Category Archives: Card Spreads

Forensic Cartomancy: Lenormand Cards Discuss Missing Child Diana Alvarez

Here’s a question for you. If you pulled some Lenormand cards to find out whether a missing child was dead or alive and got DOG + BOOK + SCYTHE + CHILD + GARDEN + BIRDS, would you say that child was dead or alive?

I say ‘dead’ and will explain why and how I came to that conclusion further down in this post. But first, I’d like to discuss factors leading up to that particularly grim determination.

 

 

Background

According to news and media reports, Diana Alvarez, a nine year old Fort Myers, Florida child, was discovered missing from her home around 7:00 am on Sunday, May 29, 2016. Over the next several days it became sickeningly clear that a 28 year old male with the initials JG* likely was responsible for the child’s disappearance.

Diana Alvarez, age 9, discovered missing from Fort Myers, FL 5/29/2016, missing child, http://livingwithcards.com
Diana Alvarez, age 9, discovered missing from Fort Myers, FL 5/29/2016

*********************************

*JG had been a tenant at the family’s home, living there and paying rent. When family members noticed that JG appeared to be inappropriately interested in Diana and Diana appeared to be smitten by his attention, they insisted JG move out. This occurred in early May, shortly before the little girl disappeared.

**********************************

As I write this post, the suspect JG is in custody, charged with possession of child pornography. He has not claimed responsibility for the disappearance of Diana Alvarez and has since “lawyered up.” The child is still missing.

The Astrology

I have mentioned before, in this post and this one, that I primarily use forensic horary astrology techniques to discover what has happened in missing persons cases.

Because this is a cartomancy blog and not an astrology blog, I will not go into the blow-by-blow details that I was able to pull from careful analysis of the pertinent charts, other than to say there were numerous indications of kidnap, rape and murder, along with disturbing indications of extreme violence. If you are astrologically oriented, you can get the general idea from my scribbled notes on the “Discovered Missing” chart below.

Forensic horary astrology chart: Diana Alvarez Discovered Missing http://livingwithcards.com
Forensic horary astrology chart: Diana Alvarez Discovered Missing

 

Sickening, at best.

Based on past experience, it occurred to me that perhaps the Lenormand cards could shed more light on the matter. While the astrology was certainly clear enough, I’ve found the cards can often add another layer that is helpful to understanding the dynamics surrounding these tragic cases.

First I pulled a Lenormand Square of 9 to get the general “lay of the land,” so to speak.

Lenormand Square of 9: Circumstances Surrounding Diana Alvarez Disappearance

Lenormand Square of 9: 3 Ship - 26 Book - 9 Bouquet - 18 Dog - 22 Crossroads - 7 Snake - 13 Child - 24 Heart - 15 Bear http://livingwithcards.com
Lenormand Square of 9: 3 Ship – 26 Book – 9 Bouquet – 18 Dog – 22 Crossroads – 7 Snake – 13 Child – 24 Heart – 15 Bear

Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy Deck of 36 Cards

 

Note: None of these cards were preselected.

Diana is 13 Child, JG is 18 Dog. We can easily see they went on a road trip (SHIP + ROADS) that ended badly (SHIP + ROADS + SNAKE). Diana has a crush on JG (DOG + HEART), but JG has told her they have to keep it a secret (BOOK + HEART) from Mama and/or Papa (BEAR). JG gives Diana gifts (BOUQUET) or perhaps promises (HEART) to give them. Diana trusts JG (DOG).

22 Crossroads with 3 Ship + 26 Book suggests a “secret journey.” She should expect something wonderful and pleasant (BOUQUET). Perhaps the roads they traveled were wind-y,  or full of curves, or a round-about route (ROADS + SNAKE). Perhaps a bear or two (BEAR) had been spotted there. Maybe he told her they were going to stop to see the bears (BEAR) on their way to the “big surprise” (BOUQUET) he had for her.

She was so incredibly trusting (CHILD + HEART). Most nine year olds are.

****************************************

 

While the Lenormand Square of 9 was descriptive enough, it did not seem to address the critical question. So, taking a breath, I thoroughly re-mixed the cards and asked:

Q: Diana Alvarez Dead or Alive?

