Tarotscope Review 7.21: The Last Splash
The final days of watery Cancer are about to burn in leonine fire, and this week's cards were definitely in on the drama. Secrets. Injustice. And yet more drama to come.
Sometimes, the mathematical analysis of astrology is not enough to convey dramatic moments; there is only so much we can ascertain from a circular grid full of symbols and numbers, even those of us who specialize in translating ancient glyphs and astronomical degrees for a living. Lately, the data written in the stars is so meaty that empathic, intuitive delineation actually feels more accurate. It’s the difference between saying, “Given the degree of your sun, pay special attention to your ninth house between 4.1.26 and 7.7.26, and try to stay nimble with planning,” or, “Bitch, get your paperwork in by February in case you need to GTFO because shit is going to blow up in July. Have you seen Escape From New York? See how the poster for that movie looks like the Justice card toppled sideways? Seriously, go get on a plane right now.”
The intersection of tarot with astrology is either a modern invention or it is very, very old, depending on who you ask, but it is a question unlikely to be definitively answered anytime soon; ancient Egyptians used papyrus for important things like divination and religious texts, as did the Greeks and Romans. Say what you will about the laborious nature of stone tablet carving, but at least the Mesopotamians left us artifacts that were more resistant to the ravages of time.
Cartomancy is the umbrella divination format beneath which modern tarot sits and whispers whooooooooo to women wearing spider seam stockings. Did a tarot precursor ever whisper to ancient women dressed in peplos? Unlikely, but it’s tough to definitively trace cartomantic origins due to the delicate nature of paper. The world’s oldest (known) tarot deck, the Visconti-Sforza, has been dated back to the mid-fifteenth century by scholars, but it’s hard to believe that no cartomancy deck existed prior to a bored Italian noble commissioning one just for his amusement.
A heretical French monk started circulating the idea of ancient Egyptian cartomancy in the mid 1850’s, which later inspired Aleister Crowley to create his own quasi-cultural tarot system with the Thoth deck. Crowley’s deck integrated ancient astrological math with Ancient Egyptian symbolism into each minor arcana, and although he renamed a suit and a few court cards, his correspondences also jive nicely with the more standard symbolism of the Rider Waite Smith tarot.
These nebulous (and possibly appropriative, if we’re being wholly honest) origins of occult art allow for infinite variances in delineation, and thousands of artists have taken a crack at interpreting the spiritual symbolism of the arcana. The wild card of visual evolution adds nuance and possibility to divination beyond the established, math-y rubric of horoscopes, and that can be useful in times of high strangeness, like, oh, say, a volatile summer at the precipice of Western Empire’s demise. The trippy individualism of each card in the Low Brow Tarot, for instance, portrays modern existential dread in a way Pamela Coleman-Smith’s throwback illustrations cannot.
Speaking of burning! Leo season is nigh, which means things are escalating to a place of hissy drama both personally and collectively. Last week’s cards felt like an ominous build-up to this week’s weird, off-putting astrological indications; Justice reversed, twice in one week, could be a foreshadow of the oncoming Venus/Mars square. Strength and Six of Wands, cards that correspond to Leo specifically, are stage whispering that this new moon will kick start something loud and important.
Consider the descriptions of each card and weave them together with the moon phase, crystal companions, and daily astrological transits, as well as the effect of art style on interpretation. What mystical or mundane braid presented itself that day? Look back at your calendar and get creative with the symbolic references - sometimes a knife in a tarot illustration means interpersonal conflict, but it can just as easily mean you cut yourself chopping onions while making Saturday’s dinner. For some people it will be the former, others, the latter, and a special few will have begun apprenticing with a blacksmith once a sword appeared. See? There are so many options.
Monday, 7.14.25…Moon in Pisces
A stoic, white wolf surveys his kingdom and embodies the Knight Pentacles, who has a plan, but is not in any hurry. He is in surveillance mode beneath twinkly stars as white as his shaggy fur, illuminating a clear path to his destination. He assesses the landscape out of caution, but that shouldn’t be confused with cowardice; it is diligence and a finely honed focus on winning. Measure twice and cut once. Allow the tranquil night to guide us to abundance.
This knight occupies the transitional space between Aries and Taurus, which means he has answered a call from the elevated pentacle and can see a path to security. Now he has to gather the natural resources of the forest and walk it.
