rabbit rabbit, etc.
a note: you’ll see an additional card for each reading. this is the bottom of the deck energy, which i typically use to support the top card. that being said, read for your sun and rising signs xx
ARIES: queen of cups + queen of wands
now that you’ve got a solid foundation, especially emphasized by your past few months being pentacles/earth related, this new calendar year is asking you to raise your emotional and spiritual awareness. this can be returning to a spiritual or religious practice, tending to your relationships with more gentleness, journaling and meditating, etc.
in the cups court cards (page, knight, queen, king), all of the cups are open vessels, with the exception of the queen. hers is more of a chalice. in this watery renewal of the new year, the queen reminds you to maintain some boundaries. you can be a tenderhearted person without being too vulnerable.
the queen of wands as your supportive energy speaks directly to aries’ inner fire. your love and support are genuine, fueled by pure optimism and faith that life is worth living. “salt of the earth,” is a phrase that comes to mind. this is emphasized by the queen wearing humble shoes and getting her hands dirty in the Twice Told Tarot deck. listen, your attempts may not always be perfect, but they are necessary to gain a deeper emotional understanding with yourself, leading to more genuine connections with others.
TAURUS: death + 8 of swords
“mahashmashana” is the word for january, taureans. mahashmashana is a sanskrit word meaning, “great cremation ground”. i learned this word from the taurus stellium himself, Father John Misty, who chose this word as the title of his most recent album. death, great cremation ground, etc. see where i’m going with things?
last month, you had the 5 of pentacles: a call to release ego, accept help, and re-evaluate where you’re putting your efforts/investments. january is the final nail in the coffin, so to speak. it’s time to let go of certain habits, ways of existing, mindsets finally die away. as emphasized by the 8 of swords, taurus, you are not a victim of your circumstances, you’re actually in the driver’s seat. the only one stopping you from being your best self is you. you cannot stop the trajectory of death, because it is always a sign of new life fighting for its right to exist. fighting for light to break through the darkness.
notice the sun in the distance on the death card. notice the little children who look at death’s white horse with curiosity instead of fear. this card invites you to apply a childlike approach to this change. especially knowing how difficult change can be for a taurus placement. you’ve never been this You before, so give yourself some grace while the process happens.
GEMINI: ace of swords + 3 of pentacles
geminis, did last month’s queen of swords inspire you to bring people together? to start something new? the ace of swords is an invitation to gain clarity towards your role in your environment. raising awareness.
in the spirit of the queen of swords, you’re being asked to use this clarity to collaborate with and uplift others. january presents opportunities to see the value in working with others. life isn’t about triumph over others, it’s a lifelong dedication to building rational and meaningful connections.
gemini is ruled by air (the swords suit, in tarot) and mercury (communication, mental fortitude). the combination of these energies is also a reminder that the more you work with others, the more language, processing skills, stories, understanding you gain. more tools to add to your already impressive arsenal. by seeking strong, critical relationships and opportunities, you also gain more courage to stand up for yourself & others, share more truths – comfortable or uncomfortable, and make more critical decisions based on new information learned. all of this is Raising Awareness. there is always more knowledge to be had, gemini.
CANCER: queen of wands + page of swords
cancers, what are you passionate about? have you explored your creative side lately? the side of you that is fearless, capable of taking up space in your environment, not afraid to ruffle some feathers? are you okay with “No”? and is “No” a complete sentence in your vocabulary? the queen of wands is an invitation to realign yourself with your passions and your joy.
the queen of wands energy can maintain their vitality and spark for life through boundaries. that’s where No comes in. this is also emphasized by her wand and black cat. these things are also reminiscent of Magick, symbolizing the queen’s ability to create the life she wants by shielding/warding off unwanted energies. the crab, your zodiac’s symbol, is a perfect example of this. hard shell and sharp pincers to keep away the bullshit. you can meet resistance with a bit of force.
cancers, don’t forget about the king of swords energy from a few months ago. your ability to be rational and clear-minded is still needed, especially when engaging in a braver, bolder version of yourself. not every feel good decision is a good decision, but you already knew that.
