Tuesday 7 January 2003
Tarot Reading for a prominent E2 denizen, who shall
remain nameless at his/her request. This is a longish writeup, so if
you have a short attention span head for the exit now please...
<<<<Disclaimer, I am TOTALLY plagiarizing snips of the descriptive
material below
from Joan Bunning1 who is a true goddess of tarot >>>>>>>>>
G'day my friend.
Shall we danse?
I'm ready when you are.
I have before me the twenty two Major Arcana cards of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. They are
arranged in a single deck, in order from Zero, The Fool, to Twenty One, The
World. The back of the deck is a blue and black plaid. Almost tartan. The deck
sits on the polished golden oak surface of my desk. We're in my office, with
lots of books and computers all around I'd like you to picture that clearly in
your mind. Okay?
Do you have a question in mind?
Ok, I have a question in mind.
Good. Now it generally results in a significantly more powerful
reading if you state the question out loud. That said, if you want to keep
it to yourself, that's okay too.
I think I'd rather keep it to myself, if you don't mind.
Right then, here we go...
Now we'll handle the cards to arrange them in a way that resonates
with your unique life and sheds some light on where it's going and whether
you'll be happy. Since you don't have a deck, I'll be the hands and you be the
brain. Okay? This is the part where you take a glance at How to throw
the tarot for ideas on Handling the Cards, then you tell me exactly what
to do for awhile. Doesn't that sound like fun?
Now I'm going to deal out the cards face up into piles and you're going to
tell me which pile each card goes in. Make as few or as many piles as you want.
Really concentrate on the imagery, but don't stress. Don't make a
"Map" or anything, just relax and free flow on the topic. Be your
quirky unique self. The bruja says, "let the cards know what you feel about
them and let them answer back. What "goes together?" Also, let
me know if you want any of the cards to be put in their pile "upside
down."
Along the way, I'm going to explain the mythology of The Fools
Journey. Okay?
The Fool At the start of his trip, the Fool is a newborn - fresh, open
and spontaneous. The figure on Card 0 has his arms flung wide, and his head held
high. He is ready to embrace whatever comes his way, but he is also oblivious to
the cliff edge he is about to cross. The Fool is unaware of the hardships he
will face as he ventures out to learn the lessons of the world.
The Magician and the High Priestess On setting out, the Fool
immediately encounters the Magician (1) and the High Priestess (2) - the great
balancing forces that make up our perceived world. It is a feature of the
material universe that as soon as we name some aspect of experience, we
automatically evoke its opposite.
The Empress As he grows, the Fool becomes more and more aware of his
surroundings. As with most babies, he first recognizes his Mother - the warm,
loving woman who nourishes and cares for him. He also comes to know Mother
Earth, who nurtures him in a larger sense. As he grows, the Fool becomes more
and more aware of his surroundings. As with most babies, he first recognizes his
Mother - the warm, loving woman who nourishes and cares for him. He also comes
to know Mother Earth, who nurtures him in a larger sense. The Empress (3)
represents the world of Nature and sensation. A baby delights in exploring
everything he touches, tastes and smells. He cannot get enough of the sights and
sounds that enchant his senses. It is natural to delight in the abundant
goodness of Mother Earth who surrounds us with her support
The Emperor The next person the Fool encounters is the Father in the
figure of the Emperor (4). He is the representative of structure and authority.
As a baby leaves his mother's arms, he learns that there are patterns to his
world. Objects respond in predictable ways that can be explored. The child
experiences a new kind of pleasure that comes from discovering order.
Now distribute the first few cards
So, tell me where the first cards should go? Remember, as many or
as few piles. Pile 0 is at my left.
The first card is The Fool, Pile One obviously.
The next is the magician Where does it go, right, left, on top of The
Fool? All directions are your directions - i.e., left = your left.
The magician goes on the right. The high priestess goes on top of that
pile. The empress goes on the left. The emperor goes on top of that pile.
Good, So we now have three piles, 0 to my left arm, 1 & 2 beyond
them.
The Fool's Journey continues...
The Hierophant A Hierophant is someone who interprets arcane knowledge
and mysteries. On Card 5 we see a religious figure blessing two acolytes.
Perhaps he is inducting them into church membership. Although this image is
religious, it is really a symbol for initiations of all kinds. The child is
trained in all the practices of his society and becomes part of a particular
culture and world view. He learns to identify with a group and discovers a sense
of belonging. He enjoys learning the customs of his society and showing how well
he can conform to them
The Lovers Eventually, the Fool faces two new challenges. He
experiences the powerful urge for sexual union with another. Before, he was
mainly self-centered. Now he feels the balancing tendency, pictured in the
Lovers, to reach out and become half of a loving partnership. He yearns for
relationship.
