Are Modern Tarot Meanings Watered Down?

[Guest Night Shade]

Hello everyone

 

I was looking at the Pictorial Key to the Tarot thread, and it got me wondering.  Are the Tarot meanings we use today extremely watered down from those of the past, or is it more that the modern meanings have been updated and expanded for our times, making the older meanings obsolete?  Many of the PKT meanings are extremely negative, (for example, both the Death card and the 9 of Swords can both represent actual death), and are rarely used in readings today.  Other cards have meanings in the PKT that aren't so negative, but are still hardly ever used, such as messages in writing for the 2 of Pentacles, patrimony for the 5 of Cups, and mistress for the 5 of Pentacles.  Of course, it's great that we now have meanings for the cards that fit our modern lives, and that reflect our greater understanding of people and of the world in general, but are we losing something by ignoring the harsher or more old-fashioned meanings of yesterday? What do you all think?

[Saturn Celeste]

This is embarrassing Night Shade[/member] but what is PKT?  :-[

[Guest Night Shade]

This is embarrassing Night Shade[/member] but what is PKT?  :-[

 

That's  A.E. Waite's Pictorial Key to the Tarot.  :)  Actually, I was mistaken about the name of the thread I was looking at - the thread is just called The Key to the Tarot.  In fact, I think it's talking about an entirely different book. Sorry about that.  But my question about modern versus older card meanings still stands.

[Raggydoll]

The PKT is not the best source for information and inspiration regarding traditional fortune telling, in my opinion. This is mainly because Waite himself kind of looked down on the fortune telling aspect of tarot and really wanted to focus on the spiritual and philosophical side of them (but couldn’t, partly due to his vows of secrecy and partly because this was a book that was being marketed to the general public and not to fellow members of secret societies). So he would not have put his best effort into conveying practical ways of interpreting cards. But even if you look at all the other, much older reference books for tarot meanings, then there is no doubt that the modern ways are generally more balanced and softer (in my opinion at least!). These days people who design decks think about things such as how to be politically correct and how to empower others with their decks. That was probably never the case in the past.

[DanielJUK]

There are tarot readers here who have been around the area much longer than me and would know but I think there has always been a range of different meanings from different authors but also times change with eras!

 

I worry about extremes with the cards because they turn up in my readings as various shades, rather than black or white. Thirteen on AT did some amazing interpretations for the upright and reversal of each card and they always gave me something to think about. I found some of her reversals so negative for example with the 7 of Cups, everything has fallen out of the cups when reversed, you feel like there are no options, no choices to be made, all hope has gone. I found that so troubling and I have never seen it come up as that meaning in my readings for myself or others. My take on it is that it's more about choices leading to temptation or illusion, be extra careful about bad choices.

 

I have read quite a few different viewpoints online and in books of interpretations and I read them and take what I want and leave the rest behind. They are just different views, you might disagree with them or completely ignore them, we have to find what we think of them :)

 

I have read some old books though and they are so old fashioned, use my meanings as absolute, do the tarot this way only, it was very conservative and restrictive, perhaps the very negative ideas came from that time. The Pictorial Key to the Tarot was first published with the RWS in 1911, over 100 years ago and so some of it is very old fashioned now.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

not watered down, but enriched with open minds.

[Guest Night Shade]

I think maybe I didn't phrase my question correctly.  I wanted to know if you all think we should consider the older, more negative meanings (like actual death) and the more obscure meanings when we do readings today.  That's what I meant by watered down - it seems like the more modern meanings shy away from anything that's too traumatic or disturbing, even if it's something the sitter really should know about.  I certainly didn't mean to imply that being politically correct or empowering was a bad thing; on the contrary, I think it's absolutely necessary.  I just wonder if we're missing out by not considering every possible interpretation when we're reading the cards.

[Jewel]

Hi Nightshade, I would actually contemplate those meanings if they fit within the context of the question and spread.  But one thing to remember that we (a) live a lot longer than people did 100 years ago, (b) and Tarot is used as a reflection of our lives and well we live in modern times which are quite different in many ways - people from 1900 would say "softer" so that will reflect in our decks and in our readings.

[Carus]

I do take issue with some of the softening, one person even says that you should not give a sitter bad news if you see it. I think there is a modern tendency to soften things and not shock or offend people, but life is not like that. If we see something negative we should normally tell our sitter but do it in a delicate way and approach it right.

 

Though we might not be lying when we deliberately slant the medium, technique etc. towards softer or more nebulous concepts we may be doing those who seek our aid a disservice. A softer version can be just as accurate but it might only be showing shapes for example one  deck might predict "change" while another explicitly notes "death", both are true but the second deck is more explicit. My personal preference is to always look for specifics etc. but some sitters might not be able to take something like that. So even for me there is some movement.

