Future Tarot

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.

A few months ago I asked the lovely Miss Michele to do my 2009, 12-Month Spread. I’ve had Miss Michele do these spreads for me a couple of times now and am always amazed in hindsight at how accurately they reflect the year’s activities. Looking back at April, May, and June 2009 I have to admit this reading is coming up with almost spooky accuracy. I just couldn’t resist sharing my reading with you.

In a long overdue 12-month, 13-card spread for my partner Serenity Bly (it’s the old shoemaker’s children situation!) Miss Michele has discovered that April 2009 is Serenity’s month to conquer the World. Whether that “world” is a video game, the blogosphere or some other endeavor, time will tell. But even better things are to come!

Overview: 2009 will be/is a year of learning and profit, during which time Serenity’s worst fears will be the stuff nightmares are made of. However, fearing and worrying is a waste of time as the worst will not materialize. (Ah, it so rarely does!) Serenity Bly takes time this year to learn how to manipulate her environment and hone her skills. She is studying, with an emphasis on the occult (well, go figure!) to get what she has a right to financially. (Don’t worry, dear readers, we’re not raising our rates here at Future-Tarot.) Serenity’s biggest worry will be working too hard. The word “possibilities” is literally whispering to Miss Michele during this reading.

April: The World

As already stated, April will present Serenity Bly with The World at her fingertips. Possibilities are ripe for, well, anything.

May: The Magician

By May, Serenity learns how to manipulate her environment and use the tools at her disposal to conquer the World, which presented itself in April. Although The Magician in Miss Michele’s preferred deck, Hanson-Roberts, is a man, Miss Michele detects a feminine energy in this card. It represents none other than the querent, who will use her intuition, intelligence and technical skills to keep her business going strong.

June: Seven of Pentacles

June brings additional emphasis on business and financial possibilities. With the Seven of Pentacles, she will begin to reap the rewards of several newly-launched passive income businesses and affiliate marketing Web sites, and will be afforded the opportunity to sit back and watch them grow. Just as things are taking off, now, she may consider a change of direction, as well.

July: King of Pentacles and Three of Swords

The King of Pentacles and Three of Swords stuck together during this reading to appear in July, leaving Miss Michele to draw one conclusion: a man will break Serenity’s heart. It will be someone she views as a mentor—perhaps even someone she meets in the business world. While it may not be a romantic encounter, the end result of a broken heart will sting as much as a love lost.

August: The Star

In August, The Star appears reminding Serenity of the power and strength of her intuition. There is a strong emphasis on the occult and, once again, great possibilities in front of her.

September: Six of Cups

The Six of Cups represents a joyful past. Serenity begins considering what she did right – in business and romance – in the past and begins longing for the way things were. What can she do to bring back elements of a happier time?

October: Eight of Pentacles

2009, for Serenity, is characterized by periods of learning and growth, followed by time to relax and enjoy those rewards. This continues with the Eight of Pentacles in October, when she may take a course or class, which will help grow her business further.

November: Judgment

And again, in November, she will rest to reap the rewards, this time characterized by the major arcane Judgment. She will be judged favorably by peers and may receive a cash settlement, related to real estate, an outstanding lawsuit, or money owed from a client.

December: Page of Swords

The Page of Swords comes bearing a message, and once again, the emphasis is on matters of business, learning and financial success. Serenity works hard to increase her intellect, but fears it is not enough. Pessimism rears its ugly head… the phrase for this hot Australian summer is: “This too shall pass.”

January: Ten of Swords

It all gets to be a bit too much come January, with the Ten of Swords heralding a forced rest. Two pages in the spread, along with the star and King of Pentacles may foretell of a pregnancy and, if that’s the case, there may be forced bed-rest in January. Otherwise an illness, or perhaps just sheer exhaustion, will force Serenity into a phase of withdrawal. She may feel as if all she wants to do is surrender to the Universe. Remember, Serenity, your state of mind is your worst enemy. Rely on your friends and support network to get you through… Change is around the corner!

February: Knight of Pentacles

Knights herald change, so the Knight of Pentacles reveals yet another change in financial status—once again, for the better. (Ah, the life of a freelancer.) Serenity’s health issues pass without serious incident, placing her in a position to face whatever the Universe will throw at her next. Perseverance and hard work prevail.

