Category Archives: Q&A

He Said She Said

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Do men and women read tarot differently? Is the guidance we offer the same – or is there a distinct masculine/feminine edge to our words?  Join Theresa Reed and myself each month as we tackle questions sent in from our readers and see how different – or similar – we really are with our interpretations and advice.

We will each prepare a reading separately and then comment on each other’s interpretations and put this all together in one fun (and thought provoking) post for our readers to enjoy.

This isn’t a “tarot battle of the sexes” – this is an exploration, a mash up, a contemplation.

If you’d like to see your question featured, send it to me at info@personaltarotwithmatt.com or Theresa at  tarotlady@wi.rr.com with “He Said She Said Question” in the subject line.

Question from Katie: What can I do to find love in 2012? 

Matt’s reading:  Eight of Wands: This is a card of swift action and motion.  My short answer as to how you can find love?  Get out there and seek it.  Let yourself go with the speed of the wind into your life.  Experience the rise and fall of your motion like a leaf on a stiff breeze.  Allow yourself the freedom to go to places and do things that you have never done before.  I also am hearing that a connection to the outdoors and nature itself will help you in finding the love you are seeking.  Get involved with groups that explore areas of nature around your area.  Take walks in the park, visit the nearest woods, get up and out of your daily life.

Eight of Cups:    The eights in general are a call to action for me.  In this card, you are called to set aside your perceptions of what love is supposed to be and seek out what it truly is.  Like Persephone leaving the comfort of the temple for her time with Hades, you too will need to experience and explore the shadow side of yourself to gain a greater understanding of what love is.  I say this as a man who has been hurt deeply on many levels in love and has risen from that, you need to experience the pain to know the joy of what love is.  The failed relationships teach us just as much as the successful ones.  Sometimes more.

Four of Pentacles: Yes, you need to get out of your comfort zone to experience what you do not have.  Yet, this is not to say that you need to give up your moral standards or ethics.  The Four of Pentacles here calls for you to hold tight to your ideals while you are out exploring.  Enter into relationships, but if they do not hold up to your ethics and morals, move on.  Relationship exploration is not about giving up who you are, it’s about taking who you are with you and seeking a balancing and compatible energy.  The right relationship is out there, but you need to get out and meet it half way.

Theresa’s response:  I am astounded by how similar Matt and I interpreted these cards!  The fact that we both urged Katie to “get out there” and break out of her “comfort zone” shows that both men and women can view the same situation and come to almost identical conclusions – right down to some of the same words!  Perhaps when it comes to matters of the heart, we are more alike than we care to admit.  I really loved that Matt was able to show his sensitive side again – his ability to relate Katie’s situation to his own was remarkable and intimate.  As a female, this would have set me at ease with him right away, especially if this was my first experience getting a reading from a man.

Theresa’s reading:  In the traditional Rider Waite deck, the 8 of Wands and 8 of Cups are both about movement – while the 4 of Pentacles is about stability.  Right away, this says to me that Katie needs to start moving and get out of her comfort zone if she wishes to find love this year.

Now, when I look at the cards that Matt drew from the Spiral Tarot, I get some different vibrations here – first of all, the 8 of Wands still suggests movement – notice the wind blowing the wands up in the air!  This seems to suggest travel or to simply travel in new crowds, to new places.  If Katie tends to stick to the same old same old haunts, she may not be opening herself up to someone new that could share her interests.

Next, I see the woman in the 8 of Cups – she’s lingering by a doorway.  There is a cup right there at the door but she’s looking backwards and hesitating.  It’s almost as if she is holding herself back from making that step outward to find love. Does she think it will come to her door?  It may. But she’ll be stacking the odds in her favor if she takes the first step outward.  This is about bringing adventure into her life.  It’s about getting out there even if you don’t know what you are doing or who you may meet.

