The Serpent and the Tower
26/10/2012 09:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaIzzie is a bit of a tarot junkie. Not for fortune telling but for all the pretty pictures and particularly for story telling. This mystical serpent just loves the feast of images and symbols. There is also a method to this madness, a pattern behind the kaleidoscope of images as well as the inevitable iconoclastic streak.
A certain serpent associate treats the cards as Gospel from on high and any use of the cards not involving candles, incense, a darkened room and the appropriate amount of respect while in the presence of the Almighty is regarded as blasphemy most foul. She thinks it is appalling that Izzie uses these holy relics for tawdry purposes such as the telling of tall tales
She regularly goes for readings and swears by the uncanny accuracy of the cards. This curious serpent decided it might be time for a try too. Being rather well acquainted with the Devil’s picture book means that they do not have the mystery and magical powers that most muggles attribute to them. But they are much prettier and more potent than a bunch of slushy Rorschach blobs. A sort of Muggle Mirror of Erised one could say. Ten people can look at the same card and each will see something completely different but usually relevant to their own individual issues
So reserved this first visit for the auspicious day of Friday 13th. There were three of them to choose from this year. Chose the middle one where there were no immediate dramas on the horizon.
While the reading was reasonably accurate there was no outstanding issues. The reader who goes by the name of Rosie did pick up on work dramas looming on the horizon. She did say that a lack of major cards was a good sign. Things are sailing along smoothly on a reasonably even keel.
Was satisfied that Rosie knew her stuff. She did not do the Sybil Trelawney or Gypsy Rose thing. No gimmicks just a dowdy old lady reading the cards.
So when the latest drama started, this serpent figured that it would be fascinating to do another reading. There was only one card that summed up the drama of the last three months. It was the ultimate archetype. And this serpent was so curious to see if it would make an appearance.
Rosie has her little tent on Thursdays to Saturdays at the Mad Hatter markets in Kings Square. Arrived last Friday just as she was packing up to go home so made it our business to get there a lot earlier today
She says that it is surprising how few people come for readings about their love lives. She does not entertain questions concerning “When will Mr Right turn up in my life” or “What are next week’s lotto numbers” “I don’t do fortune telling” she tells them. She is more into insight and guidance
She says that most of the people who come to her these days work in the mining industry and many are overstressed and overworked simply looking for advice and inspiration. A good number are foreigners usually from England, Ireland or Poland. Tarot is not a big thing amongst the Australians and most of those probably go for the phone lines or the bling artists at the assorted psychic fairs
She vaguely remembered this serpent’s last visit mainly concerning possible conflict at work. Did not reveal too much as the Izzie wanted the cards to do that. Went through the procedure of shuffling, making three stacks and then the serpent doing the same thing and choosing just one of the three. She just dealt the cards from the top of this stack
This time it was not a Celtic Cross layout but something more simple. A sort of mountain or inverted V consisting of seven cards with three on each side and one at the peak. She did not specify what each position signified only that in general the left side was the past, the right the future and the peak being the turning point
Izzie was looking at this array not needing any card shark or seer to reveal its significance. There were not one but four out of the seven cards that were majors. And the tower was there in all its glory on the left side just before the turning point. That honour went to the Ace of Swords. On the downhill path was Temperance followed by the Empress and Strength being the last of the seven
She asked if I had finally decided to speak up about the problems at work. Replied that it was precisely the habit of speaking out instead of remaining in grovelling blind obedience that had caused the conflict in the first place. Apparently the seven of wands which was the first card of the seven at the base of the mountain represented defensiveness or a determination to stand one’s ground against the odds
Referring to the ace of swords she asked if I had decided to leave. Well yes that is technically correct but I actually got pushed. The next card she paid attention to was Temperance. She said that the serpent health was in a seriously unbalanced state not just physically but especially emotionally and spiritually. Well that would follow logically from the recent drama but it was the next revelation that most impressed the Izzie
The empress represents creativity. You possibly have several creative projects planned in the near future which will help you to restore your health and get over the drama of recent events.
