The "uh oh" cards revisited

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rhiannon	07 Jul 2003
A while back there was a thread on the cards that make you say "uh oh!" and here it is: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=11299&perpage=10&highlight=uh%20oh%20cards&pagenumber=3 Has anyone found a way to get over this "uh oh" feeling? Does anyone have "uh oh" cards that might not be what you'd expect? My "uh oh" card is the 9 of Cups. Yes, I know it's supposed to be a good card... but I just can't help being suspicious of it! It's TOO good, if you know what I mean, there has to be a catch, right? So, what do we do to overcome our negative view of a particular card? How can we embrace that "uh oh" and use it to our advantage? R :)

baba-prague	07 Jul 2003
Well, mine used to be the Two and Three of Wands. I couldn't really see a clear distinction - and guess what, they came up all the time in readings when I felt like that about them! I definitely used to feel that I was pretty unconfident about reading them. (By the way this relates to another thread in "Creation") I solved my problem when I designed our versions of these cards. It really made me sit down once and for all and think hard about the meanings - and their differences. We ended up with two cards that couldn't be more unalike. It's all got me over my "uh uh" about these two. I would strongly recommend that you try this if you have a real "problem" card or cards. Doesn't matter if it doesn't come out looking professional. Just sketch it, or photograph it or do it with collage - anything just to express the meaning. It really does help clarify things.

Woof	07 Jul 2003
I know exactly what you both mean. The only thing that has helped me with both problems has been keeping a journal. Rhiannon, by doing so some of the "uh oh" cards have been softened. I can see them in a different light as I pull a card a day and, the next day, see how it's energy has effected me. Some of the scary cards aren't as scary any more. (My "uh oh's" are most of the swords.) baba-prague, I have the same exact problem with the 2 & 3 of wands. Saturday night I sat down with all my tarot references and the internet and wrote down all the meanings I could find attributed to each card. I keep a notebook and take notes on each card. It has helped me formulate my own meanings. While I haven't attempted to creat my own cards, by studying all my decks and all my references I feel like I finally have a grasp on these two cards. Woof

missmezzo	07 Jul 2003
I have to admit I always cringe when the seven of swords shows up in a reading. The Robin Wood depiction of this card is especially menacing - I much prefer the Fey deck interpretation of this card! missmezzo

Bryher	07 Jul 2003
I thinks this is a really interesting discussion because it is possible to loose a little meaning in a card by being too worried about finding the positive, if that makes sense.... I think there is a way round by honestly examining the 'negative' elements and seeing what can be learnt from them. That sounds obvious, but I found it especially helpful with the three of swords - such brutal heart break imagery, but it encapsulates a kind of boldness too, by going through that heart break, emotions and issues will get worked through, brought out into the open and ultimately resolved. another thought, while I'm at it, is that humour can play a part. For example, the dramatic figure on the ten of swords lying dying with a back full of swords it pretty funny if the querent can laugh at their own histrionics....

WolfSpirit	07 Jul 2003
I also had problems making the distinction between 2 of wands and 3 of wands...I blame the rider-waite for that, the cards look too much alike in that deck ;) When I started with tarot (rider-waite deck) the swords used to frighten me too. But the card I find very difficult to interpret is the 6 of cups, I find it very difficult to see if it is a good thing or a bad thing. There are no cards now that really frighten me, I am at the moment making a summary of different interpretations in different decks and I see that no card is completely positive or negative. I also use decks that have a positive slant, this helps me with the "negative" cards, not to make me think that everything is o.k. but to help me see that in all the problems there may also be something good, things don't have to be as bad as they seem at first sight. But I must admit, it gets tougher if there are really a lot of negative cards in one spread. My initial reaction is still uh oh. But it often helps if I take a little time to digest it, that often helps to see a silver lining that gives some hope.

jog1118	07 Jul 2003
i believe, as a reader and adviser to our querent's, whenever we see an uh-oh card we must dig deeper and find a positive spark. whenever you encounter an uh-oh card, do'nt stop, move on and find the light at the end of the tunnel. eventually you'll develop, say a personal flashlight, to get a better glimpse of those uh-oh cards :smoker:

oceanpoetry	08 Jul 2003
I have realized that the "uh-oh" cards are yellow and red lights...if I get the 10 of swords or 3 of swords or Devil coming up in a reading, it is a "proceed with caution" - an alert to stop or slow down. Maybe that means changing attitude or thinking...these cards draw our attention to factors in our internal or external environment that we may otherwise not want to see. From my experience, the decks I use never cease to amaze me with their accuracy and honesty.

Butterfly	08 Jul 2003
I always think uh oh with the nine of swords, and through journalling of my experience with it, I came to see that it is a slow burning chronic despair, much easier to handle than the acute, and extremely painful three of swords- now that one I can't handle!!

The The "uh oh" cards revisited thread was originally posted on 07 Jul 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.