Just Walk Away: A Mixed-Media Situational Awareness Spread and Example Reading

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This time around I’m bringing three different forms of divination together for a single inquiry: tarot, Lenormand and numerology (as expressed by standard dice). To establish some visual continuity, I’m using the Waite-Smith Centennial Edition with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith and Pixie’s Astounding Lenormand by Edmund Zebrowski with artwork inspired by Pamela Colman Smith. (Both are copyright of US Games Systems Inc, Stamford, CT.) Because I don’t use reversals in Lenormand reading, I decided not to apply them to the tarot portion of the spread.

I created a layout with one five-card column of tarot cards to represent the “Intuitive Path” to the conclusion and an adjacent five-card column of Lenormand cards to depict the “Literal Path.” I used six die-rolls to move between one path and the other, showing how the perspective in a situation might change from one to the other as it develops.

French tarot author Joseph Maxwell considered odd numbers to be active and mutable while even numbers are passive and stable. I used odd-numbered rolls to select cards from the Lenormand column and even-numbered rolls to choose those from the tarot column. The five positions reflect the developmental progress of the matter from its inception to its conclusion, with a mid-stream “turning point” or mid-course correction that requires adapting to its redirected emphasis.

I asked about the fate of a long-standing ambition of mine that has yet to reach fruition.

I rolled a “one-spot” on my first throw of the die, which brought up the Lenormand Clouds to describe the status of the matter as it now stands. The general meaning of this card is “Troubles,” and in this position it reminds me of the Pink Floyd album title Obscured by Clouds. There is no cause for optimism in the situation at this point in time.

On the second roll I received a “five-spot,” which gave me the Lenormand Star to convey the advent of movement in the affair. Although the card typically augurs success in an endeavor, according to Andy Boroveshengra when it is “with the Clouds” (as here), “it warns you of long stretches of bad luck and problems in your projects that you did not anticipate.” It’s basically telling me “Don’t hold your breath.”

The third roll produced another “five-spot,” revealing the Lenormand Rider as the “turning point” in my future circumstances. It represents “News,” and here it seems to be bringing a thimbleful of renewed inspiration from the domain of the Star, although that revelation is still tainted with the incipient hardship of the Clouds. I see this as a mixed outlook with favorable tidings being tendered by one hand and withdrawn by the other. I don’t think it’s anything I can “take to the bank.” Looks like a bumpy ride to me.

My adaptive response to the “turning point” was captured by a “four-spot” roll and the tarot 10 of Swords. My immediate reaction was “Shoot me now so I don’t have to go through this.” I call this the “scorched earth” card; it’s saying that there is nothing more for me here so I might as well give up the chase for the time being and wait for a “new day.” (On an entirely different front, I’ve just been approached about a business opportunity, and this may portend being “stabbed in the back,” while the next card portrays being “fleeced.” Ugly omens indeed!)

The conclusion of the matter brought another even-numbered roll and the tarot 5 of Pentacles. It shows me limping away from the field after being pierced multiple times by the “outrageous fortune” of the calamitous 10 of Swords. There is clearly no future in continuing to pursue my objective; although the number Five generally refers to “change,” even after the low point of the 10 of Swords it is not going in an encouraging direction. This prediction puts the final “nail in the coffin” of the glum testimony I received from the last couple of readings on this topic. It’s said that “hope springs eternal,” but I think it’s now officially “lying down and avoiding” my petition.

Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on August 4, 2024.