Future Tarot

With travel agents and exotic ideas filling her mind, Stephanie wanted to know what she might expect during her two week cruise through exotic waters and how spending those two weeks ship bound with her oldest daughter might affect their relationship. We drew a Celtic Cross Spread to find out what was in store for Stephanie.

The Three of Cups, the heart of the matter, shows your upcoming holiday with your daughter as a period of growth, an opportunity for you to explore your relationship together and, also, quite literally, just a time of celebration and fun. There’s nothing to worry about in that regard. You will have a good time.

Forces crossing you, in this case, forces working in your favor, shows up in the Nine of Pentacles… The purity of the mother/daughter relationship will be very strong, where your daughter will look to you as her female role model and mentor, and you will have the opportunity to give her what she needs. To plant the seeds that will help her solve her life’s problems and grow as a woman.

The past influences are showing in the third card, the Five of Rods. In the past, you’ve had battles of wills with your daughter. You never fully trusted each other, and there were patterns of trying to “one up” each other. This is your fear this time around, but it should not manifest as long as you keep your awareness of your role as the Nine of Pentacles mother-figure in your mind.

Influences passing out of existence are shown in the King of Rods. This trip, being “just the girls” will actually allow you personal growth, away from your husband. You will re-establish your own sense of independence and your daughter will be happy to see you not only acting on your own, but leading the way. You have the opportunity to temper this leadership with your feminine caring and softness and bring it back to your everyday life. This trip has the potential to change many areas of your life if you grasp the opportunity, which leads us to the fifth card in this spread.

The King of Cups “crowns” you, showing your goals, options and the possibilities that lie ahead. Maintain that sense of responsibility, tempering it with your feminine guidance and abilities as a good listener to maintain the energy of the trip and the strong relationship with your daughter that manifested on this trip.

The Three of Rods sits before you, showing, quite literally, the trip you’re taking, but, much more than that, the possibilities in front of you—both to explore your own independence and to strengthen your relationship with your daughter. Expect deep, potentially life-changing conversations along with fun memories on this trip, incidents you will laugh about for years into the future. Miss Michele loves this card, as it shows a man standing on the seashore, looking out onto the horizon, in awe of the possibilities in front of him, packed, and eager to embark on his journey, both practical and spiritual. This is also a card of detail, so be keenly aware of things like remembering your passport, tickets, following signs so you won’t get lost, confirming reservations, etc. There’s no bad cards in this spread that show hassles on this journey, but the Three of Rods is a well-prepared traveler.

The seventh card, The Chariot, is used to describe yourself and your state of mind. You’ve been looking forward to this journey for a long time. It’s been a major focus of your life and you want to make the most of it.

In the eighth position, the Eight of Rods, shows your environment and those around you. Things are moving rapidly, change is happening. Expect an element of adventure on the trip… be aware not to overextend yourself. Balance fun and activity with relaxation and self-exploration.

In the Ninth Position, the Seven of Cups shows your dreams, hopes and expectations about this relationship. The Seven of Cups is, literally, the daydream card… *nothing* is impossible on this trip! Dream of doing something wild and crazy? Go for it. Sit on the beach all day sipping margaritas? Do that. The world is your playground and nothing is out of reach. This card works with the Eight of Rods to show you will stretch your personal boundaries and try things you’ve always imagined but never had the gumption to do. Your daughter will experience this growth right along with you!

The Four of Swords in the tenth position shows what will come with this trip, and it holds a warning… for starters, you may return tired, possibly ill (nothing serious). Here is where the Three of Rods’ warning comes into play, as well. Don’t neglect the details of taking care of yourself, rest when you need it, balance fun with relaxation to emerge refreshed.

In reference to your relationship with your daughter… there will be a struggle to maintain all you’ve learned together on your trip when the stress and busy-ness of everyday life returns for both of you. Sit back, relax, and bring yourself back mentally to the mind-frame of the trip… remember that whenever things get challenging and you and your daughter fall back into your old behavioral patterns. This trip has the potential to change your lives, but you have to be open to that possibility and allow it to.

