read for your sun and rising signs xx
a note: this february has a lot going on, within the lens of tropical (western) astrology. it started with a full moon on february 1st; then, the planet uranus is stationing direct in taurus today (the 4th) after being retrograde since last november. mercury and venus move into pisces. saturn enters aries for the first time since the 1960s and there’s no turning back this time. there’s more transit stuff i could get into but tbh, we don’t have the time!!
in chinese astrology, we are entering a Fire Horse year on the 17th. i’ve been seeing a lot of beautiful and thoughtful art about this year. as with most impactful events, i’ve also seen a como se dice… dilution of what this year could mean and the reality of a Fire Horse Year with this astrology of february. it would be irresponsible of me to share these thoughts without cultural and historical context, so here it is.
the element of fire, both present in this Fire Horse year and in Aries being a fire sign, is not meant to be beautiful or easily digestible. it is supposed to burn, scald, hurt. the last time we were in a Fire Horse year, protests were heard around the world. revolutions rose out of the chaos. innocent people died for the greater good. we are already seeing this happen. Jing Gao (@jingtheory on IG) has a great video abt this. she can speak on it better than i can.
anyway, all of this aquarian energy is being co-led by a Uranus Who’s Back On Course and Saturn in Aries (where it doesn’t like to be, astrologically) asks us to analyze the structures and systems in our lives. this planetary shift asks us who these systems serve and why they were designed that way. sometimes, as history has shown us, sometimes it takes brute force and sacrifice for systems to be broken, justice to be served, and for the playing field to be leveled.
aries: knight of swords and 6 of pentacles
sometimes, tarot is very straight forward. these cards invite you to find opportunities for advocacy this february. for giving back. the knight of swords is an active energy, quick to judge and quick to action. the knight of swords trusts their gut. but word to the horse looking back at the knight (in this fire horse year, remember!), you don’t need to move too fast. this is just the first step.
in tarot, the swords suit begins with clarity (the ace) and then two more cards of contemplation and growth (the 2 and 3) before finding peace (the 4). remember that you are advocating, speaking out, being a little rude for the sake of peace. so that the scales become balanced in favor of those who need more support. this knight of swords isn’t selfish, but can and will handle the flames so that everyone can be warmed. you’ve built up enough armor, you know how to protect yourself. now how can you protect others? the 10th House (MC) of aries, the highest point of the chart, your role within our greater community, is in capricorn. a sign that supports and provides for others. by consistently standing up for others, it adds to your self worth, which is important for aries ppl. keep fighting for what’s right. keep seeking to tip the scales.
taurus: 3 of wands and the emperor
okay, taurus. i think your purpose is becoming clearer. the past few months may have forced a lot of reflection, a lot of change and accountability on your part. it is hard to admit sometimes that we are the ones causing our own stagnancy. but in this recognition, comes an opportunity for redirection. for reopening doors and re-establishing boundaries. the 3 of wands supported by the emperor confirms this. in the wands suit, the ace represents the initial spark of a new idea while the next two cards represent the patience and planning required to make that spark a steady flame. february is the point where the fire is beginning to grow because of your disciplined ability to tend to it.
the emperor is represents the point in the fool’s journey where they realize it’s time to get serious. and getting serious is how you get what you want out of life. it is the structures and internal foundations that allow for your dreams to come true. (rephrase) in the Twice Told Tarot deck, the emperor is represented by a skeleton on their throne. the choice of skeleton versus a living emperor can speak to the longevity of the emperor’s energy. what is being built now will stick, so make sure you’re investing in the right avenues. let your boundaries be stretched, expansive like the 3 of wands’ imagery shows us, and you’d be surprised what opportunities come your way.
gemini: 2 of pentacles and the star
gemini placements can handle a lot at once. we don’t always give them credit for how much authority they can bring to a situation. but it’s because it’s typically presented in a lighthearted, sometimes know-it-all way. that’s mercury’s influence. the 2 of pentacles is abt our ability, or sometimes an invitation, to find the joy in being busy. of getting a lot of shit done. of handling the ups and downs of life and knowing that you may look a little silly doing it, but at least it’s getting done. notice how the pentacles have stars and the supporting energy is the star? there is no such thing as coincidence.
