On Friday, Mercury and Venus both turn direct just eight hours and 34 minutes apart, a double turnaround we haven’t seen since February 1942. It’s the closest of only six near-simultaneous Mercury–Venus stations in 200 years, with Mercury turning at 5 degrees of Scorpio and Venus at 22 degrees of Libra. After weeks of reconsidering what you want and struggling to find the words, use this week to work out where you stand before reopening a conversation or committing to a choice. This week’s spread is The Standstill: five cards, two laid sideways, to help you understand what’s keeping you stuck and decide what to do next.
What else do the cards have to say? Explore SASS Tarot and pull your own reading.
We drew five cards and laid them like this:
1. Center, sideways: Mercury’s stop. The decision to stop putting off.
2. Beneath it, sideways: Venus’s stop. What to stop trying to make work.
3. Left, upright: What you took back and need to protect.
4. Right, upright: Your first step after Friday.
5. Above the stack, upright: What to keep doing while things change.
🦢 CENTER, SIDEWAYS, MERCURY’S STOP: Two of Swords
With Mercury slowing to turn direct in Scorpio, name the choice you’ve been avoiding since October 24 and ask yourself what you’re afraid each option will cost you.
🦥 BENEATH IT, SIDEWAYS, VENUS’S STOP: Four of Cups
With Venus slowing to turn direct in Libra, revisit an offer you’ve left unanswered since October 3 and ask whether you actually want it or feel you should say yes.
🐭 LEFT, WHAT YOU TOOK BACK: Six of Cups
The Six of Cups asks you to look at who or what came back during the retrogrades and decide whether you want it in your life now or simply enjoyed remembering how it used to be.
🐨 RIGHT, WHAT MOVES FORWARD: Three of Wands
The Three of Wands asks which plan you’re ready to pick up as Mercury and Venus turn direct on Friday, and what you can do to get it moving again.
🐯 ABOVE THE STACK, WHAT NEVER STOPPED: Strength
Strength asks you to notice what helped you through the Mercury and Venus retrogrades, whether a routine, a friendship, or your own persistence, and keep making time for it as things change.
THE TAKEAWAY
As Mercury and Venus turn direct on Friday, use the two sideways cards to name what needs a decision, the card on the right to choose your next step, and Strength at the top to remind you what you can count on.
Tarot Tuesday runs every week in Daily SASS, the free astrology newsletter. Get it in your inbox, or pull your own cards at SASS Tarot.
