Cerridwen – Cerridwen’s Cottage

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of April 20, 2026

Monday, April 20, 2026
Waxing Moon

Here we are, racing through April. With all this Aries energy, it makes sense.

I’ve also seen a lot of bullying going around online to the effect of “if you blow this opportunity, it’ll never come around again, and you’ll blow it if you don’t buy/download my guide.”

No.

We all have our own rhythms. Part of working with tarot and astrology is learning to work with energies, rather than in conflict with them. It’s trial, error, adjustment, trying again, and learning. It’s not about someone else making the decisions for you and telling you what you experience. You live in your own skin.

Yes, people should be paid for their work, skills, talents, time. But your life will not be destroyed if you don’t buy someone’s something this very second.

Planets are always in motion. People are always in motion (our very blood flow is part of that). There will always be some sort of energy we can work with, or choose not to work with, at a particular time. There are always consequences, but that doesn’t mean they are bad, or that there can’t be a course correction further down the line. Don’t get bullied into shelling out money because the planets are doing something unusual. Enjoy the planets and the energies, and each of us will integrate those energies differently. Celebrate these unique patterns instead of meeting them with the fear of “getting it wrong.” We have personal, societal, and global upheavals to deal with. Don’t let someone bully you into thinking if you don’t meet it their way, you will fail. You won’t. You will simply forge a different path to where you need to be.

Learn as much as you can and learn to find your own rhythm. We all adjust our rhythms to the needs of our daily lives, and often have to change those rhythms within the course of the day.

We had a new moon last week. We have a whole bunch of planets stacked in Aries, for the first time in centuries. Now, the sun has moved into Taurus, which is slower, steadier, and about stability. Even with all the Aries energy rolling around, the sun in Taurus tells us to slow down and enjoy what we’re building. Don’t just rush forward and miss all the beauty of the process.
Savor it.

This month, we are using two decks that work beautifully together. We are using the Green Witch Tarot by Ann Moura, with art by Kiri Østergaard Leonard, along with the Green Witch’s Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock, illustrated by Sara Richard. You can read more about each of the creators by clicking the link on their name. You can buy the Green Witch Tarot here, and the Green Witch’s Oracle here.

The tarot deck was one of the first things I bought when I moved here to the mountains, five years ago. At that time, a store carrying tarot, crystals, herbs, etc., was only a few blocks away, and I was so delighted to find this deck. The shop has since, sadly, closed. This is also the deck from which I do my daily pulls from Beltane to Lammas. The oracle was a gift, this past Solstice, and I’ve really enjoyed working with it and getting to know it.

This month, we are doing a little something different, with the readings. The spread is the same. But the Oracle card will be in the Spirit position, the driving force for the week, with the tarot cards offering the elemental aspects. If an aspect needs a deeper dive, we will work with additional oracle cards.

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: Soil
This is the perfect central energy for moving into Taurus season. Soil is about stability and simplicity. Go back to basics this week. Put in the work, but don’t overcomplicate. Check your foundations, in projects, in buildings, in your garden, in your life. See if something needs a little TLC, and tend to it.

North – Earth/Tangibles: King of Chalices
We have the king of emotions in the position of tangibles. Enjoy what you’ve been working on this past cycle. Celebrate it. Relish it. Create, commit, behave with compassionate professionalism. Have the meeting, make the connection, use what you’ve built to build something even more, especially if you have the chance to do so in/for community.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Queen of Chalices
The Queen of Creativity is in the position of intellect. Be compassionate and nurturing this week on projects and endeavors of the mind. Be careful about what you share and with whom you share personal insights this week, so it’s not used against you. (Side note: on the day of this reading/writing, my card for the day was the 7 of Swords, so yes, I will be careful this week). Integrate your intellect with your creativity this week, but hold some boundaries.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Two of Wands
I would love to live in this cottage, it’s adorable. This is the card of a new project, career-wise, about which we’re passionate. It ties into the soil (firm foundation), and our King and Queen of creativity in their positions of tangibles and intellect. There’s a good chance this project will be a success, provided we maintain our firm foundation in our soil. The pots on either side of the door grow allspice, which is one of my favorite spices, and a red door is positive in feng shui.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Ace of Wands
Here, in the position of creativity, we have the launch of the project that we are building on in the two. This project is deeply connected to our identity. It’s fire and action, and in the realm of creativity, what a wonderful pairing.

