Make the Boy a Man
Dear Maribeth,
I am an avid reader of your column and I am hoping you can help me with some advise. I love my boyfriend very much but I am not sure what to do with his irratic behavior. One minute he tells me he loves me and wants me to have his baby, the next he is hurt and acting like a two year old with a temper tantrum, if things don’t go his way. How should I deal with this issue? Should I call it quits or try to be patient with him and help him grow into the mature man I know he can be?
Sincerely,
Confused in Coventry
Dear CiC,
The three cards that came up for your reading appear to represent the situation you describe extremely well. The Page of Pentacles represents a child (your boyfriend), the Two of Cups shows the two of you trying to meet in the middle and the Queen of Swords is you turning your back on the situation when it becomes ridiculous. The randomness and perfect order of tarot cards continually blows me away with their accuracy and appropriateness! I love it! Let’s look more closely at all this.
The Page of Pentacles is a young man with his eye on The Prize (that would be you in this case!). His feet are in an awkward and self-conscious position while his hat is in the shape of a question mark. These symbols imply his insecurity in how to go about achieving his goal, although he knows it is just within his grasp. Look carefully at the pentacle perched precariously at the tip of his fingers. It is right there in front of his face, yet quite possibly ready to slip away. Like a bubble, he must be gentle or it could float away or pop! He can’t get too tight a handle on it or it he will crush it and it won’t be what it is meant to be. What’s a man to do?
The Two of Cups right in the center of your reading shows that we are talking about real true love here. This isn’t a temporary experience, but are you ready to cross that line into your future? The caduceus, or medical symbol, between your cups in the very center of your reading implies the healing that you are both providing for each other. This is a genuine soul connection and although your mind may not always understand the games being played, your heart knows you are on the right path. The winged lion overhead with the furrowed brow indicates the ugliness with which you can relate. Words exchanged can be nasty, but forgiveness seems to be part of your whole scene. He is stepping and reaching forward toward you in an act of redemption after you have been hurt. This is all part of each of you getting to know yourselves and to grow as individuals…together.
The Queen of Swords is you being tough enough to handle all of this. You need to use your sword to establish clear boundaries that work for you. Behind her throne the trees are waving wildly in the wind, but that storm doesn’t seem to be affecting her. You must know when to shut him off so that his hurtful words can’t reach you. He will deliver as much as you can and are willing to handle. The tougher you get with him the more he’ll realize you are serious. If you genuinely want him to grow up and be mature than expect nothing less from that from him. Look at him like he is an ass when he acts like an ass.
By the looks of these cards, he very much wants to please you but is trying to figure out how to protect his manliness while allowing you some control over him. It’s a difficult balance but one he will work out with your help. The butterflies on the throne and crown of the Queen of Swords indicate how important your freedom is to your state of mind. I suggest you remember to honor your free spirit and avoid making any formal commitments until he can respect that freedom too. And love it, rather than try to turn your butterfly soul back into a caterpillar.