve come and on all the steps that have been taken to get you there.

This card embraces the entire spectrum of your journey — from birth to death and start to finish — thus far.

The death aspect of this card is far from literal: it refers to the tying up of loose ends and the closing of one door as you prepare to open another.

It’s coming full circle: the imprinting of experience, fulfillment and satisfaction on unique your world tapestry.

The Hermetic principles of as-above, so-below are perfectly rendered here.

The woman in this card appears to be at one with the Universe; she’s draped across the backdrop of the night sky and embracing the new day that is dawning on the horizon.

Reflect on these images as you proceed on your journey, knowing that the World is wide open for you now.

The deck used for this month’s Tarot Scopes is the Mary-el Tarot designed by Marie White. 

Marie was gracious enough to grant us permission for their use. 

We hope that you’ll take a moment to honor her generosity by visiting her website and checking out her beautiful deck for yourself. 

The Marie-el Tarot, as well as full-sized prints, are also available for purchase. Thank you Marie!

Don’t forget to check out this month’s Horoscope too!

May 2013 Tarot Scopes 

By Melodie Sheppard