November 1st, 2009

November 1^st, 2009

November is one of my favorite months. Grey and brown are November’s colors, beautiful and subdued. November smells like moldering leaves, cold air, and winter spices. November isn’t gaudy, like October is, because the trees’ leaves have faded and fallen, leaving the branches bare, skeletal… but it isn’t in the heart of winter either, like December is, because there’s still that strong sense of dying, rather than death, lingering in the air. I love November for all of these poetic reasons, and also for reasons more concrete: Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season! I can’t wait to start decorating my (well, Reed and V.J.’s) dorm room with garlands and wreaths and scented candles that we can’t actually light. I can’t wait to start hearing Christmas music in all the shops. I especially can’t wait for the whole nine-and-a-half days I get off for Thanksgiving Break, and getting to actually settle into “life in Williamsburg” again, for the first time since leaving for college. AAH, I’M SO EXCITED! So I think November’s going to be good.

Since last night, Halloween, is when the veil between the spirit world and our world is at its thinnest, I decided to do tarot card readings for all of you. For each of you, I asked what love holds in store for you for the remainder of the school year. Here are your results:

BAILEY:

The past: Page of Swords

“He keeps you guessing with misinformation.” Perhaps this refers to the boys you’ve like- young, fickle, never sending clear signals or at least enough of a signal to go by.

Obstacles: Seven of Swords

“…there is no sense of trust in a relationship… examine other’s motives… on an emotional level, you may give into pressure.” I think this is saying that you will encounter communications and trust issues in pursuing a relationship, and that you may be tempted to settle for less than you deserve or make bad calls in terms of your love-life because of the pressure you impose on yourself to actually make something happen in this arena.

Influences in your favor: Knight of Wands

“Whatever you’ve been waiting for begins to materialize, perhaps in the form of the charismatic knight himself, or as an inspiring, entrepreneurial phase… events are likely to speed up.” Clearly, this card could either represent an actual love interest or a change in attitude that will get the ball rolling for you.

Further influences: King of Swords

“As a symbol of a situation, projects take off, but do pay attention to detail to avoid delay.” This seems to me to predict that it’s important to take care that you get to know the guys you’re involved with thoroughly before actually pursuing them romantically, or else it will delay the development of the sort of relationship you want.

Near future: Knight of Cups

“Affection, friendship… a creative, dreamy individual, the knight heralds new relationships and friends. If you fall for the knight romantically, he may offer affection, but you may feel uncertain about his potential as a long term partner.” I think that this card is fairly self-explanatory… it’s also worth noting how many face cards you got in this reading, all of them males. That signifies to me that you will have many potential love interests or men in your life this year.

Long-term future: The Chariot

“Journey, determination, self-control, departure… the drive for adventure… you move on towards a new relationship… at this time, you will show great determination to get where you want to go… the horses [that pull the chariot] also represent libido, so there is also the frission of sexual adventure here.” I thought it was amazing that this card should appear in your reading, after having just talked to you the other day about your desire to go places and inability to be content in one place for lack of knowing exactly what everywhere else is like. I think this card is saying that no romantic relationship you develop this year will be lasting, because your drive to explore (both the world and your options romantically) will take you elsewhere before long. Also, clearly you will be experimenting sexually :D.

MIKA:

The past: Nine of Cups

“Vanity… relationships suffer due to egotism… frustrating delays to plans.” This card seems to be addressing the fact that you haven’t always had success in relationships, perhaps sometimes due to you or the boy in question feeling that you are/he is “above” the other (one of you looking in the wrong places for love out of vanity). This also speaks to the frustration you’ve felt in the past over bad timing and inaction, i.e. “delays in plans.”

Obstacles: Four of Swords

“Time away from familiar surroundings… you may be feeling isolated due to lack of contact with others.” I think this is referring to the fact that you’re at college now, dealing with new surroundings and a very different sort of guy than the guys you’re used to dealing with back home, which majorly changes up the game.

Influences in your favor: Three of Wands

“Self-expression… events speed up, with more communication…” This is addressing the potential you have to attract people and develop relationships if you only remember to be yourself and communicate, both in the sense of trying to get to know a guy and in the sense of expressing your needs and desires in a relationship.

Further influences: Two of Cups

“A love commitment… this card indicates a happy relationship.” Clearly, since you’re single, this isn’t talking about you (as it’s a “influence” card, not a “future” card), so this could be referring to a couple in your life you influences your expectations for relationships (your mom and dad, friend’s parents… maybe even me and Reed :D!). Conversely, this card can mean “one person may be unwilling to commit to a partnership. Relationships suffer as communication fails.” In this case, it’s a caution against what may happen as you pursue relationships… or a reminder of a lesson you’ve learned in your previous relationship experiences.

Near future: Four of Wands

“Postponement… you may be finding it difficult to bring together conflicting aspect of your life just now… rewards seem elusive as you lose out to other contenders… stay focused and be open to possibility, rather than give up too soon.” This one seems pretty self-explanatory… delay in what you want due to inability to adjust or balance aspects of your life. This could refer to adjusting/balancing your attitudes about friendship versus romantic relationship. The next part suggests that guys you’re into are going to end up being into other girls, which will be discouraging. The last part is advice- be open to the possibility that the right guy for you is going to be one you didn’t expect.

