Random Reading - #63

Right, that's that out of the way.

I did get a few nice presents, though. 😉 Including Radleigh Valentine's "Angel Answers Oracle" (Doreen Virtue's name removed; colour-coded borders added) and a blue "meditation medallion" from my granddaughter – the symbol and the colour represent the throat chakra. I’m not big into chakra stuff, but I do associate blue with my divination, so it was a good choice on her part.

You're being asked to have faith in someone or something that has let you down in the past. This could be another person, or your own sense of failure and self-doubt. Give it another chance.

WYSIWYG for Card Readers

I was forcefully reminded today of one of my "Fundamentals of Fortune Telling":

You can't make a positive reading out of negative cards

Well, you can – I almost did – but you shouldn't.

I pulled cards today for someone who had never had a reading before. Naturally, I wanted it to be a nice experience for her. So when I turned one neutral card sandwiched between two negative cards, I unconsciously went into sugar-coating mode.

Mercifully, we were doing this online, and before I started telling her what I saw, she happened to comment that she had a feeling her reading would be a bit on the negative side.

It was like being poked sharply in the ribs.

I looked at the cards again, realised I didn't really like what I saw, and turned the bottom card for confirmation. It was another doozy. So I took a deep breath and interpreted the spread accordingly.

It was a general reading, so it didn't present as "bad news". It was more a heads-up about something to be prepared to deal with. I'm pleased to say she took it well and believed she knew what it was about. And I hope, as a result, she avoids any potential unpleasantness.

Bottom card - I was misled and potentially misleading my sitter

Many readers will tell you there's no such thing as "good" or "bad" cards. That all cards have positive and negative aspects depending on the situation being read for. And this is true, particularly if you use fixed positions, where the focus of the position calibrates the meaning of the card occupying it.

Nevertheless, we can all go through a Tarot deck and divide it into essentially good, bad, and neutral cards.

And I don't often use fixed positions. I lay down a line of cards and take them, initially*, at face value. With 78 cards at their disposal, if the answer is positive, there's no shortage of "good" cards that could appear in the spread. So if I'm given several negative cards, I should accept that they're trying to tell me something.


(*The overall combination of cards and their relationships to each other will temper their meanings. Fundamental #2 - One bad card doesn't ruin an overall positive reading, but likewise, one good card can't save a negative one.)

Keeping my hand in

Discussion prompt on Facebook*:

Post your divination tips.

Yours truly:

• Once you're familiar with your cards and their basic meanings, trust your intuition!
• Ask a clear question and read the cards to answer THAT question; if a card doesn't seem to make sense, consider how it makes you feel and/or think outside the box.
• The cards interact - they tell the whole story *together*.
• Many cards have similar meanings, so ask yourself why you got that particular card and not another; how does it relate to the rest of the spread?
• Did I mention trust your intuition? 😏

Most of my tarot/divination interaction takes place on Facebook and reddit. Not a lot goes on here, apart from my occasional readings and re-shares. I really should work on that. 


*Facebook group: Arcana.Cards

Random Reading - #62

It’s December. I don’t handle December well.

I like to do my RRs on Sunday, but if I’m too busy I’ll put it off until the next day. Well, I was too busy. Next weekend I won’t be able to do it at all, and the closer we get to the “C” day, the less likely I’ll be in any fit state to read cards. 🙄

So I was determined to do a reading today, because this may be my last chance until the new year.

You’re about to get a harsh lesson in reality. Think carefully now about what’s important to you, so that when the scene shifts you’ll know which way to turn. It will look like all your plans have crashed and burned, but if you’re clear-sighted, you’ll see the opportunity.


Rumi Tarot – Nigel Jackson, Llewellyn (2009)

Random Reading - #61

For my birthday recently, my friend “D” gifted me the Flower Reading Cards by Cheralyn Darcey (Rockpool Publishing, 2013). They’d been on my radar for a couple of years, partly because I like the sgraffito style with washes of colour. But another big draw was that I associate several of the flowers included in the set of 36 cards with my mother. Each of the flowers is depicted in a place they’re strongly connected to, and I’m particularly delighted that Daisy, one of “Mum’s flowers”, is matched with Glastonbury Tor.

Nice and straightforward. Pursue your desire with strength and dedication. This is not just a cliché affirmation. This is saying you are in a good position at this time to achieve your goal. Go after it!

For locations, we have the monumental gateway to the temple of Aphrodite in the ancient city of Aphrodisias, Anatolia, Shiprock, which rises, strikingly alone, some 1,583 feet (482.5 m) from the high-desert plain in New Mexico, and Einsiedeln Abbey, in Switzerland, within which pilgrims have for centuries venerated a Black Madonna.

Random Reading - #60

This week’s RR is brought to you by Linda Goodman’s Star Cards.

Remember Linda Goodman’s “Sun Signs” and “Love Signs” astrology books? In the early 70s, my mother and I both had copies of her Love Signs book, Taurus and Scorpio respectively, and we often shared our thoughts, and a good giggle, over them. When I saw that there was a Linda Goodman deck, I had to get it. The deck is structured on Chaldean numerology.

The theme for this week is 4 Uranus: change and disruption. Much like the Tower in Tarot, the trick to dealing with it is to know it’s coming and plan ahead.

