april tarotscopes
read for your sun and rising sign xx
aries: ace of swords and 6 of cups
happy aries season, we are in your element. i hope you are feeling rejuvenated now that spring is upon us. now that you have a greater sense of your longterm investments, as signified by the king of pentacles last month, you have the opportunity to cut through the noise and move with clarity. the swords, in tarot, represent our rational mind and ability to mindfully engage with our environment. sometimes, our environment requires a firm hand, a harsh truth, a sharp sword. let’s call back last month’s king of pentacles again. the king’s crown is still here, self-sustaining upon the sword; adorned with some of the greenery from their garden. this represents moving from your most aligned self, the crown chakra, etc. but you can only really move with purpose when you know what you’re working towards. so aries, what’s the goal? more importantly, what’s the strategy to get there? if the plan cannot be broken down into actionable steps, you’ll get lost in the process. use your newfound clarity to direct your fiery purpose. remember, you’re learning how to make your light shine longer, not brighter.
while it may feel easy to rush through things, move quickly because you can, the 6 of cups is a reminder that clinging to the past, past habits or ways of thinking, will keep you trapped there. notice on the 6 of cups how there’s a guard in the corner. not to be dramatic, but one could say the children are stuck in their home, in their garden. one could say the older child is passing a white flower, a symbol of innocence, down the younger child to cope with this situation. this can be a blessing as the past can inform our present decisions. it can also be a warning not to get stuck in patterns that keep us trapped in naive environments. see how the flowers are still buds, but nothing’s full grown? because nostalgia is contained in a single moment in time. nostalgia cannot cannot exist in the present. utilize your past experiences to inform your current patterns of behavior. use the past as a tool, not as the basis for your present truths.
taurus: the chariot and the king of wands
with venus just entering taurus and taurus season beginning this month, the current astrology is asking taurus placements to dial in on their values. what makes them feel more on their body and connected to the world around them. last month, the emperor asked you to get serious abt your life and reminded of you of the discipline it takes to get there. for a sign ruled by venus, discipline can feel like a punishment. but a gentle reframing of discipline is that of devotion. devotion to the self, the journey, the light and dark of it all. the chariot is here to emphasize that last part: the light and dark. taureans are creatures of comfort, which could be represented by the light. but really getting to the bottom of one’s values takes digging around in the dark. the light/dark figures guiding the chariot work in harmony - too much work from one side and the whole situation gets messy. see what i’m getting at, taurus? use the uncomfortable aspects of life as fuel toward your best life instead of seeing them as hurdles. you are the one in the driver’s seat, you’re driving the chariot. nothing is an obstacle if you don’t let it become one.
the king of wands has salamanders on his robe, his throne, and there’s even one chilling next to him. i’ve touched on this before, but salamanders are one of the few animals that can regenerate limbs. in tarot, this regenerative property is rightly paired with fire as a reminder of the trials endured by the king on their way to the throne. the king of wands serves as a reminder that you will probably get burned as you handle your inner fire. you will be uncomfortable, you will hurt, and you will heal. you will learn what it takes to make sure you don’t get burned again. you use this hurt as fuel to share more love and investment into yourself, which in turn, makes you a warm and empathetic community member. the king of wands is confident in their purpose, they understand the risks needed to achieve sovereignty.
gemini: ace of pentacles and 10 of pentacles
i always appreciate when tarot tells a straightforward story, like getting a clear beginning and ending in the pentacles suit. the pentacles suit relates to our investments, typically material, but also our energy, time, our values. the ace of pentacles, especially timed to the beginning of spring, highlights the importance of wisely planned investments, gemini. the pentacles suit represents the tangible world, so if there’s something you’ve been looking to start, the ace is a reminder to do it right the first time. do it right the first time and know that the first time may take longer than you anticipated (or would like). notice the blossoming garden on the ace of pentacles card, imagine if it were before you, gemini. it took a lot of time, a lot of patience, and dedication to a long-term vision to create this garden. it took planting and tending to a lot of seeds. you get the metaphor, gemini. the ace of pentacles is also asking you to evaluate if your current investments were made on a solid foundation. if not, it may be time for some spring cleaning (physically and metaphysically, lol).
