Happy Leo season! I hope yall have been *safely* enjoying your Summer. I chose to be a bit more pointed with this month’s messages. I was reading @alicesparklykat’s article “On Not Being A Stereotypical Leo” and felt so affirmed by the section in which they talk about Leos engaging in play, and how they define play. This along with Mars, Venus, and Jupiter’s position in the sky got me thinking. Maybe what we need to look at this month is how we can find new (or updated) ways of achieving joy and pleasure for ourselves. I went into my reading all bright eyed and bushy tailed, and damn did my cards have a thing or two to say. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoy interpreting and transcribing these messages. Do me a favor and bask in the sun before/during/after reading this.
*Note: All elements have 2 cards except for fire signs. I didn’t do this on purpose! I had so many cards fly out for the fire sign’s reading.
The Deck
For these tarot messages, I used the Neo Tarot deck. Illustrated by Daiana Ruiz, its accompanying book was written by Jerico Mandybur. Daiana Ruiz is a visual artist and illustrator based out of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Jerico Mandybur is a tarot reader, spiritual coach, and bestselling author. Neo Tarot fuzes illustrations of androgynous humans with card interpretations, affirmations, and self-care tips corresponding to their respective cards.
The Spread
For this month’s tarot forecast, I’m pulling one card for each element: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. Read the element that corresponds to your sun sign and rising sign if you feel called to. Below is the element that corresponds to your sun sign. To find out your natal chart information, CafeAstrology has a pretty comprehensive beginner’s chart interpretation.
Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Air: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini
Earth: Capricorn, Virgo, Taurus
Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
The Elements
Fire 🜂
Death, 3 of Swords, The Lovers, Knight of Pentacles
Death appears when we are at the end of a cycle. It’s time to move on. You may have been processing a recent upset, hurt, or heartbreak. Or maybe certain relationships have shifted. While taking time to grieve that loss is important, don’t let it envelop you. You’re missing out on what’s ahead/in store for you! You can ask for external support, but ultimately, you make decisions for yourself and your wellbeing. Holding on to old ways of being, thinking, feeling, or acting stalls your growth. Notice how Death on the card is walking and looking ahead. They know what they’ve left behind. This month, I want you to find joy and pleasure through indulging in earthly, sensual, body-based pleasures. Choose to walk confidently. You are a fire sign, after all. There’s no need to rush, go at your own pace. Channel this budding energy to create a more sustainable method(s) of attaining joy and pleasure. Maybe it’s time for a serious upgrade in how you choose to do so. Either way, you have everything you need. So go on.
Air 🜁
The World & Knight of Cups
The World wants you to celebrate your accomplishments. You’re wrapping up the end of a cycle or journey, or maybe you’ve reached a goal or milestone. What have you learned thus far? What knowledge or insights can you bring with you next time? The Knight of Cups wants you to get passionate. Channel that energy as you move on to the next. What old ways of attaining joy and pleasure can be let go of? Are there old methods that need some polishing? You don’t need to leave them behind, but leave enough room to explore new ways of feeling good. The Knight of Cups wants you to find joy and pleasure through your relationships and deep connections with others. No surface shit. Go for emotional fulfillment. Follow your dreams. Get romantic and turn on the charm. Devote yourself to finding joy and pleasure in ways you’ve never tried before.
Earth 🜃
Queen of Cups & 10 of Cups
This month, find joy and pleasure through your relationships. Through your loved ones, not material things. Focus on strengthening and cherishing your connections with yourself, your guides, angels, and besties. Embrace and deepen them. The cards want you to get ~wet~. They want you to dive deeper into how you define joy and pleasure. What does that look like spiritually? Emotionally? The Queen of Cups has mastered selfless love by being of service to herself and others. If you don’t find joy or pleasure through service, you’re being asked to adjust your definition of service so that it fills cups, not depletes them. What kind of joy or pleasure do you intuitively need? Go for the first thing that comes to mind after reading that question. You may find yourself delving deeper than you have before. What do you need to have it all?
Water 🜄
The Tower & 2 of Wands (reversed)
Something came and shook y’all up! It feels like your world has been turned upside down. Whether it was through external circumstances or your own actions, you’ve lost control. Immediately “Upside Down” by Diana Ross popped into my head. It seems like your playground is in need of an overhaul. Perhaps it has all been lost. This month, you’re being asked to embrace new ways of experiencing joy and pleasure. It could very well help you see where you wanna go next. As you do this, check in with your heart and make sure your intentions are clear. You don’t need a plan, just make sure you’re acting on the right reasons. Taking back this part of your power is the first step. Be patient as you figure all this out. You won’t immediately have all the answers. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration under the light of the sun. Don’t overthink things as you try to regulate your system. Sometimes the greatest joys and pleasure come from something simple.
Leo Ariel is a nonbinary Caribbean Bruja whose interpretations come from a trauma-informed, queer, anticapitalist, non-Eurocentric perspective, weaving in astrology and numerology. Their work aims to heal the effects of oppressive, hegemonic systems and their energies, all while uplifting and empowering those who are most marginalized in our communities.