Tarot Blog Hop: Beltane, The Fire Tends to All

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I'll wash my face in the morning dew

Bathe my soul in the sun

Wash my face in the morning dew

And keep on movin' along. 

~Tom T Hall

Beltane is a fire festival...but I'm feeling a softer spirit this Beltane. Oh, I know the fire's burning in the bosom of the earth --and in us all-- but this year, I'm feeling a spirit more of refreshment than of flame. Maybe it's because my part of the earth is awash with much needed rain. I can hear the wind blowing outside the windows and see the droplets dashing against my window as I type this. The flame of Beltane is a soft glow, a steady warmth. It's speaking to me of hearth and health.

Another Rocky Horror Picture Show Reading

Here is a sample reading using the Rocky Horror Spread I created, with feedback from the recipient:

Davis Celtic Tarot 

1) Science Fiction Double Feature -- What influence from your past colours the way you see and experience everything to this day? (In the way that science fiction B movies did for the narrator of this song) -- 4 of Cups
2) Dammit Janet -- What do you feel passionate about in the here and now? --9 of Cups
3) Over at the Frankenstein Place (There's a Light) -- What has suddenly emerged that might be of help to you? (Or does it just seem helpful? Could it be harmful?) -- Page of Pentacles
4) Sweet Transvestite -- Who is the real you? -- Queen of Wands
5) I Can Make You a Man -- What is your greatest strength/skill? -- 5 of Cups 
6) Sword of Damocles -- What is your biggest fear? -- 10 of Wands
7) Rose Tint My World -- What is your greatest desire, ie, what you like to not dream, but be? -- 4 of Swords 
8) I'm Going Home -- What outcome would be the most deeply satisfying to you? -- 10 of Cups

All those cups in your reading make me believe you are led by your emotions and that relationships and feelings are very important in your life. Also, the lack of majors suggests to me that things are going pretty good for you right now, on an even keel, and you've got no big 'life changing' moments or decisions upon you any time soon.

Your past suggests to me that you don't want to feel bored or unfulfilled in life. Perhaps there were examples in your past of people who let life slip by them and you don't want that to happen to you. (4 of cups)

So this has led you to passionately pursue a feeling of deep self-satisfaction and confidence in yourself. Material success isn't the goal for you, but feeling that your life has been a happy one is what matters to you. (9 of cups)

1st GT -- Near and Far

To finish my first Grand Tableau, I had a look at where the cards were in relation to each other. To my surprise, I began to get messages from all over the board and so instead of doing a 'card analysis', the best I could do was jot notes. In the GT for the next four weeks, I saw:

• Niggling, repetitive thoughts about money
• A decision about socializing with work colleagues
• A change involving a powerful female at work; the change brings more stability but also lots of nervous chatter and anxiety.
• House guests.
• The Key is in the House of Birds. The Key seems to be an answer to a problem with a female, and its being in the House of Birds suggests chatter is key. Perhaps it means, to stay quiet.
• Husband in House of Bear, with Ring beside it. Strong commitment, support from that source.
• Bear in House of Lady. Possible confirmation of deep connection with Husband. Also suggests strength on my part. 
• Lady in House of Clover--despite all these cards showing decisions and doubts around me, I don't think they will have a strong effect on me personally, but I will remain upbeat.

And that's that, really. Now to watch over the next 4 weeks and see how these manifest.

1st GT -- The Lines

(Continued from here, my first Grand Tableau)

The Lines

Past--There are no cards to speak of to the left of the Lady card in my spread. Directly to the left is Star, and diagonally to the left is Coffin. I'm not sure how I'm meant to read these. If in pairs, I've already read Star + Lady, which is a female with psychic gifts. Coffin + Lady I'm not sure what it could mean. So I don't really have much to go on with the past in this spread. 

Present--29 Lady + 6 Clouds + 11 Whip + 19 Tower

There are no cards above the Lady card, suggesting that I have nothing 'hanging over my head'. Read from left to right, I see my present as feeling down or fuzzy-headed (Cloud) and also plagued by repetitive thoughts  about trouble (Whip) with an authority figure (Tower). I know this has to do with work. This issue does still bother me, but since all the cards are below me, I take it as a sign that in these next 4 weeks, I will be in better control of my responses to it or find a better way to deal with it. 

Future-- Lady + Rider + Sun + Letter + Mountain + Cross + Ship

This is a long line. Giving it a go, I arrived at: A positive message, possibly brought by a man, but that is delayed until quite late. Like, right before hope seems lost. I have no idea what this may refer to. 

Diagonal lines--If you look at the tableau, you can see the Lady is at the beginning of a diagonal line that goes to the right. There's nothing above her as she's on the top line. There isn't really a diagonal line to the left, either. The right line is: Lady + Snake + Scythe + Bear + Child. After some pondering of key words, I see this as: 

A female rival's position of power is put at risk by the bold actions of a younger woman, or an inferior. I so hope this comes to pass, if it's what I hope it is (relating to that authority figure referred to in the Present line). If looked at with slightly different key words, it could mean Troubles or temptations are cut through with a fresh new power. That's really vague. It would be nice if it meant I'll clean up my eating and lose some weight! 

I say again, this is my very first attempt at reading a Grand Tableau. I only just learned key words a few days ago, and just started trying my hand at combinations four days ago. I feel, though, that diving into the GT is the way to learn this system. I feel I could journal about single cards until the cows come home, but I doubt it will get me anywhere. This is the way forward!

1st GT -- Finding the Querent and Destiny Cards

More on my first Grand Tableau...

Finding the Querent

If you click on the link above, you will see the image of my Grand Tableau. The significator (Lady) is the second card on the top row. It is positioned, then, at the top of the spread, and to the far left. Cards above the querent are matters pressing down on them, and cards beneath querent are things that are more under their control. So as my card is at the top of the spread, I take this to show that over the next 4 weeks, there will be very little beyond my control pressing down upon me. Rather, I will be more in control or feel more able to deal with what's happening. I'll feel better about things, in other words.

The significator (Lady) is on the far left side of the spread as well. The left side of the spread contains information about the past, the right side is the future. Because my card is on the far left side of the spread, I take this to mean that I am looking forward and not back during the next 4 weeks. That I will be enjoying a lot of forward momentum, or at the very least that I am feeling very ready within myself for moving forward rather than hanging back.

I also note that the Lady card is the House of Clover. This suggests to me that the next 4 weeks will be happy ones during which I will enjoy good moods and positivity. The overall tone is a good one. Even if it is implied to be only temporary. (Well, you can't laugh all the time, can you?)


Destiny Cards

I'm using the technique AndybC describes exactly, in my approach to these cards. I start with the two left-hand destiny cards (Journal + Dog), then read the two above them (Mice + Clover), then go to the top of the spread and read cards in position 5 and 6 (Letter + Mountain).  Then I took the last two destiny cards (Bouquet + Child), the cards above them (Bear + Moon), and the cards in position 3 and 4 (Rider + Sun). I get:

A bookish or introverted friend who is down on his/her luck (possibly money worries) awaits an important message that doesn't come. He/she gives me a surprise invitation that leads to a work-related success. This success may come through a female senior member of staff in the form of an email or phone call. 

I arrived at this by thinking Journal + Dog = bookish friend, Mice + Clover = bad luck, Letter + Mt = a message that never arrives or is delayed.  Then Bouquet + Child = party invitation (or similar), Bear + Moon = a success at work (and Bear implies powerful female), Rider + Sun = a good message. 

So far, then, my reading has taken two tracks: my personal esoteric studies and my work life.