Dear Maribeth,
Certain close relatives live in a condominium complex that has a really nice pool. They never use it. But I sure would like to! They live a 90-minute drive away but they prefer to come and visit us. I only got invited over once this summer but it rained and I didn’t get to go in. Will I ever get to take a dip?
High and dry

Dear H.a.D.,

This seems to me to be an easy problem to fix. Have you asked them? Subliminal messaging doesn’t always work, but time is running out this summer! I say let them know it is important to you! But, alas, it is not important what I say… let’s see what the tarot cards have to say!
The cards for your reading are … the Knight of Cups, the Six of Wands, and The World. The suit of cups represents the element of water, while Wands represent fire. Water puts out fire so that is where the power is here. One big splash is all it takes.
The Knight of Cups is offering his cup toward the center of the reading. There is a small stream in the background. Sometimes when we have something right in our own backyard, especially if it is not that important to us, we forget it is there. The way the water is running through this card reminds me that maybe they don’t realize that is something special to you because they have it there all the time. Especially since they don’t use it, they may not realize the value of it to you. This knight is posed in a very generous manner. It looks like he will gladly share his cup if it is something you would like to receive.
The Six of Wands shows the hero arriving. Show your appreciation and offer to come over some afternoon and bring dinner. I understand it may be rude to invite yourself somewhere but if you can provide something to your relatives, I’m sure they’d be happy to have you. This card indicates that you are very welcomed there.
There you are skinning dipping in the middle of the oval pool of the World card! The World can actually mean several things in this situation. The fact that it is 90 minutes away may seem like a long distance for some folks. Perhaps your relatives are concerned that the ride would be too much for you. Do you know why they prefer to come visit you? You can also see that The World has a naked person floating in the center of it. It looks as if you came to their house in your bathing suit the hint would be very clear!
There are no swords in this reading and swords are about communication. The act of communicating what you want could really lead you to success here. A lack of communication is causing some of your problem. You are obviously liked and could enjoy a swim in their pool if you just speak up. It certainly can’t hurt to ask and you would benefit by speaking your mind. What have you got to lose? You deserve to enjoy it and they would be happy to share it, so go for it! I guess my personal opinion is right sometimes!

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.

Dear Maribeth,

While visiting a friend last week my car window was smashed and a bag of personal belongings was stolen. I find this very upsetting. On top of losing some money, there are things that are not important to anyone but me like my calendar and some special gifts. Not only do I have to absorb the costs to have my car repaired, but take time to replace my stuff and recreate my calendar. Why do people behave so badly sometimes? When these random acts occur, am I supposed to learn something from this? Thank you for your insights.

Pissed Off in Providence

Dear POIP,

I’m sorry for your loss. The sense of violation that occurs after a robbery is very disconcerting because your personal boundaries have been breached. The three cards in your reading are the Two of Cups, the Two of Swords and the Nine of Pentacles. You have a card from one of each of the four suits except for wands. Wands indicate action. Since the wands are missing we know that in this situation there is nothing you can do about it. Other people’s actions are out of your control. This is always true, but important to remember at this time. Don’t blame yourself or try to get revenge. This lack of control is what is frustrating and makes you feel angry. Acceptance and forgiveness is the way to healing and liberating yourself. Maybe the messages in these cards can help get you there.

Two twos in a reading indicate that you have more than one decision to make. The Two of Cups represents people reaching out toward each other for love and support. The wreath crowns on their heads show their connection to earth and spirit. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. All of mankind is connected in a spiritual way but our upbringing and sense of ethics is what separates us here on earth. Stick with people with a similar strength of character as yourself in order to avoid other people’s nasty behavior affecting you. They too are experiencing a soul evolution and must walk their own path, even if it does appear unseemly.

The blindfolded woman in the Two of Swords has her arms crossed over her chest in a very protective manner. You must guard that which is important to you. You can’t always see what is before you, but you still must protect all that you cherish. The crescent moon reminds us that we often don’t see all that is there, yet our experiences can benefit us by watching for patterns. Use your logical sense to anticipate what you can, and cover your ass to stay safe. Openness and trust are wonderful things, but beware of people taking advantage of that.

The Nine of Pentacles shows you coming to a middle ground through the process of this experience. The more you respect your possessions, the better you will take care of them. The gloved hand again shows you protecting yourself, while the bountiful garden and pentacles indicate much prosperity and growth. Notice the little snail walking in the foreground of this picture. Although it may happen at a snail’s pace, you are going to be successful and thoroughly enjoy the fruits of your labor.