Entitled Discrimination and Analysis, number 25 is also known as Wisdom, and is related to 7 Neptune: mystery and illusions. Remain objective, watch carefully how things play out and call on your experience to see you through the upcoming changes.

14 Movement – Challenge, also known as Fluidity, relates to 5 Mercury: communication and trickery. It's possible for things to go in your favour, but you need to pay attention to what’s being said, remember to use discrimination, and beware of the unexpected.

You’re really going to have to stay on your toes this week.

Bottom card - 29 Grace Under Pressure: remain totally honest in your dealings, despite the possible actions of others, and have faith that everything will turn out all right.

Linda Goodman's Star Cards - text by Crystal Bush, art by Frank Riccio, published by Hampton Roads Publishing Co, 2000.

Random Reading - #59

Someone I know in the online tarot community has just bought, and fallen deeply in love with, a vintage Aquarian Tarot (1975). All the subsequent discussion has stirred up my desire to work with my copy (1980s) again. Oddly enough, the last time I used it here was for a reading in November last year. Maybe it’s the autumnal colour palette that make it so appealing at this time of year.

Winning the argument within your circle of friends is likely to leave you side-lined. You may be right, but they won’t thank you for it. You must decide if, in this instance, it's more important to be right or to maintain your friendships.

Random Reading - #58

For anyone who's new to my "Random Readings" (hello!), these represent a weekly-ish message for whoever needs to see it, whenever they happen to see it.

House – Debasement – Lover (man) – Sacrifice – Child of the house

The house is either literally in need of repairs, or figuratively, things are falling apart at home. Because of the presence of the Lover, I'll assume the latter. He may represent an obsession rather than a person, but in either case it's having a detrimental affect on those you care about. Give him/it up or lose your family.


La Facile Sibilla Regionale, “Easy Regional Sybil”, published by Dal Negro, is based on one of the sets of regional meanings of Italian playing cards. The playing card insets are Neapolitan, but I've had a look at Neapolitan meanings on a few websites, and they don’t tie up.

I'd love to hear from anyone who knows which region Dal Negro based their meanings on, or who recognises the sample of meanings below:

Staves – Ace: Love, 2: Meeting, 3: Relationship
Cups – Ace: House, 2: Agreement (Accommodation), 3: Triumph
Swords – Ace: Angel, 2: News (Direct), 3: Journey
Coins – Ace: Wheel of Fortune, 2: Money (A Little), 3: Money (A Lot)

Random Reading - #57

Up this week: the Golden Tarot by Kat Black (US Games Systems, 2003). Just because.

1.
» If you're starting to feel broody you'd better check in with your partner, because what you see as "always room for one more" they may be seeing as a "full house". «

2.
» You feel frustrated because what you're trying to create is not meeting your expectations. Await fresh inspiration. «

Reading for myself

I'm currently looking for a "day job" 😉, so every day I check the local vacancies online.

Today there was a temporary position for a credit controller. It looked like the sort of thing I could do. Okay, the blurb suggested it would be quite busy, but it was only temporary. If it was too much, I’d be walking away in 4 weeks, and if it was manageable and I got on all right, it might turn into something permanent. 

I was thisclose to hitting the “Submit application” button when I felt the need to just run the decision past my cards. Now, I’m not in the habit of doing this. I’m pretty headstrong – if I want to do something, I do it. The fact that I wanted reassurance was unusual. 

I did my usual trick of turning one card for a quick answer - 7 of Cups. Oh? Illusion, too many choices. Not what I was expecting, or hoping for. Better do a proper reading –

First card up – Knight of Swords. My initial take on that was "Go for it!". Yesss!

9 of Sword – ah. Regret…

7 of Coins – patience. 

Okay, now what? “Do it, or you’ll regret waiting”? Or “Act in haste, repent at leisure”?

Help, please, Bottom Card. 4 of Cups – like the 7 of Coins, another card of waiting, and, with the 7 of Cups, suggesting a need for careful consideration. 

I was pretty bummed by this point. Surely I wasn’t being told not to apply for this job? Jobs are few and far between in this area. But I looked at the cards and, really, there was nothing encouraging here. The Knight of Swords is prone to making rash decisions. I could have gotten so many far more positive cards. If that first card had been the Chariot or the Sun, or even the 6 of Wands or 8 of Coins…

But it wasn’t. So I didn’t.

If I don’t trust my cards, how can I expect other people to trust my cards?

I was feeling quite rattled by now, though. Did I do the right thing?... 

10 of Coins. This card immediately felt positive and reassuring - a totally different vibe to that of the other cards. Yeah, I’m going to be all right. 

