It's tradition
Happy New Year everyone!
I don't know for how many years you have to do something before it becomes a custom. Or even a tradition. So there's now real reason for calling our little gathering on New Year's Eve a tradition. Especially since it's not on the evening but in the afternoon. The one day during Christmas Season no one has any plans for the afternoon, that's why we chose that date. Afterwards, everyone can attend the party of their choice. Or go to bed early. Or, in the case of Brian and Fantômée, get back to duty.
One major and very important event during that gathering is drawing tarot cards. As we all know, the cards never lie. That's what the people talking about them do. Luckily, we all attempt to understand the meaning of each card together, so there is no one to blame afterwards (or everyone). That's part of the fun, too.
By the way, sometime last year, when I was browsing in a book shop, I saw tarot decks advertised as board games... I always thought that for board games you need a, well, board. But then, maybe there is a board you can use with tarot cards and I just don't know about it. On the other hand, my most beloved sister would have questioned the "game" part...
Never mind. Here are this year's predictions.
First, statistics. Out of eleven cards drawn, four were Major Arcana, seven were Minor Arcana. Out of those seven, there were one each from cups, coins/pentacles and wands. The other four were swords. Swords has always been popular, though we also had years with hardly any sword cards, but this time they're really dominant.
So let me remind you again, that the element of Swords is Air. Swords are connected with thoughts, thinking and the mind. There are lots of useful connections which are either related to solving problems by thinking them through or to causing problems by thinking too much and never acting. It's about making decisions, educating yourself, being or becoming confident or lacking confidence. They might represent unity or they might represent fighting. After all, a Sword is a weapon. Your thoughts rule your actions. Thoughts can neither be killed nor stamped out. They can be really dangerous. And Swords are double-edged. There's never one side only.
Interestingly, we got a suite of Swords. Seven to ten. No low numbers, and none twice.
Wencke drew Seven of Swords, a card of mind games, illusions and cunning plans. Everything you might think of when thinking of Reynard the Fox, basically... yes, even criminal actions. It might be a warning, telling you that something or someone is not what they seem. That someone is trying to trick you, and you need to find out about the plot to avoid it. Unravel it by cunning and subtle tactics, too, for forcing a confrontation won't be of use. They'll just sneak out again. Seven of Swords might also advise you to be resourceful in general. Think outside the box. Take nothing for granted. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated. Check the facts. And finally, it might also mean that you'll get away with something extraodinary. Of course, Wencke liked that last notion best. Even if "extraordinary" doesn't have to mean neither successful nor useful.
Schönheit drew Eight of Swords. Oppresson, helplessness, a crisis, being stuck with nowhere to go. It might signfiy that you're unhappy with your current situation, and worse, that you feel like someone forced you into it against your will. Captured you and now keeps you prisoner, and you are unable to escape - that's the bad news. The good news is, you're wrong. You are able to escape. Nothing it holding you except your believe that you are held. Get your act together and you can break free. By the way, it can refer to any part of your life - Schönheit now needs to find out which one it is. After all, she's used to constantly reinventing herself and her job. Maybe some possessive lover who hasn't made himself known yet?
Merle drew Nine of Swords. Fear, terror, feeling overwhelmed, but again with the comfort that you are likely to just overreact. Nothing is as worse as it seems. Stay calm, take a deep breath, re-asses the situation. Don't panic. It's also about rethinking your plans, which is not really helpful here, for Merle will have to go to School of Magic, no matter what. She is also convinced that her Eight of Swords is not about school, for she is looking forward to going there and not scared at all. So it might be about karma. No matter what you do, you'll have to face the consequences. Merle knows that already. Can't be wrong to get a reminder, though.
My beautiful beloved one drew Ten of Swords. That's the card I drew last year, and maybe you remember that it's not the most positive one in the deck. New beginnings after some kind of disaster. It's never a great omen, but you can still consider yourself lucky, for you've been warned. Something will happen, but if you don't give into despair, you'll get over it. Start something new, maybe even learn a lot. And humans always learn best by failure. And like all the higher Swords card, there again the assurance that things are not as bad as they seem. Stay calm, avoid overreacting and burying yourself in self-pity.
