We at CULT preach the message, savor the journey, as a reminder that one’s destination is not always the goal. The journey often holds a silent, subtle magic if we allow ourselves to be drawn down its path. This month reminds us that it often requires more strength and confidence to wander down this path, unsure of a destination. But if there’s one thing that Natalie Vartanian‘s cards tell us, it is that vulnerability is not weakness and that trusting the journey is a strength in itself.
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OVERARCHING THEME – The Strength Card
The Challenge: My dear TarotScope fans, you may feel like you have ‘done the work’ but there is another level or layer that has not been accessed since it has lived in the shadows and has been scary to look at. Being strong is not about being tough. Somewhere along the way you may have thought you had to have your guard up all of the time, that you had to fight in order to get what you really wanted. Or on the other side, your sensitivity was not respected or understood, so you were asked to harden your heart and shut down when it comes to your feelings and intuition etc. You saw vulnerability as weakness and it is time to reprogram that belief in your brain!
The Opportunity: This card reminds us that vulnerability, softness, trusting that everything will be okay, is the most powerful way to get what we want actually. It may feel counter-intuitive to drop the walls in order to win the war, because you would be exposing yourself, however, you can influence someone much more by HOW you show up and not WHAT you do or WHAT you say. You have got to be ‘strong’ in pursuing those creative and passion pieces. You have got to be ‘strong’ in speaking up for yourself and your needs and your desires. It takes courage to be honest and forthright and create boundaries when necessary.
The Takeaway: This month is about you doing you. Speak up. Create. Follow your heart. Be happy. Heal those wounds. Remember that this is your new life now. You had to go through the hard to make you stronger and more committed. It had to show you the dark side in order for you to appreciate the light and remember what is most important in your life. Your life really is bright – you have come a long way and there is a lot to be grateful for. Open your heart even more to feel and receive and enjoy the wonders.
Aries (March 21-April 19) – The Hermit Card
The Challenge: My dear Aries, you may be feeling a bit of a push/pull this month. You may be called to be out and about, socializing, networking, etc but also are quite content being alone, in your home, where you can recharge to serve another day. As much as you feel the need to be a social butterfly this month, the actual need is for you to heed that call for you to focus on exploring your inner world. It may feel challenging since you want to foster your relationships, but it is important to take the time to spend quality time with self and discover what is wanting to reveal itself. Soul searching is necessary for you right now. Whether you physically get away or mentally have moments of solitude, that spaciousness will feel like literal food for the soul.
The Opportunity: This inner journey/searching will allow you to focus on what it is you desire, what feels good for you and not get distracted by all of the various things pulling for your attention. This reflection will help you continue the work of getting much more in tune with flow and intuition. Your purpose is wanting quality time with you and for that to happen you need that space. The end result will be clarity and reconnection with your path to fulfillment. You can do this in a way that is balanced and does not necessarily have to mean being all by yourself. Maybe you can have that tranquility and harmony with someone and support each other in the nurturing of the spirit.
The Takeaway: Exquisite self care is your homework this month and paying attention to YOUR voice more than others. You know deep down, you really do. It may prove a bit more challenging than usual when things are picking up speed (we are fully in spring and the blooming of it all), however it probably is a reason for you to be even more protective and diligent of your self care and time to yourself.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20) – The Empress Card
The Challenge: My dear Taurus, in order to build your empire, you need to put in the work, brick by brick, day by day. But this also means learning that balance of stepping back and allowing things to take their course and know they will materialize when it is time. You have got the working hard part down pat, being the master builder that you are, however the feminine aspect of flow and nurturing and patience is just as important. It is definitely a time to invest your energy in the structural work: strategy, plans, systems, building of the framework, but in a way that feels fun and flow-like and effortless! She also represents being a leader and not getting caught up in the weeds … zoom out your focus for your life, your empire, and see how you can effect change by having others support your vision as well.
The Opportunity: The Empress is reminding you that the effort you put in consistently, the slow and steady building, is what will pay off in the end. Really getting the thing you are working on and creating out into the world. The key here is sustainability. It is consistent love and focus and attention. It’s easy to get ideas and start full blast, expending all of your energy there, but if you are not careful you then fade out in a month or two. She is also about nurturing – nurturing ourselves, people around us, ideas, creativity … and waiting until the time is right. Divine timing. Like the mother allowing the baby to form inside and being open to when the baby wants to be a part of this life.