Random Reading - #56

If you've seen my recent video on the top 5 decks I can't live without, then you'll know I mentioned that I've been using only the trumps and aces from one particular "runner-up" deck. A little while ago, I spotted a deck on eBay that was exactly that – just trumps and aces. So naturally, I bought it. 😊

Interestingly, I'm not getting The story from these cards; just a generic interpretation. Maybe we're just not on the same wavelength yet, but I do feel the crappy artwork is partly to blame. 🙄

Could be someone going into labour sooner than anticipated. Could be a season of growth ahead. Could be feeling the need to step back and let someone else take the wheel for a while. Could be time for a woman to move to another place…

If I add up the numbers of the cards, firstly, I see that the 2nd and 3rd cards add up to the 1st card. Make of that what you will. And adding them all together comes to 2 - the High Priestess, the card of secrets. Maybe I'm not supposed to know this week. 😉

I'll tell you what, though – I went looking for the first ace in the deck ('gissa clue) and it was three cards down. Those three cards have made me more confident that my first idea, labour, is The one. Assistance may be required.


This deck was published by the West Yorkshire Printing Company Ltd (when?) for "The Psychic Friends Network" of Lancashire, later known as Psychic Companions. The deck came to me with no box and no "identifying marks", so what little I know about it came for The World of Playing Cards website. I get the impression that this PFN is not connected to the American PFN of Dionne Warwick fame.

Random Reading - #55

A couple of weeks ago I used a deck that someone had commented on on Instagram. Well, guess what - someone commented on my OH Cards video the other day. It was a welcome reminder...

The pack consists of 88 "word" cards and 88 "picture" cards. 

Someone or something is going away, and this will leave a hole in your life. That could almost be a reflection in the train window... Maybe some part of you is going away. This, in turn, will change your social dynamics and you’ll feel you no longer fit in. Step away for now and actually spend some time on your own, doing things that soothe your soul.

Bottom cards – You’re probably not as alone as you think. When you’re ready, talk to someone, ideally someone who also has a connection to that which is leaving. Or talk to yourself – recall the good times, process the experience, find that place of acceptance.


OH Cards / OH Karten - Ely Raman, OH Publishing. There are quite a few "add-on" sets of picture cards, as well.
Available in the UK - pkp-balance.com (scroll to bottom for this version). Also available through Amazon and Book Depository.

Random Reading - #54

Continue to explore your options, don’t block your potential, don’t censor your ideas.

Just focus on the possibilities and keep going.

Earth Magic Oracle – Steven D Farmer, Hay House

Creative Cartomancy

“When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” (and variants thereof)

There’s a divinatory corollary –
When you’re a card reader, every pack of cards looks like a fortune teller. 😏

Which is why, when I saw this on eBay, I knew I had to buy it.

Cheers and Tear game cards, published by Waddingtons, © 1963.

It consists of 52 cards – 18 pairs of Cheers cards: “the things you like to do”, and 18 opposing Tears cards: “the things that stop you”.

Does that not sound like the makings of a great will I/won’t I, should I/shouldn’t I deck?!

My first thought was, “Should I remove the duplicate Cheers cards in order to have a 50/50 balance?” It seemed sensible but I was concerned that in practice the results would end up being too Teary.

I know, let’s ask the cards!

This first triplet is for “Leave in all the cards”, and it uses all the cards.

Two Cheers – I’ve happily created a new concept with this adorable deck I’ve just gotten. One Tears – Even with twice the “happy” cards, it’s still got a kick to it.

This line is for “Strip out the duplicates”, and has them removed.

And we have the same distribution – two Cheers and one Tears, and in the same order. This way is more challenging but sheds more light, just don’t overuse it. And in this line I’ve got the happy counterpart to the unhappy card which ended the previous triplet. This makes me view the previous line in more of a “You’re smiling now, but it’ll blow up in your face” sort of way.

On balance, stripping out the duplicates appears to be the way to go. I think I'm going to have fun with this. Not too much, though. 😉

Random Reading - #53

Yesterday I noticed that some kind soul had liked a number of my Instagram photos that featured the Vintage Botanical Oracle*. It reminded me how much I enjoyed using this deck. It creates very clear divinatory statements.

This is interesting because it can be taken a couple of ways, and certainly more if you see something I don’t.

First, it said to me –
» Get out there and do what you set out to do in order to keep people on your side. You don’t want them to lose interest because of your lack of initiative. «

And second, similar but from a different angle –
» Reinvigorate your friendships by making the time to get together for “coffee”, or whatever, like you used to. You need to stay in touch in order to keep the connection alive and well. «

In both cases, time is of the essence.

Another thing I just noticed is that all the plants represented are edible, including Coltsfoot. Consider that what you’re being advised to do is about sustaining yourself and others.


*Vintage Botanical Oracle, by Nicole Hanna of Points of Five Tarot. The 100(!) card images are freely available to download for self-printing. I used Printer’s Studio for my copy.
NB. It's recently been brought to my attention that the above link is no longer live. Fortunately, the Internet Archive has the following page saved. The Google Drive file containing all the images for easy download is no more, but this older page includes clickable card images to download individually -
https://web.archive.org/web/20180609102232/http://www.pointsoffivetarot.com/vintage-botanical-oracle-images.html

Random Reading - #52

A year’s worth of random readings. I’ve surprised myself that I’ve kept it up this long.

The Spirit of the Wheel* called to me today. I didn’t have a “spread” in mind, so I thought I’d just pull one card to start and see where it went from there.

First card pulled? 0 Medicine Wheel. “Put all other areas of your life on hold and journey to the centre of the wheel.”