Phil drew Wands. Nine of Wands, to be exact. Almost there. Yes, that's the meaning in a nutshell, and keeping thinks short and simple is always great, isn't it? No matter what you've ben though, you're almost there. You never gave up fighting, you never gave up hope, you never gave up. Now you're wounded and you're tired, but you're close to getting your reward. As long as you manage to recognize when the battle is over. You've been fighting for so long, it's easy to miss that sweet moment and just keep fighting like you are used to. And don't underestimate the danger of not having to fight any more. You might wonder about what to do with all that time and strength now... Maybe pick a new fight? Or start a new hobby?
Jolanda drew Two of Cups. Of course we at once teased her about a new love coming her way. And of course Jolanda didn't like that, so we decided that it signifies the end of all the troubles in her current relationship. Which fits nicely with Phil's card, so it must be true. Should be a very romantic year ahead.
If you want to be more mundane, Two of Cups can also signify general harmony. You get along well with everyone else, family, friends, co-workers. You feel a connection to all of creation and your life is in balance. A great time to redecorate your home, too.
I drew Five of Coins/Pentacles. Another one of those cards which never are a great omen, but then, still an improvement from last year. By the way, I dew The of Swords upside down back then, to be reminded to change my ways or the problem will never be solved... Anyway. Five of Coins/Pentacles. Financial loss. I have no real understanding of galleons, so that doesn't really bother me. More generally, it might also mean a feeling of being left out, of personal hardship and alienation. It might even signify scandal and divorce - whch we all agreed on are unlikely to be connected. Seestern has seen the worst of me, I doubt I could embarrass myself enough for her to divorce me. Thinking about it a bit more seriously, the true message her might be "Have you asked for help?". Five of Coins/Pentacles is a warning to all these fiercely independent and "I can do that myself" people out there who never even think about getting help, yet alone believe there is help they could ask for. Better think again then.
Starting with the Major Arcana, Lir drew Strength. A card that is pretty self-explanatory. You can do it. You've got everything it takes, the knowledge, the skill, the strength. So go for it. And with Lir it's certainly less about mastering and harnessing your emotions that might distract or hinder you be making you lose your focus. Lir is a very organized guy who likes to think things through. But he's also a quiet guy, and Strength advises you not to retreat to some shell, but walk proudly and claim what's yours. Do your thing at as long as you stay nice and don't try to oppress people, everything will be fine.
Fantômée drew the Tower. Jolanda drew that last year and she assured us she got through the last twelve months just fine. The Tower is a very mixed card and can mean just about everything - basically, it's about destruction, but you don't know what kind of destruction. It might get really bad, with illness, bankruptcy, losing people dear to you one way or another, facing hard times, lots of obstacles and difficulties. On the other hand, it might be positive, like finally seeing though some illusion or decievement, learning the truth about someone who has been lying to you or betraying you. Never easy and it will hurt, but at least you know the truth and can start over. The Tower tells you you will have to be strong, for there's no choice. You can't chance what's happening, you simply have to endure it.
Malte drew Judgment. No surprise, that's a card connected to decisions and well, judgement. Someone has judged you, you have judged someone, it might have been wrong, think again. You habe a major decision in front of you, consider it carefully and wisely. If you do, things will go well and everything will turn out for the best. Generally, Judgement is a positive card, provided you are mature enough to handle its demands. It also offers the chance to think about your life choices and maybe correct some of them. Can never be wrong to take a look at your personal goals and find out if they are still important. Same with personal values. Make sure you have a clear conscience.
And finally, Liebreiz drew The World. The final card of the Major Arcana, the end of the educational journey which is tarot. So of course it promises good things, maybe even enlightenment. You have learned your lesson, now make the right decisions and the world is at your feet. Metaphorically, for it might refer to a job or a task you have been working on for a long time - of course it might also refer to finding the One True Love! If you're not interested in love, maybe go for a less metaphorical meaning and get as much as possible of the word under your feet - start travelling. The World promises you that you'll be welcome no matter where. Luck is on your side, so it will be a great year.
