Today, I went to the Renaissance Festival just outside Phoenix with a friend. Our first stop was at a tarot table, where when I admitted I was a novice reader, I ended up getting “Tarot 101.” What she said was so simple that I wasn’t sure if I bought it, but sometimes the simplest answer is the right one. So we’re going to try it.

She said if you ask a direct question, the next card pulled is the answer. 

So let’s see what questions I can come up with. Let’s start with the basics.

School?

Seven of Wands, reversed. Interesting, but doesn’t make sense in context. So I cross it with Eight of Cups, reversed. Okay. I can kind of see where this is going now.

I’m 24. I’ve changed my major four times, and dropped out of school twice, and it was only recently that I accepted and admitted that all of this was due to a fear of success. Why I was afraid of success I’m still not sure, and these cards say to me that maybe some of that fear still lingers and I need to be careful not to let it take over me again; I’ve had a few professional readings warn me that if I drop out of school again, I won’t go back and I won’t be happy. 

I should admit that there’s a part of me that’s not ready to deal with having to cut my hours at work in order to focus on school. Maybe that’s what brings these cards up. Accept it. Go through with it. Get on those FAFSA forms ASAP, and just go. Focus. Graduate by next year. 

Romance?

Queen of Coins. Clear enough and nothing I haven’t heard before (to the point where my romantic, Disney-loving heart is finally starting to accept it and move forward): Don’t search. When it’s time, he’ll come. Patience is key. Coins represent both finances, and the Earth element, and maybe I shouldn’t, but I’m taking into account two things: in my birth chart, Venus is in Capricorn. As much as I want romance, I want real love and acceptance too. I have no interest in frivolous dating, and I want something practical and grounded, but nurturing, warm and secure… like the Queen. Also, I’ve had two professional readings recently that suggest whoever he is, I’ll meet him in a work situation. I’m not really interested in the kind of people that would work where I currently work, but the career I’m studying? At the very least, we’ll share an intense love of music. But that still refers to what I mentioned earlier: It’s not time yet, so don’t waste time looking. 

Spiritual Journey?

Three of Swords, reversed. I kind of already know that I’ve just passed a difficult period regarding my faith. I’m still not entirely sure what happened, just that it started suddenly and only ended once school started and I remembered that I’m capable of so much more than my current manager could ever comprehend, and therefore how she thinks of me and what she does with me doesn’t matter. It’s in the past now, so I pulled another: Ace of Coins, reversed. Huh. Reversed Aces refer to a fear of risks and opportunities. But what am I risking spiritually? Ace of Cups. lol oh.

One of the things I struggle with, spiritually, is an acceptance of my emotions. I am an air sign, after all; we’re not exactly known for being in touch with our feelings and willing to share them. I’m not sure exactly if most people relate their emotions with their spirituality, so let me try to explain: I’ve been reading a book about 7 ways to change your life. So far I’ve read through Courage, Faith, and Honesty. They all play into one another. It is completely possible to lie to yourself, whether it be about physical events, or emotions. You need to have the courage to be honest with yourself, and have faith that others will still care for you when you’re ready to be honest with them. I’m still working on being honest with myself, let alone with others. That’s the message I’m getting from these cards: it’s good that I’m working on this. 

I’ll have to try this exercise again later. At the very, very least, it’s helping me to learn the meanings of the cards, one by one.

I did do a Daily 3 yesterday, but didn’t have time to put it up. This is probably for the better, because it surprisingly melted into today’s reading!

This is yesterday’s. Reversed Queen of Wands, Reversed Four of Coins, Reversed King of Cups. 

The Queen’s cheerful, energetic nature is hidden behind the Four’s stingy over-protectiveness. The King of Cups suggests emotional fear and barriers. This spread speaks volumes about the place I’m in emotionally: I don’t open up easily (if at all), and I don’t like to step out of my comfort zone. Both of these are represented by the King, and the Four. Are they hiding that bright, outgoing Queen?

Thinking about this spread, this morning I took it upon myself to ask my advisor if I could meet with him on Thursday to discuss universities. I may have been using finances as an excuse not to face the world (this is also suggested in the Four, being a coin card), and I don’t like bringing attention to myself in class. But maybe both of these things have been keeping that poor Queen caged inside? As soon as I got home today, I laid out three cards. Look at this.

The Queen appears again, but upright this time! Both the Three of Wands and the reversed Three of Swords suggest moving forward, though the Wands imply moving towards joy and better times (the Swords simply imply moving past pain). And that sweet, vibrant, confident Queen waits on the other side. 

I’ve been seeing her a lot lately, actually. In late December, I saw the reversed High Priestess repeatedly, and only once I got my head back in shape and reconnected with my spirituality did she turn rightside up again. Since then, I’ve seen the Queen of Wands, over and over, both rightside up and reversed. At first I thought she represented my sister (in the Hanson-Roberts deck, she looks like my sister, who also happens to be a Fire sign; Wands represent Fire, though the Queen specifically represents Leo, I think, where my sister is an Aries), but put into the context of yesterday and today’s readings … is she me? The woman I could become if I continue my schooling and enter the industry?

We’ll have to see how she comes up in future readings. I can’t remember the context where she’s arrived before. But I wouldn’t mind if that was the case. The Queen of Wands is quite a remarkable woman.

