EXERCISE CT #13-3: Five-card High Priestess spread
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 23:10:57 +0200
From: Moonchild
To: Comparative Tarot http://comparativetarot.com

Created by Eva YaaAsantewaa

> Ask a question or state a concern that you'd like to examine. Remove the High Priestess from a deck of your choice and
place her aside for the moment. Shuffle the remaining cards, drawing four cards by random.

Since it's technically the same exercise, I'm sticking with the same question: "How can I best manifest my inner wisdom?
IOW, how can I better practice what I preach?"
I'll use Ancestral Path.

> Include the HP and these four cards in a little stack and shuffle them well.
> Lay the cards face down in a horizontal line, left to right.
>
> Card 1 - Card 2 - Card 3 - Card 4 - Card 5
>
> Turn the cards over. Notice where the HP has come to rest. You will be reading the layout for an overall answer to your
question, but pay very close attention to the location of your HP. 

Ack! A predominence of Swords!

> When you come to the HP, give her voice. Allow her to speak through you. What is she saying here?

> HP is Card 1: Behold! She is the glorious, awesome gateway to (or the instigator of) a brand new process described
by the cards that follow her.

1. Two of Swords--Definitely an appropriate gateway. Let's call it a Situation, a specific opportunity in which to put
wisdom to practice.  

> HP is Card 2: Card 1 may represent you standing face-to-face with the HP, or it may describe what has led you to her.
In either case, you know you must deal with her before moving on. No getting around that.

2. Ace of Swords--The "clear thinking" referred to in the Magician exercise. My obstacle is following intellectual,
as opposed to intuitive, wisdom.  

> HP is Card 3: This turning-point position holds great weight no matter what card falls here but even more so if the HP is
the fulcrum. You've come away (as described by Cards 1 and 2), but now you are at a crossroads.  

3. Queen of Swords--Can I be the Queen of Swords, all on my own? Yes. This week, I've sanded and painted a picnic
table, fixed a bicycle, worked on the washing machine (and finally called the repair service). If my man wasn't gone fishing
in Sweden, I would have left those things to him. It's not that I'm incapable of doing such things--actually I feel good when
I do them--it's just that, why should I, when there's usually someone else around who can do it better? It's like the math thing
Or the sewing. I'm more oriented toward other things, i.e. the washing (QC), cooking (QP) and vacuuming (QW) in our
household. It'll be a dark day before you catch me sewing. Definitely *not* a priority! Could if I had to, though.
Plan to, one day.
In truth, the Queen of Swords is usually the card I fear most. The crossroads or path across the obstacle is to use methodical
intelligence to do things I would normally leave to someone else.  

> Guess who's waiting for you? Everything hangs in the balance here. Will you freeze in fear? Turn aside? Turn back?
Move forward? Are you ready for what may follow?

> HP is Card 4: You have successfully negotiated the normal ups and downs of life. You've even passed through a significant
challenge (Card 3) and achievedsome of your aims. However, now you face the HP. Why? The problem you have solved or
the advancement you have attained has uncovered even more challenges and questions. The peeled onion layers have revealed
more onion. Don't cry. Talk to the HP.

4. The Star--Once I've "got my mind right" and gotten the Queen's blessing on my little island, I will gain confidence,
and be open and comfortable in my skin.  

> HP is Card 5: You can readily see what precedes her, what leads you to her, but you cannot see what lies beyond.
With courage, openness, and humility you approach, sit in her presence, and wait....  

The main reason that I stuck with this last reading to the end is that I find it so intriguing that the High Priestess is here,
facing *away* from all the other cards. I think she's done talking to me.
Or, at least, to you.

One Love All Love,
Moonchild

~~~~~~~~~
She asked for one more dance,
And I'm like, Yeah!
How the hell am I supposed to leave? <Usher>


EXERCISE: HP, in "action"
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:06:39 +0200

It's slowly dawned on me that I don't have to step outside myself, be someone I'm not or acquire traits I don't have. I have
to reexamine *method,* and realize that I can work well with my own method, without having to adapt to or jump into the
method of the "system." For example: why should I even worry about "official channels" or "public speaking" when I see all
the mothers at the grocery store or playground, and talk to them individually? (Is that what the Queen of Cups was trying to
tell me?) I can certainly share my concerns without calling the Mayor.

Hey, I think I'm gaining inner wisdom here.

OLAL,
Moonchild

 

This page is excerpted from my original contributions to the Comparative Tarot discussion group.
Graphics created and generously shared by Full Moon Graphics.


 

Exercise index

Tarot main

Home main

Contact

 

 

http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/personal/exercise/EX13_3.html