Hey sweetie! I was wondering if you had the time to do a reading for me? I've been very apathetic lately, and my headspace is all foggy. I'm struggling with motivation, and am not sure how to get out of my funk. I hope I'm doing this right. I'm new to this way of looking at things.
sweetness! those feelings are so common, but they can make you feel so alone, and without a place to turn. for this reading, i’ll use the wildwood tarot—perfect for looking deep within. also, i’m trying ocarinawitch‘s self love spread, which looks like this:
C1 represents where you are right now. in OW’s words, “This could represent your current level of self esteem, or it could be describing what’s dragging you down - or even good shit you just haven’t noticed lately.”
the queen of bows — the hare. bows represent the element of fire, associated with passion, will, and enterprises fuelled by both. hares are wise and witty, gentle and kind, and the queen is all of that at its zenith. she is utterly supportive, full of sympathy and understanding, but also has a lot of cunning to her—she strengthens your resolve, but also leads you to what you need to bring success to your current enterprise.
OW calls C2-4 your admirable qualities:
C2 — the seven of vessels, drawn reversed
vessels carry water, and water carries our emotions and intuition. the seven of vessels upright is a card of mourning, and encompasses the emotional transition of letting things go, as well as the honor we bestow upon those who have passed. in reverse, the cups are upside down—they have no time to hold onto the past, because they’re constantly moving forward.
C3 — the eight of stones
stones represent the earth, and our material goods. the eight of stones is a card of skill—we see a man carving stones into a variety of tools. these tools are practical, but they’re made with love. you have a capacity for intense concentration and dedication. continue to master your skills for your own self-betterment, and remind yourself of the skills you already possess.
C4 — the green woman, drawn reversed
the green woman is the universal mother. she appears to us at times when we most need her nurture and protection, and she rules over our learning, intuition, and close relationships. on the wheel of the year she sits at the midsummer solstice, representing the kinetic energy that carries the potential of the spring equinox through to the harvest of plenty in the fall equinox. this is an interesting card to have drawn in reverse—I don’t think this reversal indicates antithesis, but rather disconnect. as the furthest out of your admirable qualities, i think this reversal indicates that you can’t see the green woman in and around yourself, rather than you representing her reversed image.
next, C5-7 show the things you’ve already overcome that you should be proud of:
C5 — the stag, drawn reversed
the stag is the king and guardian of the forest, known in other decks as justice. he represents responsibility and divine intervention, so his reversed meaning is clear—you have survived without these things. the stag represents great change, realizing that you must evolve yourself and your views and then following through with it. the reversal indicates that you have taken on the change and responsibilities of this card without a guardian, without a divine defender.
C6 — the guardian [ooooh]
this is the wildwood tarot’s approximation of the devil. the skeleton of a great bear stands within a dark cave, “challenging those who would enter the cave of ancestral memory without understanding the nature of their own darkness.” he is a powerful and chaotic being of deep power. from the darkness within us he draws courage, knowing, and strength, and he can offer it to you, if you’re ready. this card represents a steep inner challenge, and involves facing your own darkness in the mirror and understanding it. recognize that beyond the fear in this situation, there is opportunity.
C7 — the seven of stones
the seven of stones is a card of healing. we see the green woman [very relevant to her reversed image in C4!] sitting in a henge of seven stones. the crown of her head is directed up at the rising sun, and there’s a clear line of power being drawn from there into her hands, which are held above a fallen hunter. this card represents rejuvenation after a period of intense effort, and also has ties to the process of forgiveness that is crucial to moving past hurt.
lastly, C8 ties it all together, and shows you how to remind yourself of the good things we see here:
the queen of arrows, drawn reversed. arrows fly through air, which represents our intellect. the queen of arrows has the image of a stately swan—upright, she indicates loss and suffering, a separation that leads to great sorrow [think of the myth of leda.] reversed, though, i think this card is reminding you to take pleasure in the things that you have, to celebrate and enjoy the woman you are today and the life that’s brought you to this point.
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every reading i do with this deck is so balanced: we see every suit, and a great deal of divine power in this spread. the green woman in reverse in C4, who shows up later in C7, is very telling—open yourself up to her to help you come to the fruition of the queen of bows and reversed queen of arrows. as far your talents and admirable qualities, the eight of stones reminds you that you’re incredibly skilled in so many arenas, and the reversed seven of vessels says that you have an ability to not get hung up on losses. with what you’ve overcome, i see a progression: the feeling of being “on your own” through the reversed stag led to the challenge of the guardian. remember that you’ve not only conquered his challenge, but also gotten through the mental and spiritual healing on the other side of it shown by the seven of stones. to draw upon those healing energies again, open yourself up to and unreverse the green woman—her powers can bring you back to your two queens.
