When Tarot Gets Sassy: The Tower and the Three of Swords
So many thanks to those of you who listened and responded to the experimental audio weekly forecast (and thanks to all of you for putting up with two emails in one day - looks like there are some glitches to iron out!) I’ll be releasing next week’s forecast free of charge and will be launching a subscription service soon for those of you who want them regularly; otherwise, expect the usual musings, essays, and more here on the newsletter.
Those of us who read tarot regularly are familiar with its odd sense of humor. Though each deck is packed with esoteric symbols and alluring illustrations the messages they deliver aren’t always transcendent or spiritual in nature.
Sometimes they’re just plain sassy.
An example:
The other day I was procrastinating before a pile of endless tasks. You know, the usual bureaucracy of running a so-called adult life.
Practically humming with frustration, I decided to do a tarot reading to clear the air. My question: Why was I so reluctant to check off even the most simple item on my to-do list?
I shuffled restlessly at my cluttered desk and, when it felt right, laid down each card with a decisive thwack.
Tarot spreads often read like a poem - a rich world of metaphor and language that requires both imagination and attention to translate. You have to dive in and swim in the magic to understand them. And sometimes a reading reads you.
You can guess what kind this was.
I found myself saying this aloud as I turned over each card:
“Oh, great, so I don’t want to do this stupid task because [card 1: The Tower] my life is on fire, [card 2: The Wheel of Fortune] I have no clue what’s going to happen next, and [card 3: The Three of Swords] I’m really sad about it all. THANKS!”
I often tell people that the relationship with their tarot deck is like a relationship with a good friend. You get to know each other through the years, in good times and in bad, and you can trust them to be honest with you. Sometimes you need poetry and sometimes, as it turns out, you need sass.
I sat back, sighed, and laughed a little. Of course doing my budget was hard right now - life itself is hard right now and it is making me sad! - the bracing acknowledgment was all I needed to snap into reality, take a deep breath, and get back to business.
I’m currently offering readings, lessons, and more at a discounted coronavirus/Tower times rate with opportunities for sliding scale and free readings for social justice organizers and caretakers, both professional and private. Click here to book & learn more - I promise they’ll be much more nuanced than the one above ;)