Category Archives: Card Spreads

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Tarot Cards

Tarot Card Advice on Asking Questions

When it comes to reading tarot cards, a good rule of thumb to follow is:

If you don’t really want to know the answer, don’t ask the question.

If you choose to ignore this advice, one of three things will surely happen.

1. The cards will pick up on your subconscious hopes and wishes and reflect back to you what you want to hear. At first glance, you might feel joy and relief. Then you’ll get that “hey, wait a minute…that can’t be right” feeling and self doubt will kick in…

Q: Does X like me the way I like him?

A: You are the sunshine of his life. He sees you two as a couple. Your dreams will come true.

Your gut response: “Yeah, right…”.

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck XIX-The Sun - 2 of Cups - 9 of Cups
XIX-The Sun – 2 of Cups – 9 of Cups

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck (c) 1985 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

 

2. The cards will pick up on your subconscious worries and fears and deliver worst case scenarios, sending you screaming for that carton of rocky road ice cream stashed at the back of the freezer (or for whatever your go-to comfort food happens to be).

Q: Does X like me the way I like him?

A: No way. He is lying to you. He will break your heart and leave you crying.

Your gut response: “Aw, come on … it couldn’t possibly be this bad…”

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck 7 of Swords - 3 of Swords - 5 of Cups
7 of Swords – 3 of Swords – 5 of Cups

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck (c) 1985 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

 

3. The cards, having picked up on your subconscious, vibrational broadcast that you don’t really want to know the answer, will arrange themselves in some gobbly-gook fashion, all but indecipherable, no matter how many times you reshuffle and draw again.

Q: Does X like me the way I like him?

A: Insights, inspirations, hopes fulfilled, new enterprise or beginning, success, completion, goals achieved, job well done .

Your gut response: “Huh??!!”

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck XVII-The Star - Ace of Wands - XXI-The World
XVII-The Star – Ace of Wands – XXI-The World

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck (c) 1985 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

 

You can avoid the above scenarios by only asking questions for which you are ready to hear the answer. Another approach would be to rephrase your questions — especially about subjects in which you may have an emotional investment — in ways that feel more empowering and less fated.

The tarot is exceptionally good at providing deep insight into your situation/ circumstance/ issue. Instead of asking questions that can be answered “Yes” or “No,” practice phrasing your questions in empowering ways. Empowering questions such as “What’s the most important thing I need to know about [situation/ circumstance/ issue]?” or “What’s the best approach I can take regarding this [situation/ circumstance/ issue]?” are much more helpful and considerably less stress-provoking than the typical yes-or-no questions people tend to ask.

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A great spread for ascertaining helpful advice and guidance is a variation of “The Veil” spread described in the Tarot de Marseille LWB (little white book). The first three positions are per the instructions. I added positions 4 and 5 because I think the additional information is helpful.

Position #1: What you are seeing.

Position #2: The Veil, or what you are not seeing, or the reason you are not seeing the entire truth.

Position #3: The truth, or how things really are.

Position #4: The advice.

Position #5: The Probable Outcome if you follow the advice.

 

Example:

Pertinent background leading up to the question: Recent blood work shows my cholesterol’s too high and the doctor’s scale confirms my bathroom scale is accurate (sigh).

My question: “What am I seeing / not seeing concerning my health and what is the truth?”

 The Veil Spread with Extra Positions

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck Queen of Pentacles - 8 of Pentacles - II-The High Priestess - Ace of Swords - 0-The Fool
Queen of Pentacles – 8 of Pentacles – II-The High Priestess – Ace of Swords – 0-The Fool

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck (c) 1985 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Position #1: What I am seeing.

Queen of Pentacles - Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck
Queen of Pentacles – Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck

QUEEN OF PENTACLES: I am seeing myself as healthy. After all, my cholesterol is not that high, and my weight is not that excessive.  The doctor didn’t even lecture me about either one. I want to believe I am healthy enough.

Position #2: The Veil, or what I am not seeing.

8 of Pentacles
8 of Pentacles – Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck

8 OF PENTACLES: Eight is the number that signifies balance vs. imbalance, and pentacles are physical. As such, they are often related to health issues. There is some type of imbalance going on, likely physical, whether I want to admit it or not.

Position #3: The truth, or how things really are.

II-The High Priestess - Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck
II-The High Priestess – Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck

II-THE HIGH PRIESTESS: I am not listening to my gut feelings surrounding this issue. I am ignoring the inner voice that keeps nagging me that all is not well and that I really need to start doing something about it, preferably sooner rather than later.

Position #4: The Advice.

