PCO: A Cat Spread for material concerns (Part 1 - The Present)

It's been a long time since I have done a Cat Reading using the Playing Card Oracles. But I decided to do one regarding my material situation... my question was when can I expect it to improve. The present spread is the one on the left.

A very... Black spread indeed, indicating introspection, passivity and perhaps even some pessimism right now. We see one Club card surrounded by a bunch of Spades... It's as if ideas and imagination were "trapped" in an extremely concrete outlook. This gives me my first clue: it's possible that an excessive concern with materialistic issues is part of the problem.

 

The 5♣ is the only non-Spade card. Also, it's placed in its own suit position, which dignifies it. So, the Wind Cape tells me that while ideas are available, they are now unable to manifest or evolve due to physical or "real life" constraints. Thus, they stay trapped in the mind, turning into confusion, anxiety and mental exhaustion. 

The 4♠ confused me at first because I often see it as a card of ruthlessness and power – which couldn't be further away from how I felt when doing the reading. But then it struck me that it could also mean being in need of security and protection. Pampero (J♠) and Mardoc (K♠) add to this feeling of being so focused on material security one loses all flexibility and starts focusing solely on the possible losses. Pampero in the Heart position suggests a lack of creativity and vision... it gives me the impression of a person merely enduring the responsibilities and challenges, and not seeing them as an important part of growing up and having freedom.

As for Mardoc, in the Foot position he's at his own kingdom, imparting his sharp wisdom: something needs to change. There's a way of functioning in this world (because the Foot position is a lot about how we make things happen in a practical way) that needs to die, so that new strategies can be created. The circumstances have changed, so the actions must adapt to them. 

To sum it all up: the perceived material difficulties in the present are the result of both a material change and a mindset that is focusing on the fear of not being able to handle this change. As a result there's a tendency to think smaller and smaller, and also to let the mind run in circles until anxiety prevents any positive thought or action. This spread tells me to lighten up a bit… I have a job, I am a responsible person and I need to give myself some credit and also some room to learn and adapt.

The Geomancy for this spread was rather curious: Cauda Draconis + Via = Laetitia. It seems to be more on the lines of an advice, reminding that new beginnings bring changes that can be uncomfortable, but on the long run will be for the best. 

On the next post, we will see the future part of the spread!