Monday, Sept. 1, 2025
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Neptune, Saturn, Chiron Retrograde
Welcome to a new month! We’ve got that lovely Virgo energy supporting us in getting things done, in spite of all the retrogrades.
Uranus joins the retrograde parade on Sat. the 6th this week, making us question our individuality and where we fit in the collective. On Sunday the 7th, there is the full Harvest Moon, along with a lunar eclipse.
Last week’s reading was so incredibly relevant in my life that I had to laugh. But at least I had information with which to navigate the week, which helped.
Being a new month, we are also using a new deck. This month, we’re using the Tarot of the Owls Mini Deck by Pamela Chen, with art by Elisabeth Alba. You can learn more about Pamela Chen’s work here, about Elisabeth’s work here, and the deck is available from Llewellyn. This deck was a gift (back in March, for my birthday), and I’m excited to spend the month with it.
If you’re new to the weekly readings, this is a spread of mine. It’s read from left to right, 5 cards. Any card that needs more interpretation can be built into further, above and below, with either more tarot cards, another tarot deck, or an oracle deck.
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.
Left to right, the positions are as follows:
1. The Collective Energy of the Week
2. The Week’s Challenge
3. The Week’s Opportunity
4. The Week’s Stretch
5. The Week’s Comfort
The Collective Energy of the Week – Hanged Man
The Hanged Man is about looking at things from a different perspective, as our owl does, upside down. It’s also about not rushing into anything. Take your time in looking at the different angles. Don’t be pushed into anything. I love that this is the very first card of our September readings, with the autumn foliage.
The Week’s Challenge – Two of Pentacles
The Two of Pentacles is about keeping things in balance and in flow. The owl stands, one foot partially raised, as though about to take flight. The two pentacles are above him, evenly spaced, and within the infinity symbol, indicating a need to keep things in balance and in flow. This is in the challenge position, so there may be pressure to focus on something to the exclusion of everything else. Remember that you can have periods of intense focus, then step back, catch your breath, and keep everything else that needs attention in flow and in perspective. Since this is the suit of pentacles, it’s also about tangibles. I find the 2 of Pentacles often warns me to keep the tangible and the intangible balanced, and not tip too far into one or the other.
The Week’s Opportunity – Nine of Pentacles
The 9 of Pentacles is about achieving abundance, security, and pleasure on the physical plane. You have plenty. It is yours, it is secure, it is not a negotiation. You can take a breath and enjoy it. Look for that this week, as part of looking at things from different angles, and keeping your life in balance.
The Week’s Stretch – Judgement
In this position, the card builds on the three cards prior to it. Look at things from a different angle, keep them in balance, take a breath to enjoy what you’ve achieved, and use your own good judgement this week. Judgement is close to the end of a Major Arcana cycle. Tie up loose ends. Don’t leave things unfinished. The are doors that need closing, chapters that are done in our lives this week. The previous cards indicate that things are ending on a positive note. The owl in the picture is blowing a horn at the other, smaller owls below to shake them up a bit, and make sure they are alert.
The Week’s Comfort – The Fool
This makes sense, coming after the Judgement card. The Fool is about new opportunities, and taking a chance. The comfort is knowing that the closing chapters of the previous card make room for something new and wonderful. Whatever is ending, it’s time to let go, and step off the branch into something new.
Did anything in particular resonate with you? Or did you find something different? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.