The Chariot The Chariot represents the vigorous ego that is the Fool's
crowning achievement so far. On Card 7, we see a proud, commanding figure riding
victoriously through his world. He is in visible control of himself and all he
surveys. For the moment, the Fool's assertive success is all he might wish, and
he feels a certain self-satisfaction. His is the assured confidence of youth.
Where do these cards go?
The Hierophant goes in my duality pile, with the Magician and the High
Priestess. The Lovers go on top of the Emperor, which is my unity pile. The
Chariot is fanned over the Fool, which is pile zero.
Strength Over time, life presents the Fool with new challenges, some
that cause suffering and disillusionment. He has many occasions to draw on the
quality of Strength. He is pressed to develop his courage and resolve and to
find the heart to keep going despite setbacks. The Fool also discovers the quiet
attributes of patience and tolerance. He realizes the willful command of the
Chariot must be tempered by kindliness and the softer power of a loving
approach. At times, intense passions surface, just when the Fool thought he had
everything, including himself, under control.
Hermit Sooner or later, the Fool is led to ask himself the age-old
question "Why?" He becomes absorbed with the search for answers, not
from an idle curiosity, but out of a deeply-felt need to find out why people
live, if only to suffer and die. The Hermit represents the need to find deeper
truth. The Fool begins to look inward, trying to understand his feelings and
motivations. The sensual world holds less attraction for him now, and he seeks
moments of solitude away from the frantic activity of society. In time he may
seek a teacher or guide who can give him advice and direction.
Wheel of Fortune After much soul-searching, the Fool begins to see how
everything connects. He has a vision of the world's wondrous design; its
intricate patterns and cycles. The Wheel of Fortune is a symbol of the
mysterious universe whose parts work together in harmony. When the Fool glimpses
the beauty and order of the world, if only briefly, he finds some of the answers
he is seeking. Sometimes his experiences seem to be the work of fate. A chance
encounter or miraculous occurrence begins the process of change. The Fool may
recognize his destiny in the sequence of events that led him to this turning
point. Having been solitary, he feels ready for movement and action again.
Before, the Fool was focused narrowly on his own concerns. His perspective is
wider, and he sees himself within the grander scheme of a universal plan. His
sense of purpose is restored.
Where do these cards go?
Strength goes in Pile Zero, over the Chariot. The Hermit and the Wheel of
Fortune both go on top of the Lovers in the left-hand pile, obscuring that card.
Justice The Fool must now decide what this vision means to him
personally. He looks back over his life to trace the cause and effect
relationships that have brought him to this point. He takes responsibility for
his past actions so he can make amends and ensure a more honest course for the
future. The demands of justice must be served so that he can wipe the slate
clean. This is a time of decision for the Fool. He is making important choices.
Will he remain true to his insights, or will he slip back into an easier, more
unaware existence that closes off further growth?
Hanged Man Undaunted, the Fool pushes on. He is determined to realize
his vision, but he finds life is not so easily tamed. Sooner or later, he
encounters his personal cross - an experience that seems too difficult to
endure. This overwhelming challenge humbles him until he has no choice but to
give up and let go. At first, the Fool feels defeated and lost. He believes he
has sacrificed everything, but from the depths, he learns an amazing truth. He
finds that when he relinquishes his struggle for control, everything begins to
work as it should. By becoming open and vulnerable, the Fool discovers the
miraculous support of his Inner Self. He learns to surrender to his experiences,
rather than fighting them. He feels a surprising joy and begins to flow with
life. The Fool feels suspended in a timeless moment, free of urgency and
pressure. In truth, his world has been turned upside-down. The Fool is the
Hanged Man, apparently martyred, but actually serene and at peace.
Where do these cards go?
Justice on the right, which should put it on top of the Hierophant. The
Hanged Man I want to put in a new pile, above the other two and centered on the
axis that runs between them.
Death The Fool now begins to eliminate old habits and tired
approaches. He cuts out non-essentials because he appreciates the basics of
life. He goes through endings as he puts the outgrown aspects of his life behind
him. He process may seem like dying because it is the death of his familiar self
to allow for the growth of a new one. At times this inexorable change seems to
be crushing the Fool, but eventually he rises up to discover that death is not a
permanent state. It is simply a transition into a new, more fulfilling way of
life.
Temperance Since embracing the Hermit, the Fool has swung wildly back
and forth on an emotional pendulum. Now, he realizes the balancing stability of
temperance. He discovers true poise and equilibrium. By experiencing the
extremes, he has come to appreciate moderation. The Fool has combined all
aspects of himself into a centered whole that glows with health and well-being.
How graceful and soft is the angel on Card 14 compared to the powerful, but
rigid ruler in the Chariot (Card 7)? The Fool has come a long way in
realizing the harmonious life.
