MacMorrighan
So, I've been reading Corrine Kenner's quite good book, "Tall Dark Stranger: Tarot for Love and Romance" (Llewellyn, 2005), but also over the years I often see tarot spreads specifically for Love Readings, but none of them have, thus far, focussed on navigating the negative paths and emotions within relationships or on account of relationships. I have yet to see a Spread explore the potential Trust Issues, for example, that one might have. For example, if someone were interested in getting together with me I would not be surprised if they pulled the 8 of Swords in relation to the 3 of Swords because I was emotionally scarred and am deeply distrustful of other Gay men who might show an interest in me. This is, of course, because my First Kiss (first everything) emotionally scarred me--he knew I was in love with him, yet he sent me conflicting messaged; he would come to my door as a passionate lover and then rub my face in all of the men he was screwing!), but also due to Iowa's messed up culture... The iowa Gay community seems to treat the concept of dating as a joke! I cannot tell you how many men I have met and asked out, only to have them ALL stand me up! So, rather than a "damsel in distress" interpretation that Kenner gives to the 8 of Swords, due to my own experiences, I would inter prate that card (if it were in relation to me) as signifying emotional/ psychic walls of distrust due to previous heartbreak or life experiences, perhaps because of Mind Games being involved!
This morning, for example, if you performed a "Cupid Love Reading" and asked if someone you fancied was "shy", well you might inter prate the drawn card as if they are, but due to the question one might not realize that there's a deeper reason for their shyness. They might have deeply held Trust Issues that the readers might utterly miss out on. So, when you try to hang out with this fellow they might behave accordingly. As a result, they might behave stand-offish, as I often do, or just keep to themselves afterward and blow you off.
But, I would like to see more books on the tarot and relationships that are far more penetrating (even within spreads that are posted on-line). Not everything is all roses and rainbows! If you are interested in someone, they could be Damaged Goods, and the Querant would need to ask themselves if they are ready to take on the role of a counselor to heal them and make them Whole due to their underlying issues. Yet, I also know of many Occult Shops in which their Readers are instructed never to tell their clients anything even remotely negative; to keep every reading utterly positive and all White Light and glitter, even if the Reader sees something far different, and deeper, which needs to be resolved! Books on the tarot that discuss relationships also seem to be justified towards that extreme by ignoring many of the emotional pitfalls. Due to my Trust Issues i sometimes have a habit of actually pushing people away since I have been so deeply hurt by both friends and lovers over the years. I believe that it is the responsibility of the Reader to navigate these issues in a respectful manner, to bring healing to those involved whenever possible.
If it hasn't been written, I think that a counselor who also reads the tarot professionally, ought to write a book on counseling for the Tarot Reader! Such a book is WAY above my pay grade!
This morning, for example, if you performed a "Cupid Love Reading" and asked if someone you fancied was "shy", well you might inter prate the drawn card as if they are, but due to the question one might not realize that there's a deeper reason for their shyness. They might have deeply held Trust Issues that the readers might utterly miss out on. So, when you try to hang out with this fellow they might behave accordingly. As a result, they might behave stand-offish, as I often do, or just keep to themselves afterward and blow you off.
But, I would like to see more books on the tarot and relationships that are far more penetrating (even within spreads that are posted on-line). Not everything is all roses and rainbows! If you are interested in someone, they could be Damaged Goods, and the Querant would need to ask themselves if they are ready to take on the role of a counselor to heal them and make them Whole due to their underlying issues. Yet, I also know of many Occult Shops in which their Readers are instructed never to tell their clients anything even remotely negative; to keep every reading utterly positive and all White Light and glitter, even if the Reader sees something far different, and deeper, which needs to be resolved! Books on the tarot that discuss relationships also seem to be justified towards that extreme by ignoring many of the emotional pitfalls. Due to my Trust Issues i sometimes have a habit of actually pushing people away since I have been so deeply hurt by both friends and lovers over the years. I believe that it is the responsibility of the Reader to navigate these issues in a respectful manner, to bring healing to those involved whenever possible.
If it hasn't been written, I think that a counselor who also reads the tarot professionally, ought to write a book on counseling for the Tarot Reader! Such a book is WAY above my pay grade!