Overall, this has the opportunity to be a creative week in ways that will be successful and fulfilling for a long time. Last week, the only two minor arcana cards were wands. This week, we have two wands and two chalices. It’s about passionate creativity, using the fire ignited with all the Aries energy and moving with it into Taurus to build something that lasts, rather than something that burns out.

Did anything in this resonate with you, or do you have a different interpretation? I’d love to hear from you.

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of April 13, 2026

Monday, April 13, 2026
Waning Moon

Welcome to a new week! We are still without retrogrades, and we have a massive amount of planets in Aries, so it’s that friction between go-go-go and not being discerning enough. Don’t let others push you into decisions this week. Wait and weigh the evidence before making a decision. Don’t go in all directions; pick one or two that set you on the path you most want.

We have a new moon on Friday, which means, early in the week, we can clear things out and banish them.

I was trained to do things a little differently than the way it’s promoted on social media and in many modern circles, and it works better for me. From the new moon to the full moon, I work on what I want to manifest. Then I release it SO IT CAN MANIFEST on the full moon. I do not use the full moon to “release what no longer serves” – that is waning moon work for me. On the full moon, I send the energy I’ve been working with out to do its thing. During the waning moon, I release what no longer serves or banish what is getting in my way.

The day before the dark moon is always my lowest energy day of the month. On the dark moon itself, I get a surge of energy I can use for banishing.

My two cents on moon cycles. Play with it, and see what works best for you. Sometimes it may change, depending on that month’s work.

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.

Center – Spirit/Self: Pine Tree
This card jumped out of the deck as I shuffled, and was very insistent on being the driving, central energy of the week. I love pine trees and pinecones. This card is about vitality, longevity, and holding on. Pine is used for building, so consider what you’ve been building this week, and tap into the energy of pine to stay the course. If you can spend some time among pine trees, sitting in meditation or walking through them this week, I highly recommend it.

North – Earth/Tangibles: The Star
This is a card of hope and illumination. The Artemis II mission these past couple of weeks has refilled our cup of hope. This card in the north position encourages us to take that hope and turn it into positive change. It urges us to BE the north star, for ourselves and those around us. Turn your wishes into tangibles through flow and light. Look for the opportunities this week, and then turn them into realities.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Nature
In other decks, this card is often the Devil, carrying more negative connotations. In this deck, it is about a relationship with nature, actions and repercussions. In the US, considering the latest threat to the Forest Service, this is very relevant, and we need to take long-term action (the two previous cards) to maintain a positive relationship with nature. We get to choose how to shape our relationship with nature this week, and it will have long-lasting resonance. Will you choose for short-term or look at the bigger, longer picture? The herb comfrey is in this picture, so if you have a chance to work with that herb this week, do so. Or maybe plant some in a pot, to strengthen your relationship with nature.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Six of Wands
The 6 of Wands is a card of victory, and it’s in the position of passion and identity this week. Everything you act on and integrate in the previous cards will work out in your favor, and put you in a stronger position as you move forward. This is an earned victory, not a gift. The work you’ve done in the past weeks, months, maybe even years, is paying off in a tangible way that is also satisfying in your soul. The Knight of Wands was in the West, creativity/emotion position last week, riding toward the opportunity. This week, you see some of the positive results.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Five of Wands
The 5 of Wands is working together, and working it out together. In many decks, it’s shown as a card of conflict. If you look closely at this image, it’s less about conflict and more about brainstorming, trying different approaches in community to figure things out. They don’t necessarily agree on every point, but they are willing to work together to come to either compromise or consensus. There may be disagreements, but everyone needs to know they are valued, and everyone’s position needs to be listened to in order to find that consensus and prevent conflict. Someone still might walk away, and then the group has to reform to adjust. Remember the pine tree and the star in these discussions, and you’ll find a positive way through.

This reading has two Major Arcana and two Minor Arcana wands in it. This week is about one’s core integrity and flame, and how we bring it out into the world, and how we do so in a way that also values those around us. With so many planets in Aries right now, conflict is the default setting, so take a minute to steady on and open up to multiple perspectives instead of just insisting you are right and everyone else isn’t. You can be a leader without making those around you feel less than.

Did anything resonate with you? Or did you get something else from it? I’d love to hear from you!

