As you can see on past diaries, the goal is to find positive outcomes with “actionable intel” on how to get them. Here I use a different method than yer olde new agey stuff. I actually go to facade.com to read stuff. For many reasons, but the one I want to highlight is that my reading here is just for fun, motivation and food for thought
With that said, I’m actually pretty frazzled by the events in Portland. Today the courts sided with Trump goons and against Seattle, to allow tear gassing of people, plus reports from Portland are saying tonight things on the ground are much worse than the previous days.
The TL;DR for the entire thing is We will be victorious. We are going to science and lawyer the shit out of this crisis! But we need to stay together and not reject help even if it comes from powerful, fair but inflexible allies.
So going against what I recommend for beginners, I’m actually reading about something that I’m emotionally invested on. Is VERY hard to do it right, but I think I got a good reading so I’m posting it here. You and I will see how accurate it turns out to be.
So shall we see what’s at play ?
Spread: Celtic Cross
The Celtic Cross spread is one of the most popular Tarot spreads, providing varied insight into many aspects of a complex situation and your role in it.
Question: What factors will bring success to Dems in Portland ?
The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Ayida Wedo (Ace of Cups), when reversed: The seed of a destructive relationship or spiritual collapse. A missed opportunity for joy, contentment, fertility, or enlightenment. Failing to understand the emotional needs of those around you. May represent an unexpected message, a chance meeting, or the start of a friendship or romance.
This refers to us Democrats and how we failed to understand Republicans pain. The reading is merely pointing facts, not saying we did anything wrong : I’ll just say there’s academic work on how the red states were in such a bad shape they were dying at higher rates: The Epidemic of Despair Among White Americans: Trends in the Leading Causes of Premature Death, 1999–2015 Sure enough, Ace of Cups says We failed to understand suffering right in front of us, and missed opportunities due to that failure. Our relationship with the right is now very destructive and the roots are on our (Dems) inability grasp their needs. We did stuff but not in a way they noticed or appreciated. Obamacare, the payroll tax cuts, everything we did ? They never saw Dems as a source of it, or resent us for giving it to all in need, minorities included… Anyhow, those last 2 sentences are not in the cards, they are just IMHO so let’s move on
The card visible at the center of the cross represents the obstacle that stands in your way - Olofi (Two of Discs), when reversed: Imbalance and disharmony as a result of upheaval and transformation. Taking one step forward for every two steps back. Chaos caused by the shifting importance of projects and priorities. Industrious yet unreliable actions. Furious activity producing negligible results.
This is an obstacle to us. So it seems pretty straight forward the card relates to Trump’s rise to power and administration. Chaos, governing toward polls, upheaval, trying to transform the US into Pinochet’s Chile or Saudi Arabia… Industrious yet unreliable actions is IMHO the 12th century Tarot way to say we have had people in Trump’s admin working for 4 years, very hard, to do things we shouldn’t rely on. We shouldn’t rely because they were not done for our benefit, not with honor, justice and equality as a goal. Their goal was to get US into a Kingdom for Mad King Don. Luckily, like all they do, it was done lazily and incompetently for the most part so they ended up with negligible results. But results nonetheless. obstacle: Trump has the Federal machine stacked against us
The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Legba La Flambeau (Six of Wands): A sense of honor and satisfaction at the resolution of an important matter. Triumph after great struggle. Jubilation at the hearing of good news. The realization of hopes and desires.
After such unflattering card 1 and such a scary card 2 we get good news. Trump has been trying to have the Federal government work for him but Trump will still loose. We will have to put on a fight but we will win, with honor and we will rejoice (satisfaction)
The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Oya (Three of Discs), when reversed: Delays in the commencement of business, commercial transactions, or employment. Holding back or failing to use one's abilities to their full potential. Shoddy workmanship and lack of attention to detail. Being hamstrung by convention, or failing to temper artistic fancy with an understanding of reality.
Another one aimed at Trump and his ilk. Hamstrung by convention is the 12th century lingo for completely fucking disrespecting law and precedent, and getting caught on it. Shoddy workmanship? Barr might think he got the “make a Gestapo for free” card on his pocket but he is wrong. All Trumpers, including the more intelligent ones, are getting caught in wishful thinking and thinking they can just bully their way into occupying our cities but they are wrong. There are many flaws on the way they are assessing this situation because their ideology blinds them I’m betting legal reasoning and their estimation of how Americans will react to this attempt. People on Portland square won’t greet Trump’s forces as liberators and their contracts with Enterprise and the mercenary companies are flawed. Even the employment of this new forces is going to be shown illegal / flawed We just need to calm down and get some good minds in this, sez a card below
The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Rada Houngan (King of Swords), when reversed: The dark essence of air, such as a gray sky: A mature leader of unyielding ethics and absolute authority. An incorruptible judge, whose devotion to the letter of the law cannot be swayed by emotion, mercy, or exigent circumstances. Perfect clarity of thought, excessive use of force, and mastery of language as a tool for deception. One who, like a great tyrant, inspires not love or devotion, but fear, respect, and obedience.
