ARIES: Nine of Wands

This is the month you may feel like you’re starting to get your mojo back, after a period of frustration, boredom, dormancy or inertia.

The Nine of Wands refers to a period of uncertainty and hesitation that comes after you’ve given what feels like your ALL and still haven’t seen the results for your efforts.

You may have been frustrated with the lack of progress or worse, come “this close” to completing your journey only to find another roadblock ahead of you. This is very similar to the frustrations and impediments that abound when you perhaps haven’t made clear plans for what you wish to do. You’re saying “go go go” while the Universe is saying “no no no.”

The reds, oranges and golds in this version of the card — from the Mary-el Tarot — combined with the ferocious tiger and the flame in the woman’s hand, speak of the need for fearless restraint. The woman takes the tiger by the tail and raises the flame high in the air in a symbol of victory.

If you look at it from an evolutionary perspective, you may be better able to understand why you’ve been forced to step back and re-evaluate your needs.

Perhaps the setbacks you’ve encountered along the way have been more than just setbacks. Perhaps they’ve been lessons in disguise. With Mercury turning retrograde in your area of communication this month what better time do you have than to “plan, plan, plan.”

TAURUS: Three of Wands

This month you should be looking at opportunities that are presenting themselves for you to expand your horizons.

The Three of Wands says you’ve already made strides toward accomplishing important goals and you may also already starting to see the fruits of your labors.

Whether this is related to a project in the workplace or momentum you’ve gained in your personal relationships, you can take a moment to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. But it’s also time to look toward the future.

The Three of Wands — like all Threes — acts as a bridge between the tension and uncertainty of the Twos and the structure and stability of the Fours. With that in mind you want to think about how far you’ve come as you plan your next move.

The central figure in this card — from the Wheel of theYear Tarot — is a young woman looking out over the vast horizons before here.

The night sky is alive with fireflies and stars. A crescent moon — waxing, which relates to growth and potential — shines down on her from above. Look at the three wands placed neatly behind her.

They’re there within arms’ reach, but her focus is on what lies ahead. Her trusty companion sits by her side, and is equally immersed in the landscape before them. Make a wish on what you want this month and go for it!

GEMINI: Four of Mirrors

This month is all about choices and those choices and decisions you may be putting off whilst, perhaps, you wait for something better to come along.

The mirrors in this card — from the gorgeous  Chrysalis Tarot –stand for the suit of cups and from the pattern they are displaying in the water also show that your thoughts, decisions, choices may be changing like the tide… one day you are high on an idea and the next day you are low and no longer want to go along with that idea.

I don’t blame you… from the looks of things where you are sitting it looks pretty comfortable and calming.

There are no intense emotions and everything is running along quite smoothly. You feel at “one” with your environment and see no use in fighting against the current in making changes to your situation however change is coming though, whether you want it or not.

The sea turtle which is about to brush against your tail is a symbol of you being given a slight nudge in making changes.

You can go back to your dream world, keeping your eyes shut and focused on pleasant thoughts and sensations — or you can face what’s coming head on.

CANCER: Ace of Pentacles

You would do well to count your blessings this month and focusing on attracting more of the same into your life.

The Ace of Pentacles refers to new opportunities for growth, prosperity and abundance, of which material (financial) gain is only a small part.

It refers to planting seeds which then grow and flourish, and ultimately begin to propagate and replenish themselves — much like the grape vines framing the scarab on this card (from the beautiful Animism Tarot).

You want to be focusing on what you have right now rather than what you lack. What you’ve invited into your life rather than what you’ve left behind. And what you’re putting out there now, as a means of attracting more of the same.

The Ace of Pentacles — like all Aces — is a card of assurance and inspiration. It’s a “Yes” card, a manifesting card, a card of limitless potential. It’s an essence rather than a “thing,” which means you have a lot of say in how it plays out.

If it’s money you want (or security, stability, comfort, etc.) now is the time to work on attracting more of it into your life. But remember that money is called “currency” for a reason: It’s expected to flow, both to us and from us.

We need to be willing to put our own resources to use if we want to attract more of the same.

