Articles By Mel and Chris

About Mel and Chris

We’re both full-time professional astrologers with more than 30 years experience (studying, teaching, writing and consulting) individually. We met several years ago while doing online consultations and have been collaborating on weekly and monthly horoscopes for the last five years.

Jul 15 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 15, 2014 — Five of Pentacles

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Five of Pentacles

Be grateful for what beauty flowers… one day at a time.

If you feel you are at the bottom of a well and cannot look up or get out because you are stuck in a rut take heart that you are beautiful indeed.

Do not let circumstances get so on top of you that you forget your own inner beauty and strengths for it is these that shall pull you out of where you are now and see you soaring again.

The Five of Pentacles is about leaving something behind and it may be that you are removing yourself from a situation that no longer sustains or serves you well and need to start looking at your options in the sense that as one door closes another opens and that door may just lead to your “dreams.”

It may be a good idea to take a break, have a rest and clear your mind of all thoughts and I have just the thing to take your mind off problems you may be stuck on at the moment.

Take a look at the black void which is behind the rose filled with what looks like raindrops moving in front of it. I know rain falls down but take a good look at these white drops and see if they are falling up or down.

Does this image appear to be moving up or down to you? If it is moving down try to turn the vision to the image so that the rain drops are moving upwards.

Jul 14 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 14, 2014 — Five of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Five of Swords

Your dealings with others today could be tense. The Five of Swords can manifest as a clash of wills or a heated confrontation that seemingly comes from out of nowhere.

This is one of the most challenging cards in the tarot. It’s called “Defeat” in this deck, referring to the need accept your limitations rather than exacerbating problems by fighting back.

As Fives are all tied to conflict and Swords to communications, it should come as no surprise that your battles won’t be physical ones; they’ll be verbal or written. A negative review at work is one example; a ruling in someone else’s favor is another.

You could be dealing with an unreasonable partner or co-worker — or as is often the case with the Five a Swords — embroiled in legal wranglings or contractual negotiations. Whatever it is, it’s unlikely to be pleasant.

In this version of the card we see that the swords that have been lunged at their target — a stone statue of a snarling beast — have broken on impact. They haven’t even made a dent. The I Ching hexagram (47: K’un) at the bottom of the card refers to exhaustion and oppression.

With Mars conjuncting the North Node today, there are also karmic implications to consider. The North Node refers to karma you’re sewing, while the South Node — which Mars is simultaneously opposing — refers to karma you’re reaping. So be mindful of this no matter which end of the sword you’re handed today.

Jul 13 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 13, 2014 — Ten of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Ten of Cups

Following hot on the heels of yesterday’s super moon today we have Venus trining Mars… a planetary aspect wonderful for love and in this instance as the two planets are in Air signs… love is all about communication.

The Ten of Cups is all about happiness and as can be seen from the image on this card nothing is going to ruffle your feathers today.

You have your two feet planted firmly on the ground or as can be seen from this image you have your feet well and truly planted within the ground as if you are so in touch with yourself and what you want that nothing will shake you from your goals.

Ten cups lay in front of you as if they are floating on clouds which is another indication of today’s transits with Mars and Venus trining in air signs (clouds).

However, the other interesting astrological aspect that occurs today is Mercury re entering Cancer after a few weeks of retrograde movement and will soon come to pass over the degree of Cancer it first went retrograde at. Problems you may have experienced the last few weeks are coming to an end.

It’s time for you to slow down any thoughts which have been racing through your mind so quickly that you can’t catch hold of them.

Jul 12 2014

Ask the Tarot: Is That all There Is?

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: 5 Comments

We received the following question from a reader who has questions about her marriage:

My name is Sage (not real name) and I am married and I am constantly struggling to know if I made the right choice in marrying him. I often feel there is more for me or a better match. And while my husband is great, loving devoted and financially supportive I am not sure I can stay for the rest of my life with him and have kids with him…

I am not sure what information you need but I want to know if I am deep down destined to be with someone else or if I have found the person I am meant to be with and I should just live my life with them. Please help me I am a bit of an emotional mess.

Jul 12 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 12, 2014 — Seven of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Seven of Swords

Today — with Mercury and Jupiter in semi-sextile — you want to work on trusting your instincts and staying tuned in to your environment.

