Heads up! Blog recommendation

I have just discovered a wonderful blog: The Uncrossed Path

If you're into capital-F capital-T Fortune Telling, this blog is for you!

Here's a couple of my favourite observations so far (I'm working my way back through their posts), to give you a feel -

"... [G]eneral readings can be useful, but only up to a point. They provide a landscape, not a verdict. You’ll see where the ground might shift, where something may knock at your door - but you won’t get far if you don’t know what you’re actually looking for... If someone sits in front of a fortuneteller expecting Delphic proclamations without knowing what they want, or without the courage to ask, well, good luck with that."

"Social media 'experts'... constantly reassure us not to fear the Death card: 'Don’t worry, it means change is coming…' And that’s when I die a little inside. Yes, my dears, it means change is coming—if by 'change' you mean the transition from living to no longer living... What might come after is a separate matter entirely..."

This, and their post about card meanings and common sense, reminds me of one of my favourite quotes from Andy Boroveshengra - "The cards are never something else before they are themselves."

Print/Save and keep close

A mojo/talisman for you. ❤️

Be safe, be well, be happy.

The Ace of Diamonds from Portable Fortitude Cards, by Corina Dross (2018)

 

Significators!

I did my first reading for someone else today since [checks notes...] November of last year! It flowed. Nice to know we (Spirit Team and me) haven’t lost our touch. 😁

It felt great to have a reason to read again, but I’m going to continue to keep a low profile. I prefer to scroll through sites* that offer free readings and be drawn to particular requests. 

Today’s experience did remind me, though, of something I’d like to share -

It reconfirmed the value of a change I’ve made to my reading process over the past year or so. I now select a card as a significator for the focus of the reading, be that a person or an area of enquiry. The card serves as a magickal proxy, much like a poppet, and helps to draw in the energy of situation. 

For years I balked at the idea of taking a card “out of play” to serve as a significator. Plus I didn’t really see the point. Now I appreciate the ‘sympathetic magick’ aspect and I’m finding it does make a difference. Besides, for cards meant to represent a person, I usually take one from another deck, most often my playing cards, so there’s no loss from the reading deck anyway.

If you don’t do this already, try it and see if it does anything for you.

*Not Facebook anymore. I haven’t deleted my account (yet); I’ve simply stopped participating in social media generally. (That’s another thing I can recommend.)

Pattern Recognition

This is how I read. I've struggled to get this idea across. Cynthia Giles - Tarot | An Exploration Project - on the other hand, has done a much better job.

12.31.23  On the cusp of a new year . . .

Anyway . . . that started me thinking about pattern recognition, which I believe is the most important element in the art of Tarot divination (emphasis mine). And though you can look up a card meaning, there’s no Little White Book for pattern recognition.

Yes, a spread or layout is a pattern—but it’s a pattern chosen by the reader. And it’s meaningless without the Tarot cards themselves. A Celtic Cross laid out with pieces of blank pasteboard doesn’t convey any information.

Once a deck of Tarot cards is shuffled, then laid down in whatever arrangement, a meaningful pattern emerges. But it can just lay there, unnoticed, unless the reader is looking for it, and able to recognize it.

There might be one big pattern in a reading, or there may be many patterns. If many, they might be separate, or connected, or overlapping. So there’s a lot involved in identifying not only the patterns but their relationships and levels of energy.

 

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

Why I Read For Other People

The Spiritual Path I have taken through life has led me to be a card reader (and witch).

Not a yoga instructor, not a medium, not a reiki practitioner. 

A card reader. 

Therefore, to honour my Path, I must read cards.

I’m compelled by Spirit to read for others. But I’m not going to read for every person who knocks at my metaphorical door. 

Some people are led to me by Spirit. Some just find me. I’m shown which is which and I’ll read for the former. Some readers may define it differently, but this is what I mean when I say I’m “drawn" to read for someone.

I think it’s fair to say that I don’t see this as a personal “service to mankind”. I am not a Light Worker. It’s not my show.

I read because it’s my Spiritual Calling and I go where Spirit sends me.

Seasons Tune: Ad Astra (blog) - link

On the variations in meanings inherent in all card systems, and how and why we should find our own way. 

Seasons Tune: Ad Astra (blog post)

Random Reading - #110

I feel my playing cards need an airing. But something a little different this time – a Chien de Pique ("Dog of Spades"), so named for the dog that used to accompany the Jack of Spades in old playing cards. 

Andy Boroveshengra explains the spread here: Seven Days with the Dog of Spades (archived). 

The meanings I use differ slightly, so my master cards are Ace of Hearts for 'home', 10 of Hearts for 'social life', 10 of Spades for 'work', and Ace of Spades for 'surprise'. And my signifiers are, as always, the King and Queen of Hearts. I'll be reading today for whichever turns up first... 

Queen it is!

⁘  Signifier - Our "female" subject won’t be in a good state of mind this week.

Social Life – She'll be invited out, though. Possibly a day out with her best friend (to take her mind off her troubles?), or somewhere fancy where she can glam up and be spoiled.

Surprise – Some minor worry that she wasn't expecting, but it will soon pass.

Work and Home came out together – Working from home, or work on the home.  ⁘

For more details, you can fan the remaining cards and pull one for each pair.

⁘  Our subject's bad mood is prompted by a letter or paperwork she'll receive*. 

The socializing involves a love interest or the hope of meeting one. Maybe her BFF will set her up with someone.