LEO: Two of Swords

This month you may be reflecting on the different options that are available to you, as well as the different paths that are laid out before you.

The Two of Swords encourages you to weigh the different options available to you before you make a decision.

The woman in this card — from the Druid Craft Tarot — sits perfectly still before two distinct but different paths. Aside from the scarf draped over her shoulder, she wears nothing but a blind-fold. The swords in her hands are crossed before her, each pointing in a different direction.

You may see yourself at an important cross-roads that you’re still feeling unsettled about. A career-related decision or a relationship, or even long-term goals that you’ve not yet pulled together.

Whatever it is, it’s going to be important for step back and weigh the different options that are available to you before you arrive at a decision.

While you don’t want to let yourself be swayed by external desires or distractions, you also can’t allow your own uncertainty to prevent you from taking a stand.

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.

VIRGO: Five of Pentacles

Be grateful for what beauty flowers… one day at a time. If you feel you are at the bottom of a well and cannot look up or get out because you are stuck in a rut take heart that you are beautiful indeed.

Do not let circumstances get so on top of you that you forget your own inner beauty for it’s these that shall pull you out of where you’re at and see you soaring again.

The Five of Pentacles is about leaving something behind, removing yourself from a situation that no longer serves you, and looking at your options in the sense that as one door closes another opens and that door may just lead to your “dreams.”

It may be a good idea to take a break, have a rest and clear your mind of all thoughts. Look at the black void behind the rose with what looks like raindrops on this card from the Wild Unknown Tarot. I know rain falls down but are these falling up or down?

Does this image appear to be moving up or down to you? If it is moving down try to turn the vision to the image so that the rain drops are moving upwards. This is one way to trick your mind that your circumstances are getting lighter and you are now about to turn the tide of whatever is holding you back.

The beauty of the rose in this card is undeniable and it may be that you are so swamped in emotions and worries that you are denying yourself your own inner beauty to shine out and therefore feeling like the rose in this image… a bit forlorn, tired but nevertheless greatness and beauty that cannot be denied.

LIBRA: Knight of Pentacles

With the plowed fields behind you and new pastures to be had it is as if you are at the end of one chapter of your life and ready to start another.

This month you have everything in place to take some time off and enjoy yourself and nourish your soul in order to give back to yourself what you need to replenish.

There is no fear that anything will go wrong as the cat keeps a lookout around you. This means that you have taken good care to protect yourself, your possessions and your finances. Everything is running smoothly for you without threat.

The Knight of Pentacles ushers in a new era of making money with the possibility, as can be seen in this card — from the gorgeous Tarot of Pagan Cats — of doing it in a different way.

Whilst in the past you were perhaps tied in to restrictions in how you conducted your work or business (as can be seen from the straight lines in the ploughed fields).

Right now you have the opportunity to lay down a completely different way of doing things (as can be seen from the rich, ripe grass of the new fields underneath you).

As the black cat keeps watch keep in mind… It’s always nice having someone to watch your back.

SCORPIO: Nine of Disks

The month of May should see evidence of all your hard work mirrored right back to you, in both the spiritual and material realms.

The Nine of Disks refers to a sense of satisfaction for all you’ve achieved, though not because you’ve been lucky or have been the benefactor of someone’s generosity.

It’s through your own hard work and determination (seen in the Eight of Disks) that leads to that you to that place of fulfilment, although we know that none of us gets to where we’re going alone.

We all know (in theory) that all the money in the world won’t buy us happiness if it’s acquired without passion. Yet we keep on wanting more of it, and find ourselves struggling with the idea of figuring out how much is “enough.”

The Nine of Disks — this version from the Mary-el Tarot — challenges us to not only answer that question but to examine our personal values as well. Money is just one form “values” and is usually the one we pay the most attention to.

We need to be mindful of the temptation to overlook one set of values for another, especially when it involves compromising our principles.

SAGITTARIUS: Seven of Wands

It seems you have spent a lot of time building power both within and without yourself and it is time to call this power forth now and use it to realise your goals.

You have the strength to accomplish anything you want and all it takes is that first step for the goal to roar forth. What you are wishing for comes from your heart, intellect and intuition.

