A year's spread
Jean-Michel David
A year's spread:
(click to enlarge)
Often, January becomes one of those busy reading times,
with many making use of Summer (here in the Southern Hemisphere)
to take the opportunity to have a year's spread, or a more
general reading for the year ahead.
There are indeed many spreads used for a year's prognosis
- and there are some, of course, who plainly do not use
the Tarot in this way whatsoever. The spread which graces
these pages is a modification which I have at various times
used, save that I have included, in addition to a central
card, a 'top' card as my wife does.
In an actual reading, other cards, to connect various
positions, may also be drawn. Drawing additional cards,
though oft useful, is also a temptation which beginners
are especially wont to do, rather than allowing the card,
no matter how difficult, to speak and unveil of its own
accord.
The cards used to illustrate are from a Marseille designed
along classical lines in 1996 by Kris Hadar in Canada.
They are amongst the most beautifully illustrated and expressive
of the Marseille - the deck is also available worldwide
through Tarot
Garden.
But looking at the cards here depicted, how would one
interpret such a spread? The arch is made from twelve cards,
reflecting, in order, January through to December. The
top card shows the influences or over-riding pattern for
the year with regards to the spread, and the central card
that which the person, state, agent, body or institute
may repeatedly refer to or draw from during the year. The
spread depicted was drawn as I typically would a twelve
month spread, except I did not have any individual, nation
nor specific intent in mind - save to use it for illustrative
purposes in these pages. Certainly what arose in the reading
of it, only partially captured in my written description,
is its application to various international events - I
suppose apt for a Newsletter spread to the four winds of
the globe - but I'll let this sit as background without
further ado.
Before reading each of the cards sequentially, it is worth
stepping back to observe and see what patterns emerge.
For example, the two ends of the arch, and the central
card, are each sword cards - the year begins and ends,
and permits the drawing of forces from this suit. Moving
up one from each end - to the February and November positions,
are not just two cards from the suit of Coins, but the
Three Coins is reversed - the only reversal in the spread
- and as a result echoes the top portion of the Seven Coins.
The next two, moving up, are Major Arcana, depicting virtually
opposite qualities of intuitive reflection and, on the
other side, controlled thought.
Again moving up, on the left is the Queen of Wands in
April, and on the right the Ace of Coins in September.
The two equinoctial months. Whereas the Ace connects, via
its suit, to the two cards two layers below (the Seven
and the Three Coins), the Queen connects to the two Wand
cards two layers above (the Two and the Three Wands - in
June and July).
Next we again have a pair of Major Arcana cards, and
each dealing, in different ways, with what has sometimes
been connected with Karmic consequences - the one as immediate
and immutable Law, the other as golden opportunities. Finally,
we have, as the keystones of our arch, the Three and the
Two Wands.
Above is XV the Devil, and centrally is the Knight of
Sword.
So let us move on through the year...
January sees the possibility of contracts or documents
which are overdue being finally signed. The central flower,
being upright, also shows that there is hope that the more
military-like resources drawn from the Sword Knight is
placed at the disposal of providing a secure enclave (the
flower is within the double vesica piscis formed from the
blades of the swords). It may be that various countries
finally accept interim measures which, though not satifactory
to anyone, accords a semblance of peace.
February seeks to build on the previous month's achievements,
but the resources are not there to be found, and quibblings
about how to move mountains seem to lead nowhere. In other
words, there seems to be more time spent on trying to change
major issues, rather than focussing on the small everyday
details which could be attended to.
March seems to bring not only some reflections of the
past, but bring to the fore what has many years past been
agreed upon. Here what is called for is simple but open
reflection and acceptance, without drawing on forces of
change. Given the next cards, there is danger that too
much emphasis will be placed on the distant past during
March, and not on seeking to understand and open oneself
to the current situation as is.
April brings possibility of making decisions and acting
on them with might. Given that here the Queen has her back
somewhat turned to the previous card, she may make decisions
without considering the various strands brought forth by
the High Priestess.
May sees both the consequences of this, but also brings
fresh Karmic consequences from 'out-of-the-blue'. This
will be a trying time - a time when what is called upon
is the radical acceptance of Divine Justice.
June and July show conflicting wills which engage in
seeking to bring action to what has come to be. June sees
the willingness to discuss and communicate important emerging
issues, though it is not until July that the possibility
of bringing these to some kind of choice is reached.
August brings with it some major changes - some overdue.
The unprecedented alteration of certain events seem to
work themselves quite rapidly. Major changes, though appropriate
and positive, bring with them a sense that some of what
comes is 'unfair' - yet it is precisely the movement which
is needed.
September brings a major new stability - the danger is
that it seems to have much potential, but struggles to
find its place. Different positions - and those holding
them - are brought together for the sake of working in
unison.
October gives the impulse of the previous month grounded
stability, with a sense that the stability is being overseen
and permitted to prosper. One should not become complacent,
however, for the next two cards show peculiar movement.
November brings either some stockmarket problems, or
an unexpected loss in financial security. Yet what is called
for especially here is to be open and assist, not try to
control and tighten.
December sees again a call for what seems to have been
successful achievement in past struggles. What is called
for, however, is decisive, reasoned, but also carried out,
action, as the Sword King already looks into 2005.
In this, what may at all times be easily drawn on is the
Knight of Swords - what can too easily be drawn upon, then,
is the military Knight, who 'solves' problems with the
might of the sword. In the first half of the year, it seems
that he does have the captive audiences of the months January
through to June, with only March turned away from him.
The second half of the year seems to be more oblivious
to his resources, and more may be achieved with considered
peaceful but powerful forces. Only December seems to call
for drawing again on his skills.
As XV the Devil is hovering above the year, one of the
predominant features playing through is that feeling of
being bound and hoodwinked - one's freedom restricted at
every opportunity - yet the shackles are easily removed,
and the sense of freedom found by simply looking the other
way, and by not hesitating to seek guidance at each entry
to what appears as cul-de-sacs.
Overall, the cards show quite powerful forces at play,
with Karmic and historical forces dominating over the personal.
Drawing a twelve month spread is a wonderful way through
which to not only record cards for the year ahead, but
reflect later and see in which form the cards depicted
manifested... irrespective of one's initial interpretation.
To trust one's reading, whilst at the same time being
sensitive (and sensible) to the influence one has upon,
and the needs of, others is certainly a skill which can
be forever improved with practice and sensitivity. Each
of these may be developed with time. Best wishes for 2004...
and may any guidance reflected in the cards assist each
to better meet and deal with emerging and developing situations.
Kris Hadar's website, which has many wonderful resources,
is well worth visiting. If you intend on purchasing either
this or other decks from Tarot Garden, remember to mention
either this Newsletter, the Association for Tarot Studies
or the 2005 International Tarot Conference - Tarot Garden
has kindly offered to assist the Conference by making contributions
when mention is made with orders... members to the Association
may instead obtain discounts.
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