 

(I will note that the majority of my experience comes from years as a scryer using Lithomancy rather than cards so I might have a different take on it.)

 

 

[Guest libra]

Hi Nightshade, I would actually contemplate those meanings if they fit within the context of the question and spread.  But one thing to remember that we (a) live a lot longer than people did 100 years ago, (b) and Tarot is used as a reflection of our lives and well we live in modern times which are quite different in many ways - people from 1900 would say "softer" so that will reflect in our decks and in our readings.

 

So much this. I feel like when you pull cards,they come up in reference to you and your experiences - I often find it difficult to interpret other people's readings because the cards that come up are tailored to them and their life. Death is a good example of that - Wolfboy (my fiancé) has had a lot rougher of a life than me. There has been death in his life, at a fairly steady rate. When he pulls it, it is MUCH more likely to be that big omen than it is for me, because Death is a more common experience for him. For me, the framework of my learning the card comes with less actual Death needing to be faced. When I pull it, it usually is more metaphorical.  And I believe that whatever guides the cards we pull does take that into account. Death may not be the best card to represent a life-changing transformation like it is for me, so it does seem like he pulls out a lot less often than I do. It follows to me that, if I'm more the norm in my experience with facing death of loved ones at a slower rate than him, that more people would read it as the transformative energy that is common. If untimely, or not, deaths were more prevelent, Death would likely lean back towards foretelling an actual Death.

[Raggydoll]

I think maybe I didn't phrase my question correctly.  I wanted to know if you all think we should consider the older, more negative meanings (like actual death) and the more obscure meanings when we do readings today.  That's what I meant by watered down - it seems like the more modern meanings shy away from anything that's too traumatic or disturbing, even if it's something the sitter really should know about.  I certainly didn't mean to imply that being politically correct or empowering was a bad thing; on the contrary, I think it's absolutely necessary.  I just wonder if we're missing out by not considering every possible interpretation when we're reading the cards.

 

Oh, I totally got what you mean, it was just my reply that was a bit.. hmm.. going in several directions at once, I guess! So it was more general thoughts than an exact reply to what you wrote. Your post made me think and I jotted down what I was thinking, basically! Sorry if I confused you with my talk about political correctness and all that Jazz  :)) I do feel that there is a place for every shade and nuance to every card. It all depends on the actual circumstances! Death can certainly refer to actually death but in my personal experience it often refers to things that has already happened (like if you have lost a loved one and your life is actively influenced by the energies of death). I often have this card referring to the death of my father in my own readings.

[Cookie]

Funnily enough I was thinking along this subject just last night as with the 100 years of the Armistice coming up.  A few years ago we did a project at school which looked into family's histories around the time of World War One.

 

I found out that my Great Grandmother (born in 1901) on my mother's side came from a really poor part of Glasgow.  She came from a family of 11 siblings all in 2 rooms of tenement buildings.  Three of her brothers died before their teens from diphtheria & measles (i think) and her two elder brothers died in the trenches of the France (one in the first week after he got there).  My grandmother & my mother told me they -- and many many poor people of that era -- were huge on divination and omens.  My Glasgow family used tea leaves, French playing cards, palmistry, animal bones (like runes i'm guessing .. it came from the Highlands).  Death, The Tower, 10 of swords etc & the equivalent of the runes & playing cards would have undoubtedly meant death, esp around the 1st World War. 

 

It must have been a huge thing for a mother to get her fortune read if her son's were at war in Flanders, and from what I read & from what I was told Fortune Tellers were never busier.  Imagine getting the Death card and the like ... it must have been unbearable, esp as they so believed in the prophecies.

 

Now,the Death card and the like could still mean this for anyone of us, but it's highly unlikely.  It could possibly still mean an actual death if say a person was say heavily involved in the heroin scene or drug scene (or the odds increase somewhat); and still perhaps for a mother whose soldier son is doing a tour of Afghanistan or Iraq or is a medic or journalist in a dangerous area. But nothing like what it would mean for a family with a son in the trenches of 1916.       

 

[Guest Night Shade]

Hi Nightshade, I would actually contemplate those meanings if they fit within the context of the question and spread.  But one thing to remember that we (a) live a lot longer than people did 100 years ago, (b) and Tarot is used as a reflection of our lives and well we live in modern times which are quite different in many ways - people from 1900 would say "softer" so that will reflect in our decks and in our readings.

 

These are really good points, Jewel[/member] .  Our lives are much different and more advanced than those of people 100 years ago, so the cards would have to reflect those changes and advances.

[Guest Night Shade]

I think there is a modern tendency to soften things and not shock or offend people, but life is not like that. If we see something negative we should normally tell our sitter but do it in a delicate way and approach it right.