I wasn’t sure whether to pull another card after that, so I checked the bottom card – Ducks Fly Moon: synchronicity, balance, certainty. Balance and certainty... Okay, one more card.

Ripe Berries Moon has just passed – July 23 to August 22. Perhaps things happened during that time that require a period of reflection now. The keywords Life Lessons, Victory and Courage suggest you went through a tough time but with introspection and processing you will gain from it.

Lots of birds in this card. Birds, for me, signify messages and thoughts.

Bottom card – Wisdom: Spirit Path of the East. East is the direction of beginnings. Use this time now to learn from the past and it will assist you in the future.


*Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck, by Linda Ewashina, with artwork by Jody Bergsma.

Random Reading - #51

Zolar’s Astrological Tarot Fortune-Telling Cards is a weird little number.

Advertised as an “Amazing and Amusing 4-in-1 Game”, it consists of just 56 cards. One side of the deck shows the 56 minor arcana of the Tarot. Turn the cards over, and on the other side you have the 22 major arcana, 32 astrological fortune-telling cards, and two blanks. Plus the minors are marked with playing cards suits, so you can use the deck for playing card readings. I wouldn't recommend it for card games because your opponent only has to memorise the backs and you've had it. 😉

On top of this, all the tarot cards display upright and reversed “meanings” that kind of give a nod to the standard meanings of the cards while giving them a very fortune-telling-ish spin. Similar to the meanings printed on the old Nile and Ramses fortune-telling playing cards.

Take, for example, the 5 of Cups - upright: Disappointment in marriage or an inheritance; reversed: News from an old friend. A new business proposition. Or the 4 of Swords - upright: Recovery from an illness. Improvement in personal affairs; reversed: Avoid arguments with associates. Economize on your daily expenditures.

So let’s read with it.

I’m going to go with minors for the main reading, and then reshuffle and pull a major for a commentary.

Apologies for the blurriness - click for a clear picture

Luckily, the major wasn’t on the reverse of one of the minors, so they all made it into the one photo. The Knight of Swords was a jumper. I don’t normally use reversals, but this deck calls for them.

» Watch out for the advances of a forceful young man with a “cunning plan”. He’s up to no good. Justice as the commentary indicates this is most likely in relation to a business or legal matter. Use good judgement. «

Random Reading Replacement Service 😏

The trouble with holidays is that there's SO MUCH TO DO when you get back. I'm still not caught up, plus I'm feeling a bit blah, so no RR today.

Instead, I invite you to watch my latest video - the first one I've done in over a year! (apart from a brief Public Service Announcment)

This is a video response to Kelly Bear's 2019 update, in which I talk about the 5 decks of cards I wouldn't be able to live without. I participated in this tarot tag when it first went around in 2016. My selection has changed, not because my tastes have changed, although they have, but because I'm basing my choices on different criteria this time.

Hopefully normal programming will resume next week.

RR 0 - 1 R&R

Rest and Relaxation beat Random Reading this week - I'm on holiday!!! 

I won't be back in front of my computer until the 15th.

Missing you already!

Random Reading - #50

I spend a whole week thinking I’m going to use a certain deck for this week’s RR, and then the day comes and I pick a different deck. Anyone would think I was fickle.

Clow Cards, a re-envisioning by Daniel of the magical cards from the anime series “Cardcaptor Sakura”.

Read from bottom to top -

Be sensitive in your relations with others this week, particularly those with whom you’ve had difficulties in the past. Pay attention to what they say, and respond appropriately and kindly. It will be to your benefit to take a chance on them.

Allow yourself to be flexible and generous. Set your emotions aside and deal fairly with them.

By changing your attitude, you can make a fresh start and enjoy more peaceful relations.

Random Reading - #49

No RR last week as the previous week's cold was still kicking my butt. And this morning I woke up feeling quite dizzy. Probably an inner ear issue as a result of the cold.

I really want to do a RR. But I’m not sure if I should…

(I figured I’d pull some cards and just see if I got gibberish. I didn't.)

You’re unable to make progress on your own. There is someone who sincerely has your best interest at heart and wants to help. You will succeed if you allow them to help you.

There’s also a strong indication of an impending marriage.


The deck is the Tarocco Indovino, designed by Sergio Ruffolo and published by Dal Negro. The meanings are heavily based on those published by Etteilla in 1785. I saw someone using this deck about a week ago, and I’ve been wanting to dust off my copy ever since. Etteilla-based decks are the only ones I read with reversals. None today, though.

Random Reading - #48

Hey hey! It’s Summer Cold time again!

I keeb sdneezig and mby doez won’d stob dribbig… So I’m just going to take it easy and use my BFF* today.

Slow down. You haven’t got a clear line of sight.
You’re making assumptions without having all the facts.
Take your expectations out of the equation and just let things play out.


*Morgan’s Tarot, aka the Hippy Tarot, created by Morgan Robbins, with illustrations by Darshan Chorpash, self-published in 1970.

This was the second deck I bought, way back when. I could see from the “Who am I?” card on the box that it wasn’t actually a “tarot”, but it intrigued me. And I quickly fell in love with its special brand of anarchic lunacy.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but this is the deck taught me how to use my intuition. No LWB. No meanings, no instructions. You just had to figure it out for yourself.