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck Ace of Swords
Ace of Swords – Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck

ACE OF SWORDS: I need to find ways to release pent-up emotions, stress, anxieties and worries. Working out on a regular basis will go a long way in helping me bring my physical and mental energies back into balance. Exercise needed!

Position #5: The Probable Outcome if I follow the Advice.

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck 0-The Fool
0-The Fool – Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck

0-THE FOOL: A new beginning, starting afresh. All things are possible, jump in with both feet. Improved health.

 

I had to admit the cards were right. I told myself, the next time I got a flyer from a local gym offering promotional pricing, I’d join. And wouldn’t you know it, a flyer from the fitness center closest to my house arrived in the afternoon mail…

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I’d really like to encourage you to ask questions that help you sort things out, empower you, and lead you to your own conclusions. The answers you’ll receive by taking this approach will be much more insightful and helpful than any yes-or-no answers could ever hope to be.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Tarot Cards

Tarot Card Job Prediction Using 5 Pointed Star Spread

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An unemployed female querent recently ran into a former employer who had always thought well of her work. After some catch-up conversation and general chit-chat, he said he might be able to offer her a position with his new company — if he could convince them to take her on. The obstacle, it seemed, was the company’s frugal nature and their unwillingness to spend money “unnecessarily.” Despite being put off by the mixed message, the querent was curious to know if she might expect a job offer from this company in the near future.

I decided to cast a 5 Pointed Star Tarot spread using a significator card to describe the major theme of the reading, and chose the Universal Waite Tarot Deck to perform the reading.

After a thorough shuffle while concentrating on the querent’s situation and question, I drew the following cards:

5 Pointed Star Tarot Spread with Significator
5 Pointed Star Tarot Spread with Significator using Universal Waite Tarot Deck

Universal Waite Tarot Deck – U.S. Games Systems, Inc. (c) 1971, 1991

 

Significator card: the central card, Ace of Pentacles, describes the theme of the reading. As the significator, Ace of Pentacles aptly describes a new opportunity such as a new job offer, exactly mirroring what was on the querent’s mind. I took the card as confirmation the spread was valid and that I had correctly tuned into the querent’s situation.

 

Position #1 – King of Cups

The card in this position describes the basis of the question. It reveals the issue under consideration, but will not affect the outcome.

King of Cups in Position #1 describes a professional man who most likely has the querent’s best interests at heart. He is trustworthy, creative, and may possibly have a Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces (Cups) sun sign. I felt this card was describing the querent’s former employer and his role in possibly helping her secure new employment.

 

Position #2 – 5 of Wands

The card in this position reveals the querent’s thoughts or mindset regarding the matter, whether she anticipates success or failure, what she may fear and/or what is causing concern.

5 of Wands in Position #2 describes the querent’s beliefs and expectations. I think she expects a “fight” between her former employer and whoever has the authority to make a hiring decision. That doesn’t mean she expects he won’t “win,” simply that he’ll have to put on quite the show to get them to come around to his point of view. Either way, the querent likely believes getting the higher-ups to agree to hire her will be challenging to say the least.

 

Position #3 – King of Wands

The card in this position reveals additional information about the situation, of which the querent may or may not be aware, that needs to be considered.

King of Wands in Position #3 could refer to the former employer’s immediate superior. Notice the King of Wands is literally above the King of Cups in the Tarot spread — he is “higher up.” He also seems to look away to the left, distancing himself from the situation described by the rest of the cards. He is disinterested and not terribly invested in the outcome. I notice that the Ace of Pentacles and the 3 of Cups are also “beneath” him in a diagonal direction. It seems to me he would consider the amount of money the company would have to pay to the querent for her skills and services should they take her on to be relatively insignificant (Ace = 1 = small amount of money (Pentacles).

 

Position #4 – 3 of Cups

The card in this position answers the question. This card may also provide advice and/or guidance on how to handle the situation.

3 of Cups is a card of celebration and could be indicating that the querent may in fact soon be “celebrating” her landing of a new position. It could also be a timing card, indicating the “celebration” would occur within “three weeks” or “three months.” Finally, 3 of Cups could also suggest part-time (as opposed to full-time) employment; something the querent may want to consider.

 

Position #5 – XXI-The World

The card in this position shows the Probable Outcome, going beyond the answer found in Position #4, to a final conclusion.

As a major arcana card, XXI-The World carries extra weight, auguring fulfillment and/or successful completion of a goal. It suggests that all will go well and that the “celebration” suggested by 3 of Cups in Position #4 will indeed take place.

 

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I thought it was interesting that 5 of Wands in Position #2 could also be referring to the King of Cups‘ beliefs and expectations. He likely would see pitching the querent’s employability to the company higher-ups as a game — one he was fully confident in winning. The querent quickly confirmed that sounded “just like” her former employer — a caring, trustworthy man who also happened to be a Scorpio (King of Cups)!

