Today is the official beginning of The Tarot Apprentice contest!
The challenge this week: show your tarot skills! Each contestant will pick a friend, family member, client, etc and will perform a Three Card Spread (they can choose to define the positions or not). They will then post the results in the comment section below. Each contestant has 24 hours to complete this challenge. If they miss the deadline, they are automatically disqualified! (PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DID NOT GET YOUR NAME INTO THE CONTEST BY 3/31/11 YOU ARE INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST. THE SPOTS FOR CONTESTANTS HAVE BEEN FILLED. See contest rules: The Tarot Apprentice.)
Ready – set – GO!
Blessings!
Theresa
© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2011
special thanks to taoxproductions for the image
For my best friend/soulmate/birthday mate 3 Card Spread
The Event: Ace of Cups…after a very rough beginning, her relationship is finally becoming more stable as she’s learning to trust, forgive & stand up for herself. I also see it as a real paradigm shift in how she views herself.
What NOT to do: 3 of Swords (rev) HATE this card!! But, I think it is telling her to remember past hurts, but not use it as a barometer or litmus test for a new level of love & trust, and I’d also tell her to not deliberately hold on to the pain…keep calm & carry on.
What to do: Sun
) She needs to get out of the background, stop being the cheering section for everyone else, step out of the shadows & shine! After the loss of her father & a battle with cancer, it is her time now, reborn, refreshed & riding that pony into her future.
Hi Stacy -
This contest is closed to the people who have entered their names before 3/31. I do not have your name on the list so although I like your interp, you are ineligible for the contest.
Blessings!
Theresa
This reading was done for Ken. I took notes along the way so I’d be able to post an accurate description of what was said.
Ken feels as if something isn’t quite right, which makes sense, that’s normally why people get readings, right? He’s come to me for answers because once you have answers – a place to begin – you stop worrying and can start healing instead!
I used the Haindl Tarot for this reading. For those of you who do not own the Haindl Tarot, here is a link where you can view all the cards http://www.tarot.com/tarot/decks/index.php?deckID=12 . Bear in mind when reviewing this reading that I have removed the borders and captions from my Haindl Tarot.
I drew The 7 of Cups, The 7 of Stones, and The Hanged Man.
So one of the first things I notice is the pair of 7s. Ken is experiencing a similar feeling of incompleteness in different areas of his life. I explain to him, through Numerology, that incompleteness doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. 7 is odd and incomplete, but is optimistic and patient for completion, rather than anxious and hurried like 9. It’s all about the perspective you have; incompletion doesn’t have to be frustrating. I explain to him what Numerology is in Merck terms; the conception that numbers have a sense of character. I see the 7 move from Cups (Emotional) to Stones (Physical), and because 3-card spreads are normally interpreted as past-present-future, I ask Ken if he feels like these feelings of incompletion are coming from the inside-out, or from the outside-in. As the cards said (and as I expected) the feelings are coming from the inside and effecting his outer life. He is beginning to express himself honestly in his daily activities. As stressful as that can be, it’s a good start, because at least he is being honest with himself about how he feels.
There is an I-Ching Hexagram in the 7 of Stones called “Standstill”. Ken has reached a stalemate because he is unable to recognize what is making him feel this way. I point out that in the illustration for the 7 of Cups, one of the cups is upside-down, giving an actual depiction of the heart of the problem. I tell Ken to make that one upside-down cup his focus. The Hanged Man calls for a reversal, a different point of view in order to understand that cup and what needs to be done to set it upright. However, Ken needs to approach with caution. Although 7 is optimistic, it is also unstable. In order to get a good look at what is wrong with the upside-down cup, the other six cups may momentarily, or permanently be toppled! The Hanged Man must sacrifice with discretion. Ken asks if the cup is really that important. I tell him it is up to him to decide, but I believe that The Hanged Man has showed up for a reason. I add that there is no water in the cup; it is an issue that needs to be looked at with objectivity. That’s not to say Ken should be brutal with himself – The Hanged Man is a Water card, after all – but he needs to be honest with himself about the heart of the problem and approach it lovingly and with respect.
