Welcome to the Tarot Blog Hop!
An international group of tarotists are all writing on the same topic and then linking to each other so that the reader can hop from one blog to the next, seeing all the permutations and facets that the topic inspired in different writers. You can leave my blog and hop back to 78 Keys to Creativity by Sharon Cumming. Or read ahead here and then hop forward!
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Dancing Between Light and Darkness
Occasionally a tarot spread will use a crossing card, a card placed horizontally. There are a variety of ways to interpret this placement. I was taught that the upright card represents the descent of spirit, the yang (active or directive) polarity, or striving upward. The crossing card, the horizontal energy, represents the yin (passive or receptive) polarity, limitations, being bound, or the material plane. When I looked at these basic concepts as I was taught them more than two decades ago, and then added in the consideration of the equinox and the balance of light and dark, I saw the vertical card as the tropical or turning force of the solstice and the horizontal card as the evenness and balance of the equinox. The upward card seeks to change, while the crossing card seeks to maintain.
The upright card could also be seen as the solar influence whereas the crossing card represents darkness. The horizontal card could alternately be considered the dawn, or the point of change between day and night. It can be seen as the pivot point of the beam of a scale. When looked at this way, the crossing card can even be the point at which the upward card changes. It’s interesting to look at when this maintenance card, the card that strives to keep its balance, shifts to a changing point: when do the scales tip.
The Tipping the Scales Spread
The Tipping The Scales Spread explores where we are striving, growing or wanting to overthrow something, contrasted against that which is keeping us even and balanced, what seeks to stay the same or what is trying to prevent or slow down the change.
- Card 1. Pillar. Forces that seek change.
- Cards 2 and 3. Pans. The forces that shift us one way or the other or which are unequally balanced.
- Card 4. Beam. The forces that seek stability.
Your Next Stop
Hop off my blog and onto Kismet’s Companion by Vivianne or visit the master list of all the blogs.
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Joy Vernon is a Certified Professional Tarot Reader and Reiki Teacher in Denver, Colorado. Her specialty is the Empyrean Key Transformational Guidance, which combines energetic and esoteric modalities to help her clients break through blocks and align themselves with their higher purpose. For information on upcoming classes or to schedule an appointment, please visit JoyVernon.com.
© 2013 by Joy Vernon. All rights reserved.
Interesting how many different ways you found to see that crossing card! And a lovely spread – thanks for sharing it 🙂
Thank you, Chloe!
Now here’s a great spread. I’m seeing a ton of interesting spreads this hop. 😀
I’m glad you like it Arwen! I think it’s pretty useful.