Oracle Speak ~ June 19th - July 19th

I decided to have another go at doing an "Oracle Speak" for the coming Moon cycle! For those who don't know, the Oracle Speak is a monthly (used to be bi-weekly) forecast reading... a message from the cards to the people who read it. I won't say "to the whole world" because the idea is a bit preposterous to me. I believe those who need the message will find it, and this reading is for them.

The first card I noticed in this spread is Mardoc, 13♠. As the only Black card in the spread, and also on the top position, he is an important figure in this reading. But for a guy known as "the heartless", he surely has a bunch of Hearts following him around. This spread reminds me a of a crème brûlée... hard caramel top, and delicious vanilla custard underneath.

I believe the coming cycle will start with an ending. Huh? Well, the 13♠ is not simply the last card in the Spades group, but he also closely related to death, to doors that close. In the first days, as the Moon grows brighter, we may still feel a certain bitterness, or melancholy, or just a vague discontent towards our situation or something which we have experienced. But these feelings will lose their strength, as we enter a phase of healing, symbolised by the following Heart cards.

In this spread there a strong feeling of 'starting a new cycle' – it may be related to today's solstice, as well. In the Northern Hemisphere it's the beginning of Summer, and here in the Southern Hemisphere, of Winter. A new Season begins in our lives.

The other card that jumped out in this layout is the 3♥, because it's the only upright card. For me, it tells that, though we may experience an improvement (especially emotional, helping to ease some physical problems), there will be some moments of instability, related to opposing desires.

On one hand, we have the desire to connect to others, to share, to get in touch, and thus expose ourselves to the outer world. On the other hand, the healing is not done yet, and we may feel compelled to stay inside our 'egg', waiting a bit longer. As comfortable as this alternative may seem, it may make our emotional river turn into a quagmire. The inner waters must not be held still for too long.

In a nutshell: In the coming cycle, feelings and experiences that have been dragging us down will start to lose their grip a bit, as we walk towards healing. It can become an intense month, emotionally-speaking,and there will be the need to balance the urge to expose oneself to others with the impulse to withdraw completely into safety. Sticking to any of the extremes is not good – true growth will come from learning how to work with both tendencies in the appropriate moments. You will have the opportunity to practice your emotional flexibility – Pilates for the spirit!

PCO ~ Is he going to move the relationship forward?

A couple of weeks ago, I began to offer readings in exchange for detailed feedback. I already had some willing guinea pigs, and today I am sharing the reading I did for Beverly R. about her relationship with Jerry. She gave me full permission to post the reading and feedback here. Her feedback is highlighted in green.

Question: I am curious about Jerry and if he's gonna move the relationship forward? If so, a time frame would be nice. If not, I'd like to know why. 

You asked whether the relationship is going to move forward or not. So I drew two witch's runes to answer to this question, and what I got were the Crossroads and the Scythe. You can see their symbols right above the cards.

From one side, this combination that your connection to this person is deep, and may even be something 'karmic' – something ruled by spiritual forces.  Yes, the karmic connection has been mentioned before.

The Scythe shows there's a strong magnetism, and that it's the kind of relationship that is hard to get away from once you are involved, because something keeps pulling you into it.  Yes, very strong magnetism.

However, these two symbols also bring a warning - that you should expect a big change in your relationship with Jerry. It can be for better or for worse, though the Crossroads rune indicates that there might be some communication problems along the way, a difficulty in understand what the other really wants, which can lead to misunderstandings. If the difficulties pile up they may lead to a fight.  Yes, this week there have been some communication issues, and he's really stressed with work and his life in general.

So try to be as upfront as you can to Jerry, in order to not mislead or be misled. I'll keep this in mind!!!!

Then I asked the cards about a time frame for this change, as well as the circumstances. The time given by the cards was between late August and mid-September. He asked his boss for a transfer to the beach so perhaps this will happen then. 

The first thing I noticed in these cards is that they give a strong feeling of indecision. Yes, he's wishy washy, don't know what he wants but I'm working with him on this. Did a visualization technique with him today about a vacation. I think it's possible that Jerry tries to distance himself from you during this time, because he's unsure as what to do, how to proceed. He's uncertain about his own feelings and desires.  Yes, he's uncertain as he thinks he always screws up everything, so he's distancing himself now. The cards show he perhaps is the kind of person who is rather rational, so when emotions attack him he feels out of his depth and nervous.  Yes, he is rational. An intelligent mental man and emotions send him in circles.

I see some fear of commitment in the cards too. He may go through some emotional vacillation. YEAP!!! You hit the nail on the head. He told me back in March that he has commitment issues and isn't fond of change!!!

The cards are not promising a concrete development right now - it's possible that you two are still creating your future. But answering directly to your question, I believe Jerry won't be moving the relationship forward, at least not for the coming three months... probably out of insecurity and due to commitment issues. EXACTLY as I suspected.

One last thing: there is a woman in this spread too. I could not tell  for sure if it was you or someone else... She could represent a female friend of his. If that is the case, it's a person who may disturb your relationship with Jerry. THIS IS HIS SISTER!!! She controls and manipulates his life. They are twins and she treats him as though he's her husband  even though she has a real husband. This card is also an advice to you: fight for what you want, especially if you feel that Jerry is indeed the partner you want. Make him see the great woman you are - you do have this power within you, and perhaps your actions can help him to make up his mind faster! You don't have to wait for him to say 'aye' before playing your own cards. I called him up Tuesday, listened to him gripe about work then said "Will you feel better if I tell ya how much I love you?" ...he gave a small pause then said "yeah", so I see I'm gonna have to work. LOL!

I do not see the marriage in this spread, but perhaps it's a more long-term consequence. What I see now is you having to deal with the common male insecurity when it comes to taking more serious steps in their lives. You may have to take the reigns a bit here, and don't let silence grow between you. He knows I won't push about marriage because that's a skittish area for me, not because I'm commitment phobe but because I've done it twice to the wrong men... just don't wanna screw up again. So I'll take long term if that's what it turns out to be! :-)

Afterthoughts:
Upon reading Beverly's feedback, I noticed I was too afraid in this reading to share the intensity of the things I perceived. When I saw Tendra, I knew it was a very meddling and clingy woman who could be undermining their relationship and I was almost sure it was a third party, not the querent. I should have trusted my gut feeling a bit more, because according to Beverly I was right in my impression. I was afraid of sounding too exaggerated or saying something absurd.

