9 of Cups crossing. 10 of Swords outcome.

I recently did a Celtic cross reading for a female asking a very popular question, “will my relationship work out with so-and-so?”

spot #2 The Crossing Card.

When I saw the crossing card 9 of Cups,

I was optimistic for her question, however, when I placed the last card in spot #10 revealing the outcome I was quite surprised to see the 10 of swords.

spot #10 The Outcome

The remainder of the cards in the Celtic Cross were very, very positive including card #8 in the spot of OTHERS.  Others in this case would be the male’s influence or thoughts about the female.  Here fell the Ace ofCups which is the offer of a relationship.

spot #8 OTHERS. What the male is thinking about the relationship.

It took me some time to synthesize this reading in lieu of the last card. Honestly, I was not sure why the heck this sword card appeared.  As you know when you read for someone else you can’t very well say, “could you come back after I have some more time to study this layout”.  Well, you could say that but I think the client would lose some confidence in your ability.  I have folded (ended) readings in the past when I wasn’t getting the gist of the reading or found it too difficult to read for the person either because they resisted or the overall connection between me and them wasn’t there.  This happens even if you have thousands of readings under your belt.

For the first time in quite some time I searched my heart to find the words in explaining the final card.  How was I going to advise this female about the relationship.  I knew the male had hopes in the beginning stages of this connection. (Ace of Cups)  This card can also be used to time events such as the possibility of the summer of 2010.

I took a deep breath each time I spoke and I asked for guidance to find the right words. Instead of coming out and saying, “fat chance on this one” I stated that the swords rule the intellectual realm where we find our thoughts and ideas.  I told the female that perhaps the relationship would not work out in the way she thought or hoped and that maybe subconsciously she is thinking it will fail.  The cards in the reading promise this relationship with the male but the last card is telling her to stop expecting the worst because she will attract that to herself.

The outcome card does not necessarily mean the relationship is doomed even though it appears to be saying that.  The 10 swords are strongly indicating that she needs to prepare for some changes and I think most of this changes need to occur in her attitude about the relationship.

I have not interpreted the 10 of swords in this way before but because of the strength of the cards in the remaining Celtic Cross layout I knew I had to study this card from a slightly different perspective.

It was my responsibility to offer hope in this case because if you notice in the card the yellow sky is visible in the horizon. Also, whatever else happens it can only get better.  10=1 Magician, Aces. One’s dark and gloomy attitude can destroy potential positive situations.

Tarot Moon

1910 Public Domain

The image you see is the Moon card from  one of the most popular Tarot decks.

When I see the Moon card in a reading I am reminded of the traditional associations such as illusions, lack of clarity, and the psychic realms.  Over the years I have known this card to represent different aspects of illusion. The card does not always mean a situation or person is deceitful or hiding something like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Sometimes we imagine things about a situation or person.  When this happens it’s called suspicion.  As far as the psychic elements of this card, intuition is not always clear and can be clouded. There is a very fine line between getting a gut feeling about someone and feeling suspicious.  Only the practiced person knows the difference.

We become so busy in our lives that we do not listen to our intuition or often mistake it for other emotions.

When I asked a question about a situation several months ago I received the Moon card as my answer.  This happened several times.  At first I started to think the situation required more scrutiny and that perhaps it was not what I thought.  I thought this way because of the associations of the Moon card.

Then I decided to look at this card in a different way, a change in perspective much like the Hanged Man teaches.  I came to the conclusion that it was me who did not see the situation for what it was instead of the other way around. Basically, I was not looking at the card anymore, I was inside of the card looking out.   This was a great exercise.

I think one of the lessons of the Moon card for me was to address some previous issues which were deep rooted in a similar situation.  A type of habitual pattern.  It all boils down to trust which is the positive element of the Moon card.

No matter how good you think you are as a card interpreter there is always room for another perspective.  My journey with cards and in particular with the Tarot has reached many transformations. I learn new things about the cards all the time and I am not shy about admitting that either.  

additional thoughts on 10 of Wands

Today, when I was scanning the cards from the last post which held the 10 of WANDS in position 8 something else came to my mind.

