Tarot is a form of divination that uses a deck of playing cards to give us a sense of direction. It can’t tell the future, but practitioners of the craft believe that reading these cards can give insight into how we can best cope with the world around us.
We sat down with Sarah Potter, a tarot reader and psychic medium based in New York City, for a collective Valentine’s Day tarot reading to see what wisdom the cards have for us surrounding 2021’s holiday of love.
Potter’s first pull: a Two of Swords, which she said is kind of like a stalemate. “We have to make a decision,” she said. “The Two of Swords is like, don’t hold back — say what you’re thinking and let someone know.”
Right off the bat, the cards want you to be open about your love this Valentine’s Day. Tell your crush you dig them, let your partner know how much you appreciate them, or tell your best friend that you’re grateful for their support during the past year.
The Two of Cards is actually showing that you have an option here: Be open with your affections, or don’t. But if you choose the latter, know that the moment can pass you by. “I feel like we can get caught up in the, ‘What if they don’t like me?’ or ‘What if they don’t respond in the way I want them to?,'” Potter said. “But if you don’t try, you’ll never know, and to me if we’ve learned anything from what we’re facing as a planet it’s that nothing’s guaranteed and we shouldn’t really put things off.”Photo: courtesy of Sarah Potter.
Next, Potter pulled the Eight of Staffs. This is more of an action card, Potter said, and it signifies forward momentum — think of it like a “just do it” mentality.
“It’s funny, too, because the energy of this card is pulling the arrow back and letting it go,” she said. “It’s kind of like Cupid is blessing you.” This second pull goes hand-in-hand with the Two of Swords: You’ve made your decision, now speak up. Say what you feel and put your love out there. “Again this could be for anyone,” Potter noted. “It could be expressing your love for your best friend; it doesn’t have to be romantic.”Photo: courtesy of Sarah Potter.
Next up, Potter pulled the Two of Cups, a card that signifies couples and partnership. “What it’s telling me is if you don’t take a chance, you might not get what you want,” she said, adding that if you do take a chance, you’re in a pretty lucky spot. The fates are indicating that you’ll receive the response you want this Valentine’s Day.
Her advice? Write your crush or your partner a love letter describing your feelings for them. Or send your friend a gushy note of appreciation. A small but loving gesture like this can go a long way on February 14.Photo: courtesy of Sarah Potter.
The final card Potter pulled was the Queen of Staffs, which is all about being bold and expressing yourself completely. I’m sensing a theme here. “To me, overall, the reading is don’t be afraid to tell someone how you feel,” Potter explained. “Your feelings are probably going to be returned.”
Heads up: Potter said the Queen of Staffs is also a pretty sexy card, so whether you’re in a committed partnership or not, V-Day might the perfect opportunity to add some heat to your weekend. Try something new in the bedroom, wear V-Day inspired lingerie, or go in for that first kiss — love isn’t the only thing in the air this weekend.
Overall, this reading wants us to take charge of our romantic lives, be open with our feelings, and let this Valentine’s Day be a time where we really open up. “If you’re questioning whether you should tell someone how you feel, the only thing you could lose is a missed opportunity,” Potter said. “What the cards are showing me is that if you express how you feel, you’re actually going to get really good results,” Potter said.
As we approach Valentine’s Day, be bold — what’s the worst that could happen?Photo: courtesy of Sarah Potter.
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