Talking Tarot

[valarltd]

I need some of my friends who are more experienced with the cards to tell me if I'm reading these spreads right.

This is a man asking about general future, emphasis on love
Central issue: High Priestess (reversed)
What brought about the issue: Knight of Wands (reversed)
Beliefs and expectations: 10 of Pentacles
The history of the situation: Ace of Pentacles (reversed)
The challenges of the situation: Eight of Swords (reversed)
How the situation will change: Seven of Cups
Most Likely outcome: Eight of Wands
The person or qualities that will effect this outcome: 5 of Wands
The querent's qualities that cause the outcome: King of Wands
The solution: Knight of Pentacles.

My interp (dakiwiboid used by permission. this takes place in the Peculiar Tea Shop)

Jacob did and watched as she laid out a card then circled six more around it and put three under it. He was no expert, but he knew that the number of upside down cards could not be good. Kiwi's smile had gone and she was frowning at the spread.

She tapped the inverted High Priestess in the center. “This is your core issue. You're confused, conceited and insecure. You're headed down the wrong path and into self-destruction.” Her fingers moved to the reversed Knight of Wands at the bottom of the circle. “You brought this about by your own appetites. You're a sexy, exciting and stylish man, Mr. Plum. But you have a bad temper, commit rash actions and are always on the move.” She looked up. “You're with the carnival, so that figures.”

Torturo looked at her. “Guilty as charged. Go on.”

“It does get better,” she said. She touched the Ten of Pentacles to the left of the Knight. “This is your expectation. It's a very good wealth card, showing security, home and family.” She moved to the reversed Ace of Pentacles above it. “This is the history of your situation. It's not pretty. Luxury, debauchery, overindulgence. It goes with your knight and the self-destructive inverted High Priestess.”

“Exactly,” he whispered, almost to himself.

“Here,” she indicated the Eight of Swords, reversed, at the top of the spread, “are your challenges. You have to free yourself from a difficult situation or move on past some failure or humiliation.”

“This is how you will evolve and learn. Oh dear. The Seven of Cups is Temptation personified. You'll pursue illusion, perhaps into intoxication and delirium, and all your effort is chasing phantoms.” She shook her head. “You won't be learning, it appears.”

She tapped the Eight of Wands on the right. “Your outcome looks all right. With decisive action you'll reach that goal.” She nudged the Ten of Pentacles. “Be bold and daring, especially in love.”

“I can certainly be that.” He flashed her a dazzling smile, making sure all three dimples were on display. She blushed and returned to the reading.
“Your beloved is showing up as the Five of Wands. You're going to have to be very daring because that's a conflict card. Look at the men sparring. An intense struggle, yes, but it brings out the best in the participants.” She looked to the middle of the bottom row. “In this circumstance, you will be the King of Wands.”

He grinned cheekily. “Wands, eh? I've heard that before about my wand.”
She threw him a look that was meant to be stern but he could see the smile lurking on her face. “Not that wand. The King is a great and daring leader, dashing and magnetic. It's you to a T. Don't be afraid to give other authority. Your last card is the person who will bring it all together, The Knight of Pentacles. He's slow and steady, very predictable and the voice of honor and duty.”

She shook her head. “You're a cad and a rounder who needs to grow up, move out of the past and grow into your kingship. Love is going to be a struggle, but well worth it because your lover will be steady as a rock when you get it together.”


And the next ones are personal queries so they're under a cut. They're all basically asking about the same thing. Is there any way to make these good?