The 4 of Pentacles in this deck has an image of a man holding on to a coin with two under his feet but one also on top of his head.  What strikes me about this card is the tiny window – it almost looks like a prison window.  This is another suggestion that Katie shouldn’t limit herself to a narrow space.  It’s time to be vulnerable, try new things, get herself out there.  To me, this is the strongest card in the spread and it indicates her comfort zones may be difficult to break.  She’s holding on to the familiar and shielding her heart.  She needs to explore why and then work diligently to change that dynamic.  Take a risk.  Get out there!

Matt’s Response:Theresa’s reading really presented a wonderfully similar message with some great twists on what we were both seeing.  The big picture message seems to really carry through that Katie needs to get out to new places and see things from a new perspective. I find it interesting that I was feeling more of a shadow side to the Eight of Cups and the need to feel the pain to appreciate the joy. While Theresa was picking up a lighter side of seeking the adventure that the dark and unknown has to offer. Conversely, Theresa was seeing a more trapped energy in the Four of Pentacles and Katie being held hostage by her own comfort zone and I saw a need to hold onto her values and morals. Combining the two messages together really gives Katie the mindset she will need to get out there and jump into her life with both feet!

Find out more about Theresa and I by exploring our websites

Matt Williams

http://personaltarotwithmatt.com

Theresa Reed

http://www.thetarotlady.com

What advice would you give Katie baed on these cards?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Illustrations from the Spiral Tarot reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright © 1997 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited

“He Said” – “She Said” -Nov. 2011

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Do men and women read tarot differently? Is the guidance we offer the same – or is there a distinct masculine/feminine edge to our words? Join Theresa Reed and myself each month as we tackle questions sent in from our readers and see how different – or similar – we really are with our interpretations and advice.

We will each prepare a reading separately and then comment on each other’s interpretations and put this all together in one fun (and thought provoking) post for our readers to enjoy.

This isn’t a “tarot battle of the sexes” – this is an exploration, a mash up, a contemplation.

If you’d like to see your question featured, send it to me at tarotlady@wi.rr.com or Matt at info@personaltarotwithmatt.com with “He Said She Said Question” in the subject line.

Question from Bonnie: Two years ago, my two daughters (now ages 8 and 13) and I moved into an apartment down the hall from my fiance. A year ago, my fiance and I got married, but he is still reluctant to move in with us — he feels very anxious about it. Can you tell me what issue we most need to focus on in order to build a stronger sense of connection as a family? 

Matt’s reading: Knight of Pentacles, Eight of Swords, Wheel of Fortune. Bonnie, In looking at your cards, the first thing I see is that you and your husband need to get your feet on common ground as far as your expectations and plans for the future. There is a sense that while you are both looking in the same direction, you are not seeing the same things. I see him represented in the Knight of Pentacles and you in the Eight of Swords. When we look at the cards themselves, we can see that the Knight is very focused on the earthly, physical needs around him. He is industrious and seeks growth in all he does. His work is very important to him and carries with it his sense of self. He is ruled by Virgo and feels a great need to have all his “ducks in a row” and may even experience great anxiety when confronted with disorder and perceived chaos. This does not mean that he does not have that same desire to create growth. He may however, be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain as to how he can make that happen in such an unfamiliar environment.

In the Eight of Swords, there is an overwhelming feeling that you are letting your emotions cloud and disrupt your thoughts. The figure in the card is bound and seemingly stranded in a muddy pool. Surrounded by swords, she feels trapped and helpless as she cannot see her way out. The anxiety and frustration is real as the more she struggles, the tighter the ropes seem to get. However, if she can calm her mind and her emotions, she will find that the ropes are not tied and can be slipped off.

Here is where I start to see the disconnect between you and your husband and how to start building towards a greater sense of family. Imagine for a moment, that you and your husband are the figures in these cards. You are calling out to him for help as you feel trapped and bound in a situation you cannot see the future of. He is safely grounded on shore and though he cares for you, he does not feel that he needs to get in the water to help you. He can see that you are able to free yourself if you just “calm down”. From his vantage point, all you need to do is untie yourself and come to where he is, up on the land where it is safe and dry. From your point of view, what you need from him is to come into the water to comfort you so that you can work through your emotions and fears knowing that you are safe and protected by him.

