THIS READING TOOK PLACE ON THANKSGIVING 2016, IN CABIN #2 AT JENNY JUMP STATE PARK, HOPE, NEW JERSEY, BY THE FIRELIGHT OF THE WOOD-BURNING STOVE. SIX PEOPLE, REPRESENTING NEARLY EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY (BOTH COASTS, THE SOUTH, AND THE MIDDLE), SHUFFLED THE DECK, AND THE CARDS WERE LAID OUT FACING THE FIRE. WE USED THE CLASSIC, TEN-CARD CELTIC CROSS SPREAD. NONE OF US ARE SKILLED TAROT READERS, SO WE DID OUR BEST USING THE TWO SOURCES WE HAD ON HAND.
CARD POSITION: THE THE THE THE
HEART OF THE MATTER MAJOR CONCERN BASIC WORRY FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
SOURCE 1: DIVINATORY MEANING: Strength. Force. Triumph. Power. Success. Fertility. Prosperity. Championship. Conquest.
WE ARE CONFUSED. THIS IS NOT HOW WE FEEL. WE READ THE REVERSE MEANING. REVERSE: Debacle. Tyranny. Disaster. Self-destruction. Violent Temper. Embarrassment.
WE REALIZE WE MUST READ THE WHOLE CARD IN THIS CASE, TO CAPTURE THE FEELINGS OF TWO AMERICAS.
SOURCE 2 : 2
MEANING: Triumph of a great force, either love or
hatred; may signify a birth of special significance
REVERSE: Extremes of love or hate or ambition can lead to disastrous results.
THIS IS A TURNING POINT.
CARD POSITION: REINFORCING FACTOR UNPREDICTABLE ELEMENT UNBALANCING FORCE WHAT’S ROCKING THE BOAT SUPPORTING FEATURE MAGNIFYING FORCE RELATED ISSUE
DIVINATORY MEANING: Nostalgia. Things that have vanished. Childhood past. Faded images. Longing.
WHAT THEY MEAN WHEN “ THEY SAY ”MAKE AMERICAN GREAT AGAIN.
CARD POSITION: ROOT CAUSE SOURCE OF PROBLEM REASON BEHIND EVENTS UNDERLYING CONTEXT WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON HIDDEN OR UNRECOGNIZED INFLUENCE
DIVINATORY MEANING: Loss in the process of receiving something, i.e. a disappointing inheritance.
WHAT HAS BEEN LOST? THE MIDDLE CLASS; THE AMERICAN DREAM; THE PROMISE THAT WE’LL DO BETTER THAN OUR PARENTS, THAT WE DESERVE TO FEEL PROUD OF OUR WORK, THAT OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS, THAT THE DECK ISN’T STACKED AGAINST US, THAT WE MATTER.
CARD POSITION: THE PAST FULLY REALIZED QUALITY WHAT CAN BE SET ASIDE WHAT’S NO LONGER USEFUL UNNECESSARY BAGGAGE FACTOR TO BE DISCARDED WE KNOW THIS REFERS TO AMERICA’S PAST, THE FULL ARC OF ITS HISTORY. WE READ THE CARD’S MEANING WITH SIGHS AND HOOTS OF RECOGNITION: DIVINATORY MEANING: This card signifies folly. Thoughtlessness. Extravagance. Immaturity. Foolishness. Irrationality. Insecurity. Frivolity. Spontaneity. Pleasure. Levity. Inconsideration. Exhibitionism. Rashness. Frenzy. Unrestrained excess. Ridiculous expenditure. Carelessness in promises. Inattentiveness to important details. Indiscretion. Craze. Passion. Obsession. Mania. Tendency to start a project without carefully considering all the details. Initiative. Enthusiasm. Reluctance to listen to advice from other people. Tendency to be guided by self-intuition. Care must be taken not to be tempted by that which appears better than it really is, and to make the right decision instead of taking the easy way out.
WE THINK MANIFEST DESTINY, THE TRAIL OF TEARS, WITCH TRIALS, CIA-BACKED COUPS, VIETNAM, IRAQ, CONSUMER CULTURE, CELEBRITY CULTURE, MASS INCARCERATION, NEOLIBERALISM, THE MYTH OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM. I PICTURE A GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPY CHASING A BALL THROUGH THE HOUSE, DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH.
CARD POSITION: WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND WHAT YOU’RE FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT GOAL OR PURPOSE ASPIRATIONS WHAT YOU INTEND TO ACHIEVE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE WHAT YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON DELUSIONS OR ILLUSIONS ALTERNATE FUTURE WE UNDERSTAND THIS ”YOU “ TO BE COLLECTIVE; THE CARD SPEAKS TO AMERICA’S PREOCCUPATIONS. ITS ABOUT MONEY-ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE IT SEEMS IMPORTANT TO READ BOTH MEANINGS (THOUGH THE CARD APPEARED RIGHT SIDE UP), TO BALANCE WHAT WE WANT WITH WHAT WE’RE AFRAID OF. DIVINATORY MEANING: Success in matters having to do with money and business. Ingenuity. Growth. Hard work. Progress. Wealth. Treasure Gain. REVERSE: Apprehension over money matters. Impatience. Imprudent actions. Loss of money. Unwise Investments.
