Upon returning to Imokan’s estates, Aja’s mind is troubled with what Lord Madamus had inflicted on poor Jerig. The time seems proper to try another reading. The last several readings attempted came up with little information, just a random spreading of cards with little knowledge to impart.
Sitting calmly in her room on the floor, working by the light of moonlight, she assembles her full deck and begins.
Choosing the most complex pattern she knows, Fortune’s Feast, she slowly lays out the cards upside down with one card in the center surrounded by seven cards in a circle. In Fortune’s Feast, the reader opens themselves up to what the universe is telling them – not seeking an answer to any particular question but instead seeking clarity on troubling events circulating around their lives. When one is troubled and confused about the paths before them, this reading can sometimes offer clarity.
She then sets one card face down outside the circle. Done with this, she takes the remainder of the deck and places it behind her so the deck can no longer influence the nine cards in front of her.
First to be turned is the center card. This is the Key Card of the reading, the card representing what is usually the Signifier Card (a card intentionally chosen to represent the querent.)
The Key Card often represents the heart of the matter – the source of the confusion.
It is the Tree. One of the Arcanum. Normally a good card, a card representing great strength and power, hard work and diligence shall reap rewards. But in this card the image has shifted. The tree is cracked at the base and has fallen down. Something normally strong has broken or been broken.
Seems straight forward.
Any reading with a Shifting Image indicates that the reading is going to be a valid reading. Finally, Aja feels she can get some clarity.
Then she lifts the card from outside the circle and turns it over above the Key Card except sideways – creating a T. This is the Catalyst Card – the card directly influencing the Key Card – often representing the strongest influence on it.
The High Priestess. Normally indicates a feminine influence – like a mother or a wife. However, anytime there is a rod or a staff in the picture it indicates maybe more of a divine influence. That the portrait is currently sitting on a throne holding a staff with both hands means that a divine presence definitely is involved. A minor involvement often will have cards from the Dragon Suit, but the High Priestess indicates a strong influence.
Then starting with the left sided card, she starts turning over the 7 circling cards in a clockwise motion.
1st card – the Origin Card. The card indicating the source of any problems or challenges to be faced by the Key card.
A Celestial Card – the moon Wegsetze. Known as the Humiliator. Another feminine card. Not a good sign following a Divine High Priestess. A greyish blue moon representing fire and ice. A smaller foreboding moon with a Lunar cycle of 72 days. It is always 12 days behind the moon Shaze, the blood red moon of war. This card indicates its name sake – humiliation and defeat are present or soon to be.
2nd card -the Yesterday Card. The card representing the recent past.
The card flipped over is the 8 of Staves. Again, a changed image. The staves of this deck were all drawn as wooden staves, however this time they are 8 parallel staves of rusted iron set in stone on either end like a gate. Sometimes when pictures change, the meaning is more literal. 8 of Staves generally represents ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t. ' The querent must have the strength of character to endure the trials or else stay trapped.
3rd card – the Crown Card. The card which addresses the most current issues and often represents the most probable course of action to see resolution.
The Six of flags. A boatman rowing on a small canoe, six tall flag poles with six yellow pennants, going down river with cascades ahead. This card generally indicates a journey will be had into unknown destinations. A journey which possibly wasn’t expected. Having it appear before the Journey Card strongly indicates that it’s not a small journey. As it is face up, that is good. Usually a face up Six of Flags may mean and arduous journey, but one that ends well. Finally, a card without negative connotations.
4th card – The Journey Card. The card with depicts what lies ahead.
The Rogue of Books, in the dignified or reversed position. Indicates an arduous task ahead. That goes well with the previous card. However, this card often indicates the burden may be too much, or insurmountable. It takes balance to work past this card, putting one’s head down and trudging ahead. The picture normally depicts a monk carrying 10 books, walking a path without being able to see ahead . Normally in the distance at the end of the path is Chrailis. However, this time the city is different – large stone walls sitting at the top of a large earthen plateau in the side of a mighty cliff. The path ends at a ramp, which rises up the length of the plateau to enter into the city. Is there such a thing as other cities? Makes sense, though Aja has never really considered it. That it is reversed suggests one thing – this journey entails one of magic.
5th card – The Heart Card. The state of emotions surrounding the querent or Key Card.
The Coffin Card. Another Arcanum. This reading is definitely portending something, and something not good. The Coffin Card is usually the Corpse Card – meaning a coffin with a corpse inside. That’s the normal appearance. It indicates death is approaching. When face up, a good death, face down may mean a troubled or painful death. However, the empty Coffin is another matter. Face down, it is an ignominious death. Face up – a death no one notices – someone forgotten is soon to pass. Though this is face up, not a good sign.
6th card – The Hope Card. That which you (or the querent) desires. This could be a secret desire, one not even consciously known. This card could also lend insight as to the path for the best outcome.
A truly dire card. Another Celestial – Rikorskey – known as Black Justice. This moon this card represents is yellowish green with wisps of black circling it. It also sometimes known as the Vengeance Star when reversed. If you were giving this reading to someone, the message is this – Beware seeking Victory – it will come – but at grave cost. However, this card is also reversed. With a similar meaning, it means Beware Seeking Vengeance – it will come – but possibly with your own damnation. Unfortunately, you are not doing a general reading for someone, so you are not completely certain what or who or what the focus is. This leads you to believe the reading may be about either an individual or a group. With the Key Card being Strength, but a broken tree, it indicates a loss of power and who or whatever lost its power will seek revenge at all costs.
7th card – The Stranger Card. The card which represents the outside forces which influence the querent’s life on a regular basis, both good and bad.
The Lord/Warrior of Spirit. The chief of the Elemental cards. This suit is strongly associated with dragons, and is often called the dragon suit. You are supremely disturbed by what you see. The Lord of Spirit, often represented by Si’Nassa herself, is instead an old man dressed in regal blue clothing. He appears to be looking at right at you – smiling. You even think you see him blink once.
With an unexplainable panic, you quickly jump to your feet while remaining crouched down near the reading. Your immediate desire is to want to influence this reading, pull another card and force your will on the situation. There are stories of how altering a reading which is going bad can lead to horrible outcomes. Some witches have seen their curses all internalize and they lose every bit of their power. Yet you are so scared, you reach behind you, grab your deck and throw the top card on the Warrior of Spirit – thus influencing events to come.
It is Vrask. The Vanished Sister. A Celestial card representing the verdant green planet which appears like ghost, taking up the night sky. Few have ever seen it, it appears only on the darkest nights about once every generation, and even then, many are unable to see it’s ghostly luminance. This is a card that has never been in your deck, a card you have never seen or even heard anyone drawing before. Yet you intrinsically know what it is and its meaning from its image. You know the tales of how there used to be another planet, a sister planet, filling up half the sky. The meaning is clear - Something cherished will be lost, and the loss may not even be noticed.
You are done for the night. You gather the cards and put them away. You’ve heard of witches getting a reading which caused them to forswear ever touching a deck again. Right now, you feel this might just be you. It is only afterwards that you remember what the Lord of Spirit represents. Someone who is decisive and intelligent. But it also indicates potential tyranny and possibly excessively judgmental. The advice you would normally give here is – make sure and temper your intellectual orientation with emotional understanding. Thinking back, your nerves calm. It was just the moon light and the dire nature of the earlier cards which probably spooked you. Yet, as you fall asleep, listening to Gigi doing his little sleep purr, you believe you saw behind the Blue Man – bats. Lots and lots of bats.
Comments