LEO: king of wands + 7 of wands
it’s so fascinating that the wands suits is represented by a salamander. they are weird little creatures with so much history, but not what we’d think of when we think of the fiery element of the wands suit. however, they’re a great representation. let’s break it down.
salamanders are capable of regenerating lost limbs and other body parts like their hearts, jaws, and parts of the spinal cords. the most amazing part is that they regenerate without any scarring. salamanders were also thought to come from fire because they liked to hang out in rotting firewood. interesting, right? well, the king of wands is a call to remember the flames that you went through and the strength it took to regenerate your livelihood without scars, resentment, or hate. the king, knowing what they’ve been through, is still warm and generous, but also knows not to be trifled with (see the clenched fist at the king’s side?).
the 7 of wands supporting the king of wands here is a reminder to stand up for yourself and others, even when that puts you through another trial or conflict. remember: you’ve been through tougher and you’ve still come out (mostly) unscathed.
VIRGO: 7 of wands + king of pentacles
january is an invitation to block out the noise and stand up for what is right. when you are truly focused on your passions, finding that balance between independence and collaboration, you’re bound to piss some people off. the 7 of wands and the 5 of wands are similar, except the 5 of wands shows everyone on the same playing field and the 7 shows one person rising above the conflict below. you’ve got a different, maybe opposing perspective than the rest of the crowd and now you’ve got to make sure your voice is heard.
remember december’s 2 of cups? it isn’t lost in this battle. use this energy to discern which battles are actually worth fighting. the wands are uneven below you because some need your attention more than others. regardless of how this metaphorical battle ends, the right battles should bring you closer to the other person (when done correctly). how? because now you know what the other person stands for.
to quote Bela Fleck’s “Sojourn of Arjuna”: We may select the battleground, but we cannot avoid the battle.
the king of pentacles as your supportive energy is another reminder that your efforts should be focused toward long-term stability. that’s why choosing your battles is so important. if you’re putting all of your energy toward conflict with no peaceful resolution at the end, you don’t have energy to sow compatible seeds for your life’s garden.
LIBRA: queen of swords + knight of pentacles
pop astrology underestimates libra’s ability to be discerning. i think the discernment is shown through beauty or fashion, aka having good taste. but i want libras to remember that their sign also rules judges, courts, the law, and Truth. clear judgement. this is where the queen of swords comes in. the queen knows not everyone can handle the truth, which is why she faces us (or rather, presents herself to us) with a raised sword first. once we’ve proven she doesn’t need to use the sword, she presents an open, gentle hand.
notice the stillness in these cards. january invites moments to pause and reflect. to take stock of this past year. to determine what you want out of this year. the queen of swords energy also recognizes life’s cycles and makes decisions accordingly. when she shows up, it can be a time to check in with your personal cycles. where are you now? if things feel slow moving right now, lean into that slowness.
the knight of pentacles asks, When you stop and look around, what do you notice is missing? what do you need more of? learn new skills, learn more about yourself and how this self relates to others, continue to determine and gently challenge your sense of truth.
SCORPIO: 4 of cups + 6 of pentacles
there’s a fine line between contentment and apathy, scorpio. what side of the line are you on? regardless, january feels meditative. less engaging. after an emotionally fulfilling 3 of cups december, you may be feeling a less-than-sexy comedown. you got what you wanted, even the less beautiful parts, but now what? again scorpio, are you content or bored?
don’t let getting what you want slow you down by disconnecting you from the passionate parts of yourself. you are a mars-ruled water sign, to not care or feel things deeply is not what where your energy thrives. notice the cup floating in the card? this is reminiscent of the ace of cups. deep spiritual renewal, new opportunities to strengthen your intuition and connection to your environment.
so that being said, if you find yourself on the apathetic side of things (even after getting what you want), then how can you give back to your people? your relationships? your home and environment? if you are eating, how can you leverage this privilege to make sure everybody can eat, too? the 6 of pentacles is a gentle reminder that this goodwill is to be shared, not kept to oneself.