Devil The Fool has his health, peace of mind and a graceful composure.
What more could he need? On everyday terms, not much, but the Fool is courageous
and continues to pursue the deepest levels of his being. He soon comes face to
face with the Devil. The Devil is not an evil, sinister figure residing outside
of us. He is the knot of ignorance and hopelessness lodged within each of us at
some level. The seductive attractions of the material bind us so compellingly
that we often do not even realize our slavery to them. We live in a limited
range of experience, unaware of the glorious world that is our true heritage.
The couple on Card 15 are chained, but acquiescent. They could so easily free
themselves, but they do not even apprehend their bondage. Note They look like
the Lovers, but are unaware that their love is circumscribed within a narrow
range. The price of this ignorance is an inner core of despair.
Tower How can the Fool free himself from the Devil? Can he root out
his influence? The Fool may only find release through the sudden change
represented by the Tower. The Tower is the ego fortress each of us has built
around his beautiful inner core. Gray, cold and rock-hard, this fortress seems
to protect, but is really a prison. Sometimes only a monumental crisis can
generate enough power to smash the walls of the Tower. On Card 16 we see an
enlightening bolt striking this building. It has ejected the occupants who seem
to tumbling to their deaths. The crown indicates they were once proud rulers;
now they are humbled by a force stronger than they. The Fool may need such a
severe shakeup if he is to free himself, but the resulting revelation makes the
painful experience worthwhile. The dark despair is blasted away in an instant,
and the light of truth is free to shine down.
Where do these cards go?
Death goes on top of the Hanged Man. Temperance on the right, on top of
Justice. The Devil goes on the left. The Tower goes on the top, in the third
pile, over Death.
Star The Fool is suffused with a serene calm. The beautiful images on
the Star attest to this tranquility. The woman pictured on Card 17 is naked, her
soul no longer hidden behind any disguise. Radiant stars shine in a cloudless
sky serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration. The Fool is blessed with a
trust that completely replaces the negative energies of the Devil. His faith in
himself and the future is restored. He is filled with joy and his one wish is to
share it generously with the rest of the world. His heart is open, and his love
pours out freely. This peace after the storm is a magical moment for the Fool.
Moon What effect could spoil this perfect calm? Is there another
challenge for the Fool? In fact, it is his bliss that makes him vulnerable to
the illusions of the Moon. The Fool's joy is a feeling state. His positive
emotions are not yet subject to mental clarity. In his dreamy condition, the
Fool is susceptible to fantasy, distortion and a false picture of the truth. The
Moon stimulates the creative imagination. It opens the way for bizarre and
beautiful thoughts to bubble up from the unconscious, but deep-seated fears and
anxieties also arise. These experiences may cause the Fool to feel lost and
bewildered.
Sun It is the lucid clarity of the Sun that directs the Fool's
imagination. The Sun's illumination shines in all the hidden places. It dispels
the clouds of confusion and fear. It enlightens, so the Fool both feels and
understands the goodness of the world. Now he enjoys a vibrant energy and
enthusiasm. The Star's openness has solidified into an expansive assurance. The
Fool is the naked babe pictured on Card 19, riding out joyously to face a new
day. No challenge is too daunting. The Fool feels a radiant vitality. He becomes
involved in grand undertakings as he draws to himself everything he needs. He is
able to realize his greatness.
Where do these cards go?
Star on the left. Moon on the right. Sun in the top pile.
Judgment The Fool has been reborn. His false, ego-self has been shed,
allowing his radiant, true self to manifest. He has discovered that joy, not
fear, is at life's center. The Fool feels absolved. He forgives himself and
others, knowing that his real self is pure and good. He may regret past
mistakes, but he knows they were due to his ignorance of his true nature. He
feels cleansed and refreshed, ready to start anew. It is time for the Fool to
make a deeper Judgment about his life. His own personal day of reckoning has
arrived. Since he now sees himself truly, he can make the necessary decisions
about the future. He can choose wisely which values to cherish, and which to
discard. The angel on Card 20 is the Fool's Higher Self calling him to rise up
and fulfill his promise. He discovers his true vocation - his reason for
entering this life. Doubts and hesitations vanish, and he is ready to follow his
dream.
World The Fool reenters the World, but this time with a more complete
understanding. He has integrated all the disparate parts of himself and achieved
wholeness. He has reached a new level of happiness and fulfillment.
The Fool has experienced life as full and meaningful. The future is filled
with infinite promise. In line with his personal calling, he becomes actively
involved in the world. He renders service by sharing his unique gifts and
talents and finds that he prospers at whatever he attempts. Because he acts from
inner certainty, the whole world conspires to see that his efforts are rewarded.
His accomplishments are many.
Now, where do those last cards go?