Keeping strong reminders of the trip—photographs, a scrapbook, special, wacky souvenirs—will help you maintain perspective.

A year later it is wonderful to welcome back, Maisy, with another 12-Month Spread. Maisy’s husband and his strength figures *very* prominently for her this year. Her over-riding theme for the year is the King of Cups, and this is definitely Maisy’s husband; her protector, watching over her with love and kindness, but also strict when he needs to be about certain situations.

I feel like deception is a major force in Maisy’s life… I pointed this out last year, and I’m wondering, now, if it’s not self-deception in some way. The Five of Swords, Eight of Cups and The Moon all show up in this reading at different times, and they all *can* indicate deception, subterfuge or holding back the truth. (Maybe not intentional deceit, but concealing the truth.) I wonder if there’s someone in Maisy’s life who keeps returning – or even a “type” of client she keeps encountering – who is less than trustworthy? If not, it’s quite possible that Maisy has been concealing the truth from herself in a certain matter.

The Four of Pentacles, which was last year’s theme, shows himself in December, too. That’s the time of year when we should be most giving and generous, but Maisy may feel as if she does not have enough and so clings tightly to what she does have.

There’s no over-riding emphasis on any of the suites. We have two swords, three cups, two rods, one pentacle and five major arcana—another big year with lots of ups and downs, but a lot less emphasis on business and finance. Is Maisy undergoing fertility treatments? Certain cards in this spread, including the wands and swords, lead me to believe that may be the case. She has many cards showing transitions through a cycle – fours, fives, sixes and sevens. But The Magician in July shows the start of something big.

Okay, month-by-month:

June: Knight of Swords

Springtime brings the Knight of Swords, a card heralding rapid change. Maisy is jumping head-first into a project and I think that project may be what sparked her to get this tarot reading. As the flowers bloom and the Earth undergoes re-birth, Maisy is enacting change. She is not contemplating it, she is charging forward headfirst.

July: The Magician

This card, represented by the Number 1 and showing the start of a cycle, shows that Maisy’s “go for it” attitude in June has paid off. Now she is learning to use her talents to get what she wants and manipulate forces to her advantage. If this Magician indicates the decision to undergo fertility treatments, it could be successful.

August: Seven of Cups

This card, coupled with a fertility card (the Moon) in September *could* indicate a pregnancy. I’m not getting a strong feeling of that, though, and the cards nine months down the line don’t correspond. I suggest Maisy keep it in the back of her mind as a possibility. The Seven of Cups is the daydream card … the sky’s the limit for Maisy’s imagination. This card also sometimes indicates a spacey feeling, where she is in a surreal state (sometimes common in pregnancy). It could also indicate a period of planning for a business or any other aspect of life, and that’s what I am getting here. Maisy is having fun imagining all the possibilities ahead of her. Some people may call her a dreamer, but that’s okay. Let them laugh. Maisy knows what she is doing.

September: The Moon

This card indicates many things – self-deception, fertility, feminine intuition. I’ll take “door number 3” in this case. Maisy’s feminine intuition is just so strong, nothing can hold her back. It’s a good thing that Maisy’s husband, the King of Cups keeps her somewhat grounded in reality. The Moon and king together make a great partnership!

October: Six of Rods

As Autumn approaches, the Six of Rods indicates reaping your harvest. Known as the Victory card, the Six of Rods in the Hanson-Roberts deck shows a man on a horse and his younger sidekick riding off into the blazing sun, victorious, his bags full with the spoils of war. You’ve done it! Something tells me Maisy is on a spiritual voyage and this card marks a huge milestone for her in personal growth and development.

November: Wheel of Fortune

With victory comes good fortune, shown by the Major Arcana Wheel of Fortune in November. After the mid-year struggles, everything has fallen into place. Maisy, be generous with your wins.

December: Four of Pentacles

This greedy little gentleman in December, holding tight to his pentacles so no one steals them, knows plenitude but not true abundance. Abundance means having so much that you’re not afraid to let it go – you know the Universe has more to deliver your way. The Four of Pentacles often serves as a reminder, “give and you will receive; stop keeping score.” For Maisy, this could apply to money, gifts or even her time and energy. The holidays always seem stressful. Take a deep breath, act as if you have all the time in the world – and you will, Maisy!

