High Priestess

I was doing a reading for a woman recently and she placed the High Priestess in a crucial position in her spread and we were talking about it.  I always use/ recommend the Rider Waite Deck.  Looking at the card and she said to me, "What do the B and J on the columns mean?"  And I'm not sure if I ever knew,  but I definitely forgotten it by then, and I said I would research it for her.

So today,  reading a totally different blog,  nothing to do with Tarot,  I came across a description of the first Temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem,  and he had two huge pillars at the entrance,  with the letters B and J carved into them.   The Masons have taken these symbols and made them important to their traditions as well.  I never knew that!  

So the B and the J in the High Priestess refer to two names Boaz and Jachin,  implying Strength and Stability/Establishment.  The black and the white of the columns are the ying and yang,  always looking for balance,  always acknowledging a need for both energies,  masculine and feminine,  introvert and extrovert,  dark and light,  for true insight.  To only allow one energy is to be imbalanced, and an imbalanced view won't give you true insight.

It's such a dense and layered card!  Always happy to refresh myself about the intricacies of each individual card. 

April Fools

I often think about jokes and pranks and the subtle (or blatant) cruelty that can underlie them.  And because we say "it's a joke" it's hard for someone to say,  "I didn't find it funny,  I'm hurt." 

I feel that way about surprise parties too.  All day long it's your birthday and no one says anything to you and you start to feel bereft and neglected and then "Surprise" everyone is in the room.  But the feelings of sadness and neglect,  once raised,  are hard to pack away,  and then you have to juggle both joy at the party and that weird feeling you had all day. 

I'm really of the opinion that if the butt of the jokes isn't genuinely laughing,  then it's not a funny joke. Or that one person or group of people can say something,  but if a different person or group of people say the same thing,  it can be funny the first time, with trust and affection,  and not at all funny the second time,  where it can feel like ridicule and disrespect. 

Even sit coms, where we laughed in the 90's, can feel dated and awkward today. I also think we've gotten a lot better about this over the years,  and the casual brutal bullying of years gone by are not so acceptable now. 

Keeping it real

Sometimes things just interest you,  because of the time and effort other people put into it.  I'm not remotely high fashion.  Even making that statement,  makes me laugh,  as if I ever could be.  But I like looking at beautiful people in beautiful clothes, and why not.

So I look at Met Gala images or Oscar Night or other huge fashion events,  just to see what people are wearing.  And I came across the name Law Roach,  a fashion stylist who is the current zeitgeist.  I literally only knew his name,  nothing else.  

And then I came across this interview with him in The Cut,  and it's actually one of the most honest and interesting interviews about any industry,  that I've read.  It increased my respect for him a thousand fold.  I always say that tarot is a conversation,  where the most honest you are,  the more you get out of it.  And seeing this man be so blazingly honest in such a public venue,  letting himself be vulnerable and bold like that,  it's a rare pleasure.  So now that I know so much more about him,  I'm sorry he's leaving being a stylist but so happy that he is following his joy,  and I look forward to seeing what more he can bring to the world of fashion and creativity.  

I've been writing this blog for over 14 years

When I get a request from a new client,  I often direct them to my blog,  and when they book a reading,  I send them a link with the Celtic Cross, so they know how to lay out the cards.  This is the layout I always start with,  from which I do my cold reading,  where I don't know you or your story,  and just tell you what the cards tell me.

So I had a new client recently,  and sent her the link with the Celtic Cross and she said when we had our facetime reading,  she said,  wait,  this link is from 2012.  And I said,  well,  I wrote it a while ago,  but it's still accurate and,  no,  no,  she interrupted me.  I mean you've been writing about the tarot for over 11 years.  Well,  I replied,  I've been writing this blog since 2009,  but I've been reading cards for much longer than that.

You should tell people that! she almost yelled at me.  I mean,  you've been doing this forever!

I thought I had been telling people how long I've been reading the tarot and writing the blog,  but she thinks it's not obvious enough,  and she wants me to emphasize it more.  So here is a blog piece to be clear - I've been writing this blog for over 14 years and reading the cards for much longer than that.  

If you have any questions about various cards,  you can always type a word beside the B in the upper left corner,  (eg,  page of swords) and any blog pieces I've written about it will pop up,  so you can read further about it. 

I'm always encouraged when my clients want me to improve my marketing.  Really,  word of mouth is the best referral I have.  So far I've read for 3 of her friends.  If you would like me to read for you,  please contact me on liat@albanyconsult.com or text me on +61 477 433 555 and we'll set something up... 

Beauty

I had a reading a while ago for a young woman who was genuinely beautiful.  I don't mean sweet and nice,  but head turningly gorgeous.  Not an issue I've had to deal with in my own life.  But I could see,  while talking to her,  that it wasn't a total gift.  Of course,  certain things are easier,  when you are beautiful.  You are more memorable,  people give you advantages and gifts.  But people may also want things from you,  and you are not sure of their motives. And then,  people may fall in love with you... 

A very nice young man had strong feelings for her,  and she was feeling guilty because she didn't love him back. But I looked at her and said, you are not a doll on a shelf to be bought with the most love.  His feelings are his to deal with,  you don't have to reciprocate and you don't owe him anything other than a kind but firm no.  She looked at me surprised and then nodded,  sometimes she did feel like a doll that men yearned to own,  and it was hard to say no to what felt like genuine feelings on their part,  but weren't there on her side.   Just because some one offers you something, even if it something genuine,  you are not obligated to take it.  

Emotions are Energy

One of my regulars came to me and said since her last breakup (he was unfaithful multiple times,  she caught him by seeing his phone) she's just full of rage and doesn't know what to do about it.  I said that Anger is Energy,  she needs to find a way to dispel it. 

When I'm furious,  yoga doesn't work for me. All that controlled breathing and slow movement just makes me more agitated.  But a good long fast walk,  by the Hudson river, could work wonders. If you are feeling overwhelmed,  you need a way to displace that energy -  I find dancing gives me joy,  so a good zumba class,  can leave me smiling.  

Find some movement you love,  that makes you feel empowered,  then go do that.  I often suggest kick boxing to (younger,  fitter) women.  And I get lots of feedback that it helped.  Get sweaty,  move about,  and then the anger burns itself out.  Then jump to the beat,  give yourself some joy,  and let the happiness come back in. 

Moving on

A client I've known for years now came in to ask me which new job she should take,  she had three possible options and which one would be best...  

On the one hand I was delighted that she had real choices,  but I was also surprised.  A year ago when we had our last reading,  she'd really loved her work,  the actual job and the friendships she had in the office.

This 2022 was tough for many of us,  but hers had been especially so.  After a protracted and terrible illness,  her sister had died.   Today her father is very ill.  And her friendly, loving work had not even sent a sympathy card,  had not acknowledged her loss at all.  Then they hired another person,  who worked a the same level as she did,  for a much higher pay range.  When she had asked for parity,  they said no,  no negotiations,  just no.  

So she went to look for different work,  with hours that would allow her more time with her father.   The cards liked Job B (I never let you give me details,  just Job A, B or C and then let me tell you what the cards tell me,  so I'm not biased.) She's got her second interview with them soon and has high hopes.  It even pays significantly more.

But I was annoyed for her about her old/current job.  They had a happy, productive employee and if they had just reached out in a human way,  they could have kept her.  But because they didn't,  they are losing her. Sometimes I wish I could do readings for companies!  It would be so simple to correct,  but now they have to train someone new and lose all her institutional memories and knowledge.  It's just a waste.  

Still,  my client is happy and I hope to hear from her again and see how it went... 

All tarot cards from the lovely This Might Hurt deck