Judgment goes in the zeroth pile, fanned like the rest so that there's a
progression culminating in Judgment. This might be kinda weird but I'd like to
put the World overtop all three of the other piles, so that they form a sort
of three-tiered pile with the World as the capstone. (That could be counted as
a forth pile in between the other three, if you prefer.)
Well done. Now tell me how to assemble the piles back into a
deck? Smooch together, or carefully stacked up, your call.
Smooch together. The piles are still distinct from each other but they all
share the World as the top card.
As you wish.
I have assembled the deck and placed if face down on the polished
surface of my desk. Linda Ronstadt is playing softly, Canciones de mi
Padre. Outside a fluffy snow is more floating than falling over Cape Cod
and on the flat gray surface of Buzzards Bay...
Ready to continue?
I want you to quickly help me shuffle the deck again, this time face
down into as many piles as you choose. Pile 0 is at my left, 2,3,4... whatever
are beyond it. Quickly now, send me 20 deals...
Three piles, in a line. Deal them out one at a time, alternating
your motion from left to right, until you run out. You should have one end
pile with six cards and the other two with seven.
How should I reassemble the deck this time?
This time integrate the piles. Intersperse them. Leaf them into each
other.
Complete the Handling
This is the part where I ask you if you'd like to do one last touch. It
can range from a simple tap on the top of the deck, to a full on five pile
upside downer kludge. Most people just cut the deck somehow. Dig really deep and
let the right action come into your mind. Flow, don't flail...
I'll just tap it.
Done.
There are a bunch of different patterns that Readers use, to get the cards on
the table, so to speak. Old gypsy ladies sometimes just lay them out one
by one, in a row, reciting the reading as they go. There's also a Yin &
Yang spread and a Medicine Woman Circle that la bruja prefers. I
feel most comfortable with the Celtic Cross so that's what we'll use here.
NOTE: For more info on the Celtic Cross in How to throw
the tarot
I'm turning over the first card and laying it on the table without changing it's
orientation. All cards are "face up," if they appear that way to
me.
I Turn over the second card and place it over the first card horizontally,
creating the "inner cross.
Starting at the bottom of the cross, closest to me, I deal cards the
next four cards as follows to form the "outer cross,"
3 - bottom,
4 - top,
5 - left,
6 - right.
To the right of the two crosses, in a vertical line starting at the bottom,
I deal the last four cards, 7,8,9,10. This is the "staff."
It looks something like this:
-----4---------10
-----1---------9
5--222--6----8
-----1---------7
-----3-----
What the positions mean
Card One, the heart of the matter. This card represents the
fundamental issue you are addressing. If it's upside down, perhaps the
issue is only just beginning, or just wrapping up.
Card Two, the opposing factor. This is what's getting in the way
at the moment. It might also be thought of as the factor for change, or
unbalancing force that is surprising you.
Card Three, that which is beneath you. Your gut instinct about the
issue.
Card Four, the conscious influence. What your head is telling
you.
Card Five, the past. A receding behavior or influence.
Card Six, the future. An emerging influence, behavior or
factor.
Card Seven, you, as you see yourself. Your overall perspective
on yourself and the issue at hand.
Card Eight, you, as others see you. Your current environment, or
the context in which you must operate.
Card Nine, your guidance card. Your clue to how best to proceed,
or what you might do. Someone you should look to, or look after.
Card Ten, the outcome. The most likely result or outcome. If
it's upside down it's what may occur rather than what will.
Here's your spread. Write it down, then go get a glass of water (wine? do you
drink?) The hard part is over for now and I need to pee...
We’ll interpret it in a minute.
Your Celtic Cross spread on 7 January 2003,
- 20 Judgment
- 21 The World
- 19 The Sun
- 16 The Tower
- 2 The High Priestess
- 17 The Star
- 8 Strength
- 11 Justice
- 3 The Empress
- 15 The Devil
... having regained the peaceful feeling, we continue.
Card One, the heart of the matter. This card represents the
fundamental issue you are addressing. If it's upside down, perhaps the
issue is only just beginning, or just wrapping up. In your case, Judgment
seems to be the crux of things. This could be as simple as your final
exams, or as serious as a heart attack. Having a day of reckoning, taking
a stand, making hard choices. These types of things are associated with Judgment.
Any comments on that one?
Judgment *is* the crux of the matter. It was the culmination of my
personal powers, and my response to my current situation could put that in
jeopardy for quite a while to come. In essence, I feel like the way I deal
with this problem will reflect the kind of man I am or am going to be.
Card Two, the opposing factor. This is what's getting in the way
at the moment. It might also be thought of as the factor for change, or
unbalancing force that is surprising you. Your second card was The
World, which, in my experience is an unusual combination. The World is
all about completion, about finishing the last lap. experiencing
wholeness, realizing your goals, achieving your heart's desire. Could be
finishing school, perhaps. Whatever, it's what's standing between your
root issue, Judgment, it's what's crossing you right now.