Lenormand Line of 5 with Base Card: 18 Dog - 26 Book - 10 Scythe - 13 Child - 20 Garden - 12 Birds http://livingwithcards.com
Lenormand Line of 5 with Base Card: 18 Dog – 26 Book – 10 Scythe – 13 Child – 20 Garden – 12 Birds

Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy Deck of 36 Cards

Following my normal procedure, I selected the base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck), placing it directly below the central (hinge) card of the Lenormand Line of 5. I have repeatedly found this extra card adds value to the reading, either by modifying one or more of the three cards above it, supplying additional information or clarification, and/or by pointing out a factor that should be considered.

DOG, BOOK and CHILD once again appeared in this second card draw. The repetition of cards in spite of vigorous shuffling and re-mixing in between draws did not go unnoticed. JG is the DOG (trusted friend, loved one, typically male); Diana is the CHILD and the BOOK is the secret between them.

The Line of 5 is quite straightforward. It suggests that the secret friend (DOG + BOOK) “cut” her down/ committed a violent act against her (SCYTHE + CHILD), then buried or placed her in a lushly vegetated area such as a park or nature preserve (GARDEN).

As a modifier to SCYTHE, BIRDS (associated with the throat and/or vocal chords) suggests “air.” Combining the base card with the hinge cardSCYTHE can be a “cut” or an “interruption” and BIRDS breathing and/or the breathing process (air). Did JG “cut” (SCYTHE) her throat (BIRDS)? Did he “interrupt” or “cut off” (SCYTHE) her airways (BIRDS)?  …. In other words, did he strangle or suffocate her so she wouldn’t (couldn’t) “talk” (SCYTHE + BIRDS)?

Conclusions

The forensic horary astrology charts suggest that Diana Alvarez is no longer with us. The Lenormand cards appear to agree. Both approaches suggest strangulation/ asphyxiation (with possible testimonies for slashing of the throat) as cause of death.

The Lenormand cards suggest Diana may be found in a garden, park, nature preserve or other area where there is lush vegetation (GARDEN). With BIRDS as the base card in the Line of 5, perhaps the authorities will have some success getting the perp to “talk.”

We can only hope…

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Note regarding my process: I will only examine a Missing Persons case when I have a reasonable understanding of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, a reliable timeline including the date, time and place the person was either discovered missing and/or reported missing to police, and the victim’s birth data. The birth data of the perpetrator/ prime suspect is helpful as well. I prefer to work with current cases.

Unlike psychics (no disrespect intended), I do not base my findings on dreams or visions, nor do I pull information out of the ethers (or my butt, depending on your level of skepticism). Rather, I read the ‘star language‘ contained in the forensic astrology charts that I examine and interpret it to the best of my ability.

The first step (after familiarizing myself with a case) is always the casting and examination of the relevant astrology chart(s), which are carefully compared to the victim’s natal chart before drawing any conclusions. Once that’s done, I may or may not throw a card spread or two to gain additional information, as I did here. Yes, intuition is involved. So is common sense. Everybody has both of these faculties to some degree or another.

 


Lenormand Cards Predict Art Show Sales: Coffin, Mice, Ring, Garden, Clover, Fish

I love it when the Lenormand cards turn out to be literal. You know, like when 18 Dog actually turns out to be a dog, or when 13 Child is actually a child.

I had such an experience this morning when I threw a Lenormand Line of 5 to get a “heads up” on how my son’s art show opening reception this evening would go.

Background

My son is an emerging artist who’s recently completed his second year of a three year graduate fine arts program out of state. In the past, he’s had some success showing and selling his work at regional venues. He’s back in town for a few weeks and the opening reception for his latest art show is this evening.

Beyond curious as to know what the sales potential for tonight’s festivities might be, I couldn’t help but throw a Lenormand Line of 5 with the Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand cards this morning to get the skinny.