There is a rainbow on The Hanged Man card, and it is lined up with the man’s body exactly where the 7 Chakras would be (another 7!). I think this reading also calls for brief Chakra Work. The Chakras that correspond to The Hanged Man are Svadisthana, The Sex Chakra, and Ajna, The Third-Eye Chakra. Ken’s Svadisthana is weakened and it is up to Ajna, his introspection, to understand why. Svadisthana is not just about sexuality; Svadisthana also contains your core energies and creative abilities – that’s what sex comes from! Svadisthana is primal communication and self-expression. Expression was actually mentioned in the reading earlier, in that Ken was beginning to show his feelings in his daily life. That’s it! It all fits! I tell Ken that the best way, I think to learn more about his “cup”, he should start asking himself what his soul is wants to start expressing to others. Some part of his primal creativity is being suppressed, but what is it? It could be the very first thought that pops into his head, but the presence of Ajna indicates that it is below the surface and will take Inner Sight, a little more digging, to find this buried Grail, and especially to understand it.
To conclude I remind Ken to “sacrifice with discretion”, but also not to listen to the voices in him that are fearful. Ken must seek only the truth that comes with knowing himself.
-Allie
I read for Joanne. She wanted information about how to proceed with her masters program. On one hand, she’s put in a ton of time into this one program, but has been toying around with the idea of starting a new program- essentially getting two masters instead of one. The problem is that she’s already spent so much time on her current program, does she really need (or have the time for) another?
I pulled 5 of cups, 9 of cups, and 2 of swords (read in that order).
First words that came to mind regarding this spread were: not happy, happy, choice.
This is how I read it:
She is feeling lost and kind of hopeless about her current program… Here, she’s spent so much time on it, yet it still feels like it’s going nowhere. The idea of starting this new program excites her- She is energized and motivated by the mere thought of it. Given this, and the fact that she’s feeling stagnant with her current program, I advised that she should go for it. Especially since she always has the option of dropping the “new” degree program and continuing with the original, if that is her choice. I advised this approach to her dilemma due to the high level of emotion that is involved- once she has some concrete experience and has a better idea of what she is working with, then she’ll really make the choice that is right for her.
QUERENT: The reading is for A.J. (40 years old). She has been living very long time in a different country from her birth country and has formed a family here and has a job in the public sector and rents a house, but lately she’s been getting a strong feeling of nostalgia and wanting to reunite with her relatives back home. She shares the same birth country with her new husband and since they’ve got married a year ago these feelings and thoughts of pondering whether to move here or back home have started to resurface in her mind. In her present situation she feels that she needs guidance from the Tarot about this particular question, which she’s formulated as:
“IS IT A GOOD IDEA FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO MOVE PERMANENTLY BACK TO MY BIRTH COUNTRY?”
PROCEDURE: Before doing the reading I cleanse the room with incense, ground and attune with my guide and energize the cards for the specific reading. Because I know the querent from before and know that she’s spiritual, well connected with her guides and works with energy I give her the cards to shuffle and cut them while asking/thinking about the question. Then I open the cards in the following position: 1) Situation under question; 2) What does the person need to know about this? 3) Ultimate effect of the outcome on the client.
TAROT DECK: I’ve used The Fantasy Tarot (by Paolo Martinello, Publisher: Lo Sacarbeo) for this reading.
READING: The cards from the reading are as follows, according to the positions previously mentioned,
1) 3 of WANDS – REVERSED; 2) 8 of CUPS; 3) The JUDGEMENT.
INTERPRETATION: First, I advise her that although the question refers to her family as a unit the answer she might get from the cards may refer only to her and what will happen to her or what will affect her if this action is undertaken. After she told me that it is OK with her I proceed with the reading and analyse the main theme, which is the need to find a deeper sense of meaning in her present situation and also maybe a time to revisit old emotional ‘scars’ and shed some new light on them. This has come in the form of realization that she needs to get involved again with her childhood family and childhood environment after a long period of detachment (she’s been away from her birth country for almost 2 decades) and this rekindled feeling might be a result from the new family unit she’s created in the past year or consequently as a realization that her spiritual development at the present level has come to an end. The elements of the cards show mostly presence of water (Cups and Judgement, but also 3 of Wands, which shows fire along with the other side of Judgement) and fire transformed through water as they progress. Because of this I conjured that the issue lies in finding new joy in life through rediscovering past relationships that are/were meaningful to the querent, and also through the process of healing relationships with other people, whom she has a grudge with, that make her feel resentful. In order to undertake this change the querent will have to be aware of the sacrifices she needs to make; she is leaving a stable life she has made for herself here and in some aspect starting anew in her birth country. Also she will be faced with her childhood fears and anxiety, but in a different and new way, especially because she’s not the same old person any more. This possibility for transformation will enable her eventually to develop a deeper sense of herself and transform her feelings of anger and of being misunderstood in a powerful source of healing and vitality, not just for herself, but also for the ones she loves. She will have to be aware of the challenge and mindful of the possibility of old frustrations resurfacing again. The good news is that the end result is finding a more meaningful existence and maybe a new call in life (she might start a new career over there or rediscover an old interest or hobby that will push her to develop and grow, spiritually, even further).