I saw our Veronica in place of the gent in the image.  I saw the 10 wands to mean Experiences & Skills.  After some more meditation on this card I felt strongly that Veronica was carrying all these Experiences & Skills she possessed thus far forward on the path to a brand new opportunity.

 

10 of WANDS

 

 

She is very qualified in specialized areas of work.  This card does not have to mean not seeing what is ahead of you because you are carrying your burdens in such a manner that they block your view of what is awaiting you down the road.  The red tunic covers Veronica.  Wands represent FIRE energy and the color RED is known to indicate ACTION. 

Veronica may not see the road ahead of her during her current situation but this card is in the OTHERS spot. I am identifying the town in the background to represent OTHERS.  This resonates with me much more than OTHERS presenting obstacles.  One of the reasons for this is the SUN card to the left suggesting an AFFIRMATIVE outcome within the next several months.

These additional thoughts were triggered just as I was planning to write a post on some Lenormand combinations using some of more challenging cards to merge.   I will continue with the Lenormand in an upcoming post.

Tarot Celtic

It’s time for another reading for Veronica, a regular contributor of  some of the posts involving her teeter totter cycle of maintaining a job.  This situation has become nearly mainstream for many people these days.

Her recent situation has put her out of a job, again.  Veronica is concerned about her future particularly in securing some work as she has made a large purchase which means she must meet her monthly payment or else…she could have this item repossessed.  Unfortunately, she did not think she needed additional insurance in the event her financial situation changes drastically, which it did without too much warning.

Below is the Tarot Celtic cross illustrating the Robin Wood deck to demonstrate this reading and it is used to display the magnificent artwork of Ms. Wood.  The image is quite small with the positions being labelled as well as the card names.

I will focus on the card combinations and how they apply to the positions rather than taking each position separately.

The question is:  will Veronica find another job before her next payment is due.  A great test for the cards as we can look back on this reading to determine  if the Tarot provided guidance in accordance with the actual outcome.  The date involved is Sept 30, 2009.

When I saw the 4 majors appear out of the 10 Tarot I felt Veronica was on the receiving end of much more than just losing her job.  These majors, HIGH PRIESTESS, SUN, JUDGEMENT and HERMIT hold very powerful energy as do most majors.  She  is lucky to have this energy in the reading no matter what challenging minors appear.

The HIGH PRIESTESS representing the situation depicts energy or information which is not revealed yet in this situation. She does not know everything which makes sense.  The crossing card 6 CUPS combined with the HIGH PRIESTESS tells me her luck will come from a past situation perhaps a former employee or previous set of skills she has overlooked.  As a crossing card this energy is favorable and suggests a profound clue that Veronica will find herself in familiar surroundings once again.

With the HERMIT as the outcome, individual of silent counsel and reminder of going within Veronica will without a doubt follow her own intuition in this process.  The HERMIT does not provide a yes or no answer but the SUN card in the 6th spot of COMING influences does.  In the immediate months the SUN card is a definite yes that some opportunity is heading her way.

As the SELF card, JUDGEMENT reveals a completion.  The end of a process with a renewal – a rebirth.  Veronica seems to be experiencing an awakening with a re-inventing happening within her.  She has learned a lot and will build on those aspects of herself.

The PASSING King of Swords clearly shows a situation in which there is no control over the circumstances.  The decision was made by those in authority and there is nothing she can do but experience what was.  It will pass.  In fact, this has toughened her up.

The TO UNFOLD position which crowns the layout reveal the 3 of PENTACLES. A work card.  It is different than the 8 of PENTACLES, the root of question, the base card.  The 8 shows the question is about working.  The 3 suggest an experienced person.  This means a job will come which she will know how to do or at least partly. The OTHERS spot (card hold the 10 of WANDS,  a responsibility card.  Because the SUN and 3 of PENTACLES point to employment I am not going to read the 10 as a difficulty card even though it is associated with heaviness.  I feel this means a demanding work load.