March: Page of Cups

The Page of Cups in March 2010 marks a birth… a literal (albeit slightly premature?) birth of a child, or birth of yet another business? The emphasis is on creative energy and growth—and exactly what Serenity needs at this point in her life.

Serenity, Miss Michele has tossed a lot at you in this spread. Please follow-up and let me know if you’d like clarification on any points.

Otherwise known as the classic three card spread “Body, Mind, Spirit,” this tarot spread provides a quick glance at a person’s overall health and wellness. This is good for when you need to easily see which areas are going well, and which areas need improvement. I’ve been feeling a little drained lately, and decided to do this spread for myself with the Gilded Tarot Deck.

Body – Mind – Spirit

Today’s Draw: Eight of Cups – Temperance – The Devil

Eight of Cups: This is the card of letting go of past influences, and you could say that I have let my body go! I haven’t been keeping up a good exercise routine, and have indulged in a few more sweet treats than I should have. In this card, a young man with two feathers in his cap is turned away in pursuit of a new adventure. He has his walking stick in hand, and is looking out towards the moonrise above the mountains. In the foreground is eight cups, some overturned. There is also a small brown creature, which I am really not sure what it is. At first glance, I thought it could be a platypus, but it could also be a mole. Either way, it is lying there, asleep and not traveling with the adventurer.

This card advises that I should let go of old habits that aren’t serving me well, and pursue new adventures in diet and exercise. Try a new sport that I’ve never explored before, along with new healthy foods. I cannot let my fears and confusion prevent me from doing what it takes to have good health.

Temperance: This is the card of alchemy and synergy, of blending two opposites to create a new force. This fire-haired lady hold two cups, one filled with fire, the other with water. The two blend together seamlessly as a river of energy flows between the cups. She is dressed in a sheer orange dress, and floats in the sky in front of a planet, perhaps Mercury.

In the mind position, this card suggests that I reconcile opposite opinions in my mind. The confident and bold side of my personality and the shy, cautious side need to work in harmony. Opposing thoughts can either create conflict in the mind, or can be integrated and used when appropriate. As I reach for the stars, I need to ensure that I am not at war with myself, and am thinking correctly to reach my goals.

The Devil: Unlike the Rider Waite Smith Deck where the Devil is a demon-like creature, this devil is a man who is dealing with his inner demons. He wears a mask with ram horns, and a star on the forehead. Surrounding him is a lake of fire, which illustrates how succumbing to our inner indulgences can burn out our strength, energy, and spirit.

This card shows that I have been a tad too indulgent lately. While we all need to relax and have fun once in a while, letting ourselves follow every whim can lead down a path of trouble. Spiritual discipline is important, as it allows us to explore our emotions and desires in a controlled manner. We can determine what the best course of action is logically, and not be slaves to our inner desires. To be able to remove the mask, and see ourselves for who we truly are, is a great gift that brings self-awareness and healing.

Overall, it seems like I have a lot of work to do, to bring myself into a healthy state. That is the beauty of the tarot cards, as they allow you to see where you have room to grow and blossom. Allow the tarot to point you in the right direction, and your life will reach unexpected new heights of success and healing.

Miss Michele attended a tarot reader herself on December 30. The reading, for the most part, was on the money. She said, however, that my Chakras are unbalanced. I did a bit of reading on the subject and still find it about as clear as pea soup.

But I came across a Chakra reading in Power Tarot the other day, so I decided to see if that would offer some insight into *which* Chakras were unbalanced.

For sure.

The Root Chakra, which represents my energy level and sense of self-preservation is represented by the Fool. This manifested itself today in business negotiations. I am so unsure of myself, so ungrounded, that I continually sell myself short in business dealings. I have energy. This was not the case last week, or at the time of the reading, so I wonder what the cards may have said then? Anyway, my energy is often misdirected and scattered. I have so much work in this area!

The Spleen Chakra, representing sexuality and nurturing, came up as the Five of Swords. Quite curious. There are many, many cards I would consciously select to represent my sexuality. Not this one. But it makes sense. I have a certain rivalry going on and it needs to end. It gets to be about what I want and what is best for me and when I release this negative energy, things will get even better than I could have imagined!

The Solar Plexus chakra, the ego and how I use my energies, along with digestive functions, show no problems at all. The Eight of Pentacles, the work card, shows exactly where I’m directing my energy right now, and, in a lot of ways, “freelance writer” is my identity, my ego, if you will.

