Future Tarot

From Future-Tarot Chat on March 10:

[Lily] Here’s my question about my relationship with a man. We both have feelings, but it is something what I don’t get from him, his approach toward me, so how does he see me and our relationship and possible future with him?

[Serenity Bly] Lily, I get the impression I’m picking up on HIS energy, not yours so this reading may be more about what’s going on in his head. In the past I feel like he’s been very focused on work. It makes me think you two might work together and that you met at work. He’s had to work his way up from the ground, but he’s developed a very strong sense of himself. That’s shown with the Two of Pentacles. In the present, the King of Pentacles shows that he’s still very much focused on developing his career. He’s almost blind to other areas of his life and to people in a sense outside of that sphere. He’s the ultimate “All Business”. It’s entirely possible he sees you more as a function of doing business than as a woman.

[Lily] Yes, he is hard working.

[Serenity Bly] The Five of Swords (reversed) in the future shows other choices, and this one is for you. His focus isn’t on the potential of relationships and might not be for a very long time. In the meantime, consider your other choices, or develop your choices by actively looking outside of this particular man for potential relationships. There isn’t a sense of “never” with this particular man, but the Tarot advises not to wait around for him to be ready. Seek out your options, explore elsewhere, and see how things develop.

[Lily] Interesting.

[Serenity Bly] I hope that helps, Lily.

[Lily] Thank you, Serenity.

(From the March 10 Future-Tarot chat.)

[Cyn] The man can be frustrating. Should I stay or should I go in this relationship?

[Serenity Bly] *blinks* Well THAT is interesting. We’ll come back to interesting later.

[Cyn] A frustrating man, imagine that!

[Serenity Bly] In the past, we see the Five of Swords. You’ve had your pick of men. You had a hard time choosing this one and that is a large part of your uncertainty now. You’re still not sure you make the right choice. That makes me suspect your OTHER choices are still on the horizon, as if you’ve got one foot not quite into this relationship because you’re leaving yourself room to change your mind. The Page of Wands (reversed) in the present tells me that you’ve got to be all in or all out. The cards are all Minor Arcana, making the choice entirely up to you. You’re in command of your destiny and there is no influence outside of yourself making or breaking this deal, but your lack of commitment is possibly what makes him so frustrating. If he senses that you’ve got a foot half-way out the door, he’ll act out, if that makes sense. He’s testing your commitment, because he wants you to be sure, to be all there and 100% on his side and he won’t settle for less.

[Cyn] But he wants so much so soon! Seriously, can’t being exclusive be enough right now? Really though, you’re right on so far.

[Serenity Bly] The Future shows this clearly. Either you go all in, give up those other choices, settle with the choice you made, and MAKE it work. (The Ten of Pentacles (reversed) shows it can work but you’ll have to work together to make it work.) OR if you don’t make a choice to be all in, it’ll slowly come to an end. (The Death card (reversed) shows a slow demise of the relationship being pulled apart at the seams.) It sounds like he’s tossed an ultimatum at your feet and the decision is yours to make. Can you love this man? Can you picture spending the rest of your life with him? Would you feel a great sense of devastation if this relationship ended? The Tarot says it can work if you choose to work it, but the freedom of that choice is yours to make.

[Cyn] See where I’m stuck? It’s been only about 2 months, so much intensity so soon.

[Serenity Bly] I’m going to come back to the Page of Wands because it steers ME on a personal sense. You see, the Page of Wands is my “go for it” card. It’s my throw caution to the wind, stuff the risks, go with it, and make it happen. So, if that were MY reading, it would be saying to jump in feet first and don’t look back, but if you’re not comfortable with the idea, that could be the sign from the universe saying this choice isn’t right for you. and you need to listen to your gut on that.

[Cyn] I’m reserved because it seems too good to be true as well. He has money, he’s grounded, and so on

[MoonlitKim] *nods* A lot of my relationships were “all in” right away. If that’s what he’s expecting, it may bother him that you haven’t leapt yet. Perhaps once you do, he may get more comfortable and tone down the intensity.

[Serenity Bly] If you’re holding back out of fear, then the message says, “Don’t hold back.” It’s not too good to be true, Cyn. If you commit to this, there is marriage, babies, family, a stable home, and a secure and happy life over the horizon. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be a very good situation for you. You don’t need to be afraid of that choice, assuming it’s the fear of that holding you back. If you’re held back because you’re not in love with him, then it’s different again. Yes, you could fake it, and make it work. Avariciously, you could “marry him for the money” and you’ll have a fairly good life, but you deserve better than that. You deserve to be with someone you can love. If it’s not this man, let him go and choose another.

[Cyn] That’s not me at all.  I’d hate that person- I pick up the tabs not to be that person. So I guess I need to evaluate where my feelings really are for him.  Lots to think about here.

[Jen.N] But on the other hand, letting him pick up the tabs sometimes doesn’t make you that person either.