WE’RE TRYING TO STAVE OFF THE COMING DECLINE. WE’RE LIKELY DELUSIONAL.
CARD POSITION: THE FUTURE APPROACHING INFLUENCE WHAT IS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF UNREALIZED QUALITY
DIVINATORY MEANING: Material or spiritual impoverishment. Destitution. Loss. Failure. Error.
HARD TIMES A COMIN’.
CARD POSITION: YOU AS YOU ARE YOUR APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM YOUR POINT OF VIEW YOUR WAY OF BEING YOUR POSITION OR STANCE YOU AS YOU COULD BE INNER RESOURCE TO TAP TALENT OR ABILITY YOU CAN USE WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF AN IDEAL TO LIVE UP TO A POSSIBLE APPROACH WHAT YOU WANT TO BE YOUR GOAL FOR YOURSELF ROLE YOU ACCEPT SELF-IMPOSED DUTY YOU AS YOU SEE YOURSELF YOUR BELIEFS ABOUT YOURSELF HOW YOU MAGNIFY YOURSELF WE UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO US, THE PEOPLE ASSEMBLED TO SHUFFLE THE CARDS, AND NOT TO AMERICA AS A WHOLE. DIVINATORY MEANING: Generosity. Philanthropy. Kindness. A fair sharing of proceeds.
WE MUST STRIVE FOR KINDNESS IN DAILY INTERACTIONS; WE MUST FIGHT FOR AN ECONOMICALLY COMPASSIONATE SYSTEM. WE MUST HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO THIS STANDARD.
CARD POSITION: OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT ATMOSPHERE EMOTIONAL CLIMATE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL MILIEU PLAYING FIELD CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU MUST OPERATE ANOTHER SLANT ON THE PROBLEM HOW OTHERS SEE YOU HOW YOU’RE COMING ACROSS HOW YOU’RE BEING ASSESSED PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT YOU IMPRESSION YOU CREATE EFFECT YOU HAVE ON OTHERS REVERSE MEANING: Failure to meet the test. Unreliability. Separation. Frustration. Quarrels. Interference by others. Fickleness. Untrustworthiness. Unwise plans. “
”THE LEFT, WE SAY IN UNISON. WE WILL HAVE TO ABANDON PURITY TESTS, TRANSCEND PETTY DISAGREEMENTS. WE WILL HAVE TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT CAN SUSTAIN HEALTHY CONFLICT, AND KEEP OUR EYES ON THE REAL ENEMY. WE WILL HAVE TO ACT SMARTER, STRONGER, FASTER, AND EN MASSE.
CARD POSITION: TRUTH OF THE MATTER HONEST ASSESSMENT LESSON TO BE LEARNED CLUE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING HOPES AND FEARS WHAT YOU SUSPECT IS TRUE WHAT YOU LONG FOR YOUR DREAM YOUR IDEAL YOUR SECRET DESIRE SOMETHING YOU HAVEN’T CONSIDERED SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER UNDERESTIMATED INFLUENCE DIVINATORY MEANING: Creation. Beginning. Invention. Start of an undertaking. Fortune. Enterprise. Birth of a child. Beginning of a meaningful experience. An adventure. Escapade.
WE ARE ARTISTS. IT HAS LONG BEEN UNCLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS WITHOUT OUTWARD MARKERS OF SUCCESS, AND WHETHER IT IS ENOUGH TO GIVE SHAPE TO OUR LIVES. THIS EVENT IS A POWERFUL NEW FORCE. WE WONDER IF IT WILL INJECT MEANING INTO OUR LIVES, IF OUR REACTIONS TO IT WILL COME TO DEFINE US. SOME PART OF US THRILLS TO THE IDEA THAT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN OURSELVES.
CARD POSITION: OUTCOME MOST LIKELY RESULT HOW THE SITUATION MAY BE RESOLVED WHERE EVERYTHING IS LEADING LESSON YOU WILL ABSORB WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO DO HOW YOU MAY SUCCEED OR FAIL CONDUCT YOU WILL HAVE TO ADOPT REQUIRED BEHAVIOR WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH APPROACH YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE HOW THE ENVIRONMENT WILL CHANGE POSSIBLE BENEFIT OR REWARD IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL OCCUR CHANGE IN STATUS
REVERSE MEANING: New possibilities. New relationships. New approaches to old problems. New acquaintance. New knowledge.
THAT’S IF WE DO IT RIGHT.
SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVID PALLADINI. ALL OF THESE DRAWINGS ARE BASED ON HIS BEAUTIFUL AQUARIAN TAROT DECK.
THANKS ALSO TO: KATIE FOWLEY MICHAEL McCANNE HEIDI RATANAVANICH EILEEN SHUMATE KATIE TAYLOR
FOR DIVINING WITH ME.
ARIELLE ANGEL JANUARY 2017