Tough Love Tarot: Your Pick-A-Card/Horoscope Tongue Lashings for July 2024

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) – Six of Wands

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Time for your victory lap, Aries! We all know how you hate to lose… The Six of Wands represents triumph, success and achievement: a battle hard fought and won. While celebrating your efforts is a well-earned reward, keep in mind that a sore winner celebrates alone. This card remind us that pride is merely a by-product of insecurity – true confidence, on the other hand, is neither inflated by praise nor torn down by criticism. It recognises how our biggest critics, doubters and adversaries can sometimes be our biggest motivators for change. So give gratitude to the challenges that have shaped you into the champion you are. After all, without opposition, there would be no game. Without the game, your fan club wouldn’t exist. And if your fan club doesn’t exist, what exactly are you the president of again?

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) – The Star

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It’s always “hope for the best and prepare for the worst”– except, have you just been preparing for the worst without letting yourself hope for… anything? The Star represents a renewal of hope, a wish fulfilment or a strong desire. While it’s wise to be grounded in reality, too much preparing without any hoping makes Taurus a dull star. Boo. There’s a fine line between managing your expectations, and rejecting your dreams before they can reject you. Perhaps you’re afraid to get your hopes up only to be disappointed… but the future you’re dreaming of cannot exist without your full commitment. The Star gives you permission to shoot for the stars! At the very least, starting with your own imagination. What’s the worst that could happen, anyway? You’re already living in your own safety net.

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) – The Fool

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How many lemons does life need to give you for you to finally make lemonade? Pro tip: you can’t extract the the lesson from the lemon if you refuse to learn from the past altogether. While The Fool symbolises a youthful optimism for the future, his selective memory loss can be a clean slate that cuts both ways. Being forgiving can be a virtue, but being forgetful is… less fruitful. Perhaps you’re always eager to move on from hard times, without peeling back the layers of wisdom they have to offer. The advice of The Fool here is to spend more time with your past pain and challenges, to milk them for every last drop of insight they can give. Your thirst for adventure must be quenched – but not before packing the refreshments needed for the journey ahead! Lessons repeat until we learn them, Gemini… Aren’t you sick of the same old lemons?

Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22) – Seven of Cups

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Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve… How about appreciating the exact path you took that made you the person you are today? The Seven of Cups symbolises illusion, confusion or daydreaming… a concoction of mixed emotions. Perhaps you’re spending more time ruminating the past instead of investing in your here-and-now. You might have ideas about how you would’ve done things differently… but you didn’t know then what you know now. And you only know what you know now by making the choices you did. The advice of this card is to start daydreaming about your future the way you’ve been doing with your past. You can choose to drown in your regrets – or you can turn them into lessons and overflow with wisdom instead. It’s time to turn your ‘would ‘s into will, Cancer. Even an empty cup is filled… with potential.

Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22) – King of Pentacles

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Old habits die hard… and when they feel threatened by change, they die screaming. While the King of Pentacles is the epitome of stability, the old man has been seated on his throne for so long that he’s become part of the foliage. The vines growing over him represent the abundance of resources at his disposal, but beg the question: are they also what’s tying him down? Perhaps something comes to you like second nature; this could be a job, routine, living situation or method of doing things. But are you so cemented in it that it stops you from innovating? Success breeds complacency, and complacency breeds failure – even if something has yet to fail. The advice of this card is to stay flexible and adaptable to change, or risk becoming a relic of the past. Every King has his pair of golden handcuffs, Leo. Consider that what keeps you comfortable could be the very thing keeping you stuck.

Virgo (Aug 24 - Sep 23) – The Chariot

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Got a case of the zoomies, Virgo? Or are you just excited to see me? The Chariot is a card of victory, determination and taking action. Like the Emperor who’s ready to leave the safety of the village, you might be itching to set off on a voyage of your own. You’ve dedicated yourself to building your own empire, and for that, you should feel accomplished… But there would be no need to leave if not for the feeling that maybe, something is still missing? You know these familiarities will loyally await your return but for now, they’re precisely what’s stifling your growth. Perhaps you’ve gotten bored with the predictability of your routine, or crave a challenge that could keep you on your toes. Either way, the advice of this card is to find a worthy conquest that will lure you out of your comfort zone and deliver the thrill you’ve been seeking. That’s the thing about home – adventure only happens when you run away from it.