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I don't know for how many years you have to do something before it becomes a custom. Or even a tradition. So there's now real reason for calling our little gathering on New Year's Eve a tradition. Especially since it's not on the evening but in the afternoon. The one day during Christmas Season no one has any plans for the afternoon, that's why we chose that date. Afterwards, everyone can attend the party of their choice. Or go to bed early. Or, in the case of Brian and Fantômée, get back to duty.
One major and very important event during that gathering is drawing tarot cards. As we all know, the cards never lie. That's what the people talking about them do. Luckily, we all attempt to understand the meaning of each card together, so there is no one to blame afterwards (or everyone). That's part of the fun, too.
By the way, sometime last year, when I was browsing in a book shop, I saw tarot decks advertised as board games... I always thought that for board games you need a, well, board. But then, maybe there is a board you can use with tarot cards and I just don't know about it. On the other hand, my most beloved sister would have questioned the "game" part...
Never mind. Here are this year's predictions.
First, statistics. Out of eleven cards drawn, four were Major Arcana, seven were Minor Arcana. Out of those seven, there were one each from cups, coins/pentacles and wands. The other four were swords. Swords has always been popular, though we also had years with hardly any sword cards, but this time they're really dominant.
So let me remind you again, that the element of Swords is Air. Swords are connected with thoughts, thinking and the mind. There are lots of useful connections which are either related to solving problems by thinking them through or to causing problems by thinking too much and never acting. It's about making decisions, educating yourself, being or becoming confident or lacking confidence. They might represent unity or they might represent fighting. After all, a Sword is a weapon. Your thoughts rule your actions. Thoughts can neither be killed nor stamped out. They can be really dangerous. And Swords are double-edged. There's never one side only.
Interestingly, we got a suite of Swords. Seven to ten. No low numbers, and none twice.
Wencke drew Seven of Swords, a card of mind games, illusions and cunning plans. Everything you might think of when thinking of Reynard the Fox, basically... yes, even criminal actions. It might be a warning, telling you that something or someone is not what they seem. That someone is trying to trick you, and you need to find out about the plot to avoid it. Unravel it by cunning and subtle tactics, too, for forcing a confrontation won't be of use. They'll just sneak out again. Seven of Swords might also advise you to be resourceful in general. Think outside the box. Take nothing for granted. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated. Check the facts. And finally, it might also mean that you'll get away with something extraodinary. Of course, Wencke liked that last notion best. Even if "extraordinary" doesn't have to mean neither successful nor useful.
Schönheit drew Eight of Swords. Oppresson, helplessness, a crisis, being stuck with nowhere to go. It might signfiy that you're unhappy with your current situation, and worse, that you feel like someone forced you into it against your will. Captured you and now keeps you prisoner, and you are unable to escape - that's the bad news. The good news is, you're wrong. You are able to escape. Nothing it holding you except your believe that you are held. Get your act together and you can break free. By the way, it can refer to any part of your life - Schönheit now needs to find out which one it is. After all, she's used to constantly reinventing herself and her job. Maybe some possessive lover who hasn't made himself known yet?
Merle drew Nine of Swords. Fear, terror, feeling overwhelmed, but again with the comfort that you are likely to just overreact. Nothing is as worse as it seems. Stay calm, take a deep breath, re-asses the situation. Don't panic. It's also about rethinking your plans, which is not really helpful here, for Merle will have to go to School of Magic, no matter what. She is also convinced that her Eight of Swords is not about school, for she is looking forward to going there and not scared at all. So it might be about karma. No matter what you do, you'll have to face the consequences. Merle knows that already. Can't be wrong to get a reminder, though.
My beautiful beloved one drew Ten of Swords. That's the card I drew last year, and maybe you remember that it's not the most positive one in the deck. New beginnings after some kind of disaster. It's never a great omen, but you can still consider yourself lucky, for you've been warned. Something will happen, but if you don't give into despair, you'll get over it. Start something new, maybe even learn a lot. And humans always learn best by failure. And like all the higher Swords card, there again the assurance that things are not as bad as they seem. Stay calm, avoid overreacting and burying yourself in self-pity.
