Spreads #4: New Year's FIELD TEST! (aka: Calendar Spread)

[Thirteen]

Yes, that's right time for a TEST! Here's what you'll need:

1) Tarot Deck, ready to travel.
Pick one small enough to carry around with you--if you have a wide range of choices, pick one with images that symbolize to you the start of a new year. Make sure your deck is safely bagged, wrapped in a scarf or boxed for travel purposes.

2) A small notebook and pen
So you can jot down the spreads you get and tell us what happened! Just write down the spread--quickly and in short-hand (like 1 = hps for Card #1 is High Priestess), you'll remember what you said when you see it again.

Sometime between now and January 3rd, take your cards with you to a gathering or party or lunch or just to visit a friend and do the following spread for, yes, a real, live person--warning, if you do this at a party, in full view of all party goers, others may ask you to do them as well :)

This is a Calendar spread. It's very easy to lay out, and should be done for a person's Birthday or for someone's cultural New Year (Next month we'll be having the Chinese New Year, for example). Do this spread for a least one person, and yourself as well, as it's a spread that may be easier to read for yourself than some.

You lay out the cards bottom to top, RIGHT to left. So they look like this:

.....13.....
...12.11....
..10.9.8.7..
6.5.4.3.2.1.

Each card, surprise surprise, stands for a month. And the easy thing here is that as you will start with January, the numbering follows the calendar year exactly. #1 is January, #2 Feb, #3 March, etc. So you get an idea of what each month in the year ahead will be like.

#13 is an overview of the year as a whole. So if you got, say, The Fool, you'd say, "On the whole, this is going to be a year of new beginnings." Or something like that. Of course, as you read up from 1-13, you'll get an idea of the year 13 is summing up--and vice versa. If, for example, the other twelve cards indicate certain problems, 7 of swords (deception), 5 of swords (loss in fights), the Tower (lies coming down), etc, then the Fool at the top more likely indicates a year of being too optimistic, too foolish, naive. And you might warn the person to be more on their guard, more savvy.

If, on the other hand, the other cards are things like the Chariot, 8 of cups, Page of Wands, then the Fool card at the top likely indicates a year of travel, of packing up and going new places.

Likewise, the card at the top can help you if you're unsure about the meaning of one of the 12 cards below. If you have an 8 of cups for, say, April, and there is a Fool card at the top, then you might read that 8 of Cups as a literal move in April. You might say, "In April, you will end your old life, and follow a new dream; others will see it as foolish, but it's worth going for."

But if the card at the top is The Moon, then you might tell the person that in April, they're going to be lured away from family by a powerful illusion, or an almost irresistable, addictive desire. That they should be very careful that what they're going after is real and not a kind of maddness. It might lead to poetry and painting, but it could also be emotionally damaging.

You get the idea.

Don't forget to shuffle and cleanse the deck before laying your cards out. Especially for this spread, you want your deck very clear and ready to go each time you do this spread. And for this Field test, I'm laying down the law just to make things easy on you. No matter how people plead and ask, do only *THIS* spread.

First, because we don't want you spending your New Year's eve/day party doing tarot readings, second, because this spread should be particularly powerful right now. No need to confuse or weaken it by doing others.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures out in the Field! HAVE FUN! And a very, very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[bec]

hehe Thirteen, this is so funny, I did this spread for my mother in the holiday´s, she wanted a year spread - I can´t remember the cards, but they did make perfect sence to her and did also follow what she knew was going to happen during the year. It´s a great spread.

[Thirteen]

bec (28 Dec, 2001 08:14):
hehe Thirteen, this is so funny, I did this spread for my mother in the holiday´s, she wanted a year spread - I can´t remember the cards, but they did make perfect sence to her and did also follow what she knew was going to happen during the year. It´s a great spread.

Don't think this gets you out of doing your homework, young lady! Reading for your mother doesn' count ;)

An addendum to the spread by the way. If you're doing it for someone's birthday, make sure you do the reading near the beginning or end of the month. If near the beginning, then #1 is that month (so if you do it on the 6th of July, #1 is July), if at the end--say July 28th--then #1 is the next month--August.

Don't do this spread in the middle of the month. You can see why that'd be a waste :)

[fairyhedgehog]

Okay, Thirteen, here's the thing:

I don't do readings for other people because they all disapprove of Tarot.

