houseoffourcats

[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile & Find Out!

26 July 2023

CW: Illustrated nudity

Like this reading? Please check out my Etsy page for affordable personalized readings! Also, please leave feedback if you feel so moved. Thanks for your support!

Pile One

IX of Coins (Reversed) - IV of Coins - III of Cups

An interesting thing about this reading is that both of the two people in the first two cards, those of the Coins suit, can also be seen in the third. At the same time, the Coins cards, which suggest material instability or insecurity, contrast with the happiness of the III of Cups.

Times are economically difficult right now. You might find yourself looking around at where you stand financially and wondering what happened, why you're still living paycheck to paycheck despite everything you've done so far (inflation and stagnant wages may have something to do with it...). You might also be doing your best to save, and as a result have a little left over after your necessities... but not so much that you feel like you can risk spending it. If you aren't in a financially precarious position right now, you know people who are, even if they're not being open about it.

The III of Cups is here as a reminder that money isn't the only source of happiness, or even security. You have people around who can and will support you through hardship, or people who you can help distract from their troubles with a good time. Even if you're a little hard-hit right now, you should still let yourself go out with friends for a drink or a movie now and then. Buying a coffee every so often isn't why you're struggling so much, and isn't a moral failing on your part. On the other hand, if you're doing well for yourself right now, offer to pick up the tab now and then. Getting to live life to the fullest extent possible with your loved ones is worth it either way.

Pile Two

Ace of Swords (Reversed) - VI of Wands (Reversed) - The World

Despite a discouraging first couple of cards in this one, it ends on a positive note with The World. With this being a Major Arcana card, it's possibly the most important, and the source of the real message here. One interesting bit of symbolism is the various forms of plant life. All three cards show leaves or branches reaching up to the top of - and even outside of - the frame. With two of the cards reversed, this seems to suggest that you've reached your absolute lowest point. In the final card, though, the upward angle of the frond points up and outward, signifying a new, and better, direction.

You had an idea that really didn't work out. As this is a swords card, this is likely a belief, a framework for understanding things, or a plan. It made sense at the time it occurred to you, and you had a lot of reasons - good or otherwise - to think you were in the right. Even when the evidence started to show you otherwise, though, you clung on rigidly to your point of view and stayed the course. On the lower-stakes side of things, this could be something like writing or presenting in an academic setting based on unreliable sources. It could also have been closer to the other end of things, like getting caught up in a cult or extremist political movement. Whatever it was, you ended up in a situation where you lost face and self-confidence, as well as all the time and energy that went into this failure. It was humiliating, and now you're left up picking up the pieces on your own.

Whatever has brought you this low, though, will eventually bring you full-circle to something good - if not something exactly like what you wanted to accomplish with your idea, then something better. Once you've really taken a look at what happened that landed you in your current situation, you'll be not only willing to own your past failure, but to openly make it a central part of your future success. Maybe, for instance, you'll end up writing a book about the experience that helps others avoid the same mistake. You might also decide to dedicate your time and energy to an organization or effort that runs counter to your earlier beliefs and actions. None of this will necessarily make the present suck any less, but hopefully it will be of some motivation to start working toward making your situation come full circle.

Pile Three

VIII of Wands (Reversed) - Justice - IV of Wands

In this spread, two Wands cards surround the figure of Justice. Ribbons are a consistent visual theme here, expressing the spirit of each card with or without words. The two first cards show the action of the story, with Justice seeming to deflect the rushing wands of the VIII with her scale and sword. Her ribbon's message (translated as "Justice renders to everyone his due") is contrasted with that of the VIII of Wands's ("Fortune favors the bold"), suggesting that your luck may run out if you're boldly doing the wrong thing. The streamers of the final card indicate that the result of this will be celebration, or at least something worthy of it.

I read this spread to mean that doing things well rather than doing things quickly is the way to go. The reversed VIII of Wands suggests that whatever it is, it isn't as urgent as you think. Acting quickly will likely cause harmful miscommunication between people, and in any case will lead to a sub-optimal outcome. Justice calls upon you to hold yourself to the highest standard, because your actions will affect the outcome of something important. Find out what's true before acting on what you hear from other people. Weigh your options, and the interests of everyone involved, before you make any final decisions. Act with integrity, taking no shortcuts that would leave you with regrets about how you've handled the situation.

If you do all these things, the outcome will satisfy people and promote stability. If this in the context of work, for instance, your efforts will both help accomplish a project goal that helps your organization and build a stronger team between you and your coworkers. In a relationship setting, meanwhile, this could mean successfully resolving a longstanding issue between you and your partner or friend where both of you had valid complaints. Even in a context where you're acting alone, taking your time to both do things right and do the right thing will accomplish something that's really worth celebrating.

—

I hope you enjoyed this reading! If you did, please check out my Etsy page to get your own personalized reading. In any case, I’d appreciate feedback if you have the time and energy for it. Thanks for your support!

For now, here’s Wes after a brief excursion outside, looking expectantly at me for his dinner:

#pick a pile #pick a card #tarot #tarot readings #tarotblr #bonus cat picture

[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile & Find Out!

22 July 2023

CW: Illustrated nudity

If you like this reading, please leave feedback! Also, if you’d like your own personalized reading, check out my Etsy page. Thanks for your support!

Pile One:

The Chariot - II of Cups (Reversed) - VII of Wands (Reversed)

This reading went in an unexpected direction, with the powerful indication of movement toward victory depicted in the Chariot paired with two Minor Arcana cards that seem to contradict its positive connotations. With both Minor Arcana cards reversed, though, it seems to me that they’re linked in such a way that their upright meanings should also be considered.

The Chariot indicates that you will be finding a strong sense of purpose (if you haven’t already), and will be going at full speed toward this goal. It’ll be at a pace that works for you, though; not careless, but focused and exhilarating. There’s a problem, though: in the way of your charge forward will be one of your closest relationships. This is someone you’ve been inseparable from for a long time, with whom you’re on the same wavelength. Maybe it’s that you will have been neglecting a friendship in favor of pursuing a romantic partner, or putting aside a relationship in favor of working all the time toward a work-related or creative goal. If your focus were to be directed toward a cause, it may be something that alienates the other person, making them feel like they don’t even know you anymore.

