Articles

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 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.

Jun 16 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 16, 2015 — Ace of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Ace of Swords

Today’s card, the Ace of Swords — this version from the Druid Craft Tarot — is all about gaining the insight that is necessary to make decisions that are best for you.

Today’s Sun and Moon (New Moon) in Gemini is also conjunct Mars. This takes place within minutes of arc, making it all the more powerful. This Sun / Moon / Mars conjunction is rife with electrical energy, bringing with it the certainty and clarity that are intrinsically tied to the Ace of Swords.

This aspect is also associated with taking back your power. And nothing says that like an arm with a sword in it rising up from the depths of a murky pool.

The Ace of Swords can be victorious or it can be defiant. And there’s no saying which one this one is. But that’s also a part of taking back your power — deciding whether you want to wield your sword for the greater good or use it as a weapon.

This Sword has its own electrical current. Perhaps it’s stopped a bolt of lightning dead in its tracks, or has harnessed its own energy which is just as powerful.

Some things to think about today: First of all, your actions can have far reaching consequences (notice the ripples in the pond). And secondly, no matter how small or alone you feel in the world, you absolutely do have the capacity to make your presence known.

You do want to be mindful of what you put out there today. The Ace of Swords can have a dual meaning just as the blade itself is double edged. You want to be aware of your words as well as your actions and the impact those have one others.

But this New Moon affords us all the opportunity to start something anew. Think about what’s been weighing on your mind that now needs to be decided once and for all. And what discussion needs to be had in order to iron out any differences. The Ace of Swords encourages you to wield your sword not as a weapon but as a conduit for fairness and honesty.

Jun 06 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 6, 2015 — Nine of Arrows

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Nine of Arrows

Venus trines Saturn today and brings with it the discipline and dedication to see your way through difficult times without losing focus.

The Nine of Arrows is the Wildwood Tarot’s version of the Nine of Swords, a card traditionally associated with fear and paranoia. But look at the woman in this card.

She moves so deftly through a firestorm of flying arrows that she doesn’t even notice them whizzing by her head. In fact her eyes aren’t even open.

This card is called “Dedication” and speaks of the need to stay on your path and not allow yourself be discouraged by potential pitfalls or distractions.

The woman may seem like she’s not paying attention, or is just going through the motions. Or she may be so dedicated to her craft (notice she holds the bow and arrow in her hands like it’s a musical instrument) that she’s undeterred by the threat of danger on her path.

The Nine of Arrows in this deck speaks of heeding your calling and dedicating yourself to your life’s work. Whether that refers to a specific gift or talent, or whether it refers to a spiritual undertaking, you’re encouraged to devote yourself to it fully and not allow yourself to be deterred by whatever challenges threaten to stand in your way.

The Venus / Saturn trine makes that vision clearer to you — so clear in fact that you don’t have to “see” it to believe in it. But you still have to do the work. And that means mustering up the courage and dedication to get started on your path.

Jun 02 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — Jun 2, 2015 — Ten of Wands

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Ten of Wands

It may feel like it’s all work and no play for you today, especially with the Full Moon opposing Mars.

— the Ten of Wands from Dana Driscoll’s gorgeous Tarot of Trees — emphasizes responsibilities and duties which have become priorities, forcing you to deal with them rather than devoting your time and energy to what you really want to do.

Today’s Mars / Pluto inconjunct may have you feel overburdened and oppressed. The weight of responsibilities you’ve taken on may seem like a heavy load — too heavy in fact for just one person to carry. The Full Moon is in tense aspect to Mercury and Mars as well, increasing the potential for added irritability and tension.

You may also feel like you’re carrying “extra baggage” — whether this refers to your own struggles or those of someone else. There’s a strong possibility you’ve taken on someone else’s problems, rather than letting them iron them out themselves. As a result, it may feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, with no time or energy left to attend to your own needs.

The seed of an idea has sprouted, but as you can see it’s getting very little nourishment — even though the Sun is shining in the background. The trees on either side are so tightly intertwined that they’re blocking out all the light.

The Ten of Wands encourages you to lighten your load: you’ll have to find a way to nurture your own ideas, needs and interests, or risk seeing everyone else’s problems interfering with your progress.

May 30 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 30, 2015 — King of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

King of Swords

Today — with the Sun conjuncting Mercury in Gemini — you may be called upon to make a decision that’s based on fairness, ingenuity and impartiality.

The King of Swords — this version represented by Greek Mythology;s Odysseus from the beautiful Mythic Tarot — is a wise and strategic leader who relies on intellect and objectivity rather than compassion and emotion.

He may be a person in your life — a boss, mentor, parent or authority figure — and if so he’s here to show you how to lead with wisdom and grace. He may also represent qualities within yourself that are necessary for you to bring forth. Qualities like discipline and neutrality.