And I don't personally believe that Tarot cards tell the future, but that they are a way of examining the present.

So why am I even bothering to post in this thread? I think I want to be convinced :)

All the best,

FH

[Thirteen]

fairyhedgehog (29 Dec, 2001 05:28):
Okay, Thirteen, here's the thing:

I don't do readings for other people because they all disapprove of Tarot.

And I don't personally believe that Tarot cards tell the future, but that they are a way of examining the present.

The future comes out of the present :)

Think of it this way--forget whether the cards can tell the future. You don't know if they will or won't, not until you say it and, 6 months from now, it happens. All you can ever say with Tarot cards is what you see in them. But if you only read for yourself it's like looking in a mirror, you only see yourself.

Reading for another is a way of seeing others. And it's a way of getting them to see YOU.

If you really can't read for friends (are they really such good friends if they ALL disapprove?), time to go out and read for a complete stranger. Go to a coffeehouse and lay out the cards, someone will ask you to read for them.

Why do this? Because it's time you got some validation for being a tarot reader rather than dissapproval! This is something you do--it's fun, creative, and, one hopes, it energizes you and gives you insights into yourself and the world. If everyone you know condemns it, so much so that you can't bring it out into the open, then they are, in a way, condeming you, or at least a part of you.

That's not right. So find someone to read for who wants a reading. See how you do in *seeing* them by way of your cards. And, hopefully, they will appreciate and thank you for it--and see a side of YOU that no one else gets to see.

And maybe this will give you a new perspective on what you do, a feeling of confidence, pride, and joy in it--instead of feeling that you're doing something strange or abnormal or silly or wrong.

It's none of those things. It is what it is. No more abnormal than prayer or lighting candles or playing the stock market or watching a game where men kick a ball around with their feet or getting passionately involved in the lives of t.v. characters who were never real and never will be. It's as serious or light as you want it to be, as real or unreal as you make it.

[fairyhedgehog]

Thanks, Thirteen :)

I'm stuck indoors with a heavy cold at the moment (and feeling very sorry for myself), but I promise I'll at least consider it when I'm up and about again. I'm already thinking about who and how, but I don't give my word to do something lightly, so I won't say more than I'll think about it at the moment.

What you said about being disapproved of certainly struck home. (Everything you said struck home, in fact :) ) So thanks :)

All the best,

FH

[bec]

Awwww that sucks Thirteen :( me mom being the only cool person around wanting this done ................

Ahh well, I guess I can talk some one into it.

I´m not sure how to understand this one though:

2) A small notebook and pen
So you can jot down the spreads you get and tell us what happened! Just write down the spread--quickly and in short-hand (like 1 = hps for Card #1 is High Priestess), you'll remember what you said when you see it again.

?????????

Am I supposed to show you my reading of it ??? or could I just say " done " ;D Just kidding, I´ll do the exercise alright, but not sure on wehter you want the reading written inhere like we did with the others. ( we??? only seen one reading in the starlight up so far - guess people take time off from the boards :) )

[Kaz]

I am still waiting for a reading to wrap up, tried it on your moving-thing(1st house) bec, but somehow the deck told me to get lost and use the cards I had so far. So no clarification there :-(
Anybody having a reading for me that needs wrapping up?

Tomorrow I will get one of my collegues to do the newyear spread on. I just grab one that is slightly curious :-).

Kaz

[Thirteen]

bec

2) not sure on wehter you want the reading written inhere like we did with the others.

Yes! The only reason I added the pen and paper was so that there are so many thing going on, you're not likely to do it and rush back to the computer. So you do it, jot it down, and then later, you post it here. The notebook just a way to remember--in case you drink a little too much at a party afterwards and your memory is shot :)

[Kaz]

I need a second victim, cos I gave the paper with the cards on it to my victim and forgot to write it down for myself.
I'll grab an other collegue tomorrow then........

Kaz

[Thirteen]

Kaz (04 Jan, 2002 00:37):
I need a second victim, cos I gave the paper with the cards on it to my victim and forgot to write it down for myself.
I'll grab an other collegue tomorrow then........