Izzie revealed that the near future was next Thursday to be precise and told her about the whole 50,000 word novel in 30 days challenge. She was intrigued and amused especially when the Izzie added that the work place drama would be the major source of inspiration for this creative project
That is where the lady and the lion made their appearance. “Let it rip” she says. “Don’t hold anything back”
Get it all out of your head and onto the page. Then with all those turbulent emotions out of the way you can then return to your former state of equinamity. She added that it might be a good idea to take several weeks off to concentrate on this project in order to get it all out of the system before moving on with the rest of life
She asked if the boss was a female and added that she is most likely represented by the Queen of Wands which is the card that is the cause of the tower toppling.
She did not actually spend too much time talking about the Tower preferring to spend time with the Empress and Temperance cards. Guessing that must be the ‘accentuate the positive’ angle that most tarot readers take when it comes to dealing with major dramas.
She said that she could do a more detailed reading if we wanted but this had most likely already revealed the most important elements of the current problems as well as the best possible solutions
It is certainly crazy that a serpent who does not know where her next source of silver sickles will come from nor when would spend some of this precious stash on such decadent indulgence
But this visit was worth every single cent of the $30 and will be most definitely writing a thank you card in emerald ink. This little chat had transformed the serpent from neurotic to calm, cool and collected. November is going to be so much fun. And there’s a whole bunch of pretty pissed off house elves who want revenge on the old toad. At this stage she has more than seven heads on silver platters in her tawdry collection of trophies. A pretty impressive haul after being there only 14 months.
But what this serpent really wants to know is how that tower managed to sneak itself into the selection of seven cards. Guessing it’s a ten percent chance. Not exactly lotto odds but not completely insignificant either
The Tower does not appear in any of the 88 cards drawn for this year’s nanowrimo adventure. Maybe there should be a chance for a guest appearance. Chapter 16 might be the perfect place to put it. It would make a wonderful location for an extraordinary general meeting of the Megatherion board of directors. Lock them all in there and nuke it to smithereens. After all, the only good goblin is a dead one.
A certain serpent associate treats the cards as Gospel from on high and any use of the cards not involving candles, incense, a darkened room and the appropriate amount of respect while in the presence of the Almighty is regarded as blasphemy most foul. She thinks it is appalling that Izzie uses these holy relics for tawdry purposes such as the telling of tall tales
She regularly goes for readings and swears by the uncanny accuracy of the cards. This curious serpent decided it might be time for a try too. Being rather well acquainted with the Devil’s picture book means that they do not have the mystery and magical powers that most muggles attribute to them. But they are much prettier and more potent than a bunch of slushy Rorschach blobs. A sort of Muggle Mirror of Erised one could say. Ten people can look at the same card and each will see something completely different but usually relevant to their own individual issues
So reserved this first visit for the auspicious day of Friday 13th. There were three of them to choose from this year. Chose the middle one where there were no immediate dramas on the horizon.
While the reading was reasonably accurate there was no outstanding issues. The reader who goes by the name of Rosie did pick up on work dramas looming on the horizon. She did say that a lack of major cards was a good sign. Things are sailing along smoothly on a reasonably even keel.
Was satisfied that Rosie knew her stuff. She did not do the Sybil Trelawney or Gypsy Rose thing. No gimmicks just a dowdy old lady reading the cards.
So when the latest drama started, this serpent figured that it would be fascinating to do another reading. There was only one card that summed up the drama of the last three months. It was the ultimate archetype. And this serpent was so curious to see if it would make an appearance.
