Divination, Tweeps, or Whining? I narrow it down to these
three possibilities for this week’s blog post. All of them make me say, “hmmm?” They may all
yet make it here in one form or another. But it’s the weekend. My deadline
looms.
From across the room, a glint catches my eye – our crystal
ball collection throws glimmers in the day’s failing light. It’s sparkly; I’m a magpie. Prisms have ever fascinated me. And kaleidoscopes. Divination -- like a whisper.
The Sun in Pisces at the time of my birth predicates a
fascination with prophecy, spiritualism, the occult. I have always been
intrigued, but blog-wise, I’m still not sure what direction to take. I
experience the usual hebdomadal
panic: #52weeks. I want to meet this
goal, but can I? I grab my newest
tarot deck (I collect them…this one has a Lord
of the Rings theme…). I shuffle the cards.
I shuffle adroitly; I’ve had years of practice. The
technique is simple: split the deck; interlace the top ten cards of each side; arch
both, and slowly cascade them together. Tap the deck on the table to smooth the
sides, repeat until the desired comfort level of randomness has been achieved.
As I shuffle I mutter my query: Why am I blogging? Why the hell am I blogging?
Kim’s Rules of Tarot:
- Follow the instructions. (This requires reading them.)
- Read directly from The Book* (applies to any deck, regardless of how long you have owned it).
- Believe none of it. In the words of Alice, “You’re nothing but a pack of cards!”**
I throw a new spread. I generally deal the 10-card Celtic
Cross, but this deck has Middle Earth-ian themes, so I go with Gandalf’s Spread,
a 7-card variant laid out on the table to resemble a runic G. I grab The Book.
I’ve already marked the three sections I’ll need to read the cards: the throw and
its meanings, interpretations for the Major Arcana cards and the Minor Arcanas.
I turn the cards face up one at a time.
Card # 1, present situation: represents the querent’s
current working and living conditions and the area of present influence.*** I
reveal the Empress, a Major Arcana card (represented by Galadriel, Belladonna
Took & Rose Gamgee…the triple feminine aspects of maid, mother and crone).
I flip to the correct page and read. “The Empress Card shows the mighty ability
of the earthly plane to create new forms of physical life and support them.” Do blogs count as physical life?
Card # 2, the near future: the sphere of influence coming
into being, in a broad sense. The Queen of Swords (Lady Eowyn) joins the Empress It’s a girl-power throw. I can feel it. I find the page. “A determined
woman who will not be swayed from her purpose.” I can relate to that…I am
stubborn, damn stubborn.
Card # 3, the recent past: shows the most recent sphere of
influence, which has just passed or is passing – Another strong-looking woman,
this time it’s the Queen of Wands (Theodwyn, Sister of Theoden). I’ve never
heard of Theodwyn, but the book explains she is the mother
of Eomer and Eowyn. “An independent-minded woman who intends to exert her influence,
either directly or indirectly, on the situation as it develops.” I mull this
one for a bit. Somehow, it’s discomforting.
Card # 4 shows the querent’s present position or attitude…it attempts
to place the querent in the proper perspective. The Emperor (Elrond), I’m
taken aback…all that girl power, and now, a dude. And in the querent position no
less! Still, it’s a pretty cool dude and another Major Arcana card. (The Major
Arcana comprise only 1/3 of the tarot deck and, as such, are given greater
relevance in the interpretation of the throw.) “The Emperor card is a strong
one, denoting the principle of self-determination, the way the individual will
may be taken and channeled with unswerving sense of direction.” Another
“tenacious” card. I begin to feel bullied. It is only a pack of cards, but damn it… .
Card # 5, hopes and anxieties: shows the inner hopes, fears,
anxieties and hidden emotions of the querent. I draw the Ace of Swords (Gwaihir
the Eagle). “A liberating situation or opportunity that enables rapid progress
to be made now. Breakthrough.” Hmmm.
Card # 6, opposing, contrary influences: shows the nature of
obstacles that may lie just ahead. I always get a little thrill of dread when I
reveal this position’s card. The Lightning Struck Tower has yet to show itself,
a transformation card, yes, but with baggage. The Six of Wands turns up instead. “Victory
against the forces of negativity. Take time out to take a bow.”
Take a bow? Really? But then I think about it. I would never
tell you the contents of this blog are bow-worthy. They are not. But they never
had to be Pulitzer material. They just
had to be, once a week, every week,
for 52 weeks. And maybe these weekly posts, these burps, as I sometimes call
them, don’t completely suck. Maybe they do. That isn’t the point.
In the Gandalf Spread of the Lord of the Rings Tarot, the given meaning of card # 7, the final
position, confuses me: helpful, supportive influences? I’ve never seen it in a
tarot book before. The last position usually represents the final outcome of
the query, the culmination of the preceding cards. The notion of helpful and
supportive influences makes the entire reading feel open-ended and unfinished.
But I follow the instructions. I flip the last unrevealed card. It is
the Nine of Coins, “Recognition and acknowledgment for an accomplishment or
completion of a task.”
I smile broadly. #52Weeks
*In this particular case, the book
is: Donaldson, Terry. The Lord of the
Rings Tarot. Stamford, CT:
U.S. Game Systems, 1997. Printed book.
**Carroll, Lewis. Alice In Wonderland & Through the
Looking Glass. Kingsport, TN: Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., 1946. p. 133.
***Descriptions of the cards
position are from Tarot: Cards for Fun
and Fortune Telling. (Kaplan, S.R. New York, NY: U.S. Game Systems, 1970.)
