Jun 29 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 29, 2015 — Queen of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Queen of Cups

Today you may feel the need to step away from the demands on your time and energy, and treat yourself to something special.

The Queen of Cups is known to be sensitive, compassionate and caring. She’s also incredibly loving and giving — in fact she’s so giving that she may sometimes forfeit her own needs as she focuses her attention on others.

But this Queen of Cups — from the gorgeous Chinese Tarot by Jui Guoliang — seems to know a thing or two about tending to her own needs. She’s not only surrounded herself with luxury, she’s indulging all five of her senses.

There’s the aromatic incense wafting through the room, the colorful Ibises painted on the wall, the tinkling bells that adorn her elegant headdress, the delicate tea she sips from her dainty cup, and the opulent silken fibers that make up her royal garb.

This Queen has created a sacred space for her to retreat to and indulge her appreciation for the finer things in life. She’s graceful and elegant and probably also quite wealthy. You can tell that she’s very much at home in the space she’s created and is certainly in no hurry to leave it behind.

As Venus and Jupiter inch closer together today (completing their conjunction on the first), you may be thinking of ways to pamper yourself in more elaborate and extravagant ways — especially since this conjunction is in Leo.

Remember that you’re going to have to learn to take care of yourself first before you’re going to be able to take care of others.

Take some time today to create your own sacred space and nurture your own spirit. Like the Queen of Cups in this card, you want to find a way to create a calm, soothing environment for yourself, especially if you’ve neglected your own needs while caring for others. Make today a day of treating yourself, pampering yourself and restoring your own inner peace.

Jun 27 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 27, 2015 — Destiny

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Destiny

You may noticing synchronicities all around you today as the Sun squares the Nodes and the Destiny card — traditional Tarot’s Wheel of Fortune — makes an appearance.

The Sun and Nodes in square aspect isn’t particularly pleasant. It’s what’s referred to in classical astrology as “at the bendings.” This can indicate a period of crises with emphasis on the concept of fate. As the Sun represents the Self, the Will and the Ego, and the Nodes represent karma, fate and destiny, this can literally translate as a crisis in consciousness.

You may be dealing with intrusive thoughts or moments of uncertainty that cause you to question what is real and what is not. You might be asking yourself “Who am I?” “What is my purpose? “Where am I heading?” “Am I awake or am I dreaming?

The man in this card — from the beautiful Golden Dragon Tarot — appears to be sleeping. The goddess rising from the fog of his dreams seems to be sprinkling something over his head to soothe his fitful rest. This is probably Quan Yin, goddess of Compassion and Mercy, as evidenced by the Tiger, Peacock and Dragon animal totems also present in this card.

Each of those animals represent a different state of consciousness and a different place on the Wheel. The Tiger represents the base, primal and survival instincts; the Peacock represents luxury, beauty and earthly pleasures and the Dragon represents power, victory and transformation.

If things aren’t exactly going as planned for you right now, you may have to look at the bigger picture. The Sun / Node square says that you may not appreciate the hand that’s been dealt to you, but the Destiny card says that the Universe has something entirely different in store. Sometimes we blame ourselves for the down times (assuming we’ve “brought it all on ourselves”) while viewing the up times as outside of our control.

This card — and today’s transits — encourage you to remember that life’s natural rhythms may not always be in sync with your own expectations. And sometimes it takes a crisis (or a night of fitful sleep) to see that for yourself. You’ll have to look at where the actions you’ve taken and the decisions you’ve made have led you to where you are today. In doing so, and in choosing to participate in your own destiny, you can determine where this next chapter leads.

Jun 27 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 28, 2015 — Five of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Five of Cups

You may be experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation today and if so you might want to ask yourself whether you’re seeing the full picture.

The Five of Cups is often tied to feelings of disappointment and regret. You may be feeling shut out at time when you most needed to be let in; rejected at a time when you most wanted to feel included.

There may be some anger here as well, as in feeling duped in some way or betrayed. But in this version — from Cathy McClelland’s gorgeous Star Tarot — the emphasis is more on what has been lost than on what can be gained.

The woman in this card focuses on the three cups spilled at her feet rather than the two that are still left and are overflowing with symbols of happiness and joy.

She can’t even see them as she’s so busy protecting herself from the elements (the rain and storm clouds brewing behind her) and focusing on what she’s lost.

A New Day is dawning right behind her and all she has to do to see it is look up. There are butterflies following the path of a rainbow, which separates the night from the day. There are new experiences to be had — including new social opportunities (the butterflies) — and hope for the future (the rainbow), as well as the potential for seeing things in a whole new light (the Sunrise).

