Two examples: a 5-card and a 6-card reading
Let’s look first at the gist of a 5-card reading following a layout that has set positions for the following. The cards for this one are as above.
Situation: Lovers, Wheel of Fortune, Tower
Do: The Pope
Don’t: The Popess
Surprise: The Fool
Which one to choose when two options are available? The blonde or the brunette? Following the path of science or the carnal path?
Not choosing, or staying in an ambivalent state only leads to losing agency and power. With losing power there’s only one option: to be caught in the wheel with all the others in a similar position. Get ‘institutionalized’ with the consequence of breaking. Bad idea.
Do get some professional counsel.
Don’t read about it in books. Some things can’t be fixed by reading about them.
Beware of the fool choosing the path of least resistance. While you may feel relief for a moment, if you left it all behind, you’ll also find out that if direction was what you wanted, it will remain in the unclear realm. Just hitting the road is not the option, when the best would be to simply ask a consecrated professional about it.
The 6-card reading
Another popular draw is the one that’s geared towards choosing between two specific options. Let’s look at this question: ‘Do I stay in my current job, or do I shift lanes and apply for another?’
Here’s the gist of what I said to an accountant, but first bear in mind that the more cards on the table, the more narrative. For the purpose of illustrating this reading option, I’m just giving a quick example in this case.
So I said the following:
‘If you stay in your current job, it’s clear that you’ll continue to struggle (Force), especially since you fear (Moon) that your logistics (Popess) makes the wrong impression (Popess+Moon).
‘If you were to shift lanes, this is what might happen: You can work with a boss (Pope) who is supportive and understanding. You can work in harmony and balance (Temperance). But… it looks like there will be little gain in shifting lanes, as you’ll end up regretting turning your life upside down (Hanged Man).’
Now to the point: while the cards didn’t give the accountant a good reason to leave the current job, the person went home thinking about it again. A strong resolve to revise an initial impulse is better than jumping into a situation that only seemingly seems like a good idea, or is a good idea to begin with, but it turns regretful.
Whether you believe in a prediction or not is besides the point, when the aim is to have an opportunity to think twice. The cards can give you that opportunity.
. . .
For a fun 6-card reading inspired by a reading marathon, one that turned into a lesson alongside other enchantments, read my essay here, More teaching or more writing?