Everyone has areas of life in which they’d like to see a more positive outcome. I developed the Possibilities Tarot Card Spread to help you explore in more depth what may be available to you in a particular life area and what you may need to do or avoid in order to bring a more desired outcome into your reality.
First I’ll show you the layout, then I’ll show you an example of the spread in action.
Possibilities Tarot Card Spread Layout
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Tarot card reading tip: if the situation you wish to explore is frightening, disturbing or emotionally overwhelming, do your best to calm yourself down and consciously intend to draw cards that will give you true and helpful guidance before you shuffle and draw the cards.
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Example of the Possibilities Tarot Card Spread: Employment Situation
Background: Female A is an older woman who is absolutely miserable in her job. When she started the position, she had high hopes it would make good use of her creative skills, but to her dismay, she found herself being assigned clerical, entry-level work well below her skill level, which she detested. Her supervisor seemed aloof and disinterested in the daily office drama, and she found her co-workers to be dishonest and untrustworthy. Despite the fact there was absolutely nothing she liked about the job, the thought of being jobless terrified her, so she stayed. She seemed desperate for a way out, but feared nothing might be “out there” for her, and besides, she didn’t have any idea of where to start looking.
The Tarot Card Reading for Female A:
While thinking about Female A’s situation and consciously intending to access helpful information, I shuffled the cards and then cut the deck into seven separate piles (one for each position), selecting the top card from each pile in sequential order. My question was: “Regarding Female A’s employment situation, what possibilities are now available to her?”
Q: What Possibilities are Available for Female A’s Employment Situation?
Positions 1 and 2 – Possibilities Currently Available and Reason / Basis for the Possibility: 6 of Swords and 6 of Cups
I tend to read these two positions together. 6 of Swords is a card that is associated with moving away from the past. When this card is drawn, it is likely that the querent will be the one who makes the first move rather than let circumstances make the move for her. In other words, 6 of Swords suggests that a change in the way she is thinking about things (Swords = thoughts) will prompt her to seek a new job more in keeping with her desires. 6 of Swords also suggests that as she mentally (Swords) loosens herself from of grip of her situation, she may find that things start improving. Additionally, the card hints at the possibility of receiving help from unexpected sources.
The reason for, or basis of, the possibility is shown by 6 of Cups, which indicates that Female A’s creative skills and abilities still exist. She didn’t lose them, even though she is not currently using them. 6 of Cups also suggests that Female A (possibly because of her age) could be thinking her best days are behind her, which could certainly become her reality if she persists on believing such a disempowering thought. In essence, the possibility of distancing herself from the past and moving on to better things in the employment arena (6 of Swords) is dependent on her recognition that she does in fact possess valuable skills and talents and that her best days could be ahead of her and not behind her (6 of Cups). The two cards placed together suggest she could now become open to believing this possibility could be true for her.
Position 3 – What Helps: Queen of Swords
Clear, non-emotional thinking is of the essence. The Queen of Swords counsels that the querent should emotionally detach from her current situation and admit and declare, to herself and to the Universe, that she wants — and deserves — to be free of what has become an unacceptable condition. She should mentally (Swords) affirm that she deserves to use her gifts, talents and skills in a supportive environment. She would be best served by focusing (Swords) on what she wants and ruthlessly disengage (Swords) from all negative thinking about the situation.
Position 4 – What Hinders: 3 of Swords
The 3 of Swords is a card of emotional pain. In Position 4, it counsels that continued focus on negative and/or painful feelings will only prolong the painful and unpleasant situation in which the querent currently finds herself. The 3 of Swords confirms, whether she realizes it or not, that the querent is living within an abusive situation and that it is now necessary to remove the cause of her pain and let go what no longer serves her, if she is to have any chance at a happier, healthier work situation.
Position 5 – The Deduction: XVIII-The Moon
As the Deduction, XVIII-The Moon suggests the querent has been holding on to a very unhappy work situation because her fears of what the future might bring have been greater than her desire to change her circumstances. Unfortunately, these fears have probably kept her up at night as well as generated feelings of anxiety and insecurity. To put things right and start moving in a more positive direction, there is a need for the querent to face her fears and deconstruct them so she can accurately distinguish between what is real and what is only an illusion. XVIII-The Moon counsels that the querent would be better served by tuning into her intuition, actively seeking and working with the insights that come to her.
Position 6 – The Probable Outcome: IV-The Emperor
IV-The Emperor is about order and management. In the Probable Outcome position, it suggests that the Universe is already in the process of orchestrating a desirable change, even though the querent can’t actually see it yet. This would be a good time for her to step up her efforts, visualizing and affirming what she really wants, namely, a new employment situation that would give her the opportunity to use her talents and skills in a supportive, friendly workplace. Through continued, focused intention, she could attract the conditions she is looking for. Interestingly, this card literally suggests a new boss — a desired probable outcome in itself.
Position 7 – The Next Step: 8 of Wands
The first thought that came to mind when I saw this card is that if she hasn’t already started, the querent should immediately begin sending out her resume and networking with anyone and everyone for job leads. 8 of Wands is a positive indication of new opportunities (including a new job offer), rushes of creative inspiration, new friends and a world of possibilities that can open up once she frees her mind of negative, painful 3 of Swords thinking.
Clarification: XII-The Hanged Man
As clarification, XII-The Hanged Man confirms that a change in perspective would do the querent a world of good. If she is willing to give up her old way of looking at things (i.e., giving up negative beliefs), she can turn her life around, making way for desirable new opportunities to come into her life.
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins