Future Tarot

[lowgigirl] My question is about diabetes and I’m still gaining weight. Is there anything the cards can tell me?

[Miss Michelle] Ah, Low GI girl. Now the name makes sense.

[lowgigirl] No meds, no needles, just diet and exercise.

[Miss Michelle] Good for you!! I had gestational diabetes and beat it that way. This first card just makes me want to reach out and give you a hug… It’s the Four of Cups… And it shows how you let this affect you emotionally in the past. You needed a friend. There was emptiness… until you took control of things.  The rest of the cards: Four of Swords, Nine of Cups, and I felt need for a fourth, the Two of Wands. So when you found a non-medical solution, LowGIGirl, it represented hope.

[Serenity Bly] I’m also getting a feeling of “mixed messages” from the Four of Cups, as if it’s been hard to follow the “rules” of diet and exercise because there are so many different versions of them. There is a sense of confusion about what is “right.”

[Miss Michelle] I see a need for rest, avoidance of needles. “Lost” and “confused” from that card. Hence why, GI Girl, I wanted to give you a hug.

[lowgigirl] Being hungry makes me have bad moods.

[Miss Michelle] I’m sensing definite fear of the needles and medical treatments in the Four of Swords.

[Serenity Bly] And I’m getting an “OMG I’m Starving” sensation that makes me wonder if I should have eaten or if you should have. It’s making me literally jittery, as if your meal-time schedule is off balance, you need to eat more regularly. But like I said, it could be me needing to eat.

[Miss Michelle] The conventional definition for that Four of Swords is a forced rest period, possible hospitalization, treatments. BUT in this sense, I’m getting a FEAR of that, and avoidance of it. It is not–I want to stress not–an outcome. But it’s on your mind–understandably so. I’m also getting weariness from that Four of Swords…

[lowgigirl] I’m aware if I don’t behave I’ll be on needles next, I don’t want that so I try to be good.

[Miss Michelle] The Nine of Cups –the Wish card– tells me there’s hope you’ll do it. You’ll find the RIGHT diet that will leave you full and satiated, happy and healthy.

[Jen.N] Are needles a sure thing? Have you been on oral medication? (I know it’s not for everyone but it works for me.)

[lowgigirl] Not at this stage. I guess I just expect it down the track.

[Miss Michelle] Don’t expect it. (to be blunt.) You CAN beat this.

[Jen.N] A lot of people do well on oral medication and never have to go on shots.

[Miss Michelle] The Two of Wands that was calling to me to pull it out–I feel like you haven’t met the right doctor. You need a doctor who will look at you in a partnership… you and he (or she) against the disease.

[Jen.N] Miss Michele, Do you mean an actual doctor or a nutritionist/diabetes educator? In my experience, the doctor wasn’t all that helpful but referred me to a great diabetes educator. Could that be beneficial?

[lowgigirl] Educator? I haven’t gone down that path yet. It was on my 2010 list.

[Miss Michelle] Jen, you may be on to something… I’m just using doctor as a “medical professional” synonym.
I’m not getting a sense of “white coat,” etc. The only thing strong is the partnership aspect–like a nutrition coach.

[Serenity Bly] *nods* Yes, and having one giving you the facts will help you build a diet and exercise plan that you can fit into your lifestyle and follow without being confused by mixed messages.

[Jen.N] If your doctor won’t refer you to a diabetes educator, call the local hospital & see if they have one on staff. See if you can get an appointment. Also, do they have classes for new diabetics at your local hospital?

[Serenity Bly] The Two of Wands could also represent an accountability coach. Someone who is working with you to keep you on track. Or teamwork like joining with a program that focuses specifically on healthy eating/exercise (like Weight Watchers or Curves). You mentioned an emotional connection to your diet and diabetes. And if you’re FEELING like you’re “not sweet” you might be doing things with the way you eat that will aggravate your diabetes.

[lowgigirl] My doc did mention a diabetic educator but I didn’t have the time then. I do now.

[Serenity Bly] If you’re compensating for emotional imbalances with reactive diet it can create problems.

