Weekly Tarot

April 13-19, 2026
Ten of Pentacles

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.
Cecil Beaton (photographer; stage, film and fashion designer 1904-1980)

Here we go again!  Things promise to be intense, as the Mr. (or Ms.) Hot Stuff of the Tarot bursts upon the scene again!  Unsurprising, considering the intensity of the astrology (keep reading!). This daring champion who launches into every challenge with passion and a desire for adventure is back. Say hello to the Knight of Wands.

The Wands suit, as you probably know, is ruled by the element of Fire. So all matters to do with action, will, change, creativity, and energy are involved. And while the suit of Wands is the Fire suit of the Tarot, the Knights traditionally correspond to the element of Air.  So, in essence, we are welcoming the Air of Fire, the perfect agent for a powerful shift.

The Knights of the Tarot are always how that suit is put into action. So, as Tarot writer James Rioux once noted, “There is no card in the Tarot that portrays such daring and enthusiasm as the Knight of Wands. His energy and courage are boundless, and he has no fear of anything.”

Fiery Timing

In the Northern Hemisphere, the fires of Beltane are stirring. Rivaled only by Samhain, Beltane is one of the most important sabbats in the Wheel of the Year.

For, according to the Celtic calendar, this marks the end of the Springtime, which began at Imbolc, and gives way to Summer. Thus, while Samhain is the solemn observance of the ending of the life cycle of the year, the ancient fire festival of Beltane celebrates the spectacular life force that now thrums its way towards the peak of the light, which arrives in June.

Instead of focusing on our departed dead and the Ancestors, we now celebrate the burgeoning vitality in all living things, the nearness of the Shining Folk, and the fertility of the Earth Herself that is manifesting everywhere.

And the astrology, too, is aligned with impassioned influence. It seems to be no coincidence that the Knight last visited during last month’s Pisces New Moon. Back now for this Aries New Moon, there is a lot of volatile energy piling up this week. As adept news expert and astrologer Elisabeth Grace writes:

Mercury enters Aries on Tuesday, joining Sun, Mars, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, and Eris (the celestial body otherwise known as “burn it all to the ground”). Then, on Wednesday, Moon enters Aries, driving the next two days with a need to inspire and initiate. Did someone say “fiery crusade?” Moon in Aries is there for it…

Pay attention to what is heard — anything to do with audio, sound, listening, and hearings. Trust that life is full of ups and downs, and that whatever is down this week may not be there for long. If something in your own personal world feels down, delayed, or overtly blocked, it is reflecting that rare pile-up of planets in fiery Aries…

In addition, the legendary Robert Wilkinson kicks of a discussion of Mercury’s ingress to Aries on Tuesday, explaining:

At 8:21 pm PDT April 14, Mercury, “the Guide of Souls,” will leave the mystical deep tides of Mutable Water in Pisces and now expresses it through the “flame on” Cardinal Fire of its esoteric home sign of Aries. Having tuned into our intuition, it’s time for inspired thoughts and actions!

This ends the Pisces backdrop to planets and houses we have in Gemini and Virgo, and brings Fire to the forefront of those planetary Lights and life houses. Mercury has now finished considering and reconsidering what we learned in Pisces these many months, and being the last inner planet to move into Aries, closes our Pisces experience for good. We will never again have to go down many of the roads we’ve traveled since 2012. It’s time to face forward and move into the future.

I, for one, am hopeful as I read this. And as for this Friday’s Aries New Moon, well… it’s complicated. As Annie Heese at Cafe Astrology tells us:

Occurring when all major planets are direct, this New Moon suggests few obstacles. However, Mars, the ruler of Aries is applying to a conjunction to Saturn, and while we’re ready to work hard and pace ourselves, we can be combatting some fear of not being number one. This combination reminds us to be prudent and measured, which doesn’t come naturally to Mars in Aries.

Note also that Chiron aligns with the New Moon, and our sense of mission and purpose is strongly tied in with new beginnings. This lunation is triggering our vulnerabilities.

As well, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune are conjunct around the time of this New Moon, and these bodies are also sextile Pluto. This is complex energy. We can feel driven and inspired, particularly to win, overcome obstacles, or come first, but we also face criticism, skepticism, and blocks. If we have too many irons in the fire, we’ll feel the blockage and pressure. Frustrated energy, particularly in the face of veiled motives, deception, or overly aggressive promotion of fantasies, and terse communication are themes.

It sounds as if we would do well, then, to follow the Knight’s example and travel boldly, with no baggage other than a wand and our noble purpose.

Then on Sunday as the Sun bids goodbye to the Aries season and we welcome the time of Taurus, ruled by Venus, perhaps it’s not at all surprising that this Knight has returned. As I explained last time, many historians believe that Pixie Smith was depicting Joan of Arc. We can at least be certain she was paying homage to the brave women of her time who were fighting for their rights and suffrage.

So having this unusual pile-on from the Knights, only interrupted in the past two weeks by Strength and the Ten of Pentacles makes sense.

And by the way, I can’t help but remark how similar to the lion in Strength this Knight’s mighty steed looks. Same color, similar energy of the rider or the woman containing that raw, wild animal energy, right?

As mentioned, there are no planets now in retrograde; all systems are “Go!” For better or worse, the end of the end is now concluding. Saddle up and get ready for the explosive beginning of the beginning.

Dare to Break Free

In what ways is it now time for you to burst forth in a new, passionate endeavor? What challenges are you longing to tackle headfirst? In what ways are you being asked to shake things up or step up as an agent of change?  What amazing achievements might now be possible?

Do bear in mind that this Knight is not known for their practicality or minding the details. So after the initial excitement, you might need to make an extra effort to focus and follow through. And please temper any impulse to overreact or create unhelpful drama. We have quite enough of that already, don’t we?

But if you ever needed a bold, brilliant champion on your side, you have one now.  Is this you?

Speed, focus, daring–these are your allies. Wherever you may be, the tide is turning. Now you are called to tap into the vivacious places, projects, and causes that energize you and fill you with passion. Leave the commonplace and the slaves of the ordinary in the dust.

Playing it safe may be the most unsafe thing you could do right now. Instead, as long as your cause is as virtuous as this Knight’s quest, now is the time to streak ahead towards your desire!

My Card of the Week continues to be a labor of love, without paywalls. But if you’d like to make a donation, I would be profoundly grateful. Thanks.