open_space | Tarot Tuesday!

Update: Thank you everyone that showed up for the first entry of Tarot Tuesday! As far as I can tell, it was a success, I received 4 more queries than I expected to receive, that is I was expecting no one to come in the reading room. I learned much from reading your cards and I am grateful for putting your trust on what amounts more or less to a complete stranger. The results of the lessons I learned and guidance on how to approach a reading will be made into an essay before next Tarot Tuesday, the last week of the every month starting on Tuesdays. If anyone is interested on that, stay tuned!

This Tarot Tuesday is no longer accepting new questions, if you have a situation in which you would like to know what the Astral Light is up to bring it by the end of the month. Until then!

I've been studying and practicing the Tarot for about 2 years now and having cast a few spreads for friends who found it helpful I thought I might make a deal with anyone that happens to read this.

Here is the deal, I will repost this on the last Tuesday of every month and will try to answer your query before the end of the month. Post a comment below requesting for a reading within the week of posting, depending on the number of comments and the situation I can either offer a lengthy reading or a three card reading. What I request back from you is some feedback about your situation and in case of some outcome what I got right and what I got wrong.

So, if you have a situation where you want to know what the Astral Light is up to, be it personal, general or on a broader scale, or want to know what the week or month ahead has in store for you, why then, you know what to do. I would encourage you to post it publicly below, as for others to get an idea of what I have to offer, to encourage discussion and what divination is about in general but if your situation is delicate post a comment marked NOT FOR POSTING explaining your situation and I'll consider it on a case by case basis.

That said, divination is like weather forecasting not a tablet of truth handed down from above, so take the advice I give you through the cards as such. Any unfortunate situation you get yourself into is entirely the responsibility of the querent!

If you wish to make a donation for the readings, though it is not required, you can do so through Paypal by clicking the pentacle.

Current Location: Within reach of a deck of cards

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

open_space

Excellent! And thank you for agreeing to participate in this experiment with the extra steps. With any luck, we can establish a better connection this way —and I think it can be at least as good as being in the same physical space. I’ll go to the room and pick up the cards in a bit as casting a spread takes me a while.

From:

scotlyn

Thank you!

From:

open_space

I will need a little help from you in here but from what I gather this is my interpretation:

Choice A : The Star is the first card after the Fool’s Crisis that has a positive outlook. It’s energy is of optimism and healing. For you this is what acupuncture represents, it brings you a great joy to heal just as it brings joy to the woman on the card of watering and nurturing the land. This is not something selfish for you, or just a business, to you this is about healing people.

Challenges and difficulties of A: The Fool, reversed, in this case has too much energy of jumping into things, lack of planning and organization or rushing ahead as well as loosing that motivation that seems to cary young men and woman in search for adventure. To me this card indicates that you will face challenges in this quest though not without reward, more on this bellow. You might find yourself having trouble finding the intense motivation that made you to want to start in the first place as if things are not turning out the way you thought they would just like a kid might loose enjoyment and enthusiasm too fast when he realizes that what he wanted to do takes a lot of work.

Outcome of A: Two of Cups, what I find beautiful about this card in your situation is the symbol of the caduceus, a symbol long associated with doctors and healing, signaling success in your endeavors as a healer despite the difficulties of the previous card. You have overcome the difficulties of a diminishing enthusiasm and stand as a much mature person. See how he wears the same clothes as The Fool but now stands with the pride of hard work accomplished? The woman in the card is Brigid and she is holding the caduceus with you, sharing your accomplishments as a partner. Your main intention being helping her with healing, that is exactly what you will get and as a result it is possible that you will strengthen your relationship with her. Also notice the reference from cups here that also is in the Star. Water is also the symbol of healing, notice how you are reaching for Brigid’s cup, symbol that you are drawing from her healing powers.

Choice B: Eight of Wands, what this card means in your situation is a little fuzzy to me, so tell me if what I say rings true or not as well as contributing with what is your own experience of this choice, after all, Tarot works best if we both do the interpretation. To me this seems to be that there is a lot of outside influence on what you would like to pursue in esotericism and even though you might have a choice of where to proceed this doesn’t seem to be coming from yourself, it is a strong influence however.