I also found interesting that the 2♣ showed up between Jerry's card (13♣ – Sol) and his sister's card (10♦ – Tendra). My first idea has been that of a friendship, because I had never considered the possibility of this card relating to siblings. But it makes perfects sense, especially concerning twins, who have an unique connection that resembles the one represented by the 2♣.

The 3♥ is a card of emotional vacillation, and together with the Geomantic reading for this spread (which had Fortuna Minor and Carcer as witnesses), it gave me this idea of a fear of commitment. But also, in hindsight, it seems very clear that his sister plays an important part in his indecision. I think Jerry feels he's betraying his sister somehow by loving another woman – his heart is split, even though it needn't be (she is his sister, after all).


The symbols of the runes were taken from Susan Sheppard's A Witch's Runes © Kesington Publishing Corp. No copyright infringement intended. 

PCO: Healing doesn't happen overnight

This reading was done for my friend C.L. She is a 50 years old woman, divorced, who recently broke up with a younger man she had been dating for almost an year. The young man is married, and despite the fact he said his marriage is not a happy one, he never left his wife, which was what made C.L decide to break their relationship.

First C.L focused on other problems, in order to not focus so much on the emotions that this separation arose. But now mourning is beginning to catch up with her, and she has asked the cards when she'll begin to feel better again. "I am 50 years old... I feel that nothing more will happen in my life anymore. I don't feel sad, but I feel disappointed with life."

I did the Cat Spread for her, in order to be able to give a more or less precise 'timing'. Before the "cat card" there were 7 piles of 4 cards, so the date I got was between mid-November and the beginning of December. I always allow about two weeks of leeway because I believe the manifestation of the cards is not a single event, but a continuous development that needs to be observed over a period of time.

Below are the two readings I did for C.L.

The Present Spread:

Head (♦/Fire): 2♦

.

Throat (♣/Air): 2♣

.

Torso (♥/Water): J♣

.

Feet (♠/Earth): 5♣

 

The first thing I noticed about this spread if the J♣ in the "Heart" position. Although Lancelot is usually a good card, here he seem to represent the mind dominating the emotions. It's not simply the position he is in, but the fact we have three Clubs cards and no Hearts cards at all!

I think C.L has been using a rationality to 'emerge' from these complicated waters that surround her. She told me she has been dreaming a lot of water lately – perhaps her inner water, unable to manifest in her day life, are seeking release through her dreams.

The J♣ can also represent that younger man she was dating, showing that he's still in her heart.

The two Deuces speak to me of a certain duality within her. There's a desire to overcome this pain and 'stomp' on men all things related to them, which is represented by the 2♦. But there's also a subtle hope for a reconnection, for a companion (2♣). She no longer wishes nourish what she considers a useless expectation (that of finding love at this point of life), but at the same time, there's a part of her that yearns for that.

The 5♣ represents her feeling of being cheated by life somehow, of having had the 'rug pulled out from under her feet', so to speak.

The fact that we have three black cards and one red makes it clear that she's sad. Not desperate – I believe this would be better represented by Spades cards – but gloomy, even thought she appears tough and unaffected on the outside.

The Cat Spread:

Head (♦/Fire): 2♦

.

Throat (♣/Air): 3♥

.

Torso (♥/Water): 10♦

.

Feet (♠/Earth): 7♠

The future spread has all the four suits in it, suggesting that near December C.L will be feeling more balanced. All cards are 'scrambled' (outside of their most dignified positions) except for the 7♠ in the "Foot" position. This tells me that C.L. s biggest strength at that moment will be her ability to cut off what no longer nourishes her.

This is especially true because when I did the reading, the blade of the sword was pointing to the 10♦, dearest Tendra. For me this lady appears when someone is clinging to something they cannot have. So I believe that in the time given by the reading, C.L will finally be able to truly let go of the young man, release the memories, the regrets, the unfulfilled love... all the ties that bind.

There's also the 4♣, suggesting that the healing will be a slow process, and that she'll probably think twice before letting love in her life again. The 3♥ stands for love triangles and unstable emotions, but it can also represent emotional drama. I do not know what it is the message of this card, to be honest. I think it is connected to Tendra's message, of clinging to what you cannot have - in this case, clinging to someone who already has a partner and does not make any move to leave them. These are the things that C.L will slowly release from her life.

Furthermore, the 3♥ in the deck by C.J Freeman has a heart with a keyhole in the middle, suggesting that a special key is needed to open this heart. I believe that the experience may leave a bitter aftertaste for C.L and it'll be a while until she opens up again... She has to be careful to not become a victim of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If anyone has extra insights regarding these readings, I appreciate them! :)

PCO: ...and that's why I did not go.

This reading was done on Monday, May 7th.

The situation was: in a couple days, there will be an international conference about digital books in another city. This time my company will not pay for it (as they did last year), so I am considering using some of my economies to go. Because it's so close to the date of the event, I'll probably pay more for the flying tickets, hotel and the conference registration itself than if I had bought it all earlier... I have some saving but I'm far from wealthy and such sudden expenses are never good. However, if I want to go, I can do it.

Why did I wait so long? Well, my company only confirmed that they were not going to fund my trip to the conference last week, although I have been asking them about it for at least a month. Furthermore, they have decided digital books are not making as much money as expected... we ought to keep doing them, but they aren't going to invest more than needed, and that includes going to events about the subject.

But I make digital books. It's one of my functions here. And it's also one of my trades. Something I could offer to other people, other companies. Yes, this conference interests me very much. However, I am aware of the mental and financial strain a sudden decision can cause me. So I consulted the cards.

The question was: what do I need to know about suddenly going to the conference?

Head (♦/Fire): 5♣

.

Throat (♣/Air): 7♠

.

Torso (♥/Water): 3♦

.