In the HOPES and FEARS spot 9 we have the 9 of wands.  This card is one of strength despite the odds of securing a job.  It is both a fear and hope.  Veronica hopes she has enough energy to move forward even though there could be stiff competition.  She also fears opposition and because she is tired of fighting.

Finally, back to the HERMIT card.  What is he saying?  How is he answering the question?  What is his guidance?  This card is sometimes tough to interpret without saying the same old thing about looking back to what it took her to get to this point.  It doesn’t matter what it took her to lose her job.  That does not solve anything because she didn’t lose her job because she was a bad employee. It was cut backs.

The more I study the HERMIT I notice the lantern is shining in the direction of the 3 of PENTACLES. This is what Veronica should be looking back to.  Mastery of her own skills and abilities and the confidence which comes with that.

All in all, the reading is amazingly encouraging.

Asking the Mythic Tarot

I have been hearing more and more stories about the endless worry regarding work situations. It is a time of uncertainty for many people who once thought their jobs were secure only to find out their company is downsizing, laying off or completely eliminating positions in the workplace.  

I had a question tonight about the future of a female’s role in a very large organization. No matter how large or small the company is,  no one seems to escape the decisions made by employers these days. Many individuals have thought about self employment in areas – they almost have not choice but to consider such an option.

In the reading below, I am using the Mythic Tarot from 1986 (Juliet Sharman-Burke). The cards are used to illustrate  the probabilities of the question posed and for their unique artwork. Sometimes when we use a different deck we can invoke different psychic interpretations.  I am using the traditional Celtic Cross with a few other words for the positions but essentially they are the same.

FEMALE PJ asked the following question  ”what is the advice of the Tarot around my job”?

The Mythic Tarot

 

I won’t get into too much detail about the 10 positions but enough to offer some simple suggested meanings.  Also, there is some great mythological background to this deck which I will skim over for the purpose of keeping this reading straight and simple. I do want to mention there are 2 MAJOR ARCANA.  Two very important powerful cards. Seeing them I already know there is much power at the disposal of PJ whether she realizes it or not.   The HIGH PRIESTESS & the MAGICIAN.  More on them when their positions come up.

1. CURRENT SITUATION:  what is on PJ’s mind at the time of shuffle.

7 CUPS:  No surprise here.  Lots on her mind and we can see the energy is scattered.  Despite all that a decision will have to be made to channel this energy in one direction.  Without even getting into the Reading we can safely say PJ is thinking about all the things that could happen and all the things that won’t happen.

2. CROSSING:  depicts the type of Energy which surrounds the question.

10 WANDS:  this cards does suggest hard work is ahead of PJ.  This could mean she won’t have to worry about not having a job.  She may have way too much to do.  The rest of the reading will unfold more information.  She must remember to maintain her physical, intellectual and emotional limits over the next 3-4 months for sure.

3.  REASON FOR QUESTION:  why do we ask questions?  To ask a question about one’s job suggests some fears associated with the question, like, possibly losing that job.  Often people are thinking of changing  jobs and need advice if things will work out.

HIGH PRIESTESS:  it’s a gut feeling propelling  PJ to ask this question.  She is sensing some changes and the fact that 7 CUPS was the first card confirms her job is on her mind, or at least one of the more major things weighing down on her.  The HIGH PRIESTESS suggests PJ needs more than just the security of the job, she needs to be the recipient of the Priestess’ teachings.  Money doesn’t always quench your thirst or satisfy the hunger in your soul

4. PAST:   this position is still activate but not as prominent.  It it on the verge of a transition which will end up being the COMING card (right of center).

3 CUPS:  the way I want to read this great little card is that her peace of mind will change.  This card talks about little worry associated with anything.  This state is in the process of leaving.  It’s tough to see serene periods in one’s life ending.  

6. COMING:  I place a time frame of 6-8 weeks for this spot.  You can pre-determine your positions before the shuffle but it is best not to change them too often when reading for others.  I see this as an experience PJ will be stepping into.

