Geenius at Wrok
As a student of Confucianism, recently I found that the pair relationships in so many different tarot spreads reminded me of Confucius' "five relationships": lord-subject, parent-child, elder-younger, husband-wife and friend-friend. It gave me the idea of developing a tarot spread based on these five relationships and their reciprocality. (By "reciprocality," I mean that every such relationship is a two-way street, e.g., just as the subject has certain responsibilities to the lord, such as obedience and loyalty, the lord has responsibilities to the subject, such as fairness and generosity.)
Each person is at the center of a web of reciprocal social relationships. Therefore, in this reading, the significator lies at the center of a symmetrical pattern. Each position in the spread corresponds to a social role from one of the five relationships and can be interpreted in one of three ways: referring literally to the person who occupies that role in the querent's life (e.g., an older brother), referring figuratively to the role itself (e.g., something that has come before), or referring figuratively to the ideal expression of that role (e.g., a protective force). (N.B. In Confucius' China, husband-wife was considered a hierarchical relationship, like lord-subject, instead of a relationship of peers, like friend-friend. For this spread, I've retained the role differentiation, but I've placed this pair on the "friend-friend" axis.)
The significator is always a court card. The suit is chosen according to the querent's role in society (or, if a youth, family background): swords for "aristocracy" (political figures, judges, military people), cups for "scholars" (academics, spiritual leaders, civil servants, knowledge professionals), coins for "merchants" and "artisans" (businesspeople, engineers, creative professionals), staves for "farmers" (actual farmers and gardeners, but also anyone with a job that offers no ownership in the enterprise, as feudal peasants didn't own the land they worked). The specific card in the suit is chosen by age, sex and personality. Place the significator at the center of the spread.
The cards are laid out as follows:
[4][fixed]
1. Older Brother. An actual older brother or sister, or a close friend who is older. Also, a protector or benefactor, or someone/something that you are obliged to respect. Also, the recent past.
2. Younger Brother. An actual younger brother or sister, or a close friend who is younger. Also, someone or something you must look after; a duty. Also, the near future.
3. Husband. An actual or potential spouse or romantic partner, esp. a dominant one. Also, someone/something that provides for you. Also, someone/something to which you have committed yourself.
4. Wife. An actual or potential spouse or romantic partner, esp. a compliant one. Also, someone/something that you have taken responsibility for.
5. Parent. An actual parent. Also, underlying, originating or generative forces. Also, something you must let direct or guide you.
6. Child. An actual child. Also, something you have generated or created. Also, something you must guide or direct.
7, 8. Friends. Actual friends, acquaintances or peers. Also, sources of assistance or support. Also, someone/something you must deal with directly and honestly.
9. Lord. An all-dominating force that governs you and/or the situation and cannot be ignored.
A. Subject. The primary source of energy available for you to draw upon. Unlike the other cards, the Lord and Subject should not be interpreted as referring to specific individuals.
Confucius himself appears as the Hierophant. If he shows up in your reading, the relationship you find him in is of overwhelming importance! Focus intently on how you relate to those who are in this relationship with you.
I invite all of you to give this spread a spin and let me know how it works for you.
Each person is at the center of a web of reciprocal social relationships. Therefore, in this reading, the significator lies at the center of a symmetrical pattern. Each position in the spread corresponds to a social role from one of the five relationships and can be interpreted in one of three ways: referring literally to the person who occupies that role in the querent's life (e.g., an older brother), referring figuratively to the role itself (e.g., something that has come before), or referring figuratively to the ideal expression of that role (e.g., a protective force). (N.B. In Confucius' China, husband-wife was considered a hierarchical relationship, like lord-subject, instead of a relationship of peers, like friend-friend. For this spread, I've retained the role differentiation, but I've placed this pair on the "friend-friend" axis.)
The significator is always a court card. The suit is chosen according to the querent's role in society (or, if a youth, family background): swords for "aristocracy" (political figures, judges, military people), cups for "scholars" (academics, spiritual leaders, civil servants, knowledge professionals), coins for "merchants" and "artisans" (businesspeople, engineers, creative professionals), staves for "farmers" (actual farmers and gardeners, but also anyone with a job that offers no ownership in the enterprise, as feudal peasants didn't own the land they worked). The specific card in the suit is chosen by age, sex and personality. Place the significator at the center of the spread.
The cards are laid out as follows:
[4][fixed]
9
5
1
7 3 S 4 8
2
6
A
[/fixed][/4]5
1
7 3 S 4 8
2
6
A
1. Older Brother. An actual older brother or sister, or a close friend who is older. Also, a protector or benefactor, or someone/something that you are obliged to respect. Also, the recent past.
2. Younger Brother. An actual younger brother or sister, or a close friend who is younger. Also, someone or something you must look after; a duty. Also, the near future.
3. Husband. An actual or potential spouse or romantic partner, esp. a dominant one. Also, someone/something that provides for you. Also, someone/something to which you have committed yourself.
4. Wife. An actual or potential spouse or romantic partner, esp. a compliant one. Also, someone/something that you have taken responsibility for.
5. Parent. An actual parent. Also, underlying, originating or generative forces. Also, something you must let direct or guide you.
6. Child. An actual child. Also, something you have generated or created. Also, something you must guide or direct.
7, 8. Friends. Actual friends, acquaintances or peers. Also, sources of assistance or support. Also, someone/something you must deal with directly and honestly.
9. Lord. An all-dominating force that governs you and/or the situation and cannot be ignored.
A. Subject. The primary source of energy available for you to draw upon. Unlike the other cards, the Lord and Subject should not be interpreted as referring to specific individuals.
Confucius himself appears as the Hierophant. If he shows up in your reading, the relationship you find him in is of overwhelming importance! Focus intently on how you relate to those who are in this relationship with you.
I invite all of you to give this spread a spin and let me know how it works for you.