Q: Art Show Reception Sales Potential

 

Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand 8 Coffin - 23 Mice - 25 Ring - 20 Garden - 2 Clover http://livingwithcards.com
Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand 8 Coffin – 23 Mice – 25 Ring – 20 Garden – 2 Clover – 34 Fish

Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand Orakelkarten – blaue Eule

The spread starts out with some fears and worries, perhaps some pre-show jitters, about low attendance or potential lack of sales (COFFIN + MICE). The central or hinge card, 25 Ring, however, augers “contracts,” and in combination with 34 Fish, these are likely sales. (FISH, in and of itself, is a money card, confirming that the cards are indeed addressing a money question.)

*************************************

Note: As usual, I included the Base Card (bottom card of the shuffled deck), which I’ve found gives extra insight to the Lenormand Line of 5. In my experience, the base card either modifies the hinge (central) card or clarifies the focus of the reading. In this spread, it does both.

**************************************

20 Garden can be interpreted as “a public event” and here represents the art show itself. 2 Clover ending the Lenormand Line of 5 suggests success and a positive, likely profitable, outcome.

In a nutshell, “stresses and fears that attendance may be low or that sales might be poor (COFFIN + MICE) will dissolve/ dissipate/ end (COFFIN). My son will “get lucky” and likely experience a profitable outcome (CLOVER). The show (GARDEN) will bring in sales (RING + FISH)”.

To gain clarification and/or additional information, I quickly added up the cards’ numerical values and reduced the sum to a number equaling 36* or less:

8 + 23 + 25 + 20 + 2 + 34 = 112 = 1 + 1 + 2 = 4 = 4 House

*******************************************

* 36 is the number of cards in a Lenormand deck. If I had been using a Tarot deck, I would have reduced the sum to a number equaling 22 or less, the number of Tarot cards in the Major Arcana.

********************************************

 

I then found 4 House in the remaining deck and selected it along with the card before and the card after.

 

Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand 10 Scythe - 4 House - 31 Sun http://livingwithcards.com
Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand 10 Scythe – 4 House – 31 Sun

 

SCYTHE is literally “a cut.” HOUSE symbolizes the venue. Literally, “the house gets a cut” (their commission on sales) and everyone walks away happy (SUN).

I was pleased with the card draw and can hardly wait to see how this goes. I’ll let you know! 🙂

Stay tuned,

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Update

Woo Hoo!! Opening night was a success! SUN and CLOVER came through with flying colors 🙂 — Attendance was fabulous, sales were made (so oh yeah, the house got its cut), opportunities for future shows at other venues are likely, the gallery owner is extending the show dates … all in all very positive and my son is very pleased at how things went.

Reading with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 7

Just because the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards have the ability to “jump systems” doesn’t mean you should throw every cartomancy technique in your toolbox against the wall in an attempt to see what sticks, especially if you start second-guessing yourself on what aspect should be focused on.

What are you supposed to do if, for example, the “fortune” on the Gypsy Witch card you’ve pulled is positive while the playing card inset is negative? Should you factor in the Lenormand card interpretation? What if you pull one of the 17 Gypsy Witch cards that does not feature a Lenormand image?

You can see this could get confusing pretty quickly…

Here are some guidelines I’ve found useful in my own practice of using the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards:
  1. Which aspect of the focus card* jumps out at you first? The image? The “fortune”? The playing card inset? How does that relate to your question?
  2. How are the other cards in your draw modifying the focus card? What captures your attention? The images? The “fortunes”? The playing card insets? You should quickly discover a theme.
  3. Make your decisions as to what has priority and stick to them. This doesn’t mean you have to ignore other information that reveals itself to you, but if you find yourself second-guessing yourself, go with your first impressions.

————————————————-

*The focus card is the card you designate to represent the question/ issue/ situation/ circumstance/ theme/ problem, etc. in a reading. For example, in a three-card spread consisting of Problem-Solution-Advice, the focus card is the Problem. In a Lenormand Line of Five, decide in advance whether you will use the first, last or central card as the focus card.