[Serenity Bly] Just because he is a good man and has money doesn’t make him someone you can’t be with and it doesn’t make him too good to be true. They DO exist. You need to find your heart in this question. Seek that within yourself, Cyn, and listen to those feelings, but don’t wait too long because he really does need to know you’re 100% into this.

[Serenity Bly] The relationship will end if you don’t make a choice. Not immediately. It’ll take time, but that is where it’s landing here. So, seek within, decide how you truly feel, even if it means considering your other options in your head, and then either get in or get out. Know that neither choice is wrong, Cyn. Whichever you choose, you WILL eventually be in that Ten of Pentacles. Either way, it’ll take some work to get there.

[Cyn] I’ll do that, Serenity.  I suppose I’m just being pessimistic here, which is uncharacteristic.

[Serenity Bly] It can be very hard to accept when good things do happen.

A freelance writer, Diedre, wants to know:

“Will my latest eBook venture be successful?”

There aren’t many surprises in Diedre’s Five-Card Spread. Diedre, an established freelancer, is also a smart businesswoman. She knows what she has to do, and what it takes for her to achieve success. The client on the eBook project has worked with Diedre in the past; the two make a good team, as shown by several cards in this spread.

Past: The Five of Swords: The Five of Swords represents influences passing out of Diedre’s life. Freelance writing has been a rocky business of late. She’s encountered a few clients who were less than straightforward. And though she’s emerged victorious, she’s been selling herself short in many instances. She’s received the “spoils of war,” and towered over her competition, but she’s yet to reach the next rung of her career.

Present: The Magician: In other spreads (Diedre is a frequent Wednesday morning customer of Future-Tarot’s Tarot Chat at The Echo of One) the Magician has represented Diedre’s client, another entrepreneur Diedre has worked with several times. The Magician in this position reinforces that Diedre is making the right choice in working with this bright young woman, who has the skills, knowledge and wherewithal to promote and market the eBook for maximum success.

Tarot’s Advice: The Six of Cups: The Tarot’s advice often shows us areas that we may not be aware of. In this case, the card is reminding Diedre to go back to her roots – basic writing skills – to make the eBook the best it can be. While Web writing tends to suffer from time constraints and low pay rates, Diedre needs to approach this project from a standpoint of it being her passion, and provide quality work worthy of any top-name print publication. With every keystroke, she needs to remember she is living her dream, being paid to write.

Best Course of Action: The Three of Pentacles: The Three of Pentacles, the “Work card” in this slot offers no surprises. Writing and publishing the eBook will require hard work on the part of all participants, and especially for Deidre. But she has the skills and knows her craft — it will be hard work, but she will often find herself in the “flow” or the “zone,” that time where words spring effortless from her fingertips as she is completely focused on the task. The “three” also indicates that working with the client will be a good business venture, balanced – an effective partnership.

Final Outcome: The Four of Rods: The final outcome looks propitious, but this will not be a life-changing business venture. The only Major Arcana in this spread, the Magician, represents the client, showing what a powerful force she will be in the creation of the product. Rather than just a client, she will be a true partner in this venture; sharing ideas, feedback, and sparking Diedre’s creativity. The Four of Rods tells of a celebration—the eBook will achieve moderate success, perhaps ultimately paying for something Diedre would like but hasn’t had the means to afford. Overall, it’s a wise endeavor and a stepping stone to bigger things.

The first to jump in on our March of Dimes Fundraiser, Future-tarot querent Helen requests a C-for-Career Spread and writes:

I want to play with “the big boys”. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. We just went through a major reorganization, at least I have my job. I have two bosses now. I used to feel important, but now it seems as if I’m at the bottom, and kinda like a secretary for my new boss. I never minded doing the grunt work of my job, but I no longer have authority/power.

Is it worth working my butt off? I have great ideas, can put together projects, but I feel “why should I?”. And most of all, I miss my travel budget. I used to travel quite a bit. I think I’ve been grounded. There’s a conference coming up, one of my favorites, I’ve started working on a project that would get me there (no cost to the company) but it would probably go to my boss and not me (he likes attention). 

Miss Michele drew a six-card C-for-Career Spread to provide Helen with career guidance.

You are a strong and intelligent woman with excellent instincts, which will serve you well in business. You know “something isn’t quite right” in your current business – and the cards confirm that your suspicions are, unfortunately, correct.

However, that’s the beautiful thing about Tarot. By being aware of our situation and our possible future, we put ourselves in a better position to change our destinies.

The cards –

Your past experience in your career: The Fool: This card shows the beginning of your career, when you were a fresh-faced newbie, eager to please. What you lacked in knowledge you made up for in enthusiasm. Your can-do attitude paid off, as you quickly advanced up your chosen career path. You are so close to “playing with the big boys” you can almost taste it. Even in your current, less desirable situation, you maintain your positive attitude and this will serve you well.

Your current experience at your job: The Five of Rods: Miss Michele wasn’t very surprised, based on the details you supplied, to see the Five of Rods show up in this position. This card is telling us your instincts are correct. The Five of Rods indicates a battle; egos are involved. You feel forced to stoop to the level of your bosses, to play office politics, but that’s not your style. Stand your ground, like the brave boy on this card fighting off the masses, and you will win — although it may not be the victory you desire. The other option is to refuse to play their game.

