Contextual Meaning of Tarot

So, I just got home from the tarot class/group I lead most Saturday mornings. and a small point I made as we were going through our readings today using the layout pictured below was about how we read/interpret the card positions themselves, not just how we interpret the cards. So I'm gonna go over one of the readings, the cards that were laid out and the positions the were in, and how there are a couple different ways to understand the card based on the context AND interpretation of the position it is in, in the layout. So - the layout was a 6 card spread, with the following contextual meanings for each position: 1. What I want. 2. What is motivating me. 3. What I need to release. 4. Universal guidance. 5. Universal goal. 6. Changes for success. Now, to most people using a layout, these contextual meanings are locked in at face value. And before you lay any cards out, they are, for the most part, right. These are the ‘rules’ for this particular game of cards. However, as soon as you lay out the cards and begin your interpretation of THEIR meanings within the context of the ‘rules’ of the layout, those contextual meaning can begin to not make any sense at all. For instance, in today’s group, one of the readers drew the following cards for this spread: 1. 10 of Wands (oppression, burden, trial, ruin, disruption, failure, limitations, restrictions, and holding back) 2. King of Cups, in Reverse (violence, scandal, injustice, and weakness) 3. The Mage (will, communication, inherent ability, memory, clarity of thought and feeling, organization, invention, and originality) 4. Knight of Swords, in Reverse (extravagance, braggadocio, and romance) 5. 9 of Coins (gain, prudence, benefit, balance, order, organization, and unification) 6. 2 of Wands (virtue, cooperation, partnership, integrity, consistency, and congruency) So, when reading those cards and their meanings within the context of the layout, it may not make sense; especially if you read the ‘rules’ very literally. A good example here is the 3rd rule, “What I need to release.” Nearly every person in my group today read that as “What I need to let go of/get rid of,”and to be quite honest when you see that the spread itself is titled “Doubts and Fears” it goes to reason that the 3rd card is meant to, most likely, represent the fears or doubts one is meant to let go of. But when you look at the cards laid out, it doesn't make sense to let go of what the Mage symbolizes. In fact, for this person in particular, these are things they need to express more fully. At roadblocks like these, it is good to revisit the ‘rule’ and read it less literally. Consider that ‘release’ might not mean ‘to let go of’, here, for this person, but actually ‘to let out’. When you read that card from the perspective that this person needs to express these things, to assert their will, to be more communicative, to use their inherent abilities, be more organized, more inventive, have better clarity of thought, feeling,and memory, then the reading as a whole becomes clear. All of the cards in a layout create a context of their own, and demand interpretation using that as well as the ‘rules’ context. We must not, when using spreads and layouts like these, become slave to the literal or more obvious meaning of the ‘rules’, or our readings can become disjointed quite quickly.

Below you'll find the Doubts and Fears Layout we used today, found on Pinterest, and credited to pennilesspagan.com.

Simple Cross Reading

I recently got to try a layout I hadn't used before, for a person in a group I moderate in and contribute to, and I really enjoyed the layout, so I have created a layout image for it and will share the reading here to explain how it worked. The person I did the reading for will remain un-named, for privacy's sake. They drew and laid out the cards in this layout, which they then explained the placement meanings for, and they said they found the layout in the book that came with their deck, which I believe is the Royo Tarot, seen here.

So here is the layout, with a background I borrowed from google, which is a still from this video by Dan Lopez. I hope he doesn't mind the use of it.

The following is the write up I did based on the client's draws, seen below. The client also drew two extra cards, in the final two positions, which made the reading really interesting.

In your simple cross layout, in the position of what helps you, you drew the 9 of Swords. Swords are the house of combat, competition, and action. The 9 is a card I call the ‘night terrors’ card, because it represents despair, misery, desolation, disaster, self-criticism, and mental cruelty. How can this HELP you? Perhaps you are motivated by criticism and being down at the bottom of the barrel. The 9 is often about dealing with the consequences of some action long gone. Something that still drives you, perhaps?