Challenges and difficulties of B:Six of Wands, here we can see a man in success holding a wand being cheered by the crowd, this being the position of challenges however it means that perhaps pride will be on your way, maybe the choice that you made makes you feel important, but given the outside influence of the previous card it is possible that this pride will be a result of the status that pursuing such a path might bring to you instead of the success of your own efforts.

Outcome of B: Five of Pentacles, here it seems to me that the outcome of putting your energies into pursuing the occult would be ignoring the people that you want to help because of the pursuit of esoteric studies. You are inside the church in the background, well lit and protected, possibly this meaning that you are making some good progress, however you are not focused because you are aware of the people that are outside on the picture. Perhaps this will also take your attention away from your clinic, as the people that might’ve been your patients couldn’t find you, this having a financial impact on yourself.

Brigid’s advice: Six of Cups, reversed seems to me that Brigid is trying to grab your attention towards the attitude of giving. See the young children in the picture one giving a cup with a flower to a little girl? Reversed in this case means to no ignore this. She is very succinct in this and all I get are the words “Don’t forget about sharing, don’t forget about what I’ve shown you”. I don’t know if that makes sense to you.

A few questions for you, in order to clarify some aspects of the reading. Is your relationship with Brigid related to this acupuncture or healing endeavor of yours?

Is your acupuncture clinic something recent?

Edited Date: 2021-02-27 08:34 am (UTC)

From:

scotlyn

Augusto this is a fascinating spread, and your own narrative is very helpful, because I would not be able to pick these meanings out very easily for myself.

For background, I have been running my clinic since 2005, and this after a long life and career in other, mainly office administration work. I would say that a "call to healing" work has always been sounding in my ear from when I was a child, and I was always the one drawn to turn TOWARDS and not AWAY from things that disgust or dismay others - bleeding, pus-filled wounds, vomit, etc - to see what could be done for the person suffering on the other side.

In my youth (I am now 60 years old) I considered, but could not afford, to study midwifery or medicine, and made my way through a great deal of work until one year, when my children were young, and I seemed to be working away from home too many hours for our happiness, I once again received an idea that acupuncture was something I could do, that the study schedule could be arranged around work, and that it would give me a trade that I could attend to from home. So I took it up. In 2004, the last year of study, my husband and myself took out a top up to our mortgage so that we could all go travelling, with the core event being one month's clinical placement in Nanjing, in China. My children were 11 and 8 at that time, and it was an excellent experience, our time away from home lasting 4 months altogether. When I came back I launched straight into opening my clinic, and the practice grew very well until austerity cut in, around 2011. Then I had to return to paid office work so that we could pay our bills, although the clinic was always alive and I practiced in whatever off hours I had, whenever anyone needed me. I would not say my enthusiasm ever waned, but sometimes my focus and attention was needed elsewhere, especially in relation to the support of my family.

Last March I finally left this office job, and once again am exclusively practicing in my clinic. I would say there is a great deal of outside influence on me, through the pleaseant company I have found through JMG's blogs and his own teachings, which incline me to other esoteric studies, but, perhaps the guidance I am receiving here is, this is not for me, not yet. (The temptation of pride, and worse, the temptation to ignore the suffering of anyone who might benefit from my work, are ones that I prefer to avoid).

One thing that has been working very well, and this only in the past year, is that I have developed a wee altar in a corner of my clinic room, as a sort of "portal" through which to interact with Brigid's healing energy. I visualise her there in a way that is not dissimilar to the Star card above. I see her drawing down healing energy from a spiritual sun which I cannot see, because it is above the clouds (these are probably the planes which *I* CAN access), and she transfers the energy of this spiritual sun to the waters which run in a sheltered pool, fed by a waterfall, and flowing outward, including towards my clinic room, and granting blessings and healings to all who enter there. I have also developed a practice of a banishing SOP in this room, too. It is funny that many people comment on the pleasant "atmosphere" in the room, but only one, so far, has noticed the altar, and that person was happy to see it. So I think it can make itself known to who it will.