The presence of the reversed VII of Wands next to the reversed II of Cups strongly suggests that you will need to step back from pursuing your goal to protect this relationship. You’ll have to back down on something important in this. Either way it will leave a bad taste in your mouth, but you’ll regret losing the close connection you have more in the end. If nothing else, when you do inevitably encounter a major hurdle in reaching whatever you’re trying to accomplish, you don’t want to be alone in facing it. This could very well be a “lose the battle to win the war” type situation, where backing down on some part of your goal or the specific plan to reach it will allow you to take some time to repair the relationship while finding another way forward. If the other person doesn’t like a potential partner of yours or strongly object on a political issue, you may have to agree to disagree and put that particular topic to the side for at least a while. In any case, make time for them, and let them take the lead for a while in deciding what to do and talk about so they know how much you value them.

Pile Two:

Knight of Cups - The Emperor - VIII of Swords

This reading reminds me of nothing so much as a classic fairy tale narrative - the knight in shining armor gets handed a quest by the king (or in this case the Emperor) to rescue a damsel in distress. This adventure-based reading is backed up by the fact that both Knights and VIII’s are cards of action. But it can’t be that simple, right? After all, the Emperor is both literally and figuratively (as a Major Arcana card) the central figure here. Still, court cards generally influence, rather than be influenced by, the cards around them.

In any case, you’re the Knight of Cups here, the main character of this particular adventure. You’re kind and idealistic, and likely have been waiting for a “quest” in life for a long time. That being said, you can be a bit flighty, and haven’t faced and overcome the sort of challenges that you’ll meet along the way yet. The Emperor, therefore, is not just there to give you a sense of purpose in this case, but help you fulfill it. He represents discipline - firm but not harsh. Whether he’s an actual person who inspires you to take action or a discipline in and of himself (such as a course of study), he’ll help you develop the perseverance you’ll need when things get tough. In particular, he’ll help you learn to use your head as well as your heart in the face of difficulty - you’ll need it!

The “damsel” is probably not an actual, single person. Likely it will be a group of people (or animals) that you want to fight for in one way or another who are trapped in overwhelmingly terrible situations. Maybe working on behalf of survivors of domestic violence, for instance, or becoming a cancer researcher to develop better treatments. However, you’ll find that the situation is more complicated than you thought; it’s a multifaceted issue that will require many different, careful, and informed approaches. There will be elements of it that even your preparation with the Emperor won’t have touched on. Figuring it out will allow you to better help more people, though, and maybe teach others to do the same. You might not be able to save or protect everyone, but every single person matters, and your efforts will matter greatly to them.

Pile Three:

X of Cups - IX of Swords - The Star (Reversed)

Oof, this one is pretty rough-looking one, save for the X of Cups there at the beginning. The contrast between the X of Cups and the IX of Swords suggests a conflict between your actual situation and your framework for understanding it. The reversed Star as I see it here is more of an explanation than anything, which can be used to better understand and shift that framework.

The good news is that everything’s going to work out for you! You have great friends and family - birth and found - who make you feel loved and seen. Your work and hobbies will inspire and fulfill you. You’ve come through a lot, but it’s all worked out. Except, it seems too good to be true. When you’re on your own and not doing anything to keep your mind occupied, you start thinking about how easy it would be for all of it to fall apart. Maybe you’ve had nightmares or even flashbacks about what came before and how it could happen again. Whatever it was, it was incredibly traumatic, and it shattered your trust in the world. You want to move on, but you don’t know how without letting your guard down… and that, you figure, is when the shoe will finally drop.

The framework you developed in response is there to protect you from ending up in the same situation you were in, or help you brace from the full effects of doing so. You can’t really think your way out of this, or just decide to believe something different when it flies in the face of your experience. Having faith and letting things go are made to sound much easier than they are. You may want to seek outside help. I can’t give medical advice, but I would strongly suggest doing some research on some of the newer interventions for trauma survivors. If an approach shames you, though, or doesn’t work for you, don’t try to force yourself to fit into that framework. In any case, it’s okay to take time to recover, and the people around you will stay by your side to support you.

—

I hope you enjoyed this reading! If so, please reblog or comment with feedback, and check out my Etsy page for personalized readings. Thank you!

Oh, and here’s a picture of Sam doing a blep:

#pick a pile #pick a card #tarot reading #tarotblr #tarot #bonus cat picture

[houseoffourcats]

Ouch! I’m sorry you’re in such a difficult position! I hope the solution (or the best one possible) becomes clear soon!

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile and Find Out!

20 July 2023

CW: Illustrated nudity

I hope you enjoy this reading! If so, please check out my Etsy page for affordable personalized readings. Feedback is also more than welcome. Thanks for your support!

Pile One

The Wheel of Fortune - III of Cups - III of Wands

With a wheel at the center of the Major Arcana card and two Threes to symbolize momentum, as well as the dancers in the III of Cups, this reading is ultimately about movement and change. With all three cards right side up, it's all good news right now!

Things will unexpectedly start to go quite well for you in all areas of your life, as symbolized by the four elements represented in this card. You'll find yourself passionate and filled with new ideas, while also having happiness and stability. Your friends and family will be proud of and excited for you, and will be there to share the good times with you. The real adventure starts after the celebrations, though. You'll be ready to put your ideas into action or follow through on what you've started. The III of Cups suggests that other people may be joining you. This could be a romantic partner building a healthy relationship with you, other people helping in a charitable or mutual aid effort, or collaborators in a creative project.

What you set off to do might not be what happens, though. The figure in the Wheel of Fortune is blindfolded, after all, and things can change very suddenly. The adventurer in the III of Wands thinks that they can see what's on the other shore, but it's at a distance, so he can only guess at the full details of things over there. Be prepared for things to change, but don't be let down if they do. Even if your luck changes periodically, you still have people who love and respect you there as support, and your goal won't be so far away for some complications to make it impossible.

