How Shall I Proceed?

I am using a spread created by sapienza on Aecletic Tarot. It should help explain why I feel like I am already plateauing out on my workouts and what I can do about it. (Vapid, I know! But this is my mode de jour, if you will...)

...for someone who felt "stuck."

..............3
.......2......
1.............

1. Where am I now?
2. What is keeping me here?
3. How can I get moving?

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10 of Pentacles for "Where am I now?" says that I am doing what I can with what I have, for now. It is a maxed out card. Not only is it Earth-based, elementally, but it is the highest number in the minor squence that I can get. This suggests that it is only a mental things for me that I have platueaed. I am currently beginning to handle more weights the more I go. It has only been three weeks. The idea of patience is not only here, because of the influence of The Wheel, but in the next position, where The Wheel actually shows up!

The Wheel of Fortune for "What is keeping me here?" is the idea of the act of waiting. Perhaps it is the patience that I have with myself that is preventing me from going any further? There is a fine line between patience and procrastination. How fast does the wheel go? Should I make it spin faster? Can I make it spin faster? Last week, Zorian commented that I need to listen to the body---svardharma. In order to help with this I created a workout plan to guide me day-by-day. More detail is needed to help me remember what I did on what day. Not only does the influence of the 1oth House (Ruled by Virgo) suggest a careful accountability as I proceed but also the segments, arcs and degrees of The Wheel.

6 of Pentacles, another very physical Earth card, for "How can I get moving?" reminds me that physically I am in the Tiferet stage of my life. According to A Kabbalistic Universe, by Z'ev ben Halevi, this is a stage "when the individual is organically fully grown and all his physical potential is seen." He goes on to say, "This occurs between the ages of about thirty and forty [135-136]." As I enter my middle years, the Jupiter and Mars stage, it is only fitting that my intuition guide me into not only a new, more physcial career, but also into a more fitting healthy lifestyle than that of a sedentary elementary school teacher.

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Short and Sweet Fitness Spread

What do I need to know about "getting physical" this week.

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1. What is known... 9 of Wands
   
2. What is unknown... 5 of Wands
   
3. What I should do... 3 of Swords
   
4. What I shouldn't do... 10 of Cups
   

The 9 of Wands means that I am almost peaking on my workout routine. Currently I am pyramiding weight and doing many reps. I think this is an indicator that I need to do a steady amount of (significant) weight, with fewer reps, with more sets.

Skipping over to the "What I should do" card, since it is apropos to the 9 of Wands we just discussed. The 3 of Swords is about doing what is uncomfortable. Funny that my New Moon Reading talks about coming out of my comfort zone this month (Taurus, or Shor in Hebrew). The phrase "no pain no gain" comes to mind. And this is a phrase that I have been far removed for almost 5 years, as it has been that long since I seriously trained with weights. As most of already know, I have been a yogi for quite some time.

With the 3 of Swords in mind, taking the 5 of Wands into account for "what is unknown" makes me think that there will be a struggle as I manage to get myself on track this week (my physical trainer moves into town on Tuesday). I see the fives as cards that involved the body and health. As we constantly struggle against the elements and our environment in an effort to stay healthy and alive, I somehow find this card strangely reassuring. Sure there will be struggles, and aches, and pains, but it is something that I am going to have to work through. This will have been my third week of training. Echos of the V Hierophant prevail as someone or something that is very structured in his approach. This is difficult for a IV Emperor-type personality such as myself, used to thinking off the cuff! Time to ratchet up my mental acuity and breaking through the plateau...

10 of Cups as "What not to do?" This one is easy―don't sit around the house eating bon-bons!

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Weekly Reflection

A Self-Help Spread

This spread is based on The Four Agreements, a book by Don Miguel Ruiz.

1
4 2
3

1. "Be Impeccable With Your Word," This will help me guard against gossip
2. "Don't Take Anything Personally," This will help me rise over the negative thinking of others
3. "Don't Make Assumptions," This will help me communicate effectively
4. "Always Do Your Best," This will help me put my next best foot forward

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2 of Wands is a card of concentration and focus. This card reminds me to think twice before I say something. There is a rule that concerns saying something about another person: Is it kind and is it necessary? "Taste your words, you may have to eat them later." Another aspect of this card is the energy as reflected in II High Priestess, which reminds me of patience. Why not wait before I say my opinion. Will it be just as important, or as close to my heart, twenty-four hours later? Important enough for me to remember to say the same thing the next day? If it isn't, then perhaps it is best not to say anything at all.

