Welcome to Tough Love Tarot, the monthly column where we use Tarot readings to whip our sub-conscious into shape. If you’re expecting fairy dust and blind reassurance that everything is going to be blissful –– with little to no effort from you –– we suggest you leave the column now.
If you’re anything like me, words of affirmation hit hard… but words of application hit harder. Nurturance is foundational to growth, and so is challenge. I’m only calling you out because I want the best for you, love.
Tarot is not what you think. Tarot is what you don’t think.
Contrary to popular myth, I am not here to predict your future. The way we’ll use Tarot here is as a tool to explore the mysteries of our subconscious minds, in order to make more conscious decisions regarding our future. I have no clue what’s going on in your lives –– I just interpret the cards. Therefore, use me like a funhouse mirror. Your interpretation of my interpretation reveals what’s truly on your mind.
This month’s theme is illumination: providing clarity & insight on what was once unclear, particularly around long-term life goals, by stripping us down to our truth. Are you ready to confront what has been standing in the way of your long-term success? (Hint: it’s you.)
Remember to check your Sun, Moon & Rising signs. An alternative way to read is to ignore the astrological signs altogether and intuitively pick a card that speaks to you!
Rules of the column:
- Take what resonates and leave what doesn’t –– a healthy dose of discernment and common sense pair well with any advice offered.
- Don’t complain ah. There are no inherently “bad” cards in Tarot; each card has a light and shadow aspect. All cards are shuffled and pulled at random, I let fate decide your fate.
- Have fun or else. The hack to a happy life is to take being unserious very seriously.
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) – Queen of Pentacles
Look at this queen b*tch. Perched on her throne, minding her own damn business, coddling her pentacle like a fat baby. The Queen of Pentacles is a card of self-care and independence. Being a leader comes naturally to you, but the advice of this Queen is to avoid relying on external validation to decide your worth. Who comes to tend to the garden and who comes to take the fruit? This month, perhaps it’s good SOP to keep your fruits to yourself. Not because they’re not juicy, but because they’re so juicy that you should be the primary beneficiary before anyone else. Water what waters you, Aries. That is to say, no one worships you more than you do.
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)– Ace of Swords
In Tarot, no card screams “CLARITY” more than the Ace of Swords. If you have a habit of getting stuck in analysis paralysis, that’s valuable mental energy you’re squandering. (Unless you secretly get a kick out of being stressed out, then who am I to ruin a good time?) Instead of spiralling into hypothetical scenarios and solving imaginary problems, how about focusing on the task at hand? The suit of swords represents air energy of the intellect, while the Aces symbolise new beginnings –– in this case, a fresh idea. One that you’re ready to put into action. Wisdom often comes in simplicity, Taurus. One big sword wields more power than ten tiny pricks.
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)– Knight of Swords
Whoa, sloooow your horses there, Gemini! Take a breather and grab a snack, ffs. The Knight of Swords symbolises when air energy of the intellect is fuelled by fire energy of the spirit. What’s been fanning your flames? You might be feeling impulsive or eager to take action on something this month –– but it might be wiser to patiently kindle the spark instead. Although witty and charming, this Knight is known to also be flaky. This is because his mouth moves before his brain does. Be wary of signing on to projects or people before you’ve diligently read through all the T&Cs. Maybe sleep on it for a week, or three. Any commitment on paper should be preceded by a commitment of the heart. And you change your mind like this Knight changes horseshoes.
Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)– Queen of Cups
Have you been letting your gushy wushy heart make your decisions for you, Cancer? The Queen of Cups is the most watery card in the deck. While this makes her a compassionate and nurturing figure, she can also be overly sensitive to her feelings and the feelings of those around her. Your heart needs to be on board for everything you commit to –– but be wary of prioritising others’ needs above your own. Empathy is foundational in pursuing your purpose, but self-abandonment sinks the ship. You’re nobody’s emotional receptacle unless you allow it. Take on too much water and soon, the tides will rise around you. The silver lining? Your throne will still look real pretty at the bottom of the ocean.
Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)– Ten of Swords
Ouchies. Something needs to end and you know it. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting a different result. The Ten of Swords symbolises an overkill of air energy of the intellect. But it also represents relief –– much-needed closure to a situation that’s been mentally draining, painful or stressful. This could be a project, a relationship, a mindset or a habit that’s way past its expiration date. Look at this loser, pinned to the ground like he’s been used as target practice. (Are you a low-key masoch*st?) Fret not, Leo, for there’s nowhere to go but back to sword one from here. Even if you must exhaust yourself to the point of such dissatisfaction to finally make a change.
Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 23)– Page of Pentacles
Feeling stagnant yet, Virgo? Because it’s time for an upgrade. We all know the five C’s but let me introduce you to the sixth: Change! The Page of Pentacles is a card of education and new experiences, particularly in the realm of the material. The Pages in Tarot have no set destination quite yet, but that’s precisely why they’re so open to learning. The growth you’re seeking lies outside your comfort zone, and expansion requires you to loosen your grip on structure and control. (Deep breaths…) Your insatiable appetite for high achievement might just be what’s starving you –– quit the harsh self-criticism and leave that to me instead. Every master was first a student. Who knows? You might find enjoyment in being sh*tty at things once in a while. Only one way to find out… start sucking.
Libra (Sep 24 – Oct 23)– The Moon
Why so mysterious, Libra? Perhaps you’re feeling confuzzled or apprehensive regarding a situation in your life. As a symbol of illusion, intuition and the unknown, The Moon is a reminder that much like nature, some things are beyond our comprehension. Like why wolves howl at the moon. They just do. Or maybe they’re asking for the light to be switched on because they’re afraid of the dark. (Is this you?) The moon lights the night sky just enough for us to see our next steps. You don’t need to know everything before taking action on what’s right in front of you –– even if you might’ve made yourself comfy in limbo. Perhaps the clarity you need in this case is to simply let go of the need for clarity. Use the darkness to hone your intuitive instincts, so you can learn to trust your own decisions instead. Speaking of which, when was the last time you made one of those?
Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)– The Magician
Someone’s got some tricks up their sleeve… but be mindful about not overselling yourself until you can walk the walk, Scorpio. Devotion to a cohesive vision is more valuable than 50 shades of half-ass. While The Magician symbolises the mastery of all your resources (emotional, intellectual, material etc.), it is also a card of trickery and illusion. Think “fake it til you make it” but dialled up to 11. Have you been focusing too much on needing to show results instead of on the work itself? Consider what you want your impact on the world to be, not just how you wish to be perceived by others. Trust goes a long way with your audience, and trust takes time to be earned. When the curtains close, the one person you can’t trick is yourself.
Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)– Ten of Cups
Aww, has someone decided to let their heart out of its cage? Perhaps you’ve started thinking about what success in life means to you beyond the material? The Ten of Cups symbolises water energy of the emotions and depicts emotional fulfilment at the deepest level. You’re ready to prioritise your own emotional health and wealth, especially now that you’ve discovered it’s the key to anything being sustainable. While you might still be learning how to be emotionally engaged, your heart finally has a seat at the table… and boy, does it have a lot to say. For the sake of practicality (read: emotional avoidance), you’ve kept your heart separate from your decision making process in the past… maybe that’s why it’s now so thirsty to be used.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)– Three of Pentacles
Ah, the dichotomy of going fast alone or going far together. Asking for help is not your strong suit. That is to say, it’s on the bottom of your to-do list (right under expressing your feelings). While some tasks are best taken on independently, the Three of Pentacles advises you to ease up on the “lone wolf” mentality and discern where you can benefit from collaboration with others. The size of your ambitions are inspiring at best, but can be a crippling weight on your shoulders when met with poor management. Symbolising mentorship and compromise, this card reminds you that delegating the workload frees you up to do your best work –– not the most work. Give people some credit, Cappy, no man is an island… Even Batman had his emotional support sidekicks.
Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 18)– Two of Wands
Choices, choices, choices. The Two of Wands symbolises being at a crossroads; of the old and new, of the familiar and unknown. Something has to be left behind in order to pursue your future, but you’re hesitant to pull the trigger out of fear. Maybe you’re afraid of rejection, maybe you’re afraid to look like the asshole. Either way, fire energy in the suit of wands dwindles in power when your focus is split. With only one wand in his hand and the world in his other, the traveler has the foresight to know which path will reap the most reward. But it will require sacrifice, Aqua. Perhaps you just need to agonise over the decision a little longer to pluck up the courage… Make a pros & cons list, if you must. But in your heart, you already know what you want.
Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)– The High Priestess
Have you been gaslighting yourself that your ideas have no real world potential? The High Priestess is the most intuitive card in Tarot. She represents intuition, itself. The challenge is, she doesn’t always have the workings to prove how she solved the equation. This card encourages you to trust your intuitive and imaginative nature, even if it defies what is logical or conventional. However, it’s also urging you to put a practical plan behind your efforts. Ideas alone rarely make an impact without proper execution, and procrastination is just your fear of failure stalling for time. If follow-through is not your strong suit, team up with someone who complements your strengths (read: picks up your slack). I’m rooting for you, Pisces. This world needs dreamers who do.
April Lexi Lee is like if your local Dominatrix was a Tarot reader. Beyond this column, she is a writer & artist specialising in all things unconventional & taboo. With her motto “Autopilot Disengaged”, she empowers others to embrace their authentic self-expression and to follow their inner compass –– even if it takes them off the map of societal norms. You can contact her for personalised and detailed readings at Tough Love Tarot or on her Instagram @psychottie.
