Cosmic Whispers Tarot

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Your Own Tarot Spread: 30-Question Challenge Q12

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Q: Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show the spread)

I’ve actually created several so far, mostly for Tarot Blog Hop sponsored by a Facebook group I belong to. I think it’s really fun and enjoy this creative process. I’ll be incorporating several of mine into my Cosmic Whispers deck. This week, I’ll reprise my first spread, one that goes with the cosmology/quantum physics theme of my deck: The Quantum Focus spread. Here’s what it looks like:

Quantum Focus Tarot Spread

And here’s how it works (I use this spread every weekend to see what to focus on in my too-many-projects life!):

This spread is based on the idea that quantum particles are always in a state of potential, of probability, as to their location and velocity, and don’t stop and become “focused” in a particular state until they are observed.

Card 1: Initial Probabilities, or the theme or basis for the question

Card 2: Black Box, or, what’s keeping you from focusing

Card 3: Measurement, or, what you can do to create focus and see where to go

Card 4: Focused Reality, or, what you really need to be working on right now

And now, an example of how this might work. I like to use my Shadowscapes deck for this spread, because its delicate design and rich imagery make it a great “go inside” deck.

1: High Priestess, 2: The Empress, 3: Eight of Swords, 4: Three of Pentacles

Interesting balance between what’s probable and visible (Priestess), and what’s hidden in the “black box” (Empress). I’m thinking I need to retreat into my inner reality, practice a bit of meditation, but inside the black box is a message of connection to outer reality, to sensual pleasures, to nature, and with this deck, it’s interesting because the Priestess is hanging in the air with an owl below her and pomegranate (symbol of death as transformation) in hand, while the Empress sits below to her left in the second position, sending a big circle of butterflies (souls) in the Priestess’s direction, as a gift, I would assume. So, it seems that approaching my spiritual connection from a grounded place is a good idea.

In order to manifest this probability of grounded spiritual practice this weekend, I have to bring it out of the black box to see what’s really there, with my third card, the measurement tool. In Shadowscapes, the Eight of Swords depicts a large swan struggling within sharp brambles and surrounded by eight swords. A dark wraith hovers above, and the only source of hope seems to be a small hummingbird, also the only source of color in the card. The message I take from this image is that to escape, I have to stop struggling, and allow myself to relax and get help from others to free myself to see what to focus on.

When I do that, I’ll be able to mentally walk the path to my soul workshop and create what I want with true mastery (the Three of Pentacles). The Pentacles card also reinforces what was in the Black-Box (2) card of the Empress, which was hinting that a grounded approach and enjoyment of creation in the real world would be my best bet.

If you choose to try this spread, please do let me know how it turned out for you. Thanks!

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I found the questions for this series at a Tumblr account that no longer exists. A lovely person named Rhee started the thing. These are great prompts for telling stories about one’s journey through the world of Tarot, so I’ve started the series again on a weekly basis so you all can get to know me better, and also share your own answers to the questions in comments or links to your own posts. I’d love to hear from you!

My First Tarot Spread: 30-Question Challenge Q6

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Q6: What was the first spread you learned?

Celtic Cross, of course. Must be the most-used, most traditional spread in the Tarot reading world. I think the reason it’s had such longevity is that it deals with time (past, present, and future), potentials, underlying issues, the environment around the person, and what they think of themselves. Lots of opportunities to weave symbolism together into a coherent story of what’s going on with a querent. It’s also great for getting an overall view of an issue over more than a brief period of time. Making a three-card reading about an entire year, would be tough, I think, although it can be done. Having ten cards to work with just provides more scope.

The meanings have morphed and moved over time. The ones in the picture are traditional phrases, some of which may seem a bit obscure to 21st-century ears (crosses you, below, above). Here are my own meanings, which serve me as a mostly non-predictive reader:

1) The main issue for the querent

2) An influence that either reinforces the first card or diminishes it/blocks it in some way

These first two cards are often called a mini-cross, in that they tend to synthesize the theme of the spread.

3) Unconscious influences (or stuff from the longer-term past)

4) Things in the immediate past that are moving away from the querent’s life or leaving the situation

5) Conscious influences and potential—what the querent really wants

6) What’s coming up next in the near future to influence the situation

7) The querent’s sense of self (confident, afraid, social, withdrawn, etc.)

8) What other folks may be think/feeling overall about the querent’s situation

9) The querent’s hopes or fears about the situation

10) The ultimate outcome if these influences are not changed by the querent’s intent and actions

I think the redundancy actually works for taking a reading from the spread, in that one has power to fine-tune the interpretation based on smaller combinations within the set (foundation/long-term past influences and sense of self, or potential and near future, etc.).

When I use it for myself, though, I will be asking about at least a six-month time frame, if not a year, and that also affects how the cards might be interpreted.

How about you? Do you use the Celtic Cross, and if not, why, and if so, how do you like to use it?

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I found the questions for this series at a Tumblr account that no longer exists. A lovely person named Rhee started the thing. These are great prompts for telling stories about one’s journey through the world of Tarot, so I’ve started the series again on a weekly basis so you all can get to know me better, and also share your own answers to the questions in comments or links to your own posts. I’d love to hear from you!

Monthly Forecast—3×3 Tarot for October

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tarot_reader_01Looks like my 3×3 adaptation from the Lenormand system to Tarot worked pretty well. I  did indeed find myself with better-than-expected luck when it came to my 2012 obligation to the IRS, and although the future is again uncertain as I shift my skill sets and business services (Tarot and editorial), all was good for September. For the original forecast, see my earlier blog post here.

And now for the October example. Let’s see what’s up for this month (and do let me know if you try this spread: I know the reading method is a little more complex, and you may let me know if you use a different approach—it would be interesting to compare).

