February begins with the Two of Cups Reversed
Right way up the Two of Cups is a good card but when reversed, oof!
We’re looking at any or all of the following: love that’s turned bad or was simply awful to start with; false friends; troubled relationships; divorce; separation; conflicting desires; misunderstandings.
You might be in conflict with a person, a political situation, or an aspect of yourself, but something is not right, and you’re drinking to forget!
If you read this and think well that’s not me – well, lucky you! You should still read on, because maybe one of your friends is going through this stuff, and your role this month is to help them. Similarly, if one of your enemies is going through all this, then reading on might give you the insights required to kick them while they’re down and vulnerable.
Now let’s see if the energies over the coming weeks can provide more solace than a Vodka Coke Float drunk by moonlight …
How February plays out: your week-by-week guide!
Week 1 - The Devil Reversed
This is one of my favourite cards, and I’m always excited when it appears. It’s interesting to see the variations in how this card is illustrated by different artists. Jui Guoliang presents us with a horse-headed demon and his bull-headed pal holding their instruments of torture/tools of the demon trade.
The Devil Reversed is considered a very auspicious card as it signifies release from bondage.
Stuart R. Kaplan (who wrote the text that accompanies) The Chinese Tarot Deck also gives us Divorce (second appearance in just two cards for that word!) and ‘Recognition of one’s needs by another person’. Now possibly, that other person could very well be our second card …
Week 2- Knight of Wands
(Staves in this deck)
I’m a Suit of Coins (or Pentacles) native myself, but I have a lot of time for the Court of Wands. It’s a suit of fire, and creative energy.
Knights signify Youths (male or female) and the Knight of Wands is a charming rapscallion who is restless and on the move. You might have the Knight of Wands enter your life in mortal form, or you could consider this the cards asking you to access your own inner Knight of Wands.
Lighten up a bit, take a step back from what’s bugging you, indulge yourself a little. This card often indicates a journey, usually at short notice, and a change of scene.
Week 3 - Queen of Wands
(Staves in this deck)
Another court card and the same suit: this time it’s the mature charm of the Queen of Wands that will influence our fortunes through the rest of this month.
Her qualities include Vibrancy, Creativity, Warmth, Courage and Ingenuity. If a Queen of Wands comes your way this week, bind her to your bosom with hoops of steel. If not, work to show those qualities yourself – even if all that Reversed two of Moons stuff is dragging you down.
The message from the cards for Week 3 is put on a sanguine front this week, even if privately you feel a bit despairing.
The Chinese Tarot Deck describes the Queen of Wands as ‘Chaste’. This is not a quality I associate with this lovely card of Leonine spark and fire.
To personify the Queen of Wands, older readers who grew up on Normal Island could turn to the mighty Bet Lynch of Coronation Street as an Exemplar. Even when her flat caught fire and her wardrobe of leopard skin was burnt to a cinder, Bet donned a borrowed frock and resumed her place behind the bar of the Rovers with a smile on her face and a cleavage that drew all eyes.
What if haters are so in your face that rising above it with sanguine cool could just look like meekness? In that case, channel my all-time favourite Queen of Wands: Catherine Ringer, who, when baited on a chat show by Serge Gainsbourg (back in the early years of her career and the later years of his) lashed back with scorching ferocity and in doing so won the admiration of toute la France.
Week 4 - Three of Cups
‘Resolution, Conclusion, Satisfaction, Solace, Healing, Satisfactory result, Compromise’ says the Chinese Tarot Deck, illustrating this happy state of affairs with a General toasting his victory – a lovely counterpoint to the card that opened February for us, don’t you think?
I mostly go along with The Chinese Tarot here, but! I caution you against that ‘Compromise’ word.
Compromise is all well and good if each party willingly gives up something they didn’t want that much if it allows them to gain something they did want massively. However, all too often it turns into neither party being satisfied with what they have, and at best the pyrrhic victory of knowing your enemy is at least as miserable as you are.
If you are asked to be reasonable this week, use all the Wand Charm at your disposal to pretend that you’re giving ground, but make sure you don’t compromise on anything important to you just out of weariness.
February closes with the Nine of Cups
Wow, any rowing and rucking we might have endured this month in order to eliminate a source of discord has paid off!
The Nine of Cups is one of the very nicest and most auspicious cards in Tarot. It promises contentment, good health, and bonheur all around – because you’re so happy you want to spread the joy.
The Chinese Tarot Deck illustrates this with the lovely story of Chu Wenjun, a scholar who came from a rich family. Chu Wenjun turned her back on the cash and the books and ‘became a wineseller in order to enjoy a tranquil life and freedom from fame and gain’.
The TLDR for February:
Something, somewhere in our life is really working our fucking nerves. In that one area we feel as though we are yoked to an irritation – battling with a person or entity that we’re fundamentally opposed to.
It’s causing us to get caught up in negativity and hostility and in the first part of the month we might find ourselves screaming at a former love, the telly or into the void, as appropriate to our circumstances.
However! If we move with the energies of the cards we will be moving towards a reconciliation, of sorts, but most likely a break. The Devil Reversed is coming in fast promising freedom, and will lend us the strength to bin off whatever it is that spoils our happiness. Wand Energy is Fire, Warmth and Charm – and fire melts chains.
With the Devil Reversed watching our back and stiffening our resolve we can acquire some Wand energy (our own or someone else’s) with which to jolly us along through the difficult moments that are required to separate ourselves from that which is bad for us: a person, a situation, a side of ourselves that no longer serves us.
All being well we will find ourselves towards the end of the month in a healthier, happier, and calmer place.
DECK USED THROUGHOUT: The Chinese Tarot Deck by Jui Guoliang published by US Games Systems, Inc.
FEBRUARY NOTES:
One powerful Major Arcana card directs action.
No Swords (mental energy, cool logic) or Coins/Pentacles (money, material reality) in sight, so do the occasional cryptic crossword to keep your brain tuned up, and don’t forget to check cashflow!
The Suit of Wands appears with two Court Cards.
The Spread is dominated by the Suit of Cups.
This is a month of strong emotion and creative energy, and a time of passion.
Colours of the spread are soft dark blues, olive, jade, and strong yellow.
Home furnishing suggestions include but are not limited to tiger rugs and peacock fans.
