A READING – FEBRUARY 9, 2025
My tarot reader and mentor Christiana Gaudet inspired me to buy the Ethereal Visions Tarot by Matt Hughes, a gorgeous deck with gold foil embellishments. Recently I was shopping in a little place in Sedona, Arizona and spotted his Dreamscape Oracle. This reading is a 10-card Celtic Cross Spread using cards from both decks. (Bear in mind that tarot readers use various versions of this spread and this one is my method of reading the CC.) Also, the cards in the tarot are of the same size as the cards in the oracle and can be easily shuffled together.
The question I asked was “How can we best survive current events in our country (USA)?” Here is my reading.
10 card spread with “Ethereal Visions Tarot” - aren’t they pretty?
Card One – Querent/The Present Moment - High Priestess (Tarot Card)
The High Priestess, with her silent admonition to go within for answers, appears in the first position. This sets up the possibility in this reading for intuitive and spiritual insights as part of the solution and may also imply that what we are going through now in America (early 2025) may be a spiritual lesson.
Card Two – Crossing Card – Three of Cups (Tarot Card)
A crossing card usually shows us challenges, yet this is a very positive card featuring three women celebrating. I see a number of possibilities here. First, it can mean that we need to increase our efforts to connect and build communities. We may have done a fair job here, but more is needed. It might also condone emulating the traits of the divine feminine, such as creativity, compassion, empathy and nurturing.
It brings to mind the parable of two banquets, one set in heaven and one set in hell. Both sets of diners are given long spoons with which to eat the food. In hell, people only try to feed themselves and are unable to eat. In heaven they feed one another and are fed. Thus a key to living in today’s world is to continue efforts to help one another.
Card Three – The Foundation Card – Seven of Pentacles (Tarot Card)
The Seven of Pentacles in this position advises us to do the best with what we have and exercise patience. It also helps for us to remain grateful for what is already working in our lives. Louise L. Hay, a famous motivational speaker, offered the following affirmation: "The more grateful I am for the wealth and abundance in my life, the more reasons I find to be grateful".
Card Four – Recent Past - Koi Fish (Oracle Card)
The Japanese view koi fish as a symbol of persistence, strength, and good fortune which manifests through hard work, much as koi fish fight their way upstream in order to thrive as a species. In the recent past there has already been much hard work (and in fact, we are still going upstream) but the result will be a positive one.
Card Five – Conscious Influence and Personal Perceptions – Four of Cups (Tarot Card)
Despite our intellectual acknowledgement of the need for Life Lessons (before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water – after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water) what is foremost on our conscious minds at this time is the emotional rejection of current reality. However, it’s worthwhile to note that acceptance is the path to serenity. This is happening and we can just be unhappy or we can accept it and work to change it.
Card Six – Near Future Influence – The Shadow (Oracle Card)
In this card we see Gaia pulling aside a veil to show the Moon in various phases. It is time to focus on distinguishing between what is real and what is not. There appears to be much in shadow these days. We should do what we can to illuminate all of the dark, shadowy corners.
Card Seven – Who or What Supports Us – The Seer (Oracle Card)
Echoing the esoteric power of the High Priestess which we drew first, The Seer card. The gift of the Seer is the ability to connect with their creativity, imagination, and intuition in order to contribute as much as we can to designing what happens next rather than simply letting it happen to us. We must work to locate the balance between fate and free will. In other words, we must rescue ourselves.
Card Eight – General Environment – The Knight of Cups (Tarot Card)
This is quite interesting; this knight is a dreamer and a romantic. What help will he be when reality seems so unjust and bitter these days? All of the tarot knights signify a period of transition. This knight suggests to me that we must maintain our equilibrium and our belief in the power of love for the good of mankind as we move through this transition.
Card Nine – Hopes and/or Fears – Queen of Wands
This is a powerful queen. She is generous, warm, and open-hearted. She is a mover and a shaker but she does not compel; she attracts like-minded individuals to rise to their own personal power because she is an influencer in the best sense of the word. I think she echoes the message of the Knight of Cups that we must come to our own rescue.
Card Ten – Outcome and/or Advice – Death
Death is the harbinger of true and profound transformation. Change is coming whether we want it or not. It is the ending of one thing and the beginning of another. Our job is to continue to exert our influence toward creating a better future by doing what we’ve always done; we must stay in gratitude/others as ourselves, and give what we can. Oh, and never lose faith!