Pile Two

VII of Swords - VII of Cups (Reversed) - VIII of Swords

With two Sevens and consecutive Swords cards that visually follow from one another, this is a fascinating spread. Sevens are about discernment and evaluation of one's situation. The suits, meanwhile, seem to show a tension between thoughts and emotions, and warn of the possible consequences of them not playing well together.

the VII of Swords can mean deception, but its imagery suggests that it could be about strategy as well as removing the source of a conflict. Its deceptive meaning could speak to taking action without the knowledge or consent of everyone involved. The VII of Cups reversed, meanwhile, is literally the central card here, getting the figure carrying swords away into the forest in the VII of Swords bound to a tree and left with even more swords in the VIII. While the upright VII of Cups can refer to too much imagination at the expense of the reality of the situation, the reversed VII can signal a false sense of "realism" that leads a person to shut their eyes to new possibilities. They have fears that prevent them from even considering them, but are keeping them in. The VIII here represents being stuck, or stymied, and having more problems than you started out with.

You're in the early stages of trying to resolve a problem, especially one between people. The conflict may involve you, such as between you and a partner, but it could just as easily be about problems that come up as part of work or between people you know. However, someone else thinks this move is too risky or outright pointless and won't (let you) give it a shot, regardless of how well thought out it is. Rather than solving the problem, your going forward with your idea without everyone being on board may lead to someone lashing out or retaliating against you. This doesn't mean the idea is bad. Still, you have to handle this situation carefully and diplomatically to avoid this outcome. Figure out what makes them afraid about your idea, and maybe change your messaging to address that fear. You've already shown yourself to be resourceful; you can find a way through of this!

Pile Three

The Chariot (Reversed) - Page of Swords (Reversed) - King of Swords (Reversed)

We have three reversed cards here - not necessarily a guaranteed bad outcome, but a warning. While we have a Major Arcana card at the beginning that's "driving" the rest of the spread, the most interesting thing about this spread is that we have two court cards from the same suit - one a page (apprentice) and one a king (master). These could represent two separate people, but they may also show a possible progression within yourself.

A common theme between all three of these cards are that the figures in them are holding sharp objects - a spear in the Chariot, and swords in the two court cards. If you aren’t careful with them, you can do a lot of unintentional harm. The Chariot is a powerful card that represents control and direction, so in reverse it can mean that, even if you still have power, you won't know what to do with it or how to use it responsibly. The Page of Swords, meanwhile, has dropped his wooden practice sword as well as his shield in favor of a metal sword, which he is polishing for use. Because this is the Swords suit, the reverse of this means that you may take on a faulty understanding of the situation, and lack the self-awareness to know you need to handle it differently. Without developing a new framework, you risk becoming the reversed King of Swords, using whatever power you have in a destructive way while being convinced you're in the right.

Chaos and crisis can have a significant of impact on your view of the world, but the resulting framework may be as extreme as the situation that gave rise to it. You may also cling particularly tightly to the beliefs you developed then as a way of keeping yourself safe. These ideas can unfortunately include biases and other worldviews that can be used as justifications to hurt other people, even on a small, interpersonal scale. Have the humility to regularly examine your beliefs and find out where they're coming from as you rise up in the world, so you can use your influence in a way that helps your children, employees, or other people who depend on and look up to you. Even if all you do is pass on what you learned to them, it will have an impact on the world around you, good or bad.

—

If you got something out of this reading, good or bad, I’d love to hear about it. If you liked it, please also check out my Etsy page for detailed yet affordable personalized reasons.

Thank you in advance for your support. For now, please enjoy Mina and Wes tolerating each other’s company (and waiting to see who can claim the food bowl first):

[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile and Find Out!

20 July 2023

CW: Illustrated nudity

I hope you enjoy this reading! If so, please check out my Etsy page for affordable personalized readings. Feedback is also more than welcome. Thanks for your support!

Pile One

The Wheel of Fortune - III of Cups - III of Wands

With a wheel at the center of the Major Arcana card and two Threes to symbolize momentum, as well as the dancers in the III of Cups, this reading is ultimately about movement and change. With all three cards right side up, it's all good news right now!

Things will unexpectedly start to go quite well for you in all areas of your life, as symbolized by the four elements represented in this card. You'll find yourself passionate and filled with new ideas, while also having happiness and stability. Your friends and family will be proud of and excited for you, and will be there to share the good times with you. The real adventure starts after the celebrations, though. You'll be ready to put your ideas into action or follow through on what you've started. The III of Cups suggests that other people may be joining you. This could be a romantic partner building a healthy relationship with you, other people helping in a charitable or mutual aid effort, or collaborators in a creative project.

What you set off to do might not be what happens, though. The figure in the Wheel of Fortune is blindfolded, after all, and things can change very suddenly. The adventurer in the III of Wands thinks that they can see what's on the other shore, but it's at a distance, so he can only guess at the full details of things over there. Be prepared for things to change, but don't be let down if they do. Even if your luck changes periodically, you still have people who love and respect you there as support, and your goal won't be so far away for some complications to make it impossible.

Pile Two

VII of Swords - VII of Cups (Reversed) - VIII of Swords

With two Sevens and consecutive Swords cards that visually follow from one another, this is a fascinating spread. Sevens are about discernment and evaluation of one's situation. The suits, meanwhile, seem to show a tension between thoughts and emotions, and warn of the possible consequences of them not playing well together.

the VII of Swords can mean deception, but its imagery suggests that it could be about strategy as well as removing the source of a conflict. Its deceptive meaning could speak to taking action without the knowledge or consent of everyone involved. The VII of Cups reversed, meanwhile, is literally the central card here, getting the figure carrying swords away into the forest in the VII of Swords bound to a tree and left with even more swords in the VIII. While the upright VII of Cups can refer to too much imagination at the expense of the reality of the situation, the reversed VII can signal a false sense of "realism" that leads a person to shut their eyes to new possibilities. They have fears that prevent them from even considering them, but are keeping them in. The VIII here represents being stuck, or stymied, and having more problems than you started out with.

