One Card Tarot Reading: Love and Relationships

I am a regular reader of  Love Dove Tarot by Lisa Frideborg Lloyd.  In the following post (http://lovedovetarot.com/2012/10/16/less-is-more-a-one-card-tarot-reading/ ) she highlights a one card reading as both a simple and powerful way to increase self-awareness.  This technique is particularly useful for anybody experiencing difficulties within personal relationships.   As I have had my own fair share of  relationship ups and downs over the years, I thought it would be interesting to see what would come up.  Whilst shuffling the deck, I concentrated on the question:

Fwd: Re: Three Card Draw: Nine of Pentacles The Moon Three of Cups



Keywords and phrases:
Deception
Illusion
Fear

 

Keywords and phrases
Celebration
Uniting with others
Happiness

Keywords and phrases:
Self reliance
Material security
Capacity to be alone






 









The combination of the Nine of Pentacles and The Moon accurately reflect the energy surrounding me at the moment.  Like the woman depicted on the Nine of Pentacles, I spend quite a lot of time alone.  Although, I do enjoy my own company, I am also aware of a feeling of incompleteness.  I find myself yearning for the comfort of a loving relationship, whilst at the same time fearing it.  The Moon often draws attention to deep seated emotional issues.  I would say I have problems trusting due to past hurt and betrayal. 

The Nine of Pentacles symbolises the barriers I have put in place to create the illusion to the outside world of a successful woman who has no need for a man in her life.  However, the truth is, beneath the polished veneer, exists vulnerability and fear of letting anyone too close.

The Moon together with the Three of Cups suggests relationships and happiness are over shadowed because the real me is different from the image I currently project.  In order to move forward, I need to stop dwelling on past hurt and hiding how I truly feel.  Due to the lack of active cards in the reading, I would say this is likely to be easier said than done and a slow, gradual process.

 

Three Card Draw: Strength Two of Pentacles and The Ace of Cups

I try to read the tarot cards daily as I find this helps deepen my understanding of the many layers of meaning a single card can have.Today, I drew 3 cards with no positional meanings:
Strength
Two of Pentacles
Ace of Cups
The first thing I was drawn to on the Strength card was the lions teeth.  I have been suffering with a particularly nasty dental abscess since the weekend which I began treating with home remedies.  After wrestling with the pain for over two days,  I have finally  given in and resorted to antibiotics.  The Strength card often comes up to indicate good health and strong immunity so I am taking this card as a good omen in terms of the healing process.
The Two of Pentacles I see as a potential blockage or gentle warning.  The image on this card is bringing to mind the phrase "burning the candle at both ends". Unfortunately, I am guilty of this as I never seem to have enough hours in the day! However, I need to remind myself that habits like this result in lowered resistance to infection and also the general neglect of my overall health and wellbeing.  I also feel this card reflects my need to make the decision to go to the dentist, which I put off for as long as possible!
The Ace of Cups ends the reading on a positive note and emphasises the theme of healing.  There is the sense of new beginnings and renewal.  I can't believe how ill the toothache has made me feel.  So I am hoping once the antibiotics work their magic together with a few early nights I should feel like a new woman!
Lastly, I decided to add up the numerical value of the reading to find the quintessential card, which can sometimes add further insight :
(Strength) 8 + ( two of pentacles) 2 +(Ace of Cups) 1 = 11
The number 11 relates to the Justice card.  I see this card as highlighting karma or in other words; what you get is what you deserve.  I can't say I am surprised to see this as I have neglected my dental health for ages!  If I had gone to the dentist for regular check ups or at least when I became aware the tooth in question wasn't quite right, it would have saved me going through the excruciating pain of the last few days!  Certainly a lesson to be learned!

The Hierophant - Back to School

One of the best methods I have found for deepening my knowledge of the tarot cards is by doing what is sometimes referred to as reversed readings. Rather than drawing the cards and then interpreting the meaning, I think of an event or set of circumstances and then decide which card or group of cards I would choose to illustrate this.  If, like me, you keep a tarot journal,    this can be a refreshing way of recording your insights and developing your own personal reading style.
For example, the month of September is a time I associate with the new school year and indeed, I recently waved my son off on his first day back.  He looked extremely smart in his new uniform and somehow the carefree days of the long summer break suddenly seemed like a pleasant but distant memory.
To me, the rather serious energy of The Hierophant sums up the classroom environment.  The image on the card reminds me of a teacher taking a lesson at the front of the class whilst the pupils listen attentively.  The emphasis here is very much on the importance of adhering to a code of conduct as well as listening and learning.
The other cards which immediately spring to mind when I think of school are the 8 of Pentacles for lessons.  The 5 of Wands I associate with the  rough and tumble playground environment.  The 3 of Pentacles brings to mind apprenticeships or vocational courses where there is emphasis on acquiring practical skills rather than purely academic learning.