I did a reading for Courtney. Here is her question:
Strongly considering making the focus of my Masters of Divinity be Psychiatry and Religion. How would this course of action benefit my future? Would it benefit it at all? Is this in-line with my overall destiny?
Here’s the three-card spread, with no positions defined. I used Legacy of the Divine tarot.
The Chariot: Go go go! You really want to do this. Your heart is screaming a yes to this, but of course you are second-guessing because when your heart screams to do something, you have an inkling it might not be the most rational course of action, which causes you to put on the brakes and think. The Charioteer has the reins in one hand, and a staff raised high in the other. She is steering two horses: one brown, one white; two equally appealing courses of action. But she can can only steer her Chariot one way, and has to make the two horses bend to her will and follow one path. The pathway is lit very clearly. This one card says yes to your question. But it’s not going to be an easy path.
Page of Cups (rev): A message of love and support goes awry. The message is for you, but you might be feeling a bit more sensitive and thin-skinned than usual and misconstrue it. Could be indirectly related to this decision about the focus of your Masters. The concern is for your health and well-being, and you may take it more of an affront, as in a “You think I can’t do it? I’ll show you!” A warning to take people’s reactions to your decision with a grain of salt.
9 of Coins (rev): Is this choice going to be lucrative? Eh, it may not be, but that’s not your motivation right now. Upright cards or Reversals I see more of a “who’s in the driver’s seat” kind of motivation more than an outright negation of the card at hand. Right now the pull to do this is the only drive that’s needed. Any surplus of money would be gravy, but the bottom line is your drive to help people.
I forgot to mention I used my Morgan Greer deck…
A’s Question: I’d like advice about what to do next with regards to my graduate program.
The cards (no spread positions defined):
Justice
The Moon (reversed)
Lovers
The Reading:
The first thing I noticed were that all three cards are Major Arcana, which suggests that your graduate path is not merely an issue of the mundane; it will carry into deeper aspects of your life and self. Examining each of these elements will give you a sense of where you are at in your path now and where you can clear the way for success.
Justice suggests that in order to move forward, being able to look at and honestly assess where you are out of balance is crucial. Your success is hugely dependent on your willingness to take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Look at what aspects are not balanced and be objective in setting them right. It also asks that when you sense something outside of you is out of balance, you act instead of merely letting an injustice go unnoticed. Being vigilant and knowing when to hold yourself or others accountable is important. If you know you are slacking on assignments, be honest with yourself. If you feel that your advisor isn’t reaching out and assisting you, let him or her know. Work towards taking active responsibility towards your goals.
**
Upright, the Moon warns against getting lost in an idea of how you think your situation should be or is. It also is a good way to describe grad school—overwhelming in its confusing newness. There’s a tough adjustment period as you figure out a new set of rules and expectations in a familiar yet unfamiliar setting, and this can be scary. The temptation is to cling to old comforts and habits in this environment, only to find that those things no longer work here and are in fact leading you astray.
Reversed, however, it seems to suggest that even this chaos remains hidden from you. The illusions are hidden behind illusions. For whatever reason, the tension that would ordinarily motivate you to gain dominion over this territory is failing to do so because it is blocked by another illusion. It is the moon during an eclipse. Move beyond the shadows and you will see the guiding light to get you through the terrain!
**
The Lovers in this situation symbolize values: this is a time where you are truly discovering yourself, not just professionally but also personally. The opportunity to pursue your vocation is an opportunity to understand and define yourself to the world, and you will need to do so when pressed up against all the different options you might find down the road. What does your vocation mean to you? What direction do you want to take it in? Where do you want to see your field expand or improve? How do you feel you can add to it? The Lovers nudge you to follow your passion and understand your true values as you work towards your graduate goals.
With honesty, self accountability, and a deeper understanding of yourself, you can not only make it through your graduate program on strong footing but know that these qualities will be present for you throughout your life.
The Three Card Spread Challenge
Client: Sophie
Question: How will my date with Paul go tonight?
Layout used: First card represents the past, second card represents the present, third card represents the future.
First Card: Queen of Pentacles. I told Sophie I felt that this card represented the practical and domestically-focused parts of her personality, and how it influenced her search for a partner. My overwhelming feeling was that as this earthy Queen, Sophie was looking for someone to create a permanent home and family with. I felt that finances were involved as well. I mentioned this to Sophie and she told me that her date with Paul was arranged through a costly executive match-making service.