Nothing and no one will hold you back as you have made sure everything is in place and you are well protected from anything going wrong. Not for you the gentle energy that courses through one when they are getting ready to release a new project or chapter in their life.

This change has been planned for a while and know exactly how much energy you need to put into it. The stars allow you to make more than one wish. The lion gives you energy and a voice to be heard while you stand within a protected circle and launch what you have been hoping to begin for a while.

This image — from the Star Tarot — reminds me of manifesting and if you are wanting to manifest something today use this image to alter your mind and focus your intentions on what it is you hope to manifest into your life and expect it to happen.

Everything starts with a thought… this month your thoughts are shouting!

CAPRICORN: Queen of Swords

Decisions that you make this month will require you to use intellect and logic rather than emotions and intuition.

The Queen of Swords signals a need for discipline. Whether you’re acting in this capacity or dealing with someone who embodies these qualities — like authority, self-reliance and impartiality — this month you will need to rise to the occasion.

The Queen of Swords in most decks can be rather cold and austere. She can be critical and judgmental, detached from her emotions and unwilling to compromise her convictions but this version emphasizes wisdom and maturity.

Notice the silver hair and tattered robes in this version — from the Druid Craft Tarot. She’s not here to impress anyone. She knows who she is and is comfortable in her own skin. She doesn’t wield her sword like a weapon; she caresses it gently, just as her bare feet keep her grounded and rooted to the earth.

She may be a woman in your life: if so consider that you can count on her to tell you the truth. She’s got high standards and impeccable ethics, which she didn’t acquire by marching to the beat of anyone else’s drum.

Perhaps this is someone whose courage and strength you admire: an older woman, a widow often, someone who has weathered her share of disappointments and still holds her head high.

AQUARIUS: Six of Swords

You’re on the verge of making important changes in your life, and in doing so will have to think about what you’re taking with you and what you need to leave behind.

This doesn’t necessarily mean material things; in fact that’s rarely what it means. It’s more about attitudes and belief systems, as well as a life you may have built and dreams you may have dreamed that are no longer capable of sustaining you.

The Six of Swords — this version from the Morgan Greer Tarot — is a card of transition and change. Moving from one “place” to another, if only in your mind.

Notice how the woman in this card is huddled and shrouded from view. She’s protecting herself from more than just the elements. She may be mourning the loss of her previous existence, or she may be reflecting on the choices she’s made to leave it all behind.

Either way, she’s put her faith in the ferryman to get to her safely to her new destination. Notice too that while the waves are choppy beneath them, they start to smooth out the closer they get to the other shore.

And speaking of that other shore, the landscape’s silhouette appears to be promising. It’s lush, flourishing and full of potential. This is the message behind the Six of Swords. You may not be where you want to be just yet, but you’re moving in the right direction.

PISCES: Penguin

This month it would be a good idea to put all of your heavier thoughts and concerns aside and approach life with a sense of child-like wonder and curiosity.

The Seer of Shells — or Penguin in the Animal Wisdom Tarot — is this deck’s version of the Page of Cups. Here we see him standing on a sparkling crystal ice cap, communing with a little fish that’s popped out of shell on an adjacent ice cap.

The fish could be dinner for the Penguin but he doesn’t see him in that light. He gazes at him in awe, oblivious to his surroundings. This is very much like the Page of Cups. Gentle and loving. Open and receptive. Gleeful. Sincere. And maybe a little naive.

The Fish appears to be speaking and the Penguin holds onto every word. Maybe he’s imparting words of wisdom, or maybe he’s talking his way out of becoming the daily catch. Off in the distance a bridge rises out of the water and leads to who knows where.

Be open to receiving important messages, even if they come from the most unlikely of sources. Whether the Page of Cups is a person in your life (as in someone youthful or immature) or an attitude you need to embrace.

If it’s the former you’ll want to listen with an open mind and heart. And if it’s the latter you’ll want to work on keeping those open.

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This month’s tarotscopes feature some of Ask the Astrologers all time favorite cards. We hope you like them too! 

May 2015 Tarot Scopes

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