Meanings of the Cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

calligirl	13 Apr 2005
I have had an adjustment in my thinking this week. I've been doing readings for myself and family for a few months now. I have tried to read the cards in such a way that would not make anyone feel bad or worried, myself included. I have tried not to get hung up on any particular card being worse than any other. I have been reflecting this week on my readings and went back to my notes and realized something. Besides the reading I posted (on the Royal Wedding elsewhere) where the Death card was crossed by the Hierophant (some suggested the Pope, duh), I have had the Death card appear twice. Both times I tried to interpret it as a transformation or change and not physical death. The first time was my MIL who had the Emperior in her past and the Death card in the future. I told her that it was a sign that she would break free of the past where she had been intimidated. Three weeks later, her (very much an Emperior-ish) father died. The message was plain but I soft coated it to myself and her. A month ago, I did a reading for my dad who was in the hospital for the upteenth time. The first card was Death. Crossing it was the 10 of Cups. I figured the cards were telling me it was the end of the homelife he had had all these years as a family member was moving in to take care of him and he was having to think about a nursing home eventually. Nope. I was wrong. He died Friday. Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade and sometimes the death card means death. To thy own self be true. Just don't go blurting it out to anybody sitting across from you, please!

Fudugazi	13 Apr 2005
(((((((calligirl))))))) I am so sorry for your loss! You have my total sympathy - and also, I quite agree with what you said. Death does mean physical death, sometimes. It always means some kind of death. But crossing Death was the 10 of cups. He died surrounded by his family and had given and received love to the rim by the time he passed. This is a good death. My blessings to you and your family.

Elven	13 Apr 2005
(((((((calligirl))))))) I am so sorry for your loss and am feeling for you. My thoughts are with you at this time calligirl. A thought that crossed my mind after I read this is that you read the cards exactly. You were not wrong, and I think under the circumstances you read them in the best possible way, for yourself and for those who were close to you. Death is all those things that you saw represented. Your MIL was released from her past intimidations and your father was complete in the ten of cups - I agree with Helvetica - this is the card to cover the fulfilment of family love surrounding him at his time of passing. My deepest sympathy to you and your family, Many blessings of love and light to you at this time Elven x

Little Baron	13 Apr 2005
calligirl wrote: Besides the reading I posted (on the Royal Wedding elsewhere) where the Death card was crossed by the Hierophant (some suggested the Pope, duh), Sorry to hear about your loss. I think it was me that suggested the pope - it was an intuitive thought, based on the fact that the Hierophant was named 'Le Pape' in some historical decks, before the name was changed later. It came to mind because of the shift in wedding date, due to the Pope's funeral - crossing 'Death's' progression, I saw it as minor hitch. Just one idea amongst many interpretations. LB

calligirl	13 Apr 2005
I think it was you, LittleBuddha, who pointed it out about the Pope. I haven't gone back to look at the thread to see. The duh was at me because I actually didn't think of it when it was so visually obvious lying there on the table in front of me. I appreciate all the sympathy and yes, he was literaly surrounded now that you mention that point. I would not have dreamed even a week earlier that his family (don't get me started, just take my word for it!) would end up together in one place at that particular time in order to have a chance to say goodbye like that. My sister also remarked on how odd it was. So thank you for that insight, another little thing that lets me know that things sometimes happen the way they should even though we may not like it. My dad's favorite expression every time I whined about the dentist or school or whatever: One of those necessary evils... This is such a great bunch. I actually wasn't expecting such wonderful support. But I'll take all the hugs I can get these days.

StellaJane	13 Apr 2005
Hi Calli. I don't have anything Tarot related to add, just want to say that I'm sorry for your family's losses. Take care.

The Meanings of the Cards thread was originally posted on 13 Apr 2005 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.