US Games Systems has reprinted it a couple of times since then - rightly so, in my opinion - so it’s still available if you’re intrigued too.

But, of course, they couldn’t leave well enough alone, so now it comes with a LWB chock-full of “mEaNiNgS”.

Me? I’d throw the book away.

Random Reading - #47

This wasn’t the deck I’d intended to use this week, but I wanted to try out a new spread. New to me that is, as it’s allegedly the oldest recorded Tarot spread*. As such, I thought it more appropriate to use an “ancient” deck.



This is someone in charge of a business, a project, a family.


It’s their responsibility to ensure a fair distribution of resources…


And restore harmony!…



Before moving forward with a new project.







*The “Comte de Mellet Spread”, based on an essay in the 8th volume of “Monde Primitif” by Antoine Court de Gébelin, published in 1781. CdM has been identified as Louis Raphaël Lucrèce de Fayolle, the Comte de Mellet (1727-1804).

Separate the trumps from the pips, and shuffle each pile well. Place both piles face down in front of you.

Now it get interesting, because you’ll be doing two different things at the same time - a bit like patting your head and rubbing your belly.

With one hand, turn over one pip card at a time while counting up from Ace to King. So as you turn the 1st card say “ace”, as you turn the 2nd card say “two”, and so on through the pack. Each time the number of the card you’ve just turned matches the number you’ve said, put that card off to the side. Then continue where you left off - once reaching King, starting again at Ace. Proceed in this way until the pip pile is exhausted.

With the other hand and at the same time as you turn each pip card, take one trump card and place it, still face down, in another pile. Whenever you have a pip that has matched the count, take the corresponding trump you’ve just picked up and place it to the side with that pip. These cards together will form a pair for your reading.

As there are more pips that trumps, once you reach the end of the trump pile, simply move the remainder of that pile over and continue as before until the pip pile is exhausted.

At the end of this process you may end up with no pairs, or a surprising number. If I ended up with no pairs I’d probably take that as a sign that I should reconsider my question. No fixed manner was given for interpreting the pairs, so interpret them as you wish.


Spanish Tarot, published by Fournier - a reproduction of an 18th century Liguria-Piedmontese deck.

Random Reading - #46

I’m in a mood to start pulling out random decks for the weekly RRs. (This could take some time. 😉)

First up, Paris Debono’s “Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards”.
I think I was drawn to the orange by the pot of Calendula I planted out this week.

Be cautious in your dealings with another person this week. They’re suspicious of your motives, so you’ll need to be patient and gently persuasive to gain their trust.

Bottom card “Angry Cat” reinforces the idea that this person is feeling defensive. Be careful what you say and how you say it.

Random Reading - #45

This week I’m using the new deck I mentioned last week. As they’re essentially the same deck illustrated by different artists (more on that after the RR), I thought I’d use the same “spread” for comparison.

Our “subject” is the Widower: a married, widowed or divorced man.

Favourable – Jealousy and Money:
Do not believe the negative gossip about your work situation…

Unfavourable – Game* and Judge:
Your colleagues are envious of your relationship with the boss

If you’re your own boss, it’s just a case of your success getting up other people’s noses. Don’t let it get to you. This could even point to your own negative self-talk when you compare your efforts to those you look up to. It has no foundation in truth.


*Notice the use of the “German” playing card suits – acorn, leaf, heart and bell – in the Game card. Their use spread to all areas that were once under German or Austrian control.

This deck, again just called “Vykládací Karty”, Reading Cards, was illustrated by Jiří Běhounek, a Czech illustrator and painter, and appears to have been published in 1960 (a good year 🙄). Both this and the Tesař deck I used last week were published by Obchodní tiskárny Kolin (now OTK Group) of Prague. Both decks contain 36 cards, all but six of which match those of the, also Central European, “Zigeuner” decks.

Interestingly, the titles on the Tesař deck are in Czech (as well as German, French and English), whereas on this deck they're in Slovak.

Běhounek was mainly known for his book illustrations, and his style here is gentler and more whimsical than the gritty “cubist linocut” approach of Tesař the graphic designer.

And I love them both. 💕

Random Reading - #44

I’m waiting in breathless anticipation for the arrival of another 1960s Czech fortune-telling deck (woot!), so in the meantime I’m giving this one an airing – simply called “Vykládací Karty” or Reading Cards, with artwork by Czech painter and graphic designer Vladimír Tesař*.

The instructions say to read the deck as a tableau, but for this RR I’ve chosen to use a 'fragment' in the manner described – the centre card is the “person”, the top and left-hand cards are favourable, the right-hand and bottom cards, unfavourable.

Our “person” is the Judge: someone concerned about their career.

Favourable - Trouble (a better translation would be Annoyance; the leaflet calls it Quarrel) and Luck:
Be patient, outstanding employment results are coming

Unfavourable -Temptation and Fidelity (Faithfulness in the leaflet):
You may be out of pocket due to misplaced trust


*The original printing, with titles in Czech only, was published in 1967, but I believe my four-language copy is from 1970.

Random Reading - #43

Another one of those days when I came to do the RR with no plan in mind, and just looked around my collection until a deck caught my eye. 😏

That deck turned out to be Madame Legna’s Fortune Telling Cards. In this deck, Change is essentially Clubs, Love is obviously Hearts, and Money is Diamonds (Fate = Spades) .