My Judgment is trying to discern what is fair and what's good for myself
and someone I care about, and whether those are reconcilable. The issue is
really whether to end now or to finish what I started, so the World is a
fitting opposition I think
Card Three, that which is beneath you. Your gut instinct about the
issue. The Sun is all about thinking clearly and using your head and
since this card represents your foundation for dealing with the issue, we'd
expect that you are taking a pretty rational approach to things, using your
head. The Sun is the "confidence card," which suggests that you have
total confidence in yourself and are profoundly sure of your power.
I think I almost always try to resolve issues according to the Sun.
Card Four, the conscious influence. What your head is telling
you about it. The High Priestess suggests being intuitive, withdrawing
from involvement allowing events to proceed without intervention. Your
head is being intuitive, while your gut is being intellectual... What's
that all about?
My gut is always analytical and my head always endeavours to arrange
things so that my gut can take over. It makes perfect sense to me. In this
case I'm trying to go with my instincts but my instincts themselves are
overanalyzing.
Card Five, the past. A receding behavior or influence. The
Tower is pure chaos. Lightning bolts are slamming into the ramparts,
the King and Queen are jumping out the windows, and flames lick out the
windows. It this was your recent past, we think you are glad it's behind
you.
The Tower sounds like an accurate description of the past (though it's
perhaps a bit of a dramatic characterization), but I'm afraid of a recurrence
or relapse. The Star of the future looks promising but it's whether there is a
specific course of action I need to take to get there, and if so what, that's
troubling me.
Card Six, the future. The emerging influence, behavior or
factor. The cool clear and honest light of The Star is a peaceful
place to end up. If there were an exact opposite to the Tower, this is it.
Realizing an inner strength, seeing the way clear, being stimulated to a higher
level, all these things are associated with The Star.
Card Seven, you, as you see yourself. Your overall perspective
on yourself and the issue at hand. Strength, this is consistent
with and supported by The Sun. Finding the sense behind the chaos comes to
mind. You're pretty good at what you do right?
Card Eight, you, as others see you. Your current environment, or
the context in which you must operate. Justice has a sword in
one hand and the scales of the law in the other. Acting on ethical
principles insisting on fairness, trying to do what is right.
Card Nine, your guidance card. Your clue to how best to proceed,
or what you might do. The Empress is where you must look for guidance on
this issue. She is all about mothering and nurturing and caring for
others. She's giving and receiving pleasure, perhaps sensual, pleasure,
perhaps just the sense of security. I'm betting you know who this Guide of
yours is...
The Empress, I think, is not what I need from someone else, but what I
need to do for someone else.
Card Ten, the outcome. The most likely result or outcome. And
here comes The Devil, complete with horns and bat wings and an unholy
upside down pentacle on his forehead! He's one ugly brute and to make
matters worse, he's got the young lovers chained to the throne at his
feet. Oddly, the chains are loose and they could easily escape if they
wished. But they don't and that's because the Devil isn't evil in the
traditional sense, but the bondage and hopelessness of ignorance that chains us
to a wrong course of action.
This card suggests that you are caught in a unhealthy, or unproductive
situation. You may be in the dark about something - ignorant of the truth and
its implications. You may be obsessed by a person, idea, substance or pattern
that you know to be bad for you (or maybe you don't!). Sometimes this card
reflects back the negativity that has made you doubt yourself and your future.
We are prone to many errors in life. Card 15 lets us know when they are serious
enough to require attention. When you see the Devil, examine your assumptions
carefully. Make sure you are not working from a false picture of yourself and
the situation. Hold fast to your highest vision of who you are.
Epilog
Damn, that sounds a bit heavy. I hope you asked a good
serious question, cause you sure got a serious answer!
Ok, that's a very grim reading. It means that I've got a lot of thinking
to do and a lot of work to do before I can approach a solution I can be sure
of. It also means it might be quite some time before I could say whether this
reading was helpful, but it sure as heck was fun!
Does it address your question in any meaningful way? We can use
more cards from your deck to elaborate on any card in the spread if you'd
like...
I think this'll do. Like I said, it gives me a lot to think about
anyway.
As you wish my friend...
Thursday 9 January 2003
Tarot Reading for the redoubtable SEF who has
kindly agreed to share it with us all.
<<<<Disclaimer, I am TOTALLY plagiarizing snips of the descriptive
material below
from Joan Bunning who is a true goddess of tarot >>>>>>>>>
G'day my friend.
Shall we danse?
I'm ready when you are.
