Q&A: Getting back together

Q: How does he feel about me? Will we get back together?

A: Hi ****** 

I understand how emotional of a time this is for you. It always hurts when relationships end, for whatever reason.

I'm sorry to be so hard on you, but it feels like you need a real wake up call here. We've talked about all of this before. A lot. This is exactly the wrong questions to be asking. This is exactly the kind of situation that scam psychics take advantage of. This is the opposite of what psychic tarot is all about.

• Psychics and Tarot can NOT tell what other people are thinking, are feeling or what they will do
• Even if psychics or tarot could do that, I wouldn't. Put yourself in *****'s place. How would you feel if he asked a stranger from the internet what you feel and what you plan to do. How would you feel if a stranger looked into your heart and your mind and your intentions all behind your back and without your permission and then spilled everything to your EX? Sounds pretty stalker creepy to me. I won't do that to another person, and I hope no one ever does that to you.
• Sometimes when we are doing a reading, we can get a sense of permission on the soul level, some sense of the other person sharing with you...that is not the case here

I know a little of that happened in your sister's reading, and she told me that the two of you have talked about it BUT she came with a whole different question. Like she told you, she wanted to know what she needed to do to help fix things...not a prediction about her ex. Maybe get some advice from her. Real world advice from someone who knows you and knows the situation is always a good thing. Tarot can help you know what to do for you - but it can't take the place of people who care about you, or make predictions, or read minds....

....I know that isn't the answer you were hoping for, but it is the only honest one I can give you right now. Be safe, be happy. 

Q and A: Why do psychics give different interpretations for the same card?

Q. I've gotten several tarot readings over the past couple of years. A couple of weeks ago I asked for a general reading about romance because I was curious what the cards would say. When the psychic asked, I told him my boyfriend and I have a good relationship, but he just laughed at me. He said that my boyfriend was bored and looking for excitement outside of our relationship. The Wheel and The Lovers cards keep turning up again and again, but each time the psychic interprets them a different way. This last time was the only one that was so negative. What does the Wheel and the Lovers card really mean? Why do different psychics give different interpretations of the same card?

A. Thank you so much for asking this! Excellent question! I could write a book about this kind of thing...and am working on doing just that. Please forgive me if I get long-winded with your answer.

The real root of the answer lies in the way Tarot is an art, not a science. There is no standard way of doing a reading, and no one interpretation of any given card. If you look at the books about Tarot, especially the ones that come with card decks, you'll find there are a dozen different 'meanings' for the card. If you change the meaning for the times the card turns over upside-down (known as "in reverse")...then that just doubles the problem.

If there is a card or cards that keep turning up, that is probably a big clue that they are particularly important, and that they have a message for you that just isn't quite getting through the way it should. When that happens I suggest taking matters into your own hands. Read what books and the internet have to say about the card(s). Focus on any common threads about the cards that keep turning up in the readings and let the conflicting stuff go. Most important of all - what does YOUR intuition say? I see a reading as a collaboration between two people - not the psychic sitting there spewing some immutable special knowledge. YOUR insight, intuition, YOUR "ah-ha" moments are more valid and important than anything I could tell you.

As for the general romance reading about you and your boyfriend - I am very deeply opposed to the kind of reading this person did. I don't think that a psychic (or anyone for that matter) can tell what your boyfriend thinks and feels. Even if were possible, I wouldn't do it...looking into someone's heart and mind without their consent would be the deepest violation of privacy and dignity imaginable. Even the pretense of it is unethical, to my way of thinking anyway. My instinct would be to just flush that particular reading entirely. 

For the wheel card, that usually just indicates change.  

No matter which of the many card meanings seems right to you, it helps to put it into context. What is it about change do you need to learn? Do you resist the inevitable changes in life? Are you too stuck in your ways and slow to change? Or are you an early adopter and tend toward the reckless? Is it a suggestion to slow down or get a move on? The position of the card in the spread gives even more context, and can give subtle shades of meaning to the overall message.

The common myth is that the lovers has to do with romance, marriage, soulmates, dating, all that. In my experience that isn't necessarily the case. The idea of "desire" can extend to anything...people, things, situations...you name it. It has to do with "your hearts desire" whatever that may be...no just lust or grand romance.

