Reading: My voice as a tarotista
Posted: November 17th, 2009 | Filed under: Readings | 3 Comments »I have been playing around with the Orphalese Tarot software — trying to figure out if I can use it as a way to store and organize my tarot spreads (I can’t — it seems). I’m really digging the software as a way to illustrate readings without having to take an actual photo of my reading space (which is, un-mystically enough, sometimes the space between the edge of my computer desk and the keyboard I’m typing on). I can throw cards in person, call up the spread I’m using in Orphalese and attach the cards I pulled (or I could have the computer randomly pick cards of course) and then type up notes and have a fancy diagram and everything to add to a journal or send with a reading.
When I was going through the notebook of tarot spreads I’ve collected and hastily scribbled down, I found a three card spread that gives advice regarding one’s voice as a reader. I pulled the three cards with my Morgan-Greer and here’s what I came up with (as illustrated in Orphalese):
The first position refers to my strengths as a reader. The seven of pentacles is telling me that I’ve done my homework here. I’ve put in my dues and I’m on the brink of finding the payoff. I find tarot to be personally satisfying and fulfilling and because of the years I’ve spent studying and in personal practice — planting the seeds of success, I have the confidence it takes as a professional. And there’s even more still to reap. This card is a process card. It’s not necessarily an outcome right now. I’ve got the Lenormand on deck and two other tarots I’m developing in conceptual phases. This card is telling me that there is no reason to believe I’ll fail so long as I keep growing what I most love.
The second position refers to my weaknesses as a tarot reader and this card is (obviously) the Lovers. As an aside — I really love this card. I think it’s one of the greatest Lovers cards in all the decks I’ve ever seen — hairy bum and all… In many ways I can see my relationship to tarot as an affair. And like affairs, it wanes and cycles. Often in the fall and winter when I’m kept indoors more often I find myself turning to the cards — and then, once spring hits, all I want to do is go out in the garden. Love is fickle — and at times, my voice as a reader is also fickle. I fall passionately for a deck one day only to give it away the next. I keep questing for the mythical “ONE” tarot deck. My feelings on reading for others cool when I experience burn-out. And the Lover’s card often indicates that a conscious choice is being made. I know that when I’m totally obsessed with tarot I leave my crafting self in the dust — and vice versa. When I’m working on the Lenormand or reading for myself, I feel guilty for not playing with the kids — and when I spend a whole day with my kids, I get itchy to shuffle cards. Love is often misunderstood as well, and as a reader, I sometimes hesitate to try to “explain myself” to people who just don’t see a value for tarot in their lives (or worse, fear it). I don’t want other people to judge my relationship with tarot and I’m ill prepared to defend it if necessary.
The third card reveals the tension or dynamic between the two. I find the four of pentacles in the Morgan-Greer especially to be a mixed bag. On the one hand, I see this card telling me that I’m steadfast in my practice and that I’ll hold on to tarot in my life as long as I can. On the other, I see this card as a bit of a warning that my “all-or-nothing” attitude holds me back. I need to work on establishing a practice that works with my life as it is — and does not compete with my other selves (the mother, the artist). I also think this card is telling me to not be so defensive and try to trust that the people who will reject me for my love of tarot probably wouldn’t fit in my life anyway.
So that’s my reading for today — and quite typical of my three card readings anyway. I’d love to hear any comments or insights any other readers might offer. What is your voice as a tarot reader?
If you don’t read cards, which version of “you” would you benefit the most from learning about? I can see myself pulling cards for myself as a crafter, as a mother, as a student, as a writer…
Hey Melissa,
First off, this is a really interesting spread – short, sweet, yet incredibly deep. And I absolutely love the Morgan Greer deck. Many consider it to be just another RWS clone, but there’s a whole lot more to it than meets the eye.
Secondly, I would love to add my 2 cents to your reading, if I may…
With 7 of Pentacles as your strengths as a reader -Yes, you have put in a lot of effort into learning the Tarot, and all things related, and you have gone in very deep into the subject. However, with Lovers as your ‘weakness’ indicates that despite your efforts in delving deep into the tarot, there are many a things that you’ve perhaps skimmed over lightly, some of which you didn’t really understand or ‘get’ and thus decided they weren’t worth pursuing. Plus, the 4 of Pentacles could indicate that maybe you’re unable to move out of your ‘comfort zone’ with the Tarot, and thus are unable to take your Tarot Abilities to a ‘higher level’.
However, the Quintessence card here is The Star, which to me says that even despite the ‘weaknesses’ listed above (by both you and I), you are a ‘natural’ with the Tarot, and thus don’t really need most of the arcane theoretical aspects of it – (Lovers = Hermeticism, Astrology, Qabalah, Ceremonial Magick, etc) to be able to read the cards flawlessly. The Star also indicates that Tarot is merely a ‘spring board’ for your divination skills, and those are so strong, that you can not only read other cartomantic tools (playing cards, oracle cards, lenomand cards etc), but even be able to read natural signs, coffee beans, scry water or mirrors, etc etc.
The key here is to break out of your comfort zone and keep pushing yourself further and further, stretching your limits, allowing yourself to master your inner abilities so that whatever you choose to read with at that time, you can do it flawlessly.
Hope this was helpful
Love and Blessings
Zorian
Zorian –
Thanks so much for the thoughtful reply!! My Morgan-Greer is my go-to deck for so many reasons — it was a previously loved gift and I like the feel of the cards in my hand.
I can definitely see what you mean about the 4 of pents and the “comfort zone issues”. I have so many great ideas to add to my tarot practice and often get bad cases of fear-of-failure when I try to practically implement them.
You wrote, “However, with Lovers as your ‘weakness’ indicates that despite your efforts in delving deep into the tarot, there are many a things that you’ve perhaps skimmed over lightly, some of which you didn’t really understand or ‘get’ and thus decided they weren’t worth pursuing.” — I can see why you would say this and I totally agree. When we fall in love, we all pick and choose (not necessarily *who* we fall in love with but) the aspects of the people we chose to love or what we love about them.
I’m probably the least metaphysical tarot reader I know, actually! LOL! I can’t even pronounce Qabalah, let alone put together a coherent sentence that would describe it in any way! I do wonder if that hurts my practice — but I just can’t seem to get into a lot of the mysticism. Tarot, for me, is a normal, everyday thing — that I treat with the same reverence as all the other magic I create (cooking, gardening, raising children…).
Thanks so much for the extra insights! – Melissa
Here are somethings I noticed about your reading.
The Lovers card is a card of two things that are incompatible. In this case the two things are the ebb and flow of how you gravitate to the tarot as you mentioned.
The 7 of Pentacles is the card of bounty and fertility. Future bounty is expected because of the success that has come in the past.
Notice how the 7 of Pentacles is turned away from the Lovers card. This shows that you are heading away from the incompatible phase and moving more deeply into the success and bounty phase. This means you are working towards solving the issue.
The final card is the 4 of pentacles. To me this is the card of balance and reflection as well. The card is looking up at you and not turned in any direction which means the fate of the matter lies with you. It will be your own reflections and thoughts that will decide what happens with this issue.
All in all this reading means you are spiraling towards being more spiritually grounded in the art of the Tarot.
My readings tend to deal with the more spiritual aspects of the cards and NOT the mundane ones.
By the way I like this site,very well done and very professional. I saw the link over in Aeclectic Tarot and decided to check it out.