Tag Archives: tarot card spread

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

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Tarot Cards

Tarot Guidance: What I Need What I Want Spread

Mid-morning or so, I was thinking random, not particularly productive thoughts, when I caught myself in the act.

I noticed I was feeling somewhat frustrated and annoyed with myself. My to-do list was growing by the moment and I didn’t feel like tackling one thing on it. Other than that, I couldn’t seem to figure out why I was feeling out of sorts. I decided to throw a What I Need / What I Want Tarot spread to cast a little light on the matter.

 

What I Need What I Want Tarot Spread 10 of Pentacles - Knight of Swords - Ace of Swords
What I Need What I Want Tarot Spread
10 of Pentacles – Knight of Swords – Ace of Swords

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

 

10 of Pentacles in the What I Need position indicates financial security. Specifically, a safety net.

Knight of Swords in the What I Want position suggests I should engage in logical, non-emotional action or activities that are clearly focused on my goals.

Ace of Swords in the Advice position tells me a decision is needed.

The Tarot spread suggests that I make a decision (Ace of Swords) to engage in positive, logical, goal-oriented activities (Knight of Swords) in order to achieve my need, which is financial security and the development of a safety net (10 of Pentacles).

* * * * * * * * * * *

Although I really didn’t have any preconceived notions on subject matter prior to pulling the cards, I must say I was impressed. Recently retired from the work force, my goal is to develop and monetize this blog in order to eventually supplement my Social Security income. This will provide the financial security / safety net I need. The What I Need / What I Want Tarot Spread had succinctly pointed out what I should focus on to get me where I needed and wanted to be.

The cards I drew focused my conscious mind on a game plan that made perfect sense for me. I should take consistent, logical, clearly focused, goal-oriented actions and trust in my eventual success. Knowing the Universe loves symbolic gestures, I followed up immediately by writing this post. Then I printed the spread and taped it near my computer because I don’t want to lose track of the guidance I received.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It just so happens, in this draw, what I needed and what I wanted coincided, which was serendipitous. If the cards had fought each other, indicating that my needs and wants were at odds, I would probably have wanted to throw another spread to help me clarify how I might resolve the discrepancy.

 

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Lenormand Cards, Tarot Cards

Lenormand and Tarot Combo Reading: Employment Advice

Male X is a 29 year old husband and father who’s been working as a maintenance man at a property management company for the past two years. When he became frustrated and disillusioned with his job, he applied for, and was offered, a similar position at better pay, with a competitor. When he told his company he was leaving, they counter-offered, matching the competitor’s pay. After going back and forth, unable to come to a decision, his worried wife contacted me for a reading. She wanted to know which job was the better choice, for both her husband and their family.

I decided to consult the Lenormand and the Tarot to see what advice and insights they could supply concerning the two jobs.

First, let’s see what the Lenormand cards had to say:

Job #1 (current job)

Blaue Eule Lenormand 9 Bouquet - 35 Anchor - 28 Gentleman
9 Bouquet – 35 Anchor – 28 Gentleman

 

Job #2 (potential new job)

Blaue Eule Lenormand 30 Lilies - 20 Garden - 6 Clouds
30 Lilies – 20 Garden – 6 Clouds

Blaue Eule (Blue Owl) Lenormand (c) 2008 Konigsfurt-Urania

 

Lenormand was quite direct about Job #1, showing Male X’s professional skills (Bouquet) as a maintenance man (Anchor + Gent). The cards also reflected that the company appreciated his skills (Bouquet) and that there was likely longevity (Anchor) for him at their company. The overall impression I got about Job #1 was that of stability (Anchor) and appreciation for his services (Bouquet).

Lenormand was equally descriptive regarding Job #2. While the company seemed to have pure motives (Lilies) in presenting itself as a pleasant and enjoyable workplace (Lilies + Park), such a presentation was deceptive or not what it seemed to be (Clouds). I got the impression things might change here (and not for the better), and a future with this company was unpredictable at this time (Clouds).