In the position of what hinders you, you drew the 8 of Swords. The 8 card is about crisis, indecision, restriction, censure, doubt, mistrust, confusion, interference - thinking things over too much. So this tells me that your actions are hindered by nothing other than YOU. You are allowing self doubt to hold you back - over analyzing the possible results of your action so much that you never actually take that action. This may be a heads up that is it finally time to ‘do the thing’, before it is too late.

In the position of where you are coming from, you drew the 5 of Swords. This makes a bit of sense, because the 5 is about defeat, degradation, unfairness, constriction, fear, distortion, and empty victory. In tradition decks, this is symbolized by a person who has clearly just won a battle, but the war is not yet over as his opponents retreat in order to return stronger. This card often shows up when someone has been dealing with a repeat issue - something that keeps coming back to bite them in the rear, time and again, because they have never actually resolved the issue, just pushed it back for a time. This card says you’re coming from a place where you are becoming weary of fighting that same battle over and over.

In the position of where you are going, you drew the 2 of Wands and the Hermit. These are a good pairing. First, the 2 of wands represents dominance, rulership, enterprise, sovereignty, power, and unification. The Hermit represent guidance, completion, introspection, contemplation, experience, detail, revelation, integrity, respect, leadership, transitions, discovery, wisdom, mentorship, open-mindedness, and courage. I think the 2 of wands describes where you are going/want to go, and the Hermit represents the tools you need to GET there.

Finally, in the position of something important - your message to think about - you drew the Knight of Swords and the Empress. The Knight of Swords is a card I love to teach. He represents impulsiveness, courage, intuitive thinking, and the unrestricted mind. He is the bold leader, but he is one not without flaws. His flaw? He often leaps before he looks. In my deck, he is depicted as a dragon, razing a village with its fiery breath. I like to tell my students that he is doing it for all of the right reasons - but he is in the wrong place! He should be razing the village in the next valley, not this one! He acted before verifying his target. The Knight of Swords often appears as a warning to think things through and to always look before you leap.The Empress card represents fertility, wisdom, prophecy, love of nature, healing, nurturing, emotion, creation, cycles, balance, fruitfulness, and contentment. Paired with the Knight of Swords, she is the foil to his temperament. She calms the impulsiveness and heals and nurtures him after battle, and after he is burned by his own flame when he makes mistakes. I think that while the Knight reminds you to look before you leap, the Empress is the reminder to take care of yourself while you try to become the leader that the 2 of Wands implied in the 'Where you are going' position. Self care is important, especially to those in leadership roles, which can accumulate a lot of stress.

The Full Moon Was Tonight...

Moon Tarot Card, Source Unknown. Please notify me if you can identify the artist or deck this is from!

Tonight is the Full Moon, and man, here in Tulsa we usually have some spectacular sunsets, and with the moon rising against the pastels and fire of the setting sun, today was no exception. I wish I had a camera that could have captured it adequately.

For me, the full moon is bursting with opportunities and filled with the energy I need to move forward towards goals and with projects. I've never been one to attend rituals ( I've only ever gone to two full moon rituals, and they sadly didn't go well for me, due to what I suppose I can only say are spiritual or energy blocks) and as I am still settling in to a new home, I have yet to set up an altar either inside or outside. So for this Full Moon, I'm choosing to do a couple of tarot layout I have yet to try, and that I feel are appropriate for my personal way of celebrating the Fullest Reflection of the sun's light onto the earth at night. Space juice, y'all. Moonlight is space juice for my spirit.

The first of the two spreads I have selected is a spread I found at Sybarite Tarot, the Setting Intentions spread. I also have selected one that I found on Pinterest but that is credited to Lavender-moon.com, although I wasn't able to locate the spread on that site. ( I may not have spent long enough looking, however.) THAT spread is the a Light in The Dark spread.

So, without further ado, let us get to it, shall we?

1. The Seed - your intention: The King of Questing (Wands), Reversed. Severity, honesty, Subordination.

2. Hesitation - fears stopping you from planting: Ten of Pattern (Coins). Stability, Riches, Abundance, Prosperity, Enrichment.