King of Chalices is one of my Significators. This card tells me that I need do nothing except to be myself and all will be well. Even if others do end up gossiping about me or if I overhear or listen to gossip, the best thing I can do is excuse myself. I need to mind my own business and attend to my own affairs. 

7 of Coins is all about the inner-direction. One of the keywords I may use for this deck is "metacognition." Because of the 7 Days of of the Week notion of this card, perhaps all that is needed is for a daily meditation for helping me to stay focused on what is important each day.

King of Wands, the second court card, is a bit of a paradox in this reading. I see this card as cardinal fire, or Aries. This is a very egocentric card. But I think in this contexst, the advice here is to be concerned only with myself when it comes to others' business. I should only be intent on improving myself and not worried about, what others are doing.

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Changing Careers (Eventually)

This week I am doing a career change reading. I found an interesting and introspective spread on Aeclectic Tarot here. This seems to answer all the questions I have, for now, about my current plan:

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****2****
**4*1*5**
****3****


1. You in the profession. How you will feel about yourself, your life, your work, if this profession is chosen

2. Contributing Attributes. Qualities that you have that will help you in this profession

3. Attributes to overcome. Your qualities that will need to be overcome or dealt with to work in this profession

4. Why the profession appeals to you. What is it about yourself that attracts you to this profession

5. Direction. The direction you should take to make this your profession

My plan is to leave teaching after next year and be an EMT-Firefighter, with the firefighter option open to becoming a paramedic alternatively. Money is an issue, as I do not want to spend too much money retraining. Paramedics have extensive training in addition to the EMT certification, but not much more than Firefighter School. It is only more expensive. My first step is to take night courses beginning in late-Summer/early-Fall and continue through a leave of absence from work onto Firefighter School (again, option A). So enough background.

2 of Coins (Balance) means that it is time for a change. I am the sly fox in the card, making a strategic move to another field of my choosing. This is a job of service and of helping others and thus mirrors my current profession as an elementary school teacher. At the moment, the grass is greener, but I can see how both jobs are quite similar. It is comforting to see this card because it seems to confirm what I believe: that it is not jumping out of the pan into the fire but simply continuing a life's path of public service and feeling good about myself in my profession.

3 of Coins (Works) reminds me that I have been successful at whatever I have undertaken. This is not because of an special talents but of hard work. I have lain the groundwork over the past 8 years, learning patience, among other things. This reminds me of a saying I learned in college, "Talent will only get you so far, but technique will see you through."

King of Chalices (Sign of Cancer) is one of my Significators. It is difficult to admit that there will be the issue of my being my usual emotional self as I go through training. This is actually something that bothers me in my current profession, as it is challenging not to become caught up in issues that I see in the lives of my students. One can see how controlling the emotions would be the greatest obstacle for anyone to overcome in the EMT-Firefighter profession, not just a Sun Cancer, Moon Leo like myself!

2 of Wands (Dominion) contrasted with the 2 of Coins shows that this is certainly not about the money but about feeling personal accomplishment. This is about making a difference and not just maintaining the status quo. I feel like a seel-out on many levels with my current job. This is a feeling that I do not find particulary conducive to my well-being or my health. I am stagnating and need to find a more active lifestyle, and this is a big part of my wanting to change careers.

XVIII The Moon is the only Major in this spread and so carries a special message. I am struck my the rapidity that the moon changes in the sky. It is a contast flux. The cyclical nature of The Moon indicates that I need to be prepared for things to start moving very quickly for me. School starts just around the corner. There is also a sense of calmness about this planet. It is my natal planet, and I should remind myself frequently that this is what I feel I was born to do: be of service to others. Another important message is that of fear. There will be times when the unknown arises (as it already has merely in the application process) but these may be met with faith and courage that everything always works out as it is supposed to.

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How Did the Interview Really Go?

Okay, so I am insecure. I want to know how the interview for the job I really want went! I used a horseshoe spread from from Aeclectic Tarot for this reading:

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.........3........5..........

....2.................6......

.1........................7..

1. The past XI Justice

2. The present XXI The World

3. Hidden influences Queen of Wands

4. Obstacles to overcome 5 of Swords

5. Attitudes of other people III The Empress

6. What I should do 8 of Pentacles

7. The outcome 10 of Wands

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XI Justice is often about contracts and agreements. In the past, I have worked for the same employer for three years and (finally) awarded a services contract, meaning that I am "guaranteed" employment in the county. (NB: the quotation marks because there may not be enough jobs to go around!) This card has come up multiple times in Lenormand readings as The Ring, by the way. This is a good base for the reading, as the outcome (not of the reading but in real life) hinges on this issue, contract liability, as well as other issues.