The Takeaway: This month keep the vision of your empire in mind so you remember what you are working towards when things get busy and unbearable and then get to work, but fun and effortless work, k?! Set yourself up to win and finish strong. Also trust that things are unfolding as they should and take care of you – exquisite care!
Gemini (May 21 – June 20) – The Wheel of Fortune Card
The Challenge: My dear Gemini, that saying that life is a crap shoot, to a certain extent is true. You never know what is going to present itself on a day to day basis. Whether it is an opportunity or a bump in the road, it is unpredictable and unattached to who, what where and how. Life happens. The Wheel reminds us that we are the masters of our destiny. Things may feel up in the air, constantly changing, or just plain unclear, but there is still a lot that you can feel grounded in and see the fruits of your labor. We are the only ones that will create our fortune. If things are not going according to your desires (or plans), at any moment you can grab that wheel and spin it again. The challenge is definitely in the times you need to simply go with the flow, however you have got to also be in action and direct that energy to make sure it is spinning in the desired direction. What goes down must come up at some point.
The Opportunity: The wonderful wheel of fortune to me signifies the winds of change! We are getting into an upswing month. You are destined for greatness and success … we all are. So first and foremost you need to fully own what is possible and what you are capable of – those amazing ideas, they are going to pay off for you because you know how to make shit happen! Fortunate people are those who make the best of situations and when the opportunity presents itself, they strike. You have that power and ability to turn things around. Remember to focus on all of the riches life has to offer. ALSO if you haven’t been feeling super connected to your passion, your why, your reason for being here, then spin that wheel again so you can get REconnected! Next, look at where in your life you are giving away your power or not taking control of the outcome and flip that script.
The Takeaway: This month is about feeling the prosperity and potential in in your life, then taking action to grow that even more. If something isn’t working, let it go and do something different. Again, you are the creator of your fortune, so don’t be afraid to keep spinning until you get it right. Your homework is to focus on the fact that your fortune is not based on fate or destiny, it’s up to you! It’s up to you to create it. As soon as you really get that, the concept that you can literally have any of your wishes be fulfilled, your energy will dramatically shift and as a result you will be able to attract the fortune to you like a magnet! Now that’s magic. You will have spun the wheel and it will have landed on that lucky square that screams JACKPOT.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) – The Lovers Card
The Challenge: My dear Cancer, I know that sometimes it’s hard to be ‘in the moment’ when we are running around from thing to thing to thing. You have had some ups and downs and the past few months felt freaking hard at times, I know that. As hard as it may be, it’s time to turn the tide for yourself 180 degrees. This month you have the Lovers card. The Lovers represent all things beauty, connection, love, intimacy, balance, giving and sharing. When someone says that they’re in love and others joke about the rose-colored glasses, it’s because we most definitely have a perspective during that time of “life is beautiful” and is to be enjoyed fully! The butterflies in your stomach twittering away at all times is the goal!
The Opportunity: Fall back in love again: In love with yourself, with life, with your dreams and visions, with all of the possibilities. Because when we are in that state, we attract like moths to a flame. And while you’re at it, it wouldn’t hurt to open your heart back up to love of the romantic nature too if that has fallen flat. As you see the world through romantic lenses, there will be so many opportunities for you to ‘get your love on’. Life is to be lived with purpose and enjoyed. As Mr. Mack Douglas says … “Dedicate your life to a cause greater than yourself, and your life will become a glorious romance and adventure.” You are doing just that … following a path of so much more purpose and passion. BE WITH IT in a deeper way.
The Takeaway: Ask yourself the following questions: Have I been taking the time to stop and smell the roses? Have I truly been with others in a quality kind of way, including the way I have been with myself? Let this be your permission to remember the important things in life and indulge those senses of yours. Be present to the beauty all around you!
Leo (July 23 – August 22) – The Death Card
The Challenge: My dear Leo, don’t be afraid of the message this card has for you. The Death Card represents things needing to literally die. A lot of times those endings can feel pretty dramatic. There is a finality here, and I feel it is happening in probably more than one area of your life. The drama does not have to be of soap opera proportions however and it doesn’t have to crush you from the sadness. Sometimes it is hard to let go, we hang on to something way longer than we should … putting that shit on life support and extending its life out however we can, when it really needs to be just dead and gone. Life is beginnings and ends and this is simply part of the process. What may be most challenging of all is the death of one way of operating/living your life/seeing yourself and embracing a new way.
