Iris X Reading of the Week/Week beginning on January 19, 2026:

Greetings to the friends of Iris X Readings!

I am back from Isla Mujeres and catching up on messages! Here's a perplexing suggestion I received in one of my messages. "You should use chatgpt to write the weekly readings for you! You are doing far too much work!!! It could generate a reading for you every day and you would just have to post it!" 

My response is this: "I am a Tarot Card reader. I am sure that chat gpt would neaten up my grammar and put everything I say into a perfect post. I will never EVER use chat gpt to do a reading of any kind. I am not sure how to say this, so bear with me. There is a lot of spirit to a tarot card reading. It's not an intellectual exercise or a creative writing prompt. The interaction of the reader and the cards is what makes a reading. Perhaps it is not perfect. I could always improve on my grammar, I am sure! But, I am providing a reading that has insights for someone who will see the post of the week. I am not doing the weekly reading to advertise myself, but to offer help to people who may not otherwise get readings. My goal is not to be perfect and polished- I am trying to help. Call me old fashioned, but I still believe that time and skill matter, and I will never ever use Chatgpt to do a reading. Ever. Though I appreciate the suggestion! " 

Another message "I wish you provided readings to distant people! Vermont is a long drive!"  My response: "My good news for you is.. I do! I read for people all over the world. 99 percent of my readings are for people at a distance! I read on Zoom, Facetime and phone." 

I'll keep plugging away at the messages! In the meantime, I shuffled the Minchiate al Cigno Tarot deck. It is a deck that is challenging this old Tarot card reader. Every time I shuffle it, I have to put it back in order to correctly identify the cards! It is a 97 card Tarot deck (as opposed to the traditional 78)- and I am bound and determined to become fluent in it. It's going to take a lot of work, and I am comfortable with that. These things Should take work. I shuffled this confusing deck and asked for a reading for someone who will read this post. Perhaps it is for you or someone that you know! Please share! 

The reading begins with The Fool- a card of freedom and new beginnings. The Fool is the free spirit, walking in the direction the wind takes them. If this is your reading, you prefer things to be open ended. You don't have a plan or know what is going to happen next, you are just trusting the universe to take you where you need to go. All opportunities are open and anything is possible. The Fool has no plan or anywhere that he needs to be. Depending on the person, this can be freeing or foolish. 

The Moon appears next, showing you feeling tossed about by the currents. There is a lot happening right now, and nothing feels predictable. It is anxiety producing sometimes to not have a plan or a direction to walk in. You may be feeling nervous and like you don't know what to expect on a day to day basis. You are quite sensitive, and there are many factors at play. Things may feel out of control, but there is a cycle or pattern that is beginning to emerge. 

The only Minor arcana in this card is next- the IX of Swords. This is a card of anxiety and sleeplessness. People who get this card worry about everything. You try to rest, and feel weighed down by thoughts and nerves. You are not sharing with the outside world that you feel this way, and so it all comes out when you try to rest. You feel so anxious, but also like you don't want to burden the people around you with your problems. 

The key to this reading is The Hanged Man. It is possible that you are coming up to a crossroads, and that the road that you have been traveling is coming up to a place of change. You can feel this change coming up, and you don't know what to do. But you don't have to figure it out right away. It is ok to choose to be suspended for this time, and to see what thoughts and insights arise for the future. Look at things outside of the box- the answer may not currently feel clear. Pause movement and see what comes up for you. 

Here's what I see. I am going to start with the one Minor arcana card, because it represents how all of the major mysteries coming at you are making you feel. Your experience in the world right now is of Anxiety. You don't show this side of yourself to the world at large- most people would not notice this at all. But you are feeling restless and nervous and it feels like a cycle that is neverending. Perhaps you have always been a Fool.. a free spirit, wanting to walk your own way. You don't like having to be told what to do, or to fit into boxes. You prefer to not have a plan and to see where the road takes you every day. This is a way that has always served you well. But lately, you have been feeling anxious and overwhelmed. You don't know what is going to happen or what to expect. When you feel like you understand what is happening, it all shifts and changes again. You feel like you are going along for the ride, and following the winds is not as easy to do when there is a storm around you. Times are changing, and so must you. You are at a crossroads right now. A time of great change. You don't really know what you are going to do next, but you have been feeling that for a long time now. You need some space and quiet to look at things outside of the box. You can't keep walking the path that you have been going on anymore. It made sense for a time, but you have outgrown this path and you are running into a wall. You have to take a turn to the left or right. But you don't have to figure it all out immediately. See if you can get some space to yourself to look at your situation from a different perspective.  A change of environment may give you some time to think and come up with a plan. It's ok to not have the answers yet, but it is very important to be listening. Being the Fool can be a really good thing- but check how you are feeling. If you are nervous and anxious, it may be time to switch things up. 

If you need a reading this week, send a message to irisxtarot@gmail.com. Have a good week!