8 WANDS:  who could complain about this cards.  It is filled with the promise of goals being within reach with regards to her job.  I don’t know all the details of her question & I don’t need to know to do the reading. My hunch is she is asking a very specific question.  Here is a perfect example of what happens to the  7 CUPS theme when a ‘direction’ is pursued.  In all likelihood, PJ will receive some news from the King of Cups (THEM Spot).  At this point I want to mention that not all that appears to be grand is grand.  I am only saying this because the 9 WANDS is looming up above.  

5. FUTURE:  I’m calling this spot future.  The card’s energy might be experienced and it might not be.  It all depends on what PJ does during the 8 WANDS period of time.  Let’s suppose she choses a direction that she is not fully aware of.  Remember to always factor the CROSSING CARD.  The 10 of WANDS is indicating she will bite off more than she can chew, so to speak.

9 WANDS:   looking at this card and scanning over the rest of the reading I notice there are 3 – 8 cards in the layout.  This is good energy, balanced with an inner strength.  PJ has got some real stamina akin to the STRENGTH Major Arcana.  Also, the 9 WANDS belongs to the FIRE suit as do all the wands.  The energy of the FIRE suit is action in various degrees.  In this card, the suggestion is PJ will have enough ambition and resolve to attain certain goals.  There is still some ‘fight’ in this gal.

7. ATTITUDE:  here we will find out how PJ feels about her question.  A Major Arcana sitting here suggests there is more behind the scenes than meets the eye. 

MAGICIAN:  this is a very good card to have in this spot for it reveals PJ can do anything she wants and she has the power of the Universe to back her up.  All she has to do is focus on her goal related to her job.  She can manifest whatever she concentrates on.  It is important that PJ use the powerful energy of the MAGICIAN to be very clear about the direction she wishes to go in relation to her work question.  This card is telling her she can master whatever she needs to by tapping into the clear focus which is very different from the 7 CUPS.

8. THEM:  this spot rules the employer or another significant situation which would influence her question.

KING CUPS:  this male is will be very helpful to PJ.  Is this her current boss?  Usually leaders of organizations are not cup kings, however, in this case a very compassionate man will be on her side.  Since the KING CUPS oversees the emotional realm, it could also indicate an understanding male who would not harm PJ if at all possible.  

9.  EMOTIONS:  hopes and fear are degrees of emotions.  If you tap into the fear aspect of the card sitting here, you are afraid it will come true even if it is a positive cards.  Sometimes people cannot accept the blessing which happen in life and are so used to problems that it is hard to accept something good.  If you tap into the hope aspect of the card you are hoping a good card’s energy unfolds.  Many reader see this spot as a situation which is pending prior to the RESULT or OUTCOME.

8 SWORDS:  PJ is hoping she doesn’t get into a situation or have to make a decision out of desperation or because she thinks she has no other choice.  PJ is fearing entrapment involving her job.  Taking the CROSSING CARD into consideration circumstances may arise where there is a ‘catch’ or a ’string’ to any further developments on her job.  For example, we give you this and that but we take away this and that.  Notice this is the first sword belonging to the Air element.  This means most of the dilemma is in her mind.

10.  RESULT:  and the final card which should sum everything up.  If PJ makes decisions in accordance to her and everyone else’s highest could she will experience the final card.  If card #10 is positive she must carefully study the steps towards getting there.  If the last card was negative, there is still time to make changes by following the advice of CARD 2 Crossing, CARD 6 Coming and CARD 7 Attitude.  If the final card is a Major Arcana it is the Universe’s way of telling you that what is in the highest good of all is one of those Lessons of Karma (if you believe in it). 

8 PENTACLES:   first pentacle of the layout belonging to the earth element.  This is great.  It indicates the potential of growth, the opportunity to experience results and have something to show for it.  The last card is a card of working, learning, and studying.

In relation to her question, the Tarot is suggesting PJ will continue to work.  There could be some changes brought about which involve more responsibilities (10 WANDS crossing). She will be able to handle just about anything (9 WANDS future) (Magician attitude).  PJ will have connections with an important male KING CUPS who is connected to some work she will continue to do.  

In the very near future (COMING) she will make up her mind about 1 specific area associated to her job.