Second Card: The Hanged Man. “Waiting” – this was the word I received from my intuition regarding this card. I relayed to Sophie that she may sometimes feel a little frustrated that she has been in this period of waiting for so a suitable partner for so long. I added that this period of waiting felt, to me, like something necessary – that it is a moment of time that she must pass through, a time to let go and cultivate trust in the Universe to balance her practical search for a partner.
Third Card: The Ace of Wands. I have read for Sophie a handful of times previously, and this card had come out as a consistent ‘outcome’ card. In this spread it spoke to me more than ever. My intuition said ‘she (Sophie) has the matter in hand’. I explained to Sophie that if she consciously chose to use her personal energy and passion to initiate a relationship (or opportunity for a relationship), than the chances of success were high. But I also had a feeling of the word ‘discretion’ – that it would be most powerful if directed at one relationship, rather than being spread between suitors, thus diluting the energy. Sophie responded positively to this card, indicating she felt that the conscious process was especially meaningful.
Overall: I told Sophie that in regards to her date with Paul, that the date itself felt to me like it would be pleasant enough, but may not produce any lasting outcomes (I felt The Hanged Man’s influence was very strong indeed). I advised Sophie to trust in herself when it came to the final judgement about Paul, and advised her that any furthering of the relationship would be her choice (again, the word discretion with the Ace of Wands). I also mentioned that she was approaching a time of a meeting of energies and change – especially indicated by the presence of a court card, a Major Arcana card and an Ace. Sophie then told me that she was not actually pleased with being set up with Paul by her agency, as he was not the kind of man she wanted to meet, but that she had recently found a man outside her agency that she was excited about meeting. When she left the reading, Sophie seemed both happy and excited.
Deck used for this reading: The Tarot of Prague, by Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony.
A link with more info about this deck, for those who are interested:
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/prague/index.shtml
My mom was sweet enough to come to my rescue for my “live” reading
She asked What does she need to know about the wedding, or how is it going to go(sister getting married in May)
I recieved:
1)Mental- King cups
2) Physical – Lovers
3) Spiritual – Hanged Man
I told My mom: This wedding is a very emotional event to begin with, and the energy of the male is very loving and loyal, well rounded yet soft in all the right ways even though sometimes he may get caught up in his own emotions. Charming man, emotional event.
This union physically is a wonderful match. The colors in the card speak to the creativity that the couple will bring and share together along with the personal power and devotion(the oranges and yellows) Both feeling very grounded in moving forward
Spiritually this is a major life check point where the couple and the families involved will feel the seperation and will have to maintain the thought that all things are taken care of by a higher source, they are as they should be and we are all taken care of. Since it was my mom I also feel that it was a passing of the caregiving. It is her time to let go in a small way.
The overall is a wonderful harmony and transition that hits a major life point. Now call me in a year ha! This was fun, Robin
Anna K deck:)
I used the Universal Rider-Waite tarot deck to do a reading for my fiancé this morning. His question was basic enough, asking how he could focus more on achieving our move to the Pacific Northwest at the end of June.
First, two cards “accidentally” fell out and then the third card followed.
The three cards were: King of Swords and Three of Pentacles, followed by the Queen of Wands.
The King of Swords, being a court card and falling out with the Three of Pentacles is a representation that he must focus his mind on the tasks at hand, but that he is not alone in reaching the final goal. Particularly the fact that his intentions in Oregon as based on further schooling and disciplining himself further in martial arts, it’s perfect that the swords –representing mind and focus—came forward showing him his mastery in the situation. Even that his mastery is already birthing itself in the process of achieving the first goal: moving. The fact that the King of Swords fell out with the Three of Pentacles, really showed that it’s a collaborative project and that there is more than meets the eye in the move. Three’s in the tarot, associated with the Empress, suggest that because the Pentacles are body, family, home, career and –of course—money, that the intentions of the move are focused on nurturing the practical parts of life, the manifested physical (i.e. health, abundance, security), and that to keep in mind the potential of the Three of Pentacles, will bring him further into focusing his energy, leading to success.
The fact that the Queen of Wands was the third card to present itself, could either represent myself, as his fiancé and the spiritual attachment I have to Oregon for a place of spiritual growth and definite action… or it could represent the feminine side of his desires to move. Either way, the Queen of Wands and the King of Swords fall on both sides of the Three of Pentacles suggesting that to achieve moving forward, and to achieve moving to another State, literally means to collaborate on the project with both a focused mind and a passionate spirit. Allowing the spirit to put into action the ideas and intentions of the mind so that both can flourish and succeed; bringing the goal into physical manifestation.