Same spread:
Central issue: King of Swords
What brought about the issue: Emperor
Beliefs and expectations: Devil (reversed)
The history of the situation: Hanged Man
The challenges of the situation: Wheel of Fortune
How the situation will change: Chariot (reversed)
Most Likely outcome: Two of Swords (reversed)
The person or qualities that will cause this outcome: Magician (reversed)
The querent's qualities that cause the outcome: Queen of Wands
The revelation of spiritual knowledge: Ten of Swords

Central issue: 10 of Pentacles
What brought about the issue: The Moon
Beliefs and expectations: 10 of Wands
The history of the situation: 9 of Wands
The challenges of the situation: 5 of Wands
How the situation will change: 7 of Wands (reversed)
Most Likely outcome: Wheel of Fortune (reversed)
The person or qualities that will effect this outcome: Knight of Wands
The querent's qualities that cause the outcome: Three of Cups
The revelation of spiritual knowledge: Eight of Cups

Central issue: Eight of Cups
What brought about the issue: Page of Cups (reversed)
Beliefs and expectations: Eight of Swords(reversed)
The history of the situation: Queen of Wands
The challenges of the situation: King of Swords
How the situation will change: Knight of Cups (reversed)
Most Likely outcome: Justice
The person or qualities that will effect this outcome: Six of Wands (reversed)
The querent's qualities that cause the outcome: Ten of Wands
The revelation of spiritual knowledge: Fool (reversed)

Comments

The reading looks OK

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

If that were really me, I wouldn't be doing any reversed readings, but you're better off putting them in, because your readers will complain if the reading is too unconventional. I find that tarot can tell you any problems ahead with upright readings. Reversed readings just weaken the answer.

Are we drinking tea? If you have room for the detail, how about having us drink a "house blend to increase sensitivity" and improve the bottom line of the Peculiar Tea Shop? A chamomile-lemon balm blend with the alternative of a green-tea lavender mix would be good, and if they're loose, they can also be used for tassomancy. I've got no idea how to do tassomancy, but it'd be a hoot.

Re: The reading looks OK

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Yep, tea, out of your coveted yellow tea pot.

He actually request Earl Gray. But we can fix that.

You offered cards, rune of tea leaves, and he said start with cards and move on as necessary.

(we used a random generator for the reading and were shocked at how accurate it came out for the story.)

Re: The reading looks OK

[mother2012.livejournal.com]

I find that tarot can tell you any problems ahead with upright readings.

Ah, but you are *really* psychic! Those of us who rely on our Guides to get the cards in the right places for us, need more specific clues to come up with the right answers!

And I second the tea drinking! This long reading needs to be broken up with something that gives the reader (of the story) a moment to collect their thoughts.

[mother2012.livejournal.com]

Okay if I go all 'teacher-y' on you? This is, of course, all my own opinion, except that I believe it to be psychically inspired.

YOU, the reader, make the rules. The cards mean what you have decided that they mean. The beliefs and expectations you hold at the time you take up your cards and begin shuffling them are the rules that your Guide is going to use in helping determine what cards come up.

This is even Biblical. At some point after the crucifixion, the deciples are told that 'it shall be in Heaven as it is on Earth' (unfortunately can't find the reference right now) - in other words, we make the rules! For instance, if we consider something 'wrong', then it is.

And if we choose to say that 'The Tower' means good things will happen to you, then that's what it means.

Yes, I *do* think it's best to have in mind the traditional meanings of the cards. That way, we're all on the same page, so to speak. But if a card works better for you with a different slant, that's good too.

OTOH, and very importantly - this is what 'being psychic' is all about - if you are insprired to read a card differently - even drastically differently - at the time it comes up, then that is what your Guide wants you to see.

In line with my above beliefs, I don't know the traditional meanings of the cards well enough to just simply answer your questions about specific lays. I'm basically saying that you can have whatever cards you want have whatever meaning your reader gives them.

The only guiding advice I would have is this: Show more of your card reader's thought processes. For instance:

She shook her head. “You won't be learning, it appears.”

She hesitated. Having given some criticism to her client, she needed to mellow it with a compliment or good news. She found it in ...

(She tapped) the Eight of Wands on the right... and tapped the card to draw his attention to it.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Because the personal readings were about paganism. And all I end up with are 5s 8s and 10s and trouble every time I do it. Yet, I've been called this way for years.


The problem with giving the thought processes is that it messes with the tight PoV we try to maintain. (our editors HATE head-hopping)

[mother2012.livejournal.com]

(our editors HATE head-hopping)

That's interesting. I kind of had in mind going through them (I *think* they're the same ones) at some time in the future, but that's the only way I write.