Kaz

And here I thought my paper and pen plan so very clever. Foiled again! ;)

[bec]

First of all -Kaz - that is funny isn´t it, your cards telling you to back off when it comes to read me - I´m in bl**dy Denmark and MY cards are saying the exact same thing !!! I can´t even do a simpel b-day spread on me self - and I really do believe it´s because you´re doing these readings on me !!!!!
´Kind of cool really :) wonder how long it will last before I can do readings for my self again (?)

Second - Thirteen - you are really giving me a hard time here !! I know ONE person irl that wants readings done besides my sweet mother, and that person I´m not gonna see for another week :( What´s a girl gotta do eh .........

Poor poor hubby, reluctantly he has agreed to be my ginea-pig if I promissed to be quick about it - *see bec rush in to get her deck, spill out 13 cards, get a quick over view* "well you´re gonna have a fine year overall" hubby giving an ever interestet response "oh goodie, now can I take apart this harddisk ??"

I made a half way compromise, he is now taring the poor harddisk to pieces while I tell him about his ever so glorious future - hehe. And that´s truely the best I can come up with.

Deck: Waite'
Cards:
#13: the wheel of fortune
#1: 7 of cups
#2: 8 of wands
#3: queen of swords rev.
#4: page of wands rev.
#5: page of cups rev.
#6: 9 of cups rev.
#7: 7 of wnads rev.
#8: 10 of cups rev.
#9: 6 of swords
#10: the hanged man rev.
#11: 2 of pentacles
#12: 4 of pentacles rev.

ok.

[bec]

#13 wheel of fortune telling about the year in whole. This is about finding the right place, the spot where you belong - it´s important in life else you´ll fall of while the wheels are turning. The elements are all present, the guardian making sure that everything fits. There´s dark sides and bright sides, there are changes coming your way - this is the year to truely settle in.

8 out 12 cards are reversed. Not only is this the year to get settled, it includes new ways, methods, directions you have no experience in, it´s a new way of life you´re heading for. This is a year that will turn every thing you know up side down.

January: You have many wishes for the future, many places you wanna be. This is the month to determine which things you wanna fill your life with, what directions to head for, set the goals for what it is you wanna reach.

February: Things are happening fast - this is the month where you´ll have lots to do. It´s important to pay attention to each thing individually so they don´t clash with the others - they travel along a very fine line.

Marts: A month for making decisions and negociations. Remember to stay cool, you may have the tendency to get emotional during this, but that´s no good. Keep a cool head and a sharp mind. Pay attention and keep up.

April: This month is for work around the house. There´s a lot of things that needs done - so don´t rush out to every little event you see or hear about.

May: You´re getting tired of obligations and rational thinking. You crave for time out, but you´re not gonna get it. Things are still happening in high gear - keep up or you´ll fall of the wheel and have to start over again.

June: You have always seeked a way to live in security, this is the month to break this pattern. It is now you should seek your true passions in life.

July: Half way through the year - setting goals, making plans, finding out what it truely is you want - july is the month where you no longer feel it´s nescessary to fight for your rights, your oppinions, it doesn´t matter anylonger what others think.

August: This is the month of farewell. You´re leaving what you once thourght to be everything, experiencing a long time of emptyness, you now move away from once close relatives.

September: This is the month of travelling

October: You are finally seeing the perspective of all the struggles. This month you are ready to start what you have been building on for the year.

November: Be aware of financial struggle. Juggle house and money and save for worse times.

December: This is a time of rejoyce and sharing.

That´s what I´m getting.

Just wanna add that I miss a card in between the months - kind of like a "what do you bring to the next month" card. This is very rough and restrictet when reading for each month individually - or did I do this wrong ??

[Kaz]

bec (05 Jan, 2002 05:44):
First of all -Kaz - that is funny isn´t it, your cards telling you to back off when it comes to read me - I´m in bl**dy Denmark and MY cards are saying the exact same thing !!! I can´t even do a simpel b-day spread on me self - and I really do believe it´s because you´re doing these readings on me !!!!!
´Kind of cool really :) wonder how long it will last before I can do readings for my self again (?)



When is your birthday Bec?

This problem can be easily solved, I can draw your cards and read them, np, just ask. BTW, I will do the next spread this weekend. But if this is blocking you using your cards for yourself just tell me to stop.
If you are looking for a guineapig for a reading you can use me anytime. I will give honest feedback on it.