The Mercury /Jupiter aspect can act as a trigger for internal conflict and mental discord. Anxiety. Uncertainty. It can cause you to be touchy or “jumpy,” guarded and apprehensive.

You could be dealing with trust issues, as in questioning other people’s motives or agendas. You could be questioning your own instincts, or fretting over something that just feels “off. It can be especially challenging for you to navigate through uncharted territories, much like the woman in this version of the card.

There are elements of fear, uncertainty and even paranoia associated with this card. This usually comes from overthinking and over-analyzing things to the point where your own intuition becomes hopelessly compromised.

While there’s no question that there are situations that call for you to be more guarded, you don’t want to make things worse by projecting your suspicions onto others.

The Seven of Swords calls for you to be mindful and alert, but you want to be just as aware of the potential for jumping to illogical conclusions.

This Mercury Jupiter transit is considered “minor” but it can wreak a lot of havoc. Especially if you’re easily distracted or given to emotional reactions.

Jul 11 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 11, 2014 — Two of Swords

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Two of Swords

You may feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place today as you struggle with a decision that’s not going to be easy to make.

Perhaps this is why you’ve held off in the first place, as the the Two of Swords refers to not just feeling torn between two options but wanting to avoid making a choice between them as well.

The figure in this card is blind-folded and holding up two sharp swords. She may be leaning towards one but she’s not taking any steps to act on it.

In this respect the Two of Swords can refer to inaction and immobility. Sometimes this is due to fear: “What if I make the wrong decision?” But it’s just often related to a desire to not have to choose at all.

You may also find yourself at a Spiritual impasse, torn between two diametrically opposed urges: head vs. heart , love vs. lust, comfort vs. passion, etc.

The Two of Swords says you’re on the fence about an important decision, weighing both sides of an argument, or looking for ways to reconcile two different but equally valid points. You’ll need to rise above your personal biases so you can assess your dilemma from an objective standpoint.

Alternately you may have come to an impasse with someone and are actualizing this energy through passive resistance.

Jul 10 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 10, 2014 — Knight of Pentacles

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Knight of Pentacles

Today is a day about giving and receiving and this doesn’t have to just be in terms of monetary gains and losses.

The Knight of Pentacles rides in on his horse and gives to all around him. There is more than enough to go around and as Jesus fed the thousands not only with food but with new thoughts there is something to be said for what you give out and it coming back to you.

Today would be a good day to have your thoughts in alignment with your goals and to ask yourself what those goals mean to you and where they will take you.

For better or worse others pick up on what you are saying and doing and you do not want to leave a trail of misinformation behind.

Instead you wish to pave forth a blazing trail of truth that nourishes people’s souls and lives in a way that enriches them.

The Knight of Pentacles in this card tells us that from the lowliest to the highest we all have a part to play and there is no need to judge what others give for it is up to you what you have to give and accept in turn.

As the sun shines so brightly in this card it is almost as if we are being nourished and replenished just through the sheer energetic imprint it leaves upon us.

Jul 09 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 9, 2014 — Seven of Wands

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Seven of Wands

You may find yourself in a situation today that you need to come out fighting to protect yourself and those around you. If this is the case then make sure you have a game plan in place because the opposition looks as if they are not taking any heed of your words or actions.

If there is a situation building up in your workplace that looks as if it may blow up you need to take several steps back and watch from the side lines. Do not get embroiled within the game that is being played out here as it looks suspiciously like bullying and the more power you give to this bullying the more the bully will benefit from it.

You may wish to look at what rights you do have because even though you look like the “under dog” (or “under fox”) in this situation you have other avenues to explore and those avenues will need to be you keeping a clear head while you ascertain what legal rights you could use to get this bully off your back.

If you look at the image in this card you will see that you are perhaps trying to protect others with your behaviour or that you are trying to protect what you have earned whether this be your reputation or your position you will not back down and just hand it over without a fight.

There is also the position you hold within the image and it looks as if you are the one whose territory is being encroached on.

Jul 08 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 8, 2014 — The Tower

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

The Tower

With the Sun squaring Uranus today anything can happen and probably will!

More than like this will all be out of your control and your saving grace will be the trine from the Sun to Saturn which will allow you to rebuild, plan and organise in advance of any catastrophe that may hit.

