Reading a Spread: Self-Compassion

I am certain that I am not the only person who struggles with shame and vulnerability. They are experiences that are a normal part of the human condition, but shame can easily hijack our minds and prohibit us from growing or moving forward. I came up with this spread last week after realizing that I needed some concrete, tangible way to frame my feelings.  This spread provides a scaffolding that makes space for shame and pain, but also a pathway for self-compassion.

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CARD 1: Querent's ego

When I say ego, I mean the self-aware part of ourselves with cognitive, critical focus. In this case, it is the part of us that replays every sentence uttered, every gesture attempted, and finds it wanting. Pulling the five of wands in this position was some major real-talk; when I am in a defensive, reactive place, I lash out. Some of the blows hit my attackers, but inevitably some also land on my allies and even myself. It feels not unlike being in a chaotic fight with a bunch of guys with sticks. For me as the querent, it leads to shame, which makes it difficult to find self-compassion.

CARDS 2 & 3:  A container for the pain

I pretty much sighed with relief with these two; I think the ace and the ten of pentacles provide a lovely symmetry here.  If the ace is the essence of the suit, and the ten is the suit come to fruition, then I see here that my pain and discomfort is held in a container of tangible security. I always have the earth, and I always have my home. I can relax into that certainty when facing my ego.

CARD 4: A strength of the querent's

This card, the four of swords, surprised me a little.  While I may struggle to control my reactions in the moment, I'm actually pretty good at finding time later to retreat and consider what happened.  This card also speaks to recovery; it tells me that whatever pain I suffer, I have the resilience to spring forward from it.

CARD 5: A message of compassion

Possibly the most empowering card I could have pulled, Strength is about emotional fortitude. In this position, she is a reminder of my own courage as well as the loving support of those around me. I'm actually struggling to write out an interpretation because this is one of those cases where the simplicity of the card, and the impact of the visual with her basic meanings, really conveys the message better than words.  It's one of those lovely moments in tarot that seems to transcend language... although I guess that's kind of a cop-out for a blogger!

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This spread gave me a chance to honor the painful experiences of shame by providing a safe vessel for vulnerability. Do you think you would use this spread when you need to practice self-compassion? Could you see this spread working for somebody trying to cultivate compassion for others?  Did I totally just leave you in the lurch with my inability to describe the fifth card?  Please share your thoughts in comments!

Week 4: #tarotnerdschallenge

As I shared on Monday, I'm catching up with the #tarotnerdschallenge on Instagram, and expanding on my responses here on the blog. Today, I'm looking at some of the questions from Week 4.

I like these questions because they draw on the distinct meanings of each tarot suit; I cover these meanings in my blog post about reading runs of suits. This week's challenges ask you to draw only on the relevant suit to answer your question.  Below, you see the cards I pulled in response to each query, as well as my interpretations.  I used the Chrysalis deck for this one, in part because of the distinctive coloring for each suit.  I start my analysis with the card in the upper left and go counter-clockwise.

What does my body need? Draw the answer from the suit of pentacles.

I loved pulling the ace of stones. Since aces are the essence of the suit, this card is telling me to reconnect with the earth, nothing more and nothing less. The local weather has just warmed up, and with the recent spring equinox, this card could not have better timing.

What does my inner fire need? Draw the answer from the suit of wands.

The eight of spirals is one of my favorite cards in the Chrysalis suit of spirals; I grew up around lots of deer, and where I live now we have enough regulars that I've given several of them names. Essentially, deer feel very familiar to me. The forward movement of the eight of spirals (wands) encourages me to embrace my desire to do more creative activities. So far, I've been doing that with things like the #createthisoracledeck challenge as well as this blog, but I think it is also time to get back into some of my fiction writing (maybe I need to revisit my writers' block spread...)

What does my heart need? Draw the answer from the suit of cups.

The two of cups is a lovely card that can mean both close romantic love as well as intimate, one-on-one relationships. Here, the two of mirrors captures that sentiment with a pair of affectionate swans. I can read this card as a reminder to stay connected with my partner, but I think it is also an indication that my most rewarding social experiences happen when I get to have one-on-one time with folks.  For example, getting coffee with a friend will nourish me more than going to a party, even if I love everybody at the party.