Rosie has her little tent on Thursdays to Saturdays at the Mad Hatter markets in Kings Square. Arrived last Friday just as she was packing up to go home so made it our business to get there a lot earlier today
She says that it is surprising how few people come for readings about their love lives. She does not entertain questions concerning “When will Mr Right turn up in my life” or “What are next week’s lotto numbers” “I don’t do fortune telling” she tells them. She is more into insight and guidance
She says that most of the people who come to her these days work in the mining industry and many are overstressed and overworked simply looking for advice and inspiration. A good number are foreigners usually from England, Ireland or Poland. Tarot is not a big thing amongst the Australians and most of those probably go for the phone lines or the bling artists at the assorted psychic fairs
She vaguely remembered this serpent’s last visit mainly concerning possible conflict at work. Did not reveal too much as the Izzie wanted the cards to do that. Went through the procedure of shuffling, making three stacks and then the serpent doing the same thing and choosing just one of the three. She just dealt the cards from the top of this stack
This time it was not a Celtic Cross layout but something more simple. A sort of mountain or inverted V consisting of seven cards with three on each side and one at the peak. She did not specify what each position signified only that in general the left side was the past, the right the future and the peak being the turning point
Izzie was looking at this array not needing any card shark or seer to reveal its significance. There were not one but four out of the seven cards that were majors. And the tower was there in all its glory on the left side just before the turning point. That honour went to the Ace of Swords. On the downhill path was Temperance followed by the Empress and Strength being the last of the seven
She asked if I had finally decided to speak up about the problems at work. Replied that it was precisely the habit of speaking out instead of remaining in grovelling blind obedience that had caused the conflict in the first place. Apparently the seven of wands which was the first card of the seven at the base of the mountain represented defensiveness or a determination to stand one’s ground against the odds
Referring to the ace of swords she asked if I had decided to leave. Well yes that is technically correct but I actually got pushed. The next card she paid attention to was Temperance. She said that the serpent health was in a seriously unbalanced state not just physically but especially emotionally and spiritually. Well that would follow logically from the recent drama but it was the next revelation that most impressed the Izzie
The empress represents creativity. You possibly have several creative projects planned in the near future which will help you to restore your health and get over the drama of recent events.
Izzie revealed that the near future was next Thursday to be precise and told her about the whole 50,000 word novel in 30 days challenge. She was intrigued and amused especially when the Izzie added that the work place drama would be the major source of inspiration for this creative project
That is where the lady and the lion made their appearance. “Let it rip” she says. “Don’t hold anything back”
Get it all out of your head and onto the page. Then with all those turbulent emotions out of the way you can then return to your former state of equinamity. She added that it might be a good idea to take several weeks off to concentrate on this project in order to get it all out of the system before moving on with the rest of life
She asked if the boss was a female and added that she is most likely represented by the Queen of Wands which is the card that is the cause of the tower toppling.
She did not actually spend too much time talking about the Tower preferring to spend time with the Empress and Temperance cards. Guessing that must be the ‘accentuate the positive’ angle that most tarot readers take when it comes to dealing with major dramas.
She said that she could do a more detailed reading if we wanted but this had most likely already revealed the most important elements of the current problems as well as the best possible solutions
It is certainly crazy that a serpent who does not know where her next source of silver sickles will come from nor when would spend some of this precious stash on such decadent indulgence
But this visit was worth every single cent of the $30 and will be most definitely writing a thank you card in emerald ink. This little chat had transformed the serpent from neurotic to calm, cool and collected. November is going to be so much fun. And there’s a whole bunch of pretty pissed off house elves who want revenge on the old toad. At this stage she has more than seven heads on silver platters in her tawdry collection of trophies. A pretty impressive haul after being there only 14 months.
But what this serpent really wants to know is how that tower managed to sneak itself into the selection of seven cards. Guessing it’s a ten percent chance. Not exactly lotto odds but not completely insignificant either
The Tower does not appear in any of the 88 cards drawn for this year’s nanowrimo adventure. Maybe there should be a chance for a guest appearance. Chapter 16 might be the perfect place to put it. It would make a wonderful location for an extraordinary general meeting of the Megatherion board of directors. Lock them all in there and nuke it to smithereens. After all, the only good goblin is a dead one.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-27 09:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-27 03:31 pm (UTC)For this very reason tried to reveal as little as possible about the situation so Rosie could not pick up on the signals
The other cards turned out to be useful and inspiring but they were not the main event by any means.
As the Izzie was the last one to shuffle and divide the deck and then chose the middle stack, it would have requred a good bit of talent to stack the deck especially then not giving special attention to the Tower and its significance
The rest were irrelevant. This is the one that just had to make an appearance. Made a special effort to get a reading in the middle of the drama for this very reason