Wanting to get additional information and insight, I consulted the Tarot:

I decided to cast an Options Spread where three cards for each option are drawn. Underneath each option, I drew a card to give insight or advice on what Male X should consider before making a decision. The final card suggests the Probable Outcome.

 

Options Tarot Spread Employment Advice
Options Tarot Spread Employment Advice

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

 

Job #1 is shown by VII-Chariot, XIX-Sun and Knight of Cups, while what should be considered is signified by the 4 of Swords.

All three cards describing Job #1 are positive, giving the sense of a reputable (XIX-Sun), take-charge (VI-Chariot) type of company that has Male X’s best interests at heart (Knight of Cups).

The 4 of Swords as insight or advice suggests Male X might feel stuck in neutral at Job #1. He may feel tired and discouraged and long for a change of pace.

Job #2 is shown by 2 of Cups, 10 of Swords and 7 of Swords. What should be considered is described by 4 of Pentacles.

I almost had to slap my head at how literal these cards spoke to me: “First they woo you (2 of Cups), then they stab you in the back (10 of Swords). There is deception (7 of Swords) surrounding Job #2. Beware.”

The 4 of Pentacles as insight or advice suggests Male X, despite the discouragement he feels about Job #1, may feel too scared to make a change at this time. Perhaps he will want to hold on to what he already has.

Ace of Wands as the Probable Outcome suggests that a new chapter will begin. This could be a raise or promotion (Job #1), or a new job (Job #2). You can see the Tarot did not make the decision for Male X, but rather, leaves it up to him after he considers the advice and insights in the spread.

 

What actually happened?

Before consulting with the wife, I also ran a horary astrology chart which indicated Job #1 was more stable and that Job #2 possibly might not be able to live up to its promises. The chart also suggested that Male X may have “pre-decided” on Job #2 (probably due to his frustrations with Job #1). I gave this information to the wife, along with my interpretations of the Lenormand and Tarot cards, being very careful not to paint Job #2 in a totally negative light, because I did not want to influence Male X’s decision. I did suggest, however, that perhaps Male X could talk things out with his current employer, since the cards seemed to indicate the company was reputable and had his best interests at heart.

I counseled that in the long run, bettering himself either via specialized education or moving up in the company was more important than either one of these jobs. She agreed, and the consultation ended.

I heard back from Male X’s wife a few days later. She told me not only did Male X ultimately decide to stay with Job #1, but he also wanted to pursue an educational program that would enable him to earn more money in an entirely different profession in which he had genuine interest.

As of this date, Male X has taken the first step to a new career by attending an informational workshop for the educational program he is interested in pursuing, and seems satisfied with his decision to stay with Job #1.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Tarot Cards

Tarot Guidance Using the 5 Pointed Star Spread

The querent is a female artist who’s hit a dry spell. Lately she’s been worrying, thinking maybe she’s lost her edge. She fears she’ll never be able to produce the quality of work she’s produced in the past.

“It feels like my creative well is dry,” she confided. “At first I thought I could shake this off, but it’s been a few weeks now and it’s starting to scare me.”

Her question was simple: How Can I Replenish the Well?

I decided to cast a 5 Pointed Star tarot spread to address her question. This is a positional spread where each point of the Star discusses a certain aspect of the problem/ situation/ circumstance of concern.

After thoroughly mixing the cards, I selected the following cards to address her question:

 

5 Pointed Star Tarot Spread - Replenish the Well
5 Pointed Star Tarot Spread – Replenish the Well

 

Position 1: The nature or basis of the situation/ issue/ circumstance, or the reason for the question:

Page of Cups as the nature or basis of the situation suggests a couple of things to me. First, it literally suggests creative (Cups) thoughts (Pages). Second, it gives a sense of perhaps being overly emotional about the situation and not trusting her own intuitions, which certainly could put a damper on generating new ideas.

Position 2: The querent’s thoughts or mindset, conscious or unconscious:

Quite literally, 0-The Fool is zero. Nothing. Coupled with Page of Cups as creative thoughts, we see the querent’s situation capsulized in the first two cards: as far as creative thoughts / new inspirations are concerned (Page of Cups), there are none (0-The Fool).