[Jen.N] The thing I’ve discovered about diabetes (among many others) is that it’s VERY susceptible to emotions. Stress can make it skyrocket.

[lowgigirl] I found that many things affect it drastically.

[Jen.N] Different things really do affect it drastically. And it’s different for everyone.

[lowgigirl] I just feel miserable most of the time. Not to the point of tears, though. But hubby just has to say the wrong thing and I’m angry easily.

[Miss Michelle] You are dealing with a very frustrating, stressful disease that, on top of other things, affects hormones and mood.

[Jen.N] That’s actually a sign of blood sugar problems, too.

[Serenity Bly] I was just thinking that Jen. The emotional instability is a vicious circle. If your stress is high you’ll have trouble with your diabetes which will cause your emotions to be off-kilter which will cause trouble with your diabetes.

[Miss Michelle] It sounds to me like you are not eating enough, because the lows create bad moods.

[lowgigirl] But if I eat more I will gain more weight.

[Jen.N] OK… Don’t think about eating more as gaining weight. Think about it as in stabilizing blood sugars and keeping your metabolism on a more even keel.

[Miss Michelle] I’m NOT a doctor and I don’t know how you’re eating… But just based on what you’re saying… you may need to eat more food at meal times or eat smaller meals more frequently.

[Serenity Bly] Don’t forget that eating more isn’t about eating junk. It’s about choosing to eat the right kinds of food, more frequently and in smaller portions. Eating something every two hours instead of every five will make a HUGE difference to the stability of your sugar levels and your moods. But the something you eat every two hours should half what you would have eaten if you waited five hours.

[Jen.N] Frequent smaller meals = more level blood sugar and better metabolism which in turn = weight LOSS! And you don’t have to eat a lot. Invest in fruits you like — but not many oranges & citrus fruits — and string cheese and nuts.

[Serenity Bly] But you KNOW this. At least I feel like you know it in theory but are having trouble believing it can work. The only way you can prove to yourself it will work is to try it.

[lowgigirl] I feel like I should be exercising but exercise just give me the shakes.

[Serenity Bly] If exercise gives you the shakes it’s because you’re definitely under-eating.

[lowgigirl] So in summary: Get hugs. Get a dietitian. Eat small meals frequently.

[Miss Michelle] YES you got it.  

[lowgigirl] Thanks, all of you.

[Serenity Bly] *chuckles* In summary, “This has been very draining for you emotionally”, “you’ve faced a lot of confusion about the right way to deal with your diabetes”, “you need to work together with a dietitian to understand the best way to handle your situation,” “you should consider working with a friend or program for accountability”, “focus on keeping a balanced diet of small meals more frequently”, and “exercise, but only if you’ve had a solid meal not long before.” You CAN do this!

[Miss Michelle] EXPECT success. You CAN beat this, and your mindset can help… once you get the blood sugars under control.   

[Jen.N] And don’t get overwhelmed. A diabetes educator will help you to avoid that. If you think too much about what you can and can’t, should and shouldn’t, it all gets VERY overwhelming.

[Serenity Bly] Take it one day at a time. And worry less about what the scales say as to what your body and generally well-being say. If getting your diabetes under control means you do gain weight in the short term that’s okay. Once you’ve got the emotional swings under control you’ll find it easier to bring the weight back down. But I think you’ll find you’re probably under-eating rather than over-eating, and so eating more frequently will actually help you lose weight.

[lowgigirl] I’ve been so focused on not gaining weight that everything else seemed so hard.

[Serenity Bly] And, please talk to us if you need help or just want someone to talk to about it. It can be very confusing, it’s hard to know who to trust and what advice to follow. But sometimes what you really need is a chance to vent frustration or to have a really, really good long cry.

[Serenity Bly] Ah ha! It’s officially 9.30pm who wants a reading?
[Deb] I do. I’m looking at what to do job-wise.
[Miss Michele] Deb, I’ve drawn your cards. Three minors. They are saying the choice is entirely yours. In the past is the Two of Rods, and I’m feeling like I should read this as it came out – reversed. As if, rather than the start of a venture, something is ending… or rather, has ended.
[Deb] Okay
[Miss Michele] You’ve got so many choices in front of you, it’s impossible to pick just one.
[Deb] I’m sort of in job limbo, at the moment.
[Miss Michele] But you know you were unhappy — or rather, “bored” — where you were.
[Deb] well, yeah, and it was gonna end anyway
[Serenity Bly] *ponders* I feel that Two of Rods (Wands) also echoing a lack of confidence or courage to make a choice over what to begin next. There is so much potential for success in many of your options that it is difficult to choose.
[Deb] *nods* Yeah. Right now I have been concentrating on other things, just sort of coasting as this plays out and trying to prepare for whatever is next.
[Serenity Bly] Obviously that then creates a lack of focus because you’re juggling the choices. *waits for more cards*
[Miss Michele] Well, I hate to say things will get worse before they get better.
[Deb] In my deck, that card is the Trapper, part of doing that successfully is learning to bide one’s time
[Miss Michele] Er, Five of Pentacles is the near future, then we have Three of Rods in the outcome. I’m reading the Two of Rods almost as a milder version of the Hanged Man, if that makes sense. Especially since it came out upside down… the cards even resemble each other in my deck. Unlike it being the Hanged Man, though, you weren’t lacking energy. You were in planning stages–which I know for a fact with your going through Secret Abundance Files.
[Serenity Bly] *chuckles* I was just thinking that, it’s a Hanged Man of choice, you’re ‘biding your time’ as you said but are not inactive or unable to proceed like a Hanged Man would be.
[Miss Michele] The Five of Pentacles shows you’re going to bring about something upon yourself that will be a blessing in disguise. It’s really going to look like it sucks. But it’s just to shake you out of that “What should I do?” It’s going to force you out of the waiting stages.
[Serenity Bly] And it’s going to look like a lot of hard work and effort, possibly without much recognition and probably something that will benefit others before it begins to benefit you.
[Miss Michele] Which parlays into the third card. sure…
[Serenity Bly] The opportunity coming up will challenge you which might seem daunting at first but by pushing your boundaries you have an opportunity to grow and develop your skills. I also feel like you’ll be working with others and perhaps this is unusual for you, needing to deal with more back and fourth teamwork than you might normally expect.
[Deb] Okay – in my deck Five of Pentacles is cultivation and Three of Wands is joint effort, which makes sense. Right now I’m working on getting my body to represent who I am
[Miss Michele] Yes… About Three of Wands, it definitely indicates a business partnership, joint venture. I think of it as the ultimate entrepreneurial card.
[Deb] Oddly, I’m cultivating teamwork at work right now, and the ladies I am working with seem appreciative.
[Miss Michele] You’re not going to go into “a job.” You’re going to come up with another career.
[Deb] Pretty sure of that myself, MM
[Miss Michele] Remember, though, Three of Wands is still very early in the game (3). You’re still in the planning stages, looking ahead at all the possibilities off the shore. (not offshore… LOL) What you’re doing at your “job” now will pave the way toward your career. You’re cultivating and planning. But remember, decks don’t always translate directly from one to another.
[Miss Michele] My Hanson-Roberts Five of Pentacles is not yours.
[Deb] True, and we read differently to begin with.
[Miss Michele] Yes… And I do see the cultivation, but expect tough going… being prepared for it will make it easier. (Kind of like cultivating bad soil to yield a better crop.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FUTURE-TAROT!

Amazingly, it’s been a year since Miss Michele and I joined together to form Future-Tarot. From time to time, Miss Michele and I, consider our direction and purpose with the Future-Tarot website and what better time to seek answers then our first anniversary. Frequently we discuss the site from both a business and spiritual aspect, working together to decide how to proceed and what exactly we want to accomplish. From time to time we also ask the Tarot for guidance and support.

This July, Future-Tarot has been very quiet. Miss Michele and I both have busy lives outside of Tarot that split our focus and when we are away from the site it tends to give us the break we subconsciously seek. Continued growth, however, is a primary interest both for us as Tarot readers and specifically for the difference we want to make in your life.

