Dear Maribeth,

I am a realtor who is working very hard to continue to promote my business in a positive light in this economy. I am sure I am not alone. How can I attract new business and be prosperous with all the negativity in the news. In reality only 5% of the population is in foreclosure. About 35% own their homes outright, another 35% pay their mortgage on time and the rest are 2nd homes/investments. OR should I start a new profession? Is a second career in my future? Thanks for your insight.

Solution Oriented Real Estate Agent

Dear SOREA,

Selling real estate is certainly a tough business to be in at this time. People appear to be trying to outwait the difficult times and conserve their money in case their budgets get even tighter. This question is actually more about your career choices than changing the perceptions of your potential buyers. A very important aspect of a good tarot reading is to determine exactly what the question really is and then of course, correctly interpreting the cards to answer it! Let’s see how we do.

Two of the three cards for your reading are from the suit of pentacles and the other is a major arcana card. The Seven of Pentacles, the Five of Pentacles and the Wheel of Fortune indicate that this question and decision is very much related to security and financial sense. Obviously when talking about your career as well as people’s homes this is quite true!

We begin with the Seven of Pentacles representing a pile of money that has been earned by the real estate market in the short term past. Investing in real estate was certainly the thing to do for a long time and a lot of people benefited by that trend. Hopefully the money you earned when the economy was supportive of your business has been well managed and you are able to bide some time. The blue mountains in the background of this card indicate it is a good idea to engage in some educational activities and expand your mind. Gaining knowledge in other areas will be beneficial for you, but it doesn’t feel like a decision about a new career needs to be made just yet.

The Five of Pentacles reminds us of the importance of faith when things appear to be dismal. We keep trudging on, through the snow, barefoot even! We must carry on. There is strength in numbers so it is a good time to lend support to others in your business who are feeling this strain. Keep your chin up and you will see the light and find new opportunities for making money.

The Wheel of Fortune shows us that time continues to spin around for man and we must adapt to the changes that come and go. In this position the Wheel underscores the importance of collecting information during this time and that things will come around again. Since your reading doesn’t have any Aces, indicating new beginnings, or Twos or Threes, indicating choices, I don’t feel that it is time to make a career change. Instead, it looks like waiting it out, and letting things settle out while you continue to educate yourself about new ways of buying and selling property is the wave of your future. The jackal-headed creature coming up the right side of the wheel is Anubis, the Egyptian guardian of tombs. The serpent coming around the left side is Typhon, a mythological creature symbolizing what brings us down. Both show that we will rise and we will fall because we are human. The Sphinx sitting smugly atop the wheel holding the sword helps us recognize that ultimately we do have the ability to make things different by cutting cords. Let go what no longer serves you.

Although things may not ever be the same as they were, they will come around for you. It is a matter of you flexing with the changes and trusting that you will continue to enjoy the prosperity that has always been available to you. My advice based on these cards? Keep the faith, continue to learn new ways and stay open to new ways of doing what you know!

Dear Happy Medium,

I have recently hired an old friend to come and work for me at my business. She has been struggling with the most basic of tasks and I am wondering how to set her in the right direction without compromising our friendship.

Signed,

Pondering Proprietor

Great question P.P.!

Establishing boundaries while mixing friendship and business is often not easy.

The Sun is the first card to come up in your tarot spread. The wall behind the white horse shows a boundary that must be recognized. Your history with your friend has created lots of wonderful memories. The happy child waving the bright flag reminds me of happiness and joy. Your friend thinks of you fondly, as you do her. You can use the past relationship to create new experiences; the sunflower holds lots of seeds for new growth. The naked baby symbolizes being true to yourself and to her by being straightforward and honest. You’ve come too far to let a trivial matter come between the two of you. Friendship is such a valuable blessing! I say, just tell her what you want! Be very specific about what you expect and how she needs to do things. The more clarity you provide, the easier it will be for her to see what she is supposed to be doing. She knows you and you know her, you can use this to your advantage and shine your light! The more illuminated she becomes, the less you’ll have to instruct her. And the more helpful this knowledge will be to her, too.