3. Push It In The Ground - overcoming fears and waiting: Knight of Questing (Wands). Conflict, Haste, Inspired Creativity, Expression, Concentration, Expansion.

4. Taking Root - how your intention will become reality: The Hierophant. Morality, learning, teaching, Wisdom, the Sacred, Initiator, Challenge, Commitment, Intention, Focus, Spirit, Remembrance, Resolution, Consultation, Counseling, Conformity, Society, Orthodoxy.

5. & 6. Bring It To The Surface - ways to nurture your intention and make it work for you: Five of Questing (Wands): Strife, Competition, Obstacles, Anxiety, Frustration, Freneticism, Hyperactivity; and The Devil: Bondage, Materialism, Fetters, Sensation, Bedevilment, Temptation, Degradation, Domination. 

As usual, we cannot take the cards at their face value - these keyword meanings help, but from them and their positions within the layout, I have to sort out what it all means to ME. This is where, as I always say, the inner storyteller must come out, and construct the story from the bones revealed by the cards. My inner counselor also wakes up, although when I am reading for myself I find it very difficult to give myself an unbiased session. This is why reading for others is so satisfying, to me, because I can step into my role as counselor and give aid to those who need insight. 

But back to it! My Seed Card, my intention, is represented by the King of Wands in Reverse. Perhaps, given his keywords, he is my intention to be a better, stronger self this year. I want to cast aside my depression and anxiety in order to be a more whole self. My Hesitation Card is The Ten of Coins, a card I am typically apprehensive about because it just feels slimy to me, I can't explain why. But it describes my hesitation as perhaps a fear of the loss of the card's attributes - losing the stability we have trying to to reach for something more. And since the reversal of the card talks about greed, that thought isn't too far fetched. So now to overcome my hesitations and fears, the Knight of Questing arrives, describing a situation that doesn't seem to be related to overcoming anything, with conflict, haste paired with inspired creativity, expression...oh, hey, I know this dance - this is me in my daily life, using my usual coping mechanisms for dealing with depression, anxiety, and a mild form of OCD. So perhaps the card is suggesting I keep on keepin' on, and maintain my coping mechanisms. let's see if that thought hold up as we move on to Taking Root - The Hierophant is a card that talks about the moral right, and in fact once upon a time the card was named The Pope, which speaks to its  symbolism further. But aside form its moral high horse, the Hierophant is also about wisdom, commitment, moving forward (taking initiative), intention, focus, and spirit. He tells me that in order for my goals to be come reality, for my intention to manifest, I need to take the steps to make it happen, and follow through with them - always sound advice. Finally, how do I nurture my intention? Well, The Five of Wands says I should be competitive, and work hard, while the Devil speaks about bondage, materialism, temptation - I'd take that as a warning to stay focused, not to stray from my path, be competitive and focused on my goal, and not walk willingly in to a trap of my own design by allowing myself to be distracted.

1. What is the darkness I'm avoiding? Six of Questing (Wands): Victory, Success, Advancement, Revitalization, Energy, Expansion.

2. How has it been affecting me? King of Pattern (Coins), Reversed: Perversity, Misuse, Speculation, Waste.

3: How has it been affecting others? Justice, Reversed: Injustice, Bias, Inequality, Prejudice.

4. What about it can I use to help me? Eight of Questing (Wands), Reversed: Inactivity, Dispute, Quarrels, Procrastination, Covert Communication.

5. What has the potential to hurt me? Four of Pattern (Coins), Reversed: Setback, Loss, poverty, Legacy

6. How can I heal myself? King of Primordialism (Cups): Power, Emotional Loyalty and Commitment, Spontaneity, Ego, Generosity, Responsibility.

7. What light can I use to balance it (the darkness) out? Nine of Questing (Wands), Reversed: Obstacle, Adversity, Opposition.