The Heart Chakra, too, is functioning properly. The Ace of Cups shows my open, welcoming, nurturing heart. It also shows how many new friends I’ve met recently, and I’ve opened my heart to them without issue. But that’s me.

Throat chakra represents communication, a key for me… The Six of Swords here is not a surprise… because my writer’s block is over and communications issues *are* going well at the moment, however, the shadow of what I went through in regard to writing–and people listening to me–is still lurking in the background. I had huge communications issues in the past, but that influence is passing out of my life now.

The Four of Wands represents my Third-Eye Chakra, my intuition. In this case, I am enjoying success based on my intuition–the growth of Miss Michele’s Tarot Readings. Could also represent a possible partnership related to psychic ability in the near future.

Finally, the Crown Chakra is represented by the Three of Wands– the universe has me set up for a new opportunity that will involve cooperation with others. Several projects come to mind. This card tells me I work better as part of a team, albeit, not a *large* team. I am good in writer/editor relationships, whichever side I’m on. There are THREE partners involved in my business…this is a good number for me.

So all in all, the cards are telling me that I need to stop competing to in areas of sensuality and sexuality, and that I am ungrounded at the moment. There could also be an imbalance because I am investing so much of who I am into my work as a freelance writer/editor.

What to do? I’ll focus on improving these areas, and do another Chakra reading in a month to evaluate my progress.

Kate Boddie says:
I’ve always been rather scattered, hopping from project to project. While it’s all in the same realm, I never really finished anything major.

As of late, things have been starting to fall into place, albeit slowly and I wanted to know if I’ve finally found my track.

Am I headed down the right path? Are my aspirations where they should be?

Miss Michele has a confession.

She sat down to do your reading last night, and the Tower fell out of the deck. Thinking this had no relation to your question—and realizing that Miss Michele was quite tired—she put the cards away to do the reading in the morning.

She shuffled and concentrated, focusing and meditating. And chose the Tower. She continued with a five card reading with the Tower as the first card.

The Tower in the Past shows a complete collapse of your old way of life, some catastrophe or upheaval that made you begin anew. Boddie, the disarray and chaos is behind you now.

But whatever it was, Wow! It sure woke you up to get focused and find your path!

The Four of Wands in the Present position shows that, after your tumultuous past, you’ve found refuge, a well-deserved rest. You’re laying the foundation for successful creative pursuits. You’re enjoying the fruits of your labors and resting before you embark on phase two of your project.

The Unconscious Influences behind your decision—card 3 in your reading—shows the Wheel of Fortune. You have a huge yearning for success—monetary and emotional/spiritual. Your desire for it will make it so. Deep down, you are more confident than you realize! Once again, this card shows massive life changes, the end of a phase and start of a new one. You are always on the go, girl—change, change, change, turn, turn, turn!

The Tarot offers Advice in the form of the Three of Wands, the fourth card in this spread. The suite of Wands show creative and entrepreneurial spirit. Though not quite as “active” as Swords, which are sure harbingers of change and tumult, the Wands show lots of action in the thought realm. These are the cards of “ideas,” the beginning of a new project.

The advice offered in the Three of Wands is to “go for it;” you are on the right track in your new creative venture. Business will move forward swiftly. Keep an eye on your goals. Publicize yourself. If a mentor should cross your path, take their advice and rely on their assistance. The emphasis is on cooperation— you don’t have to go it alone.

Miss Michele drew a *very* curious card signifying the Possible Outcome. The Ten of Swords indicates a need for rest, the death of an illusion, plans not working out. Everything will be going well and then, bam, out of nowhere… deception from a business colleague leaves you starting back at square one. This could also indicate (likely!) burnout after working full throttle on a project. Miss Michele warns Boddie to pace herself, tread carefully as your venture reaches its culmination. There is more work ahead. Take a break and look at the situation with fresh eyes after a much-needed rest.

After all, that’s what’s happened in your past projects… burn-out, being unable to run the full course.

Not wanting to end on this sour note, Miss Michele asked the Tarot:

What is Boddie’s Best Course of Action to prevent this Outcome?

The Seven of Wands gives us the answer: Hold firm against the opposition, fight for your ideals and stand your ground. It will take courage. You will feel like giving up. Don’t!
You are on the right track!

And feel free to come to Miss Michele for guidance throughout your journey.

Keep those questions coming, everyone!  Readings are FREE for the rest of 2007!