Future Tarot

[knittingbrow] What do you need from me? A question?

[Serenity Bly] A question helps give us a direction for the reading, knittingbrow. And it helps us tune into your specific situation. There is a lot of emotional energy in this room and the cards will be drawn too the strongest energy without a clear purpose and direction.

[knittingbrow] Ok. I need a next step for my spiritual exploration. I’m a bit too close right now.

[Miss Michelle] That sounds like a question for Serenity Bly. She’s great with those!

[knittingbrow] Ok. I’m ready to hear what needs to be said.

[Serenity Bly] *ponders* Well on first impression the words “going solo” come to mind.

[knittingbrow] Oh?

[Serenity Bly] In the past The Lovers indicate a kind of uneasy partnership, very different people all with their own ideas and opinions have been working together, sort of, to make things happen but it’s uneasy and a bit of a “too many hands in the kitchen” feeling.

[knittingbrow] True. That has been the experience.

[Serenity Bly] The Two of Swords in the present shows that sort of thing coming to a head at the moment, conflict, and it’s possible you’ve been closing yourself off, trying to block out the battle. The Hermit in the future is the “going solo”. Making your own path and choosing what is right for YOU. Doing things your way, even if it means giving up the help and guidance of others. The good news is, the hermit is well equipped for his journey. He is guided by the light of his own inspiration and knowledge. It’s not a particularly spiritual card, and the tools he holds show a need to be committed to the work involved.

[knittingbrow] *big grin*  My favorite card (and the one that is my numerology) is the hermit.

[Serenity Bly] The Hermit has a core of strength and shows that you don’t NEED to lean on others, and their opinions and choices don’t need to hold you back any longer. You’ve learned enough to move forward on your own. And while I say “he” what I really mean is You. Because this hermit IS you, despite the man I feel is under the wraps of the hermit on my card.

[knittingbrow] Does the Hermit give you a feeling of being lonely in this reading?

[Serenity Bly] No. It’s focused, one minded, and capable of doing it without help.

[knittingbrow] Ah. That’s insightful. And do I ever reach “it”?

[Serenity Bly] It?

[knittingbrow] The spiritual quest. Not quest, really but the goal.

[Serenity Bly] *chuckles* There is no “it” on a spiritual quest. The QUEST is the whole point. Not the destination. And the hermit is all about walking the path.

[Miss Michelle] Well, I would say the quest IS the quest… you’re on it. And yes, precisely what Serenity said.

[knittingbrow] Yes, yes yes. As soon as I typed it, I got hit. I’m surprised I got that one so quickly.

[Miss Michelle] One thing I’d say with the Two of Swords: You’re very concerned about balance BEFORE you strike off. Balancing the mundane with the spiritual. People not understanding. You’d do best to be rid of those people who don’t “get it.”

[knittingbrow] Yes. Walking the path. I am very concerned about balance.

[Serenity Bly] I get the impression that you’ve had “other” paths in the past, so you know from walking those that you never really reach the end, you seek new destinations and are constantly progressing onward and upward. Ultimately, death is the only transition that takes you out of LIFE’s spiritual question and even that is only a step onto the next path.

[Miss Michelle] I feel more relaxed just tapping into your energy, knittingbrow. You ARE more advanced, spiritually, than you know.

[knittingbrow] I’ve walked other paths, but not been truly connected. Miss Michele, tap away. I wonder about that Two of Swords.

[Miss Michelle] It’s about balance and also–I don’t know the imagery in Serenity Bly’s deck, but in the Hanson Robert’s it’s a girl blindfolded. You weren’t, previously, seeing what you just GOT. That the quest IS the “it”. You’re also not opening your eyes to your full spiritual potential. You feel like you’re not there, because you’re waiting for some tangible sign.

[Serenity Bly] In mine the querent has his hands over his ears and his eyes clenched shut while a man and woman are fighting each other in front of him. But you ARE there. It’s like, “mom and dad are arguing and the child is trying to tune it out”. Which is a whole new spin on that card, never seen it that way before.

[knittingbrow] I’m making this harder than I need, aren’t I?  I should just trust.

[Miss Michelle] YES, thank you. You took the words out of my mouth. Don’t over-think it. And, also, shut out the outside world if you have to. Make the effort to surround yourself with like-minded people.

[Serenity Bly] Or at least to remove yourself from the people who are conflicting against what you want and need.

[knittingbrow] I’m finding it a bit hard to discover those like-minded people. I think I’ll be working on removing those.

[Serenity Bly] The Hermit doesn’t really indicate moving into a circle of like-minded people at the moment. But it is a moving away from the battles and conflict to make your own way. In a spiritual sense it’s like having two religions, you like something of both of them but they don’t exist together harmoniously. The devout of both are always fighting with the devout of others.

[knittingbrow] Serenity, that makes sense to me.

[Serenity Bly] The Hermit makes his own religion, blending what he liked of the two, discarding what he didn’t, and moving into that without the “politics” that standard religion creates.

[Miss Michelle] Yes. Essentially, what the Hermit is saying is if you can’t find others like you, you are truly better off alone!

