The Ace of Spades: The Mangian Card

This is the card of the occultist. This is the card of divinity within. This is the card of realms not yet met, but sought. This is the card of knowing the unknowable and doing the undoable.

The hallmarks of the Ace of Spades are commitment and endurance. The holder of this card has an innate understanding that there is more to living than the obvious; they are determined to find the key to that knowledge, come what may.

Early in life the material aspects have been taken care of. Although not monetarily "wealthy", day-to-day necessities and even some luxuries are readily available, leaving the soothsayer to pursue the hidden and the obscured.

Serenity is never easily reached, but this conjurer reaches those heights: if not permanently, then frequently.

The coattails of the Ace of Spades are a very good campsite, but be prepared for the fireworks. Also, bring a hardhat to protect yourself from the fallout of failed alchemical experimentation as well as kitchen projects that go astray. (With all the spiritual trials and tribulations that occupy the mind of the Magi he sometimes forgets he has pease cooking on the stove!)

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The Two of Spades: The Fright Card

This is the card of fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of physical mortality. The holder of this card would do well to break from the rut of illness and dis-ease and learn to see the beauty of all that surrounds them.

The hallmark of the Two of Spades is doubles. Everything impacts them doubly and thus their insights are skewed and their self-images are sickly.

After a lifetime of trading tales of what ails them they are always ready for more-an illness of the month club would be their favorite gathering place. One-ups-manship is given a whole new definition with this card.

The spiritual nature of this card is buried. Buried beneath notions, potions, and cure-alls. This is unfortunate, doubly so, for the Two of Spades has a readily available sense of the other-side of the veil.

It will take a milagro for that sense to be made available. However, miracles do happen!

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The Three of Clubs: The Exposition Card

This is the card of getting it on! Success is nearly guaranteed with this card. Alas, as with every other guarantee the fine print must be understood before demanding that the guarantee be honored. Have the conditions of the guarantee been met?

Success ALWAYS depends upon choices made and the amount of time, labour and talent expended in the search for efficacy and fruitfulness. It is usually best to attempt to ring the bell rather than awaiting its toll for thee.

The hallmark of this card is the adage of reaping what one sows. Without seeds being planted no harvest can be taken for granted.

Indecision leads only to more indecision. Life is about choices. Make ONE and follow it through to its conclusion: then make another and another... ... ...

The necessity for a personal philosophy and the determination to follow that philosophy is the penultimate message of the Three of Spades. Demanding honesty from self is the ultimate message. Don't think you are, know you are.

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." -Anaïs Nin

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The Four of Spades: The Card of Stubborn Security

This is the card of understanding; of living by those understandings. Hard work and determination have reached a superb sense of satisfaction. However, the holder of this card continues to worry and fret.

The hallmark of the Four of Spades is dichronism. The world looks at the holder of this card and sees success, satisfaction and good fortune: the one holding the card sees the need to continue on continuing on. Perception is all.

The Four of Spades needs to learn to relax and to enjoy what is available. Materiality, the physical, is but a conjunct of the spiritual, not a replacement. Materiality is what makes the search for presage possible; it is not the presentment!

The continual anguish over monetary success can distort the truth of life and cloud the vision of the future.

Stubbornness is a horse that can only be rode so many miles before it becomes a tandem pair of isolation and contumacy.

Think well on this line of reasoning. It is never too late to choose again, and yet again. Your very life may depend upon it.

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The Five of Spades: The Card of Resolution

This is the card of alteration and replacement. The holder of this card is in for a fast-paced adventure as their head is turned and then turned once more.

A lifetime of indoctrination is being not only challenged, but shown to be hypocrisy. Falsity abounds. One does not know where to shelter or run to. All is lost...

Or all is found! Maya Angelou, in her inimitable way, says it best: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

Within the circle all becomes equal. There is no one above, below, to the left, the right, front or back. Unity is at work. A pebble tossed into still water stirs the water, the ripple starts small and spreads and then slowly dissipates. Thus it should be with knowledge. When new information is presented it is imperative that our resolutions be flexible; always be willing to examine new evidence.

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The Six of Spades: The Card of the Visionary

This is the card of one who sees what no one else allows themselves to view.

This is the card of the dreamer, the romantic, and the rhapsodist.

From one point of view the hallmark of the Six of Spades is the idler, the escapist. From the opposite viewpoint this card details the creative spirit, the aspirant, the benefactor. No point of view carries more truth or weight than does the other. The are the two sides of a single coin.

Only from a distant point of time can any judgement be set about the actions, or the inactions, associated with the Six of Spades.

Beware the Six of Spades. Conversely seek this card out.

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The Seven of Spades: The Card of Discard

This is the card of optimum spiritual drive. It becomes apparent that most discard their gifts and their opportunities without even a cursory examination. Our society has been programmed to readily accept what is presented, whether spiritual beliefs, religious dogma, or scientific "facts". Further we are conditioned to see questions as impolite and unnecessary.

It is easy to become entrapped in the "too busy" syndrome: the phenomenon is far too apparent and far too prevalent. Being "too busy" excuses us from confronting life on its terms. Life can be humbling. Holding it at bay does not curtail life; it just obscures it until we trip and fall over it.

To paraphrase Sterne (Laurence, not Howard), a life out of control and a plethora of beliefs are not necessarily good neighbors.

Like stories that have been told one too many times, issues keep reappearing and reappearing and reappearing, ad infinitum. The same ole, same ole, haunts the haunts to impotency. Physical exhaustion and occlusion of thought and perception follow the reappearance, each and every one adding to the tally. The roller coaster of far too many Alphas, a dearth of Omegas runs until we change our minds or we collapse and changes occur without our active input or our direction. Running may postpone the inevitable, but there is no security in hiding.

