I believe, the 10th time I drew cards on this question

LOL! Reminds me of me when I was learning. But you’re right, you shouldn’t do that. I learned that the hard way. Try and keep down to one spread per question. It actually helps in improving your technique, over the long term.

5 Disks/Ace Cups/9 Disks.

Tough combination of cards. The 5 of Disks is telling though. This combination doesn’t necessarily imply that this person will get fired (although it doesn’t look good), but it does suggest enormous strain (at their current job), with a new opportunity approaching (Ace of Cups). The 9 of Wands implies the atmosphere at work being one of defense.

I pulled 3 Wands/5 Swords/3 Cups

The 5 of Swords in this reading doesn’t look good. It implies some level of underhand behavior. The 3 of Wands is the work environment and the 3 of Cups was how it used to feel there – it is that (and the Three of Wands) which the 5 of Swords defeats! Alternatively, is mutual deception going on?

4 Disks/Art/Emperor

LOL, this is a tough one! The Art card represents the two people involved, the Emperor (the folks in charge of making the decision) and the 4 of Disks is everyone trying to go back to how things used to be. Either way, the Emperor makes the final call so any deception on whomsoevers part is most likely to be exposed.

Well, that was lot of readings LOL! Try your best to keep it to one question per reading and things, with time, get much clearer.

Hope that helps!

Since I have so much trouble interpreting cards this was actually, I believe, the 10th time I drew cards on this question (I know I shouldn’t do this, but I just couldn’t figure things out from some of the other draws. One draw was 5 Disks/Ace Cups/9 Disks. I couldn’t see an answer in that draw at all. How would I interpret the Ace of Cups in this reading? Does it mean this person is very well “loved” in their job?).

I drew again and I got: the World/2 Swords/4 Swords. This was the closest I could come to a clear answer that I could understand…The elemental dignities say the center card is moderately strong. The flanking cards support this card. Also, there is an ethical/legal aspect to this question. The person broke the law and revealed personal info about the client to the client’s friend causing conflict in their friendship. Naturally, the client wants to see this person is strongly reprimanded for their unethical/illegal behavior, so they called the corporate headquarters.

World card: A desire to influence change within an institution. Endings and beginnings…
2 Swords: A decision that needs to be made or is being made about a woman (woman on the World card).
4 Swords: Conflict resolution is being made and a “retirement” or “break from work” is being called for.

Can you please help me out with understanding other triad as well? How would the Ace of Cups play into this reading?

I also asked if the client’s friend was going to lie and say he were never told anything about the client to protect the person that told him, but I can’t get a clear answer on that either. The only card that really clearly defines lying is the 7 of Swords. I’m not pulling that when I ask if he will lie about being told this info. I pulled 3 Wands/5 Swords/3 Cups – since the elementally the flanking cards cancel each other out in which way do I interpret the 5 Swords? Is he betraying his friend by denying he was told or is he betraying the person who told him this info? Asking again: 4 Disks/Art/Emperor…oh so lost. I can’t see the answers I’m looking for because the question is a hard one.

Thanks for your help,

Sheri

It’s good to hear that you’re wrestling successfully with these two decks – and that you’ve found a book that is resonating well with you. In no time at all you’ll be looking for the next challenge

Thanks so much. I’m going to have to get that book. I’ve been trying to use all of the meanings I’ve learned about both cards. It’s a little confusing when some of the meanings contradict another, but I’m still figuring this out..lol.For the most part they are the same meanings. I was actually able to get more info about some of the more difficult cards to understand, like the High Priestess, from the book I have called, “The Tarot Handbook – Practical Applications of the Ancient Visual Symbols” by Angeles Arrien.

Thanks again

Sheri

In a way the Thoth deck is easy to read with the names on the cards. It helps trigger your memory for that card. But, in another way it’s confusing. Should I use the meanings I’ve learned with the Rider-Waite deck and apply them to the Thoth deck?

Good question!

Why not experiment with applying both sets of meaning to the Thoth cards. For instance, lets say you deal the 6 of Wands. On the Thoth it’s called Victory. Why not also add in, or overlay the meaning from the Rider-Waite deck? That way you allow your intuition to flow.

Yes, the numbering differences between the Thoth and the Rider-Waite can be a little confusing and the reasons it’s renumbered in the Thoth can seem a little abstract.

