Astraea Aurora
This spread is based on the Tim Burton movie "Sleepy Hollow", which itself is roughly based on Washington Irving’s novel "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
I made this spread because I was deeply attracted by the movie’s very quiet and creepy atmosphere. A picture that comes to mind is that of a silent night (no, not to mesh with that particular holiday in December
) in early winter time when the first snow has just landed softly in the ground, all the hustle of the harvest season is gone and it is time to look within. This has brought me to topics of forbidden things that aren’t to see easily and things that linger at the very doorstep of your soul, ready to scare you to death when they see the slightest chance of getting in. I envisioned the spread to shed light on a transformation deep inside yourself.
Originally I had intended to use it with the Bohemian Gothic Tarot. Much to my despise I haven’t done it yet.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Astraea Aurora
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......4...............12...................................................
1..2...3..6..7..8................15..16..17..18......19..20..21
......5................9....................................................
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...............................11...........................................
1. Ichabod Crane, the Police Constable, in New York. Your current, rational ego.
2. The dispatch to Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York, by commandment of his supervisors. – What is currently going wrong in your life, in your opinion.
3. The tale of the Headless Horseman. A Hessian soldier is said to be awaken from the dead to murder the citizens of Sleepy Hollow village randomly. – What is sounding illogical, unreal or bizarre in your ears.
4. Katrina Anne van Tassel, the beautiful daughter of the village’s wealthiest farmer. Ichabod Cranes secret love and his first helper. – A helper to whom you feel a strong attraction.
5. Young Masbath whose father has already been murdered. Ichabod Cranes second helper. – A helper to whom you have no relationship but who nonetheless and willingly helps you.
6. The decapitation of the village’s official Magistrate Philipse in front of Ichabod Crane. – The key element. The transformation from the rational ego to an understanding ego, knowing that there is a supernatural, mystical side that can’t be explained by logic.
7. Ichabod Cranes search, with help of Katrina van Tassels and Masbath, for the Headlass Horseman’s grave, discovering that his skull has been stolen. – The search for solution of the illogical, unreal or bizarre.
8. The realisation that the Headless Horseman is bound in his actions to the one person possessing his skull and those person’s wishes. – The realisation that nothing is ever as easy as it seems. (Interpret this line as you like.)
9. Ichabod Crane’s first suspicion who owns the Hessian soldier’s skull: farmer Baltus van Tassel, Katrina father. – The first, supposed solution.
10. Katrina van Tassel’s turning away from Ichabod Crane because of his suspicion.– Your and your surrounding’s reactions because of the supposed solution.
11. The night where the whole village gathers in church to seek protection from the Headless Horseman. The decapitation of farmer Baltus van Tassel. – The realisation that your supposed solution can’t be real or lead to solution.
12. Ichabod Crane’s second suspicion who owns the Hessian soldier’s skull: Katrina van Tassel. – The second, supposed solution.
13. Ichabod Crane’s departure because he can’t stand the thought that Katrina van Tassel might be involved in this bizarre farce and out of love won’t tell his suspicion. – Your and your surrounding’s reactions because of the supposed solution.
14. Ichabod Crane’s discovery that he suspected Katrina van Tassel wrongfully and she was only trying to protect the village with witchcraft. – The realisation that your supposed solution can’t be real or lead to solution.
15. Ichabos Crane’s immediate return. – Your reactions to the impossible solution.
16. The kidnapping of Katrina van Tassel by the one person who owns the Headless Horseman’s skull: Lady Mary van Tassel, Katrina’s mother. – The real source. The current danger or aroused situation because you discovered the real source too late.
17. The freeing of Katrina van Tassel by Ichabod Crane and Masbath. – The hero’s deed. An Action to avert the former danger.
18. The wild chase with the Headless Horseman. – Your last big strain.
19. The snatch of the Headless Horseman’s skull from Lady Mary van Tassel. The skull’s return to his true possessor. – The rescue or solution.
20. The kidnapping of Lady Mary van Tassel by the Headless Horseman into his own realm. – The consequences for the one person who arouse the whole situation.
21. Ichabod Crane’s return to New York, accompanied by Katrina van Tassel and Masbath. – The return to normal life.
So, due to the fact that I haven’t tried it this spread feels a bit incomplete to me. I don’t know if it is as good to explore inner things as it seemed to me when I invented it three months ago. Feel free to adapt it to your uses and leave comments.