It may be a situation that requires you to act with authority, even if you’re not comfortable in that role. It may require you to “lay down the law” or pass down judgment where there is no easy answer. The King of Swords is able to cut through the nuances and extenuating circumstances to arrive at an impartial decision.

Odysseus was a shrewd and inventive leader. He not only thought up the idea for the Trojan Horse (thus securing victory for the Greeks), he led his people with a firm and lawful hand, never wavering from his solid principles.

The King of Swords is honorable and just. He has noble ideals which he applies to himself as well as others. He insists on fairness and equality for all.

This card can refer to a need for justice and symmetry in your life. Or it can mark the presence of someone whose sense of authority and justice overrides personal investments. Is this you or someone you’re dealing with currently who’s encouraging you to embrace these qualities?

Whether this refers to you or to another, the underlying message is the same. Step away from emotional attachments and make your decisions today based on what is right, fair, and most importantly best for you in the long run.

May 29 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 29, 2015 — Seven of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Seven of Cups

Mercury squares Neptune today, bringing with it the desire to escape into romantic fantasy and illusions.

You may feel like torn by competing interests and pulled in different directions — either away from the things you really want to do, or towards the kind of mindless diversions that cause you lose sight of your priorities.

The Seven of Cups is a card of temptations, often fueled by irrational thoughts or fantasies. There can be too many options available, which makes it hard to decide. But it’s often a case of wishful thinking and foolish day-dreaming that can interfere with actual progress.

This card is loaded in mystical imagery. There’s a woman riding a flying dragon over a pond filled with lotus blossoms. Three cups rest in the pond — one with a rainbow rising from it — the dragon holds another three, and the last one — the Seventh — is lifted up towards the woman by a tiny glowing fairy.

She may be leaning toward that Seventh magical cup but she hasn’t decided yet, and this is one of the main dilemmas with the Seven of Cups. There are so many choices to be made and some of them more appealing than others.

What you long for may look so much more appealing than what you already have, but it’s also quite possibly an illusion. And even if it isn’t you have to remind yourself that it’s not going to come about by sitting around daydreaming about it.

There are elements of seduction also inherent in this card. Being seduced by something intangible or just out of reach, or being lured in by a fantasy that falls short in the harsh light of day.

While you may think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, chances are good that once you got there you’d want nothing more than to return back home. The message behind this card is to aim for reachable goals and to participate in attaining them rather than allowing yourself to fall into the trap of wishful thinking.

May 26 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 26, 2015 — Nine of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Nine of Swords

Mars squares Neptune today and may have you wondering what is real and what is all in your head.

The Nine of Swords is sometimes referred to as the “nightmare” card, due to its association with overblown panic and fear.

Often these are self-imposed: as in having gotten into a predicament of our own doing and now being forced to deal with the consequences. There’s sometimes a sense of impending doom associated with this card, also self-created.

You may be feeling a bit more anxious and unsure of yourself or have a hard maintaining your footing. Or — like the figure in this card from the gorgeous Druid Craft Tarot — you may just feeling like pulling the covers back over your head rather than getting out of bed and facing reality.

As Mars is the planet of action and Neptune is the planet of uncertainty, it may even be best for you to hold off on taking any kind of stand.

You may be feeling a bit wobbly and unsure of yourself as your fears can get in the way of making rational decisions. Either the fear is real and you brought it upon yourself, in which case you now have to deal with the repercussions of your actions; or the fear is unfounded and you’re being forced to own up to whatever it is inside of you that has created it.

You may have created a situation — or contributed to one — yourself that now has you terrified of potential consequences. You may feel like running away from your problems, or pulling the blankets up over your head again and pretending that none of it is real. But you’ll find that not confronting your demons and tackling the situation head on only makes them more harrowing.

This is the essence of the Nine of Swords. Not only do our fears have the capacity to paralyze us, but finding the courage to face them has the capacity to extinguish them. If we want to move forward, we’ll have to be brave enough to “take back our power” and face our fears head on.

May 24 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 24, 2015 — Ten of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Ten of Cups

Today’s Moon / Jupiter conjunction in Leo should have you feeling good about your home, family and the life you have built for yourself.

This aspect — along with this gorgeous version of the Ten of Cups from Dana Driscoll’s fabulous Tarot of Trees — is about family, camaraderie, hospitality, togetherness and benevolence.

It’s about joining together with like-minded people to create a reality you can be proud of. It refers to arriving at a place in your life where you can fully acknowledge and celebrate the relationship you’ve developed, whether these are family relationships, social connections relationships, friendships or love affairs.