My own job, it seems, is to continue to learn everything that is suited to my own role, being the physical channel to the healing that flows from the higher planes.

In relation to the Brigid card, the lesson she teaches is that generosity is a powerful mover. In the stories of the saint, it is her generosity which gets her into trouble always - while her father is visiting a local chieftain to see what can be done to get her and her generous ways off his hands, she gives his best sword to a passing beggar! :)

But if there is no give, the wheel cannot turn, and everything becomes stagnant. So I think she is reminding me that while frugality is freedom, generosity is power. It is the power that moves everything from where it is to where it is most needed. And my job is to be a mover, and so remain open to the "movement" that brings help to where it is needed.

Thank you very much. I will go back to this reading over the next few days and meditate on it further.

Be well!

Edited Date: 2021-02-27 11:08 am (UTC)

From:

open_space

Dear Scotlyn,

You are most welcome and thanks for sharing your story! I was fascinated by this. One thing that I’ve found out by this few reading I’ve made is how rich my experience has been interacting with all of you and how fortunate I am for you to place your trust in someone that well, is basically a stranger. For that, my gratitude goes to all. This readings might be free but to me it is only fair for so much that I’ve learned!

A few comments on the reading. First of all, the way I casted the reading was exclusively for this year for both options since that is how you phrased the situation, whether you started your clinic and practice many years and didn’t affect your enthusiasm was not under this scope but rather, if you choose to go that route (the way I understood it was to plunge into some specialized technique, teaching or method regarding healing) or taking up an occult study program rigorously.

The reason why I asked if it was a recent venture was in order to gage how much of an impact it would have in choice B, but since it is something you’ve been doing for quite a while now my interpretation remains the same.

That said then, the reversed fool can be either unexpected trouble or difficulties for which you didn’t account at the beginning or finding out that the specialization you picked was not exactly what you thought it was or something like that. It is not clear exactly what it is but the theme of “an unexpected surprise” is the key so keep an eye on that one should you choose to go that route.

Regarding Brigid, that is lovely, I didn’t know anything about her but I am touched by what you say. Generosity is indeed a powerful mover (and missing from our world) and she is definitely reminding you about that. The feeling I get from that card was about not forgetting. “Don’t forget this” is what I get so generosity and your experience from childhood towards healing are to be kept in mind. What I find fascinating is that I try not to push too much the meaning of that card to be of something reminiscent from youth but by your account it seems to be that it really does carry that meaning per the previous divination I did which also ended up being that.

That said, because of the way I phrased the reading either choice would be your main focus of your energies for this year, it wouldn’t mean you can’t keep improving on your SoP on the side or start looking for your subject of study for when you decide to take it forward, just that it wouldn’t be your priority; and yes if you make occult studies your priority it seems to me that even though you would probably make progress it would take away much of your attention from your healings as it can be quite demanding. As well, the pride or perhaps something subtler but along the same vein would be an obstacle not the outcome nor some sort of megalomaniac pride. There is something regarding the first two cards of choice B that I can’t pin point yet. If you decide to take up on esoteric studies have you decided what it would be? Or if there are many, do you have a particular one you favor?

That said, definitely meditate on it, figure out what resonates with you of what I said. Even though it is only a few cards you can follow the thread quite deeply sometimes. When you’ve done that, we can zoom-in into the situation or the reading or if you need clarification on a point I can ask by taking a few more cards out using the one you want to know more about as an anchor.

Edited Date: 2021-02-28 07:51 pm (UTC)

From:

scotlyn

Hello Augusto,
I would be very interested in hearing if my answers to you spurred any further insights on your part.

But, regardless, I am very pleased with this reading, and it is very helpful. Thank you!

From:

open_space

Hi! Yes, I replied to you yesterday evening :-)

I forgot to unscreen my comment so you could only read it if you were logged in, in case you didn’t. In any case, I’ve unscreened it now.

Edited Date: 2021-02-28 09:01 pm (UTC)

From:

scotlyn

Ah... Thank you. And thank you for offering to draw more cards in future.

