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XVII - THE STAR The Three Star Spread is based on this picture. One woman stands on iron ore and watches a basket star swimming in the sea. Another woman stands on fossil crinoids (relatives of the sea star) and watches a falling iron meteor. Each woman tries to attract the other's attention, though they do not look at each other. A single glowing eye unites the women, their visions, and the ground they stand on. This layout is used to clarify a relationship between two people. Odd numbers represent one person, even numbers represent the other. Card 9 unites the two. Try reading both sides for each person. The spread can also be read for one person: Odd numbers represent what you think and do in the world and how others see you. Even numbers represent the subconscious, the imagination, and how you see yourself. Card 9 balances the two.
Cards 1&2: The ground that each person stands on: home and work, responsibilities, and
the past as it affects the current situation. |
| Six of Spikes: An iron agave stalk holds sparkling seedpod lamps, and the base holds a honeycomb. These spike-leaved desert plants take years to mature, then they flower in a blaze of midsummer glory before dying. Young rosettes of new plants are hidden under the dead leaves. |
| XV - Molten Iron (The Devil): She stands on iron that melts except where her hands cool it into coils, and stares into a mesmerizing pool of molten iron. A giant desert centipede crawls up her back, symbol of rising uncontrolled energy. If she masters the temptation of fear, she gains power and does not place others in bondage to her weakness. |
| Six of Bells: Three bells with the vessel-like Wild Ginger Flowers (Asarum) that inspire their shapes. The scent of the flowers mingles with the sound of the bells, a mutual gift under heart-shaped leaves. |
| Seven of Spikes: A stag beetle and tiny iron antlers shaped like those of the extinct Pleistocene Giant Deer (Megaloceros) crown a shaman's hair comb ornament. Carbon antler fungi (Xylaria hypoxylon) are like ashy burnt antlers. One who accepts initiation enters the wild land to confront and claim power. |
| Madrone of Coils: Water of Water. Madrone flowers in her hair, her hands are Sargassum weed that shelters Gulf Stream creatures: leatherback hatchling, ocellated crab, button jellyfish, blue glaucus sea slug, and violet snail. She connects and feels all, reflecting the subconscious of others, knowing when to move closer, when to dive and let go, and when to float with the current. |
| Nine of Blades: A raven mask glares at staring-eyed tri-blade arrowheads - is she their sender or their target? In such a complex situation, only the movement has meaning, since it makes the eyes on the arrows sing with whistling noises - a fearful or exultant sound. |
| Four of Spikes: Interlocked tent stakes hold pebbles carved with watching eyes, guarding a Roman-style labyrinth that forms the center of a home, temple, or shrine. Two diamond crystals and a swirl of incense form the gate to this sacred sanctuary. |
| IV - The Anvil (The Emperor): The blacksmith's tool, world axis, sacred symbol, workbench, altar, source of authority, and deity. It holds the solidity of the earth's core and the tension of growing tree roots, and imposes sacred order, stability, and focus. |
| Madrone of Spikes: Water of Fire. Her lightning rod forms a fulgurite, a tube of lighting-sintered sand. Her body is a madrone tree that shelters a spadefoot toad. She drops toad eggs and tadpoles into desert rain pools. She is the shower of sparks that inspires a new project or relationship, and the soothing reassurance that allows it to grow. |
All artwork, electronic images, and text are copyright ©2001-2004 by Lorena Babcock Moore. Script copyright ©2004 by Daniel Moore.