View Full Version : Magical Mermaids: Self-Employment
How would you read this card for people who are very poorly educated, homeless, mentally ill, recovering from an addiction or trauma, in transition, the elderly or just otherwise incapable of self-employment in a traditional way in the near future and maybe ever?
The unadapted reading, just from the book, would be upsetting for many of them, especially people who had businesses or certain kinds of careers in the past, that they have little chance of returning to. I know there are art programs to help people create and sell art. Maybe the focus could be turned towards recovery and turning part of the recovery process into not rushing into a low paying job, but taking the time to nurture and self-discover enough that such a dream would be possible...but I'm not sure that would be good advice.
I'm not quite sure how to read this card for some of the people I know.
So far I'm mostly using my cards for me and really hate letting the energy of others anywhere near my cards, but I use them so much and leave them spread out, and others want to be included in what I'm doing and receiving so much healing from. I picked this card yesterday and was able to apply it to my life by adapting it a bit...but it made me think about reading for others.
Maybe just focus on that all of us have opportunities, sometimes small and unconventional to earn money through self-employment, even if just selling "rollies" (hand rolled cigarettes), for a small profit, to peers that are too lazy to roll them themselves or don't have enough money for a whole bag of tobacco.
My mind is getting a little clearer as I write, but any advice would be helpful.
(Disclaimer: I don't know the card/oracle in question, so I'm strictly going from what you've said about it. My ideas are meant as an addition to what you already came up with yourself, not as a contradiction to your take on the card.)
I'd take the card a bit less literally. My thought process would probably go something like this: self-employment = being one's own boss = making the rules for oneself instead of being "ruled" by someone else but also taking on the responsibilities that come with that kind of independence...
It wouldn't necessarily be about work/earning money at all, but it could also say something about one's role in a relationship, or one's attitude to a problem, or whatever.
Hope this is useful! :)
Thanks :-)
I had started to think maybe something like that would be in the book, but it wasn't and then I lost the thought while immersed in really heavy talk of self-employment in it's traditional sense. That vague thought did not return after reading the book.
I really appreciate the insight. If the querant doesn't see the book and just the card, that will work and be quite helpful. I'm going to copy some of your post word for word in my booklet.
lightbug
23-03-2009, 15:37
I find that true of MOST oracles/cards - even the great ones: at some point you have to use your own intuition (or at least your creative mind) to see how a card suits the querent. Not every "book" meaning will be universally applicable nor should it be. Sometimes the non-literal approach is the right approach.
:)
Hunter, could you post a copy of the card? If you don't mind posting the card I would be happy to take a look and give it a stab.
I often find myself ignoring key-words and really looking at a given image for the message it is meant to give. What I have found real helpful when studying a card or puzzled by one in a spread is to do the following while looking at the image (exercises from the Faries Oracle book):
1) Describe the image literally - what do I see?
2) What emotions does the image evoke in me?
3) What would be physical manifestation of this card?
4) What are the mental characteristics of the card?
5) What are the spiritual characteristics of the card?
6) What do I find most appealing about the card and why?
7) What do I find least appealing about the card and why?
After jotting down my answers for that, I then sit down and write what the card means to me once I have processed all those separate aspects. I have found this to be really helpful, particularly when dealing with cards that just do not seem to make sense in the spread. Hope this helps you.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu219/hunter734/scan0001.jpg
I got the card again last night. I'm too braindead today to do the exercises, but I will do them soon. If I don't figure out a card and just brush it off with a vague meaning, it just keeps coming back to haunt me.
I don't find this to be a pretty card, so will do what I must to be able to enjoy prettier pictures :-) It was interesting that it came up last night with judgement and lovers (RWS both reversed) which both look similar. Judgement was right under it, blowing it's horn at it.
Hunter, for now as you try to just explore the card ignore the title and writting on it. Focus on the image only. I agree with you that this card really would not work well in the situations you described, I would like you suggested focus on self-empowerment vs. self-employment in this situation. That is one of the things I dislike about decks with key words that are so narrow.
Narrow keywords can be so nice when they hit, but frustrating when they don't. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by so many choices of interpretation and other times so thankful.
I really like the possible alternate keyword of self-empowerment for this card! Thanks! It's a perfect fit, and one I'm sure not to forget.
