Today’s Energy is one of wanting to hide away and not think about “it”. The Challenge is: I still have to do all the mundane stuff but, Gift: it will go quickly.
Spread: Plan the Day, from “Tarot Zine 01 – Everyday Spreads” by Tarot Magpie, available on Etsy.
deck: Hayworth Tarot
The Issue -
Root: I'm fed up with not having the supportive real-life tarot friendship I crave...
Solar Plexus: but it's in my nature not to put myself out there socially.
The Fix -
Crown: I need to rekindle my connection with Spirit...
Third Eye: because I've been neglectful of this constant and caring support system.
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I pulled one card just for a "weather report". Of course, the theme took me back to last week's post. So I pulled the rest for "Okay, what do I about it?"
This is the second time recently that I've had it pointed out to me that I'm not spending enough time with Spirit. I think it's time I listened.
deck: Feel Your Chakras Oracle by Andi Taylor
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| Click on image to go to Shonna's post |
I have been resisting working with my cards. I'd like to know why and how I can push through the resistance.
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| Eva's Tarot (Таро Евы) by Eva Aus |
What am I trying to do? I know what I'm trying to do, so I see this card as my motivation -
4 of Coins: I'm trying to grasp what's precious to me. My connection with the cards - hold it, feel it, claim it. Grandfather clock: time is my most precious commodity, and I always feel it slipping away.
What am I afraid of?
Knight of Swords: Being too analytical, too cerebral in my approach. All I'm doing lately is translating LWBs, collating meanings and thinking about reading. I'm not actually doing any reading.
How am I resisting?
4 of Cups: I'm doing nothing. Just sitting around feeling dissatisfied, distracted, frustrated. I contemplate but do nothing.
What attitude will help me get started?
4 of Wands: Celebrate where I am now, even if there's more to be done. Enjoyment, appreciation. Take a break from the mental and spend some time on spiritual. 4 + Wands: stable action.
What first step can I take?
Ace of Wands: Start the Thing!
What do I have to look forward to?
5 of Cups: Oh!? Isolation? Loss? 5 + Coins: disrupted habits. Moving from 4 coins to 5 coins is progress, I guess. Maybe I'm trying to hang onto outmoded forms/ideas and progress means the loss of those things. She is praying: connecting with Spirit.
Interesting that the two "action" positions are both Wands.
How is it I've never used this pretty deck for an RR?
⁘ You're ready to open your heart again and take cautious steps towards making your dreams a reality. ⁘
Kamienie wróżą, "Gemstones Oracle" (or "Stones Predict the Future"), by Edyta Hedger, published by Dosłońce, Kraków (2008).
I did a search before posting to see if the deck was still available. I found only one source that appears to have decks for sale but I'm dubious about the genuineness of the site. I have found copies on eBay in the past. There was also a boxed edition that came with a book rather than just a LWB, entitled Kamienie mówią, "The Stones Speak" (2007).
Each card shows the name of its gemstone and a single keyword in Polish. I chose to write the translations on the cards (in the appropriate colours 🙂) to make life easier.
There are six "suits" of gemstones –
Clear & White
Blue & Purple
Yellow Orange & Brown
Green
Pink & Red
Black & Grey
The cards in each suit are ranked. From the LWB -
"Number One is a kind of 'ace', stones numbered as One are the ones
of purest vibration in each group.
Number Two signifies division and movement.
Number Three stands for synthesis and spirituality.
Number Four indicates matter and Earth.
Number Five represents excellence and human being.
Number Six marks balance and intuition.
Number Seven states fulfilment and a full circle."
The artwork of this deck* fills me with joy. 😊
World – Judgement – Ace of Wands
⁘ One phase is successfully completed. Take pride in your achievements and use the experience you've gained to start the next phase. Exciting and inspiring times ahead. 🔥💖 ⁘
*deck used: Pyccкoe Tapo, "Russian Tarot", published by Vektor 2013
The Primordial Tarot was mentioned in despatches recently over on Tarot, Tea & Me, bumping it to the head of the list for today's RR. 🙂
3 Mask of Blood
Stone of Nature – 14 Man of Blood – 2 Age of Jewels
XII Sacrifice
Another point of view
Balance – Arrogance – Understanding and learning
Detachment from the material; the search for balance;
temporariness
⁘ Two cards, "sandwiching" the reading, advocating a change of perspective (3 Blood, XII). Two cards advocating balance (5 Nature, XII).
Don't assume you're absolutely right or that you know more about the situation than they do. Take a step back, listen, and try to see things from their perspective.
Being right is not the answer at this time. Finding common ground is. ⁘
deck used: Primordial Tarot, art by Sergio Toppi, published by Lo Scarabeo 2020
A day late; hopefully not a dollar short. 😉
Actually, I'm several dollars short after purchasing this little lovely, but I think she's worth it. Details after the reading, for those interested.
⁘ Don't spend your sick pay/stimulus check/compensation on a holiday. That money will be needed for something else. ⁘
Le Devin, "The Soothsayer", by J P Broche, published by Heron France c1988. A fortune telling deck of 54 cards, including His & Hers consultant cards, with upright and reversed meanings.
It has a lot of the usual meanings, but also a few physical descriptions of individuals - dark man, fair woman, that sort of thing. And some quite specific situations – bank or administration problem, invitation to the country, tense atmosphere, etc.
One card I was surprised (appropriate!) and delighted to see was Le chien de pique, "The dog of spades". Coming from playing card tradition (see Random Reading - #110 for an example), this card usually represents a surprise or something that happens suddenly or rapidly.
What's perhaps not so delightful, but rather endearing, are all the spelling mistakes in the English translations. Judging by the two cards on top, it seems they had a particular problem with mistaking "Fs" for "Ss". 😂
(Click photo to see a larger image)
One of the rabbit holes I explored recently led me to Waldfee.net. I found an interesting 3x3 variation there, which I'm going to use for this week's RR. My interpretation of the spread (the site is in German) follows the reading, for those who are interested.
⁘ Bottom row – The answer:
In order to maintain your reputation and influence you need to tap into your "feminine" side – empathy, nurture, receptiveness. (Yes, highly sexist, but you have to work with the cards you've got. Pretend this card is "Yin" if that helps.)
Middle row – Details:
Relying on strict discipline provides only short-term advantage. You can't keep that up…
Top row – Outcome:
… Otherwise you won't get anywhere with others.
Summary – What you're hoping to achieve requires that you stop being a control freak and start listening to others, or they won't stick around. ⁘
Waldfee's (Uta Dittrich) Individual Questions or 9-Way Spread
Shuffle and cut the pack into 3 roughly equal piles. Turn the piles over so that the cards are face up on top
Place the top card of each pile - cards 1, 2, and 3 - across in a row [note that these cards are all "the cut", so the cut provides the answer]
Place the second card of each pile - cards 4, 5, and 6 - in a row above the first row
Place the bottom (not third) card of each pile - cards 7, 8, and 9 - in a row above the second row
The first column gives further explanations and information on card 1
The second column gives further explanations and information on card 2
The third column gives further explanations and information on card 3
Pay special attention to card 5, the middle card, as it is the focal point of the statements, i.e. the main topic
deck used: Petite Clé Lenormand, by Maximilian Eggstein (https://www.librairie-invisible.de/petite-cle/)
As part of a discussion over on the Tarot Forum the other day, about reading majors-only Tarots, I happened to mention that I had a deck that consisted of only 12 cards. One thing led to another, and here we are. 🙂
Because this tiny layout is so Near/Far dependent, I decided ahead of time that I'd read for whichever significator was the least centrally-located. And the Lady obligingly appeared in the very first position.
⁘ The main cards in play are Snake, Letter, and Gentleman. The Lady has received a Letter (communication) from the Gentleman (a person she has a connection with; with so few cards and no context, I have to allow for any gender) that will cause trouble – Snake touching Clouds.
The Gentleman is under Snake – not to be trusted, and over Book – they're hiding something.
Even though the Heart is next to the Gentleman, it's under Clouds' influence. And the "saving grace" card, Flames, is the furthest from the Lady it can be.
Summary – Don't believe everything you hear. You're not getting all the facts. ⁘
I could go deeper, with rows, columns, diagonals…, but that would be the whole spread. So I'll stick with those immediately Near the Significator, Clouds (always look for where the Clouds are), and those around the other "person" card only if it's near the Significator.
As for Clouds, I choose to ignore "when near… means luck". Clouds are never lucky, sorry. And because the image is pretty evenly dark, I've designated left as the "dark" side.
One small clue, spotted by someone more observant than myself (thank you, M) is that the Hand in Hand card refers to Rocks. As there is no Rocks card, it would seem to imply that this deck is actually an abridged version of a larger one. I know decks with Mountain cards, but not Rocks. So...?
As ever, if you know more about this deck, or you recognise the images from somewhere else, or you know the source of a Rocks card, please tell all!
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)
This week I find myself the very happy owner of a beautiful Petite Clé ("Little Key") Lenormand, thanks to the kind generosity of its creator, Maximilian Eggstein.
I'm smitten with the art style and the colouring, the use of German suits for the insets, and the individual and appropriate "personalities" of the face cards. Even the backs are gorgeous. Standard Lenormand size with a linen-finish that shuffles and fans like a dream.
Now let's put it to work.
⁘ Someone is casting aspersions on the Woman (you or a woman significant to you) in order to cause difficulties and gain influence. Fear not - the Bear fell out as I shuffled. The Woman has the personal strength to deal with it, and the strength of character that ensures that those she's close to are unlikely to be taken in. ⁘
I plan to make a flip-thru video of this deck once I've had a chance to familiarise myself with the cards a bit more.
30 June - Done! Petite Clé Lenormand Flip-Thru
Recently, Cynthia, in her Cartomancy Club Facebook group, suggested we all share our Viking themed decks. I posted my Norse Tarot by Clive Barrett, and the deck I'm using today – The Viking Cards, by Gudrún G Bergmann and Ólafur G Gudlaugsson (US Games 1996).
I realised I'd had the deck for 5 years and never worked with it. Oh dear.
(Okay, so the first thing I noticed is that the cards are a bit too long (5½", 14.1cm) for my small hands to shuffle comfortably. Almost an inch longer than a US Games RWS. 🙂)
There are only 32 cards in the deck, but I like the range and type of concepts it includes. I'm not particularly drawn to Norse mythology, but I can see now, or perhaps recall, why I was attracted to this particular deck.
Here's another newish addition I've been wanting to showcase. I bought this one because I recognised it as a "younger sister" of the oldest deck in my collection (details below).
Glück – Dieb – Reichthum – Richter – Unbeständigkeit
Fortune – Thief – Wealth – Judge - Inconstancy
⁛ You may be tempted to take advantage of a "golden opportunity" coming your way. Be careful – its legally and/or ethically dubious. ⁛
The above deck, the "younger sister", is Oracolo del Danubio, "Danube Oracle", produced by the Spanish division of Lo Scarabeo, Orbis Fabbri, in 2002. It's a reprint of a deck published by Wilhelm Hegenauer, Vienna, circa 1890.
Prior to this, I'd spotted my deck's "older sister", Die
Sibylle Wahrsagekarten, "The Sibyl Fortune-Telling Cards", published by Silberschnur
Verlag. This one is a reprint of a deck published by Johann Conrad Jegel,
Nuremberg, circa 1870.
My original deck, in both senses, is a dog-eared but remarkably tidy copy of a deck simply named Aufschlag Karten, designed by Josef Neumayer and published by Wilhelm Hendl, Vienna, circa 1880 – the "middle sister".
Aufschlag can be translated as "service" or "surcharge", but I think the meanings that apply here are "serve" (in the sense of hitting a tennis ball), "impact" and "crash". It strikes me (no pun intended) that this is the idea – Slap Upside the Head Cards. 😉
And how's this for synchronicity? The Glück and Dieb cards were together, in that order, in all three decks.
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.
Judy has a new deck of cards, and we all know what that means.
Well, that's interesting. We have the carefree vagabond, accompanied by the show-off knight and the stick-in-the-mud knight.
⁛ You're about to embark on a new enterprise, but beware. Don't rush into it thinking you've got it covered - you'll regret it. Take some time to thoroughly plan your next step.
Bottom card: Death. I wasn't entirely sure what to 'take away' from this, so I'll share this piece from the guidebook (I love the guidebook!) –
"We are led to believe we fear death when what we fear is life, of looking at it squarely and facing hard truths. Death forces us away from platitudes and comfortable paths and shows us the beauty in what seemed arduous and complex. Death reveals what we spend our lives trying to hide from ourselves."
Perhaps in your excitement and enthusiasm, you think this new venture is going to be a piece of cake. You're probably wrong – but do not let that stop you. It'll be worth the effort. ⁛
Cult of Weimar Tarot (2nd edition), by Joan Marie, Rabbit's Moon Tarot
Keeping it light today 'coz I've got a lot on. 🙂
⁛ You've been working on or towards something for a while now and are beginning to run out of steam. You're in need of fresh motivation.
Remember who you're doing this for. That is the source of your power. ⁛