So now we come to the A Light In The Dark Spread. Where the previous spread was shining the light of the full moon on my goals and intentions, this spread shines a light on the things I may desire to keep hidden. We all carry some shadow in our hearts, some darkness in our souls that might be a source of shame, something we fear, or perhaps a hidden desire that we feel is too big to let into the light. Let's explore that with this spread, and see what comes up.

So what AM I avoiding? According to the Six of Wands, I'm avoiding my own success, avoiding taking the steps I need to take to be what I have always wanted to be. This speaks directly to the previous reading. How has it been affecting me? Naturally, when you avoid becoming your whole self, you live in a place filled with perversity and waste. The King of Coins says that when you avoid the truth of who you are, you create a chaotic life for yourself. This, too, speaks not only to my previous reading but also to my actual life. How has it been affecting others? When you live a life contradictory to your intentions, you not only create chaos for yourself, but also for others. You begin to blame things other than yourself for your situation, in order to have excuses for why you haven't become YOU yet. The Justice card here means that those around you have to deal with your denial of self, self hatred, which can look a lot like you are treating people unjustly and with bias s you ignore your own faults and become hypocritical, prejudiced. What about it can I use to help me? All that bad behavior leads ot a lot of fighting and can mean you spend a lot of time with your lips at your confidant's ear - I read the Eight of Questing as saying that instead of perpetuating the nastiness, it is time to flip the script and put your ear to your confidant's lips - they probably have some good advice to help lead you away form the person you created as your self while you hid from your own truth. Who has the potential to hurt me? The Four of Coins talks about setbacks and loss, which to me indicate backsliding in to old comfortable patterns of thought and behavior, meaning that the one person capable of hurting you here is YOU. How can I heal myself? The King of Cups is here - the King of the house of emotion, love, family, health and growth - to remind you that you have the power to heal yourself. Be emotionally loyal to yourself, commit to the new path you must forge to be responsible and become the whole self you desire to be. What light can I use to balance it ( the darkness) out? The Nine of Wands is the card I like to call the boy scouts card - be prepared, it says! Reversed, it talks of Obstacles, adversity and opposition - these are all things we face on the road to well being, and most especially in ourselves, caused by ourselves. What is the light here? It's a warning to be prepared for the struggles ahead on the long road to a whole and happy self. It's a reminder that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Well, for me, the Full Moon has been about reflection and setting goals for my future. What was yours about? Please feel free to comment below.

Bone Throwing

I have been fascinated since childhood by bone throwing, or bone casting, a form of divination where bones of various sorts are ritually tossed onto a mat, an animal hide, or into a circle drawn in the dirt, and the resulting patterns interpreted. 

Throwing the bones is an ancient practice traditional to many regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America. The number and type of bones employed, as well as the inclusion of other small objects, such as pebbles, shells, and hard nuts, varies quite a bit from culture to culture. 

Recently I began to put together a bone and curio set of my own. I have created one once before, but sadly didn't think to make any record of the collection. Perhaps one day I can get some photos of it. Below are photos of the beginnings of my set - there is no rule regarding the number of items that one should use, and from what I have read of other's journey with bone throwing, the collections tend to change over time, growing and shrinking as needed. 

In my current collection, I have: 

* two long bones that I believe are from deer skeletons,

* a cow tooth,

* a knuckle bone,

* a vertebrae, intact,

* a broken and weathered vertebrae,

* three teeth, possibly coyote,

* a small cluster of clear quartz,

* a small half-geode,

*  smoky quartz point,

* two clear quartz points,

* a diamond-shaped quartz or calcite chunk,

* a  rectangular quartz or calcite piece, semi-transparent,

* a cork,

* a sliced section of spiral shell,

* a piece of mother of pearl shaped like an arrow,

* a piece of slate I carved into a rabbit over 20 years ago, 

* a broken obsidian arrowhead, 

* a pink barnacle or anemone skeleton,

* a sterling silver dragon pendant,

* a weathered spiral shell,

* a piece of shell that is filled with holes,

* a pierced-heart pot-metal charm.