You will learn a lot from this experience and it will make you stronger and wiser. Letting go is a key lesson in itself. Trust in karma, and know how lucky you are to have as much as you do.

Dear Maribeth,

I am a realtor who is working very hard to continue to promote my business in a positive light in this economy. I am sure I am not alone. How can I attract new business and be prosperous with all the negativity in the news. In reality only 5% of the population is in foreclosure. About 35% own their homes outright, another 35% pay their mortgage on time and the rest are 2nd homes/investments. OR should I start a new profession? Is a second career in my future? Thanks for your insight.

Solution Oriented Real Estate Agent

Dear SOREA,

Selling real estate is certainly a tough business to be in at this time. People appear to be trying to outwait the difficult times and conserve their money in case their budgets get even tighter. This question is actually more about your career choices than changing the perceptions of your potential buyers. A very important aspect of a good tarot reading is to determine exactly what the question really is and then of course, correctly interpreting the cards to answer it! Let’s see how we do.

Two of the three cards for your reading are from the suit of pentacles and the other is a major arcana card. The Seven of Pentacles, the Five of Pentacles and the Wheel of Fortune indicate that this question and decision is very much related to security and financial sense. Obviously when talking about your career as well as people’s homes this is quite true!

We begin with the Seven of Pentacles representing a pile of money that has been earned by the real estate market in the short term past. Investing in real estate was certainly the thing to do for a long time and a lot of people benefited by that trend. Hopefully the money you earned when the economy was supportive of your business has been well managed and you are able to bide some time. The blue mountains in the background of this card indicate it is a good idea to engage in some educational activities and expand your mind. Gaining knowledge in other areas will be beneficial for you, but it doesn’t feel like a decision about a new career needs to be made just yet.

The Five of Pentacles reminds us of the importance of faith when things appear to be dismal. We keep trudging on, through the snow, barefoot even! We must carry on. There is strength in numbers so it is a good time to lend support to others in your business who are feeling this strain. Keep your chin up and you will see the light and find new opportunities for making money.

The Wheel of Fortune shows us that time continues to spin around for man and we must adapt to the changes that come and go. In this position the Wheel underscores the importance of collecting information during this time and that things will come around again. Since your reading doesn’t have any Aces, indicating new beginnings, or Twos or Threes, indicating choices, I don’t feel that it is time to make a career change. Instead, it looks like waiting it out, and letting things settle out while you continue to educate yourself about new ways of buying and selling property is the wave of your future. The jackal-headed creature coming up the right side of the wheel is Anubis, the Egyptian guardian of tombs. The serpent coming around the left side is Typhon, a mythological creature symbolizing what brings us down. Both show that we will rise and we will fall because we are human. The Sphinx sitting smugly atop the wheel holding the sword helps us recognize that ultimately we do have the ability to make things different by cutting cords. Let go what no longer serves you.

Although things may not ever be the same as they were, they will come around for you. It is a matter of you flexing with the changes and trusting that you will continue to enjoy the prosperity that has always been available to you. My advice based on these cards? Keep the faith, continue to learn new ways and stay open to new ways of doing what you know!

Dear Happy Medium,

I have recently hired an old friend to come and work for me at my business. She has been struggling with the most basic of tasks and I am wondering how to set her in the right direction without compromising our friendship.

Signed,

Pondering Proprietor

Great question P.P.!

Establishing boundaries while mixing friendship and business is often not easy.

The Sun is the first card to come up in your tarot spread. The wall behind the white horse shows a boundary that must be recognized. Your history with your friend has created lots of wonderful memories. The happy child waving the bright flag reminds me of happiness and joy. Your friend thinks of you fondly, as you do her. You can use the past relationship to create new experiences; the sunflower holds lots of seeds for new growth. The naked baby symbolizes being true to yourself and to her by being straightforward and honest. You’ve come too far to let a trivial matter come between the two of you. Friendship is such a valuable blessing! I say, just tell her what you want! Be very specific about what you expect and how she needs to do things. The more clarity you provide, the easier it will be for her to see what she is supposed to be doing. She knows you and you know her, you can use this to your advantage and shine your light! The more illuminated she becomes, the less you’ll have to instruct her. And the more helpful this knowledge will be to her, too.