I have before me the twenty two Major Arcana cards of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. They are
arranged in a single deck, in order from Zero, The Fool, to Twenty One, The
World. The back of the deck is a blue and black plaid. Almost tartan. The deck
sits on the polished golden oak surface of my desk. We're in my office, with
lots of books and computers all around. Bobby McFerrin Don't Worry Be
Happy is playing on the stereo. Outside, the snow has all
melted. I'd like you to picture that clearly in
your mind. Okay?
Do you have a question in mind?
Yes. Should I state it?
Now it generally results in a significantly more powerful
reading if you state the question out loud. That said, if you want to keep
it to yourself, that's okay too.
Ok..I need to know how to deal with our 21 year old son, who is presenting
serious difficulties. That specific enough?
Excellent & serious question, here we go...
Now we'll handle the cards to arrange them in a way that resonates
with your unique life and sheds some light on where it's going and whether
you'll be happy. Since you don't have a deck, I'll be the hands and you be the
brain. Okay? This is the part where you take a glance at How to throw
the tarot for ideas on Handling the Cards, then you tell me exactly what
to do for awhile. Doesn't that sound like fun?
Now I'm going to deal out the cards face up into piles and you're going to
tell me which pile each card goes in. Make as few or as many piles as you want.
Really concentrate on the imagery, but don't stress. Don't make a
"Map" or anything, just relax and free flow on the topic. Be your
quirky unique self. The bruja says, "let the cards know what you feel about
them and let them answer back. What "goes together?" Also, let
me know if you want any of the cards to be put in their pile "upside
down."
Along the way, I'm going to explain the mythology of The Fools
Journey. Okay?
<<<<<This transcript has been truncated for brevity.
To see an example of a complete reading transcript,
take a look at the first reading in Online Tarot Reading.
>>>>
The Fool
The Magician and the High Priestess
The Empress
The Emperor
Now distribute the first few cards
So, tell me where the first cards should go? Remember, as many or
as few piles. Pile 0 is at my left.
The first card is The Fool, Pile One obviously.
The next is the magician Where does it go, right, left, on top of The
Fool? All directions are your directions - i.e., left = your left.
The Magician left. High priestess above Fool, empress on top of
Fool, Emperor with Magician
Good, So we now have three piles, 0 to my left arm, 1 above & 2 to the
left of 0.
The Fool's Journey continues...
The Hierophant
The Lovers
The Chariot
Where do these cards go?
Hierophant upside down to the right of the Fool, Lovers right side up on top
of Hierophant, Chariot in a new pile to the right of Hierophant, Lovers
Strength
Hermit
Wheel of Fortune
Where do these cards go?
Strength on top of Empress/Fool, Hermit upside down on top of High Priestess,
Wheel on top of chariot
Justice
Hanged Man
Where do these cards go?
Justice on top of Hierophant/Lovers, Hanged Man in a new pile below the Fool
and his crowd.
Death
Temperance
Devil
Tower
Where do these cards go?
Death upside down on top of Hanged Man; Temperance, on the Fool's pile; Devil
on top of Justice, Lovers, Hierophant. Tower upside down on top of
Wheel/Chariot
Star
Moon What effect could spoil this perfect calm? Is there another
challenge for the Fool? In fact, it is his bliss that makes him vulnerable to
the illusions of the Moon. The Fool's joy is a feeling state. His positive
emotions are not yet subject to mental clarity. In his dreamy condition, the
Fool is susceptible to fantasy, distortion and a false picture of the truth. The
Moon stimulates the creative imagination. It opens the way for bizarre and
beautiful thoughts to bubble up from the unconscious, but deep-seated fears and
anxieties also arise. These experiences may cause the Fool to feel lost and
bewildered.
Sun
Where do these cards go?
Star in a new pile to the left of High Priestess/Hermit, above Hierophant and
crowd; Moon upside down on top of Emperor/Magician; Sun on top of Fool's pile
Judgment
World The Fool reenters the World, but this time with a more complete
understanding. He has integrated all the disparate parts of himself and achieved
wholeness. He has reached a new level of happiness and fulfillment.
The Fool has experienced life as full and meaningful. The future is filled
with infinite promise. In line with his personal calling, he becomes actively
involved in the world. He renders service by sharing his unique gifts and
talents and finds that he prospers at whatever he attempts. Because he acts from
inner certainty, the whole world conspires to see that his efforts are rewarded.
His accomplishments are many.
I'm thinking...at first I saw Pat (the kid) as the Fool, but this is
really about me, isn't it. And in a way that's a part of the question: how do
we, his parents, behave? We cannot control the behavior of anyone else....
C'est vrai.
Now, where do those last cards go?
Judgement and World on top of the fool's pile
Well done. Now tell me how to assemble the piles back into a
deck? Smooch together, or carefully stacked up, your call. Don't
forget upside down if that feels right.