the star, in tarot, is associated with aquarius and community. how we relate to our peers, the world, etc. it is remembering that a star by itself is beautiful in its own right, but a star with hundreds and thousands of others creates a beautiful galaxy. but we must still shine in our own right amongst everyone else. gemini, thank you for supporting your environment through gently and skillfully juggling a lot of responsibilities. thank you for teaching the rest of us that a little goes a long way, but that you have to keep going. thank you for being able to find value in oppositions and for keeping us on our toes. continue to use this skill to support others in shining alongside you.
cancer: 8 of swords and 2 of pentacles
**cancer rising specifically, please also read the gemini reading. this is bc gemini, in astrology, is the 12th House (shadow, subconscious self) of cancer. 2 of pentacles showing up as the main energy for gemini but the bottom energy for cancer felt relevant. if the cancer reading feels daunting or out of touch, the gemini reading may provide more clarity.
mars, the planet of drive and energy, is considered “in fall” in the sign of cancer, which is stable and nurturing. meaning, they don’t really get along. i’m saying this, because as rational as cancer can be, they also have a tendency to stay in unsupportive environments because there is a historical attachment to them. while mars in scorpio or aries would leave (maybe too quickly, tbh) mars in cancer will endure because they feel like they have a duty to. sometimes, that is the case, but not always.
the 8 of swords represents the tendency to stay stuck sometimes. to self-victimize and endure for the sake of enduring. the suit of swords is our rational mind and the 8 of swords can speak to when we’re ignoring that for the sake of peace. it’s abt being a little too in our feels (ugh my foot is wet and i can’t see and i’m bound to this sword etc etc etc). don’t count yourself out, cancer. you are always perfectly positioned to overcome what requires overcoming. but it requires you to get crafty sometimes. get your feet on dry land, get your hands free, remove the blindfold, leave and grab a sword on your way out.
leo: 2 of pentacles and the empress
**yeah imagine how i felt seeing the 2 of pentacles show up 3 readings in a row. leo rising specifically, with cancer being your 12th House (look above for the meaning), you can also use the cancer reading for additional clarity. where and how are you keeping yourself stuck? what tools in your arsenal are being under utilized?
the 2 of pentacles is associated with jupiter in capricorn. while jupiter is encompassing, capricorn (saturn) restricts. but that is the beautiful dichotomy of this placement and this card; the beautiful ability to balance differing values and dance with the absurdity of life. to get a life that is truly worth your time and investment (thinking ahead to the 10 of pentacles and the king of pentacles), you must risk looking a little silly. it’s adjacent to the fool, dressed in bright patterned clothing and not sure where they’re going, but they’re going anyway. the 2 of pentacles is also considered a stage card, which is an interesting concept and leads me to ask: leo, is this life that you’re seeking just for show or really for you?
the empress is a call to connect with your ability to create. the life you want is inside you, waiting to be birthed, so to speak. but are you ready to commit to riding the waves of creation or is it just to say Look! I did it! bringing in the 8 of swords from the cancer reading, are you forcing yourself to stay in environments where you’re constantly putting on a show for others? are you sticking to the script because you have to? the empress is also an opportunity for a blank slate. start over and make the story your own. in the Magic Pantry Tarot deck, the empress is represented by vanilla, specifically a vanilla sundae. this choice shows that vanilla, while simple, can be foundational to a flavorful masterpiece. leo, it’s okay to start simple. it’s okay to start small. but start and make sure it’s for real, not for show.
virgo: 5 of cups and 10 of wands
the 5 of cups often shows up when we’ve been stuck in the depression phase of grief. when we’re stuck in our feelings and unable to see the little pockets of joy and light around us. we focus on the cups that spilled, we feel validated by the spillage, the flow of the river, the gray sky, the body language of the figure grieving, and we often don’t notice there are two cups still standing. if the person (in this case, my dear virgo placements) turned around, changed their perspective, moved onto the acceptance phase of grief, they’d see all the 2 of cups opportunities they missed by focusing on the spilled cups. the 5 of cups is symbolized by lemons and lemonade in the Magic Pantry Tarot deck. when life gives you lemons, they say…
virgo and the 6th House (virgo is the 6th zodiac sign), is associated with domestic work. mars, the planet of energy and work, experiences planetary joy in the 6th House. think about how much work and effort it takes to clean your home. think about how satisfying it is to complete all the tasks on your to-do list. virgo, are you avoiding what needs to be done by sitting in your feelings? you are able to work and work hard, represented by the 10 of wands in your reading. while others may feel burdened by responsibilities, virgo shines when given tasks and direction. that is the 10 of wands. the wands (tasks) and heading toward a community (direction). virgo is also the sign of service and humility. use this grief to push yourself toward supportive communities, not toward isolation.
