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The Fountain Tarot, Andi Todaro Greetings Friends,  Welcome to the liminal, lunar, mystical ocean of dreams and inner vision. The water is fine, it simply goes on forever... welcome to Pisces Season. After the upheavals and reckoning of Aquarius, the return to our inner waters can be a relief, if we allow it. While Pisces is the sign known for suffering, it's also the sign of transcendence and  awakening to the bigger dream for our lives and the collective. The first decan of Pisces is related to the Eight of Cups, also known as the "break-up card" of the tarot. In readings, this card surfaces when it's time to walk away from the familiar and move toward the unknown. The eight cups represent relationships or experiences that we've poured our hearts into and yet, we've outgrown. This is one of the most painful cards in the deck, even when we know it's time to move on, because we invested so much into what we're leaving. But the beauty of this card, and the wisdom of Pisces, is that nothing is ever truly lost, only transformed so we can understand it from a new perspective. In Andi Todaro's interpretation from The Fountain Tarot , we see the figure overlapping with the cups, as if they were one and the same, while facing layers of a distant horizon. The dream-like liminality of this image hints at what Pisces embodies, our multi-dimensional one-ness, our ability to surrender ourselves to the unknown with radical faith and compassion. Pisces is the last of the zodiac signs, the place where we learn how to accept endings, not as losses to be mourned, but opportunities to transcend time itself and feel into the greater mystery of our being. With love and sweet surrender, Lisa

Tarot for the Divine, by Yoshi Yoshitani "We must love the truth, not because it favors us, but because it is the truth." ~Mac Wellman  Greetings Friends,  I think of this quote often, especially during what feel like "unfavorable" times. The sentiment seems Aquarian to me in it's equanimity and invitation to see the big picture. It's also good advice in the face of Five of Swords, the card associated with the beginning of Aquarius Season. In readings, the Five of Swords is a sign of a bitter defeat. It marks a pain point for the swords suit, the suit of the mind, leaving us questioning everything. In Yoshi Yoshitani's mythological deck Tarot for the Divine, the victor is depicted as the ancient Egyptian God of chaos Set. In the foreground we see the grieving Goddess Isis whose partner Osiris was killed at Set's hand. Later in the myth, Isis transforms into a falcon to collect the dismembered body of her love and restore the natural order. But in this scene, the loss is fresh. There's often an element of deceit with this card, a trick that was played on us or we played on ourselves. But Five of Swords compels us not to fall victim to stories of inferiority or blame. The real wisdom of this card is to acknowledge where things went wrong, and how, like Isis, we can piece ourselves back together again. Aquarians are the problem solvers of the zodiac, able to make connections that others can't see.  They are also the humanitarians. This is no coincidence. At its best, Aquarian energy opens us to our true interconnected nature and shows us how to care for each other, and the Earth, on a massive scale. At it's worst, it dehumanizes us for industrial gain. Knowing this at the onset of the season helps us connect to the deeper truth of our being, the fact that we belong to each other and that if one of us is hoarding resources, swords or otherwise, we all lose. It's this truth that is worth loving and remembering, and it's this truth that will set us free.  With love and equanimity, Lisa

Tarot of the Holy Spectrum - Infinity Edition, by Chase Voorhies Greetings Friends, Perhaps Nico said it best, "I'll be your mirror. Reflect what you are, in case you don't know. I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset. The light on your door to show that you're home." After grounding with the Empress in Taurus Season, it's time to fall in love with the world around us, or at least have a few laughs trying, in Gemini. In the Tarot, Gemini is associated with The Lovers, the card that invites us to see our divinity reflected in "the other". This sign is known for its boundless curiosity, playfulness and ability to crack a joke amidst what would otherwise destroy us. In their electric tarot deck, Tarot of the Holy Spectrum - Infinity Edition,  artist Chase Voorhies gets to the heart of The Lovers message by depicting the figures literal reflections, divided by the mirror of separation. In a non-dualistic lens, we are always and only meeting ourselves again, and again, in different forms. This reflective dance of difference allows us to widen our aperture for love and acceptance of the self through love and acceptance of the "other."   Ruled by Mercury, Gemini flies between subjects, locations, news and trivia communicating gleefully what it's learned to those around them. This is the sign most susceptible to FOMO or fearing that the grass is always greener. So this season, let the wisdom of The Lovers card serve as a reminder that when the universe lives within you, you can't miss out on anything. You can simply experience yourself in new forms, new ways, and new reflections, all of which lead you home.  With love and a disco ball of light, Lisa