The Opportunity: No more dragging something for it to die a slow death – make it swift so that you can process and move on from it quicker. Whatever it is that is needing to die, it is time. This could be around money stuff and that scarcity mentality, or it could be the belief that there will never be enough or it will never happen. This could also be old relationships, situations that keep you feeling dead inside or ways of seeing the world that no longer serve you. In order for something new to be born, the existing cycle must end. It is up to you to end what was in the past to open up the floodgates for all of the amazing things wanting to enter. You know best what that is – you have a strategic and systematic mind so think of it as evaluating the situation and clearing out whatever is getting in the way so you can make room for the new.
The Takeaway: This month is about the acceptance that your old way of being, whether in relationship, with your work, or even just how you show up in the world, is no longer accessible. Remember to be gentle with yourself in this process. With death comes mourning and grief. It is a loss after all, whether the experience was positive or painful. Feel the feels with all of it. But also remember after death comes a birth. TLC is of the uppermost important for you … exquisite self care. You can do this. Know that what is waiting for you on the other side is love and fulfillment and the life of your dreams.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22) – The Tower Card
The Challenge: My dear Virgo, has stuff felt like it’s been shifting around A LOT or even breaking down all around you? A lot of times the Universe will clear out, whether you are ready for it or not (or even want it) all of the things that are getting in the way of you living your best life. I feel it happens in order to make us realize what the important things in life are. You have been building, building, building towards your (life) empire and all that busy-ness may have kept you from realizing how majorly your life was being impacted. Now that things are somewhat slowing down you are able to see clearer since the dust is settling. It is necessary for you to be aware of what exactly you are building and if it is on an old foundation or one that is intentionally and strategically put into place by you.
The Opportunity: The Tower Card is more of an internal breaking down of ‘ivory towers’ for you than it is externally. Much more about our spiritual practices, connections with people and places, and the things required of us to stay the course, being much more rooted and stable, having peace as opposed to stress and anxiety. You need to do what feels good to you, what feeds your passion and purpose and creativity, otherwise what’s the point of any of this? You can sleepwalk through life and survive or you can thrive. Things will continue to be busy for you, but it also provides a great opportunity to get rid of whatever is not serving your purpose or personal fulfillment (and it will be obvious as the Tower really shows you what doesn’t fit or support your life).
The Takeaway: Allow the things that are not aligned with who you are now and your vision for your life to break away. This month ask yourself what your values are and if you are living in integrity with them? The more in integrity and committed and intentional you are, the less you will be shaken or taken off track. The faster you can let go of the things that are not meant to be in your life, for your greatest good, the easier it will be to put the pieces together for what is meant to be here.
Libra (September 23 – October 22) – The Fool Card
The Challenge: My dear Libra, you have probably been so go go go building your empire, or taking care of business, that you have barely had time to ‘have fun.’ Not that you don’t have fun in anything you do, but to purely focus on adventure and being carefree and risking has been a bit more on the backburner the last few months. It feels scary sometimes to think if you let go, things will all go to hell and the structure will fall apart. It’s a trust walk for sure and an ever present ‘balance’ exercise. However the flip side to that is that if you do not start fresh every once in a while, or let loose, the pressure builds and builds and then blows. No one wants a bitter or burnt out Libra now do they?
The Opportunity: The Fool is the epitome of a new journey. He is the first of the Major Arcana and starts off the story of our lives, which ends with us finally creating our ideal world. He is about to set off on a new adventure and where the wind blows no one knows. This is exactly what I feel is needed for you this month. Throw your cares and concerns and cautions to the wind and be super present to whatever opportunities life presents and paths it reveals. That is the lesson of the Fool card. Know that you are supremely taken care of and to ‘relax’ does not mean letting completely go of the reigns. Be open and let yourself enjoy this new and exciting ride that is right around the corner.