The Hierophant indicates a leader who is respected in their community. This is how she views you. She is anxious to learn and wants to do right by you. This is so much better than having a snotty teenager who has no respect for you or your business or doesn’t really care about the job. Appreciate her conscientiousness and realize that her ignorance is due to lack of knowledge, not lack of interest. The keys in the forefront of this card remind me to be aware of giving her small doses of responsibility at a time. Give her the keys to your place only after you are comfortable with her ability to follow opening and closing instructions. You may not be recognizing the importance of what you do and the possible implications of doing it wrong. Perhaps she has come into your world at this time to help you increase your pride in what you have going on for yourself. People often turn up or randomly say things to help us understand a message that Spirit may be trying to communicate. You have a lot to be proud of and it is important to protect it.

The Six of Cups looks like you have found a Soul Sister. Here we see a younger and older girl sharing flowers in front of an impressive castle. Taking the time to be patient and help guide her is a gift that you can give her that she will have forever. Like a big sister, you have the honor of helping her to grow into a more mature and professional person. Recognize the differences in you, be proud of yourself, and share your gifts as you see fit. She is a receptive student. Good luck!

Dear Maribeth,

I have just completed a one-year internship and will be moving back home with my parents until I find the next job. I am 23 years old and have been away at college and living on my own for the past five years. I am anxious about moving back in with my mom and dad. How can I make this transition a smooth one?

Dreading daughter

There is quite a bit of majesty in your three cards! Every card has a proud person wearing a crown. You got the Six of Wands, the Queen of Wands and The Empress. There are two females and one male figure in these cards. This appears like the three of you in your new home situation. With you moving back in, your Dad is now outnumbered by women, so do your best to go easy on him. You all have quite a bit of adjusting to do.

The Six of Wands is you coming home after a successful stint away. Your parents are very proud of you, and you have every reason to be proud of yourself. Avoid feeling as if you are stepping backwards by returning to your roots. It is important that you realize that you have grown a great deal in the last five years and are not regressing. You are continuing on your triumphant journey and sharing time with your parents along the way. You are now three happy adults sharing a home, tending to each other’s needs. In order for you to set the pace in a new and comfortable manner, remember that it is no longer just all about you.

The Queen of Wands in the center of your reading represents the strong feminine energy of a woman in charge. You can be in charge of your life while also abiding by and respecting the rules set forth by the Woman of the House (Mom). Although it is extremely easy to slip back into the roles of parent and child since that is how you grew up, by behaving like the grown-up you have become, you will remind your parents to treat you as an adult. The three pyramids in the background indicate that you, your dad and your mom have a history of personal accomplishments. These provide strength to you as featured by the lions on each side of the throne. Your experience and sense of confidence will enable you to find a new position in a short time. Living with your parents is a temporary situation and one you’ll want to reflect upon with a smile.

The Empress is all about motherhood and the feelings associated with nurturing, kindness, support and reassurance. You are obviously very loved. The twelve stars in her crown link her to the twelve signs of the zodiac, connecting her to the ethereal world. While she wants you to feel safe and protected, with the Queen of Wands so close by, we know she has her own life to enjoy too. It is good that her world doesn’t revolve around you.

All in all this appears to be a healthy relationship with some temporary adjustments to all of your lifestyles. Consideration and respect of your impact on their life will make for a smooth transition. I believe you will look back on this sacred time in your life with much fondness. Thank you for writing!

I recently volunteered my services to speak to a community group in a few months. I don’t see myself as a group presenter. I am better one on one. I don’t want to withdraw because I really want to do it. But I don’t want to fail either – or have people yawning. What is in the cards? Thanks.

Nervous Nellie at the Starting Gate

Dear NnatSG,

Stage fright is known as one of the most stressful experiences a person can have. Kudos for putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation in order to outgrow your fear! Let’s see what is in the cards for you as a presenter…

The cards for your reading are the Five of Wands, the Hermit and the Fool. To summarize what I see in these cards for you: By organizing your thoughts and understanding your topic, you will be successful even though you are inexperienced with presenting to a group.