Feet (♠/Earth): 8♦

The 7♠, Sword of Destruction, glares at me. But I try to not base my whole interpretation on one card. So I move to the Foot, where we have the 8♦. It's a good card for business. It tells me that, regarding my work, it might be an important experience, I'll learn the more about the product I work with (ebooks) and be with people who specialise in it. Through them I'll expand my views. With the 3♦ above it, signalling growth, it seems sure that going is the best option, professionally speaking.

But the spread is more than two cards, so lets move up. The Sword of Destruction demands my attention, but I focus on the 5♣ instead. The Wind Cape. A card of mental chaos, confusion. Surrounded by friendly cards, it can represent an influx of new ideas.

But we have the sword beneath and it's usually not friendly.
And that's why I decided not to go.

What!? You gotta be kidding me! Nope. First, the Sword of Destruction really caused a great impression on me... by going, I'd probably disturb something I am not sure I'm ready to change yet. My stability in my job. Perhaps I'll use my own sword on it, in the future, but right now I don't have the emotional conditions to do so.

Besides - look at the spread! The chaos that this sudden decision would cause inside my mind (because I am anal-retentive and don't deal well with sudden decisions - I like to plan) would destroy my enjoyment of the conference. See the Sword? The 5♣ holds the hilt. The blade points to the Diamonds cards. The 3♦ is reversed... the cup is upside down, spilling its contents, and the Cauda Draconis is a herald for endings and problems. I am not ready for either.

And the jolly Diamonds? They could pretty much represent the amount of money I'd spend, which may not equal the amount enjoyment I'd have under such stress. Had a more positive card been in the Throat position - the position that connects everything - my interpretation might have been different.

And that's why I decided not to go. Next year, if I'm still here, still working with ebooks, I'll plan ahead. Save money, buy things early, do it my way. I'll not wait for the company. And should the Sword of Destruction appear again, I hope I am readier to handle it.

Oracle Speak ~ April 29th - May 13th

A while ago, Ana Cortez suggested that we tried to do our own Oracle Speak readings as an exercise. Oracle Speak is quick biweekly forecast Ana does for a local radio station at Santa Fe, NM. 

So, she told us to do a reading for the coming two weeks, before listening to her own forecast, as to not be influenced. Ana suggested that we focused on getting a message to the world, instead of focusing on our personal lives. This way the reading can be relevant to others too.

I seldom do general forecasts for many people - I am better with personal readings. But I think the challenge is important for my growth as a reader. Also, in this exercise I tried to follow my first impressions, because I need to learn to trust them more. I often question my own interpretations until I am completely lost!
So the first thing that called my attention in this layout was the presence of the deuces on the top of the spread. And both cards deal with rivalry of some sort - one is the  2♠ (The Enemies) and the other is the 2♦ (The Rivals). My first impression is that May will begin with an atmosphere of conflict and opposition.

The Ace of Diamonds is right below the two deuces, so for me it's deeply connected to them. The causes of the conflicts may be an excessively individualistic approach to thing - "my way or no way" sort of thing. However, fire is also a transforming energy - these times of opposition, if well-handled, can be a catalyst for important changes.

We can transform a heavy enmity into a lighter, more positive rivalry that inspired growth instead of destroying. If we let the negative side prevail., it'll be like throwing dirt onto the fire of transformation. We will smother it.

I don't see a very relevant meaning for the 6♣... for me it suggests that all this will be a very temporary situation, one that will open the path to further grow. The conflicts that happen within the coming two weeks will not be long-lasting (unless the people involved handle them very badly). If anyone has more insight on this card, I appreciate.

There's also a lack of Hearts in this particular spread, which suggests that this will be a time of low sympathy; people will not be very open emotionally. A hard time of transformation, like fire burning the earth to renew it. The sentence that popped into my mind was 'don't be a softy'.

In a nutshell: I believe opposition will be very present in the coming weeks, in different forms and intensity. There may be a tendency in people to face this in a rather egoistic way, which may contribute to the conflict. It's important to compromise, so that the differences can generate growth instead of becoming an abyss. This is a wonderful opportunity to transform any situation by analysing what isn't working and finding alternatives in other people's ideas. Using well this time can boost people's progress in whatever area of their lives they are experiencing stagnation or obstruction.

I don't know if I did this right but... ta-da, here it is! My first Oracle Speak!

If anyone sees this spread differently, or has any additional insight on the cards... please, do share!

Sol: The All-Seeing King

Of all the kings in the Playing Card Oracles, Sol, the King of Clubs, is the one that shows up more often in my readings. I think it's because I have many Aquarian/Air men in my life... including my father, my boss, my stepbrother and others.

I was reading Anaïs Nin's Under a Glass Bell one of these days. It's a wonderful book of short stories... I recommend reading it if you like a flowery prose with lots of subjectivity and surrealism. Some people find her writing superfluous and convoluted, but I love her. Anaïs speaks to my spirit - and to my heart - in a way few authors have ever done.

Sol himself would probably dislike her dreamy style.

There's a story called "The All-Seeing", which is about a man who could really be the King of Clubs. I can't help but think that Anaïs found inspiration in a typical Air man for this story, because the way she describes him reminds me of the Air men in my life. I am sharing some quotes below, along with some comments of mine, as a part of my own study of this card.

"Seeking this that he had lost without knowing it, he became restless and a rover, a prober, he became the archaeologist of his own soul, he searched and wandered [...] He was possessed with restlessness, timelessness, forgetfulness. He lived in a labyrinth and a haze." (The All-Seeing)

Sol is a man who seeks and researches everything, including his own soul. But, for me, he seems fearful of emotions (and all that reason cannot fully control and comprehend), hence why he focuses so much on the rational side. He is an archaeologist of the soul, but his conclusion are always somehow incomplete. The poetry, the dreams, the unconscious, the marvellous... all these things are missing from his left-brained approach. He analyses them, dissects them, question them until they crumble under the weight of his scrutiny. Mystery cannot survive this aggressive investigation.