Put the two together, and you could get a variety of messages...perhaps advice to change your priorities...change the things you desire. Or maybe you already have and this is a validation of your spiritual growth, or change in values. It is hard to say...agian your instincts are paramount here. If a reading seems off to you...it is. If a reading seems right to you...it is. Even if the psychic is totally honest, and deeply believes everything they say, the message may not be quite what you need. Not every psychic is the right match for every person. It may take some trial and error to find someone that really resonates with you. Tarot isn't always the right tool for everyone. I believe that cards, astrology, runes, tea leaves or what have you are just tools that help us listen to our innate intuition better. It's the collaboration, and the inner knowing that counts.

I hope this helps clear things up a little. If this doesn't fully answer things, feel free to ask a follow up. With your permission, I'd like to post a version of this on my blog and website(changed a little with your name removed to protect your privacy) You could see it at http://www.ModernOracleTarot.com. I think your question is a really good one, and I would guess there are lots of other people wondering the same thing. Sharing your question could help a lot of people I think.

If any of this process kind of stuff is interesting to you at all, please keep an eye out for my book "Modern Oracle: Intuition for the 21st Century"...I hope to have it up on amazon.com next year. It is about generally learning to listen to your own intuition. The follow up book "Modern Oracle: Tarotbytes" will be a smaller 'how-to' specifically about reading tarot.

For daily meditation style tarot readings, and for full content not available here, please consider subscribing to Modern Oracle Tarot Blog for KINDLE.

Q&A: Jealousy

Q: I have a pattern of always being jealous of my boyfriends. Every time they are away from me, I worry they will cheat on me, so I call off the relationship after a few weeks. Now I am seeing a good guy. He has issues with old relationships too, so we've decided to go slow. It has only been a few weeks, but I've already tried to break if it off once, but we patched things up pretty quickly. Will I always be jealous? Is this the relationship for me? Should I break it off before my jealousy ruins things again?

A: This calls for a one-card meditation, and your card is the Chariot from the major arcana. Major arcana cards resonate with big life-lesson issues like this. The Chariot specifically about awareness. You have made strides in self-awareness. Now lets turn that awareness to the relationship and the things around you to help you move forward.

There is an old saying that the first step in avoiding a trap is knowing of its existence. By gaining the insight you have into your issues, triggers, and sensitivities, you've already won half the battle.

Another old adage that applies here is "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" 

You are right, it is tied up with anger and resentment. Jealousy is also a matter fear and of trust...the lack of trust, really. Why is it you don't trust men? Have these past relationships really and truly given you cause to be jealous? Was there really a reason to bail out? If so, why are you choosing the kind of guy that isn't trustworthy? Are you being defensive or paranoid because of past hurts, and want to hurt the relationship before the relationship hurts you? Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater by destroying something potentially good just because of what you've done before or what has been done to you...either one.

Also, take a good look at the relationship you are in right now. Forget the jealousy, forget the past, forget the future...right here, right now, the way things ARE...do you care about this person? Do you want to spend more time with him? Is this a person you trust? Have you been honest with him? Has he been honest with you? If you trust him and face your fears, then there is no place for jealousy to take root.

If you care about him, and want this to work, then the ball is in your court. It is up to you to decide if you want to be a jealous person for no tangible reason or not. You have to decide if any 'reasons' you find are your old habits coloring the way you see things. Only you can decide if you are willing to do let go of the past, your old ways of doing things, and accept this man for who he is right here, right now. You have to be the one to decide if you are willing to start here, care for this person as-is, uncolored by past experiences or not.

It takes courage to drive a chariot. It takes awareness and realistic decision making. Charioteers were the jet test pilots of their day. It takes the same kind of courage to be honest with yourself, be honest about the way things are, and make decisions about what you have and how to move forward. Don't use your past as an excuse...a fast moving chariot can not focus on where they have been or they drive up the tree that is in front of them. A fast moving chariot can't imagine bumps and curves in the road that aren't really there...or they will tip over.  Chariots don't turn on a dime...so it takes communication with the chariots beside you, or accidents happen. Relationships and chariots both require realistic awareness, thorough honesty, and clear communication. 