What does my mind need? Draw the answer from the suit of swords.

Another ace!  The swords are already the suit of mind and intellect, and the choice of scrolls in this deck suits the domain perfectly. You can see this card also includes a raven and a key, which are symbols of knowledge (in fact, the Wild Unknown Tarot uses these symbols to indicate the deep knowledge of the Hierophant). With aces meaning the heart of the suit, and scrolls bringing an especially literary sense to the suit of swords, I'm reading this card as reminding me to keep reading literature. I go through periods where I devour several books in a short period of time, and then I tend to take a week or two off. This card reminds me that I always feel better during periods when I'm reading.

What theme or lesson is prevalent in my life? Draw the answer from the major arcana.

Since the major arcana tell the narrative of life's journey, it makes sense to pull from them when looking for overall life themes.  I pulled the Hermit, or the Storyteller. I have an affectionate relationship with the Hermit, and I love seeing her as a storyteller in this deck. As a hermit, she draws on her inner light and knowledge. This card tells me that I am at a point in my life where I define my life story, and I get to decide how I want to tell it. We all tell ourselves stories to help make sense of the world; as such, storytelling, even if only to ourselves, is a powerful act.


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What do you think of these interpretations?  Have you been inspired by any of the March card challenges going on?  Do you incorporate general suit meanings in your readings?  Let us know in comments!

Reading a Spread: Job Interview Jitters

We all know that job searching is fraught. It's stressful, full of rejection, and relatively high-stakes. I came up with this spread earlier this week before a job interview, looking for something to help me ground myself. This isn't a spread about finding a job, or general work-related questions; I designed it specifically to help calm my nerves before my interview!  If interview jitters are something you face, maybe this spread can help.

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Here are the four cards I pulled for my spread.  See the descriptions below.

CARD 1: The Querent

Representing me at this moment, the six of swords shows a small boat with obscured figures gliding away. This card reminds me that at this point in my life, I'm not searching for highly visible status-oriented work. In fact, over the last few months, I realized that stability is one of my highest priorities for the workplace. 

CARD 2: What grounds you

I like to read court cards as a point of view, or motto. The king of wands makes his decisions based on his passions, but such passion is tempered by his experience. I year ago, I felt more like the knight of wands: Exuberant, forward-thinking, and spontaneous. The king uses this very same energy to drive him, but he looks back on the lessons he's learned over his life.  This attitude keeps his decisions sincere and practical. I'm reminded that, however this interview turns out, I have learned a lot in my journey, and that is worth something. 

CARD 3: Something to calm you

Right before I go in for an interview--like when I'm sitting in the lobby, waiting, sipping on my coffee--is when I start to lose focus. The immediacy of it overwhelms me a bit, and I feel myself getting worked up. At that point, I need something to just calm me down.  I'm never really happy to see the Emperor, as he represents some values that don't resonate with me (authority, paternalism).  In this context, though, he reminds me that I am the only expert in my unique personal experience. However my interviewers choose to evaluate me, I know that I am the authority on my own life. 

CARD 4: Something to give you confidence

Now that you're grounded and calm, you're ready for a confidence boost! I'll admit I was a bit surprised to see the placid seven of pentacles.  He is quietly waiting for his crops to ripen, knowing that there's nothing more he can do at this point but wait for the harvest. There's reassurance in knowing that you've already put the work in, and that it's time to let it all play out. He reminds me that my confidence doesn't have to take the form of being showy, and that calmly letting things unfold is its own power. 

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After I finished this spread, I took out my notebook that I bring to job interviews.  I wrote a little summary of my spread, so that I could look down and read it if I started to get nervous.  Based on the four cards, I noted:

I am seeking calm. Experience tempers my passion.  I am the expert on my decisions. Confidence may manifest as patience. 

It's too soon to know the results of the interview, but experientially, I can say that doing this spread beforehand definitely helped ground me in the confidence of my values.  Could you see yourself doing a spread like this before a job interview?  Do you even get job interview jitters?  Are there other parts of the job-search process that you think tarot could help you with?  Let us know in the comments!