XXI The World in the present is me, "top of my game." The interviewer told me that so far I was the most viable candidate and the only one, so far, qualified specifically for the job. In other words, it seems that the position is almost tailor-made for me. He couldn't tell me whether or not he would hire me for the position because there were other people he had to interview first as per guidelines handed down to him (again, a contract issue), but he hinted around that I would be the top choice. This card certainly doesn't refute what he told me.

Queen of Wands is the hidden influences position is almost certainly a person or persons. Three of his oldtime friends (and church members) and fellow workers happen to be with me at my current assignment. They are more or less my personal references. This is a strong card, as in my "Ace in the Hole," to have coming into the interview. These are stronger influences on his decision than I had supposed going into it.

5 of Swords are the obstacles to overcome. As this is Venus in Aquarius, eliminating my own selfish desires desires in this matter is paramount to success. It is funny how tarot sometimes is so direct, as if saying, "Don't worry about it, you fool! You are going to get the job or else it will all work out!" There is also the aspect of patience here, of which I have little in this matter. And the idea that I will probably be offered my current position again as others start to transfer from the job center to go other places, to retire, to relocate to other parts of the country. I am going to be *not* lazy and take the plunge, moving all my crap outta from where it is now to a new cost center? It is a pain in the butt, and something I will have to almost force myself to do. I look at this card as if it were me, reluctantly collecting my things and looking back as if to say, "Well, maybe I should stay..."

III The Empress is the "you're at home" card. I was told at the interview that I would "fit right in" at this school. It is very, very rural and country, and I am not comfortable in the higher echelon, fon-fon schools, at it were. [I interviewed at one of these types yesterday and couldn't stand it, actually; some people take themselves way to seriously!] This attitude expressed towards me yesterday, therefore sincere. This was one of the most burning questions I had, others sincerity. It is good to see this card here because it makes me feel that the sentiment expressed was real and not manufactured political bullshit.

8 of Pentacles tells me that I should remain vigilant. I was told to call at a definite time on Tuesday to learn whether or not I get the job. I was even given the interviewer's direct line into his office (how many Principals are going to do that? lol). I was told also not to accept the first job offered, if it was, because he was going be ethical and do the right thing and wait, unlike others in the county, he insinuated, until the entire field of candidates was cleared (a plus in my book!). As Sun in Virgo, it is the "do the right thing" card. Of course it reflects The Strength card in this deck, as well. And since Pentacles or the Working suit, also good to see here...

10 of Wands is normally seen as a negative card, but this is a great example of how a supposed negative card can be one of the *best* cards in a throw, depending on position! It is a fin de siècle

card, if you will. It has been a long and arduous journey, navigating the politics and professional wranglings over the last three years for this county. And although this new job will be a whole lot of work, perhaps a burden even, it is a welcome break to what I have been teaching. It is Saturn in Sagittarius is a limitation in the upper intellect and Ruler of the House of Higher Education. My work may be cut out for me because of the, shall we say intellectual, limitations of the population at this particular school. It is no surprise to see this card here, then.

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What If I Change Careers?

I have to say that the last month of being on this rollercoaster wide has got me thinking whether this is my cue to change careers voluntarily or not. Should I think about going back to school for respiratory therapy, paramedic, fire safety or some other training? I actually did two throws. One was a Four Square on what if "I Stay;" the other, what if "I leave." I will only discuss the second one:

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2-4

1. What is known. The Chariot. It would be a struggle for me, that's for sure. There are financial issues that would be difficult to overcome. But that being said I think I would be able to overcome these issues with the help of my partner and perhaps my father (if I were to go back to school or some other training). The Chariot is "my card," meaning that it is the sign Cancer. I could more likely be myself in another profession. It is likely that there is a better fit for me than what I am doing currently. This is largely for health reasons. My current job prevents me from getting in the shape that I would like to see myself in because of the work hours, work load, and energy required to do the job. I am mostly unhappy with the lifestyle I feel I am forced to lead in my current job situation. It involved a lot of sedentary work and it isn't as physical as I would like or need to have at the moment.

2. What is unknown. 9 of Chalices. I have been studying the dacanates system over the last week and notice that this is Jupiter in Pisces. (This becomes important later in the reading.) The 9 here is the end of a cycle. It is possible that I am ready to switch careers, but I have to take that leap of faith and actually leave teaching. If I take a voluntarily leave of absence (can take up to a school year), I would be ineligible for unemployment. But I have to consider this as the "wish come true" card. Is my dream job right around the corner? Probably. I cannot lose sight of the fact that my current was supposed to be a temporary job till I found a comfortable fit. What happened?

