9 of Cups + King of Wands as advice

[Carla]

Actually it's the 9 of Water and Elder of Fire in the Gaian Tarot, which does change things quite a bit I think! What do you think? Or do you need a bit more to go on?

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by Carla

Actually it's the 9 of Water and Elder of Fire in the Gaian Tarot, which does change things quite a bit I think! What do you think? Or do you need a bit more to go on?

It makes a difference if you're going to go by the Gaian interpretations. Lovely as this deck is, and lovely as the interpretations are, they do seem to lean toward the optimistic side of things. I doubt, for example, that the Child of Air is ever (as the Page of Air) viewed as the card of a gossip and liar

As you used this deck, I think it apt that we view the two cards and interpret the combo in accordance with the creator's special vision of them rather than falling back on to the standard Rider-Waite. Though these two cards are still "upbeat" in the RWS deck, an 'Elder"--meaning an old teacher (and a woman in this instance) is not the same as a King--meaning the final word, ultimate ruler, masculine, aggressive. And the solitary woman in the cave of water there is not the same as our innkeeper with his tankers of beer, a card which some readers find smug or suspicious.

Nine of water: http://www.gaiantarot.com/deck/minor-arcana/nines/
Elder of Fire: http://www.gaiantarot.com/deck/minor-arcana/elder/

[Carla]

Yes, 13. I'm personally reading this to mean I need to connect with my true intent and then do some magickal workings in that direction.

[WalesWoman]

Well, this is one intuitive sort of tarot (I have it but haven't really read the book with it) so going by those blurbs of explanation...

As advice... face your feelings, follow them to their source for illumination, for it is a gateway to greater illumination and freedom from the constrictions and isolations of where you are. Get out of your cave!!! And pick up 9 white stones on your way out, God only knows what might be out there.
Or since the other card is the Elder of Fire, you can use those stones to build a nice fire ring, and maybe each of those stones is some feeling or some emotional grave marker, to be named and laid to rest, since she is tending the Alter of the Ancestors, the Otherworld, celebrating the Day of the Dead.

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by WalesWoman

Or since the other card is the Elder of Fire, you can use those stones to build a nice fire ring,

I really like that! And I think you're right. The Elder/Fire is at the height of the fire element she not only has all it's light and energy, but knows how to manage light and energy--put it to good use, not waste it, make it last, etc. So the duo could be saying to use the 9/water (ones emotions, love, psychic powers) to contain the energy and light and power of the situation (or of yourself) and, in doing so, offer that energy to others (a campfire).

Make the fire the most useful it can be, and use these tools to do it. Maybe even use those stones in the cave to create a fire there and illuminate it?

That's a really cool idea, WalesWoman.

[Carla]

You guys lost me a bit. Sometimes I'm not so good at translating these notions into practical advice...

[WalesWoman]

Ok, as a practical thing... when something bothers you, do you withdraw inside yourself, put barriers between yourself and others and go into isolation? Do you have anything in your life that you cannot bear to look at or dwell on or explore your feelings about, because of what you might discover about yourself or what the source of those feelings is?

IF you answered yes to any of those questions, then emotionally you cannot grow or progress. More than likely it will be difficult, if not impossible to have healthy relationships or develop self esteem or self love. It's almost like being reborn, once you allow yourself to face those things, to illuminate them with the light of truth and face them, welcome and embrace them, because it cracks that protective shell and allows you to live in the world again. I am speaking from my own experiences and perspective.

So the reference to the white stones that the woman picks up as she leaves the cave and the alter for the dead (or fire ring, those stones you place in a circle to hold a fire safely) is perhaps for those things that have hurt you, scared you, things you fear, feelings of anger and betrayal and loss of trust. Removing them from deep within you and laying them to rest in the light of the sun, is sort of like removing infected splinters. Once they are gone they can't hurt you anymore and the wounds can finally heal. It's like writing out all your feelings that make you feel bad and burning them, letting the ashes crumble and blow away on a breeze. It doesn't actually do anything, but somehow it's like letting those feelings burn up and float away and you feel better about it afterwards.

Maybe it's holding a funeral for those specific things, allowing the past to be dead and gone... releasing their hold on you or holding on to those things in the first place.

That is about as practical as I can get.

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by WalesWoman

OMaybe it's holding a funeral for those specific things, allowing the past to be dead and gone... releasing their hold on you or holding on to those things in the first place.

I dunno, WW, I kinda think this would be more apt for the Judgement card, that's where you deal with stuff you haven't tried to deal with, shed light on it, and get past it.

Practically, what I was thinking, Carla, was this the Elder represents you (or what you should be, or can be) a person who doesn't waste their energy on stupid stuff. You have real knowledge of where to put your energy so you can do the most good. Like you don't party all night then find yourself too tired to work the next morning. Right? The Elder of any suit knows how to "manage" that suit's element. They're the expert. You know how to create energy, keep it going. You also know how to give people energy. Like when someone gives you a pep talk. You've been with people like that, right? When you're with them you stop feeling tired and unmotivated and you start to feel gung-ho.

Water is emotions, psychic powers. So, going by Wales Woman's thought about taking the stones from the cave of emotions and using them to ring a fire: you look around and see your family or friends looking tired (for example), like they can go on. These cards might suggest something like, well, hugging people--though showing love you pass on energy to people and make them keep going (if it was 9/Air, you'd give them pep talks. If it was 9/Earth, you might do some work for them, so they'd have less to do and be less tired). Another thought: maybe the cards are suggesting that you should only put your energy into something you have strong emotions about--like working at an animal rescue center because you feel so deeply about animals, and so can have a lot of energy for that and for everyone else working there.

Does that make sense? I have to tell you by the way--if you're looking for practical, down to earth, make sense answers, this isn't the best deck. This is a very, um, touchy-feely deck. Far more new-age spirituality. That's fine, but that rarely lends itself to "drink more of those natural energy drinks so you don't get so tired pulling an all-nighter." (Which might be the message of these cards ). Cards that talk about exploring one's inner self and tending to spiritual fires are difficult to translate into day-to-day advice.