While it may be necessary to take the time to properly mourn a loss, keep in mind that this never means your chance at happiness is over. The Five of Cups may force you to acknowledge a loss, but it also opens the door to new beginnings as long as you are willing to look up.

Jun 26 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 26, 2015 — Ten of Wands

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Ten of Wands

You may have to face some harsh facts today about a situation that’s become too difficult for you to handle. You could be carrying too heavy a load or holding onto an ideal that’s just not paying off. Or you may be confronted with a painful reality about something (or someone) that is no longer serving you.

You might experience this first hand on the job or in a stressful relationship or even in your own head. If you’ve been giving — of your time, energy, money, affection, etc. — until you find that you have nothing left to give, that is the essence of the Ten of Wands.

The Ten of Wands is usually and indication that you’re working too hard or taking on more responsibilities than you can handle. You may feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, or are so consumed with work that you have no time left for play.

In this version of the card — from Timothy Lantz’s beautiful Archeon Tarot — we see that the ten wands are in fact spears with skulls placed at their tips, all of them dripping blood.

Ancient traditions tell us that these are placed as warnings to those who dare trespass on sacred grounds. A raging fire burns in the background, casting an orange glow onto the autumn moon. There’s also a tribal element to this rendition, with the feathered headdresses and ceremonial colors.

As foreboding and ominous as this may seem, the Ten of Wands refers to the end of an arduous journey — and the end of hardship and adversity. At least with respect to this specific endeavor. Look at where you’ve been working yourself to death, or giving all that you’ve got and seeing no progress, or carrying all of the load to the point of exhaustion, and ask yourself if you need to just put it to rest?

The death and destruction images in this card are saying that it’s time to accept defeat and let it go. It’s also a message to learn something from this experience, so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes. There’s an air of bravery and defiance present in this card, that can carry you through to the next chapter in your life.

Jun 25 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 25, 2015 — Two of Coins

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Two of Coins

Today you may find yourself juggling the different compartments of your life as you struggle to maintain your equilibrium.

You’re going to need to be flexible and adaptable, and will need to find ways to shift from one task to another without losing focus.

You may also be weighing the pros and cons of an important decision. Whether this is tied to business, relationships, money, or even a new way thinking, it’s bound to be weighing heavily on you.

It could be work and responsibilities vs. pleasure and play. It could be head vs. heart or relationships vs. autonomy. Or it could even be up time (productivity) vs. down time (rest). Whatever it is, you don’t want to be so focused on weighing your options that you lose sight of what’s going on around you.

In this version of the Two of Coins — from Nigel Jackson’s beautiful Medieval Enchantment Tarot — the coins seem to be levitating above the woman’s uplifted hands.

They look identical, and this may refer to their level of importance in the realm of larger considerations. But as far as what you want to accomplish today (as opposed to what needs to get done), they’re probably not equal at all.

You’ll have to figure out what’s most important to you and give that areas more consideration. As Coins also relate to money, you may be trying to decide where to invest your assets. Or you may find yourself juggling finances, as in figuring out which bills to pay and which ones can wait.

Think about what you need to balance in your own life today as opposed to what deserves your undivided attention. It may require levels of skill and dexterity that you didn’t even know you had. If you can pull it off though and find ways to satisfy one area without neglecting the other, it should be tremendously rewarding for you in the end.

Jun 24 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 24, 2015 — Hanged Man

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Hanged Man

Mars moves into Cancer today, just as Chiron turns retrograde. The combination of these two transits can not only slow things down for you, but can put you in a position of making an important but necessary sacrifice.

The Hanged Man — this version from the wonderful Mythic Tarot — refers to a period of waiting. It can manifest as delays or restrictions as in seeing something you want so desperately held just outside of your grasp.

You could be frustrated over something that’s taken too long to manifest, or have the sense that nothing is happening despite your best efforts. Road blocks are put in your path — often for your own good. But this card doesn’t refer to endings; this is more about putting something on hold than it is about closing any doors.

The Hanged Man in this card is portrayed by the Greek god Prometheus, who sacrificed so much in order to bring fire to mankind. As penance he was sentenced by Zeus to a life of pain and misery; he was shackled to a boulder high in the mountains where his liver was devoured by an eagle who repeated this torture for the remainder of his days.

Because Prometheus was immortal, he couldn’t just die, nor could his liver be consumed only once. It renewed itself every night, only to be devoured again the next day. Zeus eventually took pity on Prometheus (after 30 years!) and allowed him to be rescued by Heracles, putting an end to the threat of eternal damnation.

The Hanged Man often refers to delays and sacrifices. When it does, you can bet they’re necessary. Trust that there’s a reason — even if it’s not readily apparent. You may have been running at a break-neck pace, never stopping to look at what you’ve accomplished. Or you may have found yourself losing steam over a project that just hasn’t panned out.