Reading a Spread: Prioritizing Your Energy

I started designing this spread a while back, with the intent of developing a spread with a lot of cards. I wanted to challenge myself to interpret larger quantities of cards at one time. But the spread designs just never came together, and my readings weren't especially helpful.  Today, I felt the need to do an energy-focusing spread, but just looking at the original design of nine cards was tiring.  I spontaneously came up with this four-card alternative, and I found the results much for useful for focusing my energy. I can't claim to have these bursts of insight often, but today I was lucky!

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Being overwhelmed is more than just having too much to do.  It includes not only the stress of being overburdened, but the confusion of not even being able to tell what's important anymore. We probably don't feel like we have the support we need, but we're not quite sure how to ask for it. This spread is not intended to provide you with the full range of support or advice you might need to resolve all your issues; instead, it's a bit of triage. Use this spread if you need permission to let go of a view things, and for some gentle guidance on your next step.

CARD 1: Something to set aside for the moment.

Alright, I don't think this card is telling me to set aside The World in its entirety. Instead, I can release myself from worrying about the larger, overarching aspects of my life. This card suggests that, while planning ahead is healthy, now is not the time to obsess over what my life's legacy will be when it's time for me to leave my community. What a relief!

CARD 2: Something on which to increase focus

The eight of swords is about determining the best of limited options. I notice that the character on the card probably isn't thinking about her long-term plans; she just wants to know how to get those bindings off! Right now, my focus is on immediate issues and restrictions. I'm not necessarily searching for the perfect solution, just one that will help me move forward. Though it was a little striking to get this card, I think it makes a lot of sense when contextualized by the previous one. 

CARD 3: A perception or belief to challenge

I am really, really good at reviewing every single action I do or word I say in search of major screw-ups. Mostly my concerns are around being a good ally and not unwittingly perpetrating any forms of oppression. The queen of swords is, indeed, about the practical enaction of justice, and weighing all information fairly. In this position, though, she challenges me not to spend all my energy determining if my every tiny action is perfectly just. She's not asking me to reject my goals of a more equitable world, just to give myself a break sometimes to avoid burnout. 

CARD 4: Something to hold with compassion

Aw, I always feel so bad for the nine of wands. He just looks so tired. He's not frantically overburdened, like the ten of wands. No, he is resigned to his post, not necessarily believing that he actually makes a difference; I see him as going through the motions. This is the burnout that the queen of swords is warning me about! But to pull this card in this position reminds me: Even if I don't meet my goals, or don't handle my challenges perfectly, it is not a weakness. Being all used up isn't a personal deficit, and it is when we are feeling most useless that we need to hold ourselves with compassion.

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Does this spread seem like it would help you focus your energy constructively?  Do you have alternate readings of these cards?  Do you find larger spreads difficult to manager, or do you find them rich and engaging?  Let us know in comments!

Reading a Spread: The Wind Chimes

As I've mentioned before, I start reading tarot out of geekiness rather than mysticism.  The Wind Chimes spread, however, is a clear result of my mystic side.  I wanted to develop a spread that was simple, and focused on high-intensity emotions while still providing a sense of calm.  While working on such a spread, I heard my recently-hung wind chimes gently sound from the backyard. As anyone with wind chimes can attest, wind chimes help soothe and clarify, and I was able to come up with the following spread.  I imagine each card sounding out its own clear note to form shifting harmonies of meaning.

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Our emotional lives can be sources of great energy, motivation, and self-awareness, but they can also lead us to confusion and disorientation.  We incorporate intense emotional experiences into our sense of self over time, so stating that an emotion is "ordered" or "disordered" is not a way to pass judgment, but rather a way to identify where we are in the process. 

CARD 1: What makes you sing? (Where are your emotions intense, but coherent?)

It took me awhile to get to know the seven of swords--he's got a bit of a shit-eating grin that can be off-putting--but I've learned to recognize the lessons he brings. He's sneaking away with an armful of swords, looking over his shoulder gleefully at the two he's left behind. I get the impression that carnival behind him wasn't actually that great, and he's managing to get out of a bad situation in the best shape possible. While working to disconnect myself from some previous, unhelpful beliefs, I recently came to a point where I am content with that loss.  The loss is still intense, but I have a coherent sense of what it means for me as a person.

CARD 2: What makes you shout? (Where are your emotions disordered?)

