Free Tarot Reading

I got my daily email from Astrology.com, and today it was a free Tarot reading. I have my own tarot deck, but I prefer not to do my own readings, because I find that my energies and desires influence my reading too much.

Anyway, I did it on 'moving to Argentina.' It was a free deal, so I only got 3 cards of 11 revealed.

The 3 positions I got to see were:

1. Prior history -- this reveals past experience, challenge, or issues that may have an influence on current perspective or level of intimacy.
   
2. Intimacy -- this offers a look at inner strengths, hindrances, interests, experience, or self awareness that may affect results, your romantic status, or that may stem from your prior history.
   
3. Status or dilemma -- this reveals possible developments, situations, difficulties or challenges that you may be encountering in your relationship or love life, along with practical experience for getting the most out of this current phase or experience.
   

In the prior history position, I got the Hanged Man.



Here's the interpretation the site gave:

The Hanged Man in this position suggests that you may have needed to take a step back in order to let things unfold or to broaden your tolerance, and it probably dawned on you then that sacrifice for its own sake can lead to resentment or a victim mentality. You knew that you were "not that innocent," so rather than playing or putting up with the long-suffering martyr act in order to get what you wanted, genuine compassion or a new perspective would have served much better.

In general, the Hanged Man represents the Universal principle of recognizing ineffectual patterns in your life, and the state of surrender required before you can free yourself from self imposed limits that prevent growth. The Hanged Man is the spiritual function of water, as it implies redemption, baptism, or death of old ways. His goal is to bring the ignorant to knowledge not through pity or consolation, but through respect and acceptance.

The Hanged Man also represents the paradox of contradiction as truth. By reversing yourself, you can gain a new perspective and you can achieve your initial goal. The ideas of "give to get," "let go, to come back," "surrender to win," and "die to be reborn," are a few such notions. Some examples of the Hanged Man might be Poseidon, Neptune, Odin, Jesus, and Thoth, as well as certain aspects of Houdini.

The Hanged Man is reminding you to pause and reflect on what is really important in your life and what you might need to do, or leave behind in order to make changes.

In the Intimacy position, I got the Nine of Wands (reversed).



Here's the interpretation:

The Nine of Wands (reversed) in this position suggests "No more." Your watch is over, and you may prefer not to be singled out or make waves. You are free; unbound; released; vindicated, or optimistic, and despite your previous efforts, your defenses may have been breeched or you might finally be letting down your guard or trying to find yourself. You are open to change, and may be searching or starting over, but focusing on a new or different goal, having walked away from or finished your previous place, labor, or romance. As a result, you may be giving up seniority or the security of an established position or relationship, or are reaching a new level of trust as you learn to let go; loosen the reigns; or surrender to passion. Previous conquests or notches on the old bedpost may mean nothing to you now, or you may be coming to terms with the end of a relationship in which you were burned, and are vowing never again to stick out, or resign yourself to an abusive or unsatisfying situation. As a result you may be restless; on the move; afraid to be still, or getting rid of negative habits or "crutches," but are also adjusting to, or succumbing, for the moment, to fatigue; being uprooted, or a loss of support. There is a possibility that in your zest, nonchalance, innocence, or even failure to see it through; set or protect boundaries, you might neglect your duty, children, or responsibilities, especially if this refusal to settle for the same old thing manifests itself in a midlife crisis.

In general, the Nine of Wands is Strength or Recovery, and can represent moving too much in one direction in response to conflict, as the result of distrust or past experiences. They can be seen in resistance, guarded or defensive behaviours, or attitudes.

Ultimately, the Nine of Wands is the "last stand" where you either win or lose, succeed or fail, rally or give up, and so on. Think, perhaps of the inner motivations of those who fight a "just" war, such as the Continental Army against the British in the US Revolutionary War, the "North" and "South" of the US Civil War, "Custer's Last Stand," and so on.

The Nine of Wands asks that you be prepared to handle such adversity. You may have overcome previous struggles and achieved success and recognition in the past, and you may need to lean on these in order to protect your livelihood or character. If you are not yet prepared or able to make a move yet, give yourself time to pull it together, otherwise you may only make things worse.

In the Status or dilemma position, I got the Two of Swords (reversed).



Here's the interpretation:

The Two of Swords (reversed) in this position suggests that letting down your guard, succumbing to curiosity or the will of another, or throwing caution to the wind and making an impetuous connection, may be your current response to the release of sexual tension or restriction; the breaking of a dating or relationship stand-off; an emotional or unofficial revelation, indiscretion, or self-incrimination, which, heretofore may have been blocking intimacy, trust, respect, or mutual understanding. Resistance is futile, and guarding or protecting your heart, reputation, cool or resolve in stubborn defiance of your own feelings, or in an effort to remain distant, punctilious, anonymous, or indifferent may not work once admissions are made, blinders are removed, or previous secrets, shyness, shame, embarrassment, curiosity, or hurt are recognized or overcome. There may be backlash, back-peddling, or reprisals for indulgent, unpredictable or reactive conduct, measures, discourse or emotional involvement, but you may be too close to the situation to view the matter or condition objectively; to listen to the voice of reason or see the truth.

In general, the Two of Swords suggests that you might have turned your back on your feelings, or are refusing to acknowledge some emotion, and as a result, you may be a little unstable right now.

It is asking you to choose, or reconcile yourself to your options, perhaps through contemplation or conflict resolution. Learn to trust your instincts or intuition in order to move forward, rather than stubbornly holding onto a point or position with blind faith or loyalty.

By the way, the cards illustrated are from my own personal Rider-Waite deck.