The Five of Wands at the start of your reading represents the state of affairs you are entering into. It appears that the most difficult part of this effort is at the very beginning when your audience is milling about talking amongst themselves. Be sure to be confident in getting everyone’s attention, and have your first few sentences memorized so that you can hold their attention and give them an idea of your style as they settle into their seats. The five young men holding the wands in this card all appear to have different ideas about how to move forward. They obviously are in need of a leader to give them some direction. That would be you, as you direct their thoughts into new realms of understanding. They are all wearing different color and style clothing as well as footwear indicating they come from different backgrounds and walks of life. No two people are the same, it is up to you to find the common thread of interest and help them to work together toward their next step.

The Hermit is you guiding them with your lantern. You may have to lead the way a bit. Give them real life examples to help them fully understand how to apply what you are saying in useful terms. This isn’t so much about impressing them with your knowledge as it is helping them to understand so they can make progress in their own way. Think about how much involvement you want to have with this organization before you get started. Be sure you are clear about your boundaries so they do not give you more responsibility than you want to have. You don’t want to have to hide from them on a mountaintop somewhere you think they cannot find you! Your wisdom will shine through your enthusiasm, but you are passing the torch, not necessarily leading the parade… or are you? That is up to you.

The Fool and his happy dog are naively entering unchartered territory but completely trust that the ground will rise up to meet them. The choppy mountain peaks in the background carry forth from the Hermit card showing that you bring the knowledge that you need with you. This could be the beginning of something very special and significant for you. I am glad you are taking it seriously. It will benefit you to give some thought as to how much involvement you would like to have. We can all only take one step at a time, and the more courageous you feel the more you will expand your horizons. The Fool in a reading always lets us know that we can trust completely and let go and the universe will take care of us.

No worries. You are educated on your topic and your audience is in need of learning what you have to say. Keep it light and let it flow naturally. And of course, the best advice of all has always been to … imagine them all in their underwear!

Dear Maribeth,
By day I’m a professional technical writer and editor; by night I indulge my more creative side and write whatever I want: fiction, poetry, essays, drama, criticism and screenplays. I have won a half dozen national writing competitions and have been translated into Russian, Italian, Dutch, Japanese and German. However, I can’t seem to get any local producers or publishers to take my work seriously. Is there any chance that I’ll gain some measure of recognition for my body of work before I start pushing daisies in the wrong direction?

Dear David,

Thank you for writing. Your tarot reading is extremely powerful as it is composed entirely of major arcana cards: The Star, The Tower and Death. This is a significant question you are asking and one that will require a lot of deep contemplation on your part if you truly want to understand it.

The Star card identifies the spirit within each of us that shines through in an artistic form of expression. It is our true nature, our essence. This card only comes up for gifted artists. You appear to be very in touch with your creative talents and are living your authentic life. Your recognition and awards thus far have reinforced your confidence so you are able to be true to yourself. Your body of work is growing, and the flowers are coming up on the right side of the grass all around you! David, this is a card of great success. It appears that you have attained great awards and recognition. If you had only achieved local recognition throughout your life, would you be looking for national and international success now?

The Tower and the Death card both refer to transformation and great changes. Apparently you are very interested in really shaking things up in your world. Honestly though, the Tower in this position for your reading gives me the distinct impression that what you are looking for is directly under your nose. And I feel that the important thing to think about is why this is important to you. If you take pride in your work, and have lots of recognition and congratulations by others, then what exactly are you looking for locally? Be specific and you may realize that either you already have it, don’t really need it, or could easily achieve it by taking a different approach.

The Death card tells me that by letting go you will see things in a whole different light. By setting yourself free, you can realize just how successful you truly already are. This may not happen until you are on the other side or it can happen while you are still alive. It is up to you how you choose to think about it while you are living. But there are many things you can do while you are still here. You can put an end to needing certain people to take an interest in your work. By giving up your dependence on others, the value of your work will be determined by you, and perhaps your loved ones, instead of an audience or critic.