The Hierophant indicates a leader who is respected in their community. This is how she views you. She is anxious to learn and wants to do right by you. This is so much better than having a snotty teenager who has no respect for you or your business or doesn’t really care about the job. Appreciate her conscientiousness and realize that her ignorance is due to lack of knowledge, not lack of interest. The keys in the forefront of this card remind me to be aware of giving her small doses of responsibility at a time. Give her the keys to your place only after you are comfortable with her ability to follow opening and closing instructions. You may not be recognizing the importance of what you do and the possible implications of doing it wrong. Perhaps she has come into your world at this time to help you increase your pride in what you have going on for yourself. People often turn up or randomly say things to help us understand a message that Spirit may be trying to communicate. You have a lot to be proud of and it is important to protect it.

The Six of Cups looks like you have found a Soul Sister. Here we see a younger and older girl sharing flowers in front of an impressive castle. Taking the time to be patient and help guide her is a gift that you can give her that she will have forever. Like a big sister, you have the honor of helping her to grow into a more mature and professional person. Recognize the differences in you, be proud of yourself, and share your gifts as you see fit. She is a receptive student. Good luck!

Dear Maribeth,

I have just completed a one-year internship and will be moving back home with my parents until I find the next job. I am 23 years old and have been away at college and living on my own for the past five years. I am anxious about moving back in with my mom and dad. How can I make this transition a smooth one?

Dreading daughter

There is quite a bit of majesty in your three cards! Every card has a proud person wearing a crown. You got the Six of Wands, the Queen of Wands and The Empress. There are two females and one male figure in these cards. This appears like the three of you in your new home situation. With you moving back in, your Dad is now outnumbered by women, so do your best to go easy on him. You all have quite a bit of adjusting to do.

The Six of Wands is you coming home after a successful stint away. Your parents are very proud of you, and you have every reason to be proud of yourself. Avoid feeling as if you are stepping backwards by returning to your roots. It is important that you realize that you have grown a great deal in the last five years and are not regressing. You are continuing on your triumphant journey and sharing time with your parents along the way. You are now three happy adults sharing a home, tending to each other’s needs. In order for you to set the pace in a new and comfortable manner, remember that it is no longer just all about you.

The Queen of Wands in the center of your reading represents the strong feminine energy of a woman in charge. You can be in charge of your life while also abiding by and respecting the rules set forth by the Woman of the House (Mom). Although it is extremely easy to slip back into the roles of parent and child since that is how you grew up, by behaving like the grown-up you have become, you will remind your parents to treat you as an adult. The three pyramids in the background indicate that you, your dad and your mom have a history of personal accomplishments. These provide strength to you as featured by the lions on each side of the throne. Your experience and sense of confidence will enable you to find a new position in a short time. Living with your parents is a temporary situation and one you’ll want to reflect upon with a smile.

The Empress is all about motherhood and the feelings associated with nurturing, kindness, support and reassurance. You are obviously very loved. The twelve stars in her crown link her to the twelve signs of the zodiac, connecting her to the ethereal world. While she wants you to feel safe and protected, with the Queen of Wands so close by, we know she has her own life to enjoy too. It is good that her world doesn’t revolve around you.

All in all this appears to be a healthy relationship with some temporary adjustments to all of your lifestyles. Consideration and respect of your impact on their life will make for a smooth transition. I believe you will look back on this sacred time in your life with much fondness. Thank you for writing!

I recently volunteered my services to speak to a community group in a few months. I don’t see myself as a group presenter. I am better one on one. I don’t want to withdraw because I really want to do it. But I don’t want to fail either – or have people yawning. What is in the cards? Thanks.

Nervous Nellie at the Starting Gate

Dear NnatSG,

Stage fright is known as one of the most stressful experiences a person can have. Kudos for putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation in order to outgrow your fear! Let’s see what is in the cards for you as a presenter…

The cards for your reading are the Five of Wands, the Hermit and the Fool. To summarize what I see in these cards for you: By organizing your thoughts and understanding your topic, you will be successful even though you are inexperienced with presenting to a group.

The Five of Wands at the start of your reading represents the state of affairs you are entering into. It appears that the most difficult part of this effort is at the very beginning when your audience is milling about talking amongst themselves. Be sure to be confident in getting everyone’s attention, and have your first few sentences memorized so that you can hold their attention and give them an idea of your style as they settle into their seats. The five young men holding the wands in this card all appear to have different ideas about how to move forward. They obviously are in need of a leader to give them some direction. That would be you, as you direct their thoughts into new realms of understanding. They are all wearing different color and style clothing as well as footwear indicating they come from different backgrounds and walks of life. No two people are the same, it is up to you to find the common thread of interest and help them to work together toward their next step.