I put a three month time limit on this spread prior to casting. If I get future feedback from the querent as to what ultimately happened, I’ll update this post.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

 

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Playing Cards

Playing Cards Answer Spread: Will the Yarn Come In by Friday?

In addition to living with cards, cats, and my soon-to-be-elsewhere son, I live with yarn.

Lots of it.

The most usual thing I do with yarn is crochet afghans. Nothing too complicated, just a simple double crochet zigzag pattern I found on the internet a few years ago. It’s a pleasant, relaxing, mindless, sit-in-front-of-the-television activity I enjoy doing.

While crocheting my latest afghan, I realized I was running out of one of my colors and would need one more skein of yarn. I started looking for it a couple weeks ago but the color I needed was out of stock. Not only that, no other color came close enough to match it.

So last Wednesday, I went to my local Michael’s and asked an associate whether the yarn I needed was on order. She checked her inventory and told me it would either arrive that Friday, or the next Friday, she couldn’t be sure.

By Wednesday evening, I’d gotten dangerously close to the row where I’d have to switch to the needed color. Thursday morning, I decided to ask the playing cards:

 

“Will the yarn I need to finish my afghan arrive at the store this Friday?”

Here are the cards I drew:

Jack of Clubs - 6 of Hearts - 5 of Diamonds - 9 of Hearts - 8 of Hearts - 10 of Clubs
Jack of Clubs – 6 of Hearts – 5 of Diamonds – 9 of Hearts – 8 of Hearts – 10 of Clubs

Answer Spread using Playing Cards

The color pattern across the top row is B-R-R, indicating a problem will be solved.

The color pattern across the bottom row is R-R-B, suggesting a problem may be on the horizon.

Hmmmm….

With contradictory information, I needed to dig further. Further analysis showed there were no Spades, indicating there would be no major problems or delays, and since four of the six cards, including the two cards in Column 2 (the Answer) were red, there would likely be a good outcome.

I could now go on to read the columns and get my answer.

Column 1 shows the Near Past or Current Situation:

Jack of Clubs - 9 of Hearts
Jack of Clubs – 9 of Hearts

Jack of Clubs can mean practical thoughts, or thoughts about a practical matter, and 9 of Hearts is the “wish card.” This column showed I am wishing (9 of Hearts) to complete my project (Clubs), or my thoughts about finishing my project (Jack of Clubs) will be fulfilled (9 of Hearts).

 

Column 2 is The Answer:

6 of Hearts - 8 of Hearts
6 of Hearts – 8 of Hearts

I will make good progress (6 of Hearts) regarding an existing relationship (8 of Hearts). In other words, I will be able to finish my afghan because the store will have the yarn in stock.

 

Column 3 shows what might influence the answer.

5 of Diamonds - 10 of Clubs
5 of Diamonds – 10 of Clubs

10 of Clubs as the Pivot Card suggested the completion (10) of a practical project (Clubs). One of the meanings for 5 of Diamonds is shopping. Because 10 of Clubs (completion) tops 5 of Diamonds (shopping), I deduced that the project would be completed after a successful shopping trip.

The two hearts in Column 2 (The Answer) suggested that my wish (9 of Hearts) to complete my project (10 of Clubs) would be easily accomplished.

Because there were no Spades in the spread, I did not anticipate any delays. The cards clearly indicated that the yarn should arrive “this Friday” as opposed to “next Friday.”

 

What Actually Happened:

Early Friday afternoon, I went to Michael’s and, as the playing cards had predicted, the yarn I needed had indeed arrived!

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Playing Cards

Playing Cards Advice on Weight Loss

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One of the not-so-fun things about getting older is that weight loss becomes more difficult. In the past, dropping five pounds was easily achievable. Now, it seems to be nearly impossible.

This morning I decided to ask the cards to comment on my desire to lose weight. I specifically wanted to know what might help and what wouldn’t help at all.

I decided to use the playing cards and the Hedgewytchery Cross spread, where the first three cards from left to right show the past, present and future. The card above indicates “what to do” and the card below shows “what not to do.”

I drew:

 

Queen of Hearts - 4 of Clubs - 10 of Clubs - Queen of Spades - 5 of Hearts
Queen of Hearts – 4 of Clubs – 10 of Clubs – Queen of Spades – 5 of Hearts

 

The playing cards pulled no punches.

In the past, I was a younger woman (Queen of Hearts) and losing weight was not a problem (hearts). 4 of Clubs in the present position shows I am working (clubs) on it and 10 of Clubs in the future position suggests I will have to work (clubs) a whole lot harder (10) to achieve any results. 4 of Clubs in the present position also suggests I am sedentary — sitting at a desk — which is pretty accurate. I don’t move around much these days….