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of April 6, 2026

Monday, April 6, 2026
Waning Moon

Welcome to April! Where I live, there’s still a chance of snow, on and off, all month.

We have no retrogrades this month. We’re being encouraged to move forward and move fast, especially with so many planets either already in Aries or moving into Aries. It’s a time to trust instinct rather than impulse. While forward motion is supported with everything direct, you also want to set track that is sustainable in the long run.

This month, we are using two decks that work beautifully together. We are using the Green Witch Tarot by Ann Moura, with art by Kiri Østergaard, along with the Green Witch’s Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock., illustrated by Sara Richard. You can read more about each of the creators by clicking the link on their name. You can buy the Green Witch Tarot here, and the Green Witch’s Oracle 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.

Center – Spirit/Self: Fruit
The oracle card at the center of this week’s reading says our spirit works toward achievement and success. The energy you’ve invested in something is about to pay off. You can also honor that energy investment by taking a bit of a break and enjoying what you’ve achieved. It’s a little early here for strawberries, grapes, and blackberries, but this week, I plan to celebrate with some kind of fruit every day, specifically dedicated to this reading.

North – Earth/Tangibles: Eight of Pentacles
This is a card of craft and enjoyment in craft. Show up and do the work, and revel in it. Remember, what we are setting up in this Aries time of the year will be the driving force for the cycle. So show up and do the work. The Pentacles are in their home area of earth, so it’s very tangible. We’ve had several weeks of thinking and planning. Now we do it. You can show up and do the work, and still take breaks to enjoy your achievements. Those are not mutually exclusive, although we’ve been conditioned to believe they are.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The Lord of the Shadows
In other decks, this is the Death card. This is a card of change, and, in this deck, moving from shadow to light. There’s also a butterfly for transformation. Since this is in the position of air/thought, we have the opportunity to change our perceptions and our way of thinking about something, and it will help with this positive transformation. A way of perception is dying to make room for something better. Instead of being stuck in a particular way of thinking, our intellect opens up to show us other possibilities.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: The High Priest
The High Priest is about established tradition. There is yarrow, both on the altar and growing around it, which is an herb of blessing and protection. While we don’t want to become mired in structure because “that is the way it’s always been” (especially this week, with the previous card, about new perceptions), there is something to be said for knowledge passed down within organized structure. As we are living in a time when a corrupt regime is trying to erase the structures and the knowledge to serve their own agenda, ritualized work that preserves such knowledge is important. Knowledge is a foundation on which to build, as new ideas, evidence, and possibilities are revealed.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Knight of Wands
The knight is riding toward a new opportunity, in alignment with her identity and her passion. This card, to me, links back to the Ace of Pentacles in last week’s reading, which was the driving force of spirit. This opportunity has not been taken on impulse, it is the result of the work put in over previous weeks and months. It’s also in the slot of creativity and emotion, so it’s about creative work. And it ties into the 8 of Pentacles in the north, telling us we have to show up and do the work, in order to embody the success of the Fruit card. What will support us is fresh perspectives, and using those perspectives, along with knowledge handed down (the Lord of the Shadows and the High Priest).

This week is about taking action on the opportunities offered the past few weeks, keeping an open mind and integrating that with knowledge from those with more experience than you have.

Did anything resonate with you, or did you get a different interpretation. I always love to hear about it.

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of March 30, 2026

Monday, March 30, 2026
Waxing Moon
No Retrogrades

Isn’t it wonderful to have a stretch of time with no retrogrades? Be careful, though; you don’t have to do EVERYTHING in the next handful of weeks. Don’t burn out. Set track, so when the retrogrades start up again and you have to slow down, you still have a path.

Wednesday, April 1, is the full moon. The full moon on April Fool’s Day, and a great day to work with both the Sun and the Fool cards.

I am not a fan of April Fool’s Day, since I find it’s too often used to excuse deliberate cruelty as humor. Instead, I choose to work with the Fool energy in a way that encourages taking new risks and trying new things.

I experienced elements of each of the cards in last week’s reading, but ended the week feeling much better than I did at the beginning.

This is our last week with the Mystic Storyteller Tarot. I’ve loved working with this deck over the month, and getting to know it better. I look forward to using it for my own readings often. The deck, The Mystic Storyteller, book and tarot is 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.

Center – Spirit/Self: The Ace of Pentacles
In the March 16 reading, this card was in the North, the position of tangibles. So something that was a tangible offer that week has become a driving force in our spirit this week. And it is an offer, the hand in the artwork is offering us this book with a pentacle on it. We are on a new tangible path.

