AUTHOR'S NOTE: In a previous essay I described topical readings aimed at exploring "department-of-life" conditions (romance, career, finances, health, education, etc.) as often involving a "functional" dimension that presents the seeker an opportunity to pursue; a situation to understand; an agenda to advance; a decision to make; a problem to solve; a crisis or conflict to manage; etc. I've been thinking about how spread design can best accommodate these factors.

I believe the five-card line is the most efficient layout from which to derive a suitably comprehensive answer in all of these scenarios. For this example I've assigned spread positions as follows:

Card #1: What is the present situation?
Card #2: Why am I confronting it at this time?
Card #3: How can I attempt to deal with it?
Card #4: How will it respond?
Card #5: What will come of it?

I've separated the progression into three phases: the "Discovery Phase" (Cards #1 and #2), the "Interactive Phase" (Cards #3 and #4) and the "Resolution Phase" (Card #5). In the classic "Five W's" approach to situational analysis, the first two positions satisfy the "What and Why" parameters while the third one takes a detour into "How." The aspects of "Who, Where and When" remain off the table unless the context of the question or subject specifically embraces them (which would require a different architecture). The last two positions can be characterized as "Response and Result," although if I were Elmer Fudd riffing on the "Five W's" (or my three-year-old grandson) I would say "Wesponse and Wesult," slyly recapturing two of the W's.

Here is what the proposed spread looks like:

Below is an example reading using the Albano-Waite Tarot (copyright of US Games Systems Inc, Stamford, CT).

The "functional dimension" I was considering for the pull was an agenda I've wanted to advance for some time. The advice of the reading is that I really shouldn't stick my neck out at present. There seems to have been a good reason for the complacency and inertia that have held me back to date, and trying to climb out of my cocoon and make a move now would elicit some stiff resistance, sending me right back where I started. The 4 of Cups reversed emulates the Hanged Man "on a lower arc," making it clear that I should just back away from the unpleasantness of the Tower and sit tight for the time being; it seems symbolically appropriate that the upside-down and obviously empty fourth cup is being offered from the "future" direction. This is not the first (or even the tenth) time I've received similar advice regarding this issue, which I've been revisiting off-and-on for years. The low profile I've maintained appears to be the most suitable posture under the circumstances, although I do feel a bit stymied.