Either way, it may be time to put things on hold — at least long enough to evaluate your commitment. Think about the areas in your own life that have taken longer than expected to manifest. There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation, or it may be that there’s still work to be done. Either way you can rest assured that the reasons will become clear to you in time.

Jun 23 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 23, 2015 — Four of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Four of Cups

You may not feel like you’ve got much energy today, or maybe you’re just lacking in motivation. A hard (square) aspect between Mercury and Neptune can bring on feelings of apathy or disillusionment, and can delete your energy levels if you’re not careful.

This aspect is good for fantasizing, daydreaming or tapping into your creativity (such as free-style poetry, music, dance or art), but not so great for applying any of those things to your mundane existence.

You may be more sensitive to any kind of external stimuli, and more susceptible to being deceived — even if that means deceiving yourself. It’s not a good time to make promises or decisions or to sign contracts.

The Four of Cups — this version from Dana Driscoll’s Tarot of Trees — is associated with melancholy, apathy and indifference. This doesn’t mean that whatever you desire is lacking — in fact the Cups in this card are not only full but they’re all overflowing.

The water (emotions) that pours from one cup to the next doesn’t flow back to its source. Even though they’re seated right next to an ocean, the water spills out onto the ground and is wasted. The Tree pulls its limbs away from the cups and in toward its own center.

But notice the spiral symbols that are repeated throughout the imagery in this card — from the tree’s limbs, to the ocean’s waves, to the clouds in the sky, to the bough of flowers on the ground. This is a theme of centeredness that speaks more about autonomy and fulfillment than it does of discontent.

With this in mind today, you want to work on finding your center today, and pulling your energy inward rather than allowing it to scatter to the wind. Whether the Four of Cups manifests for you as disillusionment or personal fulfillment, will depending on how successful you are at achieving that aim.

Jun 22 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 22, 2015 — Three of Wands

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Three of Wands

Jupiter trines Uranus today, bringing with it unlimited potentials for reaching toward your highest goals and aspirations.

The Three of Wands — this version from the beautiful Cosmic Tarot — is a card of opportunity and personal expansion. It encourages us to look at what we’ve already established as we plan our next moves.

In this case the woman in the card has somehow manifested three lotus blossoms in the middle of the desert. She raises her arms to the Sun in gratitude and prayer as she meditates on how far she’s come. The three wands that are placed in the earth around her provide structure and stability, while she ponders her next move.

This woman is graceful and calm. She appears to be blossoming, just like the lotus blossoms growing out of the sand before her. She’s aware of what she’s created thus far, and knows that it will take a combination of serenity and confidence to keep her vision alive.

This is not the time for her (or you) to sit back and rest. It’s important to keep working toward manifesting your goals.

As with all Threes, the Three of Wands encourages you to network and interact with others. Whether this means sharing your ideas, communicating your visions, or accepting offers of assistance, there are always advantages to joining forces with like-minded people.

Although the woman in this card is very much alone. She doesn’t appear lonely and she’s aware of the life sprouting around her, even in the desert. There are also birds flocking toward her in the sky and shadowy figures moving toward her in the distance.

The Three of Wands encourages you to push past your limitations and expand your horizons. It will mean stepping outside of your comfort zone and exploring uncharted territories. And while you may run into pitfalls or have to take detours along the way, know that these are often blessing in disguise that can open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Jun 21 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 21, 2015 — The Sun

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Sun
The Sun moves into Cancer today, marking the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year, measured by the amount of time between Sunrise and Sunset. This is true for those in the Northern Hemisphere; it’s exactly the opposite (Winter solstice and shortest day of the year) for those in the Southern Hemisphere.

When we think of the Sun, we think of warmth, light and life. It warms our spirits as well as our bodies; it brightens our moods as well as the outside world, and it brings life to our dreams and goals as well as to every living thing on the planet.

The Sun card in the Tarot is much the same way. It refers to the wonder and glory of being alive. Of feeling warm, confident, radiant and spirited. Its attitude is that “everything is as it should be” today, for you and in the world around you.

The Sun in this card — from the gorgeous Tarot of Durer — smiles down on two tiny angels hovering over a tranquil landscape. In the distance you can see a Kingdom set high on a cliff, and below it a sailboat gliding through the water.

But front and center, in the here and now, the focus is on these two little cherubs. They are “in the moment” basking in the warmth of the Sun’s glow and partaking in the earthly bounty that is theirs for the taking.

Offsite things may not be so picture-perfect. We know that there are evils in the world, poverty, sickness and war. We know that it’s not always so easy to live in the moment or be happy with what we have. And this is where the inscription at the bottom of the card — In Hoc signo vinces — comes in.