The Fountain Tarot Greetings Friends, Happy Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year and the returning of the light. As 2024 draws to a close, we are invited to reflect on our personal rebirth and the ways in which we desire to grow. After the blaze of Sagittarius season and the radical faith of the Temperance card, we enter the new year with a return to the Earth and the solid, steady magic of Capricorn Season.  In astrology, each sign is divided into three parts, or decans. The first decan of Capricorn relates to the Two of Pentacles in the tarot. This card often depicts a juggler with two coins, out-lined by an infinity symbol, amidst a tumultuous seascape. When it shows up in a reading, it tells us we're in the midst of a major transformation regarding our body and our work, the realm of the Pentacles suit, and that we must focus on that which is most essential to our vitality.  In the rich, expressive imagery of  The Fountain Tarot , we see the juggler becoming one with the ocean while keeping the pentacles mid air. This speaks to the immersive quality of this card, the necessity for focus, and the level headed determination that is Capricorn's signature. There is a practical magic here too, a reminder that by devoting ourselves to that which is ours to balance and uphold on Earth, we align with the flow of the great mystery and are remade by it's invincible force and grace. With love and balance - Happy Solstice! Lisa

Greetings Friends, Let's take a breath... feel into our bodies... and remember... we're still here.... and we're not alone.   After the shock of Scorpio season dissipates, and the rattle of the Death card softens, we find ourselves in uncertain terrain. We look around and wonder, what comes next? In the tarot, Sagittarius season is connected to Temperance, the card after Death. This card usually depicts an angelic figure walking on water, tempering the contents of two cups. There’s an otherworldly aspect to this card and when it surfaces in a reading, you know that Spirit has got you. And while you may not be sure where you’re headed, you’re not going there alone.   In Ramisha Sattar's "seriously unserious" collage ( chaninicholas.com ), the angel of temperance takes the form of a smoke colored kitten adorned with stars. To still believe in angels as we watch the world burn not only fortifies our resilience, but it also tempers the flames. This card offers a dose of the miraculous by reminding us that things are not always as they seem. That Death is not the end, and that grace can still arise during the darkest of times, and by some miracle, we can breathe it in.   With love and temperance,  Lisa

Greetings Friends, As the days get shorter and the veil gets thinner, we witness the transformation of our inner and outer worlds. A lot has to go to welcome what's coming and Scorpio season makes what's ready to shape-shift clear.  The energy of Scorpio is connected to the Death card which can be a shock to the system. When it appears in a reading it means that something we're attached to is going, regardless of how close it is to our hearts. The Death card can evoke a lot of fear, as evidenced hilariously in the artwork of Megan Lynn Kott's Dog Tarot.  Here we see a sweet doggo terrified by fireworks - is it the end of the world?!  No. The Death card marks a time of change, when something new is about to reveal itself, but only after we let go of what's served it's purpose.  Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Pluto, planets that compel us to take action and embody our power. As a water sign, Scorpio feels deeply and has compassion for the part of us that wants to hide under the bed. But this card reminds us that facing our fears allows us to know our potential. And it's through this process that we meet the new parts of ourselves that are ready to be seen. With love and letting go,  Lisa

Greetings Friends, Let's take it down a notch, shall we? After staying strong  through the emotional heat of Leo season, we are welcomed back to the Earth with Virgo and The Hermit. In readings, The Hermit calls us to retreat from the breakneck pace of modern life and take refuge in the stillness of our inner world. In her endearing interpretation from The Wild Unknown Tarot , artist Kim Krans depicts The Hermit as a tortoise at home in its shell, illuminated by a single flame. As one of the oldest beings on Earth, the tortoise exemplifies the wisdom of staying grounded and taking it slow.  The Hermit is associated with the sign of Virgo,  which is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication. This tells us something about the internal process of the season. The Hermit is a seeker, a meditator, tirelessly analyzing its inner landscape, discerning what is useful, nourishing and true. As an Earth sign, Virgo knows that this work is best done by cutting out distractions and staying rooted in the present. It's this ability that allows the Hermit to bask in the beauty and fortune of their own inner light, their spiritual home, and invites you to do the same.   With peace and luminosity,  Lisa

Greetings Friends, It's late July. We're more than halfway through 2024. A Strength Year. 2+0+2+4=8, the symbol of the infinite. A year of transformation marked by the number of the Strength card. After practicing softness in structure with the Chariot, we move heart first into Leo Season. In the tarot, Leo is associated with Strength, the card that reveals how to face heartbreak with emotional mastery.  In readings, the Strength card indicates a situation that calls for unwavering compassion and attention. In her classic interpretation, artist Pamela Colman Smith depicts Strength as a relationship between our emotional body, the lion, and our spiritual body, the woman in white. The lion, when provoked, has the capacity to tear us apart. But with loving support from the spirit, the lion can be vulnerable, held, and have its feelings not only tended to, but honored with a garland of roses.  Leo is ruled by the Sun, a symbol for clarity and warmth. This tells us something about the wisdom of Strength's response to emotional pain. In a year where the impulse to draw blood is front and center, we're called to act with tenderness, not because we're weak, but because we are strong enough to embody the truth. We belong to each other. We are intertwined. And while our heartbreak and pain may feel separate. Ultimately, we are one, and that bond can never be broken.  With love and strength,  Lisa