January: Eight of Cups

This card indicates that Maisy is nearing the end of her spiritual journey, but is afraid to let it go. She has learned all she needs to in this cycle and winter 2010 is the time to reinvent herself completely. With the Eight of Cups, Maisy has learned to stop lying to herself—or purged the people from her life who have been lying to her, now it is time to move on because better things await.

February: Death

This card strongly reinforces the Eight of Cups. In fact, as the Number 8 Major Arcana, it is simply the Eight of Cups in its strongest incarnation. The Death card demands you to let go of a situation that isn’t working… step forward. Maisy must do this, to pave way for much better things. (Didn’t I say that already?) Seriously, this winter, get ready to let go – perhaps kicking and screaming – to old beliefs, people, tasks, places… whatever isn’t working for you, Maisy, get rid of it.

March: Four of Rods

The Four of Rods provides great incentive to listen to the tarot’s advice to let go. This card indicates a happy celebration. A birth. The purchase of a home. A wedding, anniversary, party.

April: Five of Swords

Miss Michele had trouble reconciling this card with the rest of the reading… earlier in the year, it would have made sense, as it represents Maisy still clinging tightly to things – material or beliefs. The only thing I can say is that she has taken a few steps forward, and now she is taking one back. This is the storm AFTER the calm, if you will. The Five of Swords may also indicate empty victory – Maisy thought she had achieved all she wanted, and now discovers there are other paths to conquer.

May: The Chariot

You’ll do it… when Maisy sets her mind to it, things will move rapidly and she will regain the spiritual and emotional ground she lost – and then some. The Chariot also indicates a much-needed journey, a change of scenery. It might indicate an actual trip, or another change of mind that puts Maisy in a different “place,” so to speak.

Again, the King of Cups as the over-riding theme is Maisy’s anchor, her sanity, in a year characterized by many emotional ups and downs and personal growth. Maisy, you will not be the same person in May 2010 as you are today, but you will like – ACCEPT – the new “you” much better.

Last week Future-Tarot Chat at The Echo of One (10AM EST every Wednesday) seemed to create a central theme focusing on the need to be true to ourselves when making choices that affect our individual lives. The advice in each of the free live readings seemed to gravitate toward making financial sacrifice in the short term the would lead toward greater fulfillment and emotional balance in the long term. Have you ever had to make a choice like that?

Stephanie was facing just such a choice and wanted to gain some advice and guidance from the tarot. Faced with exhaustion and swiftly plunging into emotional detachment she knew that something in her nursing career had to give.

Will quitting nursing lead Stephanie toward a happier lifestyle?

The Past: The Lovers

[Serenity Bly] In the past we have The Lovers. I phrased the question as if quitting is the present and these lovers are showing the difficulty you’ve had in choosing to quit or not quit.

The Present: Seven of Cups

[Serenity Bly] The Seven of Cups in the present shows her pointing toward the choices she is making with her heart. You’ve been asking for guidance and you’re getting it but you need to listen and embrace the message you’re being offered.

[Serenity Bly] The Seven of Cups is very literal in this reading. On the card the woman is kneeling in prayer, gazing up at the higher self or goddess who is pointing at one of the seven cups in the sky.

[Stephanie] I need to make a decision but I’m holding back while I am in this headachy fog. I had a headache and fatigue before calling in sick today after the call I was all up and chirpy again.

[Serenity Bly] Maybe the ‘headachy fog’ is part of the message.

The Future: The Star

[Serenity Bly] The future, The Star, shows that the time head, having quit your job, is not going to be easy. You will release pains and sorrows and hardships.

[Serenity Bly] In The Mythic Tarot Deck, The Star represents the story of Pandora’s box. She kneels over the box, holding the lid open with a hand as all the troubles of the world are released. It seems like a terrible accident, once free in the world there is no way to get them back into the box but when she looks closely she can see the star of hope that remains with her always.