Card 1: Eight of Coins, reversed
Card 2: Six of Coins, reversed
Card 3: Seven of Coins, reversed 

I work today, so I suppose it’s not at all surprising that all three cards are reversed coin cards. The Six and Seven from last night make a reappearance, probably in the same contexts: I’m still frustrated and unhappy with my position, but I still need to wait it out and be patient. 

The Eight is one I haven’t seen before. It seems to suggest that, in my blind frustration, I’m missing opportunities and selling myself short. My finances are nowhere near in order enough for me to outright quit without another job in place (which is probably why I haven’t done it already; I kind of already knew that). But is this in reference to my schooling as well? Am I letting my frustration at work hamper my schooling?

Maybe this is a sign that going to part-time is okay, for now. It does give me more time to focus on getting out of a place that’s not right for me. Am I being told to take what I’m given and keep working through it? There are some slight management changes coming up, I found out recently. Maybe things will be better then.

Hi! This is my first post so layouts and such may change. Keep in mind I’m still a beginner. I may not get a clear message from this spread (I’m so bad at reading Royalty cards). I’m keeping this journal to try and get some clarity and help keep track of my progress.

Today I went for a spread I found in an old tarot book I’ve had for years. It’s a 6-card spread intended to give a quick, general overview on your life at the moment. 

Card 1: Six of Coins, reversed
Card 2: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed
Card 3: King of Wands
Card 4: Seven of Coins, reversed
Card 5: The Chariot
Card 6: Two of Coins, reversed

I can tell just by looking at it, this is a financial/career spread even if I didn’t intend it to be. Three coin cards, all reversed? Even without going into further detail, this reflects my current situation.

Card 1: Who You Are Right Now

Upright, this is a generosity card. It depicts a man giving to others, so the imagery really says it all. Reversed, the coins fall away and there’s nothing to give; no one is happy.

Put into context, I’m currently struggling with my school funds right now; I usually pay my own tuition, and I’ve been really stubborn about it, to the point that I’d dropped out for a while because I was working a job where I couldn’t afford it. When I got a new job that paid better, and finally got better hours at that job, I decided to go back, only to have a management change in the middle of the semester. The new management has not been supportive of my schooling, at all, and refuses to work with my schedule, cutting me down to borderline part-time. It’s been frustrating all around, for all my co-workers, and that’s the jist I’m getting from this card.

Card 2: What is affecting you?

This bodes well. When you’re up you must come down, and when you’re down you must come up. Reversed, the Wheel of Fortune indicates that times are tough now, but can only get better from here. Being a Major Arcana card, this is meant to happen, and it’s meant to happen now. I’m supposed to learn something from this, and when the wheel turns upright again, I’ll be prepared to face the next go-round. All I have to do is hang tight.

Card 3: What you value

Since this became a career spread, what do I value in my career? The King of Wands is creative, bold, expressive, and enthusiastic. My current career, the one I’m having problems with, honestly has none of these things. But what I’m studying in school, what I want to do? I’m a music industry major. Studying this is the greatest decision I’ve ever made, and I’m happier now than I’ve been since high school. It’s a career that demands creative, leadership types, like the King of Wands. So which do I value? Easy question.

Card 4: What’s Bothering You?

This is a patience card. Reversed, it indicates that there is a lack of patience and fortitude. I’ve been considering quitting my job out of sheer frustration, regardless of whether or not I have another one lined up. This card, which has been coming up a lot in my spreads lately, almost seems to suggest that I should suck it up and tough it out for just a little while longer. Stay patient. Maybe a better job will arrive, or maybe things will get better at the current one.

Card 5: The short-term outcome

This is good! The Chariot indicates victory, but only through control and hard work. It almost seems to refer to the Seven of Coins above it: be patient, work through this, and you’ll come out ahead in the end. But the Chariot also speaks of balance: he wears the sun on his armor, but has stars over his head. One sphinx is black, and the other is white. I use the Hanson-Roberts deck, where the chariot itself bears a yin-yang symbol. But he fights alone. I need to find my own path, my own balance, in order to keep my head above water and hold onto my patience. Like the Wheel of Fortune, the Chariot is a Major Arcana card, and implies that this is fate, an event I’m meant to learn from.

Card 6: The long-term outcome

Another balance card, how interesting. Which path is more important to be on: the path that leads to happiness in a career I enjoy, or the path that helps pay the bills? I’m taking on too much (which is not news to me; I get this card often, and the 10 of Wands as well) and need to sort out my priorities. I have one book that states that this card indicates that the answer to your question is already known, so act on it, and I feel like I do already know.

Since the Two of Coins leaves things open-ended, I pulled one more card out of curiosity: the Six of Wands. A victory card. This spread bodes well, as long as I can bite my tongue and hold my ground for just a little while longer. 

Despite most of my focus being on my job right now, hopefully all of my spreads won’t reflect that. I don’t do a lot of outside readings, mainly because I am such a novice; I mostly only read for friends. I’d love to have more variety though, so if anyone out there wants a reading, contact me! Again I can’t guarantee total accuracy, especially if you’re not a close friend or sitting right in front of me, but that’s what this blog is all about: practice. :)