You're in the early stages of trying to resolve a problem, especially one between people. The conflict may involve you, such as between you and a partner, but it could just as easily be about problems that come up as part of work or between people you know. However, someone else thinks this move is too risky or outright pointless and won't (let you) give it a shot, regardless of how well thought out it is. Rather than solving the problem, your going forward with your idea without everyone being on board may lead to someone lashing out or retaliating against you. This doesn't mean the idea is bad. Still, you have to handle this situation carefully and diplomatically to avoid this outcome. Figure out what makes them afraid about your idea, and maybe change your messaging to address that fear. You've already shown yourself to be resourceful; you can find a way through of this!

Pile Three

The Chariot (Reversed) - Page of Swords (Reversed) - King of Swords (Reversed)

We have three reversed cards here - not necessarily a guaranteed bad outcome, but a warning. While we have a Major Arcana card at the beginning that's "driving" the rest of the spread, the most interesting thing about this spread is that we have two court cards from the same suit - one a page (apprentice) and one a king (master). These could represent two separate people, but they may also show a possible progression within yourself.

A common theme between all three of these cards are that the figures in them are holding sharp objects - a spear in the Chariot, and swords in the two court cards. If you aren’t careful with them, you can do a lot of unintentional harm. The Chariot is a powerful card that represents control and direction, so in reverse it can mean that, even if you still have power, you won't know what to do with it or how to use it responsibly. The Page of Swords, meanwhile, has dropped his wooden practice sword as well as his shield in favor of a metal sword, which he is polishing for use. Because this is the Swords suit, the reverse of this means that you may take on a faulty understanding of the situation, and lack the self-awareness to know you need to handle it differently. Without developing a new framework, you risk becoming the reversed King of Swords, using whatever power you have in a destructive way while being convinced you're in the right.

Chaos and crisis can have a significant of impact on your view of the world, but the resulting framework may be as extreme as the situation that gave rise to it. You may also cling particularly tightly to the beliefs you developed then as a way of keeping yourself safe. These ideas can unfortunately include biases and other worldviews that can be used as justifications to hurt other people, even on a small, interpersonal scale. Have the humility to regularly examine your beliefs and find out where they're coming from as you rise up in the world, so you can use your influence in a way that helps your children, employees, or other people who depend on and look up to you. Even if all you do is pass on what you learned to them, it will have an impact on the world around you, good or bad.

—

If you got something out of this reading, good or bad, I’d love to hear about it. If you liked it, please also check out my Etsy page for detailed yet affordable personalized reasons.

Thank you in advance for your support. For now, please enjoy Mina and Wes tolerating each other’s company (and waiting to see who can claim the food bowl first):

#pick a pile #pick a card #tarot #tarot reading #tarotblr #tarot cards #bonus cat picture

[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile & Find Out!

18 July 2023

CW: Illustrated nudity

If you enjoy this reading, please check out my Etsy page, where I sell personalized tarot readings at an affordable price. Thanks in advance for your support!

Pile One

X of Wands - VI of Cups - X of Cups (Reversed)

We have two tens here, signifying that this is a reading about an ending to a phase or cycle. Likewise, there are two cups cards, so this is a reading primarily about emotional issues.

Like the figure in the X of Wands, you’ve been shouldering a lot. Even if it seems like you’re in the home stretch of whatever you’ve taken on, the weight of it is still too much for one person. The VI of Cups suggests you might be doing this out of fond memories or associations. Maybe it’s taking care of an elderly family member on your own, or helping an old friend through a hard time. There’s nothing wrong with taking that on - in fact, the opposite is true! - nor is it wrong for the other person to ask for help. Still, being overburdened can cause you to not be at your best in helping them, and even grow resentful if it’s not addressed. This could cause what was an otherwise good situation to crumble, as warned about by the reversed X of Cups.

You and whoever you’re supporting have a long history together and are incredibly important to one another, so the overall health of your relationship(s) should come first over any role you’re playing right now. Don’t be guilted into providing more than you can if you can avoid it. Setting boundaries with them early on about how much you can support them, in what form, for how long, and how often - and then being consistent in enforcing them - is a good place to start. Consider bringing in outside supports, such as other friends or family members, but likewise be sure that fair and realistic expectations are set in advance. You may also want to do some research on other options (nursing services, shelters, job opportunities, food stamps, or similar programs). or encourage whoever it is you’re helping to do so, to come up with a long term option that doesn’t involve burning yourself out.

Pile Two

The Wheel of Fortune (Reversed) - Knight of Swords (Reversed) - VII of Swords (Reversed)

This is a swords-heavy reading, meaning that much of the issue has to do with ideas and intellect… or lack of them. Still, with the Major Arcana card leading this off, luck is the driving factor here. One thing that stands out, though, is how the figure steering the reversed wheel is blindfolded and looking away from what she’s doing, which combines (not-so-)nicely with the reversed Knight of Sword’s tendency toward recklessness.

The reversed Wheel of Fortune shows you’ve had a string of bad luck in the recent past. You might have initially had control of the situation, but some early bad decisions led the problem to grow beyond what you could handle. Other things completely outside of your control have also gone wrong, making everything worse. Someone else, this reversed Knight of Swords, is putting an unhelpful amount of pressure on you to solve it quickly, tempting you to try to get out of this problem in a way that’s as careless as how you initially got into it.

People looking in from the outside, including your Knight of Swords, don’t necessarily understand the context, though. To either get useful advice or be given the space to fix things on your own, you’ll have to explain things fully, even if it doesn’t make you look particularly good. Taking the time to objectively and accurately look at the situation in order to explain it may also clarify the situation for you and give you ideas on how to turn things around. Don’t give yourself too hard a time if it takes a while to resolve, though; effort only goes so far, and sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting for better luck.

Pile Three

VI of Swords - Knight of Cups (Reversed) - The Moon

This is a mixed reading, with both the mind and the emotions in play. We also have a Major Arcana card here at the end, which suggests that the resolution will depend on the forces represented by the Moon… which also appears in the distance of the VI of Swords. At the same time, you might notice that the theme of water is present in both the VI of Swords and the reversed Knight of Cups.