I would suggest you see this as adding a new layer or depth of understanding to the Tarot. What if you reframed the whole thing? Rather than seeing this as deck specific (which of course it is ), try and see this as something greater than an individual deck. If you could reframe this so that you see these confusing differences as adding to your overall understanding of Tarot, rather than needing to relearn the Tarot, I think you’ll enjoy the process better. I also think you’ll most certainly grow as a Tarot reader.

If you’re interested in understanding why the Thoth is the way it is, then I would highly recommend Lon Milo DuQuettes book, Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot: An Authoritative Examination of the World’s Most Fascinating and Magical Tarot Cards. It answers many of the questions you will have on the Thoth Tarot, while still being engaging and easy to read. In fact, one of Lon Milo Duquettes strengths as a writer is his ability to make many of the more complex areas of the Thoth easy to understand.

I bought the Thoth deck and Peace is what the 2 of swords is called for that deck as well. In a way the Thoth deck is easy to read with the names on the cards. It helps trigger your memory for that card. But, in another way it’s confusing. Should I use the meanings I’ve learned with the Rider-Waite deck and apply them to the Thoth deck?

I know that sounds like a common sense answer, but you never know. The pictures are completely different as well as the Lust/Strength and Adjustment/Justice cards numbering.

Where I thought I could use the eight cards in the deck with the Strength card I find I can’t in the Thoth deck because they now belong to the Adjustment/Justice card. And the Lust/Strength card now belongs to the High Priestess card if you break down the number 11 (1+1=2). The Lust /Strength card makes more sense belonging with the High Priestess, however it’s a relearning of something that throws me off.

Thanks for helping me.

Sheri

Yes, that’s how I see the 2 of Swords. I also see it as peace restored (the Golden Dawn name for the 2 of Swords) – especially with relationships!

Would you say that the 2 of Swords is a temporary compromise/agreement, also? I have a few books that say that and also I saw it online. What is your opinion? What have you seen it to be?

Thanks,

Sheri

I appreciate the input.

I should say, I’ve been enjoying reading your articles very much.

Thanks for dropping by

I have a question regarding the 5 of swords, if you don’t mind. How do you deal with this card when it shows up surrounded by more positive cards … I laid out the spread for a general reading and got the following: Lovers (upper left), Empress (upper right), 9 of Cups (lower left), Knight of Cups (lower right), with the 5 of Swords in the center. The other cards are so positive, but the center card seems to be casting a pall over the whole reading.

Interesting question.

As a general rule of thumb, the 5 of Swords can often indicate a “Victory”, but, and this is the key, at what cost? Whenever you get the 5 of Swords, and it’s surrounded by positive cards, ask yourself, if this succeeds, what is the price being paid?

In the particular context of the reading, you have two basic ways to approach things. The first way is psychological, and the second is literal. Perhaps, for a more rounded approach, we could combine the two methods.

Using method one, I would have said exactly the same as you.

Using method two, I would have been inclined to discuss the outward success – the appearance of things going their way. I would then switch to a more psychological dimension, and ponder what price is being paid.

With the Lovers card present, I would be asking myself if the client has ever really taken responsibility for their actions? The Lovers often indicates people going with the flow, so as not to rock the boat with those around them – in this context, “those” could be friends, family, or anyone who has influence.

With that in mind, the price being paid, is the destablising of the status-quo; which brings us back to responsibility. In this context, the responsibility is in reference to this persons own feelings and emotions. If they ignore them (5 of Swords) then the client will never be free – will always feel like it was an “empty victory”.

As you can see, the two methods are really combination of psychological and literal.

In reality, the cards speak of success – regardless of anything else. However, when we factor in psychology, then we have to look at key concepts, such as responsibility.

Finally, the 5 of Swords is a card that hurts other people.

In the context of the reading, either the client will hurt other through not taking responsibility – and the client will also hurt people by taking responsibility.

Remember, the Empress card is not a spiritual card. It’s a very practical card, based on financial and practical security; feeling safe, and being able to enjoy the physical dimension of life.

I haven’t tried to do the Tarot reading; rather, I’ve tried to offer ideas and concepts that will help you reinterpret the cards in a different way.

With that in mind, I hope those ideas have helped you in some small way.