Dear apprentice hopefuls ~
Looking good so far.
Blessings!
Theresa
I came to check out other people’s readings and I agree with Theresa, there’s alot of talent here. She picked some amazing people that will probably all become great pros!!
I’m pleasantly suprised, haha!
By the way, Raven, The Pacific Northwest is DEFINATELY the place to go to improve martial arts, especially if your fiance is into MMA (which I’m assuming is what you mean, alot of fighters move to Portland). There’s so many great gyms in both Seattle AND Portland. I hope you ultimately decide to move up here!
Yup Allyson – lots of great potential here. And still plenty of time for the other awesome contestants to get their answers in….can’t wait to see how everyone else does!
Blessings!
Theresa
I’m using my Pagan Cats deck for this reading also my psychic gifts. This deck was selected by the client.
She was inquiring about her publishing opportunity for the series of books she is writing.
Past Card-Ace if Cups- This is her inspiration to write the stories. Reaching deep down to the stories she would make up in her child hood to make her smile. Super hero’s and heroines who save the victim with out violence. The ideas that make her happy and calm.
Present-The lovers-Her ideas and the paper meet! This card shows that she is building a partnership with her writing and creativity. Finally she is in a place where she can weave her tail she had in her head for years.
Future-3 of Pentacles- She meets the right person at the right place and manifests her goal. In the card there are is one cat showing two other cats what is in the mouse whole. That mouse whole is the book. It will stun the random editor that see’s it in 3 years.
Over all the reading is positive full of creativity! The clients ideas blossomed and are now partnering with each other. The out look will be finding a friend who will help the client envision her true goal.
Go diviners! You’re all on fire. May the spirit of your deck continue to guide you!
I used the Rider Waite deck. 3 card “past-present-future” spread. I do read reversals, but everything appeared right side up this time around. This is a summary of the dialogue we had.
-Jessica-I want to ask about my career in comedy. I know I need to move to LA, but I need some guidance about how I should do things once I’m there. The transition really scares me.
-Aa-(to clarify the question, we ended up asking, “What does Jessica need to know about her move, to make the transition easier?”)
FIRST CARD – KNIGHT OF SWORDS
-Aa-This can represent an actual person in your life, or it could be an aspect of your personality concerning this situation, he can also represent travel (by air?)
-Jess-I just traveled by air to go visit LA last week, which kind of kicked this whole idea into gear
-Aa-his attitude is very mentally spastic, like the kid that asks a million questions. Not in a bad way, just super curious, mind moving a million miles a minute
-Jess-Yeah, when I was there I had so many questions and the trip left me asking even more
-Aa-He is interested in the truth and knowledge. he doesn’t really care about emotions or feelings so sometimes he can appear cold or emotionless. To me it says that the energy this trip gave you was all mental. The city didn’t call your heart.
-Jess-I didn’t feel a connection with the city but in a way logically it all made sense for me to be there, for my career. Emotionally it left me cold.
SECOND CARD – 2 OF PENTACLES
-Aa- this is you juggling many things or having a lot on your plate (especially with finances) but since it is right side up it means that you are handling it. You know this is something you have to do. It will be a lot to handle, but if you keep on dancing you can make it through. Now it doesn’t mean a permanent juggling act, this is just to get things moving. This is after all only the beginning.
THIRD CARD – 5 of Pentacles
-Aa-Ok your last card is a little difficult; it shows times of financial loss or physically “down and out”.
-Jess-oh no! but yeah, I kind of expected that
-Aa- it could also be unemployment, so you might have a little trouble getting a job at first. But, this can be expected after making a big move like that. The pocket book will be tight and things might seem desperate, but every card has 2 faces. The stained glass window in the background means that help is just around the corner, if you only knew/or were willing to go ask for help. Some people have big trouble asking for help. This card reminds you that it’s ok to rely on others and ask for help when you need it.
-Jess- I can see a lot of those things happening. Being poor, adjusting to the people, finding out how challenging the business is.
-Aa- But the center of our spread is that 2 of pentacles guy who takes the good and the bad and juggles them just fine. Also remember, since this “loss” card is in your future you can prepare for it better: start networking now, start saving, find some friends. You are really going to want help and you shouldn’t be afraid/embarrassed to ask for it.
-Jess-Great thing is I have 3 great friends out there that are already offering their help. I’ve been hesitant but I think I will take them up on their offer. The plan is to get a second job, work my ass off, save tons of money, and move out in winter.
