wyld_dandelyon | Three (or one) Card Draw for Samhain

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Three (or one) Card Draw for Samhain

Edit--I have work tomorrow, and NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow (technically, started at midnight) so I'd better close this to new requests. I'll do this again, though, so if you missed it this time, look for it to happen again in December.

Anyone who already left a request, I'll respond soon, most likely tomorrow night. Thanks for stopping by!

I haven't done one of these before, here in LJ-land. But I really enjoy them when other people do them.

Of course, the usual disclaimers apply -- a card reading can't substitute for professional advice. If you need a doctor or lawyer or financial planner, etc., that's not me. If I can provide some entertainment, or help you get in touch with your own higher power(s) or inner muse(s), on the other hand, I'm glad to be of service.

One of the things I've thought was great about many of these readings is that I get to glimpse different ways of doing readings, people's individual decks, or stone readings, and so on. So I'm bringing a unique "deck" to this reading--one I created for Torn World, as well as some more conventional cards.

One interesting feature of Torn World that isn't really visible in the stories is that there are three classes of noun--natural, technological, and abstract. Language shapes how people think; I suspect that having three classes of things will have significant effects on their culture; one of the things I wanted to do with this divination "deck" (the Kuleilyi actually place the images on metal disks, because metal and sounds are important to their religion/magic system); only children and apprentices work with paper or wooden copies). The specifics of the divination disks are still being reviewed by the canon board, so this is a sneak-peek for my friends, old and new.

So, anyway, THE RULES: You can leave a question or not, as you choose. The question can be for you, personally, for a creative endeavor, for a fictional character in a work in progress, or a request for inspiration. The default, if you don't specify, will be a three-card Torn World reading, much as Bai-Kunabei might give if you were to get a reading from her. Alternatively, you can ask for a one card reading from the Daughters of the Moon Tarot, or the Shapeshifter's Tarot. A final option is to ask for a Guide from the combined deck I made out of Susan Seddon Boulet's Goddesses and Animal Spirits.

Payment: No payment is necessary, but this does take time and energy. Any tips will be gratefully appreciated and applied to the "Get a Laptop that doesn't crash when it overheats" fund, since even with the little fan-table underneath, this laptop has crashed in the middle of me trying to write twice this week.

Time period: this being the first time I've done this here, I don't know what to expect. My current plan is to leave the post open for requests until at least midnight, but if the response gets overwhelming, I may close it sooner. I will edit the post (in nice bold letters at the top) when I close to new requests. If you get your request in by closing, I'll do a reading, either today or soon.

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The shaman reaches into her bag and pulls out a gold disk. The image is a figure seated next to a bag, with three disks on the ground in front of her. "Ah, the shaman. The matter that brings you here is one of abstract knowledge. Are you also a shaman? Or perhaps a scientist?"

She reaches into the bag again, and pulls out an iron disk, a man holding flowers. "Ah, the suitor. You need to go looking for the knowledge you seek, it won't come to you."

The final disk is also iron, and shows a harp. "The harp here, in the position that illuminates the mental skills or attitude you need to succeed in this, shows that you need to listen carefully to find what you are seeking."

The shaman reaches into her bag and pulls out three disks, lays them on the ground between you and blinks at them for a minute. Then she looks up at you as if she's trying to puzzle out your soul.

The first disk is brass and has enamel colors dropped on it in a strange, patternless texture. The second has no enamel at all, just different types of metal swirled together. And the final disk is copper, with colors inlaid in a delicate symmetrical mandala.

"Ah, first you have Random. the most important circumstances that brought you to this point were not planned by anyone, they are no one's fault, and especially not yours. It's just the way it is, the natural world is, well natural, and stuff happens that just happens."

Her finger runs over the smooth enamel, but her eyes have moved on. "The tools you have to do things in the physical world--this disk is the symbol of Mystery. Is mystery itself your tool? Or do you need to find your tools still?" Then she smiles, "Or do you know your tools just fine, and it's none of my business?"

She picks up the final disk. "Ah, but here, see? This is the Mandala. Whatever chaos and mystery surrounds your life, you have found some success in ordering your thoughts. Look how pretty this is--this represents your mind, the mental skills you are bringing to the problem that brings you to me. You may not be able to impose order on the world around you, but you will be able to bring order and beauty to the things you do and and the things you make."

Interesting, thank you very much! This does indeed confirm a few things for me. I shall continue on with my tasks then

Heh. Okay, that was a less than fair question to drop on Bai-Kunabei. My thanks to the shaman, and to her author.

Danger is stock-in-trade for "plot" at the game I staff, but whatever plan plot had in mind is warped beyond recognition moments after the players lay hands on it, and the goal at some level is for other people to wind up with stories to tell. I don't know how to translate that into a less participatory medium.

