“Hold Him While I Hit Him” — A Summary-Justice* Spread
*Summary Justice: “A . . . judicial action accomplished swiftly and without observance of certain formalities of legal procedure, with the connotation of arbitrary and unfair judgment.” (If you’ve been unjustly harmed in a lopsided conflict and are seeking the advice of the tarot, you can ignore that last part and [like “Judge” Roy Bean, whose fascinating Wikipedia biography I just read] I won’t hold it against you.)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Here is a decision-making spread for those who are dealing with a delicate matter, such as having their toes rudely stomped on by another person. The assumption behind it is that the querent feels compelled to choose whether to immediately retaliate, to avoid a showdown and simply dodge the issue until a more opportune moment for retribution arrives, or to “turn the other check” in tacit acceptance.
The objective is to deal cards randomly into three columns depicting three different paths to closure that emulate the pattern of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, with its Pillars of Mercy, Mildness; and Severity. The next step is to calculate a numerical synthesis (I call it the “quaternary essence”) from the face values of the three cards in each column to come up with a trump card conveying the long-term effects of following that path. The idea is to pursue the way that offers: 1) the most reasonable premise; 2) the most justifiable course of action or inaction; and 3) the most salutary short-term and/or long-term consequences (sometimes taking the long view and letting instant gratification go exemplifies the virtue of patience).
Here is an example reading for a hypothetical situation. (I have no such confrontational issues of my own right now, but I did encounter one many years ago at work and at the end of this essay I’ll reveal how I handled it.) The man in this scenario has been blatantly denied career advancement even though qualified and is trying to decide whether to: 1) fight back by any means available; 2) feign nonchalance and keep his options open; or 3) grin-and-bear-it and “soldier on” while swallowing his pride.
The “Rationale” in both the “Fight Back” and “Cave In” columns is “all about the money.” The 4 of Rings (Coins) is more fundamental and visceral; his back is up against the wall and he has no “wiggle room.” The 7 of Rings could be subject to a few more extenuating conditions: the company may have suffered a heavy financial setback and is just doing what it feels it must, in which case there may be an opportunity to drive a legal wedge into the gears. (Esoterically speaking, although Aleister Crowley says it signifies “bad money,” Saturn in the field of business suggests “bad faith.”) The Knight of Wands in the “Wait-and-See” column has more to do with wanting to receive due recognition for his contribution.
In the “Suggested Response” category, the Ace of Cups in the “Fight Back” column is a calm hedge against overreacting; it would make him “feel good” about doing something on his own behalf even if — as a “token gesture” — that’s all it nets him for his trouble. The 9 of Swords in the “Wait-and-See” column advises fending off debilitating worry and remaining resolute. The 4 of Swords in the “Cave In” column represents a weak response that is easily turned aside. It implies a resigned “Oh, well, I tried.”
In the “Immediate Results” category, the 2 of Wands in the “Fight Back” column is inconclusive; he doesn’t know whether an offensive thrust or a defensive parry will yield the best outcome. Consequently, he may sit on the fence until his best shot has escaped. Strength in the “Wait-and-See”column speaks for itself; he has no incentive to back down, so he can bide his time and choose when to make his move. The Devil in the “Cave In” column indicates that he has deceived himself (or is being deceived) about his chances for being reinstated in the line of succession.
Under “Long-Term Effects,” I like Justice in the “Wait-and-See” column. I interpret this card as “Receiving one’s just desserts; the trick is to be found worthy and not wanting when the verdict is handed down.” If he plays to his strengths as above, he should be fine in the long run. The Wheel of Fortune in the “Fight Back” column is a crap-shoot, while the Hierophant is one of the “Father-knows-best” cards (the other being the Emperor) and should not be trusted to have the querent’s best interests at heart. My advice to the individual would be to ride it out just a little longer but dust off his resume and keep his ear to the ground for opportunities to move on.
In my own career drama, a long-time colleague and erstwhile friend had undermined my position at work by whispering in the ear of a senior executive with whom he was close. He was after my job and he got it, but I didn’t realize what was going on, thinking that what happened was just the natural consequence of a small company being absorbed by a larger one that decided to install its own managers. It didn’t bother me too much at the time because I was transferred to another well-paying job when many other employees were let go, and I retired early not long after with over 90% of my maximum pension.
But my wife understood it very well, and worked the Wiccan “Rule of Three” (or “Law of Return”) on him daily until he was eventually marginalized when a divisional spin-off was voided by regulators, leaving him (and a few others that didn’t deserve it) high-and-dry after they had committed and their old jobs were filled. I never found out what happened to them because I was soon gone, but knowing he was decisively derailed was revenge enough. Sometimes the Universe is on the side of the good guys.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on August 6, 2024.