-Aa- ok, cool. Well the 2 of pentacles can also mean your getting a second job and working yourself hard to get things moving, just don’t forget that you still might need to ask for a third party’s help to avoid/soften the blow of future financial hardship
Tarot Deck: The Fey Tarot by Riccardo Minetti & Mara Aghem
*Note: I am unsure how many people are familiar with The Fey Tarot so I provided “The Image” description from the companion book. My interpretations are mostly related to what I see in the pictures.
I did this reading with my friend Fiona. She has been dating a guy exclusively for almost 2 years. They are super happy, and have been growing closer together as the days go on. They are both considering moving in together this summer.
Her Question: What can I expect to happen to our relationship once we are living together?
Preparation: I laid out my tarot cloth, lit jasmine incense, let her shuffle the deck and make 3 piles. She turns over the top 3 cards.
Question card: Ace of Pentacles
Choice A: The World
Choice B: 5 wands
?? card: Ace of Pentacles. “A fey designs a pentacle on her hand as if it is a tattoo. She is surrounded by her poor possession sin her house. Two small animals observe her. Her face is totally concentrated on what she is doing. The design on her hand is almost finished” (101).
The plan for finding a home is promising. You will have all the right tools to find a place that fits both of your styles. The fairies expression in the picture leads me to believe that this goal of yours will be successful.
Choice A: The World. “This is the universe and it includes galaxies, stars, and planets. Immense in this universe, there is, a snail, on whose shell rises a mountain… one the mountain a castle, on the castle a tower, and on that tower a dragon” (85).
Success! Once everything is completed, you will have everything. You will have the world at your fingertips. This success only comes from the effort you put into this project in moving in together. You must be willing to work hard toward your goal.
Choice B: 5 Wands. “A Fey watches a group of Fey put to the test by pulling a rope. Flying, they use a branch of a tree to lever in this competition of strength and skill” (115). I feel strongly that the red and blue fey (on the same team) resemble you and your boyfriend’s position. While the red fey is carefree and happy, the other fey on the team is struggling and about to fall off. One person will be going along with this process without any worries, while the other will be struggling tremendously to stay on track. This is also a warning to stay in shape so you can be ready for any challenges to come.
Minetti, Riccardo. The Fey Tarot: Dreams, Joy and Magic. Italy:Lo Scarabeo, 2002. Print
I wished I could have joined this contest
(
Anyway best of luck to everyone who joined in!
- Kristine. (candyblush in twitter if you remember, hehe..)
Candy Blush Beauty Blog recently posted..Weight loss tips- Summer Eating Habits
I am posting the reply for the First Challenge below:
I am using the Robin Wood Deck for this reading.
I did a reading for my mom today. Her situation is that my Dad has got a job offer in Africa. My parents have an unusual relationship, they have always lived separately, but are not separated. My mom currently lives with my brother here in Bombay, India. My father lost his job in Africa about 6 months ago and has been trying since then. This new job has a clause that my mom has to go with my dad, they won’t send him alone. So, my mom is worried about going to a new place and doesn’t know whether it will be good for her and if she’ll like it. So the question is -
Q: Is it a good decision to go to Africa (Banjul) with my husband?
The Three Cards which came up are :
1) 7 of Wands
2) King of Cups
3) 9 of Wands
1)7 of Wands
The first card 7 of wands shows a man fighting on his own while people below are against him. This is so true as my mom feels that she has been fighting a battle, and is alone in this with no support from my dad. She said during the reading that she feels that she has always supported him all her life, but feels he is ungrateful, and now is being unreasonable and selfish. She needs to be communicative and communicate her feelings (Wands) and assert herself. She is all by herself and it is a tough road ahead if she decides to go. She will be lonely there and the people there will be different, and at this age in her life she will feel like an outsider.
2) King of Cups
The second card, the King of Cups symbolizes her husband. This is so true, since he is a water sign and a Pisces ( There is a fish in this card also). He is also very moody, emotional and unpredictable. If she goes there, he will be the king and will have to listen to him and he will be the centre of her universe as she will have nobody else. She will be under him. Also, the king is sitting on a rock in the middle of the ocean, and the place, Banjul is also an island in the middle of the ocean. So she will be trapped there with him. The king’s eyes have arrogance and assume that she will come there, and he won’t take no for an answer.