"No sooner had the marvellous befallen him than he grasped it with his peasant hands with the violence of a man who was not certain of having seen it, lived it, and who wanted to reassure himself of its palpability. Everything which befell him would be ripped apart, analysed, commented." (The All-Seeing)

In this quote we see Sol's tendency to rationalise when something marvellous (or magical, or irrational) falls in his hands. He finds it hard to simply enjoy the moment... no, he must put it under a microscope, put it in perspective, put it in words. Measure, weight, compare. In doing so he gains knowledge, but sometimes he destroys the flame, the impulse, the spontaneity, the poetry. He can be the air the feeds the flame, but sometimes he ends up being the cold wind that extinguishes it.

"You float too easily, you are too easily cut off. [...] But at some time or other you will have to accept having a body, a reality, being in bondage. You will have to enter the prison of human life and accept the suffering." (The All-Seeing)

I think that the heaviness of the earth... gravity, the physical reality... is sometimes very uncomfortable for Sol. Perhaps, amongst all the PCO kings, he the one least comfortable with it. The mind has no limits... but it is still inside a body, and must conform to it. In the imagination, dreams are easily accessible... but when the body is not engaged, all fades away as soon as we open our eyes. Sol's paradox is that, while he's deeply connected to all that is logical, rational, real, scientific, he is at the same time a man of the elusive Clubs realm. And as such, someone constantly uncomfortable with the bondage of the physical life. Someone who want to live reality only through the mind - but reality is not only the mind. It's the body, the heart, the instinct... all that Sol tends to avoid.

I was surprised by how "The All-Seeing" seems to relate to Sol, especially his 'shadow' aspect, and how it unwittingly highlights the importance of Leah, the Queen of Clubs. She represents the unconscious mind, the right side of the brain, and as such she balances Sol, completes him, expands him. She's the mind that softly explores the mystery without brutalising it, without tearing the veils. She seeks to comprehend what can be seen, and respectfully waits for the unseen to unveil itself. When Sol grabs his surgical knife, Leah puts a hand in his shoulder and says "wait - it still breathes". Sol checks if the chest is moving; Leah feels the soul inhale.

As Ana Cortez said, together they make a complete brain.

In my own spreads, Sol used to represent a man I loved... Sometimes when I stare at this card my thoughts fly to the forbidden realms of memories. I remember clearly when I showed him my well-loved PCO deck and said: This card -- this is you, in my readings. The scientist, the teacher, the thinker. We were lying together on the bed, in the post-passion haze. We floated in a bubble of our own making, made of his air and heated with my own fire.

Gone, gone, gone. All that is gone. Now Sol is a rock in the pit of my stomach. And somehow this post is a sad attempt to exorcise the face that still floats above this card whenever I see it. The man is gone, but Sol is still in my readings... now I need to rediscover him, give him a new visage.

Weekly Reading: The Lady and her window

Yesterday before bed I did something I haven't done in a long time: I did a weekly draw. It was more an exercise than an attempt to know what awaits for me, but it still made an interesting reading because my significator card came up: Allegra, the Lady of Hearts (10♥).

I chose Allegra as my card when I began studying the Playing Card Oracles... when I first read about her, I thought that her personality is very similar to my own: moody, sensitive, passionate, vulnerable, a bit irrational and prone to indulge in fantasies. Above all, someone whose heart is her compass... not always a clever guide, but an honest one. I did not choose my card based on the sun sign and element (as I usually do for others), because although my sun sign is Sagittarius, fire, I do not identify so much with Tendra, the Lady of Diamonds (10♦).

Allegra, on the other hand, could be my portrait at times.

In this weekly draw, the (10♥) came with the 8♣, The Scales, which is for me one of the most problematic cards of the pack. Not because it's bad, but because I have always had a hard time understanding it. And yet, it shows up quite often in my own readings. When looking at the two cards together, my first impression was that I was seeing a girl staring out of the window...

What is she seeing? What is she thinking as she looks out of the window? I cannot say for sure... this combo could represent someone who reaches some clarity, some peace of mind, some distance from the troubled waters. Because the 8♣ is upside-down, it seems Allegra is looking at the scales, not outside. So maybe she's making a decision, weighting the options.

But how can she weight anything, if the scales are upside down?

Perhaps she has stopped weighting, pondering, wondering. There's nothing left on the plate of her scales. She needs to get all this (now useless) equipment out of the way, stop trying to make decisions in haste and truly enjoy the view. Watch the sun set in the western window. Watch the clouds reflect the final rays of the sun as the day ends. Watch the stars appear in the clear autumn sky as the night sets in.

I wonder if this week will be more peaceful for me... mentally and emotionally speaking. I could use some good nights of sleep for a change, away from the chaos of unsolvable mental riddles. To think about those who are not here... to follow them from a distance, to summon memories of them... is to invite chaos into your mind. These two cards tell me to refrain from doing this. Exercise a bit of no-mindedness when it comes to certain subjects. Gently push certain thoughts away when they come.

There will be time to deal with them.

I don't know... the elusive 8♣ remains a bit of mystery to me. I still have a lot to learn about it. Maybe the coming week will give me more opportunities to understand it. For now... the quote below seems to sum up the message this weekly reading had for me.


Nobutada: Please forgive... too many mind.
Nathan Algren: Too many mind?
Nobutada: Yes. Mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind the enemy, too many mind… [pause] No mind.
-- The Last Samurai, 2003

Tendra: more fire than blood!

Fire contains a dynamic spirit that is ever hungry. It consumes. The more it is given, the more it needs. This is the aspect of Fire that illuminates so well the personality of Tendra. (p.79)

Certain cards are complicated. Complicated, because they are... hum... less-than-positive, and we can't help but wincing whenever they show up in a reading. We say that "every card has a light and shadow", but it seems that some cards have more light while others have more shadow. They seem to be rather negative even at their best.

In the Playing Card Oracles, Tendra (the 10♦) is one of these cards. Her image is that of a young woman kissing the severed head of a man. She represents the hungry part of the fire, the side that consumes utterly. Tendra is seductive, drawing people to her like moths to flame. But once they get close, she burns. She clings, she clutches, she won't let go.

