Horoscope reading March 20 - 26

Welcome, welcome, all! Spring is finally in full swing; as I write this, the first rain of the season falls in a light drizzle past my window. Depending on how the weather is in your area, I would heartily recommend stepping outside and taking a deep whiff of the outdoor air; nothing in this world smells better than spring.

A rainy spring morning such as this is also the perfect atmosphere for some good ol' psychic-ing; wrapped in my coziest blanket, with a cup of tea and some mugwort incense burning beside me, down goes the altar cloth and out come the cards. After shuffling, clearing, and charging them, the cards are laid down for this week's horoscope.

The layout of the cards is such:

image ID: 12 tarot cards laid out face down on an altar cloth, with the symbols of the zodiac signs overlaid on them. The signs, left to right, are: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Gemini, Libra, Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo.

The signs are organized and grouped by element, and the cards placed on the corresponding quadrant of my altar cloth. This week, the cards themselves fell thus:

Image ID: the cards from the previous image, now face up. Left to right: 6 of swords reversed, 8 of pentacles reversed, 8 of cups, the devil reversed, the emperor reversed, 6 of pentacles reversed, 3 of pentacles reversed, death, queen of pentacles, king of pentacles reversed, 4 of pentacles reversed, 6 of wands.

So now let's get to the interpretations.

Pisces ♓ (February 19 - March 20): Six of Swords (reversed)

The past can be hard to let go of, and sometimes it's harder to move forward than it is to look back. That's some emotional baggage you got there, Pisces, and dealing with that is never easy. But change, transition, is a necessary, if painful part of growth, and, as hard as it may be, this week you're gonna need to work on letting go of the things that hold you back. Whether that means simply cutting ties or trying to find real closure is up to you, but I would advise against the latter if you've already tried and it hasn't worked. The real definition of insanity, after all, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results; when push comes to shove, sometimes you've just got to walk away.

Cancer ♋ (June 21 - July 22): Eight of Pentacles (reversed)

Have you been slacking off, Cancer? Well, this is the week where it'll show. Upright, this card is about craftsmanship, dedication, and achievement, buckling down and learning those new skills you've been shooting for, so its reversed meaning is very much the inverse of that. You may find yourself somewhat lacking in self-discipline this week, Cancer; perhaps you're losing motivation because your progress isn't what you though it would be, or maybe you're getting distracted. Whatever the cause, get ready to encounter these difficulties and know that you are strong enough to overcome them.

Scorpio ♏ (October 23 - November 21): Eight of Cups

Every time we enter a new stage in our life, it requires us to leave behind the old. This week, Scorpio, you may encounter feelings of disillusionment, a readiness to let go, a desire for something more from your life. Perhaps you're getting fed up with that job and are seriously considering quitting; perhaps your home life is starting to grate on you, and you've started looking for a new place. Growth requires us sometimes to walk away, even if we don't feel ready; don't be afraid to follow your instincts this week if they're telling you that something has come to an end.

Aries ♈ (March 21 - April 19): The Devil (reversed)

The first step to getting better is realizing that you have a problem. The Devil reversed signifies finally breaking free of the vices, addictions, and chains that its upright counterpart signifies and taking the first steps on the road to recovery. What is it that's holding you back, Aries? What bad habits are holding you down and keeping you from greatness? This week is the time to look inward and ask yourself the big questions. Only then can you spread your wings and become everything you're meant to be.

Leo ♌ (July 23 - August 22): The Emperor (reversed)

There's a fne line between authority and tyranny. Is there someone exerting power over you that has crossed this line? Their leadership turning into domination? Or is it you, perhaps, that is enjoying the power you hold over other a bit too much? Keep an eye this week on your actions and the actions of those around you. If you catch yourself leaning towards authoritarianism, check yourself and adjust your behaviour. If you catch someone else becoming autocratic towards you, take a step back and maybe have a frank conversation with them.

