Accessing The Songlines: 2017 Tarot Reading

Yesterday I went to see Marlene for my “year ahead” tarot reading. I love her technique: rather than settling on one card to answer a question, she uses multiple decks. By the end of the session the small table is stacked with layers and layers of cards.

Chris:

The Death card came up immediately. I said I had a recent dream where Chris told me he would be leaving soon. For years I have dreamt of his death but this is the first dream where he informs me of his plan. Even so, Marlene did not interpret the card literally. She said it is time to let go of the pain and fear around his decades of ill health. Certainly that is an excellent idea that benefits my own wellbeing. I always accept the content of our readings together but do not always agree with her interpretations or advice.

She said that I am the reason he is still alive, and Chris and I say amen to that. We are spiritual soul mates, although less than perfectly connected in our day-to-day obsessions. He does have an uncanny understanding of my hidden eccentricities. 99% of the time he appears oblivious to my true nature but when the 1% revelations occur, I am completely rattled by his mysterious, accurate intuition. He knows me better than I know myself.

Cullan:

She always says, “He will be OK.” He makes good choices in his relationships but is still too immature for marriage. His desire to play the field is strong. Marlene says his open and highly sensitive heart makes it difficult for him to fit into the normal male patterns of our culture.

Work:

Accept the promotion Louis offered a few months ago. It will actually make my life easier.

Creativity:

A highly creative period is ahead, even though I am employed full time.

Lola:

This was the most eerie part of the meeting. It brought me to tears and Marlene said it took her to a place she does not usually go. In a reading from a few years past, Marlene said Lola is not an ordinary cat, that her energy field is extremely expansive. I had a dream that confirmed that wild concept. Yesterday I told Marlene that Lola and I have been sharing dreams. The cards she drew in response shook her up a bit. Marlene is a pragmatic earth sign, but the cards told her that at one time Lola had been human, that she is my teacher and I am her physical healer. That idea echoes a lovely quote from Eckhart Tolle, “I have lived with several Zen masters — all of them cats.”

Workshops:

We discussed the dream conference. I worry that Chris will have last-minute health issues that prevent me from attending. I told her I have been drawn to Jill Purce’s sound healing workshops in Glastonbury. I wanted to go last year but ended up giving the money to Alea so she could buy her house.

The cards Marlene drew about Jill and Glastonbury were so positive that she just laughed and said, “I can’t even begin to describe why this is so wonderful for you.” I have had the same result when I have done my own readings. She did go on to explain that this experience would take my consciousness to the next level and begin to merge my dreaming and waking life. What Sabine calls manifestation. Marlene said this experiential retreat is beyond what the more intellectual, academic approach of the IASD conference offers. Jill is married to the brilliant Rupert Sheldrake and was a Fellow at King’s College, London. Their sons are named Cosmos and Merlyn!

T’ai-Chi Rob and Robert:

Marlene gave me a reading when I was struggling with my relationship with Rob. She advised me to stay in his class but I could not. Yesterday  I had to tell her about how strange it was that Pat ended up living in Robert’s house. It was healing for me when Rob called to ask for my reference for Pat.

Marlene confessed, after hearing this little story, that she and Robert had had an affair many years ago, when they both were married to other people! She called Robert a womanizer and egomaniac. I agree. Why beautiful Rob puts up with that is a mystery to me. I hope it works out well for our Pat.

General Direction:

It’s time to let go of pain. Marlene talked about my north node in Scorpio, in the fifth house, which I have been researching for the last couple of years. Moving from concern for the collective to devotion to the individual creative, mystical and sensual. The card ruling this new year is the Ace of Cups.

Waking Dream: West Wind

(Monday, December 26, 2016) moon waning crescent Sagittarius

A gale force wind advisory was issued last night. This morning the wind tore the west-facing aluminum basement door so wide open that it cracked and broke. It is the door Cullan uses, the door closest to his bedroom.

Basement door: door to the unconscious. West is the direction of death in the medicine wheel. Cave and the womb, stillness and quiet. Bear is the totem animal, which is Cullan’s nickname from infancy. He has a tattoo on his chest of a grizzly defeating wolves in a fierce battle.

Again I think of the dream I call “Tanya” but which is clearly about Cullan and Alea. It reveals Alea’s OCD (which Cullan only recently discussed with me) but also two female presences pounding on the back door. Heavy pounding of the wind on the basement door woke me up this morning. It brings up, for me, the memory of my first Edie dream: the door crashes open and she enters the cabin in Grand Marais where I am sleeping. I awake from a dream into a dream. Edie foretold huge changes in my life. Once again, Cullan is undergoing great changes in his life.

Christmas Hanukkah Owl

(Sunday, December 25, 2016) moon waning crescent Scorpio / tarot World Dancer

Cullan came into my room this evening as I was reading James Hillman’s chapter on the Philosopher’s Stone. He saw the Great Horned Owl on the roof with prey in its talons. Tomorrow I go to see Marlene for my New Year tarot reading.

The Dreamsters Union