What you want from a job: The Nine of Swords: The Nightmare Card, showing up in this spot seems an odd one, as the last thing you would want in a job is problems, problems and more problems.

Instead, this card is showing that your situation has gotten so bad, that what you want at this time is for your worst fears not to materialize. I sense confusion in the woman in this card. She sits up in bed, back of hand pressed against her forehead, unsure where to turn or what to do. However, things are coming to a head, as they always do when the number 9 is present… the worst is nearly over. Right now, you simply aren’t sure what you want.

I drew a clarification card in this spot – if you don’t know, maybe the Tarot does! The Eight of Rods seems to imply a change is in order – and rapidly! This card often represents new opportunities, coming at you faster than the speed of light.

What you need from a job: The Five of Swords: Your needs in a job, right now, again, show us more of what you actually don’t need. The victor in this card represents your boss—he’s standing with the spoils of war, but two figures in the background are sneaking away with the best of what he could have. In other words, leaving your boss for a position which will earn you respect, a true chance to shine, may be the answer.

What you have to offer your employer/your greatest strengths: the Knight of Swords: Your greatest strength is exemplified in the great, ambitious Knight of Swords. Fearless, he charges ahead, knowing he’s prepared for whatever may come!

Possible future experience in your career: The Four of Rods, also shows a bright future for you once you make the decision to make that change. The Four of Rods specifically represents a celebration, but also a new partnership. You will advance to a place where you are treated as an equal partner and given opportunities.

Miss Michele remembers her days of business travel, and there’s always a party to attend. This card in the future, too, shows that you will attend the conference as you wish, but it may not be with your current firm.

While the Knight of Swords represents swift change, don’t be too hasty. The Four of Rods always comes into play following the careful planning of the Three of Rods. Polish off that resume, do some social networking, and spread the word (subtly and quietly) that you are looking for a promotion. If your bosses are smart, they will keep you and treat you the way you deserve. But either way, brighter days await.

We are excited with Helen’s reading and would love the opportunity to answer your Tarot questions too. Please, if you are thinking of ordering a reading, do so now! Ordering before July 31st, 2009 will support a fantastic cause as all proceeds this month are being forwarded to March of Dimes.

Finally, Miss Michele is live on RadioXShow this week. Tune in to find out more about our March of Dimes Fundraiser, call the show for a free live three-card reading, or listen to the show at RadioXShow.com Wednesday night, July 29, from around 11:00 PM.

It is wonderful to have this opportunity to welcome Brighid of Tarot & Pendulum Practice to Future-Tarot. Miss Michele and Serenity Bly are looking forward to having Brighid visit us again in the future.

I first discovered the Tarot around summer 2000. Since then, I’ve dabbled, been serious, and dabbled a bit more. My first deck was the Universal Waite. I have also used Tarot of the Cat People and the Unicorn Tarot. I no longer have the Cat People. It got lost in a move. The Unicorn Tarot no longer seems to speak to me, though I have it still because I like the images in it.

In recent years, I largely neglected my Tarot journey. Now I am back to a dabbling stage. I have decided recently that I want more from it than to be just a dabbler. This reading focuses on the past, present, and future of my Tarot journey. The cards for this reading, and the ones I currently use, are from the Diamond Tarot.

Past: V of Pentacles

The card shows two people, one using crutches, walking against the snow. The taller figure is bent forward somewhat, as though walking in a strong wind. There is an adage that says problems shared are halved. Five pentacles are arranged in a free-hanging stained glass window above them. These two travel together, sharing the difficulties of the journey and finding help in each other.

That is a fair representation of myself when I first discovered Tarot. I was looking for something to help me understand myself, the world, and possibly even beyond. I traveled for some time on this part of my journey.

Present: II of Wands

A single person stands holding the world in one hand and holding a wand in the other. Another wand stands nearby. The pastel colors of the sky remind me of morning. The person is looking to his/her left, almost as if back at the two figures in the previous card, and seems to be in thought.

Lately, I have been thinking about becoming more practiced with Tarot, studying it more. In thinking about it, I’ve thought back on how I was when I first discovered it. I wanted to know more. And here I am again, wanting to know more and looking for help in the Tarot.

Future: V of Swords

There are a few figures on this card. Two of them appear to be walking away in the background. The third, in the foreground, holds two swords in one hand, is picking up another with the point facing down, and has two others on the ground at his/her feet.

I’m picking up where I left off. I didn’t lose any ground despite the years of neglect. I’m learning new aspects, but there is still plenty I don’t know. When I become anxious, thinking I don’t know enough, I need to acknowledge it and continue on instead of backing away.

This seems to me an accurate description of my Tarot journey so far. With the V of Swords in the Future position, I am reminded that there is no true mastery of Tarot as interpretations can vary depending on other cards in the spread, the situation the reading is for, and circumstances in my life.