The Magician has been popping up a lot for me.  The Magician is about synthesizing all aspects of yourself in order to manifest your dreams. No big deal, right? Of course I'm still disordered around these emotions; I'm trying to honor new aspects of myself while trying to determine what my true desires even are.  An exciting time in my life, to be sure, but absolutely still a measure of disorder!

CARD 3: What makes you cry? (What do you process internally?)

I get the two of wands a lot, too. This card is actually about using a solid sense of self to build on.  Like anybody, I consult people I trust and respect when I am struggling, but at the end of the day, I am comfortable relying on my inner moral compass. Ultimately, this card reflects to me that my sense of self comes largely from my internal processes, and less from how others define me.  I hope I can live up to it!

CARD 4: What makes you laugh? (What do you process externally?)

Guys, I think the Page of Cups is just a little sweetheart.  I don't know if it's the pink stockings, that charming curtsy, or the fact that the dude is carrying around a fish in a goblet. He ultimately signifies trust in the validity of our emotions; the truth is, I often check in with a few loved ones to evaluate the appropriateness of my emotional responses.  This can be really, really healthy if you are being gaslighted and need to check in with somebody you trust, or if you are caught in a self-destructive spiral; however, I don't want to let it invalidate my own emotional responses.  This card encourages me to pay attention to how often and when I rely on others to validate my emotions.

CARD 5: What orchestrates your passions?  (What concept ties together your emotional reality?)

Of course the court of cups is making a strong appearance in a spread about emotions. The King of Cups is, naturally, a leader who relies on his emotional intelligence; I think of him as a leader who embraces charity and intuition.  He's not quite as naive as, say, the Page, though; the King understands that our emotions must be balanced with other information and pragmatism. In orchestrating my emotions and their varying levels of intensity, it's important for me to remember that all of my reactions are valid in their contribution to my internal symphony of self.  It's perfectly reasonable, though, to base my actions on not only my emotions, but on a variety of factors.

This spread reinforces to me that I am in a period of emotional growth and flux, but that I am able to find internal balance despite the disorder in some areas of my life. I can rely on my internal process for a sense of self, but I know there are still plenty of issues for me to work through!

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This spread relies more on intuition than some of the other spreads I've shown.  How does that approach work for you?  Do you like the card significance to be a little more cut and dry?  Could you see yourself using this spread? (I offer it in my Etsy store as one of my readings.)  How would you modify it to create your own set of wind chimes? Let us know!

Reading a Spread: Fried Chicken

Awhile back, I was tweeting with Fiona Benjamin (of Modern Fortune Teller) about the joys of Southern (USian) living... especially the food!  When I moved to the South, I was particularly delighted to find out that fried chicken was an acceptable breakfast. Our conversation inspired me to create the Fried Chicken Spread, with special kudos to Fiona for suggesting the Gravy Card!

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Though this spread is playful, it's based in the real value of sharing a delicious meal from your culture.  Food not only nourishes us, it delights us and connects us with our family, community, and history.  This spread is a good way to gain insight into self-care, and to encourage you to do what you need to for your body, mind, and spirit. Using my Universal Waite-Smith, I served up this spread!

CARD 1 - Something to Nourish

First and foremost, we eat food to survive.  Even something like fried chicken--which may not seem that nutritious--provides calories and protein that we need.  The Empress nurtures and protects, and symbolizes abundance.  This warm, maternal energy tells me not to feel guilty about indulging sometimes, because self-care is important.  Even fried chicken can be part of a balanced meal!

CARD 2 - Something to Delight

There's really nothing like the first bite of your favorite dish.  It's a full-body appreciation that is difficult to put in the words, but "bliss" comes close.  That simple, visceral joy is powerful, and we can prioritize it by looking for additional ways to experience it.  Though the five of wands is often associated with ego and conflict, I couldn't help but see a friendly pick-up game of soccer or football in this context.  The high energy and playfulness of impromptu games helps us manifest joy in a very physical way.  

CARD 3 - Something to Connect

I think we'd be hard-pressed to find a culture that didn't use food as a focus for social gatherings.  This card demonstrates that connection with others is often an important part of self-care, and the three of wands appropriately signifies collaboration and opportunities for partnerships.  I imagine making space for creative acts that involve others.  Examples include joining a local theater group, starting a band, or being a part of a table-top gaming group. 

