Monday, March 2, 2026
Almost Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse
Jupiter & Mercury Retrograde
Welcome to a new week and a new month!
I worked hard to keep the Queen of Hearts present in my interactions last month.
This week, we have a full moon/lunar eclipse today/tomorrow. Mercury went retrograde last week, and will remain so until the Spring Equinox. We have to put extra thought and care into communications, and build extra time into any travel. Jupiter is still retrograde until next week.
A new month means a new deck. This deck was a Winter Solstice gift, and, as a writer, I’m enjoying working with it. This month’s deck is the Mystic Storyteller, book and tarot by Amanda Hughes, art by Roz Kazaz. You can read more about the artists by clicking their names, and buy the deck here.
This is one of my spreads, that I call The Elemental Spread. It is very similar to many of the Medicine Wheel spreads I’ve seen, but I made a few tweaks to the way I use it over the years.
We start in the center, with Spirit/Self. This is the overall energy of the week, and how we relate to it.
We move to the position above, with is North/Tangibles, connected to the element of Earth, advice on how to deal with the week on a tangible, materialistic level.
We move clockwise to the third position, East/Thought, connected to the element of Air, advice on how to intellectually deal with the week.
Then we move down to the bottom of the spread, the 4th position, South/Passion, connected to the element of Fire, advice on how to deal with the week from a place of passion and identity.
Then we move up to the left side of the spread, the 5th position, West/Emotion, connected to the element of Water, advice on how to deal with the week from a place of creativity and emotion.
We wind up where we started, at the spirit center, integrating all the information for the week.
These interpretations are mine, based on my experience, intuition and responses to the artwork.
You may have a different experience. This is an overview of the week as it stands now; every decision we make from the moment of the reading can change the outcome. If there’s something in the reading that worries you, you have the information ahead of time so that you can plan, make better choices, or handle it differently than predicted for a better outcome. Tarot sets out possibilities, which you change through your choices and actions.
Center – Spirit/Self: Two of Wands
The 2 of Wands is about making a plan. We are in retrogrades that impede travel and communication and electronics (Mercury) and expansion (Jupiter). We have begun the year of the Fire Horse, and several planets have moved into Aries, so we’re feeling that impatience. But the retrogrades, and this central card tell us to plan first. You can achieve what you desire when you make a solid plan, and make a plan flexible enough to handle change. I love the colors and the flowers and the sense of proportion in the card.
North – Earth/Tangibles: Nine of Swords
The 9 of Swords is a card of anxiety. I do love that swords in this deck are depicted by fountain pens dripping ink. In my personal tangibles, I do have multiple things causing anxiety right now. For me, when the 9 of Swords comes up, it reminds me that a lot of the anxiety is self-imposed. I mean, with the dumpster fire chaos going on, there’s a lot to be anxious about in tangible ways, but this card reminds me that dealing is better than not dealing. See those two figures at the bottom of the blanket? Yes, there’s a fight to be had, but getting it over with is a better choice than hoping it will go away on its own.
East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Ace of Swords
How much do I love this card, in its home position? Ace of Swords, the card of intellect, in the position of intellect! I also really love the art of it. The Ace of Swords is about new ideas. However, since we are in retrogrades of Mercury and Jupiter, this is not the week to begin a new project. It is, however, a week to PLAN for a new project (tied to the 2 of Wands). Making the plan and using your brain will alleviate some of the 9 of Swords anxiety. There are new intellectual opportunities this week. Think about them, rather than just jumping into them and agreeing.
South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Eight of Wands
The 8 of Wands is about things happening fast. In this depiction, the wands all point in the same direction, so it’s about unified movement, rather than scattered. And it’s tied to your sense of self, and to the 2, the need to make a plan. This plan, the thought you’re putting in (the Ace of Swords), will allow you to move quickly once the obstacles of the retrogrades lift. This card in this position, tied to the other cards in the spread, is about preparation, so that you can move swiftly with confidence. Jupiter goes direct next week, so some of that movement can begin, but be careful until Mercury is also direct.
West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Knight of Swords
Knights are about movement, and taking something out into the world. The Knight of Swords has grit and determination, and the ability to turn on a dime, due to a quick wit. This is in the position of creativity. Once you make a plan, deal with your anxiety, create your new ideas, and things start moving, you can ride that flow. Just be ready to change quickly, and don’t let the 9 of Swords impede you. A knight of intellect holding a fountain pen as he charges off is a great card in this position for a writer, in my opinion. Just don’t launch before you’ve made a plan!
This reading is all swords and wands, so it’s about thought and identity. There’s a single court card. There are no Major Arcana cards. This reading is about the daily details. It’s about preparation, so that when the planets turn direct, you’re in a position to take action. Don’t sabotage yourself with the 9 of Swords.
On the Spring Equinox, when all the planets go direct, we will have about six weeks of no retrogrades, and a chance to get a lot done before various factors start bogging us down again.
Use this week to plan, so that you’re ready.
Did anything resonate with you, or did you have a different interpretation? I’m always happy to hear from you.