Stack em up, Fools pile on the bottom, then the stack to the left on top of
that, then the bottom stack on top, then the top stack, the Star, then the
Hierophant and Chariot stacks on the bottom, with Hierophant on the very bottom.
As you wish.
I have assembled the deck and placed if face down on the polished
surface of my desk. Linda Ronstadt is playing softly, Canciones de mi
Padre. Outside the temperature is above freezing for the first time in
days. Birds and the big flying squirrels are working the jungle below my
window.
Ready to continue?
I want you to quickly help me shuffle the deck again, this time face
down into as many piles as you choose. Pile 0 is at my left, 2,3,4... whatever
are beyond it. Quickly now, send me 20 deals...
In a square, first card upper left, second to right of that, next one
below, then one to the left of that, around and around clockwise until you're
done
One of the cards in pile two just jumped out and turned itself upside
down. Dunno which cause they are face down. How should I reassemble the deck this time?
Turn the top two piles upside down, then assemble counterclockwise, pile 0
on top of the pile below it, all that on top of the pile to the side, the
whole thing on top of the last pile.
Complete the Handling
This is the part where I ask you if you'd like to do one last touch. It
can range from a simple tap on the top of the deck, to a full on five pile
upside downer kludge. Most people just cut the deck somehow. Dig really deep and
let the right action come into your mind. Flow, don't flail...
I'll just touch the top
Done.
There are a bunch of different patterns that Readers use, to get the cards on
the table, so to speak. Old gypsy ladies sometimes just lay them out one
by one, in a row, reciting the reading as they go. There's also a Yin &
Yang spread and a Medicine Woman Circle that la bruja prefers. I
feel most comfortable with the Celtic Cross so that's what we'll use here.
NOTE: For more info on the Celtic Cross in How to throw
the tarot
<<<<<Snip the description of
throwing the Celtic Cross. >>>>
Here's your spread. Write it down, then go get a glass of water (wine? do you
drink?) The hard part is over for now and we could both use a break.
We’ll interpret it in a minute.
Your Celtic Cross spread on 7 January 2003,
- 2 The High Priestess
- 18 The Moon
- The World (Reversed)
- 3 The Empress (Reversed)
- 7 The Chariot (Reversed)
- 5 The Hierophant
- 17 The Star
- 4 The Emperor
- 19 The Sun
- 0 The Fool
... having regained the peaceful feeling, we continue.
Card One, the heart of the matter. This card represents the
fundamental issue you are addressing. Since it's upside down, perhaps the
issue is only just beginning, or just wrapping up. In your case, The
High Priestess appears to be at the core of this issue. The High
Priestess is associated with passivity, waiting for things to develop, allowing
events to proceed without intervention, remaining calm, being patient.
Perhaps waiting is the prudent course, but it's difficult to stand back and let
things unfold...
Any comments on that one? Comment whenever you want as I proceed.
.Man, we got THAT one right! Waiting is really all anyone can do right now,
but it's pretty frustrating. How to wait well,perhaps.
Card Two, the opposing factor. This is what's getting in the way
at the moment. It might also be thought of as the factor for change, or
unbalancing force that is surprising you. Your second card was The Moon
which, to be blunt is the "Clueless" card. The thin shifty
unreliable light of the moon makes it difficult to proceed with
confidence. We're going to go out on a limb here and suggest that someone
is being a kook, and "crossing up," the designs of The High
Priestess.
The "kook" here might be the kid himself. He seems to be turning
self-destructive..
Card Three, that which is beneath you. Your gut instinct about the
issue. The World is the Godhead card. Represents the glorious end
of the journey after overcoming every obstacle and challenge that was confronted
along the way. This where you are coming from, a mature, well balanced
accomplished adult-type. But wait, the card is upside down, so maybe this
approach isn't working so well, or perhaps this is the way you'd like to
approach the issue of your son but are having problems doing so?
I think my World approach to all this doesn't SEEM to be working. I'm
wondering if it's the right strategy, but I still feel inside that it is.
Yeah, the Tequila probably won't work here either :--)
Card Four, the conscious influence. What your head is telling
you about it. The Empress generally represents mothering in all it's many
forms. We think that you have been the mommy with respect to this issue for a
long time now and, like your root instinct, The World, it comes pretty naturally
to you.
Mothering is the natural response here, and I think the "former
success' card means that whereas a protective style of mothering for this
severely disabled kid was a working strategy THEN, it's not going to work now.
Card Five, the past. A receding behavior or influence. The
Chariot shows our young Fool blasting along with the reins of power
in his hands and two might beasts harnessed to his task and his kingdom
stretching out in the background. This is the Victory card, but since it's
upside down, we think that perhaps it represents the successes of the past
rather than command of the present.
