AUTHOR’S NOTE: It goes without saying that most people who seek a tarot reading are angling for a sign from the Universe that something they want to happen will come to pass. I doubt there are many who are looking for assurance that their vision isn’t going to materialize as projected (unless their presentiment involves avoiding something nasty another person plans to do to them). While self-serving objectives are usually the “name of the game” for most seekers, the cards sometimes offer up disillusionment instead of positive reinforcement.
In the I Ching, yin (or “broken”) lines are considered to be passive, receptive and yielding compared to the assertive nature of the solid yang lines. As part of a hexagram, they seem to indicate a redirection of the situation’s momentum or trajectory, perhaps a period of reflection or a slacking of effort, that can present an impediment to unfettered progress. In a tarot reading, this role can be played by a disheartening card in the middle of an array that is otherwise largely upbeat. The result is that an outcome that at first looks rosy may in fact not achieve its full potential because a loss of focus occurs at some point in the run-up to the conclusion, sapping it of its vigor. The initiative somehow loses its way in the midst of an encouraging evolution, delivering a stinging “poke in the eye” to the querent’s aspirations.
The earlier this detour occurs in the reading, the more likely the original incentive will be to get back on course, and the querent’s mission (with the reader’s help) is to turn an apparent roadblock into an opportunity before it’s too late. However, if it appears near the end, the matter may be irredeemable within the scope and time-frame of the present forecast. If there are several discouraging instances in a small spread, the activity may never get off the ground or its chance for success could be grossly diminished, and reversal can add another layer of uncertainty. Here is a random five-card line that illustrates what I’m talking about (although I had to stretch a bit to see it as representative). The question involved a venture that has been an ambition of mine for some time.
At first glance, this doesn’t seem at all bad; lots of Fire and a little Air in combination are conducive to pursuit of my ardent purpose as long as they don’t get out of hand. However, all those reversals give me pause.
The 8 of Wands reversed suggests being “held at bay” by circumstances and unable to move swiftly toward my goal despite a powerful temptation to “just wing it.” The retreating direction of the flying staves implies a setback that could mean having to start over.
The Lovers upright represents the usual “crossroads,” reflecting an urge to “act naturally” or instinctively that must be weighed against prudence and forbearance. At this early stage an idle dalliance may be forgivable, but it is unlikely to amount to much.
The upright Queen of Wands displays the opposite orientation to her reversed appearance in my last reading on this subject; there she seemed to be meekly accepting of my intentions but here she is once again in control and isn’t giving an inch. She has her clothes back on and is no longer vulnerable to the blandishments and indulgences of the Lovers.
In the wake of the Queen’s imperious entrance, the Page of Wands and 9 of Wands, both reversed, are shoved back on their heels and stopped in their tracks. These cards show that I will cede mastery over the situation as the Queen ascends in power. I will clearly be on the defensive once she gets her priorities in order; both figures have assumed an attitude of supplication, as if their only hope of redemption is to appease her.
While the Queen mulls over their fate, the two will stand in the wings and stew over their impotence. She obviously cares less for these guys than she does for her black cat. She doesn’t even give them the courtesy of her undivided attention (or maybe she is just distracted while reminiscing fondly over “the one that got away” in the Lovers). There may not be great loss in this scenario, but there is also scant satisfaction and a good deal of frustration toward the end of the period as progress stalls and reaches an impasse.
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