i like to imagine the garden we see in the ace of pentacles belongs to the family in the 10 of pentacles. the long-term, generational abundance all began with a little seed and a lot of hard work. one way to figure out what seeds to plant right now is to think abt what fruit you want down the line. are you picking up what i’m putting down? even if you don’t get exactly what you hoped for, by committing to the goal you will learn more abt what you do value. and whatever you value will join you in your 10 of pentacles garden in the future. pentacles is related to the element of earth, calling further emphasis to practical and tangible goals. this can be as lofty as home ownership and as simple as committing to a daily practice. the 10 of pentacles also speaks to family, but not necessarily (or always) blood family. a community with whom you have shared values. this path is not meant to be taken alone, but you must be the one planting the seeds. be prepared to share, gemini, and you’ll be surprised by how much comes back to you.
cancer: 6 of swords and 7 of pentacles
despite these cards being different numbers and suits, seeing them side by side reveals many similarities; color tunic, boots, haircut, staff, etc. we could say that our 6 of swords figure was getting their head right, getting to dry land, and planting roots in the 7 of pents. the 6 of swords is a welcome card in the midst of the swords suit, especially coming off the 5 of swords, a card of conflict and exiting the scene. the 6 of swords represents regaining your mental strength after enduring an incompatible environment. this card’s astrological association is mercury in aquarius. (yes, that’s the name of this substack and my mercury placement <3) this astrological placement tends to be detached, they will give themselves the space and distance needed to make a rational decision. i appreciate the use of water in this card’s meaning, too, especially for cancer placements. it represents working through one’s emotions (again, from a distance) in order to reach a calmer mental state. through the chaos, you can maintain a sense of inner peace by giving yourself time to feel. i mean, feel your own emotions, not carry everyone else’s.
the 7 of pentacles can speak to when life’s matters feel tedious or even time-consuming. perhaps it feels unnecessary to take care of your own emotional and mental health, in the grand scheme of things. but i can tell you right now, you cannot force yourself to process your environment faster than you want to. you cannot just “get over it”, cancer. that is not your energetic signature. calling back the 6 of swords, notice how it takes friction, movement, energy to get through the water and onto dry land? your sign’s energy does best when emotions are moved through, not thrown in a box to deal with later. the 7 of pentacles speaks to when it’s time to diversify your investments, try something else, do anything other than stay stagnant. cancer is a cardinal sign, meaning this energy is meant for action. even if it’s not toward your immediate home on dry land. even if it’s not the crop you wanted to flourish. the fact that a crop flourished, the fact that you got to dry land is valuable enough.
leo: the magician and the 3 of cups
as i was starting your tarotscope, the song “Voilà” by N.E.R.D., Gucci Mane, & Wale came on shuffle. if you don’t know the song, it opens with Gucci’s hook, “They think I’m a magician, they think I know magic / They think I go “abracadabra”, leave me, come back ‘cause I’m different”
i love when the universe speaks through music. anyway, leo, you gained some clarity, as shown by last month’s ace of swords. you figured out what parts of your life are authentic to you and which ones were a misaligned role. now, the magician asks you to take that energy up a notch. let me explain. in numerology, 1s are a fresh start, the birth of a new idea or way of being. the number 1 is abt standing on business, recognizing that shit doesn’t shake until you do, making your dreams a reality. while last month’s ace of swords exists on a minor arcana level, meaning external, day-to-day matters; the magician belongs to the major arcana and the fool’s journey. after the fool’s leap of faith, the fool realizes just how essential they are to the process. it is only through the fool’s determination and mastery of the tools they have at hand, that their dreams will come true.
the three of cups is a reminder to find individuals who are also on their fool’s journey, also taking charge of their lives, to connect with, celebrate with, harvest with. the 3 of cups combines the energies of mercury (3=gemini/mercury) with the emotional fulfillment of the cups suit (cups being water). i appreciate how each figure is raising their own glass, wearing different color clothing and adornments, signifying their individual achievements and sense of purpose. we often approach the cups suit with feelings of enmeshment or closeness, but this card differs from that in the intentional choice of varying clothing and signatures. even more so, we don’t see the face of one of the figures in the card. there is a sense of boundaries within the celebration. it can be easy for leo placements to be all or nothing, as you operate from your heart space, but the 3 of cups highlights the need to be surrounded by people who shine as brightly as you do, but without you overextending yourself for them. surround yourself with other leaders, leo, not followers.
