Lighting the Lantern
I tend to use the same spreads most of the time. If I have enough time with someone, at least a half hour or more, I will almost always use the Celtic Cross spread because it gives me the opportunity to tell a wonderful story about the persons life; there is a bit about the past, the present and the future. When there isn't very much time I use a shorter 4 card spread of my own creation called The Crisp Cross that more tightly focuses on the past, present, future and advice. Recently I found a new spread that I think is going to use quite a bit. See a sample reading that I did on myself.
This spread utilizes 6 cards and they are spread out like a pyramid:
Card 1: What does this look like to me?
Card 2: What am I missing?
Card 3: What is keeping me in the dark?
Card 4: Where can I find the light?
Card 5: What will be illuminated?
Card 6: How will I move forward from here?
I did this spread for myself a few times and found that I love the way it sheds light on a specific topic from a variety of angels AND if gives some really good actionables. When I do readings I want people to walk away with not only a better understanding of the situation but with ideas on how to progress towards their goal in the most effective way.
I am struggling a bit with an issue regarding how to help one of my children with something. I did a reading, not about my child specifically, but about how I am doing with the situation. Here was my reading and a quick and dirty interpretation of the cards.
Card 1: 9 of Wands
Card 2: Queen of Swords
Card 3: The Sun
Card 4: Temperance
Card 5: Princess of Pentacles
Card 6: The Magician
In the first position, 9 of Wands, how this looks to me. I am seriously trying hard to protect something that is very important to me, namely my child, and the issue she is dealing with that I am trying to help her with. That is what this looks like to me. Like a mamma bear I am fiercely growling at the Universe trying to protect my child... just like the 9 of Wands.
In the second position is the Queen of Swords, what am I missing? The Queen of Swords is not your mother or your lover, she is the hard, cold, brutal truth... with some feminine energy added in there. The issue at hand is real and important and not going away. I feel what I am missing is the reality of the situation, specifically the reality of the fact that I can't just make things go away because they are making someone I care about uncomfortable. I feel this Queen is taking her sword and clearing a path for me so that I can see the situation more clearly and logically through the thick forest of my emotions.
In the third position is The Sun, what is keeping me in the dark? I have this strong desire for everybody to be happy and never uncomfortable. Unfortunately life is not always SUNNY and happy. I think my desire to make everybody happy is keeping me in the dark.
In the fourth position, Temperance, where can I find the light? This makes a ton of sense. Moderation in anything is important... even in how much we want to make our children's lives perfect and never uncomfortable. It's also important to realize that there isn't just one way to do something. If an approach isn't working, try something else. I think once I am able to get a grip on emotional moderation and also trying something different when a current tactic isn't working, I'll begin to move closer to the light and more effectively doing my part.
In the fifth position, The Princess of Pentacles, what will be illuminated? The Princesses can often stand for a young woman, but of course not always. In this situation I do believe the Princess is a young woman who has immense potential and is ready to bring fullness into her life. A young woman with a spark and despite struggles has a firm foundation in her family and a bright future ahead.
In the sixth position, the Magician, how will I move forward from here? This card tells me that I have all the necessary tools available to me to be successful as a parent in this situation. For me to advance further with regards to this situation I need to look at the resources I have available to me, because they are numerous.
To wrap it up... Protection of people we love is a good thing, unless we become so focused on that that we forget the truth of
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