Nice to see a “short time period” card in a reading that is, in theory, for the week ahead.

» I sense some disruption in the home this week, caused by the actions of a man whose intentions are good, but who acts in an unexpected or impulsive manner. Don’t get rattled, things will settle down nicely. «


Why am I putting a negative spin on what, based on the keywords, looks a pleasant enough bunch of cards? Because of the decreasing Change sequence, 7-4-3, with another "person" Change card ending the line. Lots of change instigated by someone else is likely to be unsettling. So I based my interpretation on that assumption, plus a bit of personal numerology.


Madame Legna’s Fortune Telling Cards, published by “Madame Legna”, London, 1997
These decks occasionally appear for sale on eBay.

Random Reading - #42

Did you miss me? 🙂

No RR last weekend as we were away, and the weekend before that I was too busy.

To make up for it, this week I’m trying something a bit different. I’m doing a separate reading for each of the zodiac sign elements, pulling the cards either side of the Ace associated with each element.

As with all random readings, they can’t possibly apply to everyone, but maybe the one for your sun sign will speak to you. Click on the photos to see them full-size.

Medieval Scapini Tarot - US Games Systems

Aries, Leo, Sagittarius (fire)

You’ve given it your best, you’ve done all you can. Rest assured you will now be rewarded for your efforts. And for you Catholics/religious syncretists, a few Hail Marys wouldn’t hurt.

Herbal Tarot - US Games Systems

Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn (earth)

You’re going to be running the gamut of emotions this week. But it’s all good. Could signal a long-awaited peace offering, or a new/re-kindled sexual relationship.

El Gran Tarot Esoterico - Fournier

.


Gemini, Libra, Aquarius (air)

You may find yourself bumping up against some opposition within your relationships this week. Arguments in the home. Indecision regarding your personal aspirations.

BTW, did you know that air is represented by Cups in this deck, and water by Swords? But as I’m just using it as a marker, and to keep it in line with the rest of the readings, I went with the Sword.

Deviant Moon Tarot - US Games Systems

.
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces (water)

Gird your loins, you’re in for a trying week. This calls for a peek at the bottom card...
You may find yourself having to deal with someone or something that just won’t budge. Don’t give in to frustration. Just keep your eyes open for a way around ‘it’.





PS. Before anyone else points it out, 😉 yes, I did misread the Deviant Moon 6W as a 7W. But that's what I saw, so that's what I'm going with. To be honest, there's not a lot of difference in it - You're going to struggle to meet other people's expectations this week. What worked before is not going to work now.

Random Reading - #41

Just a reading today. No preamble.

Well, apart from… that, of course, but...

Ahem...

That garden you’re planning? Give the plants plenty of space, don’t over-water, mulch them in well and give them a good dose of fertiliser.

Too specific? Okay -
You’re over-controlling. Your fixed ideas are stifling the possibilities. Try a new approach.


Der Lombardische Tarot - a Lombardy-type Tarot reproduction by Peter Ortmann, published by Falken Taschenbuch

Random Reading - #40

I’m in a Horoscope Belline mood today. Probably to counteract our dreary, drizzly weather with a welcome splash of colour.

The cards were very jumpy today. Even before I started shuffling in earnest I had cards flipping out of the deck. I told the deck to knock it off as I began the “tuning in” shuffle. Ha! Out jumped the Devil, followed shortly thereafter by Protection. After that, the deck settled down. Not to be argued with, I guess.

So, the main theme is protection from evil influences.

As the next card is Support, we can assume that, rather than this being a case of protecting yourself, someone will act to protect you (it’s also #40, the same as this post 🤔). Chance tells us there is an opportunity, or perhaps a risk, and Celebrity refers to your “fame” or good name.

In this deck, for me the Devil usually represents internal or personal negative influences, rather than external (which would be the Dragon or the Witch). So I initially read this as protecting yourself from your own bad habits or attitudes. But, having completed my initial assessment of the cards, things weren’t adding up. So I turned the bottom card - and there she was.

»» Expect a family member or friend to have to stand up for you this week to protect your reputation against someone bent on defaming you. The defamer is likely to attempt to keep their identity well hidden. ««

Horoscope Belline - Grimaud

Link: Wandering Oracle - How to Read Cards

How to Read Cards - blog post by Jorge Cuaik of Wandering Oracle

Little White Blur (J Cuaik)

"In general I don’t support the LWB culture, as I’m not a follower of the Esoteric Tarot lore which is reproduced in most of these tiny texts (and most Tarot books for that matter). In fact I think it’s a trap. You start with a Celtic cross and some “meanings” then move on to the Kabbalah, Golden Dawn, Alchemy, Theosophy, etc. to try to make sense of it.
While your cards sit in the drawer and my grandmother reads coffee muck." [emphasis theirs]

THIS! OMG, this!

I started out 40 years ago with a RWS and any book I could find at the library. Uff, "Esoteric Tarot" nearly killed the whole thing for me.