————————————————–

Below is an example of how this could work, using the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards laid out in the Five Pointed Star with Significator tarot card spread:

Q: Please Provide Insights on Plan of Action:

Five Pointed Star with Significator tarot card spread using Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards: 10 Pig - 35 Tower - 24 Hand in Hand - 16 Ship - 34 Star - 36 Cat http://livingwithcards.com
Five Pointed Star with Significator tarot card spread using Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards: 10 Pig – 35 Tower – 24 Hand in Hand – 16 Ship – 34 Star – 36 Cat

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards by Systems, U S Games published by United States Games Systems Cards

The first thing I noticed was that three of the six cards drawn — including the focus card — were not traditional Lenormand cards. This suggested that reading the draw in typical Lenormand fashion might not do the trick. Furthermore, since I had chosen to use a positional tarot card spread, it made sense to me to examine the cards from a positional standpoint, starting with the Significator (focus) Card which describes the theme or subject of the reading.

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards 10 Pig (3 of Spades) http://livingwithcards.com
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards 10 Pig (3 of Spades)

10 Pig does not exist in a normal Lenormand deck. Since the card gave me no initial Lenormand point of reference, I looked to its “fortune” for possible clues on interpretation:

“the pig, whether near or far, is an omen of phenomenal luck and great abundance, high honors and all ambitions attained.”

While phenomenal luck and all ambitions attained sounded pretty good to me, I couldn’t help but notice that nasty little 3 of Spades with its extremely negative connotations should one be focused on reading the cards as playing cards. I decided to temporarily shelve my misgivings and proceeded to examine the remainder of the spread.

I quickly noted that two other cards, in addition to the Significator Card, were highly positive: 24 Hand in Hand in Position 2 (Mindsets, Beliefs, Expectations) and 34 Star in Position 4 (Answer, Solution, Advice). The remaining cards were neutral. Since there were no negative cards in the spread, the neutral cards could be considered neutral-positive. All in all, the spread struck me as positive, despite niggling concerns over the highly unfortunate 3 of Spades and 2 of Spades associated with the 10 Pig and 34 Star cards, respectively.

35 Tower in Position 1 (Basis, Reason, Cause) suggested high ambition or high expectations, and with 24 Hand in Hand in Position 2, I was experiencing belief in my own ability to accomplish my goal. (See my post here for more information on Gypsy Witch 24 Hand in Hand.)

16 Ship in Position 3 suggested trade or commerce could be an important factor in my endeavors. Because I tend to view the Ship card (whether Gypsy Witch or Lenormand) as “international trade” which to me suggests internet commerce, it seemed to me that my website and/or some other kind of online shopping outlet could be instrumental as I proceed with my plans.

34 Star in Position 4 (Answer, Solution, Advice) was fairly self-explanatory, being associated with hope, guidance from above and success. This extremely positive association exists in the Tarot and Lenormand Star cards as well as the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards.

The reading flowed fairly smoothly until I got to the final card, 36 Cat, in Position 5 (Probable Outcome). Once again, there is no Lenormand card point of reference, causing me to consider the “fortune” inscribed on the card:

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards 36 Cat (8 of Hearts) http://livingwithcards.com
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards 36 Cat (8 of Hearts)

“The cat indicates flattery; if near No. 6, foretells personal injury. Near 29 and 30, it denotes strife.”

Somehow, that “fortune” or “prophecy” didn’t ring true for this reading. And not for nothing, cards 6, 29 and 30 did not exist in the spread, giving more weight to my growing conclusion that the message for me in this particular card spread was not negative.

To the contrary, the card seemed to be focusing on independence, indifference to the “rules,” and relying on my own inner guidance. In essence, it seemed to transmit the idea that like a cat, I should pay less attention to what anyone else might have to say about my success or lack thereof (including the Gypsy Witch cards!) and go with my own inner guidance.

Summary

With three highly positive cards in key positions and no negative cards in the spread, the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards indicate excellent potential for success, which may be contingent on following my own inner guidance system.

Conclusions

I mentioned above that the highly positive card Gypsy Witch 10 Pig is associated with the highly negative playing card 3 of Spades (confusion, loss, misunderstandings, a worsening problem, interference, a blockage, etc.). I also noted that Gypsy Witch 34 Star, another highly positive card, is associated with the equally negative playing card 2 of Spades (separation, restriction, disagreements, incompatibility, resentment, etc.)