SAGITTARIUS: 3 of cups + 9 of wands
i love that the 3 of cups scene takes place in a garden. it takes a lot of water, strategically utilized, to produce a bountiful harvest. it also takes collaboration, hard work, and faith in your crop. and i know sagittarians know a little something about faith. after a queen of pentacles december, a month of figuring out your priorities, it feels like you’re stepping out into your metaphorical garden to celebrate your newfound sense of purpose.
not only are you celebrating, you are also gaining support in your new endeavors. you’re honoring the harvest ahead. you’re acknowledging the determination your new life trajectory brings. you’re letting this moment exist without looking for the Next Big Thing.
it may seem daunting to embark on this journey, but the 9 of wands says this: You’ve overcome other trials, even if you came out beaten and bruised, your determination won overall. as we enter this Year of the Fire Horse in Chinese zodiac, remember your sign is also symbolized by a horse running free. you have to keep moving forward, even when you get burned.
CAPRICORN: 7 of wands + 6 of pentacles
now that you’ve found a sense of community in last month’s 4 of wands, the 7 of wands asks if you’re ready to defend them. i fear pop astrology forgets how protective capricorns can be. people underestimate how scrappy capricorns can get, too. notice the figure has mismatched shoes and is still 10 toes on the ground, still standing firm. january may put you to the test, capricorns.
are you prepared for the push and pull of standing your ground? saying your piece even if it causes conflict? in the Magic Pantry Tarot deck, the 7 of wands is represented by ginger. the sharp spice that is needed to soothe overly acidic stomach/GI ailments. sometimes, life requires bold, imperfectly shaped efforts in order to cut through discomfort.
back to the protector energy of capricorns. this need to protect isn’t always personal, even though it may feel personal. but rather, capricorns have likely experienced their fair share of hardship or inequity, which fuels their drive to make sure others don’t experience these things, either. so capricorns, like i said to virgos, choose your battles wisely. use your wisdom, advantage, and drive to protect and uplift others.
AQUARIUS: ace of wands + the hanged man
a fresh start for the beginning of this new calendar year. it can be difficult for aquarians to lean into this wands energy – fire is hot and impulsive. air is cool and analytical. but january asks you, aquarians: what lights your fire?
notice the green buds sprouting from the wand, representing new ideas sprouting. but also notice some of those leaves are falling, disconnected from the wand: not every idea is a sustainable one. but remember, the next two wands cards are ones of planning and getting a clearer vision of your future. january is a month to get excited, but not necessarily a month of action.
winter isn’t always the best time to debut a new venture, but it’s a great time to sit and contemplate. what about your current situation must be accepted in order to move on? the hanged man asks if you’re ready to be patient and uncomfortable while your brightest ideas take their time to come to fruition.
PISCES: 10 of wands + 3 of pentacles
i find it interesting that pisceans have had three consecutive readings in which the figures faces are impaired or distorted. this lack of facial language forces us to read the body language and environment surrounding the figures. the 10 of wands can be a tough card to read because we’re not able to see if the person is burdened by the wands or just reasonably exhausted by living a full life. regardless, pisceans, january is an invitation to unburden yourself. or at least learn some delegation skills.
maybe you don’t notice how tired you are or how much you’re carrying, but your loved ones do. let them help you. ask them to take on some of your load, notice how they get the job done, and learn from them. you could find a new way of operating that is actually more efficient and healthier. this is the 3 of pentacles supporting the 10 of wands. you could also take a few notes from your sister sign, virgo. they are the ones taking in tangible feedback from their environments and discerning what actually makes sense within their personal systems and structures.
pisces, not everything you learn will immediately make sense to you. that is okay, you should still learn. by learning to let go of some of your wands, you invite more space and energy for opportunities that are more aligned with your purpose. don’t let your passions be a barrier between you and your community.
thank you for taking the time to read this month’s tarotscope. if it resonated with you and you’d like a personal reading, you can email me at welcomehomeincorporated@gmail.com or DM me on instagram @ welcomehome.world.
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