Some of her keywords include needy, demanding, spoilt, wilful, possessive, obsessive, clutching.  Her most positive characteristics are her tenacity and the fact she usually represents people with financial advantage... which hardly ever compensate the list of negative traits her very image brings to our mind when we see her in a spread.

Tendra has been showing up in almost every reading I have done for myself lately. It's interesting; in the past 5 years reading with the Playing Card Oracle I seldom saw her! For such a fiery young lady, she was certainly quiet. I even forgot about her.

BANG! Everything changes and suddenly a different folk starts to visit your spreads. And now Tendra is demanding all the attention I have denied her. She is stomping her foot, looking me in the eye and saying "decipher me or I shall devour you".

I have no doubt she will.

I have been thinking a lot about her. Who is Tendra? She reminds me of Salome, the dancer in the New Testament who, after dancing seductively before king Herod's court, demands the head of St. John the Baptist as a payment. Herod, who had promised to give her anything she asked, has John beheaded in the prison and delivers Salome's payment on a silver plate. In Oscar Wilde's version, the reason why she asks for his death is because John spurns her perverse love.

Salome is the symbol a famme fatale. One whose power of seduction is so strong she can even demand the death of a man - and get it! She's la belle dame sans merci; men fear her and women are taught to never be like her. She's dangerous. Fire is an interesting element, because it consumes everything but also dies in the process. When all wood is gone... the fire dies. I believe Tendra needs to be burning; she needs passion to feel alive. And sometimes she burns to ashes...

But... even danger teaches us something. I began to think about Tendra's positive side... about what she could bring into our lives that is good, that is needed.

I also see her as someone with courage and an indomitable will. If she does get her prize on a silver plate, you can be sure she did a hell of a dance before earning it! And she would do whatever it takes to get what she wants. 

Although the new age culture encourage us to share, to yield, Tendra may appear in the moments in which we should not give in, lest we give away too much! Sometimes you have to draw a line and say "no". Sometimes you must be aware of your value, and demand the deserving payment for what you are offering. Sometimes you must fight to keep something important for you, instead of letting everyone else have their way. Because no one will protect your interests for you. Tendra is a young lioness, and in her own way, she protects.

Last, but no least... Tendra seduces. Poor verb, usually seen under a negative light... but seduction is a part of our lives. Not only the sexual side. A baby, when he smiles in such a cute way, is seducing. It's telling "look at me, I am cute and vulnerable... love me, take care of me". Tendra may not be as vulnerable, but she tells us to remember that sometimes we have to attract, lure, persuade. We have to get people on our side. We have to help them to see what we see.

Surely, Tendra will never be an easy card, especially because she reflect traits and behaviours that most of us are ashamed of. The Lady of Diamonds does not share, does not release, does not yield. She's not afraid of asking for what she thinks she deserves. She demands, she consumes, she entices. And sometimes she takes it all to an extreme level. But at the same time, she is the one who tells you to protect yourself, protect what you want... to have some dignity! To stop giving so much of yourself in exchange for nothing. To stop worrying all the time whether others approve or disapprove your thoughts, your actions. To impose yourself a bit.

When focused, Tendra is a catalyst. She scorches, but she also transforms. She's is never invisible and, differently from the Queen of Diamonds, she refuses to be a 'secondary' flame.

When lost, when excessive, she's a bleedin' fiery scourge. A force of destruction, whose unquenchable hunger ultimately annihilates itself.

The 13 Witch's Runes ~ Part IV (Final!)

Finally, here's the last part of my 13 witch's runes posts! We only have one rune to cover - the Eye rune - which is a pretty complex symbol in itself, so it has a longer explanation. And then some extra information on Astrology and the runes!

Again, I cannot stress enough that the best resource on these runes is Susan Sheppard's book A Witch's Runes. If you liked my posts, I recommend that you buy it to enhance your practice, it's really a great book!

~*~

Eye

The eye has always been a powerful symbol for different cultures. Some believe that the soul resides in them, while others think it's possible to curse a person merely by looking at them. Through our eyes we connect and express emotions and thoughts. Thus, this is one of the most powerful runes in the set, emphasising the importance of any rune close to it.

The Eye symbol is also related to "vision" is all senses, including the physical. This rune can represent our eyes and optic nerves. It can also represent activities such as research, analysis, photography and creative visualisation. When it appears, there's an urge to observe, to explore, to understand deeply what is before you.

This rune is usually related to sudden realisations. Not necessarily a 'shock' (unless some violent rune is close it, like the Scythe and the Man), but more related to the lifting of veils. Your eyes are suddenly open, and you see things that were unknown to you before. A change of perception and focus in life is to be expected when this rune appears... whatever the situation is, the way you see it will be transformed.

On a spiritual level, this rune can represent a development of one's psychic skills, or an advancement in one's spiritual path. As you connect yourself to a deeper source, and learn to trust, you gain wisdom and your eyes see far. A higher power seems to be guiding you in times when the Eye appears.

Like the Sun rune, this rune can mean that right now all eyes are on you. But unlike the former symbol, when the Eye appears there's some discomfort related to such attention. It may be excessive and even unwelcome. In fact, this is one of this rune's most negative facets: it may show an invasion of privacy, when someone (or even you) pry into another's life and scrutinise their every move. Beware of flatterers and stalkers. The Eye cautions against obsession and the tendency to spy on other people's affairs.

In a relationship reading, the Eye can symbolise a predestined bond to another person. Note that this does not promise a happy ending, but simply says that this connection is powerful and will be very important in your life. In fact, because the Eye rune is a solitary one, it is possible that the people in the relationship cannot be together due to difficult circumstances. Still, your bond that person will transform you. In a negative way, this rune can cautions against invading your partner's personal space or stalking them.

~*~

Astrology & the Witch's Runes

In her book, Susan Sheppard explains how each rune is connected to the astrological planets and zodiac signs. While this knowledge is not necessary to use the runes, it may be useful to those who like Astrology and enjoy using it with divination. Knowing the ruling planet of each rune helps to enhance its meaning.

For those who enjoy using elemental dignities in their card-reading practice, I am also giving in the table below the element of each rune. Elements are a wonderful way for determining the 'atmosphere' of a reading.

