CHAPTER FOUR

PUNS

     I take my work with the cards seriously. I believe it is important to approach the unconscious with care and with clear intention, and I truly value the trust that people place in me and the reading process. That doesn’t mean, however, that it can’t be fun. Sometimes a situation is so complex that we have to laugh over the ridiculousness of it. Often a person leaves a reading with a lightened load, not because problems have been solved but because problems have been seen from a new perspective. With the cards to help us be objective it can be easier to see the irony or humor of a situation.

***********************************

     A woman comes for a reading with concerns about her husband’s prospects of returning to work after having had a back injury. He has
been out of work for several weeks and things are getting tight financially. She pulls two cards for the general energy around the idea of him returning to work soon:

                    4 of Swords    King of Cups

     This man is staying put! The FOUR OF SWORDS connotes a healing period or a time of needed rest after some difficulty. The KING OF CUPS can have negative implications, as seen in previous examples, but in this reading feels kindly. This king can be parental, a nurturer, someone who is the emotional support in the family, regardless of gender. These two images converge to give a picture of the husband in an apron making meals for the family, tending to the needs of the household, but taking it easy physically so that his back can heal. My comment to the client is, “He’ll probably end up being the sandwich maker!”

     “I guess that would be fine with him,” she replies, “but what is my place in that scenario?” She pulls one card:

                            Emperor

     The EMPEROR is the archetype of the creator, the builder, and the worker in the world. This woman has been substitute teaching, but this card makes me think that the position is apt to lead to a full time job.
If her husband needs to rest and be at home with the family, the challenge for her becomes to go out into the world and earn a living. The EMPEROR showing itself here states that it is not only the right time for her to be taking this step but also that she has the experience and skills necessary to make a success of it. Apparently she will be the breadwinner and her husband will be the sandwich maker!

***********************************

     Amidst more serious questions about the state of her life and the future of her marriage, a woman in her early fifties wonders what is causing the hair in her front hairline to be breaking off:

                   Queen of Wands       Wheel

     The QUEEN OF WANDS represents the Queen of Fire, persona of will, determination, and the embodiment of the life force. The WHEEL card is one of the major cards of change, shifts that occur over time and appropriate to the rhythm of the cosmos. Taken together and in “mental shorthand” we see “woman of fire working with the forces of change”. In other words, menopause, hot flashes, “the change”!

     The client verifies – after much hysterical laughter –
that menopausal symptoms have begun for her, primarily hot flashes.
She has been using a progesterone cream to alleviate symptoms, so I suggest rubbing some of the creaminto her hair as a conditioner. Of course any serious medical condition should always be discussed with a health care practitioner, but here we can see how the Tarot can help us access possible avenues for healing, especially – and in reality only when – the suggestions ring true with the client’s inner wisdom.

************************************

     A working woman in her early thirties wonders about having another child. She is concerned about how another baby will affect her ability to work outside the home, an aspect of herself with which she strongly identifies. Asking the question, “What can help me make good choices about these issues at this time?” she pulls one card:

                     9 of Swords

     This card shows obsessive worrying. She needs to know that she is being overly responsible about all the things that could possibly go wrong about this decision. She needs to “lighten up” to offset the darkness of this card, and trust herself to make the right decisions.

       She acknowledges that this is taking up a lot of mental energy
but doesn’t know how to turn off the gnawing worries. “How do I stop obsessing?” becomes her next question:

                    4 of Wands

     This is a bright sunny card, in direct contrast to the dark mental abyss shown in the NINE OF SWORDS. The idea conveyed here is, “Enjoy what you have. Be in the moment. Your home life is a source of joy for you.” The cards placed one next to the other clearly state:
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

************************************

     A friend of mine is struggling with a relationship. It is a very painful time because he’s having trouble letting go of the romantic side of the relationship, although a friendship remains. To clarify matters, we ask the simple question as to the general energy around the relationship at this time:

                   9 of Wands      10 of Swords

We see that he is still trying to make it work (the perseverance of the NINE OF WANDS) even though it is undeniably finished (TEN OF SWORDS). The TEN OF SWORDS is a card that shows a harsh awareness of what is true despite the fact that we may not want to see it. My comment is, “It’s time to stop beating a dead horse.”

     Reluctantly he agrees. “How can I come to terms with it?” Certainly the question of the hour for this client.

                     Death            7 of Pentacles

     Here is our dead horse! Not only does the DEATH card signify the passing of an irretrievable moment which brings about profound change, we find ourselves literally looking upon the horseman of death. This doubly confirms the message of the first two cards. Albeit painful, it’s time to mourn what is lost and consider the options for the future. This considering is the job of the SEVEN OF PENTACLES.

     These last two cards are quiet ones, with little or no direct action or decision-making taking place. My friend needs to be in the dark place of knowing where he no longer belongs and in a state of suspension, not yet aware of where he does belong. These cards let him know that even though it hurts, his current situation requires him to know that this romance is absolutely finished (TEN OF SWORDS and the DEATH card are definitive) and to be patient with himself as he considers his future.

**************************************

     Our next example may not be so much of a pun as a pictorial description of events. A woman in her early forties is struggling with several of her relationships as well as her work life. She has already asked questions about the other people in her life when she asks what she can do for herself at the present time:

                      8 of Wands              Hierophant

     The EIGHT OF WANDS signifies something that is ready to happen. A person need only get out of the way for things to happen quickly and without too much effort. The dominos are ready to fall.

     The HIEROPHANT is the image of the teacher, counselor, mentor or therapist. He/she is someone in the professional realm that can guide us through the rough spots in life. The client had done a lot of therapy in past years but is not doing that work currently.

     Looking at the images on these cards made me think the words, “Get thee to a therapist! Quickly.” What I say is much calmer, “Have you been feeling like you could use someone to talk to?”

     Tears start to flow immediately. “Yes, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to open up that can of beans right now.” Her cards tell us that is exactly what she needs to do. She has the time, she has the insurance; she needs to take care of herself instead of caring for everyone else.

     I did learn that this client’s return to therapy changed the dynamics of her entire family. Within a few weeks, both her husband and her daughter became involved in their own counseling. Many uncomfortable issues had risen to the surface during the course of therapy, but each person continued to work on things from their own perspective.

     It is sobering to imagine how long repressed feelings could have festered if our client had not taken the first steps toward change. When painful feelings are unacknowledged, we often see the result in accident, illness, or divorce. Here the Tarot gave us an excellent opportunity to bring a truth to light so that a client could begin the path of healing.

******************************************

Click here to order INVITATION TO WONDER

*Text from Invitation to Wonder © 2002 Jeanne Fiorini

_____________________________________________________