The Wheel of Fortune carries with it an element of luck and chance but also a calling to harness the power of the stars and take advantage of the strengths you have been given. Though I am not sure what your astrological charts look like, I am led to believe that there are a fair number of opposing forces at work here for you two. Understanding your individual strengths and weaknesses as potential ways to support and encourage each other can hep you to find the middle ground that seems to be lacking in your current relationship status. Your husband’s analytical side can help you to see patterns and paths towards growth together. Your passion and emotion can help him to understand that the world is not colored in black and white and it is in muddied waters that we are most excited to find hidden treasures.

Focus your energies on meeting in that middle ground where the safety of the land meets the unpredictability of the waters. It will take a conscious effort of both of your parts to do this as neither of you will be happy living wholly in the realm of the other. Almost like the pages from a romantic story, take steps towards understanding each others fears and you can walk together down the shoreline. One foot on land and one in sea.

Theresa’s comments about Matt’s reading: Who says guys can’t be sensitive? Matt’s reading is very nurturing and the advice is sound. I also found it intriguing that I see a lot of “control” issues present in my reading while Matt saw two people needing to find common ground. It also seems that we both found that Bonnie needed to center herself emotionally before approaching her partner with the issue. The one thing that I think Matt and I both agree on is that this relationship can get through this – with communication and mutual respect, they should be able to find that middle path.

Theresa’s Reading: The Chariot, The Magician, Ace of Swords. This seems to be about feeling “in control” on his part. When I look at The Chariot I see that the man is wearing armor and he is holding tightly on to the reigns. For him, keeping his own space may be allowing him to feel as if he is more in control of his life. He may have fears about giving up some sort of control or privacy should he move in with Bonnie and her daughters.

The Magician can be interpreted as willpower – another sense here that the partner may be feeling as if he needs to assert himself. Notice in both cards there is a solo man – could it be that he is used to living by himself and is uncomfortable moving in with three females? Perhaps he is worried that he will lose himself in the process. The Chariot and Magician cards are both rather strong – he feels very strongly about keeping his space/life as is.

I look at the Ace of Swords and that says that it may be time to approach this in a logical format. Talk with him and perhaps appeal to his rational side rather than trying to push this on an emotional level. Guilt or any sort of pushiness may make him dig his heels in further. Show him the benefits of living together – but be patient. This much stubbornness cannot be undone overnight.

Matt’s comments about Theresa’s reading: These are great cards to show where he is at and how to get through to him. Even in my spread, he was symbolized by a solo male figure that is in control and not terribly eager to give up the comfort of that solitude and order. With the presence of Swords here as well, I agree that it will be on a logical level that you can get through to him. Plans will need to be drawn up together on how to build a cohesive family structure. Actionable steps with logical reasons will help him to see the benefits of coming together as family. But this card is not just for you or him individually. It is a call for both of you to stop for just a minute and approach this from a new line of thinking. What has worked in the past is just not carrying you towards the future you are desiring. It’s time to try something new!

Blessings,

Matt

http://personaltarotwithmatt.com/

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

What do you think? What advice would you give Bonnie? Do you see any difference or similarity in our readings? What surprised you? Post your thoughts in the comment section below:

New Feature Debuting This Friday! “He Said – She Said”

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Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to have lunch with a great group of people including one of my favorite fellow Tarotists, Theresa Reed (a.k.a. The Tarot Lady).  As can be expected, the topic turned to Tarot and we started discussing the different viewpoints that each reader has on the cards.

As the discussion progressed, Theresa and I started pondering what effect the gender of the reader has on the style and outcome of the reading.  In true Tarot fashion, we decided there was no better way to figure this out than to put it into action.  Each month, we will be selecting a question from one of our readers.  Individually, we will then prepare a reading, comment on each other’s perspectives and mash it all together for you, our wonderful readers to enjoy.

The first installment  will be up for your reading pleasure this Friday on both of our blogs.  While your waiting, I invite you to check out our websites and see what other fun things we have going on!