[knittingbrow] What was the first card again?

[Serenity Bly] The Lovers was in the past. This is the community of very different minds.

[knittingbrow] So if I sum this up… I have to stop holding on to the past attempts, get out of my way, and start walking the path because I have the strength to do my own thing. I have to trust myself and my connection to Spirit.

[Miss Michelle] YES.

[Serenity Bly] *ponders* You are walking the path, even if you think you aren’t. The message I get from this is that you need to strike out on your own. Put aside the opinions and beliefs of others and follow your own conclusions.

[knittingbrow] It has always been there and I’m the block.

[Miss Michelle] You’re only the block because you believe you are and are saying you are. There is no block.

[knittingbrow] Thanks for the insight Serenity Bly and Miss Michele. This has been very affirming.

Cindy asks, “I just recently started a relationship with a new man. What is the significance of this relationship? I’m looking for whatever guidance or insight they want to share. Thanks so much for your help!”

1. Your Present Self – Eight of Cups

You’ve had your share of heartbreaks and love gone wrong. You’ve learned to walk away from pain and sorrow. You’ve developed relationships that grew, for a time, and ended. I get the impression you’re not long out of a deeply emotional relationship and you are still carrying the wounds of that relationship within your heart.

2. The Crossing Card – The Lovers (reversed)

The way your heart it still tied to your past love is also reflected in The Lovers (reversed) as a crossing card. Often, The Lovers represent choice and in this case I feel like you’re doubting your past choices. A part of you reserves your heart because you’re yearning for an old love and feel like your choices are no longer yours to make.

3. The Crowning Card – Three of Cups

The Three of Cups shows clearly this new union. It’s a fond partnership that has the potential to be loving and giving. This new person in your life cares for you but also senses your reserve. He’ll champion for you, and your friends support your union, but you’re still not totally committed within yourself.

4. Aspects You Cannot See – Seven of Swords

Unfortunately, this could mean that your current love interest is shoring up his own defenses and preparing to walk away. He can sense your hesitation and is contemplating his own choices.

5. Influences That Are Ending – Page of Cups

In the past you’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on your own situation. You might have come across to others as being a little self-centered and insensitive but you’ve needed to discover your personal worth and that is one of the things the Page of Wands does best.

6. Influences That Are Beginning – Ten of Wands (reversed)

After spending time in introspection you’re beginning to feel caged and dominated. A part of me feels like your current love interest may be a domineering force but I also get the impression that much of your caged sensation comes from within your own thoughts. You’ve been very hard on yourself and unless you consciously take action to let go of dis-empowering thoughts you’ll continue to create obstacles to your own happiness.

7. Attitudes You Need To Change – Knight of Wands (reversed)

One of the obstacles that come from within is a strange sense of reserve. I’m literally getting a “jolting” sensation, stop, start, stop, start, stop. Like every time you let yourself go and live a little you catch yourself and slam on the breaks. The Knight of Wands needs to be free to chase, free to dream, free to charge forward with his inspiration and ideas. You need to embrace your inner knight and charge forward. Put aside fear or decorum and give into your passions and natural spontaneity.

8. How Others See You – Queen of Wands

You ARE a woman who is in command of her destiny. At least others see this in you. To the outside world you’ve already mastered your desires and you get what you want. You rule the animal kingdom with a core of strength and certainty. If others see this in you then it IS in you. Do you need to believe it of yourself?

9. Your Hopes and Fears – Two of Cups (reversed)

The fears that show up readily in the Two of Cups (reversed) are clearly the cause of past pain and anguish. You’ve felt abandoned and unloved in the past and you’re afraid of rejection and heartbreak. You don’t want to be alone and while you desperately hope to find a lover who can be “the one” you’re thoughts often linger on all the reasons you feel loving others is dangerous.

10. Potential Outcome – Ace of Swords (reversed)

Ultimately, going back to your original question, “What is the significance of this relationship?” the final card in this Celtic Cross Spread tells me that the answer is, “Learning to communicate.” For a very long time you’ve kept your own counsel. You’ve held your tongue instead of sharing your doubts, concerns, and pain. You’ve shown the strength of the Queen of Wands in yourself but hide your weaknesses. Doing this creates a sense of detachment and distance. Your new love interest has one foot on the threshold of your relationship, he’s not sure if he wants to leap in or leap out because he’s not getting clear signals from you.

The Ace of Swords in the final position shows a growing ability to communicate with the people in your life, to let them into your inner sanctum. Learn to let down your guard and open up to the people in your life so that you can embrace the true joy that comes with love. Heartbreak is real, yes, loving can hurt, but if you turn your back on the risk of future pain you’ll miss opportunities in the present to be very happy. Express your fears, talk about what you truly want, what your hopes and dreams for the future are, to this new love. Talking openly will strengthen the bonds of this relationship, but more importantly it will give you the tools you need to deal with all the people in your life that you care about.

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!

Cici has ordered a 12-month spread from Miss Michele and good things are in the cards for her.