The spread discussion above is an excellent example of how indiscriminately mixing up divination systems (or “system jumping,” as the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards like to call it), can be a dicey way to go.

Take another look at the guidelines I offered near the top of this post.

When performing readings with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards, pick your approach(es) and use your own discretion, keeping in mind that if you insist on applying everything you know about cartomancy from every single card system you have ever studied, you will surely wind up confusing yourself half to death (3 of Spades) and walking away (2 of Spades) from the spread, beating yourself up over your “inability” to read cards!

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Note: If you’ve missed my previous posts on the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards, you can click on the links below or use the Gypsy Witch link under Categories in the side bar to your right.

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 1

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 2

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 3

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 4

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 5

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 6

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Meanings and Combinations: 24 Hand in Hand

Forensic Cartomancy: Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Offer Possible Clues to Gabriella Doolin Murder

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Meanings and Combinations: 44 The Broken Glass

Tarot and Lenormand Cards Discuss Family Altercation: 30 Lilies, 6 Clouds, 12 Birds, 13 Child, 25 Ring, 28 Gentleman

Lenormand cards are difficult to misinterpret. They pretty much “tell it like it is” in a matter-of-fact, plain and simple way. I love this quality about them and when I want or need a “quick read” on a situation, I almost always pull out a Lenormand deck first.

When I want to dig deeper, I turn to Tarot. Talk about juicy… Tarot virtually drips with psychological insights, motivations, expectations, mindsets and more. It continually amazes me how much information a handful of Tarot cards can reveal.

Recently, a female Querent (person asking the question) sought assistance regarding an altercation between herself and another family member over parenting practices. In the heat of a vicious quarrel (which had quickly gotten out of hand), harsh words had been spoken, leaving both family members feeling misunderstood, hurt and angry.

I decided to cast a Lenormand Line of 5, specifically wanting to see what help might be available:

Q: Family Altercation: Is There a Solution? If So, What?

 

Lenormand Line of 5 with Base Card 30 Lilies - 6 Clouds - 12 Birds - 13 Child - 25 Ring - 28 Gentleman http://livingwithcards.com
Lenormand Line of 5 with Base Card: 30 Lilies – 6 Clouds – 12 Birds – 13 Child – 25 Ring – 28 Gentleman

Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy Jeu du destin Deck of 36 Cards

 

As usual, the Lenormand cards mirrored the situation quite accurately. The Line of 5 described the conflict. The base card (bottom card of the shuffled deck), in conjunction with the hinge card (central card in the Line of 5), suggested a practical approach to resolution:

“Ongoing/ cyclical (Ring) bickering (Birds) between siblings and/or about a child/ children (Birds + Child) is causing misunderstandings and is disrupting family harmony (Lilies + Clouds). An agreement (Ring) must be reached before harmony (Lilies) can be restored.”

“A man (Gentleman) can help resolve the issue, perhaps a mediator (Birds + Gentleman).”

 

I found the “advice” — “a man can help, perhaps a mediator” (Birds + Gentleman) particularly encouraging because there was actually a professional man both family members knew and respected who fit the bill. This man would likely not only be willing to intervene, but would also likely be listened to by both parties. I passed the information along.

*************************************

Still, wanting to learn more about the situation, I turned to Tarot. I was about to pick up one of my usual reading decks when a card image from the Thoth deck came to mind.

Thoth Tarot VIII-Adjustment (Justice) http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot VIII-Adjustment (Justice)

Crowley-Thoth Tarot Deck

 

Yikes.

According to noted anthropologist/ Tarot authority Angeles Arrien*, VIII-ADJUSTMENT (JUSTICE) in the Crowley-Thoth tarot deck reflects the principles of alignment, balance, negotiation and truth.  My desire to know the truth of the matter regarding this particular situation must have triggered the spontaneous visualization of this card image. Surely it was not coincidence… [*See Ms. Arrien’s classic exploration of the Thoth tarot deck: The Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols ]

 

**************************************

Note: As I’m sure you know, the Crowley-Thoth tarot deck is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re going to use it, you need to put on your thick skin. A couple dozen years ago when I was first introduced to C-T,  a wise friend shared this secret:

“Thoth never lies.”