This could be a Republican or the SCOTUS or the military or someone else. Whoever it is, it isn’t clearly in our favor but it has unyielding ethics, is incorruptible, has perfect clarity of thought and is a mature leader. Which means NOT TRUMP or anyone remotely connected to Trump. It is also someone / something powerful, forceful and respected. This leader will side with us/ help us. Because, fellow kogs, we are in the correct side of history and not trying to make up a new reality.
The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. Ogoun La Flambeau (Five of Wands), when reversed: Pointless struggles motivated by the vain pursuit of recognition, financial reward, or base desires. Disunity, chaos, and petty quarreling at a time of crisis. A stressful situation that brings out the worst in the participants.
This is for us we need to stay united. Put our pride on hold. And stay reality based. Accept help from Never-Trumpers. Sure we saw the failures of conservatism way before they did. So what ? Not the time to play the “I said it first” card. A GOP guy wants to speak in the convention ? Welcome him! Remember, the mature leader who will help us will not be entirely on our side. He will be neutral, rule-book bound. We will need all the help we can get to get this mature leader, which to me will be the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on our side. We might even have to go to Mad Dog Mattis and others to get the military on our side. To Sessions. They won’t help us for us, but some of them still respect the rule of law and their oath. We will need that kind of person on our side.
The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Magick Mirror (The Moon), when reversed: Clarity, control and peace in troublesome times. Increased psychic abilities. Temptations, small problems and minor setbacks overcome. The dawning of a new day.
We need to embrace peace, control and clarity. We need to be the voice for reality not ideology. With that we bring a new — good — day to US. We Dems will instinctively know the right thing to do, with strong intuition.
The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. Marie Laveau (The High Priestess): A pure, exalted and gracious influence. Education, knowledge, wisdom, and esoteric teachings. The forces of nature. Intuition, foresight, and spiritual revelation of the most mysterious and arcane sort.
Science and research here will win the day and we will be excellent at it. Reminds me a bit of the saying “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”. Trump’s team has been absolutely incapable to deal with COVID and to govern because their own ideology blinds them, “makes them mad”. We are just on the opposite side: The gods wish us victory so they are making us wise and giving us skills to face the crisis ahead. We are going to science the shit out of this crisis!
The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. Erzulie La Flambeau (Seven of Wands), when reversed: Failure to stand up for your beliefs in the face of a hostile majority. A self-fulfilling fear of failure or embarrassment. Great challenges met with cowardice. Quarrels, perplexity, and indecision at a crucial moment.
This is aimed at the DHS goons I think. They will be caught with pants down by our super skilled lawyers and will be shocked that their Survivalist Pr0n didn’t work. They will quarrel and discuss and vacillate at a crucial moment, losing the battle for the good optics.
The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Gros Bon Ange (The Sun): A time of contentment and freedom from restraints. Creative inspiration. Achievement, success, and warmth. Light and love in personal or business matters. Happiness and faithfulness in a relationship.
The Sun is one of the best outcome cards on the Tarot. And that is our outcome if we manage to stay united, calm, logic and reality based, doing our thing and welcoming help even when it comes from someone powerful that is not clearly an ally. But is fair. We will have the dawn of a new day, a sunny gorgeous day for America
So good news everyone. We will be victorious!
Disclaimers:
1 -this is just for fun. If you hate new age, skip this diary. If you are a Tarot purist skip this too, you will be horrified!
2 - Not a prediction: Although I have had some pretty accurate readings, I would never say I’m predicting or forecasting anything. As you can see on past diaries, what I can see is some pretty obvious undercurrents of factors that point to an end state. The end state / outcome is not by any means guaranteed to occur
3 - “Positive, actionable”: We need you positive and committed to fight for Democracy. I will not have dire predictions here, I will just highlight trouble spots. It takes a bit of practice to read positive outcomes with “actionable intel” on how to get them.
PS: Caution Even without all the new age stuff, Tarot isn’t easy. And has it’s risks The trance states needed for Tarot reading are not as benign or forgiving as meditating or mindfulness. Reading Tarot too often / without practice might mess up with your neuro-chemistry.. If you or anyone you know takes an SSRI, you know that stress can trigger an imbalance. Exhausting yourself in readings can do it too. Learn to identify when you are getting tired Take it easy. Do it for fun and self knowledge. Definitely do not ask a question more often than once a week and try not doing more than once a week PERIOD.
I’m giving you what works for me: press for positive outcomes and for a “factors, currents” reading. “How can I bring X to success? What factors will bring success to Dems in Portland ?” Use a method that “cuts” your own emotions from the reading. Like internet site instead of physically touching tarot cards. But you still run the risk of getting gibberish or of “angering the Gods” which will give you some pretty cranky readings. I Ching is even worse, it flat out sasses you about it. I can swear I can see a tiny Confucius scolding me and saying:
It is not I who seek the young fool; The young fool seeks me. At the first oracle I inform him. If he asks two or three times, it is importunity. If he importunes, I give him no information.
Tarot will do the same if you keep asking the same question over and over. It will stop giving you information and suggest you are being a pest. The doors will be closed for you until you rest properly so best give up when you reach this stage..