The tranquility of aquamarine mimics the baby blue of the disappearing horizon behind our lupine knight, suggesting he is secure in his convictions, the beliefs that brought him to the forest clearing. Aquamarine can bring calm to our dreamscape when placed bedside or under a pillow, and the Pisces moon reinforces the unhurried, somnambulant quality of this knight. It’s as though he has already mapped out a material victory.
On this day…SCOTUS ruled that independently wealthy administrators could begin dismantling the Department of Education, clearing the way to privatize schools. The Trump Administration also confirmed their intent to sell more weapons to Ukraine since a mineral deal had been secured, which will allow corporations to buy Ukrainian land uninhibited. There is certainly abundance at the end of this forest path, but likely not for those who need it.
Tuesday, 7.15.25…Moon in Aries
A bawdy, bendy iteration of Justice is reversed, and she is shown suffering an infestation of scampering, uniformed pigs. (This tarot deck skips right past irony, apparently.) The toddler-esque porkers run roughshod beneath her hot roller curls and spiraling curves like parasites, but a heavy stage curtain spreading open behind her seems to indicate this is not reality - it is a show. The vibrant, Aries red of the curtains, spread like labia, harken to the calling cards of Mars; sexuality, war, and the oppression of the conquered.
The rust of a red amethyst echoes the tomato red draping, softening martial desire into embodiment and sensuality, which, when combined with the purple hue of the amethyst points, align the sacral and third-eye chakras. The pelvic power and sightless intuition of women contained in an amethyst repeat the lessons of the accompanying illustration; despite ham fisted spin, lies, and gaslighting, the violated can always sense the violator. It doesn’t matter if he wears a uniform. We know when we’re being fucked.
On this day…fallout from dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s deviant cabal continued, this time via a flustered D.O.J. leader’s surprising grilling in a press conference here in the U.S. Internet chatter revealed a rift in the American right-wing as calls to release information about the deceased pervert’s client list increased and intensified, and a resurgence of victim’s names, testimonies, and lawsuits flooded mass communication channels.
Also on this day, a federal court ruled that West Virginia could severely limit access to the federally approved drug mifepristone, setting up another ring in the fight between federal oversight and states rights in regards to abortion. Several hours earlier on the other side of the world, 31 more Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes.
Wednesday, 7.16.25…Moon in Aries
Ten of Pentacles reversed illustrates an evening yoga session with a family surrounded by prosperity in the form of golden orbs, but peril and estrangement loom when the image is turned upside down. The most vulnerable family member is at risk of falling away into the ether, bereft of companionship and wealth. This card corresponds to Mercury in Virgo, a transit that enhances intelligence, diligence, and attention to detail, but there is also a deeply judgmental aspect present whenever Virgo has influence. This iteration of ten of pentacles is not entirely formed through miserliness, then, but from someone’s sense of superiority.
The friction of this reversal is between overabundance and false scarcity; a solid foundation that fails to support its most precarious member. Green aventurine, a chunky crystal known to invite exactly the sort of security and abundance distributed unequally in this illustration, reinforces the idea that there are plenty of resources to go around, but they remain in the hands of those with enough wealth to be unbothered, and to feel righteous in their role as the gatekeepers of material security.
On this day…The U.S. Senate passed a recessions package, which is essentially a way for the legislative branch to approve and legitimize funding cuts after they were already enacted by the executive branch of government. Funding for N.P.R. and P.B.S., the television station that introduced Big Bird and other muppets with spelling kinks to kids all over America, will be drastically reduced if the bill passes back through the House and ends up on whichever desk in the White House smells most like self tanner and poop.
In related economic news, the S&P 500 closed at the highest level in U.S. history today.
Thursday, 7.17.25…Moon in Aries
Strength provides a visual articulation of internal, psychological fortification in this upright card pull - the blindness of a seeker turned inward, feeling their way through their own subconscious. A figure crouches at the edge of water to gain insight and knowledge, not with their eyes but with their heart and hands. The beast emerging on a reflective surface cannot be accessed through traditional means, Strength seems to tell us; it must be felt via spirit, emotion, and our higher mind. Like this major arcana’s zodiacal correspondence, Leo, we can don a suit and makeup as often as we’d like, as often as society demands, but our true nature is unnameable and omnipresent, hiding just below the surface of our emotional waters. Tired of staying quiet, he prepares to roar.