RUNE:  PLANET -- ZODIAC -- ELEMENT

Sun: Sun -- Leo -- Fire
Moon:  Moon -- Cancer -- Water
Flight: Mercury -- Gemini -- Air
Rings: Chiron (or Mercury) -- Virgo -- Earth
Romance: Mars & Venus -- Aries & Libra -- Fire & Air
Woman: Venus -- Taurus -- Earth
Man: Mars -- Aries -- Fire
Harvest: Jupiter -- Sagittarius -- Fire
Crossroads: Saturn -- Capricorn -- Earth
Star: Uranus -- Aquarius -- Air
Waves: Neptune - Pisces -- Water
Scythe: Pluto -- Scorpio -- Water
Eye: None -- Your Sign -- All elements

So... I hope you have enjoyed this series of posts about the 13 witch's runes! I'll post some readings with it here in the blog, so you can see them in action! I hope this inspires you to buy the book and make (or buy) your own runes! Despite their apparent simplicity, they are a wonderful oracle, and they can also be used for making charms and casting spells (Susan Shappard teaches how to do that in the book).

The possibilities are endless!


The symbols of the runes were taken from Susan Sheppard's A Witch's Runes © Kesington Publishing Corp. No copyright infringement intended.

PCO: Let go of this dead man!

The weather is changing fast. We went from a 35ºC summer to a 10ºC autumn-like temperatures. But the cold only bothers me because it brings flashbacks of happier times... now gone.

I am still mourning, and try as I might, I feel like I am unable to move on. Mentally I understand what I am going through, but my emotional side is having a hard time catching up with my mind. I really thought I'd be much better by now, but much to my dismay, not only I have not recovered but I seem to have sunk into a state of deep melancholy and hopelessness. People tell me that all will be well... I can see a perfect logic behind their optimistic reasoning. I just can't bring myself to believe in them.

My cards have been my companion in this journey. I try to find some wisdom and comfort in them, but as I said in a previous post, very often the messages are repetitive. All tell me to wait and endure. Don't do anything. Don't force anything.

During the last month, I found some distractions. I got busy helping my mother with the renovations in her bedroom and I began a routine of going out for lunch with my two bests friends, and their company helped me to feel better. But now these distractions have lost their effect because, until a couple of days ago, I was still looking for a solution. I was still hoping that something could be done. And now the realisation that there's nothing left, that this door is closed permanently, is finally sinking in.

I have been avoiding doing readings about the future, because it frightens me. What if I never get better? What if my heart never ever mends? What if I never feel truly happy again? What if I am unable to love again? I know these are rather pathetic what-ifs, but when you are staring at the wall with a closed door behind you and no windows, they begin to sound logical. No, not logical – probable.

Still, I decided to use my beloved Playing Card Oracles to get some insight – mostly on the present. I used the Bridge Spread, which is good for more generic readings... I didn't have any question, but I focused on my depressed mood.

The card on the left is the Past; the card at the top is the Gift of the Present; the card at the bottom is the Challenge of the Present; and the card on the right is the Future. Ana Cortez explain this layout in this video.

My attention was immediately drawn to the 10♦ – Tendra, the lady of the fire suit. Not only she's the only card upside down, but she's also a card that I dislike, in a negative position and she has been appearing quite often to me. I had been struggling to understand her message, but today something dawned on me: Tendra is all about clinging to what you cannot have. See how she kisses the head of the dead man? He's dead... he can no longer give her love, warmth, anything. But she refuses to let him go.

That is my challenge... my painful challenge for the present. To let go, to truly let go of this dead weight I have been dragging around in my memories, in my heart. Now, let me say that it's easier said than done. Because I don't want to let go.

My gift of the present is the 9♣, "Galahad". A card of ideals and visions, if seem to go with the messages of all my other oracles. Personal sacrifice is needed in this situation, and it's unavoidable. But don't lose hope. Trust that a miracle can happen. Blah blah blah. Needless to say I felt like flushing this card down the toilet.

The past card is the 8♥, "The Garden". It makes sense... the root of all this pain was a situation of passion and intoxication. Love and an apparent paradise on Earth, that vanished. A lost paradise.

And the future? The 2♥ is called "The Lovers" and it could be good sign, promising me a future love. Or it could be bad, saying that I'll remain emotionally attached to this situation. Who knows? This is probably why you should not read the cards when your heart is weighted down by grief. It's hard to make sense of anything. But now I know: there will be no healing until I let go of that which can no longer be.

A reading for Cat - Part II

That is the second and final part of the reading I have done to Cat, who blogs over at Cat's Journal!

Her feedback is in red and indented.

~*~

Cat's second question was "which is the best way to communicate my plans to my boss?"

Head (♦/Fire): 3♦

.

Throat (♣/Air): 11♠

.

Torso (♥/Water): 2♣

.

Feet (♠/Earth): 3♥

I had to smile when I saw the 3♦ again! Your mind and spirit are quite active right now, and this is a great card to have your reading. All is potential – from here you can grow so much!

And that also sounds very promising to me!

Pampero and "The Necklace" give us a rather direct answer: the best way to communicate your plans to your boss is... telling him. Just like that.

I had to grin at this because it's so simple and so true.

You see, the Jack of Spades isn't really a guy of seductive words and diplomatic ways. He's a good person, loyal and reliable, but sometimes a bit rough in the way he does things.

Well, that does sound a lot like me. It also sounds like my boss. (Now that I think about it, we really ARE similar in this aspect.) So, yeah, he'd expect me to just tell him something like this, just as he would just tell me.

You'll have to be quite direct. Your boss may at first refuse to take it seriously, then complain or brood about it... but you should still remain objective and honest. Make yourself predictable, tell him how you'll do things form now on and when you plan on leaving. Give him time to prepare and adjust to the news. Show him that you have prepared in advance, and that you will do your best to make sure they can continue your work without big problems.

This is very good advice. He will definitely not like the idea of losing me and may not react positively at first, but he'll also appreciate my honesty. It's true, I'll need to be able to competently answer his questions about when I want to leave and what happens until then. While I won't enjoy seeing him in a bad mood, it won't be difficult for me to show him I've taken care to pass on my knowledge to others so that the company doesn't suffer too badly. After all, it's not my intention to burn any bridges if it can be avoided.