Ah. I drew you a Boulet painting, which shows a woman staring off into the distance, The line of her head is continued backward, into an egg-shape, which contains a flying nautilus, over a sunset, and a boat, a sleeping woman, a gull eating a fish a starry moon, and still more details. Your game experience gives you practice making stories with others, which you can use to coordinate between stories with other Torn World creators.

But this image brings the message that while you write an individual story, your imagination must contain and illuminate the multitudes. You provide not only the dangers, but the players who warp the plan, and the one who solves the conundrum caused by the intersection of all the influences. Even if you ask for suggestions, you have to hold it all in your imagination, and bring it to life with your words.

As you can see below, I asked for a reading, and then read back over others' replies. I often do that, especially when I am unfamiliar with the source or the means by which these messages are delivered; partly to see how true they seem, partly to learn about those who bring them forth, partly just to see what others are worrying about or what general tone is coming through in the readings.

When I was first following various spirit/Tarot/energy/usw readings regularly, I would often find one or two who had followup or follow-along messages that I felt they should hear; and even now sometimes I'll indulge the notion. My apologies if I have offended or caused upset.

I did (eventually) see your own request. :-D There's no upset here that I'm aware of, so no need to apologise. I've got to run off to work this morning, but I'll get to your reading later.

Food for thought, thank you!

added you, btw. recip not required!

The shaman looks up at you. "Have we met?" Then she shakes her head. "No, I haven't seen your face before. But you seem familiar. Might one of your parents be from these mountains? No?" She reaches for the glass one of the children is offering and takes a drink. "The source? Are you one of those who believes some Creator God made all of this?" She waves around her, at the purple mountains in the distance, the village, the goats, and the series of valleys leading down toward the rest of the Empire. "Oh, don't mind my curiosity--it's always been one of my besetting faults. You don't have to answer my questions to get a reading. Here, let me pull out three disks for you."

She reaches into the bag and pulls out the image of a Storm, which slips from her hand into the air. You catch it. "Oh, my, you do like your challenges, don't you?"

The iron disk is heavy in your hand, reminding you of all the troubles that have found you this year.

Unperturbed, Bai-Kunabei reaches again into the bag. "Let's see what tools you will need to manage the all of the storms in your life." She pulls out a copper disk, and turns it over to show the curious child. It is oriented so it is looking toward the road to the Empire, and beyond it, the arctic north. The shaman cocks her head to the side and looks at you. "Interesting. The disks don't show any physical tools, but instead show confidence that you can learn to use whatever tools and techniques are needed."

She reaches into the bag again. "And the abstract tools you need?" She pulls out a silver disk, on which is depicted a cozy little house. "The House? How can a house be an abstract tool? Somehow, you have made, or must make, a space that is a home of sorts for people." She gathers up the disks and returns them to her bag. "My, what interesting readings I've had today. You travel in interesting company."

The shaman nods gravely at your request. "Here," she turns the opening of the leather bag toward you. "Pull out a disk."

You reach inside, feeling the heavy metal disks, cool under your fingertips. One calls to your fingers, smooth and pleasant to touch. You pull it out. The top is gold, polished smooth.

"Turn it over," says the shaman.

You do, and you see a picture that almost might be her.

She smiles. "Ah, see? The Shaman. That's a very fortuitous image for someone interested in spiritual matters. That image represents your nature, your inner self. Now let's see what physical and mental tools you need for your current journey."

You wait, and she waves you to the bag again. "You're doing fine. Let's see what you pull out next."

Next you pull out a silver disk with an image of a moon obscuring the sun.

"The eclipse." She nods. Another abstract aspect. It is very like a shaman to use abstract ideas as her most solid tools. What do the moons and sun mean to you?"

You start to open your mouth, and she shakes her head. "No, don't answer me now. That's a question you must answer as you use them as your tools, and the answer may change. Go ahead, pick the last disk."

This time the disk your fingers claim is rougher, and you pull out an iron disk showing three star clusters.

"Ah, these are the Constellations that guide us through the darkest night. Mama Cougar, the Storyteller, and The Bright Dancer. When your thoughts reach the farthest, you're the closest to home." She laughed. "You'll make a fine shaman, or whatever you call it in your own tradition," she pauses and looks deep into your eyes, "If you want to, and if you put the work into it. If not--" she shrugs. "You can't change your basic nature, but it's up to you what you do with it."

You travel in interesting company...

I do, indeed!

Thank you, there is a lot to think about here.

"First, let's see the things that just are, that you can't banish, that everything you create is based upon." She reaches into the pouch and pulls out a bronze disc and turns it over. The image on it is a piece of beeswax, being carved into the shape of a phoenix. Obviously surprised, she says, "Creation! Hmm...this is a card of beginnings, of actually picking up your tools and starting. Is it that you don't know how to start, or that you have too many beginnings to choose between? Either way the ability to create is part of your nature, part of the most basic, intrinsic heritage you gain from being human."