[Serenity Bly] Like Pandora, quitting your job releases conflict, anger, depression, and pain. You may find the coming months an emotional struggle as you rebuild your confidence and bring your life back into balance. But, in the end you’re left with this shining ray of HOPE, you have the strength to face whatever life is going to throw at you and yes, it might be hard, but you’re given an opportunity to discover something new and wonderful.

[Serenity Bly] This card turns the original question and gives it a fairly solid ‘yes’. Maybe it won’t happen in the way you expect, and maybe you’ll want to put things back into the box, but you’re going to grow and gain insight into yourself and what you want from life by making this choice now.

[Stephanie] I was inspired today to ask for leave instead of resigning. Last time I asked for 7 weeks off they said I would have to resign and reapply when I came back. ‘Extended’ leave means there isn’t a time frame so I am flexible and I haven’t burned my bridges. I don’t want to burn my bridges. It’s not that I want to leave the company, the staff, the job itself, I just want time to myself for a while. I may or may not go back.

[Serenity Bly] Extended leave could be a good choice if they’ll let you do that. It will give you some security if you know you can come back to the job if you need it. Like having a lifeline.

[Stephanie] I have a few days more to make up that final decision. I want to be more rested before I do that so I am sure it isn’t a knee jerk decision from a foggy mind.

[Serenity Bly] It sounds to me like you already know what you want to do. Now you just have to do it. Good Luck!

Don’t forget, we’re hosting free live readings at our regular Tarot Chat (Wednesday 10am EST) again this week. You can also tune in to the RadioXShow (11pm EST Wednesday) where host John, invites Miss Michele back to do free live readings for listeners. Call in or ask your question in the chat room to hear your three-card reading live!

Melissa, a regular listener to the RadioXShow, where Miss Michele and Serenity Bly appear to offer free readings on the fourth Wednesday of every month, wrote in requesting an L-for-Love Spread.

Overview: We have an L-for-Love spread with only one cup in the reading, which indicates that you are approaching romance with an analytical mind. Two Major Arcanas in this reading, however, tell Miss Michele that your current relationship might be “the big one.” There is significance here beyond just a fling!

Your past experience in love: Five of Swords: When we look at your past experience, revealed by the Five of Swords, it makes sense why you’re approaching romance in such a philosophical manner. You have been tricked in the past—hurt—when things were not what you expected and your lover turned out to be much more selfish and cunning than you imagined. Now, you are always counting the cards in the game of love, afraid to trust.

Your current experience in love: Seven of Cups: You are currently in the beginning stages of a very happy romance, one that seems almost too good to be true. Or, you may be involved in a romantic fantasy, perhaps with an Internet acquaintance, with dreams of something more. Either way, right now you are floating on clouds, heady with the possibilities in your future. However, because of your past experience, you are waiting for it all to come crashing down. Remember the Law of Attraction; you attract what you fear. In the sentence, “I don’t want him to leave me,” the Universe hears only the word “leave.”

What you want from a love relationship: Two of Swords: At first, this card seemed an odd draw for this position. Why would someone want to close their eyes, to not see things as they are? But the Two of Swords has dual meanings and both apply. You want to continue living in your fantasy land of the Seven of Cups… you want everything to remain perfect, even if it means keeping your eyes closed to your lover’s flaws. (While at the same time, you worry that he will be like your past lover and deceive you.) On the other end of the spectrum, what you seek in this relationship is balance, plain and simple. Someone who compliments your best traits and adds to your life without allowing you to lose yourself in the relationship.

What you need from a love relationship: The High Priestess: The High Priestess represents, once again, the number two, a need for balance. You need someone who will match you intellectually. Since the High Priestess represents a platonic relationship, friendship, trust and a strong partnership are much more important to you right now than carnal pleasures.

What you have to give your lover: Death: This is another card that seems unusual at first glance, but as we put the pieces of the puzzle together, it makes sense. You have it in yourself to give your lover a new beginning in life; the Death card, more so than a sad goodbye, welcomes a new beginning—a position, frame of mind, or life event. For this relationship to work, you must let go of your past, your fears, your relationship baggage. You have this potential. What you have to give your lover, quite literally, is a “new you!”