North – Earth/Tangibles: Five of Cups
The 5 of Cups shows three spilled cups, and two cups still stable. Something is lost, something is retained. Often, the advice is not to focus on what is lost, but to remember what is still full. However, too often, the advice around this card doesn’t make room for grief. We live in a society that trivializes grief and rushes it. In order to walk the new path the Ace of Pentacles offers, we need to grieve something we’ve lost in this choice. Grieving is healthy, and makes room for what is new, as long as we look at is as a process rather than getting stuck in it. There’s a river depicted in this card, indicated flow. Let the emotions flow. Allow yourself room for healthy grief, so you have room to walk the path of the Ace of Pentacles.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The Hanged Man
I love the artwork on this card. The figure is literally hanging out and thinking. Things are scribbled out on the notepad, there are crumpled papers. The figure is in deep in the process, and deeply enjoying the process. The card landing in the East, the home of thought, is wonderful. You’re on a new, tangible path. You’re grieving what’s lost. But you don’t have to have it all figured out this week. Don’t rush yourself. Play with ideas in a relaxed and thoughtful way, and give yourself thinking room as well as emotional room.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: The Empress
The Empress showed up two weeks ago, in the March 16th reading, in the position of Air. Now, she has cycled into the position of identity. In this position, it is about nurturing your creation and growth. Be kind to yourself this week, possibly kinder to yourself than usual. Listen to your body and what your gut instincts tell you. You know what you need; don’t ignore it.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: The Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands is about starting a new, passionate path that is being true to yourself. In the position of creativity and emotion, it encourages you to create that path through imagination and emotion, taking your time (Hanged Man), and knowing that the Ace of Pentacles helps make it tangible.

There are two Major Arcana cards in the spread, the big energy. There are two Aces in the reading, meaning each of the suit’s energies bond closely with the other Ace’s energy. It also makes sense, since we are (finally) entering spring here in the Northern Hemisphere. The 5 of Cups looks like an outlier card, but it’s a necessary card of grief and release to help the path forward as one of steady growth, rather than regret. There are also two cards from the March 16th reading that show up again in this one, indicating a tie to what was going on in your life that week.

Did anything resonate with you, or did you get a different interpretation? I’m always happy to hear about it!

Next week, we start with a different deck and its companion oracle deck. I think you will enjoy them. Have a great week!

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of March 23, 2026

Monday, March 23, 2026
Waxing Moon
No Retrogrades

Hello, hello, and LOOK at this reading – All the cards in it are Major Arcana, so that means we’re dealing with huge life energy this week.

Spring Equinox arrived, the sun and various other planets have moved or are moving into Aries, and we have no retrogrades until early May.

We keep being told to go, go, go – but remember, we each have our own pace that’s good for us. Don’t be pushed by other people’s agendas. We’ve got a lot of big energy to deal with this week, and each of us will have to find our own way of doing so. We are not alone. But we also need to find the balance between what is best for us while supporting our communities. They are not mutually exclusive, although we are often gaslit into believing they are.

This month’s 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.

Center – Spirit/Self: The Sun
The Sun card is about joyful success. I love that the figure in the card rides a horse brandishing a red crayon! Ride this week with joy and optimism, and there’s success involved. This card was in the East/Intellect in our March 9 reading, but this week, it’s the central energy of ourselves. Let’s enjoy it and use it. It’s been a tough winter physically in my neck of the woods, and a tough winter on every level all over the place, so let’s harness this energy and use it to make improvements this week.