This reading is definitely about letting go of your outdated definitions of success and taking satisfaction in your contributions thus far. I feel as though your work will live on both during your life as well as long after your body is deceased. I hope knowing that can bring you peace rather than frustration. Reflecting upon why it might make a difference to you could help in all areas of your life.

Dear Maribeth,

I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months. He is a wonderful person and so sweet to me. We’re thinking about moving in together, but he seems to have some insecurity with himself about it. He keeps telling me that he is difficult to live with. I ask him why and he says that he doesn’t know. He wants to talk about it after our vacation trip (and yes, we have already been away together). Do you think he’s not telling me everything or afraid I would like him anymore if I lived with him? Do you see us living together working out?

Thanks!
In Love in Hopkinton

Dear IliH,

This is an exciting time for you and a decision that will drastically affect your future. Let’s see if we can get some insight to help you peek into your future. Your cards are the Three of Swords, the King of Swords, and The Lovers. With two of the cards from the suit of swords and the other a major arcana card it appears that communication is key element to your success.

The Three of Swords is a disturbing card showing heartache and pain. No one wants this. It sounds as if your boyfriend has experienced living with others before and is not proud of his behavior. He obviously doesn’t want to be hurt, and certainly doesn’t want to hurt you either. It is a dismal outlook and one he is trying to get past. I’m glad he wants to talk about it after your vacation. You will probably get a good feel for what it is like to live with him while having that time away with him. He needs to overcome his fear of failure. While it won’t hold him back from trying to make a go of it, be sure he doesn’t use it as an excuse to give you an ‘I told you so’ attitude as he turns into a beastly asshole. He needs to put effort into not making it difficult for both of you. If he thinks he going to be difficult and act like a jerk, it’s an easy prophecy to fulfill. He must try to be nice, no matter how tolerant you are. Please remember: This isn’t a test for how much you can put up with, it’s a lesson in growing up for him.

This card combined with the King of Swords makes it look as if he doesn’t trust himself to be gentle with your heart. I see this King as representing both of you in terms of how you speak your mind. He may be direct and inconsiderate at times with his comments, but you must respond straight forward and honestly yourself. As long as the air is clear of tension, you’ll be able to work things out. While he can be blunt, you must always speak your mind. It is necessary to compromise sometimes of course, and I feel you’ll be able to share everything and come to terms as long as neither of you is ever feeling misunderstood or disrespected. This requires standing up for what you believe in and it looks like you are both very good at that.

This open communication will ultimately bring you closer, as is clearly indicated in The Lovers card. When you are true to yourself and your lover, you have nothing to hide. You’ll actually like each other more for the open hearted discussions and togetherness you will feel. This bond creates sacred trust, loyalty and security – necessary components of a successful relationship.

Enter into this decision with your eyes and heart open and pay attention to his behavior. While six months is a great start to a relationship, you can’t really measure how much you know someone by time as well as you can by significant experiences you share. Watch how he handles different situations, and remember you are still in the evaluation stages. He is interviewing for a very special position, the one next to you! Enjoy your vacation!

Dear Maribeth,
My sister just went through a divorce that has been very hard on her young son. I am very worried about his emotional well being as it seems like his parents are too busy being angry and not giving him the attention he needs. Now they are fighting over the visitation schedule. Will they be able to work out a better arrangement for the well being of their son?
Undaunted aunt

Dear UA,

What a shame. He is lucky to have you in his life. Your cards are the Four of Swords, the Four of Cups, and the Three of Swords. The Three of Swords often comes up in situations of divorce with a child because all three of them are heartbroken. The challenge in this situation is for the adults to see past their own pain in order to help their son.

There are swords on either side of this reading. This indicates constant strife and a need for communication in this situation. I’m looking at the figure in the Four of Swords as representing the parents and the person in the middle card as your nephew. While the parents may be wrapped up in their own numb states of mind, they are not taking action to rectify the trauma they are experiencing. Healing does take time. It appears that they don’t know what to do to make it better so they are doing nothing. Divine guidance is available to them once they open their eyes and get up, as indicated by the stained glass window above. They are mourning the death of their marriage and perhaps revisiting beliefs they once had about each other and their commitment.

