Which mask will we wear in February? Here’s what the tarot says A February tarot reading about masks, emotions, and personal transformation
February is the definition of “short but intense.” January’s enthusiasm has already faded, yet we’re still too close to the beginning of the year to feel that anything has truly changed. We arrive in February already tired, maybe even irritated with ourselves for all the things we were supposed to do “starting in January” (especially because, let’s admit it, January always lasts forever and makes us feel like we’ve done a million things… only to realize we haven’t even done half of them). So February is made of catch-ups and sighs. But also of slightly late good intentions. And this year, February is also the month of masks, not just the month of love. Carnival gives us permission to exaggerate and to behave a little outside our comfort zone… or maybe not. But as I’ve already told you, sometimes that’s exactly what we need. Yet when Carnival ends and we take off the mask, we also start to think that maybe we’re holding too many things together at once, and above all, too many different versions of ourselves. February stands right there, exactly in the middle: before spring, but after the freezing cold of January’s winter. We feel more vulnerable, more confused, but maybe also a little more honest. Because if, after Carnival, the masks start to feel heavy, then maybe we’re not ready to take them off completely just yet. And that’s okay.
The tarots of February 2026
Tarot can be good company during this time. Not to tell us what will happen or what the “right” thing to do is, but to help us pause for a moment and look at ourselves without filters. Tarot cards don’t judge. Often, they simply point out something we already know but have been avoiding for a while. As I repeat every month, don’t take this spread as the solution to your problems. Just try to reflect on your situation without prejudice or doubt toward yourself. I pulled three tarot cards for this February. Look at them without overthinking it. Which one attracts you the most: 1, 2, or 3?
Here’s the costume you’ll be wearing in February!
Queen of Swords (Reversed)
The Queen of Swords reversed is a true mask, the mask of someone who’s afraid of appearing weak and therefore overdoes it with strength. This February, you may find yourself defending your position with sharpness, choosing to seem ruthless rather than risk appearing vulnerable. Maybe it’s a way to protect yourself from disappointment, or simply because you’re tired of being kind and getting nothing in return. A villain isn’t born one, they become one when something pushes them to the edge. The Queen of Swords reversed is simply giving you a warning: if you keep playing the role of the villain, sooner or later you might start believing you truly are one. And above all, you risk pushing away those who would actually like to stay close to you. This month, you’re asked to remove the dramatic mask. You don’t always need the last cutting word, and you don’t always need to protect your kingdom at all costs. The villain’s costume (whether it’s a classic villain like Dracula or a Disney villain like Scar or Maleficent) sometimes weighs more than it protects. Letting your guard down doesn’t make you weak, it simply makes you… human.
Strength
Strength is the power of someone who knows who they are and how much they’re worth, someone who stays standing even when it would be easier to run away or hide. This February, you might feel like someone who appears invincible on the outside but is slowly wearing down on the inside. This tarot card reminds you that you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You don’t need to fly, lift cars, or save the world. You just need to hold on and understand that you can’t always be the hero. This month, you’re asked to trust your ability to endure things as they are, without necessarily hardening yourself. The superhero costume, whether Marvel, DC, or anything else (yes, The Incredibles count too), isn’t made of muscles or superpowers. The cape doesn’t make you strong. You already were, long before you put it on. True strength doesn’t need to show off. You can simply feel it.
Three of Cups
The Three of Cups is the mask you wear when you decide to lay down your weapons, at least for one night. It’s not the hero’s mask, saving everyone, nor the villain’s mask, defending by attacking. It’s the mask of someone who chooses to be among others, even without having everything under control, swept up in the dance. This February, you may feel the need for lightness, the kind that’s born when you allow yourself to laugh loudly and share an experience even with strangers, without having to explain how you’re really doing. The Three of Cups speaks of temporary alliances, friendships that support without asking questions, and mutual presence that doesn’t demand answers. The costume here is pure Bridgerton style: Regency-era, masked, just like in the newly released season, someone who, like Sophie Baek, tries to blend into the crowd simply for the pleasure of being part of it. You don’t have to be strong. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Sometimes, it’s enough to remember that not everything has to be faced alone. This tarot card reminds you that allowing yourself a moment of lightness doesn’t diminish what you’re going through. On the contrary, it might be exactly what helps you move forward.