virgo: 5 of wands and 6 of wands
last month, the 10 of swords asked if you’re ready to get up and fight for the life you want. the 5 of wands is an invitation to get in the ring. the wands, in tarot, relate to the fire element; our passions, our drive, our creative energy. when we reach the 5 of wands, we see 5 individuals, all differently and brightly dressed, swinging their wands around. they all want to survive this situation, which creates a (hopefully) healthy level of competition. that’s the 5 of wands - when you recognize that standing your ground, making your voice heard, using your energy strategically, may bring abt conflict or competition from your environment. virgos, i know you appreciate a calm environment (and nervous system, lol) but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from chaos. virgo’s signature is to create order out of disorder; and sometimes order requires force. it’s not Force for the sake of oppression, but rather, because you deserve to have a say in the world around you. notice our figures are all on the same plane, same playing field. no one’s higher or lower than another. this speaks to the other players in the game of life, virgo. you are not better or worse than those you are in conflict with. you are just in conflict with them.
the 6 of wands as your supporting energy, there is a clear story here: after standing your ground through ego-driven situations, especially ones where you kept your ego in check, you will be rewarded in ways that are meaningful to you. the 6 of wands is abt being celebrated, knowing your worth and moving accordingly. this card warns you not to let this go to your head (note: the figure has the celebratory wreath, but no trophy or medal; don’t count your accomplishments before they are actually accomplished!). again, you’re not “better” for surviving a 5 of wands situation and you’re not “worse” for having gone through it in the first place. but just getting in the ring can support you in honoring yourself, your journey, and your accomplishments.
libra: the sun and the queen of swords
in astrology, the sun is considered “in its fall” in the sign of libra, meaning, the sun’s energy doesn’t operate well in libra. why? because the sun shines on its own, without support and need for relationship. libra is the sign of partnership, how we relate to others, how we find ourselves in other people. as we are now in your opposite season, the sun is here to ask how you can express yourself without need for external validation or feedback. the sun shines across the sky, touching every corner, without care or need to make themselves small. have you been overly dimming your light for the sake of your environment, libras? if so, how can you be like a sunflower and follow the light? if you’ve been looking for abundance, for warmth and endless growth, you don’t need to go far; it’s all within you. that’s the beauty of the sun’s energy: it doesn’t need a lot to make a lot happen. another aspect to the sun’s “fall” in libra: the sun has no boundaries, its light touches whatever it wants; libra, at its healthiest, represents our individual boundaries. note the garden wall keeping the child safe from harm. note the queen of swords as your supporting energy. boundaries are possible and necessary in this endeavor.
we approach the queen of swords from a profile perspective. this is intentional, as the swords are abt our perception and judgment. the queen doesn’t play all of her cards, she is strategic. so while the sun encourages self-expression and some level of vulnerability, the queen of swords reminds you that not everyone appreciates and respects the sun for shining. in fact, sometimes people get burned because they stayed around too long. the queen of swords is a reminder to give this sun energy to those who also recognize and respect your boundaries. if we look at both figures, the child and the queen, we notice they both have skewed perspectives to the outside world: the sunflowers cloud the child’s vision, and well, the clouds cloud the queen’s vision. but yet, they persist. even if you don’t have all the information, libra, even if you don’t have a full audience, you can still shine. you can still express yourself. you can still stand on your own two feet.
scorpio: king of wands and 4 of swords
as a mars-ruled water sign, scorpio is truly where fire (determination, discipline) meets water (intuition, primal instincts). the king of wands is an invitation to take this seemingly impossible energetic combination and use its “steam” to push you forward in your journey. last month’s 2 of wands had you itching for more from your environment, and the king of wands is your green light to go get it (whatever it is). the king of wands is a charismatic individual, using their confidence and inherent self-worth to warm others, which in turns bolsters their inner fire. it’s a never-ending cycle, but in a good way. the king is the ending, the most mature energy of its suit, in this case, wands/fire. this represents finishing what you started at the beginning of your wands journey. the wands suit is one that celebrates individuality, breaking free from societal or environmental expectations, forging your own path. if you’re feeling stuck, remember what you’ve been through. remember you can be like a salamander; you can handle the heat, you can regenerate when needed, you can see your vision through to the end.
