Spring and Summer 2010 Tarot and Rune Reading

What does the Spring and Summer have in store for me?

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. The Cat People Tarot paints a picture of faraway lands trod by mystical archetypes and their feline companions. This deck is a perfect tool for dreamers and idealists, and is a great choice for divining the nature of human imagination.

The card not shown but at the center of the cross, represents the atmosphere surrounding the central issue. Four of Cups (Luxury), when reversed: New possibilities. New relationships. New approaches to old problems. New acquaintance. New knowledge.
The card visible at the center of the cross represents the obstacle that stands in your way - it may even be something that sounds good but is not actually to your benefit. Three of Swords (Sorrow): Absence. Disappointment. Strife. Removal. Dispersion. Diversion. Opposition. Separation. Delay.

The card at the top of the cross represents your goal, or the best you can achieve without a dramatic change of priorities. Nine of Cups (Happiness), when reversed: Mistakes. Material loss. Imperfections. Misplaced truth. False freedom. Opposition. Differences. Dispute.
The card at the bottom of the cross represents the foundation on which the situation is based. Ten of Pentacles (Wealth), when reversed: Poor risk. Bad odds. Possible loss. Hazard. Robbery. Loss of inheritance. Dissipation. Gambling.
The card at the left of the cross represents a passing influence or something to be released. Page of Pentacles, when reversed: An unrealistic person. Failure to recognize obvious facts. Dissipation of ideas. Illogical thinking. Rebelliousness. Wastefulness. Loss. Unfavorable news.

The card at the right of the cross represents an approaching influence or something to be embraced. Ten of Swords (Ruin), when reversed: Benefit. Profit. Temporary gain. Improvement. Passing success. Momentary advantage. Temporary favor.
The card at the base of the staff represents your role or attitude. The High Priestess: Wisdom. Sound judgment. Knowledge. Learning. Serenity. Objectivity. Penetration. Education. Foresight. Intuition. Perception. Hidden emotion. Purity. Virtue. Apparent emotionlessness. Lack of patience. Platonic relationships. Teacher.
The card second from the bottom of the staff represents your environment and the people you are interacting with. The Sun: Satisfaction. Accomplishment. Contentment. Success. Favorable social relationships. Love. Joy. Devotion. Unselfish sentiment. Engagement. A happy marriage. Earthly happiness. The contentment derived from extending oneself toward another human being. A good friend. High spirits. Warmth. Sincerity. The rewards of a new friendship. Pleasure derived from simple things. Liberation.

The card second from the top of the staff represents your hopes, fears, or an unexpected element that will come into play. Knight of Wands: Departure. A journey. Advancement into the unknown. Alteration. Flight. Absence. Change of residence.
The card at the top of the staff represents the ultimate outcome should you continue on this course. Four of Wands (Completion), when reversed: Loss of full tranquility. Unfulfilled romance. Insecurity. Tarnished beauty. Incomplete happiness.

The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.

The left rune represents an important element of the past. Hagalaz is the rune of hail. Hail is a destructive and elemental force, so one can expect this rune to represent the disruption of one's life. In the harsh northern winter there is a halt to activity, and so delay or hindrance is frequently associated with this rune. The opposite of chaos is yet more chaos, as illustrated by the fact that this rune cannot be reversed.

The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Ansuz is the spoken word of God. This rune is reversed, indicating that you are misunderstanding the divine voice or failing to hear it all. The word is always correct, so you must strive, whatever the difficulty, to hear correctly. Be wary of the advice you are given, for it may prove incorrect. Do not attribute infallibility to fallible sources...

The top rune represents a force that works for you. Uruz is the name of the Auroch, an extinct prehistoric ox. This animal was strong and brave, and was the focus of rites of manhood in older days. Reversed, this rune symbolizes either the lack of challenge, or the lack of preparation for a challenge. This rune suggests that you must reach deep within in order to gain the power you will need, whether to get out of your current rut, or to face what appears to be a hopeless situation.

The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Ehwaz is the rune of the eight-legged horse that the god Odin rode into battle. Horses are symbolic of a number of things. Firstly, horses may symbolize vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, planes, or boats. Secondly, horses may symbolize not wealth, but status. Thirdly, horses may symbolize motion towards an objective. As such, this rune suggests a journey or a quest to achieve a goal or improve one's station in life. On a deeper level, the rune Ehwaz evokes the unique relationship of horse and rider as an inseparable team. To the modern eye this may be the relationship of master and underling, but to the Norse it was a total union. In fact, early representations of Odin are not of a man and a horse, but, of a centaur-like creature - the ultimate symbiosis of Man and Nature.

The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Gebo means gift, and like many gifts, the rune may be understood on many levels. Gifts are generally positive things, for both the giver and the recipient. In many cultures however, gifts and favors carry with them an obligation to respond in kind. It is for this reason that gifts, and hence the rune Gebo, are frequently symbolic of friendships, marriages, alliances, mergers, and other bonds between people or organizations. Gebo is a strong rune and the unions represented are strong as well. Moreover, Gebo is not reversible, as true friendships are not easily undone.