Possible future experience in love: Page of Wands: The outlook is good as Wands reveal action and pages are messengers, so we see a future relationship with a man who will make you feel “young at heart.” As indicated by the Seven of Cups you have jumped into the relationship head-on and it just feels right. Enjoy this time. The tarot does not want to reveal anything further than the start of your relationship, which could mean that you will have the feeling of “young love” for a long time before it transforms into a more mature relationship.

Remember, Melissa, let go of the past to manifest this great future!

Overview: This year marks a period of change for you. It is a year of big ideas tempered with careful contemplation. In numerology, 2009 is a “number 11″ year, and your thematic card for the year is also an 11—the Major Arcana, Justice. You are extremely spiritual and will continue that path in 2009, but I also see a lack of justice in your life.

You will feel that others are getting what you want and deserve and won’t understand why. You believe strongly in people “paying their dues” and this will manifest in 2009. You asked about an old flame coming back into your life… he will, but you will be over-thinking the relationship. Does some part of you want him back only to reject him? You’re more focused on wealth, learning, spiritual development and even manipulation than love in the first half of the year.

January: You seem to be over-thinking everything, as shown by the presence of The Hermit. This careful introspection may be what you need, but be aware of overanalysis.

February: The month of The Magician; you are learning to manipulate your skills and powers (and other people) to your advantage. This is not a bad thing, necessarily. The world is in front of you, and yours for the taking. You don’t quite capitalize on your talents, however…

Come March, the Ten of Swords shows that you are extremely tired, physically and emotionally exhausted. You’re weary of the games you’ve been playing with your lover, and it’s becoming hard to trust.

April: The spring, however, brings good news and change in the form of the Knight of Pentacles in April. New developments in your career put romance on the back burner. You may be contemplating an academic course… I feel a strong pull toward learning in 2009 for you.

May: The Ten of Pentacles brings enhanced wealth, career success and even joyous family times. All the tens in this reading (three out of four in the minors!) shows you are very near the end of a spiritual cycle, bringing with it career success, material gain, and increased social status. The only thing missing—pointedly—is the Ten of Cups, which would mark an ongoing relationship.

In June, something you hadn’t seen will be brought to light with the Eight of Swords. You will come to the conclusion that you were closing your eyes to some significant piece of information.

July brings the Seven of Cups, the Daydream card. You begin to realize that if you can dream it, you can do it. You begin putting the plans in place for a trip, journey or perhaps even a move. It could be that getting away from it all, for a fresh start, could be exactly what you need!

August: The Chariot, the card of travel and yet another seven. Like 11, the number 7 is steeped in mysticism. It is a number of introspection and thought. If you plan things out properly, your move or trip will go well, without incident, and even pave the path to new opportunities in your life.

September brings a new love with the Two of Cups. With your past lover gone from your life once again, the door is open for new romantic possibilities, as well as friendships and joyous social occasions and celebrations.

October is characterized by lots of work in the Ten of Rods. You are carrying a huge burden, and believe it is yours to carry in order to get what you want. This is, again, the theme of Justice manifesting. “You reap what you sow” may be the theme of the year, and you can certainly turn your hard work into positive rewards.

The Major Arcana, The Emperor, carries his message for you in November. The Emperor, like the Magician, shows your control over your environment. On your 2009 tarot journey, you are learning not only to control yourself but others… in a good way. However, toward the end of the year the burden is getting too heavy to bear… the Ten of Rods, Four of Pentacles (December’s card) and the Emperor combine to show this. Can you relinquish some of your hard work and the resulting rewards for peace of mind and fun?

The year ends in December with the Four of Pentacles. While it’s been a prosperous year for you, it may be a good time to think about the less fortunate. What you give away will be returned, multiplied by 10. Give love to the Universe, and that’s what you will receive back. In 2009, you are sending out hard work, intelligence, teaching and learning… and in return, you grow along your spiritual path as well as reap material gains.