this seems like a big task, for sure, but it all starts in the mind. scorpio placements have an innate ability to overcome whatever comes their way because they believe they can. but something scorpio placements often forget (or disregard) is the value in resting. martians (scorpio and aries) are best in motion, but too much movement on the body without rest, and burnout is bound to show its ass. so scorpio, will you take the rest you need? especially if you are abt to embody the king of wands, whose energy seems boundless, you will need to begin to practice intentional rest. meditation, prayer, literally taking naps every once in a while. anything that will support you in the boldest, most authentic version of yourself. back to my first point, this all starts in the mind. the swords suit is abt our mental abilities, so in the 4 of swords, it’s abt training your mind and body to rest. it’s abt catching yourself in the midst of self-destructive cycles and choosing rest and peace. it’s knowing that a break is just that; a break. stopping for a second doesn’t mean quitting.
sagittarius: 5 of pentacles and king of pentacles
the five of pentacles reminds me of the chorus of Lola Young’s “Not Like That Anymore”, which came on shuffle as i started your reading. because, of course. the chorus goes like this: “Now I’m locked out, got nowhere to go / And my phone got stolen and my balance is low / But if I look on the bright side, at least I’m not f*cking myself anymore, not anymore”.
the five of pentacles represents the point on your journey when you realize you’ve lost almost everything, but at least you still have yourself. even if you’re f*cking things up, you’re not one of those things being f*cked up! while tough to look at, this card is a reminder that help and support is out there, even in the most unexpected places. the pentacles suit is also nudge to re-evaluate your sense of self-worth. do you feel like you can’t ask for help from certain people or environments? do you not let yourself receive help from your community or environment? working through those questions or ideas will help you… get over yourself… and get back on your feet. you are actually your greatest resource, so by valuing yourself enough to ask for help, you will get the help you need. your sign is ruled by jupiter, the great gas giant of luck, opportunity, and spiritual fulfillment. luck is wherever you look for it, sagittarius.
the king of pentacles here serves as a reminder of what you’re working toward. abundance, generosity, the ability to provide for one’s community. you’ll find that the best leaders are the ones who are confident in themselves and their abilities, they aren’t showing off how valuable they are, but their value shines through their work and dedication. in the Magic Pantry Tarot deck, the king of pents is represented by a big cake. yes, you can have your cake and eat it too, sagittarius, but cake is sweeter when shared. the king of pentacles wants enough resources to share with their community, not to hoard for themselves. the king of pentacles was once in a 5 of pentacles chapter and was able to overcome it through re-evaluating what is actually important and necessary to bring with them to the end.
capricorn: the star and the empress
in tarot, the star is associated with aquarius. aquarius sits in capricorn’s 2nd House (2H); the House of value, investments, self-worth. with pluto now in aquarius, moving through capricorn’s 2H, there is an emphasized focus on what capricorn placements deem valuable. while pop astrology wants to label capricorns as cold and unemotional, looking at capricorns’ 2H in aquarius reveals something softer: a deep sense of hope in the universe. when the star shows up in a reading, it’s an opportunity to reconnect to one’s spirituality, meaning your soul, connection to something bigger than yourself. it’s holding onto the dreams you thought were unachievable, following your inner north star. if we look back to the hermit, you’ll notice the same star in his lantern, guiding the hermit through the darkness. as long as you hold onto hope, capricorn, you will find your place amongst the cosmos. in the fool’s journey, the star appears after the tower (which, coincidentally is related to pluto/mars). this placement is intentional and serves as a reminder that there is always peace after a storm.
back to the 2H for a second. this House is associated with taurus and venus; as is the empress. the empress is the point in the fool’s journey when he realizes his physical body, feelings of pleasure, connection to the senses and environment, are all deeply important to continuing on his journey. without a connection to these things, the rest of the journey is moot. capricorns, as you rediscover your place in the universe, in the systems that surround you, don’t lose sight of creative pursuits. creativity can look and be a lot of different things btw: cooking, crafts, being out in nature, meditation, writing, moving your body. anything that gets you to feel what it means to be alive. the empress is often associated with the birth of a new idea. capricorns, how can you bring your best ideas and best life to full term?
