Understanding this spread

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

I've been trying to do several self-readings a week for myself for the last several months, usually using celtic cross and my Universal Waite deck.

One particular day I had a particularly poignant thought about the traumas I'd been through when I was younger, the ways I deliberately abused myself thinking I was 'toughening myself up', and considering what kind of holdover that this might have had with my subconscious - wondering really if I'd put it in a position where it was still getting over the battlescars of what I was through years ago.

So I asked the question - essentially I wanted to know what the road map would look like toward me healing my subconscious. Usually I feel pretty confident that I've been able to glean enough from the results of a spread but not this time. I had seven major trump, three pentacles.

The way I read my celtic cross:

...............5....................10
..................................... 9
........4....2/1.... 6...............
..................................... 8
...............3.....................7

Where these are categorized the following way:
1) present/querent
2) challenge related to question
3) subconscious point of reference on the matter
4) historical root of present situation
5) conscious point of reference on the matter
6) most probable near future
7) advice
8 ) external circumstances (or for internal issue readings I'm tending to infer large dynamics in lieu of that)
9) my hopes/fears regarding the situation
10) conclusion (I suspect this just a longer term version of 6 and it's also another place where the cards can be audited against each other.

For some odd reason, not fully knowing what I was doing, when I shuffled I found myself immediately putting my left hand aside and shuffling it with my right - I at least understood the implications later.

The results:
1) Emperor
2) Temperance
3) The Moon
4) The Tower
5) Ace of Pentacles inverted
6) Queen of Pentacles
7) The Lovers inverted
8 ) Strength
9) The Hermit Inverted
10) 10 of Pentacles

I figure this kind of constructive question is a hard one not to get a profoundly positive answer on and I understand the T14 placement pretty well, I understand why T4 would be the seat of the query (especially in the scope of BOTA's outlook on the Emperor), T18 in my subconscious looks like what I thought it would, though I don't fully understand the 1P inv (ace) in its context, nor the T6 inv in advice. Also I'm wondering why the focus in 9 on T9 inv, I could see myself perhaps considering that I'm pulling in a fair amount and it can get slightly scary at times but getting to where I trust the universe on this and if it's what I'm supposed to do then there's not a lot else to it.

I don't know if it's an off-color thing to be posting this in here but regardless if anyone thinks they see something beyond the immediate obvious let me know. I see a progress and good omens along the way, but I do also wonder just what kind of disjunction might be going on with the T6 inv - perhaps am I like the boy in T19 but being too strong-willed in how I'm pulling the girl away from the wall? Should be interesting to see what unfolds.

[magari]

Change the inverted meanings to normal ones and then read it again.

Also, I've found those more complex spreads to be great for getting to know someone before asking a more specific question like you have.

In regards to timelines, or questions regarding future steps on the path you're currently heading, try reading 3 cards at a time, each set on top of the previous three, only laying down the next set after you're fully comfortable with your understanding of the initial three. Eventually you'll realize you can only look so far ahead as the possible interpretations begin to balloon.

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

Those are some good thoughts, just that I'm not sure how I'd draw the spread out three cards at a time. Celtic Cross isn't really a 1-10 progression of then till now - rather there's a couple future cards - 6 and 10, the rest being descriptors. I'm not really looking to iron out the future detail by detail so much as I'm trying to iron out the 'what should I do?' question in greater detail - ie. understand what the cards are advising.

Also you mentioned undoing the reversals - is that because these are all things I'm planning on working through by the nature of the spread or were you going in a different direction with that?

Thanks!

[magari]

As you move forward through time you change based not only on your choices, but your environment.

The first three cards represent you now currently in the time you're drawing the cards.

1 emotional/female
2 logical/male
3 spiritual

If the tarot is a representation of progression through the universe then you can see where you stand and preferably visualize the next step. Once you're capable of doing that you draw the next three to represent yourself in the future facing new problems at a different stage of development.

You can do this for a while, but after 4 or 5 sets, it gets a bit too chaotic.

Regarding the inverse cards, there is nothing wrong with the initial interpretation, I'm just imploring you to consider the overall lesson of the card, before you decide how it applies to your situation.

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

So for long-haul questions I should scrap the celtic cross and do a three-card-at-a-time pull in that format of emotional/logical/spiritual? Just trying to make sure I understand the suggestion.

[magari]

Whatever you think works best.

I prefer spreads like the cross for "current" situaton analysis. For inspiration regarding the future I personally prefer to read one card, then the next, then the next. Like first we are the fool, then we deal with the 5 of swords, learn that lesson, then move on to Death, ect.

Hope that helps

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

I guess that was my confusion - the celtic cross, to my understand or lack of, seems to use most of the cards in the spread to nuance the 'flavor' of a given situation and point you in the right direction. I guess with my question to the deck my question was really that - ie. show me how I'd chamber myself at present to thrust off for the best future results, not so much 'show me the future of my movement in seven steps going from this lifetime possible out through additional incarnations'. In that sense, having simply two cards, 6 and 10, expressing the near and far future were fine for my purposes.

If I really think about it 6) QP tells me that getting myself as self-sufficient is part of what'll take the stresses off that would be corrosive to my efforts, much like I'd consciously avoid beating on myself over any hardships I confront and 10) 10P does say good things about my material life but even more importantly I think it suggests a wholistic good outcome.

I think the key to really understanding this spread is 4) T16 because it tells me what current this whole thing is thrusting off from and, very likely, it was that time in my life when I was getting the message from society that I just needed to sepuku myself (honor suicide) or throw myself in an oven, that I was a genetic misfit and that my right to live was at the cost of honor. If that's the case, ie. if that was the particular Devil that the Tower is leading in from I think I can manage my understanding of this spread a lot better - ie. I was right about 3) T18 when I thought about it before I did the spread (ie. an abused subconscious), the 2) T14 is, in my mind, a lot of ways like T7 except that instead of playing them off together or against each other it's an act in T14 of alchemically synthesizing them back to oneness which is exactly what I want.

8 ) T8 tells me that the wind is at my back at this one 9) T9 inv surrounding by the other cards kind of encourages me as far as I can tell not to swet the increased alone time or worry that I'll sail 'too far out-there' to make sense to anyone aside from myself, that God will guide me and that I won't be left high and dry for my efforts.

I just took another look at Biddy to see if I could sort out context to the 5) 1P inv and, to tell the truth at this point, it makes perfect sense if I draw it in direct parallel to the 6) QP. I'm coming off of two months worth of joblessness, every job before that just kept me treading water rather than recharging my savings, and its a bit like I'm being told by this not to worry - things are a little tight right now but my sails are re-inflating and I'll be back in business in the natural course of things at present.


I guess that's why I brought it here though - everything I said was pretty conventional and I was wondering if there was anything specific I might be missing in the context clues.

[magari]

That makes sense.

The only other thing I want to say is I normally interpret the face cards of the minor arcana as representing an actual person, usually yourself or whoever the querent is. The face cards are great representations of our male and female selves as either mature or immature individuals.

Sometimes it might be appropriate for the card to represent someone very close or influential in the querent's life, but we should always look inside first.