The 3♥ in the Feet position shows that your decision will cause some disturbance and ambivalence in your workplace – perhaps with your boss and/or some co-workers. But it'll pass... try to keep your heart calm and stay a bit detached. Don't get into emotional confrontations. This is a very temporary disturbance.

And even more great advice! I think you're right, there will likely be some hard feelings from some people, for a while. Yes, I need to stay out of the whole emotional mess of that - which might actually turn out to be the biggest challenge for me here! But forewarned is forearmed, so I hope I'll be able to follow your advice here and stay as detached as necessary. However, it's good to hear that this will be only temporary.

Thank you very much for reading for me. The first reading confirmed a lot of what I already had suspected, so that's good. The second reading offered very useful advice and some well-placed pointers about what I can expect as a result of sharing my plan with my boss. That also enables me to better time WHEN I'm going to tell him.

A reading for Cat - Part I

Cat and I decided to exchange reading a while ago, as a way to break our habit of only reading for ourselves. She is the author of the blog Cat's Journal and a fellow member of the Aeclectic Tarot Forum. A while ago, Cat shared the reading she did for me in her blog, so now I am posting here (in separate posts) the two readings I have done for her, as well as the feedback (in red and indented). Of course, I have her permission to do so!

Thank you very much, Cat, for this opportunity! :-)

~*~

Cat is planning some changes in her professional life, and she plans to take some time off in order to reorganise her affairs. Her first question was "how do I best prepare for my 'sabbatical time' within the next four weeks?"

Head (♦/Fire): 3♦

.

Throat (♣/Air): 11♥

.

Torso (♥/Water): 12♥

.

Feet (♠/Earth): 13♣

Wow! First of all, that's quite a crowded reading! We have a Jack, a Queen and a King! I wonder if this can represent the many "voices" inside you giving you ideas, or the actual interference from others.

Probably a bit of both. :)
I also have another association to the feeling of "crowdedness" that you described. You see, I spent a lot of my current holiday so far with cleaning, de-cluttering and re-arranging my living space - and as a side effect my mental/emotional space seems to have been cleaned, de-cluttered and re-arranged likewise. I believe that was badly needed and long overdue, on both the physical and the mental/emotional level, so I'm not feeling like I wasted my precious holiday doing so many household tasks. :)

The 3♦ (The Necklace)  is a very good card to have at the top of the reading. It shows that you have ideas bubbling inside you, and that to prepare to your sabbatical time you must start giving them form. Not simply imagining what you may do, but consciously choosing the steps that will take you where you want to go.

The last half sentence resonates most with me, because that's the part I've been neglecting a bit so far. But you are of course right: after having the ideas there needs to be the next step of choosing the next step to realize them. After having made some space within and around me, it finally seems realistic to do just that.

The 11♥, La Hire, is the Jack of Hearts, and he's a guy that is quite unpredictable. I get the feeling that you'll have to protect yourself a bit from some people, who will try to convince you that what you are doing is wrong or dangerous. La Hire tells you to be careful with what you share, and with whom you share it with.

I'll keep that in mind. So far, however, I've been surprised by the complete lack of criticism/warnings I encountered when I told people of my plan to do an unpaid sabbatical. Even my mother, who I thought would at least be skeptical, is fully supportive! But then I haven't yet told this plan to people who will probably disapprove (especially people at work), because it's too early for me to do that. It might become an issue later on, however.

The Queen of Hearts, Déja (12♥), is well accompanied by the King of Clubs, Sol (13♣) in this reading. She is the one who trusts her inner voice and hunches – he's the guy who lives inside books and rational theories, believing only in what can be proved and in what makes sense.

Yes, that pretty much describes the two inner voices I hear. The decision as such is pretty much based on a strong hunch that it would be a good idea, but the actual doing also requires some research and rational thinking in preparation. After all, I will eventually be required to explain this is a way that doesn't make me sound like a complete nutcase! I think this is where the two are a good team.

In order to prepare for this change in your life, you'll have to have both the Queen and the King in you. Emotionally, you need to trust yourself, trust your choice, trust that while the path may be unclear you are doing what you want to do.

Yes. I'm glad that my feeling "this is the right thing to do" is so strong that I'm not seriously arguing with it. Even when I'm still a bit unsure where exactly this sabbatical will take me - but then again, that's the point of going on an adventure like that: not knowing exactly how it will change you, right?

In a more practical sense, the 13♣ reinforces the message of the 3♦... plan carefully, take no shortcuts, try to create a "modus operandi" of how you'll implement the necessary changes in your life. Check if you have with you all that you need for your journey before you go out into the woods!

True. There is still some research I need to do (e.g. find out about health insurance matters) and some decisions to make about time frames and such. I also believe it would be good for me to give myself a kind of "mission statement" for the sabbatical, so I don't forget why I'm doing this and so I have a way to check in with myself periodically and see if it's working or if something needs to be changed.

To sum up: in the next four weeks, you need to carefully organise your ideas so they may become action in the future, and not just dreams. Set small but objective goals for yourself. Also, you need to protect yourself against those who don't – and maybe even won't – understand why you are doing this. Don't let too many people interfere, at least not in these initial moments while you are still preparing yourself.

Good advice, all around! While I shared the idea with some friends, I'm trying not to tell too many people about my plan, especially as long as it's still in development. I'm also not planning on letting others deter me from that idea and its realization because I just know it's the right thing for me to do.

Trust your vision – you have both the emotional and mental conditions to do this.

Now that sounds very promising indeed! Thanks for confirming my own feelings about this.

The 13 Witch's Runes ~ Part III

Here is the third part of the 13 witch's runes study. Today we will see more 4 runes: Crossroads, Star, Waves and Scythe. The next post will be the last one, and will include the explanation about the 13th rune – the Eye – along with some extra information.

If you are enjoying my posts, please consider buying Susan Sheppard's book A Witch's Runes. It's the most complete guide to the 13 witch's runes that I know. What I give here is just a small preview!