* an evil eye pot-metal charm,

* a pot-metal arm charm, and

* a pot-metal leg charm.

Each of these items will, after careful consideration, have a meaning or symbolism assigned to them, and when tumbled on to a mat (probably a piece of black leather) will tell a story based on their positions and groupings. I made sure to include items in my collection that will help me tell time; the long bones will likely indicate things coming or going over a long period of time, whereas the small mother of pearl arrow will indicate short time periods, and the broken arrowhead will symbolize aborted actions; things that were coming or going but now are not.

I have some stones coming in that I ordered specifically for this collection, some phantom quartz stones; one with green phantom inclusions, one with sulfur-yellow inclusions. I think I will use the green to indicate health or growth, and the yellow one to indicate sickness.

I intend to keep a small journal with my set; I will draw each item and write down what it signifies there, as well as a log of each reading done using the set. This way I can track its patterns and what messages I get from its use, and maybe find a way to teach  others how to build and use their own collections one day.

Eight Card Spread for K.O.

Past, Present, Future

Past: The King of Dynamism (Swords): Judgement, Counsel, Wisdom, Focus, Intention, Concentration

Present: The Four of Primordialism (Cups): Dissipation, Contemplation, Emotional Luxury, Satisfaction, Apathy

Future: The Three of Dynamism (Swords), Reversed: Compromise, Disorder, Confusion, Delay

The Issue, The Issue's Background, You Now, Environment and People Related to the Issue, The Solution/Most Likely Outcome

The Issue: The Three of Primordialism (Cups), Reversed: Pleasure, Liberality

The Issue's Background: The Ace of Primordialism (Cups): Breakthrough, Life-force, Open Heart, Spiritual Heart, Expression

You Now: The Queen of Pattern (Coins), Reversed: Neglect, Dependence, Lack, Misuse

Environment and People Related to Issue: The Star: Inspiration, Confidence, Self-Esteem, Talent, Guidance

The Solution/Most Likely Outcome: The Queen of Dynamism (Swords):Perception, Confidence, Rational, Objective, Consulting Intelligence

The Explanation

So, in the eight card spread, there are actually 3 cards that represent the past: the Past Card, the Issue Card, and the Issue's Background Card. They inform one another and tell a story that takes us to the issue which resides both in the past and present - it is an issue now, but has roots in the past. In this reading, the Past Card is describing a strong male figure, someone who may have been someone the client looked up to or learned from, possibly a lover or romantic character, but also just as possible a teacher or parent or spiritual leader. The Issue's Background Card describes a personal, emotional breakthrough or realization. Something big and important to the client, something they wish to share openly and wholeheartedly. 

In this spread, there are 3 cards that represent the present: The Present Card, the You Now Card, and the Environment and People Related to the Issue Card. They give the part of the client's story that resides in the here and now. Here, the Present Card is saying that the client is or has been emotionally selfish, focused only on their own feelings and need for satisfaction, and apathetic towards others. The You Now Card, on the other hand, speaks to perhaps why the client has been in this state; it describes a person who has been emotionally neglected, who is dependent on others, but has been cast aside and perhaps abused.

Only 2 cards here represent the future: the Future Card and the Solution/Most Likely Outcome Card. The Future Card implies that there will be much compromise ahead, a time of confusion, disorder, and delays. The Solution/Most Likely Outcome Card describes a more positive outlook; it describes a person who has found their confidence, and is of a objective and rational mind, facing the world before them. Paired together, they make me think that the client will go through some struggle, and that their goals may not be met fully or on the timeline they had set for them, but that they will emerge on the other side a stronger more confident person. 

To summarize, the client is facing a rough time ahead, involving someone important to them, and although they may have recently only been focused on themselves and their own feelings due to the actions of that other person (or persons), the situation will come to a head and the client will find that they will have become a stronger, more whole self in the process.

Now, whether the other person (or persons) will accept the new person that the client is going to become, I cannot say. 