Phil drew Wands. Nine of Wands, to be exact. Almost there. Yes, that's the meaning in a nutshell, and keeping thinks short and simple is always great, isn't it? No matter what you've ben though, you're almost there. You never gave up fighting, you never gave up hope, you never gave up. Now you're wounded and you're tired, but you're close to getting your reward. As long as you manage to recognize when the battle is over. You've been fighting for so long, it's easy to miss that sweet moment and just keep fighting like you are used to. And don't underestimate the danger of not having to fight any more. You might wonder about what to do with all that time and strength now... Maybe pick a new fight? Or start a new hobby?
Jolanda drew Two of Cups. Of course we at once teased her about a new love coming her way. And of course Jolanda didn't like that, so we decided that it signifies the end of all the troubles in her current relationship. Which fits nicely with Phil's card, so it must be true. Should be a very romantic year ahead.
If you want to be more mundane, Two of Cups can also signify general harmony. You get along well with everyone else, family, friends, co-workers. You feel a connection to all of creation and your life is in balance. A great time to redecorate your home, too.
I drew Five of Coins/Pentacles. Another one of those cards which never are a great omen, but then, still an improvement from last year. By the way, I dew The of Swords upside down back then, to be reminded to change my ways or the problem will never be solved... Anyway. Five of Coins/Pentacles. Financial loss. I have no real understanding of galleons, so that doesn't really bother me. More generally, it might also mean a feeling of being left out, of personal hardship and alienation. It might even signify scandal and divorce - whch we all agreed on are unlikely to be connected. Seestern has seen the worst of me, I doubt I could embarrass myself enough for her to divorce me. Thinking about it a bit more seriously, the true message her might be "Have you asked for help?". Five of Coins/Pentacles is a warning to all these fiercely independent and "I can do that myself" people out there who never even think about getting help, yet alone believe there is help they could ask for. Better think again then.
Starting with the Major Arcana, Lir drew Strength. A card that is pretty self-explanatory. You can do it. You've got everything it takes, the knowledge, the skill, the strength. So go for it. And with Lir it's certainly less about mastering and harnessing your emotions that might distract or hinder you be making you lose your focus. Lir is a very organized guy who likes to think things through. But he's also a quiet guy, and Strength advises you not to retreat to some shell, but walk proudly and claim what's yours. Do your thing at as long as you stay nice and don't try to oppress people, everything will be fine.
Fantômée drew the Tower. Jolanda drew that last year and she assured us she got through the last twelve months just fine. The Tower is a very mixed card and can mean just about everything - basically, it's about destruction, but you don't know what kind of destruction. It might get really bad, with illness, bankruptcy, losing people dear to you one way or another, facing hard times, lots of obstacles and difficulties. On the other hand, it might be positive, like finally seeing though some illusion or decievement, learning the truth about someone who has been lying to you or betraying you. Never easy and it will hurt, but at least you know the truth and can start over. The Tower tells you you will have to be strong, for there's no choice. You can't chance what's happening, you simply have to endure it.
Malte drew Judgment. No surprise, that's a card connected to decisions and well, judgement. Someone has judged you, you have judged someone, it might have been wrong, think again. You habe a major decision in front of you, consider it carefully and wisely. If you do, things will go well and everything will turn out for the best. Generally, Judgement is a positive card, provided you are mature enough to handle its demands. It also offers the chance to think about your life choices and maybe correct some of them. Can never be wrong to take a look at your personal goals and find out if they are still important. Same with personal values. Make sure you have a clear conscience.
And finally, Liebreiz drew The World. The final card of the Major Arcana, the end of the educational journey which is tarot. So of course it promises good things, maybe even enlightenment. You have learned your lesson, now make the right decisions and the world is at your feet. Metaphorically, for it might refer to a job or a task you have been working on for a long time - of course it might also refer to finding the One True Love! If you're not interested in love, maybe go for a less metaphorical meaning and get as much as possible of the word under your feet - start travelling. The World promises you that you'll be welcome no matter where. Luck is on your side, so it will be a great year.
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