The Takeaway: This month follow whatever feels good and right even if it doesn’t quite make much sense. If you find yourself getting stuck again, try and focus on the fun again however you can! Things are about to get GREAT so consider this the tilling of the soil time for fun and adventure 😉
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) – The World Card
The Challenge: My dear Scorpio, when we have SUCH big visions it may be difficult to know where to start or more easy to get confused from time to time because we are in the weeds! You may be so busy going, going, going as the super focused and determined sign that you are, that you may forget to look up and tune back into the bigger picture! Or maybe you have felt that dreaming is unproductive or lazy or unrealistic … but that is probably a belief you have adopted by others. As a natural protector type person, you may also get focused on everyone else and not YOURSELF and your vision. It isn’t the bigness of the vision or dream that is the problem ever, it is connection to the heart of it. At the heart of it we want to create our worlds to make us feel a certain way: happy, supported, safe, in love, compassionate, etc. Don’t let yourself forget those pieces and allow insecurity and fear to take over with the planning towards that vision.
The Opportunity: The World card is literally one of my favorite ones in the Tarot deck! What it represents is that we create our world, every single bit of it and that we can have it all. When it comes to your career, to me this signifies the permission to truly create whatever it is that your heart desires. Same goes for relationships, or the development of yourself. In every way, you get to sink into the fact that this is YOUR life, this is YOUR world and it is unfolding and evolving exactly as planned. It’s your world, you have permission to create EVERYTHING according to your heart desires. Every bit of it. The Universe is taking exquisite care of you … so be open to everything you have dreamed of AND more. Everything is going to connect together beautifully!
The Takeaway: Get clear on what that world looks like exactly … if you could have your world look any way you could dream it up, what would it entail? Don’t skimp on the details either. This month flush out that wonder world and take one solid step towards manifesting it! More than anything – lean way into the fact that you are already here, nothing to do and everything to BE and Have!
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) – The Sun Card
The Challenge: My dear Sagittarius, I know life can be shitty sometimes and there are people that do shitty things, however focusing on the negative or the things not working will only have us fixate more and more on that crap. In order to more effortlessly create the life we want, the easy place to start is by counting your little (and big) blessings. There is so much to be grateful for. If it feels like a funky time right now, remember that tomorrow is a new day and the sun always comes out … every morning, like clockwork! Besides you gotta have the night, to have the day. That contrast is needed for us to appreciate the goodness and the possibilities. And if you are in the bright time of your life, enjoy the shit out of it because life is an ebb and flow and if you aren’t fully taking advantage of the flow part, then what is the point of looking forward to it while in the ebb place??
The Opportunity: The Sun is the epitome of warmth, growth, success, happiness, joy, fun, basking in goodness and nurturing all that is wonderful in the world. It is time to not only believe in yourself and what is possible, but to rejoice because it is ALREADY HERE! The call here is for you to live from a place of positivity and light … I don’t think you can have anything that gives more light than the sun! You are being called to connect with your ideal vision for your life and this can also mean being honest about what you really really want for yourself deep down. The Sun is also representing how big you are being asked to vision and dream by the way. Your life could potentially look so bright you have to wear shades. Wouldn’t that be freaking nice?
The Takeaway: Time to bring those ideas into fruition as the Sun is a big Universal Thumbs Up. This month share with as many people your big, bright idea and connect with that fire inside! Go around and beam … things (or even people) will be attracted to you like moths to a flame! You get to have the life you want and it is as inevitable as the Sun rising every morning – it’s simply a matter of WHEN not IF! Last but not least, don’t forget to simply BE and ENJOY.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) – The Devil Card
The Challenge: My dear Capricorn, as scary as the Devil Card card may seem, it is more of a warning that we may be falling into temptations or situations that are detrimental to our quality of life or overall vision of it. This is about us saying NO to the things that may give us momentary satisfaction, but in the long run will inevitably have us feeling confined and bound and enslaved. This could also refer to the ever tricky ‘golden handcuffs’ … when the idea of money has you believe you will have security and stability, yet it binds you to a life devoid of fulfillment and passion and purpose. It takes a strong will and determination to not be hypnotized by forces that want to keep us safe and small and comfortable (aka enslaved). For you my hard working friends, it is even trickier because your sense of duty oftentimes overrides your sense of self and path of purpose.