I have a Ko-Fi Page

I did a thing, so now I have a ko-fi page, where if you like what I am doing, you can donate a cup of coffee to me! It's sort of a 'tip jar' for people like me, who need support to keep doing what they do best.

My Ko-Fi Page !

More blog posts to come - I'll be posting again later today to show a Thanksgiving layout I'm going to try.

Tarot and a Little bit of Voodoo

Welcome back yet again to Ouroboros Tarot: The Blog!

Today’s offering is a transcript (edited for spelling, grammar, formatting, and changing the client’s name to Querent, and another person they mention to simply ‘K’) of an online reading I did recently.

The client is an old friend of mine, but we live in different states. Sometime in the last year we realized that we both have something to offer the other in regards to our respective spiritualities, and she has become a regular -ish client of mine.

Both of us study, explore and practice (to different degrees) Voodoo. You’ll see in our conversation some references to that. When she mentions a 'they' in the conversation, she is referring to the orisha - or iwa, of voodoo, which are sort of like a pantheon of gods. One god sits over all the others, and they vary widely in attitude, ability, and rank. Legba, or Papa Legba, is one I have worked with for quite some time now, but with whom she is just building a relationship with. Obatala I have yet to deal with, but he sits high in her house. There are others, but i felt perhaps to understand our conversation it would be best to mention all of this now, for context's sake.

Please follow along as we walk through the reading pictured below. I used my ‘standard’ 8 card spread, because it lends itself well to ‘blind’ readings such as these, when the client isn’t present to shuffle the deck, and I have to shuffle for them.
Note: I am having formatting issues and the text color keeps going weird. my apologies.

Me: Ok, so let's get to it.

Querent: Interesting layout by the way.

Me: Oh, it's the usual 8 card, I just had to smoosh it onto my teeny table.
Querent: Oh ok.

Me: So: your Past card is the Seven of Cups, reversed. { Yes, dear readers, I know that is wrong, but I do catch it later, so bear with me!} That means determination and realization...we know that about you. In the Present position you have Strength. Which of course means, well, strength, but also passion, creativity, risk-taking, regeneration, overcoming fears, lustiness (hahaha!,) trust in own abilities, confidence, intuition; again, kinda knew that already. In the Future position, we have The Sun, reversed, which represents a time of depletion, draining, and retrogression. Okay, so that's our top three - a general Past, Present, Future. Let's go deeper. So for the Issue card, you got The Moon. The "Girl, you crazy" card. No, for real though, she means: intuition, femininity, receptivity, reflection, mystery, enigma, revelation of the true nature. Sometimes she can indicate lunacy and romance, but I dunno about that here. The Reason Behind the Issue is the Ten of Cups, reversed. It means wanting, need, and/or lack. The card representing you right now, in this moment, is The Emperor. He’s all about the right and wrong of LAW. So, not the right and wrong dictated by faith. He represents government, leadership, power, decisions, action.

Querent: A rare me.

Me: Yup. Same. So then the people around you and the environment you're in regarding this issue are represented by the Nine of Wands, the 'be prepared' card. So it would indicate that your support system is prepared to circle the wagons around you if need be. That's good. Your final card is The World. The final card is the Solution or Most Likely Outcome, and she's reversed. She means sloth, incompletion, limitation, restriction, negation; that lines up with your Future card well - drained, etc. - so now we need to connect the dots.

Querent: Ok.

Me: In the past, you had...shit. I  read a card wrong earlier! Your past card is the Three of Cups, not the Seven. Ugh. Sorry. The Three of Cups reversed means pleasure and liberality, paired with the Reason Behind the Issue, the Ten of Cups: wanting, need, lack, leading to the Issue, The Moon.

Querent: Ok.

Me: So like, your past paired with your desire for something you miss or need, led you to the The Moon state, maybe seeking to reveal your true nature, etc.

Querent: That definitely.

Me: Your Present cards both line up really well, with your Strength (confidence, etc.) paired with your Emperor aspects.

Querent: I broke off with the stagnation of ‘K’ for that.