The Four of Cups, also known as ‘Divine Discontent’, looks like your young nephew is trying to figure out how he can make things better. He looks hurt and confused and not sure how these new circumstances will affect him. He is also somewhat immobile while waiting to see what he will be offered and how his life is changing. His idea of what love and loyalty are is being tested too. He may test their loyalty to him in an effort to form new opinions based on the new state of affairs.

The Three of Cups shows the pain they all feel. It is critically important that your nephew understand that he did not influence the divorce in any way. You can certainly explain this to him. He needs to have as much consistency in his life as possible while his world rocks and rolls. It is a very sad situation, similar to a death. This will no doubt make him stronger, and affect his choices when he is older and ready to have a relationship.

I do believe they will eventually work out a better arrangement for their young son, but it is definitely going to take time. They need to get out of their own heads and realize that their choices are affecting other people. They must stop playing the blame game and continue to express love and support to their child. Right now their hearts are numb and this is hard for them, but with time it will soften. There is no blood coming from this heart, only a passing storm around it. It’s a tough situation but the best way you can help is by continuing to love them and hopefully soon they will be able to love again.

Dear Maribeth,

My husband and I live in Newport. Now that the summer is here, our home has become a popular destination for friends and family. We are within walking distance to downtown. My question is, what to do with our guests that walk into town, enjoy the food, fun and libations, but are unable to walk home, without our help!

While we love them all…this has become tiresome for us. Interventions are out of the question! Please help

Summertime and the living is easy?
Mimi
Newport

Hello Mimi,

Sounds like your friendships are weighing on you! I posed your question to the cards and we got the Tower, the Page of Pentacles and the Two of Cups. It looks like the childish and irrational behavior of your friends and family is beginning to interfere in the serene home environment you and your husband wish to share.

The Tower represents upheaval in a most unruly way. People tossing themselves upside down out of a burning building struck by lightning. The crown at the top hints at what was once a successful situation losing its cool. It looks like you are truly afraid of someone falling and getting hurt and are going out of your way to make sure that doesn’t happen. That is a wonderfully responsible attitude, but one that may encourage others not to take responsibility for themselves. If they choose to throw caution to the wind, you may not always be available to rescue them. It is probably not just with you where they are out of control.

The Page of Pentacles indicates a young person accepting the consequences of his actions. This is a very serene landscape, with a plowed field in the background, showing his planning for the future. People who have things to lose take better care of the things they have. This includes friendship as well as material possessions. If your peeps can find those things that are important to them and focus their attention on establishing and maintaining their own harvest, they will be more apt to keep their feet on the ground. Their own self-respect will keep them from needing to be taken care of by you or anyone else.

The Two of Cups is such a gentle card. Yet there lurks the winged lion with the furrowed brow threatening to come between the loving couple. Sometimes we need to show a little disappointment or even anger with our friends in order to get their attention. In the background, beyond the green grassy hills, lies the tiniest little quaint home with a red roof. Your home is your sanctuary, and you have the option to choose those who are welcome there. If people consistently can’t hang and behave as respectable adults, they will have a choice to make. Do they want to be part of a kind and socially responsible atmosphere, or do they want to be a drooling, stumbling fool? Remember Mimi, that decision is completely up to them. But perhaps the line on the ground in this card indicates that you need to meet them in town, and keep your home separate.

I understand these things happen once in a while when people don’t monitor their intake of alcohol, but once it becomes important to them, they will. I’m sure you want your friends and family to feel welcome, and you do live in a vacation wonderland where people can and will let loose. You can’t change their behavior, but can encourage them through example and through your support to be the best they can be. There is lots of room for growth for these people, and hopefully they will blossom and be more considerate of everyone else around them who are concerned for their safety.

Dear Maribeth,

I am an aspiring filmmaker working on a project about the subject of the afterlife - is this a path that will lead to success?

>3

Dear >3,

You got the Ace of Pentacles, the King of Swords, and the Nine of Swords. There are many ways to look at this combination of cards depending on the ‘lens’ we want to see it through. In general though, this looks like a heavy project you are working on and the outcome found in the last card appears depressing.