Today it was too busy at work I didn't even had time to get a collegue as guineapig, so I will try a fellow dogowner at the club tomorrow.

Kaz

[bec]

Kaz :)

no no no no - I´m having no probs at all, just wantet to share that what you do in holland is effecting my cards in denmark.
My dob is 22-12-1971

[Thirteen]

bec (05 Jan, 2002 06:47):
Just wanna add that I miss a card in between the months - kind of like a "what do you bring to the next month" card. This is very rough and restrictet when reading for each month individually - or did I do this wrong ??

No, you did it absolutely right--and very well indeed. Thank hubbie for being so patient with us all :)

The each month reading might be a little restrictive, but remember that is a spread that you'll usually do with other spreads--not by itself. Or if by itself, you want it to be quick--a "It's your birthday, let's take a quick look at the year ahead"--kind of read. If you added extra cards, it would flow a bit better, but it would also become a long read. That would undermine its purpose, which is to give the querent a general idea of what coming year has in store for them. Simple, fast, compact, nothing elaborate or very detailed.

Other spreads can be used to go deeper into current problems and situations and where they might lead.

[cj]

[quote]fairyhedgehog (30 Dec, 2001 02:54):
Thanks, Thirteen :)

ok..here's my twist for you fairyhedgehog..get a cup of tea, add lemon, and honey..break out the deck and do the spread.

right each card down on the calender for that months and examine what the card means to you (where does it fit in your daily life) and focus on improving that area that month and see how you do.

That's what I will be doing...Including the tea..small child gave me her cold LOL

best of luck and hope you feel better
cj

[cj]

Thirteen

Hi, I did the spread for me and wrote all the cards on the calender.

we will see...the nice thing is the star came up as my 13th card..the star to me has always been my source of energy.

thanks for the exercise..will try to get a few friends to participate.

cj

[january]

Okay, here's my 2002 outlook. I have trouble reading for myself, so I don't know how much sense I've made!

#13 3 of Cups: It seems the year will have a tone of friendship and having fun. I should be loosening up a bit and socializing more, which this capricorn hasn't done in a while!

January - Page of Swords: looks like I may be getting a message about something, maybe something that I don't want to hear, but will help clear up a situation for me. Also, I'll need to be wary of gossip and shady stories, maybe be careful of who I trust and speak to.

February - King of Swords: He usually represents a come-and-go out of my life Libra friend in my readings. Hmmm... but it can also indicate that I'll need to take the beginnings of mental awareness from January and bring it to a sort of apex of truthful and fair dealings in all areas of my life.

March - 3 of Wands: This card always confuses me but perhaps it means that it will be a month of waiting for some rewards of past efforts to come to fruition? Combined with the year card of 3 of cups (3rd month, 3 of wands, 3 of cups...) maybe its others who will be waiting for me to produce and create.

April - 10 of Cups: I see this card as the "happy family" in RW but maybe I'll be emotionally fulfilled and content and stable. Everything is in place, for the moment. With the 3 of Cups I could be reaching out to many friends and people.

May - 5 of Wands: Competition. With the 3 of Cups the competition should be friendly or I could be arguing/disagreeing with friends. This is also the end on the spring semester (I'm in Grad school).

June - 5 of Pentacles: On no! Out in the cold!! I'll need to learn that I can't always be a part of a group but also be careful that I'm not doing it to myself! Maybe I won't get a project I was hoping for. Or, then again, I could be the one leaving someone else out in the cold.

July - Knight of Pentacles: Back on my feet again! This is a time to gather my resources and begin with a steady and practical approach. I may need to be a little boring, but work needs to be done. Or, I could meet the knight?

August - Judgement: Everything comes out in the open? This one confuses me...

Sept. - The World: This is the month that I have hoped to travel abroad again. Maybe this is an indication that its a go. This is an event I've been banking on for almost a year, for bsiness and pleasure.

Oct. - Ace of Pentacles: the beginning of material and physical gain or perhaps a physical attraction to someone. A new opportunity is presented.

Nov. - King of Pentacles: I may achieve success in the physical/material realm but I need to be careful to not be stingy with spirit and emotion.

Dec - The Lovers: Looks like I'll have to make a decision about someone, a relationship or emotional issue.

The court cards still stump me at times (I've only been reading for about 4 months). Its hard for me to tell if its a part of my personality/qualities or someone else. Any comments would be welcome!!

