Tough Love Tarot: Your Pick-A-Card/Horoscope Reading for September 2024

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) - The Hanged Man

1/12

Ah, sweet surrender… Is it time to raise the white flag on a situation that’s beyond your control? The Hanged Man symbolises a time of acceptance, surrender and enlightenment. That is to say, do yourself a favour and lighten your damn load. The Hanged Man hangs upside down from the branches – but by his own volition. Resting in this position may look uncomfy, but it is only from this angle that he is able to gain a new perspective on the situation at hand. While fighting for your convictions and values is important to you, this might be how you’re creating unnecessary friction and stress in your life. The advice of this card is to practice acceptance over what you cannot control, because to resist would only be a waste of precious energy. There can be no such thing as safety if you’re constantly putting yourself on a battlefield, Aries. Even if surrendering might feel like you’re “giving up” in the moment, the real win is having one less thing plaguing your inner peace.

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) - Justice

2/12

Is your moral compass keeping you up at night, Taurus? Perhaps it’s a sign that corrections need to be made, and soon. Justice is like the judge and jury of the Tarot deck. Her only mission is to ensure fairness in all things, ruling with a balance of logic, intuition and higher law (the moral code that transcends the man-made laws of society). Maybe no official “rules” have been broken, but you still feel like an injustice has occurred. If it’s corrupting your sense of peace or security, what can you do to make right of the situation within yourself? The advice of this card is to be loyal to your own code of conduct. Your spirit knows the true crime would be to betray your conscience – or risk being sentenced to a prison of inner conflict. For you, what’s “right” and “wrong” is determined  by how much peace it brings to your body.

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) - Knight of Cups

3/12

Are you putting love on standby when all you want is to let it in? Perhaps your heart is racing for reasons other than stress… The Knight of Cups is the most romantic and affectionate knight in the deck. His mission is to give his cup of love and receive it in kind. Maybe you haven’t felt safe enough to express your love for someone or something recently, whether it’s because of a fear of vulnerability, rejection or getting hurt. But is the point of loving only to be loved back? Or is to become a better you by loving? The advice of this card is to stay true to your heart, regardless of what the outcome might be. There is no shame in loving freely and boldly, Gemini. It’s only your attachment to the outcome that brings you fear… The love you feel is yours to enjoy and yours to keep – being able to share it is just a bonus!

Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22) - The Empress

4/12

Soft souls need shells, Cancer. But aren’t you tired of wearing an armour? The Empress is the archetype of femininity in the Tarot deck. She symbolises love, abundance and nurturance – but she can only rest in her true nature when she feels protected from external threats. Perhaps you’re facing responsibilities, deadlines, or challenging environments that keep you in a state of action and vigilance. Whether it be for a day, an hour or just 5 minutes, you could use some softening. When was the last time you gave yourself permission to just…relax? The advice of this card is: If you were your own mommy, how would you nurture yourself? Create a safe haven for your inner empress to rest and enjoy her harvest. The only rule is: don’t “do” anything… and let yourself feel really good about it.

Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22) - Queen of Pentacles

5/12

Even the darkest of nights has its silver lining… You just have to know where to look. The Star symbolises a wish, desire or  renewal of hope. What is something you look up to when things are looking down? Perhaps a situation in your life is causing you concern or worry, and you’re tempted to lean into pessimism. The advice of this card is to renew your willpower with hope, Leo. Instead of focusing on what you’re running away from, can you focus on what you’re running toward? Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, can you focus on what could be gained? What you value most in life reveals your own north star, your source of guidance and motivation in uncertain times. None of us will never have total control over every challenge in our lives, but we do have control over how we let these challenges shape us.

Virgo (Aug 24 - Sep 23) - Six of Swords

6/12

Distance makes the heart grow fonder… Or at least in this instance, it calms the nervous system. Perhaps you have to put space between you and someone or something in order to feel a semblance of peace. The Six of Swords symbolises sailing on from turbulent times into peaceful waters. By taking a step back, you might be seeing where your boundaries have been too porous before. The advice of this card is to protect your peace of mind… for no thinking is productive when the mind is in conflict or chaos. With your swords neatly rested on board, your mind is finally able to rest, and that feels like true safety. You’re not giving up, Virgo, you’re releasing control. The brain needs its vacations too! Just sit back and trust that the clarity you seek is waiting for you in that place of peace…