Position 3: Additional information or comment that may impact the situation (can be known or unknown):

2 of Pentacles in the third position suggests a sense of uneasiness/ imbalance, and perhaps a fear of disappointing self or others. There is also a sense of discouragement. These feelings could be causing her to bounce back and forth, between hope and despair, accomplishment and the lack thereof, which could be stifling her creative faculties and affecting her ability to make careful, balanced decisions.

Position 4: The Answer, Advice or Solution:

Knight of Cups suggests the real problem is a lack of faith in herself and her abilities. She needs to re-develop her self confidence. Knight of Cups suggests she should learn to recognize whether she’s acting on fear-based emotions or out of genuine enthusiasm for her passions and interests.

Position 5: The Probable Outcome based on the current energies surrounding the situation/ issue/ circumstance:

Queen of Pentacles furthers the advice of Knight of Cups. If the querent follows the advice of Knight of Cups and resurrects her faith in herself and her abilities, she’ll be better equipped to take on her challenges and figure out effective ways to deal with them.

Clarification Card: Ties the reading together and often gives a direction to consider for achieving a suitable outcome:

V-Hierophant is a card of tradition, encompassing specific, daily routines and rituals. Instead of worrying about a lack of inspiration or a dearth of ideas, perhaps the querent could set a daily schedule that would put her in front of the computer (she does digital design) whether she feels inspired or not. Sometimes the Hierophant can represent an older or more experienced person who passes his or her knowledge on to a student or apprentice. Perhaps the querent could consider offering online classes to beginners who would love to learn the basics of digital design, and in doing so, recover some of the spark and excitement she believes she’s lost.

Hopefully, one or more of the insights provided by this reading will help the querent in resolving this issue.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins

Card Reading 101, Card Spreads, Tarot Cards

Shining the Light Spread Using Tarot Cards

This is a simple yet effective spread that will give you insight and guidance on a situation, issue or circumstance that is concerning you.

I’m using the Tarot Cards for this example but it could easily be adapted to any card deck including Lenormand, an oracle deck or playing cards.

Shining the Light Spread Using Tarot Cards Instructions:

1. Write down a brief, honest synopsis of the circumstance, issue or situation that is concerning you. (If you’re tempted to skip this step, don’t. You won’t have to write a book — just a few words or sentences will do, and the act of writing will help you focus on exactly what it is you want to know.)

2. Mix the tarot cards while thinking about your circumstance, issue or situation. Ask the cards to “shine the light” and give you some useful advice.

3. Continue mixing the tarot cards until it feels like you’re done. (Trust me, you will know when to stop.) Then turn the deck face up and search for IX-THE HERMIT. Select the cards to the immediate left and right and place all three cards face up on the table.

Here’s an example:

A 49 year old female querent who was unhappy at her day job wanted to know if she could turn her creative hobbies into a money making venture that would eventually be able to support her.

I asked a few questions to help her clarify the matter, then mixed the cards, asking them to “shine the light” and give the querent some practical guidance .

After turning the deck face up, I found IX-THE HERMIT and selected the cards to the immediate left and right:

 

Knight of Cups - IX Hermit - Page of Swords
Knight of Cups – IX Hermit – Page of Swords

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

 

Knight of Cups is associated with creative ventures. It can indicate a need for faith in oneself and also speaks to following the path with heart. Page of Swords suggests a need for logical thinking and decisive action. In this tarot card reading, IX-THE HERMIT shines the light on the message, “if you have faith in yourself, follow your passions, pursue a path that is personally meaningful to you, and act decisively, you can achieve your goal.”

The key word in this message is “can.” The cards aren’t predicting the querent will achieve her goal, simply that she can. The suit of Swords is comparable to the playing card suit of Spades, which often correlates with worries, problems or fears. When a tarot card spread — even a short one like this example — ends in a card from the suit of Swords, it often indicates that the querent may encounter problems.

Blessings,

Mary Hawkins