 

Over the years, I have consistently found this to be true.

**************************************

 

The extremely yang, in-your-face Crowley-Thoth tarot deck does not sugar-coat. When attuned to its “voice” (a challenge sometimes, especially if you’re emotionally involved in the reading’s subject matter), you may find it to be less vulnerable to misinterpretation than the majority of decks out there in the Tarotverse…

Since I was performing the reading as an outside observer and not personally in the thick of it, I decided to go ahead and see what Thoth had to say about the matter, using one of my go-to tarot spreads, The Five Pointed Star with Significator:

Q: Family Altercation: Psychological Dynamics and Probable Outcome

Five Pointed Star Tarot Spread with the Crowley-Thoth Tarot deck: Princess of Disks - 9 of Swords - Knight of Swords - 2 of Wands - 9 of Cups - Queen of Wands http://livingwithcards.com
Five Pointed Star Tarot Spread with the Crowley-Thoth Tarot deck: Princess of Disks – 9 of Swords – Knight of Swords – 2 of Wands – 9 of Cups – Queen of Wands

Crowley-Thoth Tarot Deck

 

Five Pointed Star with Significator Tarot Spread – The Positions

  • Significator – Theme or Subject Matter
  • Position 1 – Basis, Reason, Cause
  • Position 2 – Mindset, Beliefs, Expectations
  • Position 3 – Additional Information, Factors to be Considered
  • Position 4 – Answer/ Solution/ Advice
  • Position 5 – Probable Outcome

If you keep the positional meanings in mind, it is not hard to weave together the story.

The theme, or subject of the spread, involves child (Princess, Page) discipline (Disks, Pentacles).

Thoth Tarot Princess of Disks (Page of Pentacles) http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot Princess of Disks (Page of Pentacles)

Arguments/ cruel words between relatives have ensued because each party believes she is an authority on the matter (9 of Swords in Position 1 with MARS in Gemini; Knight of Swords in Position 2). Knights (the equivalent of Kings in Rider-Waite decks) have a “divine right” to rule. The Knight of Swords/ King of Swords mindset applies to both parties, leaving the other feeling disregarded, accused, exploited and/or intimidated. In conjunction with 9 of Swords, the caustic, sarcastic comments hurt. So we have an argument over child discipline (Princess of Disks/ Page of Pentacles) with each party wounding and being wounded/ emotionally hurt by the other’s sharp words (9 of Swords) because each believes she is an authority on the subject (Knight of Swords/ King of Swords).

Thoth Tarot 9 of Swords http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot 9 of Swords
Thoth Tarot Knight of Swords (King of Swords) http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot Knight of Swords (King of Swords)

 

*********************************************

2 of Wands in Position 3 supplies additional information and/or factors to be considered. Here, 2 of Wands shows dominion. This is the will to dominate. The card suggests that both parties want to impose their will (MARS in Aries) upon the other. Based on the preceding three cards, it appears that differences of opinion will outweigh any sense of balance or centeredness.

Thoth Tarot 2 of Wands http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot 2 of Wands

 

Position 4 shows the Answer, Solution or Advice. Here, the 9 of Cups shines a light on the querent’s deep desire for keeping the peace/ harmony. Read in relation to Queen of Wands in Position 5, I sense this could occur at the querent’s expense: the Probable Outcome suggests that at the time of this reading, the more fiery (aggressive) family member will prevail.

 

Thoth Tarot 9 of Cups http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot 9 of Cups

 

Thoth Tarot Queen of Wands http://livingwithcards.com
Thoth Tarot Queen of Wands

 

Clarification Cards

Five Pointed Star Clarification Cards using Thoth Tarot deck: 9 of Disks (9 of Pentacles) - XII-The Hanged Man - 10 of Cups http://livingwithcards.com
Five Pointed Star Clarification Cards using Thoth Tarot deck: 9 of Disks (9 of Pentacles) – XII-The Hanged Man – 10 of Cups

Simply interpreted, XII-The Hanged Man suggests a limiting pattern that needs to be broken. A suspension of activity may be in order. Perhaps more solitary time/ time apart from each other (9 of Disks) would ultimately aid the peacemaking process and/or help restore family harmony (10 of Cups). The Hanged Man also indicates that some time will pass before any solution or resolution is reached.

 

*********************************************

At this time, I have no feedback from the querent, so I don’t know the outcome.

  • Will the parties follow through with a mediator (Lenormand advice)?
  • Will the querent ultimately decide to back down, “sacrificing” her position for harmony’s sake, letting the other, more aggressive family member prevail (Thoth‘s prediction)?
  • Will the energies surrounding the situation change enough to facilitate another outcome?

It would be interesting to find out…

 

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

 

Reading with the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 6

Back in Part 2 of this series, I dismissed the LWB (Little White Book) that accompanies the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards out of hand, categorizing it as “less than worthless.” I made this value judgment because, other than providing two layouts (with an example reading for only one of them), the LWB gave no clues on how to read the deck. A comment made by a Living With Cards visitor prompted me to take a second look.

If you own this deck, you’ve certainly noticed that the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards LWB consists of a scrap of paper approximately nine inches wide by 3-1/2 inches high folded into eight panels of information. Because of its tiny size, the information contained within this “book” is beyond brief. Panel 1 is the Introduction. Panels 2 and 3 contain instructions for “The Short Reading” (no reading example is given), while Panels 4-7 address “The Long Reading” (includes a brief reading example using the “fortunes” written on the cards only). The last panel is simply a title page.

The layouts themselves, as described in the LWB, seem to be a blending of traditional cartomancy layouts and Lenormand tableaus. “The Short Reading” employs 17 cards while “The Long Reading” uses 51 cards.

Being a proponent of “less is more,” further down in this post I’ll show you a recent spread I cast using the Gypsy Witch Short Reading layout, along with my “tweaks” to the Gypsy Witch instructions, as well as my commentary. But first, take a look at the template itself:

 Gypsy Witch Cards: The Short Reading Layout

 

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Layout for "The Short Reading" http://livingwithcards.com
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Layout for “The Short Reading”

 

You can see from the layout graphic, “The Short Reading” basically consists of a Lenormand Square of Nine (in blue) surrounded by eight additional cards (in red).

 

Gypsy Witch Cards: Short Reading Instructions:

 

Note: The instructions outlined in the LWB for both “The Short Reading” and “The Long Reading” include a preliminary card draw to ascertain whether the Querent (person asking the question) will get his or her wish. For the purposes of the following reading example, I chose to ignore that instruction… If you choose, however, to perform the preliminary card draw, be sure to reshuffle the cards before continuing.

Once the cards are shuffled (or reshuffled, if you are using the preliminary draw), the Gypsy Witch Short Reading instructions next say to place either the Lady or the Gentleman as Card 1 within the Square of Nine, place the remaining eight cards around Card 1, then go on to place an additional eight cards around the Square of Nine. The instructions do not specifically state the order in which to place the cards and the layout graphics above and below reflect my own choice of card placement. Additionally, for the purposes of the following reading example, I also chose to let the deck pick the first card, come what may…

And on that note, let’s proceed with the reading example…

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards “The Short Reading” Example: “What Is Going on with This Lady?”

 

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Short Reading Example: "What Is Going On with this Lady?" http://livingwithcards.com
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards “The Short Reading” Example: “What Is Going On with this Lady?”

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards

The cards within the Square of Nine will describe what is going on with this Lady, i.e., the internal process. The cards outside the Square of Nine will show the outside influences that have contributed to the Lady’s current situation.

The Square of Nine: Internal Process – The Situation in Which the Lady Now Finds Herself

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Short Reading Square of Nine http://livingwithcards.com
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards “The Short Reading” Square of Nine
Row 1: 18 Lady + 24 Hand in Hand + 31 The Roads

This Lady is facing a decision (Roads) regarding a significant relationship (Hand in Hand).