North – Earth/Tangibles: The Lovers
The Lovers is a card of commitment and decision. There’s an opportunity, on a very tangible level, to decide to make a commitment for this next cycle, which started at the Equinox. The sunlight in the back of the card ties to the Sun card at the center of this reading. Last week, in this spot, we had the Ace of Pentacles, which was the offer. This week, we need to decide to commit. Also, look back to the March 9 reading, where the Devil came up, and we discussed how, in this deck, the figures from the Lovers are also featured in the Devil. Take some time to consider if you are cycling back to the Lovers/Devil relationship from a few weeks ago, or if you choose to accept the offer from the Ace of Pentacles last week and make a new commitment. The answer will be unique to everyone.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The Hierophant
In many decks, the Hierophant is depicted as a religious figure. In this deck, the figure is a teacher, although there are symbols with various spiritual significance on the board behind her. She wears red, the blackboard is black, and the pillars frame her are white. White, black, and red together are important spiritual colors, especially in magical traditions. While there is no sunlight, there is yellow in several of the symbols, tying back to the Sun card. Her students look interested and a little intimidated. To me, in this card in this position in this week, it means a time to listen to those with more experience (or different experience) than you have. There is useful information that you might reflexively disregard, but if you listen and pay attention to the deeper layers, you will find something of value.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Temperance
This card is about both balance and flow. The figure stands with one foot in the water and one on land, pouring from his pitcher to his glass. There’s a clump of iris, symbolizing wisdom and hope. In the background is a sun between mountains, again tying back to the Sun card. Keep on keeping on, keep hope, keep balance. Because it is in the position of passion and identity, it also ties into what I said at the top of the reading about the need to balance your boundaries with the good of the community, and how they are not mutually exclusive. We have been conditioned to believe our lives are either/or – sacrifice yourself or be considered selfish. The truth is when we all work to care for both ourselves and others, everyone benefits and the society grows stronger. Systemic oppression hates this, and does everything it can to make us believe what they want and will profit from, not what is best for the greater good. This week, flow without complying.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: The Chariot
The Chariot is about taking charge of your own direction in life. In the position of the west/emotions, it’s about deciding where to put your emotions and your creative energy. Which direction flows best for you? You’re out with your pack (the dogs). Who leads this week? The card suggests you should leave and the dogs will travel with you, rather than pulling you in a specific direction. There are stars in the sky, and the yellow is low to the ground, suggesting a setting sun. The sunlight starts high in the center, and moves lower as we come around the wheel this week, which is kind of beautiful.

Again, the entire reading is Major Arcana cards, which is big energy. It doesn’t promise ease, but it suggest joy and optimism if you are active, listen, and flow.

Did anything in particular resonate with you, or did you get something different? I’m always happy to hear from you.

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of March 16, 2026

Monday, March 16, 2026
Day Before Dark Moon
Mercury Retrograde

Welcome to the final week of Mercury Retrograde! The Retrograde ends on the Spring Equinox, which is just lovely, although we may feel exhausted. Try to take a lot of down time next weekend to recover.

Once Mercury goes direct, no planets will be retrograde until Pluto goes direct on May 5.

This week will definitely have challenges, but the way will get clearer soon. I know, I know – when I see those words when I’m struggling, I get frustrated, because we’ve been promised relief for nearly a year now, and there hasn’t been any. There’s always another excuse. Because there always is another challenge, but when Mercury is out of the mix as retrograde, somehow, for me, anyway, it’s a lot better.

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.

Center – Spirit/Self: Strength
Strength is about fortitude with compassion, rather than brute force. The woman doesn’t have a whip to use on the lion. She has a pencil. I love the expressions on both faces, like, “really?” And they are facing the audience, not in combat with each other. This pair is a team, showing the rest of the world how compassionate strength works. Keep that in mind this week, as you are challenged to be less than compassionate.

North – Earth/Tangibles: Ace of Pentacles
I love the art on this card. We are being offered the opportunity to write a new story in a tangible way. It’s a story that will bring us tangible results, including money. It might be a new job opportunity or a chance doing something you love that pays in tangibles this time, rather than metaphoricals.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The Empress
The Empress is a card of abundance through feminine power. Compassionate strength paired with a new, tangible opportunity, allows you to think creatively (this is in the east) to grow it.

Think in terms of nurturance.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Knight of Swords
This card came up in our reading on March 2, in the west, the position of creativity and emotion. This week, it comes up in the south, of passion and identity. The Knight is eager to bring ideas out into the world. However, because of the newness of the opportunity (ace pentacles), it needs room to grow (empress), especially with the card in the next position. To me, this card in this position this week, in relation to the other cards, suggests reining in the impulse to share too much too soon.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Ten of Swords
As a writer, getting stabbed in the back by ten pens is intimidating. Swords are about intellect, and in the position of water/creativity/emotion, it’s about an idea, possible the idea/opportunity offered by the ace. This is why I feel this week, we should rein in our knight of Swords, and not share too much too soon, because others will try to stab us in the back about it. Ten of swords, for me, comes up when other people want to force their agendas on me for their convenience. The hand gesture of the fallen figure here is a little disturbing. There are multiple possibilities, and I am hoping it is the Surya mudra rather than the Shocker gesture. (I leave it to you to research each on your own, and see how each meaning sits with you for the context of this reading). Given the context of the reading, the creators’ intent is more likely to be the Surya mudra, but warning bells are going off for me in this week’s context, and because of the general state of the world. To me, the warning means to protect anything new this week and don’t put it in a situation where it could be harmed or stolen. If the hand gesture is meant to be the Surya mudra, it also suggests that there is hope for the sun (success) in spite of the stabs in the back. With last week’s reading containing the Devil and the 9 of Wands, I will lean toward caution this week.

