Pisces Season: Feb 19 – March 20
The sun is entering Pisces: the sign of the fish and the last zodiac in the cycle of twelve. Reflective, inwardly searching, creative, and meditative, many say that poets and artists easily fall under this sign. The symbol of the dual fish represents an interest in all that is deep and dreamy, making Pisces one of the most spiritual signs of the bunch.
With this water sign, we’re asked to surrender to the mysteries of life, and to the natural way that cycles blur, dissolve, and reform. Pisces reminds us that, sometimes, permeability is more powerful than force. When faced with unmoving obstacles, we’re invited to explore their depths rather than push up against them.
This sensitivity becomes a form of wisdom when we learn to float with our emotions instead of resisting them. By listening to what our feelings are revealing (instead of trying to escape or control them), we can adapt to the rise and fall of the Wheel of Fortune, and all the reactions it stirs up within us.
As the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces reflects the moment just before the Wheel turns again: a space of release, reflection, and emotional integration before a new cycle begins.
Pisces and the Tarot
Each zodiac sign is associated with a collection of tarot cards. For Pisces, these are the Moon and the 8, 9, and 10 of Cups. Because Pisces teaches through feeling and inner movement, its tarot associations reflect the emotional landscapes we must learn to navigate, rather than external action.
The Moon card fits here perfectly. The Moon represents our subconscious minds, and how we move between the depths of our inner selves and back out into the world again. When this process is balanced, we feel intuitive, perceptive, and spiritually connected. But when it’s off kilter, either due to high emotions or encroaching fears, things begin to feel confusing, deceptive, and ambiguous. This is the danger of losing our fixed orientation completely – the spiral into the unknown and the illusions that dwell in the deepest parts of ourselves.
But, if you can dive and return to the center, back to the surface, you can bring incredible insight and expression of what it means to be alive and human.
The Decans of Pisces
The three decans of a sign tell a story about how that sign’s energy plays out in lived experience. For Pisces, this is shown through the Eight, Nine, and Ten of Cups – cards that explore processing dissatisfaction and loss, reattaining happiness, and finding emotional security and fulfillment.
While the Moon reflects Pisces' relationship with the subconscious, the decans tell the story of how emotional insight is earned and integrated over time.
They ask us:
Where am I in an emotional cycle right now?
What version of emotional fulfillment am I heading toward?
The Eight of Cups illustrates disappointment in a situation, and confusion when the people or things we’ve invested in don’t provide the nourishment we expected. This causes the need to withdraw and reflect so that we can understand the root cause of our grief and dissatisfaction. The risk in this card is avoiding these feelings altogether, retreating into escapism instead of facing what needs to be released.
The Nine of Cups shows a natural progression: When we make the difficult decision to leave what is emotionally draining and unyielding, we can make room for new happiness and joy. This newfound enthusiasm and comfort only arrive after identifying and removing what made us so unhappy. The shadow of this card appears when fulfillment is mistaken for immediate gratification, when we try to fill the void left by the Eight of Cups with surface-level happiness and materialism rather than genuine emotional satisfaction.
The Ten of Cups represents a culminating point in our journey when we’ve found harmony in our relationships and deep, meaningful fulfillment. There is a sense of wholeness from emotional balance and maturity. These are attained from a complete knowledge of ourselves, what we want in life, and the ability to share genuinely with others. This card reflects the full cycle of emotional discovery, moving through uncertainty and returning to our core with greater clarity and connection.
Pisces and its tarot cards teach us how to immerse ourselves in the current of life – in our emotions, attachments, and longings – and return with more profound emotional wisdom, stronger connections, and the ability to intuitively read the waters ahead. When we learn to move with these inner tides, navigating the Wheel of Fortune becomes less about control and more about trusting the rhythm of change.
A Small Pisces Ritual
Pour a small cup or bowl of water and sit with it quietly for a moment. Light a candle or incense if you’d like.
As you look into the surface, think about an emotion you’ve been avoiding or over-managing. Don’t judge yourself, just sit and acknowledge. Let other feelings come up and move around as you reflect.
When you feel ready, pour the water away into the ground or down the sink as a symbolic gesture of release.
Take a breath, and ask yourself: What am I ready to carry forward into the next cycle?
