Iris X Reading of the Week/Week beginning on 6/23/25:

As a Tarot card reader, I have always had a fascination with the older Tarot decks. This week's reading was done on the Cary Yale Visconti Tarot, which is arguably one of the most challenging decks I have worked with. It was created in the 15th century, and has several cards that are not familiar to modern Tarot. I love the challenge, and find the messages from the deck to be quite loud. So, I shuffled the cards and asked for a reading for someone who will see this post. It may be for many people or one in particular. This week's cards were all very clear as they are all Major Arcana cards. When you do a reading and get all Major arcana cards, it indicates a very impactful and fateful time. It is a time of large mysteries, though the Minor arcana activities of life continue in the background. Stay safe and sane out there and read on to see if this reading is for you. 

The reading begins with Temperance with the advice to stay calm. The figure of Temperance stays in balance no matter what is happening. When you put the cards in order, Temperance is the force between Death and the Devil. She is the power that breaks all extremes. The advice of Temperance is always harm reduction. Temper the situation- bring it down a notch. It is said that she mixes a cup of water and a cup of wine- to spice up the water and dilute the wine. The middle path and temperance is advised when you see this card. 

Death appears next in the reading showing a time of great change and transition. A lot of people like to jump to the positive interpretation of Tarot to remind us that it is 'just transition.' But it is change that is intense enough to be represented by Death. It is not just change; it is a time that changes everything. Death leaves nothing untouched and it is unavoidable. It does not have to be a 'bad' change, but it is most certainly impactful. The sun comes up and things change again and again. 

So spins the Wheel. The Wheel of Fortune appears next representing the powers of Fate and transition. It is not a card that is 'good' or 'bad'- it simply Is. With the Wheel of Fortune, the Wheel spins and everything turns to chaos. It is dizzying, and hard to find a pattern to it all. But that doesn't mean that the pattern is not there. As a spinning Wheel, sometimes you are on the top, other times you are in between- and then, sometimes you are on the bottom. The only certainty is that it will keep changing- you will not stay in one place for too long.. It is a force that creates time periods and generations. It is not easy to stop as it spins away from what was, and the inevitable direction of what will be. 

The key to this week is Strength. This is a card of great power and resilience. It is a card of endurance. Strength calls you to look at what your particular power is. It is different for everyone; in fact this card rarely represents physical strength. It is something that goes deeper than that and represents the strength of character and the ability to manage challenges with grace. Strength also is about relationship with the world around you- from people to wildlife, from trees to plants- we all live in relation to each other. And there is strength and power in numbers. It is sometimes those around us that make us strong. 

Here's what I see. If this is your reading, you are surviving a time of great change. You are not sure which end is up. You don't know what is going to happen next. It seems like nothing makes any sense at all and it's hard to see the future with any level of clarity. You can't cling to the past or see the future. You are in a time where you just have to be. With all Major arcana cards, this is a time where you are along for the ride. Things are unfolding as they are. The wheel is spinning and will reach a time when things seem opposite of where you are now- and then it spins again and all will change again. Anything that is created will eventually be destroyed. It is a good time to look at your own strength and powers and how you fit into the larger picture. Stay calm and try to not go to extremes. Temper it all down, reduce the harm and do your best to stay in balance on a wheel that spins faster than you can run. Be true to your character and find the power that you have- and then figure out how to work with it. All is happening as it is meant to. If you can't change the larger circumstances, find a way to use your strength of character, power, and skill to make it through with grace. 

If you need a reading this week, send a message to irisxtarot@gmail.com. And if this is a reading for you- hold onto your hat! As an FYI, I am in the process of moving my website off of the wix platform to shopify! The address will stay the same, but things may look a bit different. Stay tuned and thanks for your support.