~*~

Crossroads

With this rune, we begin a series of more "challenging" symbols. The Crossroads most basic meaning is opposition, be it explicit or subtle. Something or someone is working against your plans and opposing your desires. It shows that your efforts and ideas are giving no results, because something is "freezing" them, in a sense. Hence, this rune is also related to stagnation.

Very often this rune brings frustration for the person who draws it, because it is as if they were constantly walking into walls. One may feel inclined to change their goals or to stop seeking something all together, but the Crossroads do not tell you to give up. They tell you to change your strategy, because the path you are at right now is blocked. And there are many ways to reach the same place. Be careful to not put yourself in a victim position.

When the Crossroads appear it means that you'll need a lot of willpower to get what you want. Often you'll have to try again and again before getting any results, and everything will appear to evolve quite slowly. You may be confronted with periods of loneliness, isolation and with lack of support. This is a true test to your inner strength and resilience.

Conflicts, misunderstandings and opposition are one side of this rune. It can also represent situations that are simply beyond your control. In a more positive light, the Crossroads stand for wisdom, discipline, courage and the ability to keep going again the strongest winds. It helps you to understand losses and limitations.

In relationships reading, this rune can represent a karmic link between the people involved. If the relationship is starting, it probably will not go very far, or it'll be marked by misunderstanding and disputes. Past relationships that still linger and emotional obstacles are also represented by the Crossroads.

~*~

Star

In many cultures, the Star is a symbol of hope, dreams and destiny, and in the witch's runes this symbol has a similar connotation. When the Star rune appears, it's green light for you to go after what you want.

Note that the Star does not say you'll get everything you want without any work. No. This symbol is a not about easy success, but about having faith in what you are doing – and doing it. In fact, the goals suggested by the Star are usually the highest and most significant ones – the ones that are hardest to get. It does not matter what the dream is, but its significance in your life. This symbol also represents ideals, and they can be both individual and collective ones.

In a more down-to-earth way, the Star is related to revolutions, changes, risks, speculation and all things motivated by faith and ideals. It can represent a sudden spark on inspiration, a windfall, a sudden rise to fame or a promotion. Though the sudden changes brought by the Star are usually positive, they are also fast: you can get back to point zero as quickly as you rose. So don't be afraid to jump forward when the opportunity arises.

The Star urges you to take the risk, to have hope and to trust. After the staleness of Crossroads, the Universe finally begins to move again. If you believe in Higher Powers, this symbol shows that They are guiding you in this moment. The Star is a very positive rune, but in a more negative context it can represent revolution for revolution's sake and the constant idealisation of people and situations. It can also stand for excessive individualism when going after a dream.

In relationship readings, this rune represents hope and an idealistic kind of love. Usually the people involved in the relationship have high expectations about the other. They easily put their partner on a pedestal, only to feel frustrated when reality strikes. The Star can also represent unrequited love, or the love for someone who is unattainable. On the other hand, this rune tells you to not give up love entirely – keep looking, because someone is coming.

~*~

Waves

This rune is deeply connected to the element of Water. Its most basic meanings are intuition, imagination, mystery and spirituality. It can also represent any journey on water. But those are just the surface meanings of this very complex symbol.

This rune represents a moment in which nothing is solid under your feet. Everything moves, changes and transforms swiftly as the water does, and it may be hard for you have are surety about anything. The Waves show things that happens in the deep waters of our life... Repressed emotions and thoughts are represented by this symbol.

This rune can also symbolise solitude, renounce and sacrifice. When it appears, it's difficult to make choices due to lack of information and uncertainty. But it's not a good time to act anyway. It's time to save energy, and free yourself from certain ideas and habits that are no longer useful. When the Waves appear, you may be more prone to self-delusion, self-sabotage and deception. Do not believe in everything you hear and see during these times. It's hard to be calm and rational when under the influence of the Waves.

But this rune has also positive implications. It can represent a deep connection to all that is deep... to the spiritual world, and to your most deep resources. When you think you have nothing else to give, nothing to hold on to, the Waves reveal a wealth of inner power that can be used to survive the complicated times. These can be the water of your rebirth, or the water that will drown you - all depends on how you react to this situation.

In relationship readings, this rune can represent powerful emotions and passions, very difficult to control. One can easily feel carried away by this "flood" . There's a strong spiritual connection behind this relationship, that can be good or bad. The Waves can also show that a relationship is being sabotaged by unclear communication and misunderstandings. Finally, it can represent a relationship in which the partners are separated for some reason, causing tears and feeding certain illusions.

~*~

Scythe

This symbol is very familiar to most of people, often associated with harvest and death. In the runes, it is no different. The Scythe is related to endings, sudden separations, final decisions, important changes and danger.

The appearance of this symbol show that there's something in you life you need to bring to end now, before it snowballs into something worse. Usually, the decision that the Scythe forces you to make is one you'd rather escape from... it's a painful and difficult choice. Even though you know (or feel) it's for the best, you'll mourn the fact that it has to happen.

Also, the Scythe is connected to sudden, swift changes that force you to alter completely your plans, strategies and sometimes the very way you see the world. The situation is no longer what it was, your modus operandi no longer works here. Your ideas no longer correspond to the reality. The information you have is no longer accurate, or useful. You need to strain those adaptation muscles and find a way to keep standing while the rug is pulled from under your feet.

Although this rune can represent physical danger, such as accidents or surgeries, many time it refers to sense of foreboding. Something just isn't right... the fear of loss looms large. Trust these feeling and proceed with caution. This rune can also relate to actual death and all related to it: burials, graveyards, inheritances, heirlooms, legacies and things connected to your ancestry.

In relationship readings, the Scythe suggest caution too. It can represent sudden and irresistible attractions, the kind that inspire people to do crazy things. Obviously, this rune also represent separations, divorce and conflicts, always leaving a sour aftertaste. The strong passion can quickly transform into strong resentment. In its most positive note, this rune can symbolise relationship that completely transform the people involved.


The symbols of the runes were taken from Susan Sheppard's A Witch's Runes © Kesington Publishing Corp. No copyright infringement intended.