The worry concerns a man she cares about and could be an illness or accident. But still, the 8♣ tells us it won't be as bad as it seems.

The 8♦ as a "business" card reinforces working at home rather than working on the home. The "change" aspect could indicate that this may be starting or ending, or at least that there'll be a change to the normal routine. "Business news", i.e. news about her job or similar activities, could be the subject of that troublesome letter.  ⁘

If all of this turns out to actually describe your week, please do let me know. 😁

*Why do I not see this as her sending a poison pen letter? Because I'd expect to see the Q♣ at the Q♥' back, influencing her. Here it comes after the significator, suggesting a reaction.

deck used: ASS Altenburger Skat cards (French-suited)

Random Reading - #103

I've had the blahs for the past few days. Wasn't sure I wanted to do this today. Looked around my desk for inspiration and saw the Gypsy Tattoo Mongrel deck (by Paris Debono, sadly not currently listed in his shop).

Asked it if I should do the thing. Wheel + Ring*. I should do the thing. 

⁛ Something is weighing heavily on the woman's heart.

She's heard gossip that her man has feelings for someone else, but it's all lies. She is his queen. ⁛

We've got the Man and Woman Hearts in this reading, so basically, the feelings of  'a couple'. Feel free to ignore gender and decide for yourself who's who.

*Movement/opportunity + commitment.

Random Reading - #90

Somewhere in my recent internet travels, I came across a mention of this book –

La Cartomancie - L'art de découvrir l'avenir par les cartes et les tarots
par Mme Zezina

"Cartomancy -  The art of discovering the future through cards and tarot
by Madame Zezina"

Originally published by Bornemann, Paris, in the 30s or 40s, this one is a 1970 edition printed in 1984. 

The book appeared to contain some interesting spreads, and while I'm not generally one for using spreads with playing cards, it was cheap enough 😏 so I thought I'd get it just to check them out and maybe give some a go. 

And so, here is L'Etoile, The Star. With the seeker's significator in the centre (I've used both my male and female significators for this reading) the positions are 1 | top: thoughts/hopes; 2 | left: immediate future; 3 | right: later future; 4 | bottom: surprise, the unexpected. 

⁛ Your thoughts revolve around dealings with a professional person – a doctor, solicitor, someone in an official capacity.

Your immediate future looks to be improving materially and/or physically, and we can relate this improvement to whatever official business is on your mind. And we see this increase from 9♦ to 10♦ going forward - definite profit or benefit for you; things really looking up. 

There will be some unexpected event involving your home or family. Seeing as this reading is quite positive, I have no reason to feel this will be a "bad" surprise. And again, it will be related in some way to the above.

The author's instructions tell us to also look for cards of the same value, of which there are none this time, and to read for the combinations formed by positions 2 and 3 with the significator (not only are there combination meanings for cards to the left or right of a particular suit or card, but also for ones before, after or between certain pairs of cards!).

9♦ to the left of a ♥ = broken engagement
10♦ to the right of a ♥ = honeymoon

Kind of an odd combo, and bear in mind that these are based on the author's core meanings, not mine, but I suggest that something which has been negatively anticipated will be cancelled, resulting in a period of contentment and happiness. ⁛

And there you go. It was fun to work within the constraints of a more structured reading for a change. It did rather stifle any intuition regarding what exactly it's all about, but whatever it is 😁 it's going to turn out well. 

And in case you're wondering, “les tarots” referred to in the book's title is specifically the Grand Etteilla (I). If you click on the book picture and zoom in, you can see some of the trump cards from that deck. This is also of interest to me because the same Etteilla meanings apply to my Book of Thoth Etteilla (III) and, just as with the playing cards, the author gives many examples of combination meanings based on whether a card lays before or after a particular other card. Probably way too complicated for me to actually try to work with in any practical way, i.e. without having to constantly refer to the book, but I'm curious to see what they're like. Maybe one or two will be worth committing to memory. 🙂

There are tarot spreads as well, but they are way too big for me. The smallest uses 24 cards, and the largest 67! And I'm willing to bet, though I haven't translated it yet, that the remaining 11 cards don't just sit there doing nothing.

Random Reading - #70

My friend Raven Coyne has published an excellent book on reading playing cards – Cartomancy: What You Need To Know - suitable for those dipping their toe for the first time, to seasoned readers considering going pro.

I'm using Raven's own 6-Card Spread today. In briefest terms ('coz I want you to buy his book to find out more 😉), the two card on the left are the question, the remaining two on top are the state, and the last two on the bottom are the answer.

⁛ You're looking for an improvement in a situation which rests on the advice or actions of a man you look up to and respect. You feel you've messed up somehow and that your position is shaky, and you're reaching out for some words of support and encouragement. Rest assured, this man will be helpful and will get you going again with renewed confidence. ⁛


Skatkarten - German playing cards - 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A only (32 cards). This version is published by ASS Altenburger.

Random Reading - #64

My Skat deck is long overdue for an airing here…

First thought - Someone (Q♥: likely female) is going to complete on the home of their dreams this week/soon.

A 'straighter' interpretation would be that you will receive notification of a loved one coming home.

There is an indication of illness around this event. Falling ill is, unfortunately, the sort of thing that happens when you’ve got something major going on in your life. And the person’s motivation for coming home could be illness, theirs or yours. In either case, it’s just an aspect to be aware of – it doesn’t take away from the fact that this will be seen as a happy time.

Skatkarten - German playing cards - 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A only (32 cards). This version is published by ASS Altenburger.