CARD 4 - The Gravy Card:  A Little Extra!

And finally, on top of it all, something special to tie it together.  The gravy card adds a little extra flavor and richness, infusing the other cards.  The two of wands is forward-looking, relying on a stable sense of self for progress.  In the end, one of the most powerful ways to care for ourselves is to acknowledge the validity of our unique experiences and worldview.  Connect with whatever makes you feel the most like yourself!  Observe that feeling, and let it guide you through the nourishment, delight, and connection of the other cards. 

A RUN OF WANDS

I recently talked about reading runs of Minor Arcana, and having three cards sharing a suit show up in this spread provides a perfect chance to practice. Wands symbolize passion and creative energy, and maybe a little spontaneity.  Within the context of this spread, I interpret this run to mean that the querent can embrace an energetic, intuitive approach to self care, with special focus on creative outlets.

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I hope these cards inspire you to connect not only with others, but with yourself (and I hope I didn't make you too hungry!)  What kinds of energized, creative, collaborative activities do you enjoy for self-care?  Does your self-care tend to manifest itself differently?  What is your favorite heritage food? (Who knows, it may end up in one of my spreads!)

Reading a Spread: Mirror's Edge

This spread is a layout that can tell you things you don't necessarily want to hear.  It's about looking at the contrast between the things we like about ourselves, and what we don't like.  When I started designing this spread, I was using phrases like "your best self," but the results weren't very informative.  Using language that was less about judgement and more about contrast yielded a much richer spread.

With my trusty Universal Waite-Smith, I pulled the cards below.  Let's see how they demonstrate the ways in which our darkness is a reflection of our light.

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Note that in this spread, the cards are not laid out in perfect chronological order (see the placement of cards 7 and 8).

CARD 1: Your hopes

I've said before that the High Priestess always elicits happiness and tranquility in me.  In this position, she speaks to my hopes for a richness in life that goes beyond material satisfaction, and taps into a contentedness that sits deeply in my sense of self.  This card also suggests that I would like to get better at trusting my intuition, something I have been practicing pointedly over the last couple months. 

CARD 2: What makes you feel pride

I feel like the driver of the Chariot often looks a bit smug, but I can hardly blame him.  He is an expert at balancing the opposing forces in his life, and using that energy to create movement.  I do take special pride in the fact that my skills often center around bringing together opposing viewpoints, or balancing different ends of a spectrum of values. 

CARD 3: What you most admire

Lots of trump cards in this spread!  The Empress is the Earth mother, the crunchy granola feminine goddess.  Frankly, in this position, I would expect something more like Justice, or one of the Queens.  But the Empress reminds me that I am more drawn to the messiness of earth-based spirituality than I let myself admit.  This is especially effective when combined with the High Priestess from the beginning; it really is important for me to embrace my "hippie-dippy" side order to manifest my brightest self.

CARD 4: Your fears

I'll be honest.  I feel like the Knight of Swords can be kind of a jerk.  He loves learning and truly wants to pursue justice, but he trusts his own intellect a little much and may not consider other points of view.  I advocate passionately for the things I believe in and am not afraid to disagree with others, but I worry that I can bowl people over with my intensity.  I do not want to be the type of person who leaves others too intimidated to disagree!

CARD 5: What makes you feel shame

I know the Three of Cups seems like an unequivocally happy card, but I instantly knew what it meant here.  My social anxiety manifests itself in periods of shame after any positive social interaction, especially after parties. It's almost always independent of anything I actually did or said, and I think it's probably a common experience. Usually, I just brush it off as par for the course, but this card suggests that I might need to look a little more closely at that shame. 

CARD 6: What you most disdain

Wow, it's pretty harsh to be told you have disdain for.... everything.  The World could be signaling the fact that I have the most contempt for people who hold power and perpetuate systems of oppression that cross the entire globe, but that's a bit of a stretch.  I think it speaks to the fact that when we are overly critical of ourselves, it inevitably bleeds into criticism of others.  This card reminds me to practice compassion for myself in order to be more gracious to those around me. 

