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Thanks for your feedback, Bonnie.
The one thing I remember about Zeus, besides his power and authority, is how he was busy impregnating females, and I wonder what this has to do with you, i.e., your creative, fertile energy (since so much of your reading deals with this)? You may avoid listening to the masculine energy that calls upon you to structure you inner and outer life such that you can manifest the actions you need to take.
Thinking of your reading with another deck (the World Spirit deck, ever heard of it?), this Emperor deals with the "myths" with which you empower (or not) yourself. Also he is kind of ruthless, and possibly tyrannical, and while we often need his discipline, we do not want to be controlled by it--more like, inspired.
Where you would rather not go and need to: Temperance. I think this card is also suggesting that in addition to the masculine energy of the Emperor, you need the feminine energy of the goddess. In other words, you need a balance, i.e., Temperance.
Avoiding: Ace of Wands. You are avoiding the "calling," the invitation to open yourself to living your creative ideas.
Changes you are obliged to adopt: Nine of Pentacles. For me, nines are the end of a cycle and the individual is in a liminal state while trying to make a decision about going on (into the court card experiences) or return through the suit. Interesting that you say Bear is related to shamanism in Native American lore. In the World Spirit Nine of Pentacles, a woman stands beneath what might be considered a dream catcher, or some other Native American design. She clearly looks like she is waiting and pondering as she strokes her striped cat (feminine instinct). The World Spirit card Nine of Pentacles suggests to me that whatever you decide to do (when you move from the nine), it needs to involve nature because the card is filled with beautiful, growing things. Perhaps your shamanism deals with being a steward of the land, or perhaps it just means that you need to connect with nature more emotionally or ceremonially.
King of Wands, a shapeshifter. I love it. Don't we all in this group need to be shapeshifters???? The Sage of Wands in the World Spirit card travels in the desert (a certain kind of impoverishment, even though he is a king) on a black camel (definitely shadow instincts). For Godino and O'Leary he represents ambition and leadership. It hints to me that somehow your shadow work (or failure/slowness to do shadow work) interferes with the manifesting of your creative leadership and charisma. He is dressed in white (purity) and suggests that a certain amount of spiritual work has already been done, but in conjunction with the Temperance/Emperor combination, it strikes me that what you have been doing spiritually needs to be combined with shadow work, so you can get out of this desert.
Thanks for the comments on the structure of the spread. I always like to try out new spreads on other first before I give them to a group (my students used to have to suffer through this), so they can be polished. Because of various other commitments, I have yet to use it on myself, but I developed it while sitting in the care waiting on my sister and her granddaughter to shop.
Now we have been busy cleaning and changing the energy where they stayed, so we can settle down again.
Sandra
-----Original Message-----Sandra:
From: diningwitharchetypes@yahoogroups.com [mailto:diningwitharchetypes@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of crystalgate@...
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 12:29 AM
To: diningwitharchetypes@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [diningwitharchetypes] Spread for LATS
Here is what I came up with:
1. How am I avoiding being present in my life?
The Emperor: I used the Animals Divine Tarot, which shows a rather stormy scene, with a figure representing Zeus standing, a staff in his right hand and a crystal ball in his left hand. A buffalo stands behind him, and a golden Eagle sits on a branch in front of him. I have known this for some time - I am avoiding taking the actions that will get me where I want to go. As far as this group, and weight issues go, I need to do what is right for me, or I will become ill. Emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually ill.
2. Where I would rather not go, but need to go?
Temperance: Here we see the Goddess Xochiquetzal, with her flowing tresses and free-flowing energy. I need to allow my creative nature to flow. This is interesting, because I was not really aware that I was afraid to go here.
3. What task am I avoiding?
Ace of Wands: The Ace of Wands is represented by the Firefly. How telling that the task I am avoiding is connecting with my passionate, creative nature. This really goes back to the task that I have been avoiding also. I am filled with potential that has not manifested (or manifested in a minimal manner).
4. What changes of behavior or attitude does this issue oblige me to adopt?
Nine of Pentacles: The Nine of Pentacles in Animals Divine is represented by the Bear, which in Native American lore is connected to shamanism and healing. I need to accept my own power, and my own success.
5. Based on the preceding four cards, how do I need to re-imagine or redefine myself?
King of Wands: In the Animals Divine deck, the King of Wands is Gama Sennin, a Japanese God. Interesting side note: one of this Gods abilities is that of shapeshifting. :) I need to see myself as one who gets things done, as a leader and decision maker. I need to take charge of my weight and food issues, and bring out the me that is already there.
*** A note on my initial reaction to the wording of position number four - I might reword this, perhaps along the lines of "What changes of behavior or attitude will help me deal with this issue?
This is a powerful spread, dealing with issues head on. The cards that I drew did represent the issues in my life as I see them.
The Swampland Spread (Based on ideas from James Hollis's Swamplands of the
Soul).
Lay out the five cards of this spread in a straight line.
Position 1 - How am I avoiding being present in my life?
Position 2 - Where would I rather not go, but need to go?
Position 3 - What task am I avoiding?
Position 4 - What change of behavior or attitude does this issue oblige
me to adopt?
Position 5 - Based on the preceding four cards, how do I need to re-
imagine or redefine myself?
Sandra
~ May Your Path Be Well Lit & Well Traveled ~
Bonnie Cehovet
www.americanboardfortarotcertification.org
www.tarot.thecrystalgate.com
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