The tree in this card didn’t grow to such heights overnight. It’s been tended to over the years, just as your relationships with others must be tended to.And like those relationships, it’s taken a central place in this card, framed by an archway lined with 9 golden cups. The 10th cup is the tree itself, into which all of the love, kindness and gratitude has been poured.

The Ten of Cups refers to achieving something that is worth acknowledging and celebrating, as seen here in the imagery of this card. It’s about fulfillment and security; a solid foundation of abundance and prosperity, and the sense that you have built something you can take pride in.

Take time today to let those nearest and dearest to you know how important they are. While the Ten of Cups is also said to indicate the culmination of something, that doesn’t mean you’ve come to the end of the road. This card is all about embracing all you’ve established through your connections and interactions with those who matter most — with your family, friends and loved ones.

May 12 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 12, 2015 — Knight of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Knight of Swords

As Mars moves into Gemini today, you may find yourself needing to think and act more quickly than usual. Gemini is the most restless of all the dual (mutable) signs and with the planet that rules action and energy (Mars) stepping in, you’ll want to be on your toes and prepared to act with lightning speed.

This version of the Knight of Swords — from the wonderful Mythic Tarot — has two Knights not one. These are Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri) — known to us as the twin stars in the astronomical constellation Gemini.

The Dioscuri were warrior twins — one mortal and one divine. They spent their days alternating between heaven and earth after Pollux was killed and Castor was stricken with grief.

This is the volatile, unpredictable energy that Mars in Gemini is so well suited for. It requires us to be flexible and adaptable; in fact it embraces constant change.

The Knights in this card appear to be very much in sync. But you can see that there are storm clouds on the horizon. The true test of their allegiance will come when those clouds produce results and threaten to disrupt their world.

This is what you want to be thinking about today when life throws you curveballs. Are you prepared to act quickly and decisively when things don’t go as planned? Or will one minor change in your schedule upset everything and throw you off kilter?

The Knight of Swords encourages you to not only roll with the punches but be open to unanticipated disruptions in your carefully constructed life. These may not only become blessings in disguise, but can also steer you away from pitfalls you might otherwise have not foreseen.

May 11 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 11, 2015 — The Hero

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Hero

Today’s card — from the gorgeous Chrysalis Tarot — is this deck’s version of traditional tarot’s Fool. Here he’s portrayed as a Hero, or more specifically the legendary wizard Merlin.

As the first card in the 78-card tarot deck, this card represents the onset of the Fool’s journey. And yet this version portrays him as a wizened old man — someone whose life experiences have brought him to great pinnacles of awareness.

But this is a card of transformation and change. It’s a reminder of the importance of embracing each new chapter with the idealism and wonder of a child — no matter where you are in your own life’s journey.

Notice that Merlin’s staff is actually a snake — the archetypal symbol of transformation. And his familiar sits at his site, wide-eyed, alert, and embodying the traditional feline mysteries that have been passed down through the ages.

The light creeping over the horizon and twinkling stars above tell you that a new day is dawning. It’s an opportunity — as with every new day — to start fresh.

The Sun sextiles Chiron today, making it possible to conduct yourself with both confidence and humility. There is a gentle, compassionate energy about Chiron that makes progressing toward your goals less about ego and more about experience.

The Hero card encourages you to draw on the wisdom you’ve gained through your life experiences as you embark on each new chapter. You’re given the opportunity to embrace new experiences with the youthful spirit of a child, without losing sight of what you’ve already learned.

May 07 2015

Free Daily Tarotscope — May 7, 2015 — Page of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Page of Cups

Venus enters Cancer today and brings with it an outpouring of emotion that may take you by surprise. Venus in Cancer is sensitive, loving, gentle and kind. It’s also nurturing and very compassionate — and more than willing to express its feelings of love and affection for others.

The Page of Cups refers to a sense of child-like wonder and enthusiasm that prompts you to throw caution to the wind and follow your dreams. It’s an exuberant, unrestrained and joyful energy that stems from the expectation that you’ll succeed, rather than worrying that you might fail.

In this version of the card — from Dana Driscoll’s exquisite Tarot of the Trees — a golden chalice rests at the base of a waterfall, surrounded by a verdant landscape of wildflowers and trees. The water fills up the cup and spills over, just as emotions are likely to spill over today.

The Page of Cups captures this wellspring of emotions with a childlike, youthful exuberance. There is no fear or hesitation. There’s only a willingness to feel and to share those feelings with whatever lucky recipient comes your way.

Pay attention to the messages your receive today — it could be a letter or a phone call, or it could be words of encouragement or appreciation from others. Whatever it is, know that it’s spoken from the heart with no expectations or agendas.

Don’t underestimate the power of your own words either. As the Page of Cups can be unfiltered, you want to make sure that you mean what you say today, and that you’ll mean it still tomorrow.