First Tarot Reading

This first reading took place in January 1990 as an Open Reading for "Jon." Jon had been adopted at eleven months. She wanted to learn all she could about her first year. For several months, she had been trying to gain information about her birth mother and, to a lesser extent, her birth father.

Jon tried to go through the agency that handled her adoption, but found that most of the information was closed to her. At the time of the reading, he had decided to pursue legal options to gain access. These are the cards she drew:

When these cards were laid down, both of us were immediately drawn to the Three of Swords - the root cause of the situation. This card perfectly symbolizes the heartbreak and loneliness Jon must have felt as a baby being abruptly separated from her birth parents and foster family.

At some level, Jon feels betrayed by many people: her adoptive parents who deny her search, the agency who thwarts it, and her birth parents whom Jon may unconsciously resent for leaving him.

The many court cards suggest a need for balance. First, there is the central Cups/Pentacles pair (Cards 1 and 2). They symbolize the conflict between Jon's wish to fantasize about the future (Cups) and him need to be realistic (Pentacles).

The Page of Pentacles shows Jon's need to focus on practical matters in order to win him legal case and learn about her origins. The Knight of Cups shows him countertendency to dream unrealistically about what finding her birth mother will be like. He suggests that Jon lacks moderation in her emotions.

This idea is reinforced by the Queen of Cups as Card 4. The word "mother" popped into my mind in relation to this card. It occurred to me that the Queen of Cups had a special meaning in this case. He is the dream mother Jon hopes to find; one who is completely loving and tenderhearted. This desire from the past is propelling Jon into her current situation.

Another important pair is the King of Swords as Card 7 and the Knight of Pentacles as Card 8. The King of Swords suggests that Jon sees himself as the agent of honesty and justice in this situation. He feels it is her right to learn the truth about her first year of life. Also, in the week before the reading, Jon had prepared a position paper for the court. He used the talents of the King of Swords - his keen analytical ability, intellect and writing skills.

The Knight of Pentacles suggests that other people may be seeing Jon as too serious and driven. If Jon alienates the agency and the legal system, she reduces her chances for success. The Knight of Pentacles hints that Jon should temper any appearance of inflexibility with a moderated, reasonable approach.

The Five of Cups as Card 9 is the key to the whole situation. It represents loss, beginning with the original loss of her birth parents. Now, Jon must be willing to let go of her dream mother so a true relationship can form with her actual birth mother, whoever she may be.

The Eight of Swords suggests that some confusing moments lie ahead. There will be times when Jon feels powerless as she tries to balance her conflicting feelings. Also, outside forces may temporarily restrict him search.

The Six of Wands as Card 5 and the Magician as Card 10 could not be more positive. The Six of Wands shows the strength of Jon's conscious belief in her ability to overcome her legal obstacles and emerge triumphant. He knows she can achieve the victory predicted by the Magician. As the only major arcana card in the reading, the Magician shows the extra dimension of power waiting for Jon when he realizes him goal. If he can consolidate her inner strengths and accept her losses consciously, he will meet with great success.

• TAROT SAMPLE READINGS
• Tarot sample readings: first reading;
• Tarot sample readings: second reading;
• Tarot sample readings: third reading;