In the Background, we get card 41, Bringing the Night. This is a card of change, of seeking wisdom, perhaps of questioning one's purpose in life, or, here, the reasons the protagonist's friends are missing. Night is coming, figuratively or literally, and things look scary. As they should for the beginning of a story, of course! Anyway, something's got to change, and the protagonist needs to start trying to make that change happen. Looking at the rest of the reading, I suspect the protagonist has to make some changes in themself, though they probably are more focused on making changes in the world around them, especially at first.
In the position of Baggage we get card 10, Lavacorn. This card stands for Pressure that might lead to an Explosion. This isn't advice about what to pack, this is talking about the situation(s) that led to this story. Stuff has been building up in the background, and hasn't been dealt with, the pressure has been allowed to mount, but now the protagonist has to face that and deal with the fallout. The description in the reading says that this card can represent giving more weight to the things that are bothering you than necessary, but in this reading, it feels more like consequences of past mistakes.
Ah, next, Companions: Here we have card 16, the Unicorn Flag. It landed very solidly in the reflect aspect, which is Reform. The companions should be there to support the protagonist, of course, but even more than that, each one of them should prompt the protagonist to reflect on how they got to this point in their lives, where nothing is going well and the consequences of the past are threatening to explode like a volcano. Each companion should challenge the protagonist in ways appropriate to allowing the protagonist to reform themself into someone who at least won't make all the same mistakes over again. Persisting is important, unless it's persisting in hurting others; resisting is important when facing an enemy, but not when facing a mentor or teacher or necessary task; representing oneself and one's friends well is also important, and requires communication skills and wisdom that take time to develop.
Next, Assistance. Your protagonist is not alone, penniless and skill-less. They have companions and resources. Here I drew Card 4, Celestial. What's needed to get things to work? This card suggests the primary requirements are Invention and creativity. This seems like it should be straightforward, and lead us to our resolution (which we see is the wonderfully triumphant Card 20, Fireweed, where things are repaired, friends return, wrongs are rectified, and friendships renewed), but the unicorn here is depicted upside down. What seems like it will finally be easy is anything but. The straightforward path must fail spectacularly, possibly more than once, and more creativity and invention will be needed.
I drew each card and laid it out and then went to put the rest of the deck down, but Card 23, the Guardian of the Path wasn't about to stay out of this reading. I slid it into the Assistance slot, as The Guardian was promising a Guide on this Journey. I don't know where the guide comes from, whether it's one of the companions or someone met along the way (perhaps repeatedly). Perhaps it's advice that the protagonist has been ignoring or misinterpreting, but listening to the Guide provides an essential key to turning things around in the end, so the protagonist's efforts can finally succeed.
And finally we get to the resolution, Fireweed. Wildfire is scary and destructive--but that destruction clears the way for renewal, for new beauty to sprout. Where the fire pulled down the old tangles, fireweed can sprout; when you destroy harmful habits, you can choose a new path, a new you. Your protagonist is stronger for having faced these challenges and learning new things, and can look to a bright future. (Of course, there will be new challenges, but that's for the next story to tell.)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
From Change to Renewal
Date: 2024-06-14 06:38 am (UTC)So, for you I chose the Facing Your Fears layout.
In the Background, we get card 41, Bringing the Night. This is a card of change, of seeking wisdom, perhaps of questioning one's purpose in life, or, here, the reasons the protagonist's friends are missing. Night is coming, figuratively or literally, and things look scary. As they should for the beginning of a story, of course! Anyway, something's got to change, and the protagonist needs to start trying to make that change happen. Looking at the rest of the reading, I suspect the protagonist has to make some changes in themself, though they probably are more focused on making changes in the world around them, especially at first.
In the position of Baggage we get card 10, Lavacorn. This card stands for Pressure that might lead to an Explosion. This isn't advice about what to pack, this is talking about the situation(s) that led to this story. Stuff has been building up in the background, and hasn't been dealt with, the pressure has been allowed to mount, but now the protagonist has to face that and deal with the fallout. The description in the reading says that this card can represent giving more weight to the things that are bothering you than necessary, but in this reading, it feels more like consequences of past mistakes.
Ah, next, Companions: Here we have card 16, the Unicorn Flag. It landed very solidly in the reflect aspect, which is Reform. The companions should be there to support the protagonist, of course, but even more than that, each one of them should prompt the protagonist to reflect on how they got to this point in their lives, where nothing is going well and the consequences of the past are threatening to explode like a volcano. Each companion should challenge the protagonist in ways appropriate to allowing the protagonist to reform themself into someone who at least won't make all the same mistakes over again. Persisting is important, unless it's persisting in hurting others; resisting is important when facing an enemy, but not when facing a mentor or teacher or necessary task; representing oneself and one's friends well is also important, and requires communication skills and wisdom that take time to develop.
Next, Assistance. Your protagonist is not alone, penniless and skill-less. They have companions and resources. Here I drew Card 4, Celestial. What's needed to get things to work? This card suggests the primary requirements are Invention and creativity. This seems like it should be straightforward, and lead us to our resolution (which we see is the wonderfully triumphant Card 20, Fireweed, where things are repaired, friends return, wrongs are rectified, and friendships renewed), but the unicorn here is depicted upside down. What seems like it will finally be easy is anything but. The straightforward path must fail spectacularly, possibly more than once, and more creativity and invention will be needed.
I drew each card and laid it out and then went to put the rest of the deck down, but Card 23, the Guardian of the Path wasn't about to stay out of this reading. I slid it into the Assistance slot, as The Guardian was promising a Guide on this Journey. I don't know where the guide comes from, whether it's one of the companions or someone met along the way (perhaps repeatedly). Perhaps it's advice that the protagonist has been ignoring or misinterpreting, but listening to the Guide provides an essential key to turning things around in the end, so the protagonist's efforts can finally succeed.
And finally we get to the resolution, Fireweed. Wildfire is scary and destructive--but that destruction clears the way for renewal, for new beauty to sprout. Where the fire pulled down the old tangles, fireweed can sprout; when you destroy harmful habits, you can choose a new path, a new you. Your protagonist is stronger for having faced these challenges and learning new things, and can look to a bright future. (Of course, there will be new challenges, but that's for the next story to tell.)