Libra (Sep 24 - Oct 23) – Page of Wands

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Is that a fear of commitment, I smell? Or is it the listlessness of being without commitment? The Page of Wands is the embodiment of a free spirit. Since the Pages in Tarot have no set goals or missions, this Page is free to chase every whim, idea or spark of inspiration. But not every spark has to grow into a wildfire, Libra. Not every hobby needs to become a skill. Not every skill has to become a career. You get the drift. The advice of this card is to allow your interests to remain interests – and discern which are deserving of your full devotion. Perhaps your past is a mixed bag thus far, but you’re struggling to weave together a cohesive narrative. Zoom out and look for the throughline, the common denominator for what stokes your fire within. It’s time to get anchored in your values and what it is that gives you purpose. There, lies your inner compass. Your enthusiasm may be catching, but without focus, you might just blow away with the wind.

Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 22) – Ten of Pentacles

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Mind your pentacles, Scorpio! Perhaps you’ve always been devoted and generous, but are now considering where your loyalties truly lie? The Ten of Pentacles symbolises material success and stability, beyond the individual level. Are you spending your resources wisely, in a way that could benefit you a decade from now? Or are you splurging on short term gains to keep up with an image or societal expectations? The advice of this card is to consider the difference between a good deal and a good investment. While long term vision builds a sturdy castle, short-sightedness lands you a five-star hotel just for the night. Despite all the people, places and projects you might be dedicated to, remember that the only lifelong investment you’re guaranteed is yourself. Whether it’s a family, community, business or legacy you’re building, you want to ensure those pentacles are paying for the fruition of your own dreams – not someone else’s.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 - Dec 21) – Judgement

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Have you been floating in a tiny aquarium believing it was your entire ocean? Good news, Saggi! These four walls do not define you. Judgement in Tarot represents gaining a higher perspective, and a renewed spirit or purpose. Think a baptism, where you’re born again – except this time, without all the glass ceilings capping your growth. Perhaps you enjoyed feeling like a big fish in a small tank in the past… but as you gather new experiences, skills and perspectives on life, the vastness of your future beckons. Expansion requires space, lots of it. This card reminds us that we can only grow as big as our environment allows; this includes the people we surround ourselves with, the beliefs we hold about ourselves and the world, and our willingness to embrace the new. Thank the tank for what it taught you, and dive into the limitless potential that awaits in the open ocean. The waves might be intimidating, but it is in these deep waters where one may learn how to truly swim.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20) – King of Wands

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Who let the fire die out, Cappy? And what’s it gonna take to rekindle that spark? The King of Wands rules his kingdom with fire energy of the spirit. With an abundance of passion, instinct, creativity and vision, he leads himself and others by blazing the trail ahead. Working hard might have gotten you this far, but perhaps you’ve forgotten how to play along the way? This card asks: how can you make more space for pleasure and inspiration in your life? Repressing your desires for the sake of “responsibility” only makes them burst out in binges, or at the worst times. Instead of compartmentalising fun into designated time-slots, try weaving a bit of fun into your everyday life. Plot a few pit stops along your journey! Take the scenic route from time to time! Going full throttle for too long a stretch is sure to lead to burn-out. Even the King needs to replenish his fuel for life – or soon, there would be no gas left in the tank.

Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 18) – Three of Cups

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Thank you, next! But wait – have you been too quick to call it a wrap and leave people in your past? The Three of Cups symbolises celebration, joy, friendship and collaboration. While you’re wise enough to know not every relationship is forever, perhaps there is room for more sentimentality? This card reminds us that we can’t cherish the present moment if we’re always chasing our next high. Here’s a toast to those who have brought you love and lessons (whether they’re in your main cast or an extra who was only on-screen for five minutes)! Sometimes, it is what goes on behind-the-scenes that can have the biggest impact on our development. You’re the product of every interaction you’ve had, and they continue to influence you even if that person is no longer in your life. You never know when the past might come back for an encore, Aqua… When it does, can you welcome it with gratitude for the part it played in shaping who you are now?

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) – Queen of Swords

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Brrr, has someone forgotten they have a heart? The Queen of Swords is known to be the coldest b*tch in the Tarot deck. Her lore runs deep… having survived so any heartbreaks and losses that she’s chosen to rule with her mind instead, as represented by mental energy in the suit of swords. While your compassionate nature may have landed you in hot water in the past, leaving your emotions out of all your decisions is leaving an integral piece of you behind. The advice of this card is to examine where you might have been too logical or pragmatic in a way that sacrifices your desire for emotional fulfilment. Protecting yourself is a wise strategy, but remember there can be no genuine connection without mutual vulnerability. Despite everything you’ve endured, you’re still here standing, aren’t you? Perhaps it’s time to lay down your weapons, Pisces, and trust in the wisdom you’ve gained thus far. The true sign of strength and courage is in an open heart.