The year 2009 is shaping up to be characterized by: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Your dreams know no limits, and you have the power, strength, intelligence, and skills to realize every dream you have, everything you can possibly imagine. Miss Michele wouldn’t be surprised, with the plethora of Cups in this spread, if you’ve been searching for Mr. Right for some time – perhaps may have given up hope of ever sharing your life with someone special. If that is the case, this will be the year for romance for you!

Rarely have I seen so many Major Arcanas in a 12-month spread, which means this is a BIG year for you. Lots of significant changes are on the horizon. The year’s overview is represented by the 7 of Cups, the card of Daydreams. You may feel somewhat “off,” as if you can’t focus your mind on reality. That’s okay, though, because it is your wild imagination and ability to “dream big” that will bring you success this year – in career fulfillment and matters of the heart. Don’t worry if the money isn’t forthcoming this year; 2009 and the beginning of 2010 is all about emotional and spiritual fulfillment, which you will receive.

May: Knight of Pentacles: This month kicked off with preparations for some major changes in finance and career, which could have sparked your ordering this spread. You want to see which direction is best to take. Knights indicate changes on the horizon, but still in the early planning stages. Based on surrounding cards, moving forward will serve you well at this time.

June: Strength: You’ll need to harness your strength and most importantly, your feminine intuition, loving nature and above all, strength in character in order to succeed in your new – or simply expanded – business endeavors. The card Strength represent feminine strength of character rather than brute force. You can finesse your way into positive situations.

July: Eight of Wands: Things are moving full speed ahead for you. This card typically represents a new job offer or incredible business success. You may just be swamped with orders – so much that you need to hire help for certain aspects of you’re business. Your business is growing, and your income with it.

August: The Emperor: Come August, you’ll want to do things by the book, to avoid any issues or legal hassles. Someone may question the validity of your business, but you will be able to prove its worth with logic and calm grace. Also look for a male to figure prominently, perhaps in a management role; he can help take your business to the next level.

September: The Chariot: This card often indicates literal travel – perhaps for business or it could be time for a vacation. It also indicates, in this spread, that things are moving quickly for you. This entire year represents rapid growth and development.

October: The Magician: You are becoming a master at using your skills and talents to manipulate situations the way you want them. If you can visualize it, you can complete it this year. Lots of masculine energy in this reading makes me believe a male mentor will come into your life, probably showing up as the Emperor in August, and you will really begin to apply what he has been teaching you come October.

November: Four of Cups: The approach of the holiday season leaves you feeling a bit “off.” All these celebrations seem empty and devoid of meaning, and you don’t have any desire to be lifted out of your doldrums. This isn’t how you usually act – you may be missing someone who was close to you. Perhaps the strong male influence has stepped out of your life for reasons you don’t quite understand. The tarot’s advice? Step back to the roots of it all, why you do what you do. Devote time to a favorite charity and then step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You may have simply lost direction in your life… step back and consider what it is you really desire.

December: Knight of Cups: Things turn around with the Knight of Cups – Knights literally represent change, and Cups show an emotional change, a complete turn-around from November’s mood. You’ve re-connected with your dreams and goals and begin pursuing them again without hesitation or doubts.

January 2010: Nine of Cups: The New Year brings the fulfillment of the dreams you began to pursue with the Knight of Cups in December. The Knight may also represent a new love, and January’s Nine of Cups signifies the development of that relationship.

February 2010: Ace of Wands: As the Nine of Cups indicated the fulfillment of your dreams, you enter the next phase of your development with the Ace of Wands in February. Combined with the High Priestess in March, I wonder if a marriage, pregnancy or birth could be in the cards. You are bursting with ideas and the discipline and energy to execute them! It’s an exciting time of year for you.

March 2010: High Priestess: The High Priestess, shows that your feminine intuition serves you well in making upcoming decisions, in both business and your personal life. Don’t be afraid to open your heart and reach out, particularly in the realm of personal relationships – it is time! Do your research, though, and the answers will come easy.

April 2010: The Lovers: You’ll face a crucial decision this month, perhaps in regard to a new love. You will make the right choice.

I started out today’s card of the day reading with a straightforward question: Will I be successful in completing some of my work today?

The forecast is not good, but certainly reflects my mood. I’ve had a bad case of the “blahs” since Sunday afternoon. I’m not sure why. It could be because the temperature plummeted from mid-60s on Saturday to 40s on Sunday, and it’s been quite overcast. I am so done with this weather! I want spring, nay, SUMMER, already!

The card of the day is the Nine of Swords, the Nightmare card. This doesn’t portend the disaster that it could, it simply means I will have an unproductive day… unless I take action to change that.

I need to stop letting my worries about completing my work, well, stop me from completing my work. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

I need to clear off my desk and apply some good old-fashioned BIC (Butt-in-Chair) exercises if I have any hope of catching up.

I asked the Tarot for some advice on how best to do this. I drew The Lovers. Simply make a decision, and do it. Choose which project to tackle, forget about the rest, and move forward. Sounds easy enough, right?

Check back tomorrow to see how I did with that!