You’re in a period of having to shift how you think about yourself and your place in life, if not how you view the world overall. You may be converting to a new religion or spiritual practice, for instance, or be learning more about your identity in ways you never expected. While this process is internal, it’s no small feat - there’s plenty of unhelpful self-perceptions, ideologies, and other mental frameworks you could get caught up in if you’re not careful. You may not be as emotionally available to others as usual right now, and maybe that’s for the best; you’re going to have a lot of emotions of your own to deal with along the way, and might find them difficult to rein in at times.

All the more reason to engage in some self-reflection, focusing on your unconscious and how it may be driving your thoughts and emotions. Be careful, though; don’t get so caught up in staring at the Moon that you crash your metaphorical boat into the rocks. At some point, you’ll have to go with your intuition about what’s right based on what you’ve learned so far and apply that to what’s in front of you - whether it’s something small like an argument or a major life decision - even if you don’t feel entirely sure of your beliefs about that particular thing yet. If nothing else, having the chance to test how your worldview or mindset plays out in reality will help you to fine-tune it. Be kind to yourself, though! Mistakes are understandable, and their results don’t mean you can’t adopt a different viewpoint later.

—

I hope you liked this reading! If so, please check out my Etsy page for affordable personalized readings. Thank you in advance!

For now, here’s a picture of Mina doing a peek out the window:

#pick a deck #pick a card #tarot reading #tarot #tarotblr #bonus cat picture

[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile & Find Out!

16 July 2023

CW: Illustrated nudity and bondage

If you enjoy this reading, please consider supporting my work by getting your own personalized reading at my Etsy page. Thanks!

Pile One

Four of Swords (Reversed) - The Emperor - Judgement (Reversed)

The thing that strikes me most about this reading is the combination of the IV of Swords reversed and the reversed Judgement card. The IV of Swords in the reversed position is about being all burnt out. You want to carry on, but you’re too exhausted. The Judgement card, when upright, is about revival and awakening. But here, it’s also reversed, suggesting that the figure in the IV of Swords can’t be awoken, or is refusing to be.

So what does the Emperor have to do with this? The Emperor is an authoritative father figure, and among the roles he plays is that of a courageous protector. He’s standing between the person attempting to rest in the IV of Swords and the figure of Judgement, as if to say, “not yet.”

You might be restless and waiting for the next stage in your life to begin, but if you haven’t had time to rest and process what’s happened in this one, whatever comes next will be a false start. Protect yourself from burning yourself out further by not taking on any new responsibilities or projects - in your personal life as well as work or school - where you don’t have to. Put up firm boundaries with others to make sure your downtime is respected, and stick to them. Wait until you actually feel rested before you try to make any big changes to your life, so that they’ll have a good chance of succeeding.

Pile Two

Justice (Reversed) - Temperance (Reversed) - The Wheel of Fortune

Okay, so that’s a lot of major arcana cards! There’s been some major injustice that’s either happened to you or that you’ve been witness to… one serious enough to have potential legal consequences. The combination of the reversed Justice card and the reversed Temperance card suggests that it’s likely some form of corruption. However, it could also refer to a failure of impulse control on the part of the person responsible for the injustice, such as being abusive to others out of anger. These two cards together also indicate that the people who should be restoring the balance and holding the wrongdoer accountable aren’t doing so.

The Wheel of Fortune card provides reassurance that this situation won’t continue on indefinitely, and that the perpetrator’s luck will soon run out. Specifically, as shown by the blindfolded figure steering the wheel in the card, the person responsible will do something reckless that finally turns the tide. Justice might not be done perfectly at the end of the day, and things may not be set back to how they were, but the cause of the harm will be dealt with so that it can continue.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t keep sounding the alarm on what’s going on, either as a survivor or a whistleblower. If nothing else, it will rattle the wrongdoer into being careless, and keep them on others’ radar enough that when they do make a giant mistake, it’ll be noticed. Keep yourself safe first and foremost, though - the presence of three major arcana cards suggests that the stakes are high here! You may want to talk to a lawyer depending on the situation and its fallout, whether it’s to sue for the harm you’ve experienced or to protect yourself against retaliation. You will come out of this better off than the wrongdoer, but expect it to feel incomplete and not as satisfying as you’d hoped.

Pile Three

The Devil - III of Wands - IX of Wands (Reversed)

Here, the figure in the III of Wands is turning their back on the Devil as they start off on an adventure. They not only intend to make a clean break with their past habits and patterns, but they’re ready to do so. This figure is you, so, congratulations!

Of course, there’s a reason you fell into the patterns you had before beginning your recovery journey. They were safe, in a way. They were familiar, or even enjoyable at times. Whatever you were trying to escape from or resolve through them is still there, and just as hard to deal with as it was before.

As shown through the reversed IX of Wands, you may relapse or fall back into repeating old cycles in times when you’re in too much pain or see no way out of your situation. It might happen more than once, even more than a few times. It’s not ideal, but when you’re ready, you can go back to starting out again as seen in the III of Wands. You might need to take more time to think about how you’re going to more effectively avoid or respond to triggers. Also, maybe don’t go it alone this time, if you’re already picking yourself back up - that way you’ll have someone to support you when it starts to feel like too much. It doesn’t make you a burden - the people in your life, especially those who care about you, are much better off with you doing well.

—

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But for now I leave you with this picture of Wes, sitting because he’s fitting as a cat does.

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[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile and Find Out!

14 July 2023

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Pile One

VI of Swords - IV of Coins - The Magician

The VI of Swords tells me that you escaped something hard if not downright traumatic - an abusive relationship, a toxic family, or a bad job, for instance. The process of getting out of that situation was by itself a long, difficult and even dangerous path. As a result, as seen in the IV of Coins, you’re careful not to lose what you managed to keep through all this. You don’t trust other people easily, and keep your resources - internal as well as material - out of sight so others don’t try to destroy them or use them against you.