Matt

http://personaltarotwithmatt.com

 

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

 

Q&A time: Celebrate your own Independance

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Throughout this month, I will be dedicating my blog posts to answering questions that my readers have about the Tarot.  These questions cover the range from my esoteric view of the cards to reading styles and more.  I will be answering these questions from my perspective and using historical fact and/or expert opinion where it is warranted.  I am excited to offer this opportunity as it not only allows you, the reader, a chance to voice your questions but it also gives me an opportunity to really dig in and explain why I view the cards in the way I do.  OK, enough fluff…let’s get to our first question!

M.H. asked: “I would like to know how the Hierophant card is interpreted by modern readers, considering the shift we’re in away from organized religion. How do you interpret the card when it appears in a spread, and do you think it’s still valid in today’s cultural climate that’s been a bit anti-priest lately?”

Excellent question M.H.!  This is a great question to look into given the spirit of independence that is celebrated today here in the U.S.   I pulled the Hierophant card out of  a number of decks that have been published over the past century.  In looking at the cards themselves we can see the shift that you are talking about away from organized religion.  This card, sometimes referred to as The Pope, is all about structure and faith. It holds esoteric knowledge as well as a guide to personal enlightenment.

In some of the older cards like the Rider-Waite-Smith version, we see a very Catholic looking man surrounded by symbols of religious structure.  The stone pillars and chair that are pictured show the rigidity of how our faith should be.  It is in our unwavering faith that the house of God is held up. If we falter or waiver in our faith then God’s judgement will come crashing down upon us. This view of religion is not as welcome in today’s society any more.  The idea of following blindly behind any religious leader has been shaken by a countless number of scandals over the years.  Yet, when we look closer at this card, the colors that are used speak volumes to the true message behind it.  The red, white, blue and yellow that are featured speak to love, peace, understanding and joy.  The original structures that set up all major religions were based on these tenets.  There are times that we need strict guidelines as to how to keep our focus in life on these four virtues and this is where the Hierophant comes into play.  However, his role is shifting from that of dictator to benevolent leader and eventually I see him being more of a guide and mentor.

The next step in the Hierophant’s evolution is displayed in Ciro Marchetti’s Legacy of the Divine Tarot.  He has relabeled this card “Faith” and has shown leaders of four different faiths all praying around a golden pillar of light.  With the traditional view of Trump V having to do with setting one way to enlightenment we see here the idea that there is more than one way and all are equally effective.  I have long held that all major religions are based on the same basic principles of showing love and respect for yourself and your fellow man.  How can there be only “one way” to do this?  Shouldn’t each man or each society be able to express this in the way that seems most appropriate to them?  The source of love is still the source of love no matter what name you give it.

If we look at the Hierophant as a teacher and mentor we are able to learn the principles behind his knowledge and then apply them into our own lives as we see appropriate.  In Kay Steventon’s Spiral Tarot, we see a much less refined spiritual leader showing us how the mysteries of the universe can be applied to our lives to promote growth.  This figure is shown as simply a head and hands to let us know that he is there to “show and tell” but does not need to be followed directly.  There is an element of transparency in this card that says to me, “I will show you what I know and then remove myself so that you can evaluate it on your own”.  This is a greater step in each of us developing our own path toward enlightenment.  We are all inundated with information that we are told will help us grow as humans and as spiritual beings.  However, it is up to us to determine what resonates with us and what will hold us back.

The greater levels of personal enlightenment and spiritual freedom we are experiencing have shifted our need for spiritual leaders.  There will always be a need for teachers and leaders to help us learn new ways to connect with Spirit and share the pillars of love, peace, understanding and joy with those around us.  However, as we receive these new teachings, there is a clearer ability to discern the most effective way to apply them in our lives.  We have the guidance and wisdom of the Hierophant around us, with the independence to put it into practice individually.

How do you apply the Hierophant’s teachings in your life?  How do you see his role in your life?

 

If you have a question about the Tarot that you would like me to answer, please share it below or email me at info@personaltarotwithmatt.com