The Hermit is you guiding them with your lantern. You may have to lead the way a bit. Give them real life examples to help them fully understand how to apply what you are saying in useful terms. This isn’t so much about impressing them with your knowledge as it is helping them to understand so they can make progress in their own way. Think about how much involvement you want to have with this organization before you get started. Be sure you are clear about your boundaries so they do not give you more responsibility than you want to have. You don’t want to have to hide from them on a mountaintop somewhere you think they cannot find you! Your wisdom will shine through your enthusiasm, but you are passing the torch, not necessarily leading the parade… or are you? That is up to you.

The Fool and his happy dog are naively entering unchartered territory but completely trust that the ground will rise up to meet them. The choppy mountain peaks in the background carry forth from the Hermit card showing that you bring the knowledge that you need with you. This could be the beginning of something very special and significant for you. I am glad you are taking it seriously. It will benefit you to give some thought as to how much involvement you would like to have. We can all only take one step at a time, and the more courageous you feel the more you will expand your horizons. The Fool in a reading always lets us know that we can trust completely and let go and the universe will take care of us.

No worries. You are educated on your topic and your audience is in need of learning what you have to say. Keep it light and let it flow naturally. And of course, the best advice of all has always been to … imagine them all in their underwear!

Dear Maribeth,
By day I’m a professional technical writer and editor; by night I indulge my more creative side and write whatever I want: fiction, poetry, essays, drama, criticism and screenplays. I have won a half dozen national writing competitions and have been translated into Russian, Italian, Dutch, Japanese and German. However, I can’t seem to get any local producers or publishers to take my work seriously. Is there any chance that I’ll gain some measure of recognition for my body of work before I start pushing daisies in the wrong direction?

Dear David,

Thank you for writing. Your tarot reading is extremely powerful as it is composed entirely of major arcana cards: The Star, The Tower and Death. This is a significant question you are asking and one that will require a lot of deep contemplation on your part if you truly want to understand it.

The Star card identifies the spirit within each of us that shines through in an artistic form of expression. It is our true nature, our essence. This card only comes up for gifted artists. You appear to be very in touch with your creative talents and are living your authentic life. Your recognition and awards thus far have reinforced your confidence so you are able to be true to yourself. Your body of work is growing, and the flowers are coming up on the right side of the grass all around you! David, this is a card of great success. It appears that you have attained great awards and recognition. If you had only achieved local recognition throughout your life, would you be looking for national and international success now?

The Tower and the Death card both refer to transformation and great changes. Apparently you are very interested in really shaking things up in your world. Honestly though, the Tower in this position for your reading gives me the distinct impression that what you are looking for is directly under your nose. And I feel that the important thing to think about is why this is important to you. If you take pride in your work, and have lots of recognition and congratulations by others, then what exactly are you looking for locally? Be specific and you may realize that either you already have it, don’t really need it, or could easily achieve it by taking a different approach.

The Death card tells me that by letting go you will see things in a whole different light. By setting yourself free, you can realize just how successful you truly already are. This may not happen until you are on the other side or it can happen while you are still alive. It is up to you how you choose to think about it while you are living. But there are many things you can do while you are still here. You can put an end to needing certain people to take an interest in your work. By giving up your dependence on others, the value of your work will be determined by you, and perhaps your loved ones, instead of an audience or critic.

This reading is definitely about letting go of your outdated definitions of success and taking satisfaction in your contributions thus far. I feel as though your work will live on both during your life as well as long after your body is deceased. I hope knowing that can bring you peace rather than frustration. Reflecting upon why it might make a difference to you could help in all areas of your life.

Dear Maribeth,

I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months. He is a wonderful person and so sweet to me. We’re thinking about moving in together, but he seems to have some insecurity with himself about it. He keeps telling me that he is difficult to live with. I ask him why and he says that he doesn’t know. He wants to talk about it after our vacation trip (and yes, we have already been away together). Do you think he’s not telling me everything or afraid I would like him anymore if I lived with him? Do you see us living together working out?

Thanks!
In Love in Hopkinton

Dear IliH,

This is an exciting time for you and a decision that will drastically affect your future. Let’s see if we can get some insight to help you peek into your future. Your cards are the Three of Swords, the King of Swords, and The Lovers. With two of the cards from the suit of swords and the other a major arcana card it appears that communication is key element to your success.