3) 9 of Wands
This is the final card of the reading. It shows a man who is wounded on his head, waiting with a wand in his hand, like a weapon. Earlier last year, my mom had gone to Conakry, where my dad was earlier to visit him. It was not a good experience for her. This card shows exactly that situation. She is afraid of history repeating itself, and is still upset and ‘wounded’ from that experience. I asked her what happened there in Conakry which had hurt her. She said that there were many things, and at the end of it, she didn’t feel welcome and felt like an outsider (7 of Wands) and that he gave alot of importance to his other friends who she didn’t like and drinking (Cups). She is afraid to trust him now and feels that she will be unhappy there.
So, the cards suggest that it is not a good decision for my mom to go with my dad to Banjul (Africa). She will be unhappy there and feel unwanted, lonely and insecure. Also, since out of the 3 cards, 2 cards are Wands cards, it is very important for her to speak to my Dad about this decision. They have a huge communication gap.
Thank You. Please accept this reply.
Kareena
Only 1 1/2 hours left for the remaining contestants to get their challenge in…..fingers crossed…
These entries so far are OFF DA HOOK!
XXOO
My good friend Jenny was kind enough to meet me at uni after work tonight and be my guinea pig : )
Jenny is currently in a line of work that she finds mundane, but it pays the bills and more, so she enjoys the security. Yet her issue is that no matter what she tries, there still remain many unrealised dreams and ambitions that she feels she is moving further and further away from achieving. She feels extremely “stuck”, frustrated and even suffers from anxiety over this situation. She often wonders whether she should just get used to her “grown up job” and accept that she’s now at an age where she should start to settle down, be more responsible, buy a house, etc, etc. Or whether she should take a huge financial risk and continue to pursue her lifelong dreams, even though nothing is yet to eventuate after many years of trying. She says that her common sense tells her that it’s indeed time to settle in one place and focus on furthering her career, and she does not want to waste any more time on her dreams if they will only remain just that. So she asked the Tarot to please shed some light on the situation, if focusing on her career is the path she was going to take.
For this reading I thought a Past, Present, Future spread would be beneficial and I was drawn to use the Thoth deck.
So after much shuffling by me and focus on the query, Jenny picked the following three cards:
Past: Ace of Cups
Present: Nine of Cups (reversed)
Future: Death (reversed)
Well straight away I received a message through my gut instincts. It was quite strong. Though considering Jenny’s query, and the position and meanings of the cards themselves, there can be several contrasting interpretations to this spread, but I’ve wholly trusted my intuition on this one, and much less on analysing the card meanings.
I felt straight away that Jenny is not happy in this situation, and she will not be happy solely sticking to this particular career option at the expense of her dreams and other ambitions. I feel that within her is an overflowing energy of love, abundance and creativity when she is open to her dreams and ambitions. Yet unfortunately, this energy is being blocked and is dormant because of her attachment to her career, and her attitude that she must choose one over the other. In fact, the energy surrounding her dreams is continuing to lose its power due to her fears, drifting more and more out of her reach. The inner child within her knows what Jenny wants, but her conscious mind, ‘grown up’ mind, thinks it knows better. I happen to know that Jenny is a very spiritually inclined person, and her dreams and ambitions fall within the spiritual development and arts industries, which is why she is so reluctant to let go of her well-paying corporate job in favour of these other goals, due to the lack of remuneration she would be offered. This is perfectly understandable, but I believe Jenny needs to strike a balance here. The Ace of Cups here shows me Jenny’s potential and what her reality could be like. This very lucky card shows me what Jenny truly wants, her greatest desires which come straight from the heart, a place of love, truth and integrity. A deeply spiritual yearning, that has the potential to manifest and grow in full force. It is clear to me that this energy is diminishing into the past and is being taken over by her present situation of unease and stagnation in her current job. She is completely unfulfilled. The nine of cups shows this. Everything is flowing out of these upside-down cups. She is being completely drained of her energy, emotions, vitality, love and life-force. She is washing out her spiritual journey, which she is sacrificing in favour of material gain. No wonder she is so unhappy and disappointed. If she continues in this way, she will remain in this rut. I doubt she will prosper in her career either, as she is leaving behind a key part of her – her spiritual self. This would explain her anxiety as well, as she is not complete, or has balance of body, mind and spirit. Here the Death card indicates her rigidity in this situation. She seems to only see things in black and white, and is more willing to settle into financial and material comfort and security and take the ‘easy’ way out, than to embrace change and expand her horizons. There is also the feeling of lethargy and stagnation with this job if she only continues down that path – she already feels it is mundane!
