Interesting i should get this card today...

Sep 13, 2008 18:18

I'm just about at my wits end with Kirk...

My Tarot Card for Today

Temperance
May you find transformation.

Deck: Old English

More about this card

My Daily Tarot Reading

card art © US Games

What is traditionally known as the Temperance card is a reference to the Soul. Classically female, she is mixing up a blend of subtle energies for the evolution of the personality. One key to interpreting this card can be found in its title, a play on the process of tempering metals in a forge.

Metals must undergo extremes of temperature, folding and pounding, but the end product is infinitely superior to impure ore mined from the earth. In this image, the soul volunteers the ego for a cleansing and healing experience which may turn the personality inside-out, but which brings out the gold hidden within the heart. (This card is entitled "Art" in the Crowley deck.)

I think nature is trying to tell me something. Maybe to ditch him?

TEMPERANCE

Basic Card Symbols

An angel (often female or genderless), a pool or river of water. Two cups or beakers, a fluid flowing between them.

Basic Tarot Story

Continuing on his spiritual path, the Fool begins to wonder how to reconcile the opposites that he's been facing: material and spiritual (which he hung between as the Hanged man), death and birth (the one leading into the other in the Death card). It is at this point that he comes upon a winged figure standing with one foot in a brook, the other on a rock. The radiant creature pours something from one flask into another. Drawing closer, the Fool sees that what is being poured from one flask is fire, while water flows from the other. The two are being blended together!

"How can you mix fire and water?" the Fool finally whispers. Never pausing the Angel answers, "You must have the right vessels and the right proportions." The Fool watches with wonder. "Can this be done with all opposites?" he asks. "Indeed," the Angel replies, "Any oppositions, fire and water, man and woman, thesis and anti-thesis, can be made to harmonize. It is only a lack of will and a disbelief in the possibility of unity that keeps opposites, opposite." And that is when the Fool begins to understand that he is the one who is keeping his universe in twain, holding life/death, material world and spiritual world separate. In him, the two could merge, as in the vessels that the Angel uses to pour the elements, one to the other. All it takes, the Fool realizes, is the right proportions....and the right vessel.

Basic Tarot Meaning

It is hard, at first, to see where Sagittarius, the ruling sign of this card, fits in. Sagittarius is an expansive sign and Temperance is, on a surface level, about "tempering." Butler points out that the original pouring from cup to cup might have been about cutting wine with water. So this is a card about moderation. There is, however, another angle to the card, that of merging seemingly impossible opposites. Sagittarius, the centaur, merges beast and man into a unique creature. And then there is the bow and arrow, one moving, one stationary, working together to point the way. Temperance may be, at first glance, a warning to the Querent to "temper" their behavior, to cut their wine with water. But it may also be a reminder to the Querent that seemingly irreconcilable opposites may not be irreconcilable at all. Belief that fiery red and watery blue cannot be merged may be the only thing standing in the way of blending the two. Change the belief, measure out each with care, and you can create otherworldly violet.

Thirteen's Observations

This is one of the hardest cards to interpret. I think, perhaps, Crowley is most helpful in understanding it, as he calls the card: "alchemy." It sometimes works best for me to imagine the Angel wearing a lab coat and very carefully pouring measured amounts of colored liquids into beakers rather than cups.

This card really does seem to be less about moderation then about the Sagittarian desire to find a unified field theory, a way of blending opposites, achieving synthesis. In a reading, this card can mean that the Querent sees two opposite camps (choices, belief systems, families, friends) and no way to unite them. But sometimes the only reason the two won't blend is that we're not taking the time, not measuring out the right amounts (the Querent might, for example, be trying to merge two full families when blending has to occur bit by bit with individuals). It is also a reminder that a bow and arrow are useless apart, but together a formidable weapon. This card tells the Querent that they CAN and should put thesis and anti-thesis together to get the even more useful synthesis. But it will take time, care, patience and experimentation. And also, yes, moderation.

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4. After you have picked all your cards from the deck, click on one of the cards below to continue.



 



 


 



 



 

DEATH

Basic Card Symbols

Skeletal Death, black robes or armor, sometimes with a scythe or a flag featuring a white rose on a desolate black field. There is often a rising sun. Sometimes there are other figures in the field. The most common, reoccurring figure on Death cards is a child.