We have two Major Arcana cards in this week’s reading, a knight, and two minor arcana cards, one at each end of the minor arcana numbers. So there are endings, beginnings, a need for strength and protection, and typical last week of Mercury Retrograde chaos.

Step softly and stay as quiet as possible is my advice for the week.

Did anything resonate with you, or did you get something different?

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of March 9, 2026

Monday, March 9, 2026
Waning Moon
Jupiter and Mercury Retrograde

Welcome to the second week of March. Yesterday was International Women’s Day. Tomorrow, Jupiter, the planet of expansion and wisdom, turns direct, so we get a little relief, even though Mercury Retrograde still hangs around for eleven more days to muck things up until the Spring Equinox.

I’m not buying into the current online attempts to rehab Mercury Retrograde’s reputation. Sometimes, things just suck. For me, MR sucks. These periods of time each year sucked before I knew what a Mercury Retrograde was. Once I did, it helped me cope, but it doesn’t make it fun. I do the best I can to navigate it, but stop trying to gaslight me that it’s a “gift.” If it’s a gift, it better have the return tag still attached, that’s all I’m saying.

Different experiences are part of the fascination with this work. If someone has a wonderful Mercury Retrograde and finds it a gift, I celebrate that for them. I’m still honest about the difficulties I have with it. Both can exist at once. So honor your own experience, even as you experiment with different tools.

Don’t let someone tell you what you feel and experience isn’t real, because that’s not their experience. We’ve had enough of that through the decades, and it’s time to change it.

Per last week’s reading, it was definitely heavy on the 9 of Swords for me, but the other cards helped me work my way through it, and the Ace of Swords was particularly helpful. As a Pisces, the eclipse also kicked my ass.

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.

Center – Spirit/Self: The Devil
The Devil Card at the center indicates that we need to deal with tangibles this week rather than theocraticals. It also warns us not to get so caught up in the tangibles that we forget the other aspects of our lives that need attention. Sometimes our desires overcome our practicalities. Sometimes we submit to more than we should because we feel trapped and chained. If you look at the Devil card beside the Lovers card, they are often similarly set up – two individuals with an entity above them. In this deck, the figures in the cards resemble each other so much they could be the same two individuals (which makes a lot of sense), with a different figure above them affecting the atmosphere, or, more to the point, the couple’s interpretation of the force above them. In this deck, the presence above the Lovers is an angel, and the Devil is a horned figure with wings. The couple’s positions to each other in the cards is similar, but their clothing is different, and now they’re chained rather than choosing.

Even though the Lovers did not come up in this week’s spread, only the Devil, I’m posting a photo of both, so you can see the similarities.

The last time The Lovers showed up in one of our community readings was on September 22, 2025, using the Tarot of the Owls, in the position of Challenge. You can refresh your memory about it here.

Think back to last September, and the challenge that was relevant to the Lovers card then. Has it turned into something that makes you feel trapped? Again, we’re still in Mercury Retrograde, so you might not be seeing the situation clearly and communication around it could be mucky. Sit with it until the Spring Equinox (it showed up on the Autumn Equinox). It could be that a cycle has run its course from last autumn. Or it could be something that needs new perspective in the coming cycle, and a gentler touch.

Either way, that energy is the central fuel for this week, so tread carefully and don’t make rash decisions.