Row 2: 34 The Star + 15 The Letter + 52 The Shepherd

She is seeking guidance (Star) and support (Shepherd) via the written word (Letter). Perhaps she is reading through posts on an internet support group or forum, attempting to see if anyone is experiencing a similar situation. She may be posting some details concerning her situation onto an internet forum or social media account, perhaps hoping to receive feedback, support or guidance from people who may care about her. Alternately, she may be consulting her own Inner Guidance — or astrology chart — and writing down the insights she is receiving. She could be texting loved ones who support her, asking for advice or guidance. The playing card inserts on the cards in Row 2 show that her ability to “think intelligently” about the situation is blocked (Spade + Diamond + Spade).

Row 3: 4 The Key + 28 The Anchor + 32 The Mountains

Whatever is going on in the Lady’s life has knocked her off-center (Anchor + Mountains). She needs to re-establish a sense of security (Key + Anchor) and a sense of inner guidance (Star + Key), but this will not happen immediately (Mountains).

The decision(s) (Roads) she needs to make about the significant relationship (Hand in Hand) will take some time (Anchor, Mountains), and not without a fair amount of soul-searching (Star) and support (Shepherd).

Cards Outside the Square of Nine: External Circumstances that are Affecting or Influencing the Lady’s Situation

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards "The Short Reading" Outside Square http://livingwithcards.com
Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards “The Short Reading” Outside Square

The cards outside the Square of Nine show the external circumstances that have contributed to, or have caused, the Lady’s current situation.

I am not particularly surprised to see that  it is a man (Gentleman)…

At the least, this man is causing a problem in the Lady’s life (Fox + Gentleman) that is disrupting her harmony (Snake + House). At worst, he has deceived her and has possibly cheated on her (Fox + Snake + Gentleman). He has disrupted what she has believed to be a stable relationship (Snake + House with Ring), and this has all happened fairly recently. It is a new development (Children).

Looking deeper, the man in question may be childish or immature (Gentleman + Children) and/or someone who does not take the relationship with the Lady as seriously as she does (Gentleman + Clover). While it is possible this man was recently offered a new job that will require him moving far away (Clover + Ring + Ship + Fox), it is equally possible that the man is leaving the Lady for another woman (Ring + Ship with Snake). If so, it is possible that either this other woman (Snake) has children and/or that his relationship with her is a brand new development (Children).

Summary

The Lady has come to a crossroads/ decision point (Roads) regarding a significant relationship (Hand in Hand).

A separation/ removal (Spades) is impacting her ability to think intelligently (Diamonds) about her options, and is setting her into a tailspin of depressed and negative thoughts (Spades). She is reaching out for guidance and support, most likely via online communications, texting, etc. (Star + Letter + Shepherd). Some sense of inner security must be regained (Star + Key + Anchor) before any decisions (Roads) can be made. There is no solution at the moment (Mountains as Pivot Card in the Square of Nine).

The cards that are placed outside the Square of Nine suggest that an actual or suspected breach of trust (Fox + Snake + House) by a significant other (Gentleman) is the cause of the problems (Fox). The significant other may be immature (Children) or the type that “lives for today” (Clover). He may be leaving the Lady for a new job elsewhere (Clover + Ring + Ship + Fox). It is equally possible he is leaving her for another woman (Snake) whom he met very recently and/or who may have children (Children).

The Lady needs to step away and sort things out (Roads) before she can move on with her life. Her trust has been breached (Fox, Snake, Anchor) and she is going to need a fair amount of time (Mountains as Pivot Card) and support from people who love her (Star + Shepherd) before she will be in a position to make healthy decisions.

Conclusions

The quality of information I ascertained from the Gypsy Witch Short Reading layout has convinced me that this particular card spread certainly has merit, and I would use it again.

If you own the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards deck, I would encourage you to give “The Short Reading” layout a try. You could also use this layout with any Lenormand deck. I think you will be pleased with the results.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Note: If you’ve missed my previous posts on the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards, you can click on the links below or use the Gypsy Witch link under Categories in the side bar to your right.

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 1

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 2

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 3

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 4

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Part 5

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Meanings and Combinations: 24 Hand in Hand

Forensic Cartomancy: Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Offer Possible Clues to Gabriella Doolin Murder

Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards Meanings and Combinations: 44 The Broken Glass