It wasn't until I learned cartomancy that I realised I'd been brainwashed. Now me and Tarot get on just fine, thank you, and most of the stuff I choose to read I consider to be, as Jorge says, "for entertainment purposes only".

How I've Been Spending My Involuntary Vacation

Halfway through my 2nd week of unemployment.

No lying in. I’ve been getting up with hubby every morning at 6:30, getting properly dressed (no trackies and fluffy slippers), sorting out the cat, having breakfast and then setting about Being Productive™ for 5 hours (I used to work 5½).

Being productive amounts to listing things on eBay, doing readings and sharing a few promotional posts on social media (gotta advertise – the 3 people who read this blog aren’t going to keep me afloat 😉).

I feel like I must do this offset the fact that I’m just not ready to look for work yet. If I’m not actively job hunting then I’m not permitted to sit around taking it easy.

I’d finished “work” for today and was having a bite to eat when I got the urge to grab my homemade ‘focus’ cards (à la Cosmic Spirit Tarot). I pulled a card for “something I need to know/do” and another for “something I’m avoiding knowing/doing”.

So naturally, the cards get cute and do a switch on me.

But it’s very telling. I’m going about things arse about face. I need to stop watering down my life with an enforced “work ethic” and, instead, get out and enjoy myself while I have the opportunity.

I’m home every day and I don’t have to do anything. How often have I dreamt of that?! I could do with spending more time with my poor neglected husband for a start. And I don’t know how long this unplanned holiday is going to last. I might buck up soon, hit the Job Centre and suddenly find myself back in harness before I can blink.

Yes, it makes perfect sense. So, will I cut myself some slack? I don’t know, maybe. I’ve never been very good at taking advice, even if the advisers are adorable*.


*Tarot Mondo Lirondo - Iván Saiz Gutiérrez, self-published 2011. Available from Museo del Tarot.

Random Reading - #39

Digging out Madame Dora’s cards last week reminded me of my Madame Endora’s Fortune Cards…

I notice that the central “triangle” of cards all carry circular motifs, and two, The Mystic Circle and The Talisman, belong to the Treasury group - “… mystical treasures that will aid you in the attainment of your goals…”.

Now is the time to focus on your plans. You are safe to follow your heart. Make the necessary changes and push through.

Flanked by Medusa and The Gryphon – Don’t compare your efforts/ ideas/ dreams to others’ or take their criticisms to heart. Just get on with the work at hand and make it your own.


Madame Endora's Fortune Cards - artwork by Christine Filipak and Joseph Vargo, published by Monolith Graphics

Negotiating the Wheel of Fortune

In my last Random Reading post I mentioned that I was feeling a bit fragile, but I didn't elaborate. Well, it's like this...

Tarot Pointner

Everything shifted for me last year when I stopped thinking of myself as an "Administrative assistant who enjoyed reading cards", and instead adopted an "I'm a card reader with an office job" mindset.

I've really grown into that new perspective. It's changed how I approach card reading and opened up new opportunities for me.

And it's a good thing, too, because now, unintentionally, "I'm a card reader, full stop".

Mr Boss has decided he's ready to retire. He's winding down the business and has let his staff (all two of us) go.

Thirteen years. It doesn't feel like it. But it does entitle me to 19½ weeks redundancy pay, so that's nice. And that gives me a chance to catch my breath before I have to seriously start thinking about finding another job.

That's where the fragility comes in. The whole process of "job hunting" fills me with dread.

Tarot for Cats

Having to sign on for Jobseeker's Allowance - not so much for the piddling amount of money, but so that I continue to earn National Insurance credits which count towards my eventual pension (which is 9 years off yet, damn).

Then fulfilling the "actively seeking employment" clause by basically having to apply for any and every job going, however unsuitable.

And then, and this is the bit that's slaying me, the horrifying prospect of actually being offered [shudder] an interview. Hide me!


Could I get by just on "I'm a card reader"? Oh, I'm working on it! Especially if it spares me the nightmare of an interview. But really, making even a part-time living from card reading alone is still a long way off.

One small positive in all of this, though, is that I don't feel entirely 'unemployed'. I have a job. I'm a card reader. I'm just gonna need a second job for a while, that's all. 😏

Random Reading - #38

I’m feeling a bit fragile at the moment (more on that another time perhaps), so I thought maybe a dose of Madame Dora’s practical advice would do me us some good this week.

I wasn’t sure though, so I pulled one card to check.

“Take time to whine.”

Okaaay...

You have permission to feel all the feels this week. Don't try to explain your emotions to other people. You can’t always explain them to yourself. Be gentle with yourself – it will pass.

Madame Dora’s Fortune-Telling Cards – Lynn Lott, Rick Maynard, Jane Nelsen

Free Reading - for Nikki 31Mar19

Because this is for practice, for this reading I’m using the Pages of Shustah "Triad Spread" in the manner described by the authors. Card #1 is the Premise, directly linked to the question; #2 is the Problem (obstacle) or Situation (solution/ guidance); #3 is the Result. For each position, the card’s Title, Colour and Instrument (inner meaning) should be considered.

Your question – “Where is my relationship headed? My instincts are telling me something that my friends and loved ones disagree with and I'd like guidance from the cards please!”