Astraea Aurora
I made this spread because I was deeply attracted by the movie’s very quiet and creepy atmosphere. A picture that comes to mind is that of a silent night (no, not to mesh with that particular holiday in December
) in early winter time when the first snow has just landed softly in the ground, all the hustle of the harvest season is gone and it is time to look within. This has brought me to topics of forbidden things that aren’t to see easily and things that linger at the very doorstep of your soul, ready to scare you to death when they see the slightest chance of getting in. I envisioned the spread to shed light on a transformation deep inside yourself.Originally I had intended to use it with the Bohemian Gothic Tarot. Much to my despise I haven’t done it yet.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Astraea Aurora
................................14..........................................
............................13..............................................
......4...............12...................................................
1..2...3..6..7..8................15..16..17..18......19..20..21
......5................9....................................................
...........................10...............................................
...............................11...........................................
1. Ichabod Crane, the Police Constable, in New York. Your current, rational ego.
2. The dispatch to Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York, by commandment of his supervisors. – What is currently going wrong in your life, in your opinion.
3. The tale of the Headless Horseman. A Hessian soldier is said to be awaken from the dead to murder the citizens of Sleepy Hollow village randomly. – What is sounding illogical, unreal or bizarre in your ears.
4. Katrina Anne van Tassel, the beautiful daughter of the village’s wealthiest farmer. Ichabod Cranes secret love and his first helper. – A helper to whom you feel a strong attraction.
5. Young Masbath whose father has already been murdered. Ichabod Cranes second helper. – A helper to whom you have no relationship but who nonetheless and willingly helps you.
6. The decapitation of the village’s official Magistrate Philipse in front of Ichabod Crane. – The key element. The transformation from the rational ego to an understanding ego, knowing that there is a supernatural, mystical side that can’t be explained by logic.
7. Ichabod Cranes search, with help of Katrina van Tassels and Masbath, for the Headlass Horseman’s grave, discovering that his skull has been stolen. – The search for solution of the illogical, unreal or bizarre.
8. The realisation that the Headless Horseman is bound in his actions to the one person possessing his skull and those person’s wishes. – The realisation that nothing is ever as easy as it seems. (Interpret this line as you like.)
9. Ichabod Crane’s first suspicion who owns the Hessian soldier’s skull: farmer Baltus van Tassel, Katrina father. – The first, supposed solution.
10. Katrina van Tassel’s turning away from Ichabod Crane because of his suspicion.– Your and your surrounding’s reactions because of the supposed solution.
11. The night where the whole village gathers in church to seek protection from the Headless Horseman. The decapitation of farmer Baltus van Tassel. – The realisation that your supposed solution can’t be real or lead to solution.
12. Ichabod Crane’s second suspicion who owns the Hessian soldier’s skull: Katrina van Tassel. – The second, supposed solution.
13. Ichabod Crane’s departure because he can’t stand the thought that Katrina van Tassel might be involved in this bizarre farce and out of love won’t tell his suspicion. – Your and your surrounding’s reactions because of the supposed solution.
14. Ichabod Crane’s discovery that he suspected Katrina van Tassel wrongfully and she was only trying to protect the village with witchcraft. – The realisation that your supposed solution can’t be real or lead to solution.
15. Ichabos Crane’s immediate return. – Your reactions to the impossible solution.
16. The kidnapping of Katrina van Tassel by the one person who owns the Headless Horseman’s skull: Lady Mary van Tassel, Katrina’s mother. – The real source. The current danger or aroused situation because you discovered the real source too late.
17. The freeing of Katrina van Tassel by Ichabod Crane and Masbath. – The hero’s deed. An Action to avert the former danger.
18. The wild chase with the Headless Horseman. – Your last big strain.
19. The snatch of the Headless Horseman’s skull from Lady Mary van Tassel. The skull’s return to his true possessor. – The rescue or solution.
20. The kidnapping of Lady Mary van Tassel by the Headless Horseman into his own realm. – The consequences for the one person who arouse the whole situation.
21. Ichabod Crane’s return to New York, accompanied by Katrina van Tassel and Masbath. – The return to normal life.
So, due to the fact that I haven’t tried it this spread feels a bit incomplete to me. I don’t know if it is as good to explore inner things as it seemed to me when I invented it three months ago. Feel free to adapt it to your uses and leave comments.
Astraea Aurora
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