The subject for this post was chosen by our wrangler, Christiana Gaudet, who invited us to explore myth in tarot. I'll admit, I love creating and using simple spreads. So, when thinking about how tarot and myth meet and meld, I thought: why not create a spread based on a myth?
The father's trip didn't go well, and he was returning sad and empty-handed when he came across a huge castle. He entered it and was treated to dinner in a seemingly empty yet well-tended house. In the morning, he spied a beautiful rose in the garden and took the rose, only to be caught by a terrible monster. When he explained why he'd stolen the rose, the Beast said he'd spare the father's life if he promised to return in a week. The father returned home to see his daughters and Belle extracted the truth from her father and bravely agreed to go to the castle.
1) What is my heart's desire for this turn of the Wheel/at this time?
Beauty wanted a single, red rose. Symbolically, we could take this as her desire for romantic love.
2) What price will I have to pay for it?
Beauty had to leave her family, face her fears and live in the Beast's castle.
3) What lesson will I learn in the process?
Beauty learned that true love is about far more than appearance.
That's it, a simple little spread to look at your Heart's Desire. If you want to see a reading with it, I'll post my own reading here tomorrow afternoon (6pm BST/2pm Eastern American time). For now, though, I hope you'll hop on round to Luminaria Star for more mixing of myth and tarot.
Lovely spread. I am certainly going to try it. Always curious for my hearts desire. :D
ReplyDeleteJust tried it with my trusty Rider Waite
Deletemy heart's desire: Eight of cups (Just go on a journey and leave everything behind me)
the price I will pay: Justice (Feeling guilty to leave my family}
the lesson I will learn: Ace of wands (Finding new and exiting opportunities)
It looks tempting but my guilt beats my longing for adventure
Hi Ellen,
DeleteWell, not every journey has to truly take you away. I often see the Eight of Cups as being about seeking spiritual enlightenment. The price you would pay might be having to recognise some of the things from the past that you weren't so happy with, but the lesson would be that every day is a new day, filled with potential :)
Thanks that is a much more positive outcome
DeleteStill, with the tarot as mirror, it's interesting to see that there is a desire to up and leave in you. Perhaps recognising that, you can find ways to make some time for yourself without having to go to such extremes :)
DeletePerhaps I should read this book one more time: The Gift of a Year: How Give Yourself Most Meaningful Satisfying Pleasurable Year your Life” by Mira Kirshenbaum
Delete“The first book to help today's over-committed woman put more of who she really is into her life and in the process find success and fulfillment”
It is about taking segments of the day or the week to build a longer period of time to explore yourself and what you really want (I have it in my bookcase and never thought about it anymore. Thanks :)
Did you ever dig that book out, Ellen? In any case, you seem to be doing plenty of self-exploration with your daily blogging :)
DeleteI love it when people design spreads for the blog hop! Thank you! I will definitely try this one out...
ReplyDeleteOkay, just tried it with the Lenormand (Art Nouveau Oracle Lenormand):
Deletemy heart's desire: The Moon (intuitive/psychic development)
the price I will pay: The Dog (loss of some friends who think I am crazy?)
the lesson I will learn: Fish (lessons related to abundance/manifestation?)
Interesting take, Bonnie! I like the Fish as lessons in abundance :)
DeleteNice and simple. Great spread. Also love the Beauty and the Beast pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cassandra. These old images seemed so much more interesting than the Disney versions :)
DeleteCool spread! I love that the Beauty and the Beast tale came to your mind... I'll have to try this out!
ReplyDeleteFunny that we both came up with spreads, but on such different stories. It's funny, I don't really relate to Demeter much, but I do to Persephone, despite being a mother myself. Hope to read about it if you do try this spread out :D
DeleteBrilliance is always found in the simple yet elegant things. Lovely post and great spread!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them, Jenna, thanks :)
DeleteThe tale that never grows tiring in the retelling. :) Well, well, here is what I drew from the Gilded Tarot Royale: Ten of Pentacles, Six of Wands, Queen of Pentacles. Desire is for financial security, I think. Interesting, that the price I may pay for my desire for security is loss of recognition and success in my chosen field of endeavor. Risk is necessary for success; the 10P is too safe to move on to the next thing. And yet, the reward for taking the risk is to be the Queen of Pentacles, and have it all anyway. :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reading, Joanne. As you say, what a juxtaposition between the Ten of Pents and the Six of Wands. And yet, do we need acclaim to feel like the Queen of our own little world? :)
DeleteLove it! I've just tried your spread... very interesting :) thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Karen :)
DeleteHow lovely hearing Beauty and the Beast again! Great simple, but deep spread too, thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I worried about using a fairytale that has been turned into a cartoon. Yet, I always feel that there is a deep message at the core of every tale that endures as this one has :)
DeleteLovely spread! <3 I will try it this afternoon! It was great that you talked about the Beauty and the Beast :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Pepi, and hope you get interesting results from the spread. I certainly did :)
DeleteI love fairy tale spreads! :D This is an excellent one. I love that you kept it short and sweet.
ReplyDeleteHa, I'm definitely all about short and sweet! It's hard enough finding time for self-reflection - and blogging about it - without creating a 10 or 12 card spread for the purpose. When my son's older, then I hope to have time again for longer spreads. Til then, I'll keep 'em short ;)
DeleteLove this! Just tried it with the Wildwood - the Wanderer (0), the Ace of Bows, and the Moon (18). Desire is the wish for a new adventure. The price I pay? Adapting to the changes that will come with that adventure (and perhaps having to commit to something!). The lesson - to recognize what's real and what's illusion.
ReplyDeleteOh, lovely reading Alison :) I hope you do go for that adventure!
DeleteSuch a beautiful story and lovely spread! My cards from the RWS:
ReplyDeleteHeart's Desire: 4 of Pentacles (Security, Stability, to have and hold what I need to be comfortable in life)
Price: 6 of Cups (goals based on childhood dreams and fancies about what I might be or do as an adult)
Lesson: 3 of Swords (It is difficult for me to release the pain I carry from experiences, incidents, and relationships along the way, yet I need to do so)
Hi Zanna,
DeleteHow interesting, having the price and the lesson being such emotionally charged cards. Definitely speaks of the hold the past so often has on us...
C
Wow! Just used this spread. Will post on my blog tomorrow. Freaky cool!
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to reading about it, Joanna! :D
DeleteSimple, and simply beautiful. I've always enjoyed this story and its clear message about the power of love and the depth of true beauty,
ReplyDeleteYes, at one point I worried about it being too superficial a story, but I think that's just Disney speaking. The heart of all tales tends to be far more profound, speaking to something in our soul, otherwise they wouldn't last the way they do :)
DeleteWhat a great simple spread Chloe! Certainly one of your strengths :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise :) I certainly enjoy them, gives me a feeling of creativity!
Delete