Answer Deck Reading

Well it is the start of a new year, and the start of a new creative project, so it seems like as good a time as any to get some practice with the Answer Deck! 

Talent/Confusion/Anxiety

This combination tells us straight away that this is a period of self doubt, and a lack of confidence in one's own abilities. There is a sense here of being afraid to go wrong, afraid of not measuring up somehow, and of being unsure of how to proceed. As the first card drawn, Talent places the emphasis of the reading on natural ability and creative pursuits - very fitting, for the current situation.

Strength/Troubleshooter/Heartbreak

The Troubleshooter makes for an interesting center card, and suggests that the key to everything here is in how you approach, that sometimes you must be resourceful and willing to adapt. Where you find this card, the solution is near, if you are only willing to try. The trick with this card combination is to learn to manage negativity, to turn a weakness into a strength and pain into power. 

Battle/Fame/Truth

This combination can be interpreted in many ways. it could indicate a struggle to make the truth known, or a situation in which you are struggling to make people believe you. On the flipside, it could also indicate a situation in which notoriety comes at a price - that positive attention comes hand in hand with negative attention, and one must be prepared for both eventualities. Certainly, the theme here is revelation, realisation, and the struggles which inevitably follow. 

Talent/Strength/Battle

Again, the message here is to utilize strengths, and turn them into a weapon - that the querent possesses the skills needed to succeed already, and it is just a manner of learning to wield them efficiently. Increasingly, in this reading we are seeing an overall theme of self belief and capability, suggesting that the problem is really more a matter of attitude and perspective. 

Confusion/Troubleshooter/Fame

The advice here reminds me of a quote I once heard: "Ask, and you are a fool for five minutes, but don't ask, and you will be a fool forever". It is best to clarify the situation rather than quietly wonder, to ask questions and voice concerns rather than allowing doubts to fester and grow.

Anxiety/Heartbreak/Truth

There are surely some difficult things to accept, where this combination is found. The truth can hurt, and it can be tempting to turn away from it in an attempt to protect oneself from hurt and damage. But this is only an illusion - in reality such actions often only serve to prolong suffering, rather than end it. To live in denial is a dangerous thing, and these cards remind us that even if it is not the easiest path to follow, honesty is still the right choice.

Anxiety/ Troubleshooter/ Battle

While anxiety is indicated, a solution is also offered here, in the form of the battle card. This suggests a need to stop running and stand firm, to actively challenge oneself by confronting fear. By owning the problem, it is possible to regain some form of control over it, turning hindrance into motivation. 

Talent/Troubleshooter/Truth

This last combination sums the reading up quite nicely. Sometimes the only way to alleviate doubt is to face it head on, to be true to yourself and utilize your strengths while being honest about your limitations. Sometimes, the only way to find out whether or not you can do something is to try.

The Scales Spread

A friend taught me this spread a good few years ago. She called it The Scales:

Card One: The Situation

This card identifies the root of the problem.

Card Two: What is lacking

This card shows what there is a lack of in the situation.

Card Three: What is excessive

This card tells us what there is too much of, in the current situation.

Card Four: What is in balance

The fourth card shows us what we are getting right, what our strength is.

Card Five: Best Outcome

This card tells us the best outcome of the situation.

Example Reading:

To give an example, I used my Answer deck, though the spread can be used with many different types of decks. I have a new project in the works, a charity fundraiser of sorts. I asked the cards for insight into the situation:

Card One: Situation

The first card is straightforward enough. In a reading about charity, it is no surprise to see Generosity as the first card drawn. Quite simply, this card is about giving, of both possessions and your time.

Card Two: Lacking

The second card drawn is The Fool. In terms of a lack, this card seems to be reminding me to loosen up, and think outside the box. It is a reminder not to make a chore out of something which is supposed to be fun, and to find off-the-wall solutions. It may also mean that now is not the time to care about what others think, or about making a fool of myself.

Card Three: Excess

The third card is Heartbreak, in the Excess position. I think this card is a warning not to take things to heart. I do, I'm afraid, have a tendency to take failure personally. A little emotional investment is fine, but I think the message here is to not become weighed down by little disappointments, to learn from mistakes and move on.

Card Four: Balance

The fourth card, Challenge, is encouraging. It suggests that I am more than capable of making this work. Before doing the reading, I will admit to being a little concerned that I had bitten off more than I could chew. But as a card of balance, Challenge suggests that I have chosen a project which is exactly the right difficulty!

Card Five: Best Outcome

The fifth and final card is Strength. As an outcome, I think Strength is all about learning and growing. Perhaps it isn't really about whether I succeed, or by how much. It seems that it is more about the journey, and how we can all grow by accepting new experiences into our lives.