Hello all.
Here’s a reading I did for an associate of mine. The querent was one member of a gay couple, who provided permission to post. As background, the querent reports that the relationship has been severely strained, especially with communication. After “massaging” his question into workable format, he asked, “Are we best to 'split' as amicably as possible or try and make the relationship work?”
.....................................
.....................................................
Here’s my interpretation, but others’ ideas are very much appreciated.
I notice straight away that two men are pictured (Le Chariot and L’Empereur); one is reversed, they are not looking at each other, this is an appropriate optical analogy of the problems. Le Chariot looks to the past at L’Imperatrice, concerned about the past communication difficulties and a lack of creative life to the relationship; he described it as a lethargy in the household, but especially in the field of communication. The solution to those difficulties was, of course, to try and communicate (Le Soleil). L’Imperatrice looks at Le Pendu; he confirmed that the relationship has felt like something he has had to tolerate, sacrifice for, but without deep satisfaction or a feeling of it being an investment for the future. Thus, he has tolerated (Le Pendu) the problems (L'Imperatrice, reversed).
I also noticed how Le Soleil is juxtaposed with La Lune in the evolving solution row. The (past) solution to the reversed L’Empereur was La Lune (as mentioned, in comparison with the prior solution of Le Soleil). I speculated that the optical analogy here was moving from the two-children-touching to two-dogs-barking. Thus, the communication recently was becoming more primitive, less careful and constructive as pictured in Le Soleil, more emotional and visceral; the communication moved from Solar to Lunar, with all the implications of that. But because La Lune is in the upright as a solution, this more visceral communication style was at least a solution-attempt at getting the message across—this optical analogy was confirmed by the man who said that the communication was more argumentative, but at least more emotionally honest. He also confirmed my statement that La Lune could mean a “removal” (especially when La Maison Dieu was present—this was evidently an idea he was entertaining.
At present, we have La Maison Dieu. Temperance is looking at La Maison Dieu in her future position. This is where I am somewhat unsure of whether she signals reconciliation or amicable division of the household. She appears to be looking at the household resources of La Maison Dieu and dividing up the resources, or perhaps she stands alone, and La Maison Dieu signals the (present) feeling in the relationship of the desperate need to disrupt the lethargy. So, to summarize my condundrum, is this an optical analogy of splitting amicably? Or, does Temperance signify reconciliation? He confirmed that there would be a household and money to divide.
I pulled a Minor Arcana to clarify Temperance—10 E’pées: The ending of a cycle and beginning of another, but in the spheres of intellect and problem-solving. The idea of an amicable split seemed to resonate with him, but he said he was also open to trying to make it work. His ambivalence annoyed him he said, because it was so much like Le Pendu of the past.
I promised to post the reading and harvest everyone’s ideas.
I should also say that I hate giving advice of this magnitude (or really any for that matter) and rather like to use the Tarot cards for the querent to self-reflect on his situation. So, rather than me fortune-telling or future-telling a person what to do, we look at the possibilities. In this spirit, the "true" meaning of Temperance may be in the eyes of the querent.