Libra (Sep 24 - Oct 23) - Queen of Pentacles

7/12

There’s no peace like being with yourself… but you can’t live in isolation forever. The Queen of Pentacles is a card of self-care, self-investment and self-nurturance. Perhaps you’ve taken great pride in cultivating your inner sanctuary all by yourself – the only issue is that visitors keep wearing their dirty shoes inside! The advice of this card is to honour yourself by protecting your standards. Maybe it’s time to set some house rules for anyone wishing to enter your space. If you hold yourself to a certain level of respect, kindness and self-love, it only makes sense that you want the same for those you love. Our individual well-being and safety is often interdependent on each other… While you do not seek to rule over anyone, you acknowledge how the behaviours of those close to you do also affect you. Weeds in your neighbour’s garden will eventually be weeds in yours too.

Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 22) - Ten of Wands

8/12

Set down the burdens, Scorpio! There are more fun ways to break your back… The Ten of Wands symbolises taking on the responsibilities of the community, but at what cost? There’s a fine line between being helpful and people-pleasing in order to feel secure within a community. Perhaps you like to feel capable and needed, and it’s led you to taking on more than you can carry alone. The advice of this card is to identify where you are valued even when you are not “doing” anything for anyone. Love and safety are not things we should have to “earn” by perpetually proving ourselves. True safety should feel like it’s not going to suddenly be ripped out from under you. Where or with whom do you feel like just showing up is enough? There, is your safe space to drop the wands… and be appreciated just for being you.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 - Dec 21) - Five of Pentacles

9/12

Are you truly lost? Or are you just afraid to be found? The Five of Pentacles symbolises loss, abandonment or misfortune – feeling on the “outside”. Perhaps you’ve been feeling lonely, isolated or disconnected lately, and perhaps this is by choice. Between the vulnerability of letting others in or going solo, you’ve decided to face the frostbite on your own. The advice of this card is to examine where your walls are keeping you from experiencing connection, community and a safety in belonging. While your defences might have first been built to keep you safe, they could now be keeping good things out. Is everyone else really untrustworthy? Or does the mistrust live within you? Brownie points for braving the blizzard, Saggi… but sometimes the real courage lies in knocking on that chapel door to get invited into the warmth.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20) - Nine of Swords

10/12

Having trouble sleeping, Cappy? I would too, with nine swords hovering over my bed at night. The Nine of Swords symbolises anxiety, stress and fear… the kind of nightmares that leave you waking up in a puddle of sweat. They say worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles, only today’s peace. Perhaps your mind has been playing out all your worst-case scenarios, as a way to “predict” and “protect” you from a hypothetical future. Newsflash: these thoughts are only hurting you in the now. The advice of this card is to protect yourself from your own worst thoughts. Future you will handle future you’s problems, and you’ll want to make sure future you isn’t sleep-deprived so it can perform to its fullest. Priority number one is making sure there are no monsters left under your bed (in your mind!)... lest you’ll never be able to rest peacefully again.

Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 18) - Ten of Cups

11/12

What is family? Is it sharing the same DNA as someone? Or is it being able to trust someone with your life? The Ten of Cups symbolises deep emotional fulfilment, love and kinship – the picture perfect “happily ever after”. Perhaps the kind of safety you’ve been craving is a safety of the heart, Aqua. The advice of this card is to identify the relationships and communities around you that make you feel most at home (a.k.a your chosen family) and why they give you this feeling. These are the bonds you’ve forged with others that give you a sense of internal security and safety, through all the thick and thins of life. Jobs will change, friends will drift apart… but family will always be there. A key ingredient to social and emotional safety is knowing that we have a reliable support system – whether or not they’re bound to us by blood.

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) - Five of Cups

12/12

Sometimes, the glass is half-full because we’ve filled it with our tears. The Five of Cups symbolises an emotional loss, sadness and longing. The man looks down at his three cups that have spilled over – but in his stupor, he doesn’t notice the two cups left upright behind him. Perhaps you’ve just gone through what feels like a loss and are still grieving what could have been. But after this moment of mourning, comes the dawn of a new day. The advice of this card is to turn the situation around to see what you can still be grateful for, or optimistic about. Since the “worst” has already happened, what do you have to lose now? If we never experience our lows, we will never appreciate our highs. If those three cups hadn’t spilled, would the remaining two cups be as precious? Maybe sometimes we have to hit rock bottom to learn that it’s a launch pad.