At first I was confused as to why I pulled two Queens, but suddenly the light went off. Queen of Hearts in the past position refers to me as a younger woman and Queen of Spades in the “what to do” position shows that I am now an older woman, and I need to come to terms with that. What won’t work is wishful thinking (5 of Hearts)!!!

Basically, the playing cards counseled that because I am now older (Queen of Spades), inactivity (4 of Clubs) isn’t going to cut it and I am fooling myself by engaging in wishful thinking (5 of Hearts). I will have to work my butt off  (10 of Clubs) if I expect to lose any weight at this stage of the game.

<Sigh>

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Tarot Cards

Tarot Advice for Health Issue

The querent is a female in her mid-60s who has been experiencing some health issues. She is skeptical of allopathic medicine because she feels such practitioners tend to “treat the symptoms and not the cause,” and because she “doesn’t want to start taking a bunch of drugs.” Recently she heard about  a female chiropractor with an intuitive, energetic approach and she wants to know if this individual could help her resolve her issues.

I decided to throw a Five Pointed Star tarot spread with a significator* to get some insight into her question.

[Note: in addition to representing either the querent (the person asking the question) or the quesited (that which is inquired about), a significator card can give insight regarding the major theme of the question.]

 

Tarot Health Issue - 5 Pointed Star Spread with Significator
Tarot Health Issue – 5 Pointed Star Tarot Spread with Significator and Clarification Card

 

Significator card: the central card, 8 of Pentacles, describes the theme of the reading. For a health related question, this card suggests an imbalance (8) of some sort may be causing the physical (Pentacles) issues the querent is experiencing.

Position #1 – Queen of Pentacles:

The card in this position describes the basis of the question. It reveals the issue under consideration, but will not affect the outcome. I felt the Queen of Pentacles was describing the chiropractor the querent was considering consulting as an intuitive, practical, results-oriented professional with a hands-on manner. In fact, out of the 78 cards of the Tarot, I can think of no other card which would better describe a female chiropractor!

Position #2 – 6 of Pentacles:

The card in this position reveals the querent’s thoughts or mindset regarding the matter, whether she anticipates success or failure, what the querent may fear and/or what is causing concern. Typically, the card in this position shows how the querent is influencing the question by her thoughts. 6 of Pentacles in this position suggests an equitable exchange of money for services rendered and also indicates the querent expects to receive valuable assistance from this practitioner. In other words, the querent’s mindset regarding this practitioner is positive and she is anticipating positive results.

Position #3 – 10 of Swords:

The card in this position reveals additional information about the situation, of which the querent may or may not be aware, that needs to be considered. 10 of Swords in Position #3 speaks to the querent’s displeasure with allopathic practices and emphasizes a change of doctors or an alternative therapy may be warranted.

Position #4 – 10 of Pentacles:

The card in this position answers the question. This card may also provide advice and/or guidance on how to handle the situation. As “The Answer,” 10 of Pentacles suggests satisfaction with the treatment the querent will receive from the chiropractor, and that contracting her will be a good investment of the querent’s money.

Position #5 – 8 of Cups:

The card in this position shows the Probable Outcome, going beyond the answer found in Position #4, to a final conclusion. 8 of Cups in Position #5 points to the issue of balance vs. imbalance (8), likely in hormones (Cups). My sense was that the chiropractor would be successful in identifying hormonal imbalances in the querent’s body, which, once identified, could be corrected.

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I note that four of the six cards in this draw are Pentacles, which is a physical suit dealing with money and health. Interestingly, both issues were on the querent’s mind — her health issues and the money she might need to spend to address them. Additionally, IX-The Hermit as the clarification card is associated with the zodiacal sign of Virgo, a physical Earth sign associated with health.

Queen of Pentacles in Position #1 described the chiropractor as a practical and results-oriented, intuitive professional woman and 6 of Pentacles in Position #2 showed the querent’s expectations that she would receive good value for her money by consulting this practitioner. 10 of Swords in Position #3 suggested the querent felt she was “the end of her rope” concerning her issues and that it was time to try an alternative therapy. 10 of Pentacles in the 4th Position confirmed contracting the chiropractor would be an excellent investment that promised a satisfactory outcome in resolving her health issues. 8 of Cups in Position #5 suggested the treatments would uncover a hormonal (Cups) imbalance (8) which could then be addressed. Finally, IX-Hermit as the Clarification Card suggested that a health (Virgo) issue needed to be further analyzed and that she had been intuitively guided to this particular practitioner. I encouraged her to act on her intuitions.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins