Jill's Third Reading

The third reading for Jill was held in her presence in November 1990. In July, Jill's birth father visited her mother, and the budding romance between the two blossomed. In August, Jill and her mother traveled to the distant state where her father lived. There were positive aspects to the trip, but the visit took a troubling turn toward the end. Jill experienced the rejection anticipated in the second reading when her father's door was literally slammed in her face one night. She was turned out onto the street when the tensions between them reached a climax.

Jill's mother never returned from that trip. She left her husband and all her belongings to move in with Jill's father. From that point on, Jill's interaction with the two was often tense. There were several dramatic, even frightening, occurrences that were very upsetting to Jill. At the time of the reading, she wanted very much to find out where this situation was heading. The question she wrote was:

How will my relationship with my birth mother and birth father develop in the future?

Here are the cards she drew:

Image of this Reading

	Position
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Cards Drawn	Eight of Wands	King Pentacles	Eight of Swords	Four of Wands	Nine of Wands	Death	Ten of Pentacles	Devil	Page Pentacles	Empress

[picture of 8 of Wands] [picture of King of Pentacles] [picture of 8 of Swords] [picture of 4 of Wands] [picture of Nine of Wands]
[picture of Death] [picture of Ten of Pentacles] [picture of Devil] [picture of Page of Pentacles] [picture of Empress]

Bold phrases are from the information page for the card, italic phrases from the position page.

We can see that the energies of Jill's situation are still in evidence. There are four repeat cards from the other two readings. The Eight of Swords has moved from Card 6 (reading 1) to Card 3. The restriction that was in the future is now the basis of the situation. The emotional events of the past year have been so turbulent that Jill feels powerless at a fundamental level.

The Nine of Wands has moved from Card 9 (reading 2) to Card 5. This card represented to me a warning to Jill to take care of herself and prepare for the worst. Well, she has certainly started to think along those lines! Having been burned, she knows she has to be strong and defensive emotionally.

The Four of Wands has moved from Card 6 (reading 2) to Card 4. The celebration I saw over the reunion has faded. The excitement of the good times has moved through Jill's life and is now way behind her.

Cards 7 and 8 show that Jill's expectations still do not match her parents'. Jill longs for a secure, orderly family life (Ten of Pentacles). She wants a solution that will endure - nothing more than the chance to experience the ordinary routines of a normal family.

Her parents, however, are locked into the obsessive relationship symbolized by the Devil. What Jill viewed as the Lovers in reading 2 is really the bondage of two souls who do not have enough self-understanding to create a love that includes their daughter.

Jill needs a resolution, and there are two cards that suggest it is coming. First is the Eight of Wands as Card 1. It shows that a conclusion is likely. Jill will be able to complete unfinished business if she takes quick, decisive action.

Death shows that an ending is approaching in the near future. Perhaps the three will suffer a parting of the ways. Maybe Jill will make a transition into a new kind of relationship with her parents.

The Empress as the outcome or resolution is a positive sign because it shows that the ideal of the Mother is the understanding awaiting Jill in this situation. The Empress is the archetype of Mothering - the ability to love, cherish and nurture despite all temptations away from that response. Jill felt this card also meant a refocusing on her role as a mother.

How is Jill to proceed if she wants to bring about this positive resolution? The key lies in the two Pentacles court cards. The Page as Card 9 is the fourth repeat card; it appeared first as Card 1 (reading 1). It reinforces the idea that Jill's lesson is about trust and the ability to act on your dreams.

Jill found her birth parents despite many formidable obstacles, but she discovered that the reality was not the same as her fantasy. She learned to trust herself and not rely on the support of others to see her through. The King of Pentacles as Card 2 tells Jill not to seek salvation through other people. She must develop within herself the mature (kingly) Pentacles qualities of steadiness and dependability.

The Page is encouraging her to claim her power and find a solution that works. She must release her dream of an ideal family once and for all so she can relate to her actual parents with all their faults and limitations.

Although this reading is about love and the ties that bind people from birth, there is not a single Cups card. These cards of love and emotion are totally absent. The lessons of love are not always easy. For Jill, they have taken the form of challenges that have drawn out her inner reserves and made her a stronger and wiser person.