Best Wishes to both of you!

http://www.ModernOracleTarot.com

Q&A: What do these cards mean?

Q.  I wanted to know if I am generally on the right path, so I drew three Tarot cards with no question in mind. I just wanted to be open to any message they would give me. I admit I am very interesting in a guy named A*****. He (is having a difficult time...redacted for privacy) I got the Moon, Justice and The High Priestess in that order. What does this mean? Could it have something to do with A***** and I?


A. Having worked with you before, I know you get it about predictions. You are exactly right in the way you approached your question and the way you are keeping an open mind is excellent! That always gives the best reading. 


You didn't say what card spread (how the cards are placed on the table) you were using. Each position in the layout has a symbolic meaning, in addition to the symbolism of the card itself. Without knowing that, we are missing some good context-clues about what the message might be for you.


Before looking at the individual cards, anyway, it helps to look at the general pattern, and the obvious thing here is that all three cards are from the major arcana portion of the deck. This can be a hint that there are big lessons, big changes or big energy of some kind moving through life for you. You might be on the edge of an adventure, if not literally, then mentally and emotionally.


When you look at cards individually, the best place to start is the card's "meaning" then add on any intuition you might get about the card. To find the meaning, a good place to start is the book or guide that came with the Tarot deck itself when you bought it. If you don't have that, there are several really good books. The best way to choose the right reference for you is simply browse through them whenever you get a chance, and see which one "speaks" to you or seems to really seem to be the most on target for how you see the world. 


I never quite found the perfect book, that's why I'm writing the "modern oracle" books I told you about...the one telling how to do readings for yourself and the other with my take on the card meanings.  It seems like there are no in-between books for people learning to read cards...either they are too basic (like the ones that often come with card decks) and more advanced books, like the "Animal Wise Tarot" by Ted Andrews that I've been using lately (I'm pretty sure its available on www.dragonhawkpublishing.com if you are interested). ANYWAY....


(The following sections have been edited to protect privacy...what you see is a generalized version)


The moon has to do with spiritual journeys, internal learning, intuition...that sort of thing. Basically that means that no matter how things turn out for you and A*****, in the long run it will prove to be an important lesson. You will learn and grow just from the experience of this time.


At first glimpse, you might think "justice" is that law-and-order, book 'em danno kind of justice. At the heart of it, it really is more about wisdom. This is both an advice and a validation kind of message. Use your wisdom with A*****. If you are steady, supportive, loving, compassionate and wise toward him during all this, he'll notice. This card underscores that positive loving feeling from earlier. It feels like he is giving his soul-level or etheric-level permission for me to tell you that. More than just advice, there is a reassurance here that you have what it takes...you really do have the wisdom and patience to be there for him in the way he needs right now.


The High Priestess is "mystery". I don't think that traditional meaning applies here, not directly. It is more a reminder of discretion as the better part of valor...it is a reminder that not all love is "out there". You don't have to tell all of your friends or announce yourselves from the rooftops. I think this card is asking you to let things unfold naturally, don't push, and give yourselves the time and privacy he (and maybe you too) might need for good things to happen. 


I usually wrap things up with any general intuitive feelings or impressions that come through, whether they are related to the cards or not. Since the reading is originally yours, I'm not getting anything in that respect. What I suggest is that you pull those cards again, and just look at them quietly, then do an inventory of what you feel. Are there any mental images, words, sounds, sensations, memories...anything...that comes to mind to give you any additional clues to what the reading's message for you might be.


That's all I can help with at this point...to carry the reading any further is up to you. Given the amount of time that has elapsed between the reading and now, what I would suggest is a "one card daily meditation" type of reading for you...


Pull another card, but this time keep you and A***** clearly in mind, but stay open. Let it show you whatever you need to know with regard to the two of you. Look up the meaning of the card in a few places, then try the restful meditation/review of feelings that we just talked about.


Good luck and best wishes to both of you!


Ronda


www.ModernOracleTarot.com


www.RondaSnow.com