CARD 7: Your brightest self

It's interesting pulling a Minor Arcana in this prominent position, after getting so many trumps in the rest of the spread.  The Eight of Wands doesn't show any human actors, so we don't have facial expressions or postures to look at.  There's barely even a setting, just some rolling hills in the background.  No, this card is pure, unadulterated, forward-moving energy. Without a doubt, I feel at my brightest and when there is a sense of progress or change in my life.

CARD 8: Your darkest self

Strength is a special card to me, and I pay attention when it shows up in a spread.  It's part of a small cluster of cards that I identify with closely.  In some older decks, it is called Courage, which comes from the French word coeur, meaning heart. We know, then, that this strength doesn't refer to how much you can bench press, but rather a spiritual or emotional strength.  It is kind of reassuring to see it in this position!  Instead of focusing on my weaknesses, this card tells me what I can draw on in my darkest moments.  Even in times when I am feeling shame, fear, and lacking confidence, I can pull on my inner strength to get me through. 

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This particular manifestation of the spread demonstrates how the cards can surprise you, or seem contradictory, but still provide a fresh perspective on things.  I find this spread to be helpful for self-awareness, and if it appeals to you, I offer it as one of my available readings. 

Is this a spread you would try?  Do you have any questions about the positions of the cards, or why I read them the way I did?  Let us know in comments!

Reading a Spread: Setting Your Intentions

Today's spread comes from Tarot by Cassandra.  Her tumblr features lots of creative spreads, ranging from simple to complex.  It's a great resource if you're looking for new ways to read the cards.  Using my Universal Waite-Smith* deck, I pulled the cards below to help me set my intention!

*I have decided to start using the name Waite-Smith for the deck that has historically been called the Rider-Waite; more tarot scholars are starting to use Waite-Smith, and it more accurately represents the origins of the deck. 

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As I shuffled the cards, I posed the following query to the cards: Over the past two months or so, I've had a schedule that has allowed me to pursue creative and self-care activities.  As a result, I've developed some really great habits around my health and spirituality.  When I move into a fuller schedule, how to I maintain these good habits?  Let's see what the cards say!





CARD 1: The Seed: Your Intention

The Ace of Pentacles was the perfect card to describe my intention.  Aces are beginnings, and pentacles are down-to-earth.  I'm at a point where I am beginning a new set of practices that help me feel grounded, and this card absolutely reflects that.

CARD 2: Hesitation: Fears Stopping you from Planting

I thought that the barrier to this intention would be the lack of time, but the King of Cups is a ruler who focuses on balancing emotion.  I've always had trouble getting to know the King of Cups; in this position, I am taking this as a sign that it is not limited time that will be my barrier, but rather my ability to balance my emotional reactions in a way that is constructive and does not drain me of energy.

CARD 3: Push It In the Ground: Overcoming Fears and Waiting

When I pulled this card, I was initially confused.  The World is about completion, satisfaction, and a sense of wholeness with the universe.Whenever I am stuck on a card, I try to let go of any prescribed meanings and look at the overall picture and flow of energy in the spread; I realized that the woman on The World looks like she could be dancing, and I had an image of dancing in the garden and letting my footfalls push the seeds--my intentions--deeper into the soil.  Instead of anxiety around my new schedule, if I look towards it with holistic joy and optimism--a "dancing" energy--I will have an easier time incorporating my positive habits.

CARD 4: Taking Root: How Your Intention Will Become Reality

What a lovely card to pull in this position!  The Three of Wands is the synthesis of mind, body, and spirit to help move forward with creative goals, especially in collaboration. The first indication that my habits have been incorporated into a new schedule successfully will be some creative collaboration or form of connection.  For example, I want to keep going to the gym; maybe I'll make time for an exercise class, or start going with a workout buddy.

CARDS 5 & 6: Bring it to the Surface: Ways to Nurture Your Intention

Though these cards are grouped together, I am reading them as chronological.  As my intention grows and solidifies, I will see more professional or creative collaboration with the Three of Pentacles, nicely continuing the themes from card 4.  I was pleased to see the Six if Pentacles in the final position; it indicates that the ultimate manifestation of my success will be a generosity of spirit and the ability to give back.  This ties in very strongly with my personal values, as I see self-care and community care as part of the same spectrum, with both nourishing each other.  It creates an optimistic cycle to this reading, where nourishing my personal growth and health ultimately improves the community, and vice versa.