Pages of Shustah - Ann Manser and Cecil North

The Premise –
Title – The Lord of Benevolence; Colour – Blue: benignancy, serenity and constructive endeavour; Instrument – the card of Blessing and Mercy.

The Lord of Benevolence, being the highest card (no.14) of the Blue suit, tells us that the relationship is good and sound. You are content.

The Problem or Situation –
Title – The Labyrinth; Colour – Yellow: creativity, gain and spiritual awareness; Instrument – the card of secrets.

Perhaps your friends and loved ones express concern about the relationship because they don’t know your partner very well. If the bond between you is quite strong, as the first card suggests, you may appear to have withdrawn from them, which will cause alarm. This card also speaks of changing focus and changing values. Maybe they’re worried by how you appear to have “changed”.

The Result –
Title – The Card of the Water Bearer; Colour – Black: represents people or qualities; Instrument – corresponding to the characteristics of Aquarius.

If this were a live reading I’d ask if anyone involved – you, your partner, outside influencers – is, in fact, an Aquarius. Generally, it speaks of sudden and unexpected change, and difficulties in one-to-one relationships. It relates to a time period of late January to late February. Did anything come to a head recently?

I share Madame Seaqueen’s opinion that the first card shows the overall energy of the reading, with the final card serving to support or modify that energy.

So, where is this relationship headed? With this Blue card, and no Red cards of adversity present, it looks to be remaining quite stable and happy. The changes referred to by the next two cards may relate to how this relationship will be perceived by others going forward. It seems you can try to improve that perception by seeing it from their perspective, as well as being more transparent about your feelings – but it won’t be easy.

Freebie Friday - #7

*** TAKEN *** 

Check back for more freebie offers 

or visit Judy Reads Cards - for free! (Facebook)

Pages of Shustah is a strange deck, with its quirky-cute images in stark primary colours, and its unusual background and concept. Plus it wasn't easy to get a hold of a copy, so I really ought to use it more.

On that note, I would like to get in a bit of practice with it, so if you don't mind being a guinea pig...

The first person to leave a comment* on this post will receive a free card reading**.

* Please comment with your question. You must be 18 or older, and not have had a reading here in the past 90 days.

** I will pull 3 cards for your question and post the reading here on the blog. In addition, I'll take one follow-up question about the reading. I reserve the right to decline a request without explanation.


I bought my copy in 2015, direct from Temple of the Living God's Miracles Bookstore. It's also listed by Morning Light Bookstore but I don't know if that's up-to-date.

Random Reading - #37

Paris Debono gets a fair bit of stick around the cartomancy community. I don't really get why. Yes, he has a somewhat outrageous personality and doesn't mind having a laugh and a joke. And yes, he does rather churn out the decks and isn't shy about promoting them.

But he's a damn good reader, he's very generous with his knowledge and his time, and the decks he produces are generally attractive, unique, and useful.

I mention all this because I was looking around my collection today to see what I wanted to work with and decided on this little number -
Paris Debono's "Gypsy Tattoo Mongrel Deck". 😁
Yep, it is a bit of a hybrid, but it works.

» If you want to improve your health and well-being, stop lying to yourself.
You know what you're doing, I don't need to elaborate. Just get real. «


This is one of the very few decks I read with reversals, because of the differing playing cards suits in the corners and the effect it has on facings. I love this aspect of it, as well as the art, and the fact that it has repeats of some cards with opposing facings and different suit combos.

But I only discovered all of that once I had it.

I bought it because it had this card...

How useful is that, right?! 😂

Vincent Pitisci - "How to use the three card Tarot spread"

Despite a 3-card spread being my "go to" for quick tarot readings (or perhaps because of it), it's always bugged me that
a) the general consensus seems to be that any 3-card reading IS "Past, Present, Future", and
b) it gets used that way regardless of the question being asked.

Because of this, I've always regarded "Past, Present, Future" (PPF) as unimaginative and pointless, and I never use it.

Enter Vincent Pitisci and his latest video, "How to use the three card Tarot spread".

Now I rate VP, so if he has something to say about it, I'm going to listen.

While he suggests a few different sets of meanings for the three positions, he tackles PPF in depth. And his take on each position is a revelation - an approach far more practical than I'd ever considered.

"A lot of people look at the past, present and future and they're thinking, 'Well this is just the past and I don't care about that; this is the present, I don't care about that; I want to know what's going to happen here'."

Guilty as charged. ✋

Instead -

"... When we look at the Past, we're not just looking at what happened in the past [emphasis mine]. We can put a card in the Past position to give us ideas on what we've gained as far as experience or something else in the past that will help us with this situation. What has happened in the past that will help us as we move forward with what we're trying to accomplish? We're looking back at the past in relation to this question in some way that it will help us."

Same with Present and Future, but I'll leave you to explore the video yourself for those.

You're still going to wind me up if you use PPF for every question. 😉 But I can see now how it could be useful for some questions.

Lisa Boswell tells it like it is 😎

Earlier today, Lisa Boswell of Divination and Fortune-Telling shared a link to an article she'd posted back in December. I had read and enjoyed it at the time, and reminded of it today, I happily read it again. It's worth sharing.

What Your Tarot Reader Wants to Say (But Doesn't) 🙄😏