Two Aces and the Devil

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Mystic40	15 May 2004
Hi again! I forgot to ask a question: Is there a special meaning when you get 2 Aces and the Devil in a spread? I have been doing a 7 card spread on a situation that I am trying to figure out..and I came up with 2 Aces and the Devil, also the 4rth and 7th cards were 3 of Cups and the World... I was just wondering if the 2 Aces and the Devil have a particular meaning in a relationship spread? Thanks! Mystic40

Imagemaker	15 May 2004
Reading tarot is a little like reading the alphabet--how the letters are combined, what positions they're in, changes the whole word. For us to help, you need to say which Aces, first of all, and say what the positions are in the spread you used. Usually questions about specific readings and requests for help are posted in "your readings." AT can be a little confusing and complicated at first, don't give up! In the most simple keyword way, Aces mean potential (of ideas, emotions, actions, material goods--depending on the suit) and the Devil could mean abandoned rules or entrapment (by one's self or others) or unrestricted pleasure. Tarot talks to us and we have to figure out how to interpret the language. It's a fascinating learning process with great rewards!

Mystic40	15 May 2004
Thanks Imagemaker! I should have included the cards and their positions which I have below: I used 7 cards for this reading, it is a reversed horseshoe, left to right.. First Position: 5 Of Wands Second Position: Ace of Wands Third Position: 4 Of Pentacles Fourth Position: The World Fifth Position: The Devil Sixth Position: Ace of Cups Seventh Position: 3 Of Cups If I understand this correctly, the 4rth and 7th position should be read together..Unfortunately, I am not sure what they mean together! I am having trouble putting these 2 cards together. O and by the way, I like what you have written at the bottom of your page about noticing everything. I think I might add, "there are no coincidences, everything happens for a reason" Mystic40

Shalott	17 May 2004
Hi, Mystic40! Were you reading "freestyle," or are was this a specific spread? Overall it looks like a pretty good spread, some strife indicaterd by the 5 of wands...maybe you're overindulging in something, one of the good beginnings indicated by the Aces? The Devil isn't surrounded by both Aces so they aren't all necessarily related. Here's my take, pls know the mods may move this to the forum "Post your readings here" for comment...anyhoo: This is assuming you don't use reversals at all, if you do the fact that you got ALL uprights could indicate a smooth flow of events and energy. There was maybe some strife in you work (5 wands) but it's over now and you're in the process of making a fresh start (Ace wands), and have reaped a profit (4 Pents)(money or goods or other intangibles) that you are proud of to the point of maybe not being as generous as possible. You have achieved and attained the ultimate prize that you can on your current path (World) but the Devil, and the 4 of Pents both indicate a lack of generosity - this could be you or somebody being ungenerous with you, I don't know the circumstances of this reading. But now with the Ace of Cups, there is a new emotional beginning indicated, new love or friendship? Renewed relationship with family? giving you reason to celebrate (3 of Cups). I like when they end on a positive note! Added up all the numbers = 50, or 5, or the Hierophant, so the overall scope of this reading could have something to do with authority or conformity, which kind of goes along with my assumption that this is a largely work-related reading. Is this anywhere NEAR accurate? :confused: ;)

Mystic40	18 May 2004
Shalott: This was a "what is the future of this relationship?", it is a 'new relationship", but we are both in committed relationships. Overall, your reading on the cards makes sense! Thank you. Mystic40

Pipkin	18 May 2004
First Position: 5 Of Wands Second Position: Ace of Wands Third Position: 4 Of Pentacles Fourth Position: The World Fifth Position: The Devil Sixth Position: Ace of Cups Seventh Position: 3 Of Cups Just pasted your spread for reference. What I would say from these cards, given you were pulling cards about a new relationship, was how you have past, present and future coming into play. The first crd 5 wands is usually about a few battles to be fought (nothing that can't be coped with my questioner) but it is a use of one's energy and where that energy is being directed, therefore it is possible this relates to a coming to terms factor for you with this new relationship. The second card gets in touch with the fact you know this is a new relationship and should likely be treated as such, put your energies there, the past is the past and the present and future is just that. Then it looks like just as you've come to terms with that, a few issues of old rear there head again, like you may decide not to give too much of yourself or energy into this relationship because it's new and you don't know where or how it is going to develop, so there is a holding-back element. Then you decide to do away with that attitude or behaviour to complete an old cycle of acting/thinking/being to decide again, this is a new relationship time to put the past in the past...it's a new chapter and cycle of your life. Then the yo-yo side of you appears again, where old doubts and fears creep back in (Devil) you want to move forward but some niggling things say keep rearing their ugly head to hold you in check, but once you recognise that and get past that you have the potential to feel like a new person, a spiritual awakening and overwhelming emotional pull to inject your heart into this (ace cups) and for which you will be reaping the rewards and have a good reason to celebrate from so doing (3 cups). Hope that helps, just my personal opinion.