The old bromide of "no time like the present" needs to be dusted off and activated. It is time to discard all that is unnecessary, unproven, rhetorical, or belonging to another. Begin anew.

Beginnings are times of fragility and vulnerability. The one in possession of the Seven of Spades must pay close attention to determine where the soundest footings are; to learn discernment and to develop acumen.

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The Eight of Spades: The Obligations Card

This is the card of degrees; a card of tremendous burdens of obligations, with untold benefits available. The realm of spiritual fulfillment is there, just beyond that long curve in the path.

Or is it all illusion and disappointment?

The one fundamental question is "In my current environment is there anything that is life-threatening?" If not, then I can relax. Think it out and decide what is important or imperative, or what is superfluous and optional.

There are a few things in this life that are not optional, such as air, water, food, shelter, clothing, relationships...when the imperatives have been met then am I able to find the 'luxury' of the optional and to give consideration to the superfluous. Then, and only then, am I in the position of delegating my time; my 'time' is delegated by the decisions I make and the choices I follow. There is more than a modicum of truth to be found in that what I experience in an outward mode is a reflection of how I am inside.

If I am hectic, uncertain and stumped inside, that is the turn my life will take.

This card should be the turning point for the one holding it. To whom do you choose to be obligated?

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The Nine of Spades: The Card of the Misguided

The Nine of Spades is the card of universal giving card. The holder of this card is compelled to give, give, give. Give---without ever a thought as to whether what they are giving is worthwhile, appreciated or even necessary. They see their purpose in life as being guilelessly altruistic. Those who are held fixedly within the influence of this card will even quote, "...altruism is its own reward." These folks seem to believe that they always should, may, and actually can choose somebody with whom to share their blessings. (Freely rendered from Ivan Illich)

Jean de La Bruyère stated it thusly: "That man is good who does good to others; if he suffers on account of the good he does, he is very good; if he suffers at the hands of those to whom he has done good, then his goodness is so great that it could be enhanced only by greater sufferings; and if he should die at their hands, his virtue can go no further: it is heroic, it is perfect."

Heroism and perfection seem to be at odds with the purpose of the quest: again perception raises its Medusa head.

Life is choices. Choices are based on ingrained patterns that have their foundations in sentiments and "have-tos"; or they can be based on self-care and self-love and self-nurturing frames of mind and attitudes. Selfishness has a very bad name in our society. Personally, I contend that in order to be selfless, first we must be selfish. For how can one truly be giving if they do not have a full store to draw from? The Nine of Spades is meant to be an attention getter, so pay attention!

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The Ten of Spades: The Transcendency Card

This is the card of suffering. This is the card of main focus. This is the card of influence.

The hallmark of the Ten of Spades is mastery. Is the holder of this card the master of their own destiny or is their destiny determinant on someone, or something, else?

We have a propensity, a desire, and an expectation to see the mystic, the unusual, the connection. It is easier and certainly more glamorous to attribute a mystical connection between events than it is to "look" for the mundane reality behind the events. We allow, in fact we encourage, deception by our propensity to encourage the mystical to overshadows our ability to think clearly and rationally. Some people make their propensity to see connections an "art form" ...the Forer effect is well and in vogue.

The hallmark of the Ten of Spades is desire. The sad fact is that this desire is based on falsity and the premise and a promise that arises with someone else.

Shake off the apophenia and get up to speed with reality. Life will leave you behind if you tarry. Take up the challenge of being the master of your own destiny. Do it now!

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The Jack of Spades: The Card of Excesses

This is the card of mental prowess and superb creativity. Is it the sign of initiation or of mastery? Can it be both?

The hallmark of the Jack of Spades is a phrase, "...without a doubt." The possessor of this card is cock-sure and filled with a finely honed sense of purpose. If determination is a motor, then these folks are going places.

There is little this dark Spade can imagine that they cannot create. Their sense of determination and dedication is nonpareil. Nothing, nor no one, stands in their way for long. This Jack truly is a device for lifting and shifting. The force this card exerts is phenomenal; the person behind the card is unstoppable.

After you are certain you have established a failsafe escape hitch your cart to this shooting star and enjoy the journey!

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The Queen of Spades: The Card of Immediate Cognition

This is the card of the seer and the sortilege, La Femme Noir. From whence comes the knowing is held closely and shared but with a select few.

Lay the cards on the table, cast the stones, toss the dice, call the oracle and read the tale as represented by what came before and will again. Full-circle.

Intuition is the hallmark of the black Queen, mother of many, but childless. Forever willing to assist, to heal and to aid, she knows that 'help' must originate with the one seeking it.

Forever aware of her place in the universe, La Femme Noir deplores indecision and cannot tolerate irresolution and laxity. However, her heritage of knowledge is available for the asking. She will make sacrifices, but will never be sacrificed.

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The King of Spades: The Progressives Card

This is the card of moving, of being the jack of all trades, to being the master of whatever the holder of the card sets their mind to. Anything and everything is not only possible, it is apparent.

Wisdom oozes from the edges of this card and beckons all the rest of us to join in the feast. Beware that something IS expected for this largess.

A willingness to do, to act, to set aside, to move ahead are what is expected from the Black King.

His reign is one of intolerance, as he is unwilling to tolerate, let alone support, anyone who is not resolute and determined. His reign is harsh and demanding as he refuses sanctuary to any unwilling or unable to carry their own weight and their own responsibility. His reign is, well, his reign is whatever the one holding the card sees it as being.

Where do we journey from here?

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