Tarot Correspondences
Every zodiac sign has a set of tarot cards associated with it, offering a much deeper understanding of the layers of meaning that connect them. For Scorpio, these cards are Death and the Five, Six, and Seven of Cups.
Death
Rarely is Death about an actual, physical death. Instead, it’s more about releasing what no longer serves us, returning it to the “ground” and allowing it to nourish new growth. This is a natural process that Scorpio understands and yearns to explore. While these moments can feel scary, and sometimes painful, they are crucial parts of our lives that signal deep transformation and growth.
Scorpio is unafraid to plunge into the depths of the psyche, subconscious, and darker realms of life. This curiosity helps us to face the sting of that Death card with an open mind and heart. The more we can clearly face this process, the less fearful of change and growth we can be. There is a big element of trust here.
The Three Decans of Scorpio
The decans of a sign can be viewed as a subset of its larger themes. We can think of them like acts in a play or a sequence in a story, each illustrating a different cycle of action and knowledge for that sign.
These three cards depict the middle of an emotional journey, a point where we often face unexpected challenges or pitfalls. These highs and lows are a natural part of our relationships with people and other attachments. Understanding them, and learning how to navigate with self-trust and intuitive clarity, can help us move toward meaningful connections and develop emotional mastery.
5 of Cups: This card is an obvious illustration of disappointment and regret. It takes place after a tumultuous event, leaving broken and hurt feelings in its wake. The scene is one of contemplation, grieving, and isolation. The Five of Cups is a reminder that these feelings are a natural reaction, but also a warning of becoming too overcome with grief to see that not all is lost. There is the potential here for emotions to become unmanageable and consuming. It’s important to look at the situation with a bit of realism and recognize that there is still something to salvage, polish, and make new again.
6 of Cups: Sometimes to heal, we need to go back to simpler pleasures and times. This card depicts a happier, more abundant scene, often tied to feelings of nostalgia. Perhaps we are imagining the past, before the Five of Cups, when life was full of promise and pleasure. It’s a sign that these feelings are still a possibility, still available and within reach for the future. It may be through the emotional support of friends, family, and community that those hard feelings of grief and sadness are now softened. This provides a sense of stability and encouragement to move on, allowing ourselves to flourish and reconnect.
7 of Cups: Numerically, we are moving again away from the stability of the Six of Cups and into an area that feels a little unbalanced. There is an element of confusion here. The simple pleasures of the previous card have evolved into indulgence, fantasy, and even addiction. There is a yearning for more, and more, and more, maybe as a way to cope with unresolved feelings from the past. There may be a fear of losing something cherished again, so the mind turns to excess in anticipation of that loss. This calls for emotional clarity to see what is most important, healthy, and realistically achievable.
Here's a tarot spread for you to try out, which focuses on the themes of Scorpio and Death. First, find the Death card in your deck and place it at the top of your working space. Then, take a deep breath, shuffle, and pull your cards for the remaining questions.
*Note: If any of the decan cards (5, 6, or 7 of Cups) appear, treat them as a magnifier of Temperance’s message: You may want to pay extra attention to that question/area.