The Magician calls upon you to do something new to come into your own after surviving that. In contrast to how the figure in the IV of Coins hides part of herself as well as her resources, his posture is open, his arms where people can see them… though he remains somewhat mysterious, draped as he is in black robes. More than that, though, he’s powerful, channeling strong forces through what he has - though it may not seem like much - to make big changes.

You shouldn’t have had to go through whatever it was you escaped from, and your wariness is completely understandable. When you’re ready, though, you can use the qualities and skills that got you through the difficult times, and any material resources you’ve kept throughout, to reclaim your power. The best case scenario is being able to use your experience in a transformative way, making things easier for other people experiencing what you did or preventing it from happening to others in the first place.

Pile Two

Ace of Swords - Page of Coins - The High Priestess (Reversed)

You have a great new idea, as represented by the Ace of Swords. Maybe it’s a project like a book or an invention, or a new way of thinking about things that informs the rest of your life. The Page of Coins shows that you’ve already set to learning how to put the idea into practice and laying a solid foundation for what comes next.

The thing is, though, you’re still learning, and not everything is intuitive yet - far from it. To make matters worse, there’s some bad advice out there (hopefully not what you’re reading here!), a lot of it coming from people with ulterior motives. The High Priestess warns you to be aware of what you don’t know, including who has your best interests at heart.

Your idea is a good one, even if there’s a steep learning curve. Do your research and think things through. Is that degree program or “boot camp” training a good investment, or is it a scam? Is the person who wants to work with you on this reliable, or will they try to take advantage? Also ask advice from those you know you can trust, especially if you know anyone who’s actually done something like this before. If you make it past this early stage without things going horribly wrong, you’ll get to the point of being able to make decisions in this area of your life with no problem.

Pile Three

Queen of Wands - The Hermit (Reversed) - III of Coins (Reversed)

The Queen of Wands and the reversed Hermit are two very different people here. The Queen of Wands is very driven and confident, and can be more than a bit impatient when it comes to getting things done. The Hermit reversed is directionless and doubting, thoughtful to a fault. The III of Coins reversed suggests here that this doesn’t make for a good partnership, whichever side of this dynamic you’re on.

It makes sense, in a way, why you would be drawn to each other. If you’re the Queen of Wands, you want someone who’s not going to try to usurp you, as it were. If you’re the reversed Hermit, making all the big decisions would be overwhelming, so having someone to do that piece of things is a must. It’s just that you’re too much the opposite of each other to work out, romantically, professionally or otherwise.

When you call this partnership quits, though, see what you can learn from it. Can you communicate your frustration with a delay in a kinder way, if you’re the Queen of Wands? If, on the other hand, you’re the Hermit reversed, can you ask for help making a decision earlier so you don’t agonize over it endlessly before getting anything done? This will help you develop a healthy relationship with someone, where your needs and skills complement one another’s rather than clashing.

—

I hope you enjoyed today’s reading! If so, please head over to my Etsy page for a more personalized reading at an affordable price.

In the meantime, though, here are Arya and Sam enjoying the cool tiles of the kitchen together:

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[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile & Find Out!

CW: Illustrated nudity

If you enjoy this, I hope you’ll check out my Etsy page to get a more in-depth and personalized reading!

Pile 1

The Hierophant - X of Wands - The Chariot

You’ve been trying to do things the “right way,” as according to the authority figures in your life or conventional wisdom. The people giving you instructions or advice think that what they’re calling upon you to do, and the way you’re supposed to do it, is easy. However, it’s anything but. The stress of having to meet these demands is starting to become too much, and it’s compounded by feeling like there must be something wrong with you for having a hard time doing what everyone else (allegedly) finds easy. Setting your own expectations for yourself and figuring out how you can realistically meet them will both make your life much easier and make you feel more confident that you’re on the right track.

Pile 2

The Hanged Man (Reversed) - Temperance (Reversed) - King of Coins

This is a reminder that some things just come down to luck, and you don’t need to judge yourself or others by your results. The person who has everything they could ever want may not have done anything better than you have. They may have sacrificed less, procrastinated more, and been more reckless, but had advantages that you didn’t, such as family money or the right connections. If you are the King of Coins in this equation, don’t let your unexpected success go to your head. Remember that things could easily have gone the other way for you, and apply that to others in how you choose to treat them.

Pile 3

Death - The Emperor (Reversed) - VI of Cups (Reversed)

You’re in the process of trying to change and grow, but that means reevaluating things from the past and how they affected you. You’ll learn that an important person in your early life who you respected and looked up to isn’t as good as you remembered or wanted to believe. This will unfortunately color your memories and experiences around that person, forcing you to reconcile the person you thought you knew with the person as they are or were. Whether and how you change will depend heavily on what you take from this process: what positive aspects of that relationship you can carry forward, what you’re willing to ignore to keep that relationship or memory intact, and what you’re willing to leave behind as toxic.

—

I hope you liked this reading! If you did, please check out my Etsy page, where I offer in-depth personalized readings for an affordable price. For now, though, here’s a picture of Sam enjoying the feeling of freshly-washed sheets.

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[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know? Pick a Pile and Find Out!

CW: Illustrated nudity and bondage

If you enjoy this, please check out my Etsy page for a personalized reading!

Pile 1

Queen of Wands - The Moon (Reversed) - The Hermit

Wow, with two Major Arcana cards and the Queen of Wands, this is reading hints at some major things to come! As far as the illustrations here, notice how the Queen of Wands is looking away from the Moon, and the Hermit is likewise walking away from it.

You’re going to be at the helm of something major, responsible not only for having the vision of what you hope to accomplish but carrying it out as well. It will be very anxiety-inducing and overwhelming at first, even if you were the person who came up with the idea, but once you sort out all the components and steps required, it will become a lot more manageable.

Taking dedicated time to reflect isn’t a bad idea, and in fact it’s absolutely necessary to carry out something as complex as what you’re doing. Still, there’ll be a point at which thinking things through will bog you down with too many details, making you more confused instead of less. When you get to the point of asking yourself or others the same questions and getting the same (non-) answers, you should pick the easiest step to start with and do it - even if it’s just answering an email or drawing a rough sketch. Starting to get things done will build your confidence and help you remember your ultimate purpose in this spurring you on to see it through.