North – Earth/Tangibles: Nine of Wands
The 9 of Wands is a card of readiness and defense. The immediate threat that shows up in the 7 of Wands is past, but the 9 indicates a readiness for the next attack. Be cautious, not paranoid. This is about something very tangible this week, as it’s in the position of north/tangibles. I do love the image and idea of defense by pencil. As a writer, this speaks to me.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: The Sun
This is a terrific card, indicating joy and success. “Think happy thoughts” (it’s in the east) over-simplifies it, but as a card of joy and optimism in the position of intellect, it indicates that the way you think about things this week will affect how they turn out. Whatever comes your way, try an intellectual spin toward the positive, then take the actions necessary to move it in that direction.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: The High Priestess
The High Priestess in the position of identity reminds us to trust ourselves this week. She wears the phases of the moon on her circlet in her hair, there’s a crescent moon at her feet, water behind her, and the pillars of balance on each side of her. The chair she sits in looks like it gives her wings. Trust yourself before anyone else this week.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Knight of Wands
In last week’s reading, we had the Knight of Swords in this position. This week, it’s the Knight of Wands, which is about bringing out best, most unapologetic selves out into the world, especially creatively.

The reading is very much about something tangible that seemed wonderful at the last Equinox, but now feels like a trap. You need to trust your intuition, twist it to the positive, and defend it in a very real way by showing up as your best self.

Did anything resonate, or did you get something different? I’d love to hear from you.

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of March 2, 2026

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.

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.

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of February 23, 2026

Monday, February 23, 2026
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde

Welcome to the final week of February! It’s also the final week using The Enchanted Tarot. I thoroughly enjoyed getting reacquainted with this deck again, and I hope you enjoyed the deck, too. Next week is the start of a new month, and we’ll use a different deck.

We are in eclipse season. Jupiter is still retrograde. Mercury goes retrograde on the 26th, so buckle up, my buttercups. Stay away from large purchases, especially electronics. Back up the computer. Slow down with communications to make sure you are clear in your words and take time to really listen and understand what comes at you. Give yourself extra travel time. Visit thrift shops – this is a great time for thrift shopping. You tend to find delights that are undervalued in price.

Last week’s reading encouraged me to be both cautious and hopeful. The Tower card had more to do on an international stage last week than on my own personal stage, fortunately, although some inner towers crumbled during the course of the week. The promises of the other cards began, and I intend to take the necessary actions for them to come to fruition.

This month, we’re using The Enchanted Tarot by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber. I’ve had this deck since the mid-1990’s, but haven’t used it in a long time, so I look forward to reacquainting myself with it and growing with it this month. Each card is created as a multi-layered, symbolic tapestry. The book for this deck is also engaging. It contains a dream, an awakening, and an enchantment. The dream is the card’s story, the awakening is the card’s lesson, and the enchantment is an action to take to integrate it. I will be using my own interpretations, but I encourage you, if the deck speaks to you, to get your own copy and work with the deck and the book. You can learn about them and buy their books and decks 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.

Center – Spirit/Self: Queen of Hearts
This is the Queen of Cups in other decks, and a card of deep loving and creativity. Central to this week is the need to be loving, both outwardly and inwardly. With the incoming Mercury retrograde, feelings are easily bruised. Take the extra few beats to think through, multiple times, before you speak. Don’t “joke” at someone else’s expense. During a Mercury retrograde, words are even sharper weapons than at other times, so use care, love, and empathy in all your dealings this week.

North – Earth/Tangibles: Queen of Wands
The Queen of Wands stands firmly in her passionate identity. Since this is in the northern position, of tangibles, it tells us to step in the world this week with self-assurance, tempering it with the care of the Queen of Hearts.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Nine of Swords
Ouch! This indicates a likelihood to overthink and be anxious this week. When the 9 of Swords comes up for me, it generally means I am spinning into anxiety all on my own, and the despair is self-inflicted, rather than coming from the outside. Given the position in this reading (swords at home in intellect), with the Queen of Wands, it suggests feeling some imposter syndrome this week. Even if you feel that, step forward with confidence. And use the self-compassion from the Queen of Hearts to temper the 9 of Swords anxiety.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Princess of Swords
This is the equivalent to the Page in other decks. This is another card of thought and intellect, in the position of passion or identity. As you move through the week embodying the Queen of Wands, you might also learn some new information to integrate. Be open to ideas this week, even if you wait to explore them until a future week. For me, this card often comes up to warn of gossip. Again, especially with the Mercury retrograde, watch your words. Do not speak gossip. If you are the subject of gossip, lean into both of the Queens in this reading and shake it off. You don’t have to argue. You can set a firm, compassionate boundary, and walk away.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Six of Pentacles
The 6 of Pentacles is a card of tangible generosity in the position of emotion and creativity. Plant some seeds this week, both literally and figuratively. [According to my planting calendar, today (the 23rd) and Thursday and Friday (the 26th & 27th) are planting days]. Be kind, whenever you have the opportunity. It could be something as simple as holding a door opening or giving someone a kind word. As you plant, embody what you’re planting with the energy of the two Queens for a successful harvest later in the cycle.