Sagittarius ♐ (November 22 - December 21): Six of Pentacles (reversed)

You may find yourself this week, Sagittarius, somewhat reluctant to give, despite having the means to do so. Whether it's because you feel like you need this money more, or because you're second-guessing your own motivations for giving, or some other reason, is frankly beside the point. What matters is, there are people around you that need help. Stop overthinking. If you have the opportunity to be kind this week, Sagittarius, take it.

Aquarius ♒ (January 20 - February 18): Three of Pentacles (reversed)

Group projects, I think we can all agree, are the worst. I am so sorry to say, Aquarius, but it looks like you might have a bad one coming at you this week. All or some of the classic group project tropes may apply; everyone but a few members slacks off, so there's that much more pressure on those few dedicated members; a power struggle between two members who both want to declare themself the leader; shoddy work, minimal effort, and a total lack of cooperation. You might be tempted to just go it alone, leaving behind the drama of the group, and this would be a valid desire, but I would advise you to think carefully before making any rash decisions. Can you think of any way to turn this situation in your favour?

Gemini ♊ (May 21 - June 20): Death

A quick disclaimer about this card. Back before Christianity came along and rebranded it, a lot of the cards of the major arcana had different names, including this one. The original Solomonic name for this card was, in fact, Change, because that is what it represents. The Death card signifies transition, metamorphasis, transformation. A bit like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, or a phoenix rising from its own ashes, this week you will experience an apotheosis. Be this at work, at home, in a relationship or friendship, or at school, a cycle will end this week and a new one will begin. Don't be afraid of change, Gemini; embrace it. This is progress.

Libra ♎ (September 23 - October 22): Queen of Pentacles

This week, Libra, you might need to be an anchor for your friends. In your friend group, you're the one that everyone goes to when they need help, or advice, or even just someone to vent to, and this week they're going to need you. Lend an ear, lend a shoulder to cry on, be the person they can lean on. Be the mom friend, and don't be afraid to take new people under your wing. Is there someone at work who seems to have been going through a rough time? Let them vent to you, offer them a hand to hold. Is someone in your family acting more distant than usual? Reach out to them, ask them if they're doing okay. Be generous with your emotions this week.

Capricorn ♑ (December 22 - January 19): King of Pentacles (reversed)

Money is a difficult thing, Capricorn. In our world, where money plays such an important part in survival, and can at the same time be so difficult to get or keep a hold of, it can be easy to backslide into greed, stinginess, and materialism. Do you have enough money? That is the question we all continuously ask ourselves, and more often than not, our answer is "no," even when the real answer is "yes." Take a good hard look at yourself this week, Capricorn. The material is not the only, or the most important, part of life. What you need right now is not status or wealth; it's balance.

Taurus ♉ (April 20 - May 20): Four of Pentacles (reversed)

We live in a world that ranks monetary success about all else, and that is simply not healthy. This week, Taurus, you need to examine your relationship with your finances; if you've internalized the money-centric attitude of the western world, you may be prioritizing money to the detriment of other aspect of your life and happiness. While I understand that our economy is a dystopian nightmare, and we sometimes have no choice but to fuss over it, be careful not to become an outright miser. Your emotional and psychological well-being is just as important as your financial situation.

Virgo ♍ (August 23 - September 22): Six of Wands

You go, Virgo! This week will be a good one for you; success, victory, truimph are on their way to you. Your leadership, your hard work, are all paying off, and you're going to be showered with accolades from all sides. Make sure to watch how you handle this period; you've got the stage right now, and all eyes are on you. This is your time to shine, Virgo!

Thank you so much for reading! I do want to quickly reiterate the disclaimers that I outlined in my introduction, but if this reading does end up being accurate to you or helpful, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or reach out! I'd love to hear feedback. If you need a personal reading, I offer those on fiverr, only $5-$15 per depending on the complexity of the spread, and I also have a patreon, if you enjoyed this blog and want to support it! My Twitter account recently got suspended (for, as far as I can tell, no reason at all, good or otherwise; I've sent messages to support but have yet to hear back), but you can also follow me on Tumblr or Instagram if you'd like to hear more from me, even though I don't really post all that much.

Have a blessed week, everyone, and I will return next Saturday!