People are really drawn to this deck, especially those in crisis. Just looking at the pictures calms them. Many people who are scared of my Tarot cards have a totally different reaction to these cards.
Water is amazingly comforting. It's funny that this is the only Dorian deck that the major bookstores don't keep in stock :-0 I'd love to see this deck combined in a reading with the Mermaid Tarot.
You can also combine it with Healing with Faeries ... mermaids in a sense are faeries of a sort.
Personally I am not big on Doreen's decks because of the limiting key words. I like the pictures so I keep them for that, but I don't really use them. Another deck I have found very comforting is Gentle Wisdom of the Faeries, you should check it out. It would probably also get nice reactions from people in crisis.
fairies and angels just don't do anything for me. I'm not sure why. The mermaids are different for me because I had a very water based childhood and I have a friend that...well...was a "little" manic when we met and thought I might be a mermaid :-) She bought me the deck because she thinks the worthiness card looks like me and I pick it constantly along with protection. The deck is very special to me because it comes from her and I pick her favorite cards so often.
I pick one or two mermaid cards a day and put them beside the base card of my RWS spread and use them as my cheerleaders.
People in crisis do love angels and fairies! Many Christians only feel comfortable with angel oracles. I'm really, really, really TRYING to keep my deck collection small, so won't be buying any fairy or angel decks any time soon. I wouldn't be surprised if I get gifted one though. Friends are starting to gift me decks and the collection is growing. I've got some pretty odd looking spreads going lately, combining the decks :-)
Today the Page of Wands is flanked by the 2 mermaids, Yes and Pay Attention. It's funny because they all have flowing hair. It's interesting to see similarities like that between 2 such dissimilar decks. They make me look at the RWS base card in a way I never would otherwise.
I am picking this card almost every day. It always makes sense as "Be your own boss", but I cannot help but laughingly think the cards might be saying "Go start a business Dummy! How much clearer can we make it!" :-)
Here it is, even in my "What do I need to know about anger?" spread, along with the "yes" card that I read as "trust your intuition" which is written at the bottom of the card.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu219/hunter734/Tarot/Photo_040209_001.jpg
I usually pick 2 cards a day for the past 3 or 4 weeks and just keep picking mostly Yes, Self-employment, protection and worthiness.
If it were my deck I'd cut those bottom keywords off, they are way to specific for readings. Without those I might think:
Free to be me
Square peg and loving it
Work/think outside the box
even something as mundane as take a different route to work
Make your position as an employee secondary to your real day...
Create a secondary side income
Birds fly Fish swim, identify your talents or strong points
That mermaid in the self-employment card is shaking lots of pearls out of the oyster. Perhaps it is saying that there are pearls to be found in the situation (in your anger, or whatever the reading is about) and they have to do with valuing yourself and being your own boss by thinking for yourself. Anger can be related to autonomy and the need to be independant, right?
I'm always torn about keywords because sometimes they tell me things I need to hear and wouldn't come up with for myself but sometimes it is hard to interpret the image in a less literal way with the keyword staring you in the face. Especially if you are reading for someone else and they look at the keywords and say "but the cards say xyz!"
Myrrha, ooh! I really like that about the pearls! Thanks!
AJ, scribbling notes in my book. Thanks! :-)
You're welcome. Images like this are so wonderful. Now i want this deck!
I just got the card again yesterday :-) I have become an obsessive shuffler, and still pick the same cards over and over.
There are many artists for this one deck. I like some of the artists better than others. This is NOT my favorite card artistically, but it's starting to grow on me, from familiarity.
This deck and the Way of the Horse deck add something to my daily tarot readings that is quite significant. I sometimes forget to look for repeating symbols in the tarot cards and the MM cards, which is a real mistake, because there are often repeating symbols and relevance to the direction and placement of cards, too.
I usually turn over my RWS significator and then the MM cards, before moving on to any others. I'm not sure why. They are linked in my mind.
I go through periods of trying out different spreads leaving out certain decks. I never skip my MM deck. "The Cheerleaders" need to be there!
I started out thinking of this deck as fluff, but don't anymore. It seriously adds real depth to my readings, especially when I concentrate on repeating symbols.
TheArchangelsBoy
19-04-2009, 23:51
I think there is a clear message coming through if the cards or type of cards continually re-appear.
What was your question about when you were shuffling the cards?