This reading has two Queens, a Princess, and two numbered cards. There are cards from each of the four suits. There are no Major Arcana cards here, indicating this week is about the self, the people in your immediate circle, and the daily details. This week is a time to focus in. Keep an eye on world events, but your immediate community is the priority.

Did anything resonate with you, or did you get something different? I’d love to hear about it.

Have a great week.

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of February 16, 2026

Monday, February 16, 2026
Dark Moon
Jupiter Retrograde

Hello, friends! There is a lot going on astrologically this week, and this reading shows both disruption and something good coming out of it.

Today is the dark moon.

Tomorrow is a new moon, Chinese Lunar New Year starting the Year of the Fire Horse, a solar eclipse, and Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday. Saturn just left Pisces to go into Aries.

It will be easy to get swept away in it all, and it is important to stay grounded. As with any fresh start, you don’t have to do all of it on the first day. We’ve been clearing away, and now it’s time to set the track, so that we can start in a way that sustains us, instead of burns us out. Trying to do everything this week will hurt us. Measure your steps and your energy.

Remember, Jupiter, the planet of expansion, is still in retrograde. If we try to expand too fast, we will hit obstacles. And Mercury goes retrograde on February 26, which will slow us down, too. Instead of trying to do All The Things, do a single thing and make plans for what you want to do after Jupiter and Mercury both turn direct.

Pace yourself.

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.

Center – Spirit/Self: The Tower
Yes, I flinched when I saw this come up as the central energy of the week. The Tower is one of my least favorite cards in the deck. It comes up when I’ve procrastinated, and now the movement is out of my hands, because I did not take action. So everything blows up. In my life, there is a single creative project on which I’ve been dragging my feet on which I had a breakthrough this weekend (rather than a breakdown), so I’m hoping that will get me back on track. I’ve been pretty good about staying on top of personal responsibilities. I’m wondering if this card has to do with something on a national level, in light of what’s been going on lately, and we all get swept up in it. Seeing this card makes me want to hide in my blanket fort, but that is not an option. No matter what, there will be pain and disruption involved.

North – Earth/Tangibles: Eight of Wands
The 8 of Wands is about things moving very fast. In this card, the wands are all moving in the same direction (in some cards they are not). It’s in the north, the position of tangibles, so the disruption of the Tower will send things moving very quickly. You cannot step back or put it off once the Tower has fallen. You must take action now, whether you feel ready or not. Direct the energy and the action so that it does not direct you.

East – Air/Thought/Intellect: Four of Wands
The 4 of Wands is a beautiful, wonderful card of building something that will stand the test of time. In spite of the disruption and fast movement, you are building something that will endure. Since it is in the position of thought, remember that “thoughts are things” and use your intellect in the building of this new direction. How you frame it to yourself and others will influence the stability.

South – Fire/Passion/Identity: Three of Pentacles
There is work to be done, and the 3 of Pentacles reminds us we don’t have to do it alone. Work within the community, ask for help, give help. Note that the position of tangibles holds a wand card of identity this week, and this position of identity holds a pentacle card of tangibles. The 8 Wands and the 3 Pentacles are talking to each other, through the Tower. Swift movement is easier with help. But you have to show up and do the work.

West – Water/Creativity/Emotion: Ten of Pentacles
This card states clearly to use your creative energy to create security. The 10 Pentacles is a wonderful card, and in this position of emotion and creativity, it tells us to use creative powers for something secure. Build your castle on a secure foundation. The insecure one blew up in the Tower at the center, but now you have a firm foundation. The 4 Wands in the opposite position again connects to the 10 Pentacles. They work together and support each other.

There are no hearts/cups in the reading, nor are there swords. There is the single Major Arcana in the center, indicating major disruption, and everything else is either a wand or a pentacle. It’s about creating the stable foundation for your true self, which works with Saturn moving into Aries.

Did anything resonate with you? Or did you get something different? I’d love to hear from you.