As a short review from last month, I’ve been using the Lenormand 3×3 spread to do my Tarot monthly forecasts. It works really well for a 1 to 3-month projection and creates some cool relationships among the Tarot card meanings.

Here’s my draw for October accompanied by the Lenormand interpretation patterns from Andy Boroveshengra (excellent cartomante and fortune-telling philosopher; check out his blog here):

2013-oct_monthly_3x3

The cards (from the Gilded Tarot Royale by Ciro Marchetti) are drawn and placed top to bottom, left to right, so the positions look like this:

1-2-3
4-5-6
7-8-9

So, we have:

9W-PgC-4S
6S-5W-10S
3C-KP-PgS

Definite patterns already, just from a Tarot viewpoint, with way more swords than is comfortable, and no Major Arcana cards. Down to earth (or at least concrete) challenges of various sorts. Let’s see what’s up…

Here’s how I read these:

Stage 1 – I look at the fifth card for a focus, and then the first card for a trigger that caused that focus. I then combine the four corners for the real question, or issue.

The Five of Wands is my focus card, with lots of challenges from other people, or maybe other projects. Looks like a bit of a jumble. This challenge is triggered by a long battle to…focus? Deal with all the competing people’s needs/projects? I’m getting tired just looking at this combo!

What’s the real issue? 9W + 4S + PgS + 3C: Prepare my creative portfolio (9W) and then make time to rest the mind (4S) and be prepared for a new intellectual opportunity which will be cause for party time  celebration (3C)!

Stage 2 – I read cards 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 for what is going to happen in the situation.(The diamond perspective)

PgC + 6S + 5W + 10S + KP: This is a Lenormand 5-card line. I’m going to consider the center card the focus, and pair the cards to see what’s up. What’s my potential getting all these challenges sorted out and creating a successful space?

PgC + 6S A new relationship (personal or professional) or feeling will provide me with a break from my challenges as I also move forward in dealing with all the conflicting issues I need to address (5W). So, I may need to take a new attitude, or look out for a message from a young person about relationships or an offer of partnership what will support me.

10S + KP It may be a tough road from the bottom to the comfy-and-in-charge space. Gotta take some losses before I can be in charge of home, health, and finances, maybe let go of some of my competing projects. To feel secure, major stuff must be given up. I may get help from the K of P in my life (could be hubby for this).

10P + 2S indicates to me some kind of mental block or denial about the money thing (see how complex this Lenormand system gets? Lots of combinations to make a story).

PgC + KP These cards work the ends for me, giving me the prospect of a new relationship that will clear some of the confusion in the middle and lead to abundance and security in the end.

6S + 10S indicates that although I may have a break during the month, I will still have to give up stuff before I’m through.

Notice that the people cards are on the ends, and the two swords cards are right next to my central competing projects card (5W).  To me this whole string says that I have to take a new attitude (maybe triggered by someone new/young?) in order to get focused and out of this sense of things pulling me in a thousand directions; otherwise it’s going to be hard to get to K of P territory, unless the K of P is a person who can help after I’ve given up stuff (10S).

Stage 3 – I read the three vertical columns as the past; present; and, future, and then the diagonals.

Past: 9W + 6S + 3C = I’ve been run ragged for a long, long time. Feeling beat down but determined. I’ve had a smooth run between challenges over the last month, and got to celebrate some success (see the conclusion from last month).

Present: PgC + 5W + KP = Now, here two personalities stand (or sit, in the case of the K of P) around my chaotic whirl of things to do. I am overwhelmed and not sure what direction to set out into right now, but I’m supported both practically and emotionally.

Future: 4S + 10S + PgS = All swords, all the time. Take a deep breath. So, I get a little rest, then give it all up whether I like it or not, then get a trigger for a new idea.

Diagonals:

9W + 5W + PgS = Back up my portfolio and focus on the one thing that comes next to clear out the competing projects so I can see the new idea?

4S + 5W + 3C = Rest the mind to allow the chaos to clear and things will turn out well for celebration? Sounds good. 🙂

Stage 4 – I get the quintessence by reading cards 1 + 3 and 8 and 7 + 9 and 2. (Triangles perspective)

(9W + 4S) + KP = So, this is about getting reorganized, taking a pause to do that and get refocused from a place of stillness, which will lead to comfort and abundance or be helped by someone who has these. Me as the K of P? That’s right! Or maybe it means hubby’s biz growth will come to the rescue (he’s very K of P when he’s feeling good).

(3C + PgS) + PgC = Good stuff is in the Pages, it seems. Celebrating the new idea creates a new relationship or feeling.

Thank you for your patience! See how this all works together to form a picture when you’re done, but not always before you’re done?

So, here’s my story, and we’ll see how it works out by November:

I already know there’s way too much going on, and much of it is new, so that’s stressful. I’m trying to learn new software to do book design (I’m already an editor and book indexer by trade), taking up knitting to make stuff for my Tarot-related Etsy shop, and thinking about offering my services to help people set up websites with WordPress and work social media to promote their stuff. So, there you are, five things, Five of Wands.

Looks like the Tarot is advising me to seek support from established folks (KP) and new people/ideas (PgC/PgS) and most of all to focus on the next best thing (9W) that’s in my arsenal to prepare for challenges to come (9W). One of those challenges is to give up trying to do/control everything (10S). It’s not going to work. Take a rest, no, take two rests (4S and 6S), and then move on to focus on the new idea (PgS).  If I rest first, then focus, then I may be able to celebrate (3C). But mostly, rest, let go, prepare, focus.

OK, I’m off to purge stuff and focus on one project for the rest of the weekend: my Tarot biz. Let me know if you have a different take on the cards and if this method is one that you find useful.

© 2013 – 2020 Joanne Sprott