aquarius: king of cups and the hermit
despite its name, aquarius is an air sign. aquarius is also the water bearer. in spirituality, water represents our gut instincts, intuition, emotional depth. so it can be confusing for pop astrology believers when most aquarians are not “emotional” in the slightest. however, walk with me for a second: think abt a jug of water. the water is contained until, say, a gust of wind or a careless hand knocks it over and the water spills. all of this is to say, aquarius placements can be emotional, they are filled with water but they can keep it contained (until it spills over). that’s where the king of cups comes in, too. the king of cups is truly the master of balancing one’s head versus one’s heart. he is like a water bearer of sorts; surrounded by water and choppy waves, but seated above them, unaffected. when the king of cups appears, especially for aquarians, it’s an invitation to lean into the watery aspect of your namesake. while this emotional processing may be uncharted waters (lol), remember that you have saturn and uranus co-working over your sign. those planets are farther away from earth than mercury, venus, mars, etc. this will bring a natural sense of distance to how you deal with watery/emotional matters. also note the dynamic environment the king sits in: lots of waves, a whale, a boat, oh my! and yet, look how cool, calm, and collected the king is. he’s like a lighthouse; be like a lighthouse. you don’t have to dominate your environment, aquarius. you can live harmoniously with it.
with the hermit as your supporting energy, distance and solitude is further emphasized. i mentioned this in aquarius’ reading, but the star that shines in the hermit’s lantern is the same one featured in the star. a call to follow one’s inner compass. so aquarius, as you continue to practice human emotions, as you absorb the king of cups’ energy this month, it’s okay to take a step back to figure out what it means for you. “hermit mode” is called hermit mode for a reason. but don’t let your isolation become self-imposed exclusion, either. remember the king of cups: balancing boundaries with emotional depth. the hermit is associated with virgo, in astrology, and represents the solitude necessary to reset one’s internal wiring. it is the recognition that your most fulfilling relationships (king of cups) will be the ones where you feel safe and empowered to be as introspective as needed (the hermit), knowing that you’ll come out of it more emotionally regulated and aligned.
pisces: 6 of wands and the empress
the 6 of wands is a welcome card after a month of mercury retrograde affecting your sign. the 6 of wands is a card of triumph, victory, being celebrated (but not letting it get to your head). it’s the type of Overcoming that supports a healthy sense of self, especially after the tension built up in the 5 of wands. you didn’t “beat” anyone except your own self-doubt. that deserves a parade, don’t you think? the 6 of wands is associated with jupiter in leo, astrologically. jupiter represents abundance, traveling great distances (physically, emotionally, spiritually), feeling aligned with the universe. leo is the sign of joy, warmth, ego, and play. so these planetary signatures combined brings an explosion of good feelings and energies; if you’re not feeling sexy, pisces, the 6 of wands wants you to enjoy your moment in the sun. embrace your individual achievements, share yourself unapologetically. however, don’t rest on your laurels for too long; there’s still work to be done.
pisces is ruled by jupiter, in traditional astrology. modern astrology will tell you that neptune is pisces’ ruler. but regardless of what you choose, you should know that venus (planet of love, investments, pleasures) is exalted (aka really loves to be in) the sign of pisces. so what does that tell us? our greatest desires, the things abt life that make us feel lucky, are not tangibly understood, but immediately felt. the empress, also associated with venus, is abt our physical world. notice she is seated in nature, not taking over her environment, but living peacefully within it. she can feel the earth below her, feel the wind on her skin and in her hair, smell the wheat and trees that surround her. the empress is a reminder to get back to what makes you feel good. this card is often associated with pregnancy, but not always a literal birth. more like, birth of a creative endeavor. nurturing your ideal life into existence.
thank you for taking the time to read this month’s tarotscope. if it resonated with you and you’d like a personal reading, you can email me at welcomehomewrld@gmail.com or direct message me on instagram @ welcomehome.world.