This reading was done for a friend, who asked about the future of the company she has worked at for more than 10 years. They had a big lay-off recently and, although her sector wasn't touched (yet), she wonders about what is to come – especially since there have been rumours of severe financial problems being kept under wraps.
The first interesting aspect of this spread is the absolute lack of Spades in a reading about work. It denotes a lack of pragmatism on the part of the company in dealing with their problems. And the only Diamonds card – Livia, the Queen – is upside down, with her diamond literally falling out of her bowl. So money is flowing out more easily than it's coming in.
This spread has only high numbers, aside from the Ace, which suggests that whatever is affecting the company is, indeed, big. The Top card is a Seven, and 7s are always about challenge – here the challenge is related to healing. Three of the cards are odd numbers, and only one, the single court one, is even – again, the Q♦. This reinforces her importance in this spread.
I asked my friend if any of the higher-ups is a woman, and she said no, they are all men. In any case, Livia is supporting the rest of the reading, and she's upside-down – definitely not comfortably on her feet! She can represent someone who comes from money, so I read this as the company still having financial resources that come from family, instead from the work they do. But as I said above, this money looks like it's draining out, and propelled by some intense Clubs energy (A♣ + 9♣).
Galahad (9♣) in the Heart position combined with Livia (a rather optimistic queen), points to a certain idealisation of the situation. They are willing to make sacrifices (like the recent lay-off), in order to not lose their 'vision', even if it's impractical or not as financially rewarding as it could be. The A♣ in a dignified position gives off a more positive spin though – that their vision is not wrong, but perhaps it could be better channelled.
In my initial interpretation of the spread, I was very confused by the 7♥ (Sword of Healing). From a more superficial perspective, it seems to predict that the company will heal somehow... But the way it looks like it's piercing through all the cards below it (a cartomantic 'shish-kebab'!), which are all upside-down, implies that it's not that simple.
Thankfully, Geomancy helped a lot here. And the one for this spread is quite telling too: Cauda draconis + Carcer = Caput draconis. It’s like the company is 'imprisoned' in a situation that is coming to end, but rebirth is possible. Only, for that to happen, the company will have to go through a 'surgery', so to speak.
And here is where the 'shish-kebab' that I mentioned before makes more sense. Firstly, it seems all attempts to far to 'heal' the company are based on wishful thinking, hoping for a miracle and spending even more money... which isn't very sound. On the other hand, we do have compatible suits (Clubs and Diamonds), and the Top card is a card of healing, so not all hope is lost. Recovery might involve cutting through these attitudes, and adding a bit more of pragmatism (Spades) to the mix.
In the end, I told my friend that although things are not crumbling just yet, she should definitely heed the rumours and prepare a Plan B. The financial situation of the company isn't strong and it's not wise for her to have all her eggs in one basket. The company still has potential to heal itself, but it will probably demand significant changes and perhaps even more cuts.