In case the spirits screaming, “LEO”, at us weren’t enough, the crystal that most embodies leonine creativity, charism, and drive, tiger’s eye, popped up to make it extra clear. Inner strength and courage are the keys to winning today’s battles, but extreme drama is unavoidable.
On this day…Well looky here - if it isn’t an extremely strange message from one Donald Trump to one Jeffrey Epstein for the latter’s fiftieth birthday, published today in the WSJ. Mercury, our planet of communication, has just stationed retrograde in Leo, which means past communication and relationships can come back to haunt us, and anything in the temple of Leo haunts loudly. It also means Mercury is excavating Trump’s first house of self, where his Mars and Pluto also reside. What ‘secrets’ are hiding there between Trump and an infamous pedophile?
Also today, the House of Representatives passed the recessions package, so fuck off, Big Bird, apparently.
Friday, 7.18.25…Moon in Taurus
Six of Wands whispers of malaise when reversed - the result of being denied respect we feel we are owed. The spotlight, represented here by aggressive, pointy femurs, should be trained on our meticulous, magnificent skeleton, but we go without any such acclaim in reverse.
Another card with Leo correspondence, specifically Jupiter in Leo, has something important to say about the shadows of ego and the pitfalls of largesse; the phrase ‘down to the bone’ resonates with both the imagery of this arcana and the consequences of thinking too highly of ourselves. When our ego is inevitably destroyed, coming down to reality can feel like being flayed alive. Simple rejection becomes a fall from grace.
The protective element typically associated with black tourmaline is most beneficial for the root chakra; the practical foundation of our lived experience. This is the place that needs stabilizing when we get knocked down several pegs and are forced to reckon with our shortcomings.
On this day…Several Venezuelan nationals were released from detention in El Salvador after a months long legal back and forth with the Trump Administration. The prisoners were released as part of an exchange with Venezuela for American prisoners.
Also today, Donald Trump sued the WSJ and various involved parties over the Epstein letter they published earlier in the week. He is asking for 10 billion dollars for publishing what he claims is a hoax.
Saturday, 7.19.25…Moon in Taurus
This iteration of Justice reversed is a vengeful, ominous take on the version from just four days past, which presented as a defiant, almost playful response to travesty. The foreground is dominated by the sharp violence of a blade, clutched by a shadowy figure who seems to have realized the futility of hope, of banking on karma to sort everything out. She wields the scales of Libra in her opposite hand, which indicate, along with her gender, the influence of fair-minded Venus. Unlike her previous manifestation, this Justice lacks playfulness, curves, and a blindfold, the last of which is unnecessary due to the hollowed out pits of her black eye sockets. Violence, instead of objectivity, keeps her blind, but no matter. A raven perches on her shoulder to whisper of atrocities she otherwise wouldn’t see, and her knuckles bleach white with rage.
A complimentary pull of moss agate pulls us from existential fury to practical necessity, given that this chalcedony variation is used in occult circles for grounding, healing, and renewing connectivity to nature. This crystal is trying to lead us to a Venusian solution, perhaps, by stressing connectivity over cold dissociation as a way to rebalance the karmic scales. Green is the color of our heart chakra, after all, the hardened purveyors of injustice might only experience defeat
On this day…Thirty-two more Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers while attempting to access food in Gaza.
Sunday, 7.20.25…Moon in Gemini
A red dragon curls smugly around his eternal flame, looking like he knows something we don’t. The King of Staffs (Wands) is a confident, mature embodiment of the fire element that will overwhelm us next week, and he reflects our need for swiftness and strength as we ready ourselves for action. This king isn’t looking peacock about, he’s confidently waiting for a signal to uncurl and take charge.
Sardonyx has rich history as a protection stone during combat and is often worn to strengthen fortitude and stamina. The repeating element of fiery orange in both card and crystal suggests passion and creativity could be key to dealing successfully with whatever fiery astrology coming down the pipeline.
On this day…much of our chatter summarized the most important happenings of the past week; the firing of a prominent talk show host, the continued, unnecessary death in Gaza, and the increasing fall out from Mercury digging up secret communication while retrograde in Leo. We can expect the news cycle to keep spinning, perhaps reaching a milestone or apex with the new moon in Leo on July 24th.
Thanks for reminder as I continue to wear my black tourmaline every day.