PCO: Horoscope spread for a relationship

I had a request to do a reading about a relationship that is having some problems. I was going to do it using the usual 4-card spread, but since I had time to do it (it was not face-to-face), I decided to try the Horoscope Spread again. Although big and (apparently) daunting, the truth is that this spread is very interesting. 

My sitter, N., asked me about her relationship with U. 

They have been together for 3 years and she feels that they are not as close as they used to be. She wonder if this is a prelude to an ending or just a temporary crisis. Should I continue to work on healing this relationship? was the question.

The first card I looked was the one in the 1st House, the 7♣ (The Sword of Enchantment). Not a bad card, it tells me that isn't completely hopeless about it... but it does give me the impression that she's waiting for a miracle. She's expecting that 'something' will appear and solve this situation for her.

We all know this usually doesn't work.

But let's see what about her partner, U. He's represented by the 7th House, and there we find the 5♥ (Fata Morgana). At first this card seemed to scream that he's hiding something, but lets not rush into conclusions. This card can represent that he believes everything is fine - which is an illusion, since N. feels that something is wrong. So this card could represent denial. Also, this card presents a restless heart... even though he behaves as if all is well, inside himself his heart may not agree with this attitude... it feels that, indeed, something isn't right about their relationship. Something is missing.

RWS Tarot says... develop your emotional intelligence.

Another night, another fight. The reason? Three women, one home.
That's just another way to say that the reason was stupid, just like 95% of the fights amongst (normal & healthy) sisters, mothers and daughters.

Despite the stupidity of the fight, and the despite the fact I knew it was all silly, yesterday I was boiling on the inside. I felt like the Krakatoa must feel right before an eruption, but thank goodness I have developed some self-control and avoided getting in direct conflict. I am a bad company when the lava is bubbling in my heart. I locked myself in my bedroom so I could huff and puff and plot revenge in private.

But no, I am not proud of it! According to my natal chart, I am a Choleric person with a dominant Mars influence (thank goodness a strong Saturn is there to keep me rational most of the time), but this is no reason to be a walking volcano.

My family was unfair to me, but I was also unfair to them to some degree. The fact they keep reinforcing how "selfish and moody and uncontrolled" I am makes me wish I could really go berserk on them and make them regret reminding me of my worst traits whenever I happen to not make them happy. But I cannot change them - I can only change myself. And my inability to cope with anger is often more damaging to me than it is to others.

I asked the RWS Tarot how can I better manage my anger. This is my reading.

The 13 Witches Runes ~ Part II

Here's the second part of the Witches Runes study. I am going to cover the next four runes: Romance, Woman, Man and Harvest.

Again, if you like what you read here, I strongly recommend that you buy Susan Sheppard's book, A Witch's Runes. This is the book that taught me about the runes, and it has much more information than I give here! You will not regret having it in you collection!

~*~

Romance

As I mentioned briefly in the first post, the Romance rune is also a symbol of connection, just like the Rings rune. But differently from the latter, the former implies a deeper sort of connection. While in the Rings we have two (or more) people joining to reach a similar goal, here we have two people joining for reasons they can't quite explain.

Hence this rune is related to love, passion, emotional bonds, sexual chemistry and sudden attraction. Any strong bond can be symbolised by this rune, including the unconditional parental love or a very strong friendship. And it's not limited to the emotions that sparkle between individuals - the love can be also directed to an object, a subject or even a work.

It's important to not limit this rune to the emotional field. It can be quite physical, representing sexual relations, arousal and irresistible magnetism. This rune is powerful, and often gives an extra impulse to any rune that is close it. Charismatic and seductive people are represented by the Romance rune as well.

Outside from the field of romance and sex, this rune is concerned with any act of creation. If you have any ongoing projects, you can be sure an extra impulse will come and spur you on. The Romance rune can also represent the reconciliation of opposite forces or tendencies, and the resolution of conflicts. Obsessive thoughts, stubbornness in pursuing a person or a goal and lack of objectivity are the downfalls of this rune.

Sometimes you'll give crappy readings...

You will, trust me.
If you haven't already.

I have done it many times, specially when reading for others face-to-face. I blame it on my anxiety and lack of self-confidence, but I can't deny that every time this happens I trust my cartomantic skills a bit less. And the worst is that I don't even read for strangers yet - I only read for family and friends!

Not very promising for a wannabe card reader. After all, if you have blank spots and a coronary thrombosis when reading face-to-face, you will not have enough concentration to even try to give a good reading. You won't be grounded. And most importantly: you won't trust the message.

Despite my occasional failure at reading for others, I have a deep belief that the cards I get in a reading are the perfect cards for that moment. I almost never draw clarification cards or re-do the reading, unless I realises that the reading I am doing is not about the sitter, but about me. This has happened to me as well, and for me it's a sign that I am not grounded and detached enough from the situation. "It's not about me", I have to tell myself. "It's about the sitter. It's her reading, not mine". 

I try but... sometimes I fail. Nothing comes. I look at the cards and get nothing. Not a single tiny bubble of a message floats to the surface of my suddenly still mind-ocean. I scratch my head. I analyse the elements and nothing seems relevant. I try Geomancy and find that, great, now I am more confused. My braincells start to cannibalise each other in the calmness. I smile. I try to connect the cards. I stutter. Nothing makes sense - are these really my cards!?

I give up. And apologise.

RWS Tarot says... find a focus!

I have always liked Astrology, but only this year I decided to study it seriously and go beyond the usual Sun Sign descriptions. Learning Astrology is like learning a new language... it's not just a matter of memorising concepts, but also a matter of understanding the reasoning behind it. The whys and the hows. Study and practice until the thought process becomes natural... and this can take a while.

A long while.

I have been reading a lot on the subject and wanted to know what do I need to do  in order to keep growing. I really wish to become good at Astrology, and eventually move beyond the basic level. I drew three cards from the Tarot Nova.

The High Priestess as the first card tells me that I am in the right path. Gathering information, trying to understand what I am learning. This card also tells me face the difficulties I am facing with enthusiasm, and not let them make me give up on a subject I am loving so much!

The Page of Swords warns me about a possible pitfall, that is reinforced by the High Priestess - lack of focus. It is true I have been reading all I can find, but this chaotic approach may not really help me in the end. There's a difference between stacking away information and actually learning it. The Page of Swords is also a card of communication, so it suggests that I keep taking to other astrologers (actually, asking them questions) in order to learn more.

I may have to rationally organise my thoughts, in order to optimise my study time -- that could mean keeping a journal or notebook, which is something I never managed to do successfully. Otherwise all I have been learning will remain scattered in the many books I have.

The last card is the 6 of Wands, a card of good results. I will not become a professional astrologer in 6 months, but if I follow the advice given by the cards, I'll really improve as a student. I must let the challenges bring out the best in me. This card also means that I main gain some recognition from fellow astrologers and Astrology students.

Back I go to the notebook! The scary blank page awaits for me!

Rider Waite Smith Tarot: Centennial Edition © US Games Systems, Inc.