The Nine of Wands – Past

In the past year we’ve traversed rough waters. The journey of personal growth is often one wraught with dangers. It is a long, difficult path build of ideas and inspiration and steering a ship of this girth with two hands at the helm has not always been easy. The Nine of Wands shows that journey and our progress from our earliest beginnings to the point where we’ve become quietly confident of our purpose and direction.

The Page of Wands – Present

Now we are riding initial inspiration. Perhaps it is a case of holding on and allowing fate to guide our course but I also firmly believe that we are in control of our direction and the way we reach our future path. The flame of our ideas burn brightly, guiding our forward momentum and with all journeys we must be prepared and learn as we go forth.

The Page of Wands also indicates a dissatisfaction with our present being. I feel stagnated and a little guilty that we haven’t updated as frequently this month as we have in past months. I haven’t promoted the site at all or made particular effort to encourage interaction. Admittedly, I’ve been very ill the past two weeks but a commitment to writing regularly, giving readings, and embracing Tarot needs to be a priority if we want to see Future-Tarot flourish and this month I’ve allowed myself to do very little.

Ace of Wands / Two of Wands – Future

*ponders* It is interesting to see four wands come out in this reading. Obviously, our focus is on creativity, inspiration, ideas, and the mental aspect of discipline and dedication to craft for the future success of Future-Tarot. An Ace of Wands indicates a sense of finding new motivation, new passion, for the long road ahead. Opportunity is before us but having the courage to act on that opportunity will require commitment.

The Two of Wands shows this new uprush of energy and commitment formulating into solid plans and goals. Miss Michele and I recently talked with Rebecca Laffar-Smith, our web designer, about some theme changes for the website. This is perhaps part of the new creativity and inspiration the ace and two point to but I also feel like these cards are showing us the importance of taking regular action with promotion.

Perhaps it is also a sign that we need to focus on what YOU want. What brings you to Future-Tarot and what direction would you like the site to take?

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.

Miss Michele is in contract on a new home. Feeling too close to the matter to do an accurate, unbiased reading, she asked a friend to draw cards for her: “What will be so regarding the house purchase and move?” Miss Michele’s friend LaRae asked the Tarot.

She used the Gilded Tarot deck for the reading. While Miss Michele typically doesn’t used reversed cards, the reversed cards LaRae drew added a new dimension and depth to the reading.

Past / Heart of the Matter: The World, Reversed: While the World upright in a spread indicates the culmination of all good things, the querent’s every dream coming true, the World reversed indicates a blockage or delay.

Near Future: The Nine of Pentacles: This card, one of Miss Michele’s favorites and one in the deck she identifies strongly with, shows a woman tending her garden. The Gilded Tarot Deck features a beautiful woman in blue beneath a filigree arch. Her left hand is raised and a hooded bird of prey sits perched on it. The card, in any deck, indicates reaping the fruits of labor. It shows that if Miss Michele listens to the people in charge – lets the lawyers, brokers and real estate agents tend to their business, transactions will go smoothly.

Additionally, it indicates the necessary money will come for closing, but Miss Michele will work for it.

Final Outcome: Two of Wands, Reversed: Again, while Miss Michele doesn’t typically read reversed definitions, this one revealed the exact insight she needed. The Two of Wands reversed indicates a need for organization. After stagnating in one place for too long, she is ready to make a change, and she has the energy to move forward. The new environment will open up new choices and opportunities. Miss Michele needs only pick a direction and begin moving.

What LaRae didn’t know when she began the reading is that Miss Michele has started a life and business improvement course rooted in the philosophies of the Law of Attraction. Within a month of beginning the program, she manifested a new home. Organization, wealth and freedom are three more aspects of life she is manifesting – the new home represents all three. It goes to show – reversed cards aren’t always negative!

If you would like to learn more about the 12-week e-course that is changing Miss Michele’s life, please click here: The Secret Abundance Files.

And don’t forget to join us each Wednesday for our tarot chat and free readings in The Echo of One chat room.