I'm doing another calendar spread for my friend for her birthday... to complete the rest of my assignment!
~ january

[fairyhedgehog]

cj (06 Jan, 2002 07:10):

ok..here's my twist for you fairyhedgehog..get a cup of tea, add lemon, and honey..break out the deck and do the spread.


Hi cj,

I /did/ do the spread for myself. I wrote down all the cards but the only one I can remember offhand is Temperance for the year summary card. My favourite card :)

I'll look back at the other cards as we go through the year.

Sorry to hear about your cold. I've just got over one (more like a fluey cold) so you have my sympathy :)

All the best,

FH

[Thirteen]

January, you did a TERRIFIC reading! Really stellar! Great insights, good connections. I'm very impressed.

The only thing I can add is a few connecitons. In a year spread, you need to also look at the cards one to the next--as possible developments of an ongoing situation.


March - 3 of Wands: This card always confuses me but perhaps it means that it will be a month of waiting for some rewards of past efforts to come to fruition?

Combined with April's 10 of cups, I think the rewards you get from your efforts in March will allow you to relax and have a wonderful time with your family in April. Perhaps that *is* the reward: a spring vacation where you'll get to spend quality time with those you love?

May - 5 of Wands: Competition. With the 3 of Cups the competition should be friendly or I could be arguing/disagreeing with friends. This is also the end on the spring semester (I'm in Grad school).

As it's the end of the spring semester, I'd definately read this as papers and tests and whatever else you need to do, in competition with others, to succeed in grad school.

June - 5 of Pentacles: On no! Out in the cold!!

Not necessarily--take a look at what comes after. I read this as follows: Grad school's over, now you can focus on that September trip you've been planning--but, wait! You need more money to finance it! So this month, you're going to have to do without and water the soup. No buying those new shoes.

July - Knight of Pentacles: Back on my feet again! This is a time to gather my resources and begin with a steady and practical approach. I may need to be a little boring, but work needs to be done.

Indeed it does--you've found an extra job to help finance your trip (without having to water the soup!) and you're working at it this month.

August - Judgement: Everything comes out in the open? This one confuses me...

Here's where you bring out everything, take a look, and made solid plans for that September trip. You know how much money you have--so where exactly are you going, what will you be doing? What will you pack? What will you need? All that needs doing is going to get done, *laid to rest* so you can move on!

Sept. - The World: This is the month that I have hoped to travel abroad again. Maybe this is an indication that its a go.

I should say so! The World indicates to me that yes, you're going, but you may take less planes, more trains, walk a bit more or stay with friends a bit more than you originally anticipated (3 of cups reinforces this--my guess, you'll be meeting and making friends on this trip, finding people who treat you like family and invite you to stay in their homes). It's a cheaper trip with far less hotels, but you will see and learn and do far more interesting stuff than you would have otherwise.

Nov. - King of Pentacles: I may achieve success in the physical/material realm but I need to be careful to not be stingy with spirit and emotion.

King of Pentacles is often Capricorn--so Nov. should be a good month for you--you'll be on top of things, in control.

Dec - The Lovers: Looks like I'll have to make a decision about someone, a relationship or emotional issue.

As it's the end of the year and your birthday up-coming, it might be that December 2002 will be a time for you to make an important choice about where you want your life to go in 2003.

Once again, great job. Can't wait to hear how it goes with your friend.

[january]

Thirteen (07 Jan, 2002 08:45):
January, you did a TERRIFIC reading! Really stellar! Great insights, good connections. I'm very impressed.

Wow! A a pat on the back from you, Thirteen is golden! I must say, I've learned sooo much from your 'Tarot Basics.'


I should say so! The World indicates to me that yes, you're going, but you may take less planes, more trains, walk a bit more or stay with friends a bit more than you originally anticipated (3 of cups reinforces this--my guess, you'll be meeting and making friends on this trip, finding people who treat you like family and invite you to stay in their homes). It's a cheaper trip with far less hotels, but you will see and learn and do far more interesting stuff than you would have otherwise.

You were so on the spot with this one - my trip is to hopefully meet and create with people in London I've been working with for nearly a year. So yes, it will cost less and I'll be hanging out (and possibly staying) with new friends.

Thanks again for your comments, teacher!

~ january