If you’re going to fall then do it in grand style. This version of the Tower shows that there may have been a problem in your life… (or two problems or more… but whose counting!) and that you are either on the verge of coming undone within the situation and about to take a fall.

All is not lost thought as forewarned is forearmed and if you do find yourself in a situation that seems a bit precarious at the moment it is time to take steps, backwards if you have to, to remove yourself from the threat at hand.

This may mean you have to take some time out from a situation, do some more thinking on how you were going to approach it or avoid any contact with people who could trigger this situation for you.

A good case in hand would be if you were going to speak to your partner about something and you had a funny feeling it was not the right to time to approach them then heed your own warning signal as you could very well end up throwing more away than you thought you would.

This version of the Tower is lovely though… it almost seems to be surrounding with a rainbow of colours so perhaps if you do find yourself caught up in the aforementioned situation you may land with a loud thump but quickly proceed to pick up the pieces and draw something from the event so that all is not lost.

Jul 07 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 7, 2014 — Four of Cups

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Four of Cups

What are you pouring into your dreams and where does it come from?

Is it from you or a divine source? And does it keep you awake at night or allow you to gently slumber and “see” the answers you seek within your dreams?

There is a suggestion in this card that your life is either half full or half empty and depending on how you perceive your situation or how you tackle your problems that you will arrive at your answer in your own good time and in your own good way.

If there was something you could do to facilitate the process of finding an answer to change your lot in life would you do it?

It’s an interesting question considering that one figure in this card is restlessly awake while the other is not and it is the figure who is sleeping who seems to be acquiring the additional help and assistance s/he needs to tackle his dilemma awake with an answer.

The fact that the benefactor, in Angel form, also seems to share this view in that she stands directly above the sleeping figure while her eyes are on the restless soul caught up in the problems that keeps him so awake only goes to prove that there are answers being given to you and it may be that you need to take some “time out” to “hear” the answers.

Jul 06 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 6, 2014 — Eight of Disks

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Eight of Disks

After working so hard to fine-tune your skills, now is the time to start thinking about showing the rest of the world what you’re made of.

You may be putting the finishing touches on a project or getting ready to dust off your degree. Or you may have discovered a new passion that has you prepared to invest your time and energy into.

The Eight of Disks has been called the “apprenticeship card.” It refers to finding your personal labor of love and devoting yourself fully to it. It’s the precarious balance between passion and discipline, as you hone your craft to perfection.

You may be making a pivotal move toward achieving what it is you really want to achieve.

Look at the imagery in this card. There are a set of lions — one red and one gold — framing a delicate lamb. They rise up on either side like pillars of strength and virtue, leave little room for error.

It takes focus, determination and preservation (notice the lamb so peacefully situated between the two pillars) to achieve this level of mastery.

Ask yourself; are you protecting the lamb or are you preparing to devour it? The desire to hold on to your work may be just as compelling as the need to set it free.

Jul 05 2014

Free Daily Tarotscope — July 5, 2014 — Knight of Swords

Author: Mel and Chris • Discussion: No Comments

Knight of Swords

The Knight of Swords is a no-nonsense individual who’s completely focused on attaining his goals. He’s fearless, driven and competitive and is not about to let anyone (or anything) stand in his way.

As with all court cards this can refer to someone in your life, a frame of mind you need to adopt, or it can refer to you personally. Either way, it’s about someone going after what he wants with the willful drive and determination that all but guarantees success.

There’s often a sense of urgency associated with this card. There’s a need to make things happen now, to get the ball rolling and to strike while the iron is hot.

In this version of the card, the Knight and his stallion charge through the countryside toward their destination. The speed with which they ride blurs the hillside behind them, as the Knight’s cape billows in the wind. The landscape itself is dull and dreary: it looks like it’s pouring down rain. Still they charge forward, past the rocky terrain and over the Sword that appears as a hurdle at the base of the card.

If this is someone in your life right now — and especially if you’re at odds with him — your best bet is going to be to just get out of his way. This isn’t someone you can reason with or who will be deterred by emotional displays.

He may however represent an energy or attitude that you need to learn to embrace. If you’ve been wavering in your convictions, this guy is here to show you how it’s done.