PCO: Of cats and dignified cards

I am thinking about adopting a kitten, but I already have a cat. I am concerned about the adaptation period, especially since mine is used to being a single cat. On the other hand, I think it will be great for her to have a companion, since I work outside the home and she has to stay alone for hours.

I decided then to do a quick reading about what to expect if I do, indeed, adopt the new kitten. And it ended up being a good exercise in dignified cards!

In the Present spread of the Playing Card Oracles method (also called WITN - Window Into The Now), each position is assigned to a certain suit and element. So the Head position is connected to ♦/Fire, the Throat position is connected to ♣/Air, the Torso position is connected to ♥/Water and the Foot position is connected to ♠/Earth. That means that when a card falls into the matching position of its suit/element, it is said to be dignified.

But how does a dignified card change a reading? According to Ana Cortez in the Doors of Somlipith: "A dignified card has an increased ability and authority within the layout. It's perfectly 'suited' for the task at hand" (p. 117). That means the card is in a comfortable place to express its energy. While this doesn't turn a challenging card into an easy one all of a sudden, it tends to emphasise its beneficial traits.

Let's look at our layout: we have three dignified cards, the 6♦ in Head position, the K♥ in Torso position and the 2♠ in the Foot position. Off the bat, we can tell there is a big chance this adaptation process will go well, even if there are tricky points to be mindful of.

The 6♦ says it's important to make sure both cats feel safe, so isolation is recommended in the first few days. The 2♠ suggests some hissing and growling are to be expected and I must endure this initial tense atmosphere without losing my loving heart (K♥). The K♥, Nicomiah, is a generous, patient and loving king. He reminds me to guide the process from a loving place, without panicking or mistaking hurdles for failure.

But what about the undignified card, the 8♥? Well, the Garden is not a negative card at all…One of its meanings is a loving support or environment. In Clubs position, it reinforces that I should 'communicate lovingly' – keep my voice low and sweet, avoid radiating stress and aggression, and make the environment alluring for both cats, so they will feel safe and loved. Even if I feel a bit emotionally chaotic (the 8♥ can mean being 'intoxicated' by emotion), I must consciously keep a loving approach. And if anything difficult happens, I can always call out loved or trusted ones to support me.

Geomancy seems a little less positive. Albus and Caput Draconis as witnesses, and Fortuna Minor as the judge. Albus relates to careful deliberation and planning, which I have tried to do. Cauda Draconis probably speaks of my... nerve-wracking tension about my decision, and the fear of a chaotic disruption at home. And Fortune Minor speaks of a quick, but not permanent success. Perhaps the adaptation will happen faster than expected, but from the cats tolerating each other to becoming cosy companions (which is what I want, ultimately) is a much bigger step... 

Well, I will take the kitten home today, and keep her for a week, to see how it goes. If it all goes south during this period, the foster home will take her back, no problem. I really hope this doesn't happen, though... and this reading feels like a really good sign!