Pile 2

The Magician (Reversed) - X of Coins - The Devil

The interesting thing we have here is a very encouraging card in the middle surrounded by a couple of Major Arcana cards that are major red flags. This suggests that the good signified by the X of Coins comes at a high price, and might not be all it’s made out to be.

More specifically, someone who you want to trust will offer you something exciting. This is likely to be in the realm of your career, but could also be in the form of property such as a new house or a future inheritance. There’s a very good chance that this offer will result in financial success and security that will allow you to support or even start a family. However, it comes with strings attached. The job may not be something you enjoy even if it’s lucrative, or a relative might impose unpleasant conditions on being included in their will. Improving or maintaining your standard of living may depend on remaining beholden to whoever made you the offer - someone who may not have been completely honest in making it.

Think carefully about what you’d do for stability, both for your happiness and your integrity. Ask questions of whoever is offering you something, and do your own research if it still seems too good to be true. Try to come up with a limit for yourself, where you’ll walk away if it gets too unpleasant, and assert this boundary early before you get too invested.

Pile 3

Temperance (Reversed) - III of Wands (Reversed) - Page of Wands (Reversed)

Being both first in the spread and a Major Arcana card, Temperance reversed is going to be the driving factor of the situation here. The meaning of this card matches up with that of the reversed Page of Wands, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they apply to the same person.

You’re starting out on something that will be important to you, whether you know it or not. Unfortunately, you’re at risk of making a major mistake that will delay your progress and set you back - spending too much money at the beginning, possibly, or getting into a car accident as a result of drunk driving. If you do make such a mistake, you’ll be tempted to just continue on, and other people in your life may be impatient with you, expecting you to get back on track immediately.

Be patient with yourself and the process, though, and take the time you need to regroup. In addition to taking care of your physical and mental health in the aftermath of any emergency, your task is to figure out how not to end up back in the same situation next time, If the people urging you to hurry up and get back to it are relying on you, like family members or clients, try to find other people who can meet your needs until you can again. Otherwise, they can wait - they’re not in your position, and this is your journey.

—

I hope you enjoyed this reading! If so, please check out my Etsy page for personalized readings. For now, though, here’s Wes with his broom, pretending he has opposable thumbs with which to use it:

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[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Pile & Find Out!

CW: Illustrations of nudity and bondage

I got a new deck yesterday, so I’m going to be using this for today’s reading. For those interested, this is the Fyodor Pavlov deck.

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Pile 1

VI of Wands - VIII of Swords - Knight of Wands

Here we have two powerful figures - both from the Suit of Wands - heading toward the figure in the VIII of Swords, who is utterly powerless, from either direction. The interesting thing, though, is that the figure in and Knight of Wands looks more like the captive than she does the figure in the VI of Wands.

Someone you admire has done some pretty cool things, and has been recognized for them pretty widely. You might be jealous; you might just admire and want to be like them. You’re struggling to be just as good as them, wondering why you’re not able to get anywhere close to that. But you can’t even see how much you’re dealing with that’s holding you back from that; you can feel some of your constraints, but there’s other aspects to this that make that sort of accomplishment more difficult for you than it may have been for the person you’re envisioning. The good news is that the qualities and accomplishments you admire can give you focus as to what you want to be and where you want to go. Still, you’re going to need to become your own version of what you admire through pulling and wriggling and fighting your way out of what’s holding you back, and learning what you’re good at in the process.

One other note here is that you shouldn’t forget what it was like to feel trapped and directionless, and instead go back for others. Like you, they won’t be able to just become someone else. But you can mentor them and help them become who they want to be.

Pile 2

The Devil - Death (Reversed) - Queen of Swords (Reversed)

Oof. This one is pretty heavy based on the Devil and the Death Major Arcana cards, and the Queen of Swords isn’t making it any easier.

This is a spread about being trapped, or at least feeling that way. Something, or someone, has got a hold on you. A bad habit, a bad relationship, or a cycle you keep repeating in trying to resolve a problem. You want out, even if it means trying to accomplish that in a self-destructive way, but you don’t see a way there, or the potential losses are too great to make that change at this point. Unfortunately, you’ve got someone in your life whose opinions you value greatly, or who might even be an authority figure, who is less than sympathetic in all this. From their skewed vantage point, it just looks like you’re acting self-destructively as an irresponsible form of escapism. They’re unnecessarily critical of you, tearing you down further rather than helping you in a kind and constructive way.

Remember that both Death and the Devil are more powerful than even the Queen of Swords, so this is above her paygrade. Here you are, meanwhile, having to grapple with all three of them on your own. That’s a lot! You might not be in a position to tell the Queen to go take her “help” and shove it, but remind yourself as often as possible that criticism coming from the outside is based on incomplete information, and that no one would be stuck in your position just for fun.

Pile 3

II of Wands - The High Priestess - The World

With two Major Arcana cards, this spread suggests you’re about to start something big, with big results - of a good kind!

You’re in the planning stages of your adventure here, perhaps working on them with someone who’s done this before. The plans aren’t the final word, though. The situation will almost certainly call upon you to use what you’ve learned and observed along the way to improvise. Don’t necessarily disregard the advice of someone who’s helped you in this - whether that’s a partner or advisor or experts you’ve read from - but recognize that things may have changed since their opinion was formed, and your intuition is an important piece to that.

If you take this approach of combining both careful planning and intuitive responses to unexpected situations, the outcome will be better than you even expected. You’ll feel accomplished as well as fulfilled, and the theme of completion in the World card suggests that you’ll have done well by the people who helped you along the way too.

If you liked this reading, I hope you’ll check out my Etsy page for further, personalized guidance. For now, though, I hope you’ll enjoy this picture of Queen Arya, First of Her Name, laying claim to the table and all that’s upon it (namely, my new deck):

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[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Deck and Find Out!

If you enjoyed this, please check out my Etsy page for more in-depth and personal readings!