Mystic40	18 May 2004
Pipkin: Thank you so much for your insights! Yes, it has definitely helped! What I have found so very interesting over the past 9 moths, is that all my readings about this "relationship" have been the same, they all say the same thing.. You're right, there is a part of me that is afraid to pursue this, but there is also a part of me that "senses" that this is where I am supposed to be..that we have something we need to do together.. I'd really like to know why the powers that be brought us back together (if this was a past life relationship, which I wouldn't be suprised, cause it was an instant recognition on both our parts).. and what the heck are we supposed to do about when we both have committments to our children??!!! That I quess is the million $ question.. So, does anyone have a spread that I can do, to tell me what the heck I am supposed to do with this "relationship"??!!! Thanks! Mystic40

Pipkin	18 May 2004
Well I think the Osho Zen cards are very good for more psychological dilemmas and insights. There is a spread call The Key which I use from this deck You lay the cards out with the following positions: (8) Consciousness (5) (6) (7) Body Heart Being (4) The Meditation (2) (3) Yin Yang (1) What is repressed This is from memory, so what is repressed can be an unconscious thing, whereas card (8) represents consciousness The yin(2) is the female side, the yang (3) masculine side Card (4) the meditation is what you need to think on, incorporate Cards (5), (6) and (7) I guess you could call the Mind, Body, Soul cards. Hope this helps. There is a book by Rita Rogers called Soul Mates if you are interested.

Pipkin	18 May 2004
If you should choose this deck, it comes with a guide and there is a spread called The Mirror which can be used to look at a relationship between 2 people. All the best Pipkin

Mystic40	18 May 2004
I am not sure if I will purchase another deck.. I was looking more for a spread I could do with my deck which is the Rider/Waite, my sister also has a Mother Earth deck, which I find hard to handle, because they are round.. Thanks again, I have been reading about Soulmates/TwinSouls. It's funny when we distanced ourselves from each other and I tried to think about what "attracted" me to him, the only thing I could come up with is, "it's like looking in a mirror", we have the same tastes, same spiritual outlook, same everything even down to the way our lives have mirrored each other up to this point, which I find fasinating and scary at the same time.. Mystic40

Pipkin	18 May 2004
Well tonight I shall try and remember to write down the positions etc from the mirror spread and you can see if it works using Rider Waite cards or any other decks you have, nothing to lose is there :)

Mystic40	18 May 2004
Thanks Pipkin, that would be great! Mystic40

Windwalker	18 May 2004
I totally agree with pipkin with the interpretation, it's accurate, I'd like to point something it really stands out, this "realtionship" you talked must be very important to you (World) and it is the result of past circustances, watch carefully the card (devil), there's something inside yourself you know it's true though you sometimes tend to deny it, wish you the best.

Shalott	19 May 2004
Wow...I was way off...that's what I get for not asking what you're question was... :|

Mystic40	19 May 2004
Shalott: Actually, in a reading I had done a few months ago, the reader suggested that there is something about my "work" that would lead me to resources where I could be on my "own two feet" in the future... So, maybe you picked up on the fact that I am trying to be more independent of my husband, which is one of the things I am working on. Mystic40

Mystic40	19 May 2004
Windwalker: How does one "find out what is inside me"? By meditation? Is that what you meant? I would love to know what I am "denying".. Mystic40

Shalott	19 May 2004
Thanks, Mystic, what threw me was the wands and pents early in the spread, I was just trying to do a quickie little thing, I often read 7 cards freestyle and just wanted to try out my "story" technique with someone else's spread. OBVIOUSLY in the future I will ask what the issue the reading was about! Pipkin put more thought in it than me. :| My bad, as they say in the 'hood... (Why does the embarrassed face look more like Dogbert when he is gloating to me? HA!)

Pipkin	20 May 2004
There is a quickie 4 card relating spread you can do which I often use when someone asks about another person You basically have card 1 as being the person asking, card 2 next to card 1 being the partner etc, card 3 (below card 1) being the composite energy of the relationship and card 4 (below card 2) being the insight needed. What I sometimes do is then put another card on top of each if I need more clarification or some greater insight. The mirror spread is as follows (bit more fiddly) 12 11 10 3 6 2 5 1 4 (Y) 9 (P) 8 7 Y = you P = partner 1+4 = body 2+5 = heart 3+6 = mind 7+10 = merging (intimacy) 8+11 = transformation 9+12 = benefits and gifts Have fun

Pipkin	20 May 2004
It has taken away the spacing of the spread cards 1, 2 and 3 are on the left-hand side cards 4, 5 and 6 opposite on the right-hand side cards 7, 8 and 9 on top of each other below (ie in the middle of the two sets) cards 10, 11 and 12 in the middle of the two sets but above.

The Two Aces and the Devil thread was originally posted on 15 May 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.