Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

THE CARTOMANCER

Home
Pagan
WHEN THE OTHER IS SPOOKED BY REVERSALS

WHEN THE OTHER IS SPOOKED BY REVERSALS

Last updated on: May 12, 2019 at 1:45 pm by Camelia Elias

WHEN THE OTHER IS SPOOKED BY REVERSALS 2019-05-12T13:45:03+02:00 Camelia Elias

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Photo: Camelia Elias

I don’t read ‘reversals’, cards that are not upright, until I do.

On the rare occasion when I read ‘reversals’, I follow a simple rule. For example, if Justice is reversed, I still see this card in terms of its function, in terms of what Justice does, but there’s an added variation: The function is corrupt. Justice is still Justice, but she’s not doing her job right.

Of course, as I’m not in the habit of reading individual cards, assigning ‘reversed meanings’ to the cards, I never say anything of the sort, but the thinking of it informs my reading in context.

And it can get interesting.

Just a quick example today of a sharp reading that spooked the sitter on several planes.

The French Cross was on the table, and the cards reversed. Not my intention to read with them like this, but since the cards fell on their heads, I went with it. The question was general, about the current status quo, the sharp bits that act as blind spots and what to do about them.

Jean Noblet Marseille Tarot as reconstructed by Jean-Claude Flornoy (Photo: Camelia Elias)

I said to the man:

‘You’re the boss, but you’re wasting your time with keeping busy maintaining harmonious relationships. Your family is a thing of its own, quite the circus. You can’t rule there, even though you think you can. Any woman who betrayed you that you’re thinking of, and impacts on you?’

Gasp.

‘How did you know?’

‘Know what?’

‘About my wasted effort, yes, that’s how I feel, and the other woman?’

I just said the following:

‘I look at this Fool and know that your actions are informed by foolishness that you’re aware of. If you were a mere idiot it would be easier. But when you’re a fool and you know it, it’s harder.’

‘Well, what’s the solution?’

‘To stop. Don’t just pretend to walk away. Do it right. Walk away. Don’t waste your time with things ‘in the name of’. Society is not keen on transgressors, on Fools leaving the home, traveling and not giving a shit, but if a Fool you must be, then so be it. There’s internal harmony in it. Maintain that. You’re not responsible for the lives of others. You live yours, they live theirs. As for the eyes of the public on you, what do they give you? What do you get from maintaining an act? Approval? Approval of what? Respectability that you don’t have? You’re a Fool acting as Emperor. What an impressive con. Put it all down. As to the woman of the book, that’s another story. We’ll save her impact on you for later.’

Silence.

This is how a reading with the cards that’s based entirely on one question can turn into a series of serious questions that will have the other rolling on the floor. Suffering. ‘Please stop, say no more, I don’t want to hear this truth. It hurts. What can I do?’

‘You know already what you can do. Go and do it.’

And so it goes. A sharp reading is a reading that calibrates the precision that the other needs in their life. And that’s a beautiful thing.

♠

Stay in the loop for cartomantic courses. Next in line is Reading Like the Devil with the Marseille cards, the foundation course that sets a solid standard for how you get precise in your readings. Registration opens on May 26.

About Camelia Elias

Camelia Elias, PhD & Dr.Phil., is a former university professor. After 20 years in the academia, she left her career to pursue her interests in teaching and writing on the philosophy and practice of reading cards. She works with contemplative arts, oracular language, and martial arts cartomancy and Zen at her own school, Aradia Academy. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

May 2, 2019

LOVER'S HATRED

Next Post

May 19, 2019 LESS LIKE THE PRIESTESS AND MORE LIKE THE DEVIL

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Columns The Cartomancer Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2024 October 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who received a coat of many colors?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses David Jacob Joseph