libra: 5 of swords and page of swords
i talk briefly abt stage cards in leo’s reading this month. stage cards can represent parts of life that feel like a performance, but tend to be necessary to move on (to the next act of the play, one could say). the 5 of swords is the uncomfortable and often dramatic exiting of a situation (a drama) in order to find peace (symbolized by the next card being the 6 of swords, mental peace and clarity). libra is ruled by venus, who values communication and collaboration. sometimes, it can be hard for libra placements to recognize who actually values these things too. let february be the month you’re okay with being misunderstood and exit the scene. in the Magic Pantry Tarot deck, the 5 of swords is represented by tomatoes. like boo, tomato tomato tomato. yeah, sometimes you’re going to be the bad guy. sometimes you’re going to get booed. sometimes you’re going to break a connection or two, shown in the Twice Told Tarot deck.
but in this leaving, you’ll learn more about yourself and your ability to stay rational in the midst of conflict. cool as a cucumber, which speaks to the page of swords being represented by cucumbers in the Magic Pantry Tarot deck. the page of swords is on their journey to becoming the king of swords; a journey that requires observing life from a detached perspective, as seen by the page standing on a hilltop, head in the clouds. stay curious abt your environment, libra. the ones you’re in currently and the ones you’ve had to leave, briefly or permanently. what did you learn abt yourself? how can you use this knowledge to inform your future relationships and environments?
scorpio: the sun and king of pentacles
in astrology, the 10th House (also called the MC) represents our role within our greater community. how the world sees us and how we’re meant to be seen by the world, regardless of who we actually are (the 4th House/IC). it can be an uncomfortable point of the birth chart, because it’s the highest point. most visible. most seen. scorpio has leo in its 10th House. the sun is associated with leo. we just had a leo full moon. so scorpio, how do you feel abt being seen? look at the child on the sun card: free, open, in the spotlight, so to speak. i know scorpios are good at holdings things down, moving in silence, etc etc. however, this doesn’t always have to be your mode of operations. we know life has not always been kind to scorpios, but look at how you have now, compared to all the hurt you’ve experienced.
the sun represents abundance. the rays from the sun extending to every corner of our sky, the warmth we feel on a sunny day. have you ever seen a field of sunflowers? think abt all the sunflower seeds on every flower? the king of pentacles is also associated with abundance, but on a tangible level. pentacles represents what we value, our resources. despite all the sad and strange parts of life, you lived. you learned. you kept it pushing. but now what? life is too short to abandon yourself. life isn’t abt earning your joy, but scorpio, i think you have earned it. if it makes you feel better, share this light by investing in your community alongside yourself. scorpio is a sign associated with other people’s resources, so perhaps that’s an opportunity to share and give to others, to add to other people’s “survival kits” because you’ve got a good handle on yours. the king of pentacles is a provider. he has enough and knows there is plenty to share. don’t hold back, scorpios.
sagittarius: the fool and 5 of cups
i think a lot of the sagittarius stereotype (non-committal, adventurous, philosophical, etc.) is actually rooted in grief. sometimes, the only thing you can do is leave, start over, go to another country (lol). the fool represents this feeling well. in tarot, the world is the last card before the fool comes back into the story. the world is an ending – happy, sad, neutral, but it is The End. and all you can do when things end is take what little you have, maybe all you have left at the end of your Journey with The World, and move on. so this month, sagittarius, if you feel swept up by the grief (aka an extreme urge to escape lol), the 5 of cups asks you to look at what you do have, instead of focusing on what you don’t. not by leaving, but by changing your perspective.