The Ace of Pentacles is about financing your project. You need the money to be handed to you, as shown by the card. Out of nowhere it seems to come, bringing great promises of opportunities for success. The path leading to the arbor with the lilies and roses all look very positive, but it is hard to see what happens between the green hedges and the sharp mountains in the background. Let’s check with the next card for some insight. Your path is not clear.

When I laid out the King of Swords card, I heard in my head “Cut!”. This implies that this card represents the director of the film, there with his big sword ready to cut. This worries me, (although I don’t feel as worried as the person in the nine of swords looks). I get the feeling the people paying for the making of the film want you to produce it in a way different than how you see it. But it doesn’t look like they give you this information until later in the process when they start cutting stuff out that you wanted in. Will you be the director, or someone else?

The Nine of Swords makes it look like you are under a great deal of pressure and not happy about it. I feel like the pressure is not only from the process of creating a film, but the film content itself. I suggest you lighten up all around in order to get to that success you crave. In other words, when you are describing the afterlife make it fun and appealing so people who have lost loved ones can find a path to healing from it. People who have passed on usually prefer to be remembered with a smile, so use humor to make it appealing to the masses. Imagine what John Candy is doing right now up there in heaven… driving an ice cream truck perhaps? The more people can relate to your subject, the more they will understand.

With two cards out of the three from the swords suit, we know this is going to be a difficult project because swords represent tough times in general. The subject matter of your film will remind people of those they have lost and often that comes with a heavy heart. Your intent is to make it real for them, as symbolized by the Ace of Pentacles. Keep true to your vision and be aware of the reactions you are stirring in others. The impression you leave upon your audience through the film will greatly be impacted by the outcome you keep in mind at all times. Be clear about the messages you are trying to get across and follow it through. This clarity will insure your success.

Having the final say in what stays in and comes out of your film is the hard part about this project. Be sure to enjoy the process and learn a lot, I get the feeling this is the first of many exciting film projects for you. Good luck, I can’t wait to see it!

Dear Maribeth,

I think most of us at one time or another have accidentally walked in on our parents doing something we shouldn’t see. My experience involves my father running naked on a treadmill.
Use your imagination - even the dog is traumatized.
How can I remove this vision from my head?

Signed,

Just Can’t Seem to Get Past It

P.S. He’s no spring chicken

Dear JCSTGPI,

Oh my! Have I mentioned the importance of professional counseling when the circumstances warrant it? Let’s see what advice we can get from the tarot on this uncomfortable situation.

Your cards are the Four of Pentacles, the Three of Pentacles and the Queen of Pentacles. While pentacles rhyme with testicles, we won’t go there. Part of your healing process involves letting go of this troubling vision. All pentacles in your reading indicate a very real, very down to earth situation: a visual reality check that you probably did not need.

The Four of Pentacles shows a man covering himself up as much as possible and trying to protect his valuables. Your Dad definitely did not intend for you to see him that way. He would probably opt to remove that memory from both of your minds if he could. Have you ever thought about the trauma he felt having that experience? Holding on to the memory can’t help either one of you in any way I can imagine. Keep in mind he is a good Dad with nothing but good intentions and expectations for you to think the best of him. No one is perfect, and so, people make mistakes. When you think about it, running naked on a treadmill actually sounds hazardous.

The Three of Pentacles makes me think the treadmill wasn’t as attractive to your father after The Incident. It looks like he is considering other plans as ways to accomplish his goals. All of the figures in all three of your cards are covered from head to toe in layered clothing. He may have become much more self conscious of his body and recognized the need for modesty, even at home. He obviously wasn’t expecting you, but I’m sure he takes responsibility for what happened.

The Queen of Pentacles is you looking down at the situation from a new perspective. If you can realize that you were in a safe environment even though a startling thing happened, you can start to let go of your fear of witnessing any such behavior in the future. This leaves you with a funny story to tell, but no traumatic long-term effects. Forgive him for his indiscretion and tell him to leave a signal on the door if you shouldn’t enter, for any reason. Privacy and respect will reign. And hopefully, the horrifying vision will fade.