Basic Tarot Story

Having left the tree from where he hung, the Fool moves carefully through a fallow field, head still clearing from visions. The air is cold and wintry, the trees bare. Before him, he sees, rising with the sun, a skeleton in black armor mounted on a white horse. He recognizes it as Death. As it stops before him, he humbly asks, "Have I died?" He feels, in fact, rather empty and desolate. And the Skeleton answers, "Yes, in a way. You sacrificed your old world, your old self. Both are gone, dead." The Fool reflects on that, "How sad." Death acknowledges this with a nod. "Yes, but it is the only way to be reborn. A new Sun is rising, and it is, for you, a time of great transformation." As Death rides away, the Fool can feel the truth in those words. He, too, feels like a skeleton, all that he was stripped away. This, he understands, is how all great transformations start, by stripping things to the bone, and building fresh upon the bare foundations.

Basic Tarot Meaning

Yes, the Death card can signal a death in the right circumstances (a question about a very sick or old relative, for example), but unlike its dramatic presentation in the movies, the Death card is far more likely to signal transformation, passage, change. Scorpio, the sign of this card, has three forms: scorpion, serpent, eagle. The Death card indicates this transition from lower to higher to highest. This is a card of humility, and it may indicate the Querent as being brought low, but only so that they can then go higher than they ever have before. Wang notes that Death "humbles" all, but it also "exults." Always keep in mind that on this card of darkness, there is a sunrise as well. .

Thirteen's Observations

The connection of sex and death in Scorpio (the sign stands for both) is a strong indication of what this card is all about. We westerners see "Death" as a frightening card because we often see Death as an end, and we hate for things to come to an end. However, in other traditions, Death is just a natural and important, if sad part of an on-going cycle. In a karmic sense, you die so that you may be reborn. Winter comes so that there can be a spring, and we can only appreciate what we have when we know that there is loss. The Death card signals such things. This is a time of change. Time for something to end; but time also for something new to begin. The Querent may honestly be told that they may feel sad or empty, low, but that this will give him a way to rise again, like a phoenix from the ashes. Death is not the end. It is only the precursor to resurrection.

Death

One of my favorite cards. Very rarely does it indicate an actual death. A skeleton in black armor rides a pale horse, a fallen king lays before him. At first glance, the message here appears to be that death conquers completely. But the banner held by the skeleton is a rose, symbol of life. In the background, a sun rises to a new day. A river runs to the sea, only to evaporate into the clouds and fall back to earth as rain. The real message is the unending cycle of birth, death, and renewal.

Drawing this card indicates that you will be blessed with the ability to make major changes in your life. Like the ancient shamans you will experience a symbolic death, where you are purified by eliminating all the things that no longer serve you and which are now holding you back. During this "Shaman's Death", the old you dies, so a better, stronger you can be born. Transformation is the key word here.

NINES

Nine is a card of completion (so is Ten, but we'll get to that). Like the Hermit, who connects to the nines, it is a card where something is finished and the person in turn steps back to look on what he's done, earned, or gained. Nines are among the most powerful cards, usually granting the Querent what it is they, like the Hermit, are seeking.

Nine of Swords

A man wakes from a nightmare, nine swords on the wall. It can be a good thing to find what you seek, except when it comes to ideas, words or problems. Find too many of them and they will overwhelm you. We all know this card, it is the one where we wake up at night and go over our troubles, problems, worries, thoughts, what we said, what others said. The Querent must be told that while their problems may be real, they're blowing them out of proportion, making them worse, nightmarish. They are spending too many sleepless nights alone and awake with these words, ideas, problems. What they are really seeking is to wake from this bad dream - which they can do by realizing that it is a bad dream - most of it is in their head.
Nine of Swords

A woman endures a sleepless night in despair, her face in her hands. Nine Swords hang over her. Her blanket is decorated with the signs of the Zodiac, and her bed bears a depiction of 2 dueling swordsmen, one falling to the other's blade.

This card is about suffering, delay, doubt and deprivation. The focus is on blocked progress and anxiety. What looks like loss or failure will provide an opportunity to grow, and perhaps to eliminate fear. Wait for things to resolve themselves. You will have good fortune later on.

The traditional image of this card (in the Smith-Rider-Waite tradition) shows a man burdened under by the weight of ten staves or wands. The heaviest burdens are not always physical but are more likely a net of endless responsibilities. These are family, financial, relationship and work commitments. Although not visible, they take the place of the ten rods or sticks in this card.

Ten of Wands
This does not mean that this is a "negative" card. As does every Tarot card, the Ten of Wands is part of a continuum offering challenges as well as shadows.