something that is so key to understanding the 5 of cups, in regards to grief, is that the figure could just turn around and celebrate the cups still standing instead of fixating on the cups that are spilled. it doesn’t take leaving the scene to make this change, just again, a new perspective and way of operating. when the fool shows up, it isn’t always a pack your bag and leave type of advice, but sometimes a New Lease of Life. a new approach to life. not taking grief so seriously, not taking yourself so seriously, not taking philosophy so seriously. the fool is a fool because they are inexperienced, not because they’re actually a fool. so let yourself be foolish and let yourself be free. let grief push you forward, not keep you stuck in the past.
capricorn: 4 of cups and the emperor
in the Twice Told Tarot deck, the 4 of cups is represented as a hermit-adjacent figure content with the cups they have, compared to the RWS image of a figure, arms crossed and unimpressed with the cups before them. this february can be seen as a month of disengagement, which is valid considering your 7 of wands january. but, leaning into the imagery of the Twice Told deck, perhaps you’ve realized you have all you need for now. the dust of january has settled and now it’s time to count your blessings. notice the figures are both seated, comfortable where they are, comfortable with the authority they have in their environment. there is a gentle defensiveness to them. they have all they need and will protect those resources. there is a lot of strength in staying put. you learn a lot abt yourself by not doing anything at all (especially when it’s capricorns baseline to do something lol)
both the 4 of cups figure and the emperor are isolated from others. they’re alone in their cards, but the environment suggests community is available to them. while it’s fine to take some time to yourself this month, don’t get so proud of your solitude that you forget abt the world around you. don’t let february pass you by without establishing structure and discipline into your solitude. don’t let february pass you by without remembering who and what you are protecting. both cards being 4 cards emphasizes this, as 4 in numerology correlates with safety, peace, stability, and the zodiac sign, cancer (your sister sign, mind you…)
aquarius: the devil and ace of swords
happy aquarius season, fellow aquarians. if you didn’t know, the devil (in tarot) is the shadow version of the lovers. take a look at both cards to see their parallels. while the lovers is abt finding mental and environmental alignment, the devil is abt finding that alignment in the shadows. coming to terms with the imperfections of people, including yourself. which is hard for aquarians sometimes. but the devil reminds you there is power in knowing all parts of yourself, light and dark. acknowledging the dark, instead of shaming it or using it to hurt others, brings you closer to other people who aren’t afraid of the dark, so to speak. notice we aren’t alone with the devil in this card, and you’re not alone with your demons, either.
in tarot, the devil is ruled by saturn and capricorn. aquarius is co-ruled by saturn, in astrology. so while i see the capricorn elements of this card, the aquarius shines through its connection to another human. aquarius has faith in the utopia of humanity, but often gets disappointed by individual people. the devil is a reminder that the disappointment is what makes us human. let february be the month you are more open to accepting the unpleasant parts of human connection. and recognize when you, yourself dear aquarian, are also a disappointing human. womp womp. it’s true. this is where the ace of swords comes in, though. this card is a beacon of truth. a sharp, uncomfortable truth that allows us to see our world more clearly. the hand is breaking through the dark clouds of confusion to bring us a new, radical belief in our abilities.
pisces: 7 of pentacles and the chariot
the first thing i notice is that you have two 7s. the chariot is the 7th major arcana card. 7s are associated with libra; our relationship to others, our environment, seeking wisdom from external sources, instability leading to good fortune. we can see this in the 7 of pentacles with the farmer staring at his crop, at the pentacles, and hoping for something to change. we can see this in the chariot, who has to balance both the light and dark in order to keep moving forward. we know that 7 is a number that cannot be evenly split in western mathematics, but its imbalance brings us luck (777 is a casino win). this february might be a month of waiting. waiting that feels like stagnation. feels, being the operative word.
while we can commend the farmer in the 7 of pents for their patience, we have to wonder what else they could be working on and investing in while their crops grow. that’s the chariot supporting you. when i see the chariot, i hear the phrase, Keep It Pushing. keep it pushing no matter how tired you are of waiting, even if it doesn’t seem like things are moving along, they are. pentacles are tangible and real, if you give them time to grow. think of your life like a garden. all you can do is plant seeds and tend to them, but the real growth happens underground and out of our control. you can control yourself, your drive, your spirit, your path forward, but you must move and trust that your efforts have already paid off.
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 welcomehomewrld@gmail.com or DM me on instagram @ welcomehome.world.
Welcome Home World 
Leave a comment