This phrase translates from Latin into “By this sign you will conquer.” It was seen in a vision by Constantine the Great and his army just before a victorious battle. Later on it was chosen as the motto for the Knights Templar. It means that while there are hardships and difficulties all around us, we do have the power to rise up and overcome.

As we move into the Solstice today and embark on a new season, take the time to think about what is right in your world. What hardships you’ve been able to overcome and what messages you’ll want to carry forward. The Sun card reminds you that there is much to be thankful for and that spreading your own warmth onto others can go a long ways toward healing our planet.

Jun 20 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 20, 2015 — Knight of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Knight of Cups

You may find yourself swept up in a wave of romantic reverie today, courtesy of today’s beautiful Moon / Venus / Jupiter conjunction in Leo. You can see this aspect applying in the Tarot of a Moon Garden’s version of the Knight of Cups.

It starts with Moon and Venus in the early hours, bringing the together the female archetypes and emphasizing the feminine qualities of love, romance, beauty and harmony. As the day wears on the Moon closes in Jupiter, bringing in the Jovial qualities of warmth, benevolence, expansion and optimism.

You can see these planets lined up with the Crescent Moon tonight if you step outside and check out the Western horizon just after Sunset. This is a fortuitous configuration that the Knight of Cups would surely be wishing on.

The Knight of Cups is the most romantic of all the Knights. He’s sensitive, loving and passionate. He may in love with love; it’s certainly his main driving force.

He may be a person in your life — if so expect him to wear his heart on his sleeve. He may have swept into your life like the proverbial knight in shining armor, or he may be reaching our from afar as the Knights are often also messenger cards.

But as with all the court cards, this may be an event transpiring in your life (a proposal, an invitation, or messages of love and affection from afar.). And it may also appear as an indication of qualities that you might need to adopt.

You may receive news today and while it may not manifest as an actual proposal, it should at least be good news. It may also answer important questions or validate you instincts about someone you feel a connection to. While the Knight of Cups is known for his extravagance, he can also be quite subtle. So don’t be surprised if he sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

Jun 19 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 19, 2015 — Seven of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Seven of Swords

What do you do when you find yourself mulling over what you want to do in a situation when one part knows what you want and the other part does not?

Usually you find yourself getting pulled back into the situation going against all the logic you have used in getting away from it in the first place. Sound familiar? Swords stand for thoughts and here it is your thoughts rather than your emotions that are pulling you back.

The Seven of Swords — this version from the beautiful Golden Tarot of Klimt — says that you can run but you can’t hide… well not until you get your thoughts in order and decide if you stay or go.

The images of the three women in this card show different thought processes which are going on in relation to the actions you would like to take. Sometimes you may feel like just sitting back and doing nothing, sometimes you feel like going with the flow, and other times you want to get up and take a stand. Only you will know what is right for you when the time comes.

Until you get your thoughts in line with your emotions though, you’re basically at an impasse where even if you do take action to leave you are pulled back by what may well feel like an undercurrent.

The Seven Swords can act as a barrier, preventing you from moving until you’re clear on the direction you want to go.

Take some time today to think about the options before you. The Seven of Swords is a strategy card, among other things. It won’t do for you to jump up and take action without considering all the possibilities. But if you hold back and deliberate, you are bound to come up with a solution to even the most harrowing dilemma.

Jun 18 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 18, 2015 — Page of Bows

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Page of Bows

Today’s card is the Stoat (or Page of Bows), which is the Wildwood Tarot’s version of the Page of Wands. This is a ferret-like creature that is prized for its Winter coat — pure white (save for the black portion of its tail) in some Northern regions — and despised for its invasive practices in others.

Here he looks out from a moss-covered outcropping, alert and attentive and ready to pounce if necessary. Like the Page of Wands, the Stoat is ready for action and fast on his feet.

He’s a predator but also somewhat defenseless. He’s just as capable of being someone else’s dinner as he is of capturing his own, hence the need for impeccable reflexes.

But the Page of Bows is wily. He has a multitude of options available to him. He can pounce from his perch onto the ground below; he can scurry up a tree, he can stretch his limber little body out and slink off into the bushes, or he can shimmy down a hole never to be seen again.

This is the kind of flexibility you wan to have today as you are met with various challenges. You want to think about all of the resources that are available to you. And you want to think about what it is you can do that makes you unique. What skills do you possess that make it easier for you to avert danger and take advantage of opportunity?

Mercury trines the North node today and sextiles the South. This transit can make communicating your needs to others a bit easier, while at the same time allowing access to strategies and solutions. You may seem harmless, like the adorable little Stoat in this card. But remember that you do have a vast array of options at your disposal for getting what you want today. in exactly the way that you want it.