Me: Yup. Your present support system is also super good, so your present is awesome.

Querent: But we are still friends. She doesn’t see us really changing. Whatever that means.

Me: That’s good. But the future seems a bit deflated. I’m gonna say that maybe you need to avoid falling into old habits that enable you to go off track, and end up in a rut. I mean, the Sun and the World are GREAT cards, usually, and I would have expected them to be upright for you. It would make more sense, but I think there's something we're not seeing that could trip you up. To be honest, I think your Achilles’ heel is your love life.

Querent: Always. I’m trying to stop that. I’ve decided to not date for six months. Furthering the celibacy I’ve been forced into.

Me: So I drew another card, to see if I could see the unseen thing. Got the Tower, upright. The Tower means purification, ambition, restoration, renovation, change, restructuring, awakening, healing, expansion, authenticity, building, designing, alignment - it often is an indicator of a big change to come. As always, focus focus focus.

Querent: Yeah. I need to.

Me: So do the thing

Querent: I’ve just got connection with Legba.

Me: Just remember - he doesn't steer you in any direction but to the crossroads. You choose the path from there.

Querent: True. I find this all frustrating. I’m tired now!

Me: Hehehe!

Querent: I’m trying to figure out what to do.

Me: Yep. He’s exhausting. I should make you a necklace; crossroads keys are my specialty.

Querent: That’ll be good. Make it red. Charge it if you can. I’ll pay for it.

Me: Ok. I always charge ‘em. You'll just have to do a personal dedication once you get it so it's a deal between you and Papa.

Querent: Cool thank you.

Me: Lord knows he knows I don't need as many as I make. But I still take my lumps. He brings me to every decision now with a slap in the face! "You asked for it!"

Querent: I want to be the best I can be at this.

Me: You will be.

Querent: They are taking over the house!

Me: Take it back! They will walk all over you, but it’s YOUR house.

Querent: At the same time I care for ‘K’ and I’ll be her friend. Yeah this is true - I’m going to take charge again.

Me: Do it. That's the ‘rare you’ the Emperor is talking about; the ‘take charge, my house, my law’ you.

Querent: Obatala can run it. The rest are less and they know it. Obatala is law. I wonder what is about to happen.

Me: Well if it had been reversed, it might be bad. But it was upright so it just  means whatever it is, it's coming FAST.

Querent: So something is fast approaching and I’ll have the support team to assist me. I’m thinking death.

Me: Well, it's always possible. But if I keep drawing cards the deck just lies - we are cherry picking.

Querent: Ok. I wish I could scry.

Me: Whatever it is, it's either the excuse to allow yourself to slip into bad habits, or something bad enough to leave you drained.

Querent: ‘K’. I did do a purification bath which left me feeling better.

Me: Good.

Querent: We did agree to revisit being together at a later time. A root-working friend said she sees us getting back together in six months. I’m not holding my breath.

Me: Well, I'm no seer or sage, so I can't predict that sort of thing - plus humans are weird creatures.

Querent: Starting and staying on course would have been easier in my youth in hindsight.

Me: Oh yeah. But that's why it's hindsight.

Querent: Ok: to overcome my Venus nature and sit on it. I’m really good at the love game but I actually want to be loved back in the way I need. Also I don’t want to blow this.

Me: Yeah.

Querent: Student loans. I need to call them tomorrow. Maybe them.

Me: Yeesh. I hope not.

Querent: Me too, shit.

Me: Ok. I need to be up early, I gotta go to bed. Do the thing, be positive, you can do it.

Querent: Alright. Thank you!

...And there ends our session. It is a short read, but it took much longer to actually have it, as I was working with the cards, and typing everything out to her. I hope that you, my readers, will perhaps come away form this transcript with some knowledge of how I attempt to connect the dots between the cards in a layout to help tell a client their story. This particular client needs little leading to get to the connections on her own, so it may seem a little bare bones. With other clients I might spend much more time spelling out how the cards relate to one another in regard to their situation.

Well, until next time, folks! I hope to make next time very soon.