RobinWoodrd

Sample Reading with the Robin Wood Tarot by Diane Wilkes

The querent, a divorced, 37 year old male, had moved from various cities in the last few years. He had a good job in one town (Location A), but was "itchy" to move on again to a new, considerably colder place (Location B). He wanted to know what he could do to become happy and settled in one place without wanting to move on again in a few years.

Card One - Gain From Pattern Card Three - Need to Know About Pattern Card Two - Loss from Pattern

As I laid the cards out, all the cards were reversed except the first card, which was what the querent gained from moving around. This said to me that he was still searching for the right balance, the right mixture to find his "home." The reason he keeps moving is because he hasn't found it yet and, until he does, he's willing to keep looking. Settling for something is abhorrent to him. The question he needed to ask himself (based on these cards) is, "Am I expecting too much, is my vision too idealized? On the other hand, it may well be that there is still something he hasn't yet found that makes him truly happy, balanced, serene. And there's nothing wrong with high expectations. Only he can determine if his are unrealistically high or if he asks for a lot from the world because he is willing to give everything to get it.

The Robin Wood Temperance is a particularly dynamic rendering of this card, showing the querent's willingness to expend any effort necessary to achieve a true harmony with his world. That one foot is on the ground and the other is in the water shows that he likes things to be different (he might want to look into a place that has a varied landscape and/or climate), and he feels comfortable with movement. This may sound hokey, but the Archangel Michael's presence in this card indicates to me that, when the querent is in the right place, he'll know it. That he is still searching indicates to me that he hasn't found his place...yet.

Questions that come up with this card also reflect the angelic presence I mentioned. Is the querent expecting perfection (ie., "Heaven") and so is constantly disillusioned? In terms of relationships, are his expectations never met? Does he want to remove himself from any situation that doesn't offer complete harmony? These are questions for the querent to ask in terms of what he gains from his constant moves. The three balls the figure juggles are spiritual, material, and mental abundance (wealth). Which of these three is getting short shrift in his life right now?

As I said, all of the cards from here on out were reversed. This card indicates that building emotionally fulfilling relationships is almost impossible when the querent is always "in flight" (even when he is physically there, he may mentally be somewhere else). When one is always moving (and this Knight is the quintessential mover, allowing no emotional ties to impede his flight), one can't possibly put down roots. Most people really want to put down roots, but the cards that came up (no Pentacles, the Eight of Wands, the Knight of Wands, and this card) says the querent is not most people in that regard. The only way he can be happy where he is (and I am getting ahead of myself a bit) is if he is truly satisfied with his surroundings. He is not one who can settle for less. Not happily, anyway. The Knight's steed is Pegasus, a winged horse. This querent must fly.

But there is more to putting down roots than living in a place for a sustained period of time. I wondered if the querent had found his true vocation. This card, along with Temperance, indicates a very mentally active, possibly brilliant person who has yet to find his career niche, so he may continually keep moving without finding his true vocation. I think that, once that happens, he will find a place that satisfies him.

This is the card (along with Temperance) that makes me wonder if the querent's expectations are grounded in reality. Mary K. Greer says of this card that it's all about learning to dance within the constraints of the world (Saturn is the Golden Dawn ruler of this card, after all, and Saturn is the planet of restrictions, limitations, and structure). The reversal emphasizes a dissatisfaction or disinclination for accepting real-world limitations and structures. So I would say "what the querent needs to know" is which of his dreams for himself jibes with his present reality and which are pipe-dreams (I suspect some fall into each camp). But let's not forget, reversed or not, The World indicates great mastery and ability, and if he could find his niche, the dance of life would be a more joyful one for him. Finding that niche is what this reversal may be all about.

If this card were not reversed, I'd be encouraging the querent to stay where he is. The Ace of Wands is a card of great vitality and potential. I was inclined, in light of its radiance (pun), to say that there may be an opportunity he is overlooking where he is. Energy, vitality, forward movement...it's all here. The reversal could speak to the querent's attitude about the situation, the "itchiness" to move again. Even if Location A isn't where he ultimately ends up, there may be an opportunity here that could lead him closer to the "promised land" of his soul. There's new life to be found in Location A, if he is willing to excavate it a bit.

The querent was urged not to be too hasty to move to a place as extremely different from his present home as Location B is. (Look at this card! The earth looks like it's covered in snow! Isn't the tarot wonderful?) This card of movement and taking immediate action is mitigated (but not eradicated) by the reversal, which made me counsel him to think very carefully about his next move. This move needs to be grounded (there's that word again!) and made in concert with very specific goals. I suggested he not make any too sudden moves.

As opposed to the Soldier of Fortune Knight of Swords, this Knight is the ultimate idealist. He has to have a vision, a dream to fulfill, a wrong to right. A mission. The reversal tells me (along with the other cards I've mentioned) that the querent hasn't found that mission yet. Once he does, he'll be unstoppable, and any move he makes will be in harmony (Temperance) with that raison d'etre. And look...in his hand, he carries that Ace of Wands...

The querent needs celebration, and like-minded people, in order to be content. He needs to work on a shared goal, and not engage in empty recreations that don't truly satisfy him. This card carries an inherent risk--instead of following his dream (wherever that dream may lead), he could become diverted, lose himself in festivities and social engagements. This would be a diversion, not true happiness. And in his soul, he hungers for true happiness. This card can speak to temporal pleasures (wine, revelry, and song) or a life of true artistic synergy. It is literally in the querent's hands.

These cards all seem to mine a similar theme. Even the breakdown emphasizes action (three wands, two knights) and the Majors (Temperance and the World) speak to the querent's need to create a life that fits with his idealistic, inner dreams and desires.

This all sounds good, you say, but what's the concrete advice? I'd say that he needs to really look into his greatest aspirations and make a physical move that corresponds to them. Could be Location B, could temporarily be Location A (but probably not forever). I suggested the client consider remaining where he was a bit longer...until he was sure he was finding his "direction home."