A victory in the past. hmm
Card Six, the future. The emerging influence, behavior or
factor. The Hierophant represents Education, belief systems,
structured ordered knowledge and cultural norms. We think this kid is
either in school or belongs in school. Or perhaps, more deeply, this
person is about to get a serious wakeup call from The Establishment.
Hierophant for the future. hm. this kid probably should be in school, but
isn't. If he doesn't wake up pretty soon he's going to be in jail, which would
certainly be an authoritative wake-up call, and might work out for the good. But
how does that impact what I should do, I wonder.
Card Seven, you, as you see yourself. Your overall perspective
on yourself and the issue at hand. The Star is consistent with The
World and The Empress as a self image for you. The cool, clear
steady and reliable light of The Star is halfway between Lunacy and the
hard light of Day, The Sun. You are comfortable with yourself,
effective, but retaining your feminine intuition. You've been doing what
you do for a while now, you're good at it.
Hm. The Star. Well, yes, I guess I do see it that way. I'm the one
who insisted on keeping this kid out of institutions, who believed in him, and
I think, deep down, I still trust that original judgment of mine.
Card Eight, you, as others see you. The Emperor
represents Fathering, taking a leadership role, creating order out of chaos,
setting direction and tone. We're wondering why you appear to be both the Father
and the Mother in this situation?
Well, the kid's father is very involved too, of course. But the problem
here is Asperger's Syndrome, which is hereditary, and the father has it too.
Sometimes I have to bail them both out emotionally. It certainly FEELS like
I'm playing both roles, though I know my husband makes an invaluable
contribution here. In some very important way I've had to take the lead,
because I'm the only one with normal neurology. the kid sees me as
leader too, too much. I wish he didn't. he sees me as leader, then his
young manhood rebels, and he behaves out of anger
Card Nine, your guidance card. Your clue to how best to proceed,
or what you might do. The Sun completes the trilogy of the light, The
Moon, The Star and The Sun, together comprise a continuum from
shifty unreliable to bright, clear and a little harsh. Your guide card
suggests that you need to get to the heart of the matter, recognize the truth
and act clearly and authoritatively. The Sun shows a happy child riding a
great white horse while the warm sun beams down from behind. We think that
once you apply the hard light of day to this issue the solution may well be
clear. Perhaps The Sun is someone close to you who can shed their light on
the subject.
I think clear vision and clear action here are not only going to seem
harsh, they're going to BE harsh. But cleansing too, as the sun is. And what
appears in the light is simply what really is there, no? There seems to be an
uncompromising quality about this card. Not a bad thing, just very up-front?
(this is kind of uncanny, y'know?)
Card Ten, the outcome. The most likely result or outcome. And
here we find The Fool, that joyous soul, big smile on his face, earthly
belongings slung on a pole behind him, stepping off a cliff and into the abyss
of the future. Somehow we know his isn't going to come to any great harm,
at least not at the moment. The Fool represents beginnings,
entering a new phase, striking out on a new path, heading into the unknown or
perhaps letting go of expectations and stepping into the unknown. We're
thinking that your Fool, and you, will get through this and will delight you
with a completely new set of problems down the road.
The Journey never really ends does it?
New phase of life for me certainly. I've been much caught up in the raising
of this difficult kid and his younger sister, the last. New lives for them too,
of course.
Epilog
We're also thinking that you've traveled a long road already with this
situation and weathered many bumps along the way. We think that you are a
pretty robust person, combining the Authority of The Emperor, the wisdom
of The World and the mysterious feminine instinct into a pretty capable Empress
who may not always know the answer, but has the resources already to find it.
.
Does it address your question in any meaningful way? We can use
more cards from your deck to elaborate on any card in the spread if you'd
like...
I sort of wanted more of a "do this" reading; what I got was
deeper, but more problematic: "trust yourself." I'm wondering if
enlarging on the Solution card, the Sun, would be of any use?
Ahem, looking deeper into the Guide Card, we turn the next card in your deck
and find The Devil, a nasty bugger symbolizing ignorance and
bondage. The Devil is as black and dark as The Sun is light.
Instinctively, we place The Devil to the right of The Sun rather than covering
it. We think this suggests that it's important to avoid ignorance and use
the pure light of The Sun to guide you. The phrase "Alternative
Outcome," comes to mind for some reason, also anti-guide...
That's very helpful, actually. I'm always tempted to find out as little
about what's going on as possible; that may not be a good strategy here, then,
which is consistent with everything else. This was a very intense one.
But VERY useful. maybe I'll take a little stroll down to the wine store when
we're finished.... :)
Any other points to amplify?
that's it. Very clear. Uncanny really. Thank you!
As you wish my friend...
Want more?
How to throw the tarot
Online Tarot Reading Volume 2
1Joan Bunning, my tarot guru: www.learntarot.com (Copyright © 1995-2003 by Joan Bunning)