July 2025 Monthly Forecast

July highlights the burgeoning excitement, experimentation, and direction of the Two of Wands - this is a month to pay attention to what inspiration is appearing naturally while protecting this tender new growth from harmful influences. The Knight of Swords indicates a critical environment and a choice for us to turn against ourselves or turn against what’s holding us back via the Eight of Swords. The Knight of Pentacles reveals a different approach, one we may already be taking behind the scenes: slow, diligent, and dedicated work that can grow to support a meaningful life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

A robust and fiery energy for the start of the summer! This spread features the powerful, authoritative Emperor as our theme card. We’re positioned to make big gains this month, using our strength and determination to shape projects, routines, relationships - anything that requires our focus and vision. In our environment position, the Six of Wands shows an abundance of support and collaboration. Success is possible if we engage with others, delegate, and practice mutuality. The challenge, however, is to avoid burnout and emotional withdrawal via the Four of Cups while accepting the fast-moving developments (and successes!) of the Eight of Wands. Listen in for the entire forecast and be sure to share your comments below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

In May we step out of the world of pentacles and into the suit of swords. Led by the Page of Swords, our theme card, we’re inspired to revisit old narratives and step into a future that has us revising our assumptions and feeling awkward and inspired. The Queen of Swords asks us to be on the lookout for people, resources, and situations that encourage us to think flexibly and to trust our powers of discernment. It’s a powerful time to shift our viewpoint around struggle and effort: Will we choose to feel put upon and irritated like the Seven of Wands or dynamic and confident like the Two of Pentacles? All in all, this is a month of blue skies with clouds receding and a remarkable opportunity to reframe our lives, plans, and even beliefs. Listen in for the full reading and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

April sees us stepping onto the throne of the King of Pentacles as we’re asked to appreciate and be empowered by our increased ability to support ourselves, our lives, and communities. All things pentacles are getting a refresh as this powerful card joins forces our envrionment card, the Seven of Pentacles. What actions, plans, projects, and jobs have yielded results? Do you like them? This month gives us a wonderful opportunity to edit and prune our growing plans. Our challenge comes in the form of the Five of Swords as miscommunication and even betrayal from ourselves and others enters the scene. Grounding ourselves in what’s real, what feels generative, and what we’d like for the future can help offset any hurt feelings or impulses to lash out. Finally, our opportunity lies in the expansive vistas of the Two of Wands: What new horizons are calling us? This month we’re seeing how the small steps we’ve taken have led us to a pivotal and exciting turning point. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

Well, only 2/4 of this reading are court cards, so it’s an improvement, right? March is set to be an intense month as we contend with the pain of endings via the Ten of Swords and the tempting call to enact consequential change through Judgment. Our opportunity card, the Queen of Cups, however, encourages caution; fiery and impulsive moves characteristic of our challenge card, the King of Wands, may further inflame an already difficult situation. Listen in for the entire forecast and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

Well, we’ve decreased our “court card count” to 50% of the reading, and this month’s spread is, overall, far more gentle than January’s. We begin with an invitation to center ourselves in our networks of care through the Nine of Cups. Emotional and spiritual abundance is backing us as we contend with new inspiration through the Queen of Cups and new ways of thinking through the Ace of Swords. It’s not surprising that our opportunity from last month has pivoted into our challenge for February. Embracing the social intensity and drive of the Queen of Wands threatens to lead us into burnout - too much fire is not a good thing! - and the environment this month is, in contrast, characterized by the soothing and beautiful cups suit. Listen in for the full reading and don’t forget to share your insights and impressions in the comments below! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

The Ask a Tarot Reader segment is back! This month, we have a timely question from a listener named Kristen, who asks:what is the difference between a personal card of the year vs. the collective card of the year? How would we relate to them differently and how might they affect us differently? My personal card of the year is always the next year’s collective card - I’m specifically, and personally, wondering what your thoughts are on the experience of living with a tarot archetype 2 years in a row (but maybe in a different way).Listen in as we explore the ins-and-outs of personal birth cards and the card of the year and how they can inform each other and the year ahead. To submit a question /// click hereTo calculate your birth cards /// click here To get a mini-reading /// click hereIncandescent Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

Well, dear listeners, we certainly start 2025 with a bang! It’s such a delight to be back recording for you all. Our welcome to the New Year is packed with court cards. Yes, you heard right, 4/4 of our cards are in this group: two queens, one king, and one knight. Phew! January is poised to be full of action, characters, and adventures. We’re being asked to assume the poised and insightful position of the Queen of Swords while dealing with the boisterous and unceasing energy of the Knight of Wands out in the world around us. Reading between the cards, I’m sensing that the wisdom of our card for 2025 - The Hermit - will come in handy. Our challenge is in taking refuge in the false moral or emotional high ground of the King of Cups. What are we trying to protect ourselves from when we pretend we’ve got it all figured out and that the world doesn’t touch us? The Queen of Wands illuminates a path through the challenges of the Knight of Wands that sees us assuming a passionate, powerful, and authentic position of personal authority. Buckle up - it’s a wild ride, but with huge potential for zesty and fruitful growth. Listen in for the whole reading, including me waxing poetic about the passage of time, the first (and only other) time I turned over a spread with all court cards, and losing my mind over this impressive array! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

Hello dear subscribers! This forecast is coming to us in a different format because of some unexpected delays this week. But I will not be defeated! We’re going audio because, to quote this perennial wisdom: ‘done is better than perfect.’ (See the unintentional “remix” at the beginning of our recording 😆.) Listen in for a full rundown of this week’s energy (challenging but rewarding!) as well as the classic “things to embrace/things to avoid” segment. If you’d still like to read, click above to access the transcript! We’ll be back with the usual written reading next week. Thanks as always for being here and best of luck in the holiday chaos! A check-in for the monthly reading is also coming tomorrow. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe

Listen in for a tarot snapshot of the final month of 2024 and reflections on our tour of the Strength card over the past twelve months. Our card for December is Temperance, pointing us to a gentle assimilation of all the lessons we’ve learned about Strength and a period of grace (and hopefully ease) as we conclude the year. We’ll be pulled to make some poignant decisions about leaving parts of our lives behind in search of what we know is right via the Six of Swords while trusting our internal compass to guide the way. Our challenge this month is everyone’s favorite catastrophic tarot card, The Tower. Will some things crumble in our lives? Perhaps, but our opportunity card - the Eight of Cups - suggests that our choice lies between seeing endings as solely unjust and painful or necessary parts of our growth. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit incandescenttarot.substack.com/subscribe