Monday, May 18, 2026
Waxing Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Whee! We have quite the reading of contrasts this week.
We had a new moon in Taurus on the 16th, so this is the time to plant seeds for things that are long-term and sustainable. Pluto is still retrograde, so what’s hidden is coming up. It’s still the only retrograde, thank goodness, so we can really look at what’s coming up without a lot of noise from other planets. We are working our way toward a second full moon of the same month, a Blue Moon, on the 31st.
This month’s deck is The Forager’s Daughter, with book and art by Jessica Lei Howard. This is an absolutely gorgeous deck, and feels wonderful in my hands. I’m excited to share readings with you from this deck. You can learn more about Jessica’s work 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: Five of Wands
Okay, I much preferred having the Magician in this spot last week. But here we are. The 5 of Wands suggests that the driving energy of the week is conflict around passion and identity. Being stubborn will make it worse. It doesn’t have to be nasty; it can be a lively debate that gets you somewhere. Listen more than you argue this week. You don’t have to capitulate to someone else’s agenda, but you may find places where it makes sense to compromise.
North – Earth/Tangibles: The Empress
The Empress is very much at home in the northern position of tangibles. She reminds us of the beauty and abundance available to us. Look up in the midst of your arguments this week, and find the beauty of what is actually around you physically, not the theoretics in arguments.
East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Five of Cups
Another 5, this time of cups, meaning creative or emotional conflict and grief, and it’s in the position of thought and intellect. You may have to let go of something you believed in (the broken cups). Go ahead and grieve it. Don’t regret it, because it served a purpose. But look at the cups that are still full, in fact, overflowing, and tap into that Empress energy. There’s a good chance your feelings are going to be hurt in an argument this week. Remember that all is not lost. Arguments, debates, discussions, can serve a purpose to widen our views and get us past a point of stuck. Try to separate your emotions from the intellect of the discussion.
South – Fire/Passion/Identity: The High Priestess
The High Priestess reminds us to tap into our identity of old magic this week, and intuition. The line from the Empress through the 5 of Wands to the High Priestess and back up is a strong energy line. This is a week to remember who you are, even when there are conflicts. Listen, adjust, trust your inner knowing, and don’t forget your core integrity.
West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Six of Pentacles
The 6 of Pentacles is a card of nostalgia and generosity. The line from it through the two fives soothes the tumult of those fives, and shows that, emotionally, we can move past them. There is enough for us all to thrive, and, in this time where we’re being looted (literally and metaphorically, here in the US) and betrayed by those who are supposed to guard our interests, it’s important to stand in the Empress, the High Priestess, and the 6 of Pentacles and refuse to give into the scarcity. Call out those hoarding resources to the detriment of the rest of the community. There is enough for all of us when we take care of each other.
We have two Major Arcana cards who build on each other, two fives indicating a lot of conflict, and a six in our house of creativity and emotion to anchor us.
Remember who you are this week, and push back against those who want to take without reciprocity.
Did anything resonate for you, or did you get something different? I’d love to hear from you in the comments?
This is a powerful reading with warnings and wisdom. I can relate it easily to my situation ahead. Thank you.