The Three of Swords is a disturbing card showing heartache and pain. No one wants this. It sounds as if your boyfriend has experienced living with others before and is not proud of his behavior. He obviously doesn’t want to be hurt, and certainly doesn’t want to hurt you either. It is a dismal outlook and one he is trying to get past. I’m glad he wants to talk about it after your vacation. You will probably get a good feel for what it is like to live with him while having that time away with him. He needs to overcome his fear of failure. While it won’t hold him back from trying to make a go of it, be sure he doesn’t use it as an excuse to give you an ‘I told you so’ attitude as he turns into a beastly asshole. He needs to put effort into not making it difficult for both of you. If he thinks he going to be difficult and act like a jerk, it’s an easy prophecy to fulfill. He must try to be nice, no matter how tolerant you are. Please remember: This isn’t a test for how much you can put up with, it’s a lesson in growing up for him.

This card combined with the King of Swords makes it look as if he doesn’t trust himself to be gentle with your heart. I see this King as representing both of you in terms of how you speak your mind. He may be direct and inconsiderate at times with his comments, but you must respond straight forward and honestly yourself. As long as the air is clear of tension, you’ll be able to work things out. While he can be blunt, you must always speak your mind. It is necessary to compromise sometimes of course, and I feel you’ll be able to share everything and come to terms as long as neither of you is ever feeling misunderstood or disrespected. This requires standing up for what you believe in and it looks like you are both very good at that.

This open communication will ultimately bring you closer, as is clearly indicated in The Lovers card. When you are true to yourself and your lover, you have nothing to hide. You’ll actually like each other more for the open hearted discussions and togetherness you will feel. This bond creates sacred trust, loyalty and security – necessary components of a successful relationship.

Enter into this decision with your eyes and heart open and pay attention to his behavior. While six months is a great start to a relationship, you can’t really measure how much you know someone by time as well as you can by significant experiences you share. Watch how he handles different situations, and remember you are still in the evaluation stages. He is interviewing for a very special position, the one next to you! Enjoy your vacation!

Dear Maribeth,
My sister just went through a divorce that has been very hard on her young son. I am very worried about his emotional well being as it seems like his parents are too busy being angry and not giving him the attention he needs. Now they are fighting over the visitation schedule. Will they be able to work out a better arrangement for the well being of their son?
Undaunted aunt

Dear UA,

What a shame. He is lucky to have you in his life. Your cards are the Four of Swords, the Four of Cups, and the Three of Swords. The Three of Swords often comes up in situations of divorce with a child because all three of them are heartbroken. The challenge in this situation is for the adults to see past their own pain in order to help their son.

There are swords on either side of this reading. This indicates constant strife and a need for communication in this situation. I’m looking at the figure in the Four of Swords as representing the parents and the person in the middle card as your nephew. While the parents may be wrapped up in their own numb states of mind, they are not taking action to rectify the trauma they are experiencing. Healing does take time. It appears that they don’t know what to do to make it better so they are doing nothing. Divine guidance is available to them once they open their eyes and get up, as indicated by the stained glass window above. They are mourning the death of their marriage and perhaps revisiting beliefs they once had about each other and their commitment.

The Four of Cups, also known as ‘Divine Discontent’, looks like your young nephew is trying to figure out how he can make things better. He looks hurt and confused and not sure how these new circumstances will affect him. He is also somewhat immobile while waiting to see what he will be offered and how his life is changing. His idea of what love and loyalty are is being tested too. He may test their loyalty to him in an effort to form new opinions based on the new state of affairs.

The Three of Cups shows the pain they all feel. It is critically important that your nephew understand that he did not influence the divorce in any way. You can certainly explain this to him. He needs to have as much consistency in his life as possible while his world rocks and rolls. It is a very sad situation, similar to a death. This will no doubt make him stronger, and affect his choices when he is older and ready to have a relationship.

I do believe they will eventually work out a better arrangement for their young son, but it is definitely going to take time. They need to get out of their own heads and realize that their choices are affecting other people. They must stop playing the blame game and continue to express love and support to their child. Right now their hearts are numb and this is hard for them, but with time it will soften. There is no blood coming from this heart, only a passing storm around it. It’s a tough situation but the best way you can help is by continuing to love them and hopefully soon they will be able to love again.