Tattoo Work Today?

My query was a simple one, and it wasn't really a question (nor even a complete sentence), "Tattoo work today?" I wanted overall feeling and/or advice about having my sleeve finished, once and for all. My friend who happens to be a tattoo artist has agreed to do it for $250. I want to have it done and over with!

I did my 4-Square Summary Spread:

1 - 3

2 - 4

1. What is known
2. What is unknown
3. What should be done
4. What should not be done

9 of Cups in the position of "What is known" indicates that this is the very end of an almost eight year long wait to have this tattoo finished. I started to think about getting this tattoo in the late 80's, got the work done in 2001. And now at the beginning of 2009 I am finally getting it completed. This card here is the very end of a long journey in body art to say the least. I like to have this positional meaning for the simple reason that it confirms that the reading is actually about what I asked, and not some other matter.

III Empress in the "What is unknown" position implies that the procedure will be more comfortable than I anticipate. I say "more comfortable" here because clearly it will be painful, as the artist will be digging needles and ink into my flesh! But look how laid back she looks. The person doing the work is a close personal friend and, I must admit, I do get pleasure out of the pain involved in tattooing, particularly when he is doing it.

8 of Pentacles in the "What should be done" shows the tattoo artist working diligently. It is suitable that the figure, a "fox," is doing the work. There is even a table there, much like the one one lays on to have work done. This is a positive affirmation that I should indeed have it done today, at least worked on. The implication is that it won't get done completely, at least not in one sitting, but it will be worked on throughout the day.

3 of Wands is "What should not be done." Ha! Just look at the character, standing forelornly on the shore as his ship sets sail. The intuitive flash I got when I saw this card was, "Don't wait! Strike when the iron is hot." I was told to phone at 12 noon today so that he could check his appointment book (we texted back-and-forth last night) because he couldn't think off the top of his head what his schedule was like. But since I have a tight schedule today and working late afternoon, everything is telling me to just show up at the tattoo parlor and have it on with.

If only all tarot card readings could be this direct.

Card images © Lo Scarabeo ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Used by Permission

Why Should I Go See a Nutrionist?

A few people have suggested that I go see a nurtionist in order to maximize gains in health. I exercise regularly and keep pretty fit, but it is frustrating to continue to have a bit of a weight problem. I say "a bit" because it isn't as if I were obese or that I look bad at all, it's that I am concerned that my health will suffer the consquences later in ten years time. Health has always been a big part of my life and it will continue to be.

I looked on-line and my health insurance covers the cost of seeing a nutrionist. 

The card that came out in the most important one was XI Justice. This card feels like it is about time that I took this step. Not only this, but it would be beneficial for me to see a specialist about this. The aspect of time is present in this card, also. This card is in the center of the Major Arcane sequence (22 ÷ 2 = 11) in this deck. Justice here is also indicative of my chronological age as I approach middle age.

The second card, the one on the right or the "active principal" of the reading, is what I am doing now or how I feel about going to see a nutrionist. obviously if I am asking the question then I am undecided about doing it. 8 of Swords sums this up rather well. Just by looking at the card one can see that I don't want to see the obvious, to see that I will benefit from going to see this doctor. Now it is a matter of setting this particular goal myself. I am more than able to do it, but whether or not I want to make the time to do it is another story completely. The kitty's hands are more than free to remove the blindfold yet he doesn't do it. This is me refusing to see the the clear message my body is trying to send me, that I need to be more proactive about what I eat, not necessarily the amount of food, which seems to be neglible in how  I gain or lose weight, but the quality of food that I eat. There may even be some allergies that I am experiencing, and symptoms that I am ignoring, that the doctor can help me out with.

The "passive principal" on the left, II High Priestess, promises a new outlook in this new area. It could also be the doctor herself. The is a person who is wise beyond her years and may be the much needed executor of advice for me right now. As this card lay on the left, it is something I don't have to do anything about! It is there for the pickens. And I pay into my healthcare account I might as well use what I pay for, right? Get the most out of my investment.

Adding XI Justice and II High Priestess (the two Majors) gives us XIII Death. This is a card that returns again and again in my readings lately, and change is in the air. The absent element is "Fire" (no wands), as XI Justice is Air-Libra, II High Priestess is Earth-Moon and XIII Death is Water-Scorpio. The energy of exercise, whcih this reading is not about and couldn't be expected to be seen here, is carefully balanced (again we have an idea of balance) with the follow-up activity of simply seeing a nutrionist.

Card images © Lo Scarabeo ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Used by Permission