The Opportunity: Break free of whatever it is that is holding you back from freedom and living into your best life. Look around at where the stuck energy is … this could refer to relationships or work or situations, home life, or even our own limiting beliefs that keep us stagnant and trapped. This is about us declaring what is best for us and not allowing anybody (or anything) to define or direct our lives. Boundaries need to be set or reset and only situations that feel good need to be followed. Time to take a stronger stand for the quality of life that you desire and deserve and not let anything get in the way of that.
The Takeaway: This month focus on releasing yourself from the ties that bind. Pick at least one area that requires you to undo the shackles and let it go. Even if it is a baby step, i.e. considering other options that give you more freedom, make the movements in the direction of your desire so that you can have a deeper sense of spaciousness and possibilities. No more ‘have to’s’ or feelings of obligation, only ‘GET TO’s’!
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) – The Hanged Man
The Challenge: My dear Aquarius, this month may feel a bit slow (to put it lightly). In certain areas of your life anyway. It may feel frustrating because you want it, and like now! Whatever IT is. I know patience may not be your greatest virtue (then again who really has the patience thing down) however it’s not quite time … there is still processing to do … the fruit is not QUITE ripe yet. Trust me it will be worth it when it is so try and hang on just a little bit longer. There are lessons here that may or may not be hard to accept, either way they are necessary for the bigger picture of your life. As tough as it will be to take a more hands off approach to things, that is exactly what is needed. The other feeling I am getting is that you NEED to slow down and because you have been going, going, going, burning the candle at both ends and the Universe will MAKE you pause so that you don’t burn yourself out.
The Opportunity: This is definitely a time of transition and spiritual evolution. As in old you is wanting to die and new you wants to burst through and bloom like the brilliant flower it is. This transition may feel painful but think of the butterfly – it needs to have the perfect amount of time in crysalis and when it is ready to break out of the cocoon, the growing pains will be present but it’s only temporary. You cannot rush the metamorphosis process otherwise the caterpillar will die and never have the chance to become the big, bold, beautiful and FREE butterfly. So while you are hanging out there on that limb, maybe you can use this opportunity to really ground in what you do know to be true and what you have created thus far, knowing full well you deserve all of the amazingness that I know for sure is to come. Trust is your key word right now.
The Takeaway: This month trust in the divine timing of things … keep on visualizing what you want and then breath in the knowing that the Universe is taking care of all of that for you. Slow and steady really does win the race and has you healthy and strong by the end of it because life is a marathon, not a sprint. The gratitude game is great when we need to ground in what we have accomplished to date and if that isn’t working, go back to day dreaming as to what all is waiting to show up for you this year. Your job is to dream it and then take the steps towards it. Don’t worry about the how, that’s the Universe’s job!
Pisces (February 19 – March 20) – The Justice Card
The Challenge: My dear Pisces, when I see the Justice card, the following questions come to mind: What is fair and equitable? What is in the best interest of everyone involved? Justice is about seeing all sides and coming to an objective and swift decision that is for the greatest good of all parties. It is about being fair and impartial – especially to ourselves. However you give that love and compassion and diplomacy to everyone BUT yourself my sweet. It’s time to let go of judging yourself so harshly and to not take things so personally. Especially around the love and relationships department. Things are born, as well as die every day, which includes our connections, not to mention our stories, our aspirations, our goals, or our visions for ourselves. We are the only ones that can choose to see something as fair or not because the world is pretty impartial in its happenings. Justice is about checking all the facts and making a decision. It’s not about being judge and jury.
The Opportunity: There is a call here to open mind your mind and expand out of seeing the world in black and white, aka good or bad, right or wrong. It is about removing your filters and putting yourself more in other people’s shoes. There are so many points to stories we do not consider because we never inquire. We neglect to ask questions, see all sides of the story, get curious about what or why something happened. It’s about allowing people to speak their truths, and listening in a non-judgmental way. Then, having all of the pertinent information, you can choose at that point what your next course of action is but from a much more enlightened place.
The Takeaway: This month is about dropping the assumptions and stories and conclusions you would jump to based on how things were done in the past. It is about speaking less and listening more. It is not about taking things personally. It is about looking at the situations or relationships in your life and working to see it from another point of view. Justice will help you stay open and begin to operate from a truly unbiased place in the world. It will help you align with your values and stand in a deeper place of compassion and integrity.
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Feature image by Nicole Delswick
Tarot Cards: The Wild Unknown
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