This is what I saw, and Jenny is a close friend, so I could be more direct with her. But still, I focused on the positives when reading for her, and there are many in this spread. Overall my message to Jenny was that she should open up to the gifts that she is being blessed with, thereby increasing their power. And by changing her perspective and attitude towards her career, as well as her dreams and ambitions, she will be able to make more room for them all, and be able to strike a balance, hopefully maintaining both.
She told me that she actually could see what I was saying and felt it made sense to her. She was very happy, as she always felt she had to choose something, one thing, and do it well. Sacrificing everything else. And she mentioned that the images in the cards seemed to confirm this.
Sorry that lengthy post had no gaps, it was not like that when I typed it out. Hope you guys can still read it ok. : )
Congratulations to everyone who completed the first challenge! It’s not easy doing a reading on the fly but often times in our career we will have times when we have to do a reading under pressure! You all did very well!
And here’s some great news: for everyone who entered the Tarot Apprentice Contest – the good people at Tarot Town and Tarot Professionals has given you access to Citizenship at Tarot Town for 6 MONTHS! WOW! This will give you all the lessons, videos and more! (http://www.tarot-town.com)
And even better news: for everyone who completed the first challenge, you will be getting 6 MONTHS FREE MEMBERSHIP IN “TAROT PROFESSIONALS”! Tarot Professionals is an organization dedicated to helping tarot readers succeed. This is a very valuable bonus! (http://www.tarotprofessionals.com)
A big thank you to the kind people at Tarot Town and Tarot Professionals – and to you guys for completing this first challenge so well! The next one will be coming at ya Monday April 11th!
Blessings!
Theresa
PS Be sure to give props to Marcus and Tali at Tarot Town and Tarot Professionals for their generosity – they are going above and beyond to make this experience awesome for you guys! XXOO
BRAVO Kareena! That reading really knocked my socks off. It was breif and to the point and seemed extremely helpful to your mother. NICE
-allie
Oh my gosh, I cant thank you enough. This means so much to me! I am so passionate about Tarot, and am constantly seeking ways to improve my knowledge and skills, and advance this passion from being just a hobby, to becoming a large part of my work. And this no doubt will set me on that path. So thank you so much Tarot Town and Tarot Professionals! And Theresa of course! Many thanks on behalf of all of us! It is was so unexpected. Big smiles and jumps all around the room!
I agree Allyson, all the readings are wonderful – so much talent, and they all have a unique touch to them. Pretty proud of us all : )
Thank you guys so much!
Here, here!
Thank You Marcus and Tali for your wonderful and generous support.
Thank you so much to the people at Tarot Town and Professional Tarot! I’m very excited about this opportunity and plan to utilize the memberships!
I really can’t say it better than the others who said it before me, this is a great opportunity and a wonderful experience…not only to improve tarot reading abilities but also just to deepen the individual connection with the cards.
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU, Tarot Town AND Professionals!
Beverley asked:
Will I get the job I’ve been after?
Card 1: Far left: Past
VII the Chariot.
Beverly has been stuck in place, her wheels turning but going nowhere for too long. Although she needed this time to think and determine whether this is the correct path for her she is sick of it and it is now time to move on. For Beverley it has been a matter of timing, there have been other factors in her life that have taken precedence over her career. Now, however, the time is coming for her to move forward.
Card 2: Centre: Present
VIII Strength.
Beverley’s time of waiting has taught her an inner strength that she didn’t know she had. Now is the time to use that to her advantage and put herself forwards for a better career. If Beverley can learn to take life as it comes and fully accept the changes going on around her she has the opportunity for big advancement. Putting herself first in small ways, for example finding time for relaxation will help keep her balanced. However, that is not to say she should be this in favour of everything else. Finding and maintaining the balance will open the door to the abundance around her.
Card 3: Far right: Past
2 of Wands.
Progress is coming but it is a matter of trusting what is going on around us. Beverly has told me she is very nervous in interviews and the wands do suggest a mental element to what is going on here. I suggest to her that she has two elements to consider. The fact that she knows she is worthy of the job she has applied for and the fact that she knows she tends to talk herself down in interviews. When she can manage the yin and yang elements of her mind she will begin to progress as promised.
Round Up.
There is definitely a journey here and the promise of a new path with new growth. Beverley has recently been through a prolonged trial period in her life but that is coming to and end and now is the time to find out if she can use her new inner strength to carry her through this new phase in her life.
Thank you to Theresa, Tarot Town, and Tarot Professionals for the surprise prizes associated with the first challenge! Looking forward to the next challenge!
Hilary recently posted..The Tarot Apprentice—Will It Be Me
You are all quite welcome.