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This spread tells me that I should focus on the optimistic joy my new practices have brought me instead of fussing over my schedule, and keep an eye out for opportunities to collaborate creatively with others, even in small ways.  What do you think?  Would you use this spread?  Could you see alternate readings to these cards?  Let us know in the comments!

Reading a Spread: The Rainbow

This is a spread I came up with originally just to be playful, but I keep coming back to it for insight and comfort.  Today, I shuffled up my Universal Rider-Waite and pulled a Rainbow for y'all.  I set the cards in an arc, with each card representing a sentiment that I instinctively associate with a specific color.  Let's take a look at what the cards say!

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Check out the spread, and see the descriptions below of each card and its position.

The Rainbow

CARD 1:  What you are passionate about

The Hermit seems like a slightly strange card in this position, because I usually think of my passions as having more active energy.  The Hermit is about solitude and turning inward for guidance, and valuing the wisdom that comes with silence and meditation.  I will say that this aspect of myself--the valuation of silence and solitude--is not immediately apparent in my personality, but is still a vital part of myself.  This card reminds me that passion does not have to be fiery or flashy in order to still be a profoundly important part of our motivations.

CARD 2: What comforts you

I mean, who doesn't like a party?  The Four of Wands is often associated with specific celebrations, like weddings or other rites of passage, but I often end up reading it as any sort of celebration, necessarily with others.  I think that this is particularly interesting in contrast to the solitude of the previous card; this says to me that when my own internal passions begin to isolate me, I can find comfort in relaxing, playful celebration with friends.

CARD 3: What excites you

I think of excitement as different than passion in that excitement, in this case, refers more to the energizing but quickly-fading excitement of youth, whereas passion has more of a long, slow burn that sustains us.  In this case, my Seven of Cups shows that I get giddy when I have a ton of options.  I do love to fantasize about being a goat farmer one day, the CEO of an international non-profit the next day, and an award-winning science fiction writer the next.  The Seven of Cups also points out--especially in this position--that a glut of options can be overwhelming and paralyzing, and not necessarily conducive to growth.  This is powerful for me today, as I have several job interviews coming up, and I am trying not to be overwhelmed by them!

CARD 4: What makes you content

Oh, High Priestess, with that Mona Lisa smile; it's hard not to feel calm with this card.  She signifies hidden knowledge, empathy, and intuition.  What an interesting card, because I often struggle to honor that part of me.  The High Priestess in this position reminds me that trusting my own self-awareness is a crucial part of happiness.  I also think this is an interesting card, in that in symbolizes hidden knowledge; I often find great comfort and peace in the idea that there is so much yet unknown in the universe.

CARD 5: What saddens you

I'm calling this Eight of Pentacles straight-up literal: I'm tired of being a student!  I love learning, but the past several years have seen me in the role of apprentice and not a lot else.  I usually love this card, because the dude just seems really content to work on making his coins (plates? wheels?!), which is how it feels when you are in the zone learning something really cool.  This card tells me that, even though I will continue to learn throughout my entire life, now is a time for looking for other, non-student roles to do so.

CARD 6: What intrigues you

Well, there is nothing so intriguing as general mastery of the elements, which is what the Magician represents. He can also signify a unified sense of self, and the ability to turn your creative energies into tangible reality.  I like him in this position: It demonstrates that I have gotten pretty good at some internal balance and actualizing my aspirations, but that true, unified sense of self and accomplishment still eludes me.

CARD 7: What you are infatuated with

I like infatuation as the final card, because it is ambiguous.  It points to some need to re-examine the object of our infatuation, but it doesn't necessarily condemn it.  I was pretty excited to get Death here, and not just because it's one of my favorite cards.  I've been pretty obsessed lately with seasons, as they relate to our lives (for example, a season of growth versus a season of loss, or a season of change, or a season of poverty, etc.).  I just can't stop thinking about burning my past behind me and starting fresh; this card points out that, while in of itself that can be a healthy instinct, I shouldn't fixate on it to the point where I lose a sense of my past.

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I'm curious how many people resonated with this reading.  Of course, you will have your own variations on the card meanings when you do your readings.  What do people think of the Rainbow as a spread?  Too many cards?  To few?  Which topics would you change?