Card Meaning

The man is wearing a red shirt, symbolic of the courage he has shown along the road he is following. Just as the twilight sky foretells the coming of the night, it holds the promise of the dawn to follow. A new day will offer new challenges.

The road in the distance to be followed leads into the hills and mountains, the future. Hills and mountains in the Tarot represent enlightenment. The hills are soft and near, but the mountains are distant and rugged, indicating that the path followed becomes both more challenging and more fun. There is potential for learning in this situation.

The man sits with his back to the future, but he is looking over his shoulder. He appears consumed with his burdens, but he must prepare for a new day. He must prioritize, let go.

Whether your interpretation is rational or intuitive, I think the "reversal" is inherent in the upright meaning of this card.

Finally, each Tarot card has potent symbols to enrich its meaning. They are always open to interpretation. I hope the reader can assign their own meanings to anything they find in this card.

Ten of Wands

A man is shown carrying a burden of ten Wands. The weight is enough to tax him to his limits, but he is determined to continue his journey.

This is about carrying a heavy load physically, mentally, or emotionally. This card can also indicate that you must tie up loose ends from an old way of life, while simultaneously preparing for a new one - hard work indeed! The message here is that your goal is within reach, so don't stop now. Put your head down and just get through it... Sooner than you might think, you'll find yourself in a better place where tensions will be eased.

Queen of Cups

When I see the Queen of Cups in most decks, she represents Yin energy, the feminine principle, and is either a person, an aspect of a person, or a situation. If a person, they are usually an older, mature person with the wisdom of experience & insight, often deeply spiritual with an interest in or an involvement in the metaphysical. Sensitive, attuned to the feelings & emotions of self & others. Highly intuitive; psychic or clairvoyant. Imaginative; artistic. A nurturer; a mother; a protector. One who loves unconditionally. If seen as an aspect, then it is any one or all of the aforementioned qualities. When it describes a situation, it refers to a loving &/or nurturing environment; the development of those qualities associated with this energy; the culmination of a creative project.

Card Meaning

The meaning of this card is that of one who is in harmony with the emotional, intuitive realm. The individual responds to the outside world from that standpoint, & relies on the inner guidance. There is the ability to take charge in matters regarding the inner life & the emotions with the wisdom of the ages to draw upon. One who possesses imagination & is creative; loving, supportive, concerned for the fellowman & mankind. Very impressionable, would need to be careful not to confuse reality with imagination. May be taken advantage of because such an individual can be appealed to on an emotional level. The general quiet demeanor hides hidden depths not readily apparent, so this person may be underestimated. Those qualities may be attributed to a person or aspects of them. In a situation, it would be a loving, nurturing & or harmonious environment; the home front.

Queen of Cups

A beautiful woman gazes into the Cup of imagination. The fact that the Cup is closed symbolizes that her thoughts are in the realm of the unconscious.

This card focuses on books, research, the occult, or the psychic realm. Romance, attraction, magnetism, and communication of abstract ideas are also indicated.

As with all Court cards, it is also possible for a Queen to represent a person. The astrological sign for the Queen of Cups is Scorpio. This is a woman who is imaginative, good-natured, and possibly psychic. Other adjectives to describe this person might be: suspicious, spiritual, sexual, secretive, complex, aloof, or in control. This Queen may represent the vocations of: occult work, counselor, actor, physician, detective, or professional organizer.

Ace of Cups

As with all Aces, a hand emerges from the clouds to offer the object of the suit, in this case Cups. Cups are the second suit of the Minor Arcana, or the second stage of development. Cups are about emotion. They are the bridge between an original idea and the next stage (action) - a union of thought and feeling. In this card, five streams of water spring from the Cup and fall to the pond below. The five streams symbolize the five senses and the pond is the subconscious mind. The dove of Spirit descends to the material world holding the Bread of Life.

The Ace of Cups represents a fresh start, or spiritual breakthrough. It is the beginning of new desires and emotions. This card is both an indication to act on new ideas, and a sign that a heart-felt desire will be realized.

The opening up to love and the psychic and spiritual realm. Receiving of unconscious messages. Trusting your intuition.

Aces can also indicate a time frame. The Ace of Cups represents Summer.

Enter a few words about what's on your mind. ( Framing a valid question)
   What is the best approach to take with Kirk in order to get some closure on our relationship? get some closure on our relationship?
2. Roll your mouse over the hands (below left) to shuffle the cards.
3. Pick a card from the fanned deck, wait for it to appear in your spread below and repeat until you've chosen all your cards.
 
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