@thewitchingcow, a reading for yoooooooou.

Card 1 signifies what’s going on. The King of Cups reversed tends to be about some sleazy guy giving you questionable advice. tbh, when I flipped the card over, I started snickering because the feel of the card and the basic divination interpretation just seemed like completely in character for Big Red.

Card 2 signifies what you need to do. The Queen of Pentacle is all about rational, logical, and well-balanced decisions. She doesn’t run off doing whatever comes into her head just because. So you need to think very rationally about what it it’s Big Red is asking for. Do you have the money for this? How will this impact your relationship? It’s a permanent thing; what if things change between you?

Card 3 is the outcome. The Wheel of Fortune is all about entering new and nifty phases, shedding the old and getting your rebirth on. Basically, it seems to me like your heading into a new phase, which may change the dynamic of your relationship with him. So if that’s the case and he’s not big man on campus anymore with the change, do you really want a permanent reminder of how things used to be?

I personally view deity tattoos as markers. Like S will one day get a mark of hers on my body. I’m an anchor; a daughter; a not really priest; and a whole host of things. But we’ve been together for almost a decade now so it makes sense that I’d consent to her marking me in that way.

So without knowing what your relationship with Red Head is like, I can only ask if you feel the same as I do when it comes to deity centric tattoos. And if you do, do you think it’s a good idea to mark your body that way?

I chose the 10-card spread, What’s Going On? as found in Power Tarot by Trish MacGregor and Phyllis Vega.

1 - 2 What’s going on right now?

1. The Six of Cups, reversed: the past is preventing forward movement. 2. The Ten of Cups, reversed: someone/-thing is causing disruption to the flow.

So basically, I read this to indicate that multiple things have prevented my forward progress. Card 1 makes it out to be because I’ve still not progressed from past situations and/or traumas, leading to the stagnation. This is compounded by Card 2, which shows that the connection is on multiple fronts. When I pulled a clarification card, to determine if the cause was someone versus something, I was told, “No, we won’t clarify for you.” I suspect it actually is a mix of things and people, with me being the biggest problem.

3 - 4 Two upcoming, possibly influential events.

3. The Star: it’s a good time all around especially to achieve one’s goals; hope and joy abound. 4. The Four of Cups: take time out to fully contemplate all available options. Moving forward without consideration can cause more trouble.

To me, this seems less like actual events and more like advice. The Sun has the joy-filled meaning. It kind of shows that the darkness I’ve been feeling stuck in is not total, no matter how it feels. I also found it interesting that this card came up when most of my deities have solar aspects. The Cups card is making sure to remind me that logical and rational thoughts are needed to proceed. As someone mentioned in a dream I posted yesterday, I shouldn’t make the emotional decisions. I don’t normally but I’ve been known to when I’m at the bridge burning stage. I’ll be sure to remain as rational as I can… I hope. (Heh.)

5 Where things are headed.

5. The Tower, reversed: stuck in a negative situation with a seeming lack of convenient escapes; stop trying to jump ship and take stock of what you have.

I hate The Tower card. I would rather have all the swords and the Devil than receive The Tower in either upright or reversed position. This seems to indicate that I have a long ways to go still before I can achieve an exit strategy. It’s more of the same old shit, different day. The taking stock is interesting only because I’ve been doing that for a while, once I realized I was feeling stuck/stagnating. I guess more of the same is needed before forward motion happens.

6 - 7 What can I expect?

6. The King of Cups, reversed: read the fine print. 7. The Hierophant: heed conventional wisdom.

I think this is trying to tell me that I need to make sure that I am looking at everything clearly to see any hidden messages/agendas. This King kind of worries me. I’ve mentioned on my main blog that I have concerns regarding an established approach that I’m sure will work; I’m concerned that there are caveats to the plan that I’m not aware of. I don’t want to agree to anything I’m not aware of.

The Hierophant, I think, is telling me that I need to follow the path I am comfortable with... which could include hidden items in the contract. If I’m not wrong on this interpretation, then this makes sense. I have an opportunity to pull out of the rut with an alternative means but I’m not comfortable going that route For Reasons.

But I’ll be honest. I’m not sure if I’m interpreting this part correctly at all.

8 - 9 How to change what’s coming.

8. The Two of Swords: don’t hide from the things that are coming; confront those issues head on. 9. The Three of Swords: don’t be afraid to cut the shit out of things that need to be cut the fuck out.

This is pretty sound advice. I am both the kind of person who sticks their head in the sand and also the kind of person who will keep holding onto something, assuming it will work for the 1000th time even though all other attempts were a failure. So, pretty much, I need to stop doing what I have been doing, which caused the stagnation problem in the first place.

10 The outcome.

10. The Ten of Swords, reversed: an ending is totally coming... eventually... one day... some time.

Well that’s kind of self-explanatory and a bit of a relief.

So, honestly, I have to say that this whole reading was a little weird. It’s not the first time I’ve used this spread, but it’s been a while (ebcause of the whole “I don’t really read for myself too much anymore” thing). I found it interesting that the first half of the reading was taken up entirely by the Cups and cards that are based on one’s emotions while the second half was entirely made of Swords and based on one’s mental state. It’s like I’m moving from a purely emotional state back into a rational human being.

In that particular passage, the symbolism behind the coffee service is that it represents the future concubine of Paul Atreides.  Jessica states in the next paragraph that the concubine, Chani, can bring her son (Paul) no great power, no great family, and that all she is good for is to serve him coffee.

I pulled the crook and flail of Osiris scarab.

This scarab has a bit of duality about it, but that's to be expected considering the general nature of most things ancient Egyptian.  It speaks of liminality in every regard: both the intention of doing and the need to reevaluate one's choices.  To be less vague, it speaks of both stagnation and initiation: the moment of sitting back and looking everywhere for answers coupled with the moment of consciously making a decision and doing.

Deck: The Well Worn Path/The Hidden Path decks

Card: Chthonic Roots (no image)

Meaning: this card means that transformations are to hand and that I should trust in these starting stages to see them through.

Musing: It's rather an understatement. As dark and dismal as it was through 2014, I also punctured through a lot of things that were keeping held back and were causing worse issues. This has only opened up whole avenues of exploration with the end result being towards transforming myself and everything around me.

Deck: The Well Worn Path/The Hidden Path decks

Card: No Image

Meaning: so I pulled about half a dozen cards for this question. I ended up with the Tree in Spring, Tree in Fall, Mabon, etc. All of the cards had to do with nature.

Musing: Frankly, I can only assume this is all about telling me to get back in touch with nature. I used to go out grave-tending on an almost weekly basis (barring weather) and I can remember spending time with my land spirit in the spring, summer, and fall months.