I do think that I am happy to follow the main suggestion here, which is to keep the healing work, and Brigid's signature of generosity, at the core and heart of everything I do. It is reassuring, and also, although I keep company with her regularly at my altar, and can feel her presence there, I do not always receive very CLEAR communications, and this reading does feel like it has been that!

As to continuing to work with the SOP and my devotional practices, they are simply part of my clinic work "day", so this is obviously not a conflict with "A". And there are several paths of study which relate to clinical work - including deeper topics in acupuncture itself, also reviews through the medical literature on different topics that come up with my patients. I have been drawn to study some older medical and herbal lore from time to time, but always following a thread that comes from one of the people who has come to see me. Probably, as long as the thread of study ties to the clinic, it will continue to be part of the work. I do need to train me to BE the point of access for the transmission of Brigid's healing energy from higher planes to the etheric and material planes, and the tools that become familiar to me through study will be the ones that I can use. (Even though they are not the ONLY tools). It is true that my own energy can sometimes be very scattered and haphazard, so I can well believe there will be unforeseen and unplanned things that may arise. The final outcome card for A (2 of cups) will be at the forefront of my mind as reassurance, should I need this. :)

As to the "B" column, when I look at it, I see the two "outcome" cards, side by side, and I certainly do not ever want to end up on the other side of the stained glass window, from where the people outside would be lost to my view and reach! That is a very strong deterrent prospect to me!

The temptation is to follow a deeper path into magic and ceremony is hard to silence entirely if I continue to read JMG's blog - he is a good example of its value. Studies such as the Tarot itself (well done, you!), the Cabala, and other such subjects, which mean nothing to me at the moment, but which are discussed there very often, all call out to be explored. But I think it is good for me to accept this is not my path in this life. To accept this is to accept the limitation within which the healing work can be honed.

But, when you say there is something about the two wand cards that you don't perceive yet, I feel this too. I wonder if you can answer me this. The B column is heavy in "Wand" cards, while the A column + Brigid card stress the "cups" cards more so. Tell me what you can say of the general difference between these two suits - the Wands and the Cups? Maybe there is something important in this.

From:

open_space

Thank you! Yes I am very fond of the Tarot and JMG has contributed much to my own path too. I’m glad you get the sensation of clarity, a very good sign. Very often I can’t say exactly what it is but getting the feeling of clarity is a flag I always take as a sign that I am going the right way. Many times I doubt myself but when I have the spread in front of me it is like reading words from a page, it is just right there. Listening in ones head is a very hard skill, much harder than divination, at least it is for me. Whenever I pray I sometimes can get the message straight but most of the time I end up using divination to make sense of it. After all divination means reading the gods, so it is a suitable medium for that. JMG has an appendix on one of his books about how to pray. It is basically the same exercise we did at the beginning but instead of visualizing after the rhythmic breathing you pray, and then you listen for at least as much. It tool me some skill but after a while I can get the sense of something else listening, it is rather trippy . Listening back is much harder, I can’t do it, all I get is a general feeling of something.

As for Magic studies, well yes JMG is a huge catalyzer on that aspect and has influenced my own studies very much, he is a powerful force on this front. However, remember that this divination is just for the decision you had to take right now, the Astral Light is always moving, and deciding whether ceremonial magic would be something for you on this life would take much more than a single divination! So don’t despair and definitely don’t stop reading his blog if you enjoy it! After all, the outcome of Magic for you seems positive, to me it is just perhaps a matter of how to fit it in with your healing work which seems to be very important to you. After all the caduceus is also a symbol of magical powers, and something that stood out to me from the beginning too, somehow it felt not so much of a choice but as how to approach the seemingly opposite binary. Perhaps choice A, healing being your priority will take you into some sort of esotericism or magic linked with healing, the winged lion is after all a symbol of alchemy. Magic can always take a second seat to such a noble pursuit as healing is and still be a powerful force, remember the spread was for your main focus, not exclusive stances, as well as the many parallels between the two. And if you want it and it is your will to do it, then you’ll get it. Are you aware of the Dolmen Arch volumes by JMG? As far as I know it works with the SoP and there is a healing method in it. Perhaps it could be worth considering. When you’ve meditated on all this I’ll be happy to further explore the possibilities ;-)

Yes, water traditionally mean the emotions but in this case to me it means healing energy concerning the situation as water is healing by nature; wands are fire and mean action in this case the eight of wands for example is swift action or something that moves from its own accord (since there is no people). The fact that there is a clear tendency in both sides is important in showing the characteristic of each choice. A is ,well, very clearly determined by healing energies and B by a fiery nature. I’ll look a little bit more into it and see if I can get more out of that dichotomy.