1. Tarot of the Divine

Four of Swords Reversed - The Devil - X of Cups

The central card here - literally and figuratively - is the one Major Arcana card in this spread, namely the Devil. This read is primarily about a struggle between you and your most harmful or counterproductive tendencies.

You’ve been extremely burnt out and given yourself no time to rest, so you’re looking for other ways to cope. Because of stress, your impulse control isn’t as good as it could be right now. The key here, though, is that you’re actively struggling. You might not win every day against procrastination, addiction, self-injury or whatever it is that you’re using to self-soothe. Instead of shaming yourself for that, you should adopt a harm reduction approach, starting with the ways it’s affecting other people (if at all). The good news is, there are a lot of people who care about you, and they’ll be there to cheer you on through the difficult times.

Do what you can with what you have - including outside support - and you’ll come out the other side feeling proud of yourself and fulfilled by the life you’ve built.

2. Rider Waite Smith Tarot

IX of Cups - III of Swords - IV of Wands

What stands out here is that we have multiples of three, except they’re out of order. This speaks to the idea of rebuilding from a loss, and that things won’t necessarily be the same as they were even if they turn out well.

You’ve suffered a loss or betrayal that’s shaken the foundation of your happiness. It may have been recently, or it may be a lingering wound that’s affecting your ability to move forward and trust others. You remember what it was like to be in a good emotional place, and you want it to be as it was. It’s not as easy as just moving on or getting over it, though. What you need is a major victory in your life to give you something in the present to celebrate and build on. If nothing else, you have the chance to redefine yourself now outside of the relationship, job, or other situation that fell apart on you.

Easier said than done, though. You might have to try a bunch of things to figure out first what distracts you from what happened, and then what holds your interest enough to get good at it. When you come out the other side of it, you’ll be, if nothing else, less isolated than you were even at the height of the good times you remember from before.

3. Owl House Tarot

The Empress - King of Pentacles - V of Cups

A theme that stands out in this reading is motherhood, between the figure of the Empress and the person featured in the V of Cups being the main character’s mother.

You’re going to need to be the “mom friend” to someone in your life who’s going through a major loss right now. In more gender neutral terms, someone you know will need a nurturing, stable presence in their life who can validate what they’re going through. They won’t in a place to move forward yet, so hold off on giving them advice for a while. You may have to take care of them in a more direct sense - bringing them food or inviting them out to places if they’re self-isolating, for instance.

It’s important to draw on your own experiences of loss here. What helped you? What would’ve helped you that you wanted but didn’t have when you were grieving? If you know what the person in your life would want you to do, of course you should do that. If on the other hand you need to back off for a while to take care of yourself, be kind in setting boundaries. The main thing is to be acting from a place of empathy and patience.

—

Thanks for your time! I hope you enjoyed this. If so, please check out my Etsy page for more in-depth and personal readings!

In the meantime, here’s Mina, tired after a long day of having to be a cat:

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[houseoffourcats]

What Do You Need to Know Right Now? Pick a Deck and Find Out!

Like this reading? Check out my page on Etsy to get a personalized one!

1. Tarot of the Divine

Page of Wands - King of Coins (Reversed) - King of Swords

Here we have three court cards, meaning that this is a reading about aspects of yourself, the people in your life (now or going forward), or some combination of the two.

You have a playful and adventurous streak, and it’s hard for you and others to suppress your enthusiasm. People who demand (what they consider to be) a more mature and realistic approach to life may frown on this and even dismiss you as flighty and irresponsible. However, in seeing only these aspects of you, they miss your keen intelligence and the power that living your truth gives you.

You should seek out a mentor - likely an older man - who appreciates these parts of you and can teach you to channel them effectively. In the meantime, keep being you and do what you can to keep your flame burning!

—

2. Rider Waite Smith Tarot

IX of Cups - IX of Pentacles (Reversed) - V of Pentacles (Reversed)

The Interesting thing about this reading is that we have two Nines and two Pentacles. This suggests that you’re close to the end of a phase of your life, and that material and financial issues are a major concern during this transition.

Right now you have a fulfilling life that’s comfortable enough to feel satisfied with. However, as you move on to a new phase of your life, you’re looking at your financial situation, and finding out that it’s not exactly stable. That being said, you’re not destitute either, or anything close. In fact, your situation will start to improve even before it reaches a crisis point.

If you can, try to be a little more careful with your spending. No matter what, though, it’s important not to turn away help if you need it. The people who’ve made your life so much better thus far will be there for you even during (relatively) hard times, just like you would for them. Surround yourself with the things that have made you happy so far, and you’ll get through this without too much trouble,

—

3. Mystical Dream Tarot

Lord of Swords - The Moon - The Master of Secrets

Two Major Arcana cards - if this is the deck you picked, you’re dealing with something pretty intense right now, or you will be soon! We also have a court card here, meaning that this reading centers on some aspect of yourself or on a specific person in your life, if not both.

A powerful man in your life - maybe even you yourself - will present you with a serious challenge that requires a lot of thought. The process of overcoming that challenge won’t be easy; it will be confusing, and maybe even destabilizing at points, like that house in the Moon card being hit by a giant wave. If you overcome the challenge in question, though, you’ll have mastered a difficult skill and, more importantly, proved what you’re capable of to yourself than others.

That being said, don’t spend too much time going in circles over this in your own head, as that might take you in some pretty weird directions. The person who presented this challenge to you might well be key to your ability to meet it. When you reach your goal, be willing to share what you’ve gained with other people, but understand that they might not be able to put it together yet, just as you struggled with it before.

—

Thanks for reading! Again, if you liked what you saw here, please check out my Etsy page for personalized readings!

In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of Sam doing a sunbathe:

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[houseoffourcats]

Welcome to my tarot page!

I provide readings that may be helpful to you throughout the week. Also cat pictures with every reading.

If you have any feedback for me on my readings, I'd love to hear it. Please be kind, though!

Meanwhile, if you like my work, please check me out on Etsy at House Of Four Cats. I offer affordable and detailed readings, and would love to help provide some guidance on areas of your life that you'd like to explore.

Thanks in advance for your support and interest!

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