Greetings Friends, Happy Solstice! The Solstice marks a half way point in the year, a time to reflect on where we've been in order to direct ourselves toward our heart's desire. After mirroring the magic of the world with Gemini, we go inwards to the watery refuge of Cancer Season. In the Tarot, Cancer Season is associated with The Chariot, the card that reveals how to be soft and structured at the same time. In readings, The Chariot is often a sign of achieving something meaningful through will and determination. In her whimsical deck, Tarot for All Ages, artist Elizabeth Haidle shows a figure driving an underwater chariot led by black and white seahorses, reigning in the opposites to find a third way, or middle path, of arriving at their destination. Cancer Season is ruled by the Moon, a symbol for our ever changing emotional life, which tells us  something about The Chariot's capacity to flow through adversity while staying centered in themselves. As the energetic wave of the new season washes over us, let us follow the  charioteer's example by reigning in emotional extremes to align ourselves with the tender wisdom of our hearts. What sweeter destination could we ask for? With love and perseverance, Lisa

Greetings Friends, Are you ready for softness? The feel of warm dirt under your feet? A cool breeze on your skin? A long nap under a tree? After standing tall with the Emperor, we return to the Earth in Taurus season. In the Tarot, Taurus is associated with The Empress, the card that invites us to receive pleasure and security through our senses and the Earth. In readings, The Empress signals a situation where it's safe to let energy in, safe to listen, to feel, to eat, to drink, to rest, to enjoy.  In the gorgeous tarot deck, The Fountain, the color cloaked Empress stands at the center of  a verdant lagoon, becoming one with her surroundings. After the surge of individualism in Aries season, the Empress brings us back to our roots, reminding us that we are one with the Earth, our physical provider. And while we are meant to branch out in our unique self-expression, it is the Earth element that is nourishing us along the way.   Ruled by Venus, Taurus encourages us to open ourselves to love and nourishment. But receptivity requires trust, and for many of us, trust is hard won. The Empress teaches us to start with our senses, to trust the sunlight on our skin, the fresh fruit in our mouth. It is through trust that she reveals how receptivity and generosity are intertwined, and that true security is found by opening the heart. With love and trust, Lisa

Greetings Friends, Happy astrological new year! After surrendering to the Moon in Pisces season, we are reborn into the world with Aries! In the Tarot, Aries is associated with The Emperor, the card that reminds us of our right to exist as we are, without apology or explanation, the right to simply “be.” In the Northern Hemisphere, Aries season aligns with the beginning of spring, the radical rebirth of nature and all the mess and beauty that comes with it. In readings, The Emperor is often a sign of structure, a container that is strong enough to allow the creative fires of Aries to burn without getting burnt out. In her inspired nature deck, The Wild Unknown Tarot, artist Kim Krans casts The Emperor as a Redwood tree. The Redwood is known for it's longevity, softness, and ability to weather the fiercest of flames. Redwood saplings start out small and vulnerable, subject to being easily crushed on the forest floor, a reminder of the raw exposure of new life. Yet their energy wants to burst forth and fulfill its potential to be a giant. Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of action but also conflict. As the charge of Aries seasons compels us to stand tall and take up space in the world, let it also teach us to respect the sacred space of others. Here we can take a lesson from the Redwood, whose power and glow is only made more magnificent by its fellow giants in the forest. With love and creative rebirth, Lisa

Greetings Friends, To those in the Northern Hemisphere, Happy Winter Solstice, a celebration of the returning of the light! After reconnecting with spirit in the Temperance card, we turn our attention to our place in the world in Capricorn season. In the Tarot, Capricorn is associated with the often misunderstood Devil card, depicted hilariously in Megan Lynn Kott's Cat Tarot, as a golden retriever. In the simplest terms, The Devil card teaches us not to give our divine power away. As spiritual beings, this may seem impossible. How can we deny our own essence? This is why the devil archetype is considered a trickster, a shadow energy that blocks our truth and makes us forget ourselves. This archetype can show up in many different ways. We may trick ourselves into believing we're only valuable if we are successful in our career. Or we may  feel powerless in relation to external things like shopping, drinking or, if you're a cat, golden retrievers. The levity of the Cat Tarot brings some much needed air into what can be a suffocating experience. Placing our power outside ourselves can leave us feeling helpless, trapped and alone. Known as the sign that "gets it done", Capricorn can and will achieve what it sets out to do. As we enter the New Year and the grounding, determined, power of Capricorn season flows through us, it's important to set goals that align with our true values vs. the values of others. When we direct this energy on course with our spiritual path, the path of the heart, we liberate ourselves from false constructs and step into our real power. A beautiful way to start the New Year. With love and liberation, Lisa