All the best!

Edited Date: 2021-03-01 07:23 am (UTC)

From:

scotlyn

I want to say that your skill in this is very strong. I could have dealt those card to myself and seen exactly nothing but a jumble. With your initial guidance, they spoke to me. This is something I feel privileged to receive from you.

It is interesting that one of the things that I "tasted" recently, was a look into the traditional Galenic medicine of the four humours, and how they are expressed in astrology (another full time study to which I have not enough hours to devote). But I did find out that my own chart is extremely fiery, and "choleric", with a small touch of the "sanguine". And, what you have said about the reversed fool - which seems to be about energy scattered here and there to no particular gain DOES express an aspect of my own natural tendencies. :)

I have purchased, but not yet entered into, the Dolmen Arch. This, it seems to me, may fall under either A or B. I think I will hold off for a bit, and maybe revisit later.

I appreciate that you are offering this work. I will wait until I have another very clear question before "taking advantage" again... ;)

This has been a lovely reading!

From:

open_space

Thanks for the kind words and you are most welcome! Per my natal chart I might have some talent for this kind of stuff but it is also pretty clear that it will cost me hard work to develop so I appreciate you paying me a visit! I have enjoyed this reading thoroughly and I have to agree that it has been lovely. Tarot readings are very personal so I feel privileged as well that you have put your trust for such a personal and important matter in me. :-)

It is good that you’ve also felt spoken by the cards, after all it is not me doing the speaking, it’s the Cosmos. My job is to do some catalysis here and there from my experience with the cards and reading them but the end goal is always for the querent to feel that it is speaking to them also; all readings have a special signature from the querent the only the querent can perceive. I’ve found out that is much more effective and you don’t have to blind trust me of what I say, that is the reason why I post a picture of the spread.

Fascinating about Galenic medicine! It seems to me you have started to grasp the core of the reading. Feel free to come by next Tarot Tuesday, the last Tuesday of every month for another reading, be it about some sections of the same query or a new one.

With my best, as always
Augusto

From:

scotlyn

Thank you. I may do that!

Also, yes, I appreciate the visuals. However you do that, it works well.

Be well this month!
Scotlyn

From:

open_space

I'm glad to hear that! I will need more test subjects for it to corroborate if it actually works the way I think it does. It is actually quite simple, it just takes some skill visualizing. I create a room in the astral (my imagination) vividly and then just describe it to you and tell you how to get there and have you register the time you did. My hope is that the room will work as a way to store the querent's question in time, since the time you focus on your question and the time I cast the spread is different. Then I just go back in time so to speak by opening the door with your timestamp, pick up the cards you charged and use that as an anchor for the reading.

You be well too!
Augusto

From:

scotlyn

Ah... yes, the visualisation worked too! I found it very easy to do, so you must have already put some work into that nice room in the astral. :)

But, actually, I meant the visuals... By which I mean, the way your reading was "shown" graphically as well as described in writing. For me, of course, the description was very necessary, but the visual sight of the cards on their red background, laid out in a pattern, allowed the cards themselves to speak to me, too.

From:

open_space

Oh, got it hehe. Yes, that is very helpful for the other person to see why I am saying what I am saying! Someone I read the cards to I flipped the cards so that he could see what I was seeing and he went "wow, now I see it" and it brought further insights so I thought it would be a good idea.

Sometime in the far future my hosting space will run out (I've been using dreamwidth for 2 years and still have 94% available) and I will start clearing the older images so if you want to keep it for future references, perhaps to look back at it, I suggest you download a copy :-)