3.What I should do. Ace of Pentacles. This one seems self-explanatory! Start new. Begin again. It could be that I need to branch out now before I get stuck in one profession. After too long, I will be unhirable in any other besides teaching. Is this the place that I want to be? Tarot often provides more questions than answers.

4. What I shouldn't do. 8 of Swords. This is Jupiter in Gemini. I shouldn't close myself off to other ideas. In comparison to the "What is unknown" card, it is quite the opposite but compliments it well by virtue of the positional meanings---what I don't know, on the one hand, and what I shouldn't be doing, on the other. The expansive quality of Jupiter indicates a time of movement, clarity and purpose. The Chalices card is outward and positive and the Swords card is inward and negative. Getting too caught up in thinking about the situation will certainly lead to me spinning my wheels and not being able to make a decision.

What this reading boils down to is that there is fear in the unknown, yes, but if I take that leap of faith, then there could be a wish fulfilled there somewhere. The uncertainty is there, and since there are no guarantees in life, will always be there. So why not make the move? Am I that insecure? Lazy? Is my inability to branch out or my comfortability in my current job situation preventing me keeping a realistic eye on the future?

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Zenith and Nadir Spread―Two Job Options

This is the Zenith/Nadir Spread, the only tarot spread that a friend of mine, Chris Ritchie aka puckinfl (RIP), published.

"Zenith and Nadir are polar opposites and when reading this spread each grouping should be treated as such. This spread is useful when confronted with a double question, as well as when trying to seperate two options or advice:

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2*******4
****1
7*******5
****6

The 1 is the Significator or the Querent. (If this card does not relate to the question or the querent, throw out the reading.

  Zenith Trio: 7 ~ 3 ~ 5  

The 7 is where the right path (option or advice) started and represents a past positive influence on the current question. This influence may still be acting on the querent. The 3 is the zenith and the most optimal choice for what the querent should do presently. The 5 is the outcome (immediate or distant) of following the zenith path.

Nadir Trio: 2 ~ 6 ~ 4  

The 2 is the past negative influence on the current situation. There is a good chance that this influence has passed physically out of the querent's life, but still remains as an emotional block. The 6 is the nadir and is the least optimal decision to be made. The 4 is the outcome (immediate or distant) of following the nadir path.

(Note: Make sure not to interpret this too literally. As the cards may show two paths that both have favourable or unfavourable conditions, so sometimes it is the querent who must decide as to which path is most optimal for them.) ..."

My query aligns with the second option for this spread, "trying to seperate two options or advice." I am debating whether or not I should stop looking for a job if this elementary position is offered, or if I should continue interviewing for a possible middles school position. There are pros and cons to both, with both options equally promising.

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The Significator, Card 1, for this reading was VII Strength, which is my ascendant, Leo. This is also the fatherly or paternal aspect of my job as an elementary teacher. Since my job experience is mostly in the primary grades, I think that the "Zenith Trio" of this spread refers to this age-group. The Card 7 position, XII Hanged Man indicates that what I am doing now, waiting to hear from a recent interview I had for work at a new school. "Good things come to those who wait," and patience will be of utmost importance in the weeks to come. It will be a month yet before I find out yea or nay about this particular teaching position. The Ace of Swords is the contract itself which will accompany the job offer in about a month. This is the most optimal choice, Card 3, that I could make when the opportunity soon strikes. "When the tarts are passed around, take a tart." Knight of Chalices as the outcome should I follow this path or advice, may leave me guessing if the grass is greener, etc., but this may be a settling issue especially in this era of financial and economic insecurity.

The past negative influence on the situation, Card 2, we get King of Wands. This card represents a strict taskmaster-type personality. This stands in stark contrast to the fun-loving Knight of Chalices aka "Jack of Hearts" or "The Dancer." It seems that I wouldn't have half as much fun as the King of Wands (middle school teacher) as I would being emotionally fluid and mutable as the Knight (elementary). The Ace of Coins reminds me that the second job choice scenario would be simply for convenience sake, as if only in it to collect a paycheck. Teaching should be more than just crowd control, an unfortunate reality in some middles school classrooms. The Six of Wands is, literally, "resting on ones laurels." With the Fire cards in the "Nadir Trio" and the Earth card supporting these tow fire cards, it would take far more energy to teach middle school than it would elementary.

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