She pulls out the next disk, a solid iron disk showing a plain wooden door. "Each door is a border. You can only walk through one at a time. This image tells you that the first step in making anything at all is picking one thing to try, committing to it, making what you can of it, and learning from the experience, and the result. Pick a door--at random, if you have no better way to choose, and check out what's beyond it for a little while. You'll learn more working on one project than you will pondering all the things you could be creating, and in not choosing, leaving all of their possibilities closed." Then she smiles, "And of course, when you're finished with the room beyond the first door, you can move on to another, with more skill and more experience to help you choose what to do next."

Then she reaches into the bag again, and pulls out a brass disk. A torch is depicted on it, the enamels glowing in the sunlight like the fire they depict. "And don't be afraid to shine a light in all the dark corners."

(edited to fix typos)

Edited 2010-11-02 01:48 (UTC)

"Certainly. Let's see..." She reaches into the pouch, and pulls out the image of an infant, eyes wide open. "The situation you are facing is essential to the nature of the forces and people involved. And you can't change their nature any more than you can change your own. Which is not to say no change is possible, since change is a natural aspect to all things. But people change and grow in accordance with their nature, and not as you might wish."

She reaches into the bag again, and pulls out a iron disk depicting a rope bridge. "Interesting. The rope bridge is one of the cards of borders; here I think it means that you use borders--limits, if you will--and challenges as tools in this situation."

She places the rope bridge on the ground between you. "And one more disk, to represent the mental tools you will need." She pulls out a silver disk, the Eclipse. "By moving in accord with your own nature, you can bring things together, or block them from view. Thus, you create a singular event that focuses everyone's attention, allowing all to safely navigate the challenges that you provided them with in the first place. Are you a teacher, perhaps? Or a guide of some sort?"

thank you. Now to figure out what in particular needs ending! :)

The shaman pulls out three disks for you. The first shows plants and animals in a crowded mosaic. The second shows two hands, holding a marriage license. The third shows two hands, this time brandishing knives against each other. She frowns. "No wonder you're frustrated. The situation isn't new, and isn't close to resolving. This first image is Life, a natural middle, full of vitality. The situation isn't inherently unhealthy or dangerous, but somehow things have gotten to cross-purposes. The tools you have to try to resolve the issue are connections and oppositions, represented here by Marriage and Enemies."

She shakes her head. "Clearly, you--or somebody--must introduce some new influence if this situation is to be resolved. But what?" She reaches into the bag again, and pulls out another disk. "The Forest. I suspect the people involved need a chance to disengage, to get some perspective on the situation. The forest is a place that is not truly of the land, but equally not of the sky, though it takes on aspects of both. Thus it is an in-between place, where magical things can happen, and relationships can be transformed." She looks at you. "This may not be a literal forest, you realize. It might not even be a literal place. But this situation won't change until people are inspired by something to let go of the entrenched habits and reactions that are keeping them in it."

She leans back and stretches, looking at the four disks. "I'm not even sure you're a part of this mess. If you're not, it might not be your place to try to change things--you could get snared in it and everyone mad at you, which would be a change, to be sure, but probably not one you desire."

For you, I draw a dark woman with fiery plumage. She is the Peacock, drawn here with wings of fire and the wisdom of the ages, represented not only by the "eyes" on her beautiful, flowing golden tail, but by her headdress, whose curve is defined by the golden ratio. She looks at you thoughtfully, and nods. Then she spreads her wings and holds out her hand.

It was fun writing Kunabei's reaction to your question. I also had a little fun with the window-dressing before Ellen's reading.

This seems very appropriate; we do indeed need to find a way to let go of entrenched habits and reactions and transform a relationship, and I foresee an upcoming opportunity to disengage. The perspective may be more challenging, but there's interesting food for thought here, and it does give me hope. Thank you!

You're welcome. And good luck!

Thank you so much for the wonderful reading my dear, perhaps Ill have to delves more deeply into the spiritual aspects of my life, this truly made me inspired to do more introspective meditations upon myself, gives me a bit of insight to myself. Incredible my dear, again thank you so much.

A smile, at the last. "You might say that."
The man taps the bridge with a finger. "It seems to me that the bridge is not merely a border, but a crossing as well as a challenge. And in several senses, I am good at crossing boundaries. What I'm not always good at is seeing the path around me."

I must apologize for being SO late in commenting on this drawing that you've done for me.

I actually have always found Thetis to be fascinating. Somehow I didn't know that she was a creator goddess, in addition to the sea-goddess and shapeshifter aspects. Considering how much creativity is a part of my life, this was definitely an interesting Guide/companion for you to draw for me. Thank you!

Replies to readings aren't necessary, but it's great to hear from you nonetheless.

You're very welcome.

I know they're not necessarily required, but I like leaving feedback when I can.

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Three (or one) Card Draw for Samhain

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Re: Thank you!

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Re: a three card draw please

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P.S.

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