Long-term future: Nine of Swords

“You may be feeling trapped by a sense of despair that is becoming all too familiar, so that it is virtually impossible to recognize a good thing when it comes along. Try to acknowledge that this way of thinking is becoming a pattern…” I think this is saying that as the year goes on you’re going to be depressed by the “postponement” (as referenced in the near future card) of anything actually happening in your love life, and start to despair of anything ever actually happening for you, which will impair your ability to follow the advice of the “near future” card- that you should be prepared to see a good thing when it comes at you from an unexpected place. You should also be aware that you’re the only constant in all your failed attempts at relationships, and it’s patterns of attitude rather than action that you need to focus on changing to bring about more positive results.

CHRISSY:

The past: Ten of Cups

“…you may find yourself missing the company of usual friends. There may be some mild disruption in a family circle or other network.” This makes sense, since obviously you, like all of us, are adjusting to life after high school, and the return of your father recently could be the disruption mention… the stress of these factors will cause you to change and develop in ways that will affect what you search for in a partner.

Obstacles: Page of Cups

“Frustration… the Page seeks attention and has difficulty expressing his feelings in a positive way. He may be a child or young person in your life who is going through a difficult phase.” I think this card could either be a person in your life, perhaps a male you’re interested in or who’s interested in you, or it could be you yourself, going through the “difficult phase” of adjusting to adulthood.

Influences in your favor: Two of Swords

“Peace returns after a time of discord and turmoil. Be cautious and factual, and consider every aspect. You will need to balance carefully your needs with those of the other party if you are to come to an agreement.” The first line may again refer to your father coming home, and the new perspective that’s given you on your parent’s relationship and also your entire family dynamics. This card also seems to caution against rushing into a crush or relationship without considering it carefully first. Finally, when you do meet someone who could be significant to you, be aware that balancing your needs and his will be an especial challenge for you- in your case, I think it’s more likely that you’ll be inclined to subsume your desires to his. The fact that this card appears as an “influence in your favor” indicates that you will be successful in doing all these things.

Further influences: Page of Wands

“Cautious progress… As a person, the Page is a natural talker, full of loquacious charm but easily bored.” From this description, I think the Page is you. This card suggests that your personality plays a big part in who is attracted to you, so always let it show through and you’ll attract the kind of people who are most compatible with you. Cautious progress means that you need to temper your personality at times even still, while never actually acting like someone you’re not.

Near future: Ace of Wands

“Delay… the timing is not right for what you want to create… this causes frustration… success is within reach, however, and with patience it will come.” Obviously this is saying that, for the time being, you will have to keep waiting for something to actually happen in terms of your love life. In the context of the reading, I feel like it’s saying that you have a lot of growing and changing to do before you’re ready for a serious relationship, because if you find someone right now who you want to be with, that same someone isn’t going to be compatible with you for long. I think the key to this is letting your personality develop and even itself out as you get older and transition to adulthood, because personality, balance, and adulthood are all recurring themes in this reading.

Long-term future: The Lover

“A successful decision is to be made, which is based upon maturity and foresight. The lovers can also reveal outgrowing an environment, such as a young person leaving home and taking a step toward independence.” This card echoes all of the others, reiterating the importance of maturity, growth, and becoming an adult. It suggests that if you can do these things, and not until then, you will be in an ideal position to begin looking for a serious relationship, so focus on growth for now and good things in your love life will follow.

KATIE:

The past: The Hanged Man

“Waiting… you may need to hang around waiting for someone else to make a decision. There is little you can do but wait.” Since this card represents the past, I think it’s referring to your situation before leaving Williamsburg, and your sense of waiting around for life to begin.

Obstacles: Two of Cups

“One person may be unwilling to commit to a partnership. Relationships suffer as communication fails…” This could be a prediction, or a warning. Maybe lack of experience with guys in the romantic sense will lead to communication problems, especially with regards to expectations in a relationship.

Influences in your favor: Strength

“Courage, patience, and persistence… aims can be achieved with quiet confidence rather than displays of overt strength. This card is also about internal conflict, and the necessity of accepting your shadow side.” I think you’re a very strong person, naturally, and so this card is clearly saying that that’s your biggest advantage in the game of love. It also cautions though that you need to accept the ways in which you’re weak- you can’t do everything and be everything for everyone, and trying to do so will impede you in finding a happy relationship.

Further influences: Seven of Wands

“…your goals are worth pursuing. You may not have an easy path to follow but, with perseverance, you can get where you need to be. There is a great chance that you will succeed.” This card seems to me like it’s speaking more to your academic goals than romantic goals. Since you have, as a musician, such rigorous demands on you and your time, this card may be suggesting that this is what you need to focus on now in order to ever feel like you deserve to take time to pursue relationships. Obviously, this is an overall positive card, since it predicts you will succeed.

Near future: Page of Pentacles

“As a person, the Page is responsible and diligent; he symbolizes hard work and a mature attitude.” It’s pretty clear to me that the page is you, Katie, and this card seems to say that as you have always been, so you will be for the near future. Your responsibilities and vision for the future will continue, for the time being, to take precedence over romantic pursuits.

Long-term future: Justice

“ Justice argues for a reasoned, pragmatic approach to challenges as opposed to avoidance and denial, or extreme responses. Balance is all.” This card warns that you may tend towards extreme responses, and that you would do well to try to temper that. You can’t be all work all the time, in other words, and balance is something you’re always going to struggle with. Another reading of this card admonishes “Judge yourself kindly”- you deserve good things, you deserve freedom, and you deserve love, so don’t forget to make time for it!