 

Though we might not be lying when we deliberately slant the medium, technique etc. towards softer or more nebulous concepts we may be doing those who seek our aid a disservice.

 

I completely agree with this, Carus[/member] .  Life is not all sunshine and roses,  and we're being unfair to our sitters if we present things that way.  You're right though, when you say we need to tell them delicately; I think it's best to tell them the complete truth, but then give them guidance on how to possibly avoid the negative situation, or how to deal with it in the best way possible.  It's always best to end on some note of hope.

[Guest Night Shade]

Hi Nightshade, I would actually contemplate those meanings if they fit within the context of the question and spread.  But one thing to remember that we (a) live a lot longer than people did 100 years ago, (b) and Tarot is used as a reflection of our lives and well we live in modern times which are quite different in many ways - people from 1900 would say "softer" so that will reflect in our decks and in our readings.

 

So much this. I feel like when you pull cards,they come up in reference to you and your experiences - I often find it difficult to interpret other people's readings because the cards that come up are tailored to them and their life. Death is a good example of that - Wolfboy (my fiancé) has had a lot rougher of a life than me. There has been death in his life, at a fairly steady rate. When he pulls it, it is MUCH more likely to be that big omen than it is for me, because Death is a more common experience for him. For me, the framework of my learning the card comes with less actual Death needing to be faced. When I pull it, it usually is more metaphorical.  And I believe that whatever guides the cards we pull does take that into account. Death may not be the best card to represent a life-changing transformation like it is for me, so it does seem like he pulls out a lot less often than I do. It follows to me that, if I'm more the norm in my experience with facing death of loved ones at a slower rate than him, that more people would read it as the transformative energy that is common. If untimely, or not, deaths were more prevelent, Death would likely lean back towards foretelling an actual Death.

 

I like when you say that whatever guides the cards takes people's individual circumstances into account, libra[/member] .  Not every card will mean the same thing to every person, and it's sometimes a challenge to determine which meaning is correct for your sitter.  I guess if you don't know their history, it's safer to go with the softer meaning, until you know more about them.

[Guest Night Shade]

 

Death can certainly refer to actually death but in my personal experience it often refers to things that has already happened (like if you have lost a loved one and your life is actively influenced by the energies of death). I often have this card referring to the death of my father in my own readings.

 

I never thought about it like this, Raggydoll[/member].  If you lost a loved one, the energies of death would have a great influence on your life - I suppose it makes one appreciate life all the more, and gives them the compassion to help others going through the same loss.  I'm sorry for the loss of your father; I don't know if it's recent or not, but I know that the pain of losing a loved one never really goes away.

[Guest Night Shade]

Funnily enough I was thinking along this subject just last night as with the 100 years of the Armistice coming up.  A few years ago we did a project at school which looked into family's histories around the time of World War One.

 

I found out that my Great Grandmother (born in 1901) on my mother's side came from a really poor part of Glasgow.  She came from a family of 11 siblings all in 2 rooms of tenement buildings.  Three of her brothers died before their teens from diphtheria & measles (i think) and her two elder brothers died in the trenches of the France (one in the first week after he got there).  My grandmother & my mother told me they -- and many many poor people of that era -- were huge on divination and omens.  My Glasgow family used tea leaves, French playing cards, palmistry, animal bones (like runes i'm guessing .. it came from the Highlands).  Death, The Tower, 10 of swords etc & the equivalent of the runes & playing cards would have undoubtedly meant death, esp around the 1st World War. 

 

It must have been a huge thing for a mother to get her fortune read if her son's were at war in Flanders, and from what I read & from what I was told Fortune Tellers were never busier.  Imagine getting the Death card and the like ... it must have been unbearable, esp as they so believed in the prophecies.

 

Now,the Death card and the like could still mean this for anyone of us, but it's highly unlikely.  It could possibly still mean an actual death if say a person was say heavily involved in the heroin scene or drug scene (or the odds increase somewhat); and still perhaps for a mother whose soldier son is doing a tour of Afghanistan or Iraq or is a medic or journalist in a dangerous area. But nothing like what it would mean for a family with a son in the trenches of 1916.     

 

Wow, Cookie[/member] , your family had a really hard time of it.  It always amazes me when I hear about people of that time and how hard they struggled - I don't know how anyone managed to bear it and stay sane!  I guess people back then had a lot more grit than we do - which fits in with what people have been saying about the cards taking on softer meanings for our softer times.  You're right when you say that getting the Death card back then would have been far more devastating than it is today.  I still think that we have to consider (at least momentarily) whether Death means death if the context of the reading might suggest it, but yeah it is highly unlikely.

[Guest Night Shade]

not watered down, but enriched with open minds.

 

We do have to be open to new ideas, both in Tarot meanings and in life!

[Guest Night Shade]

I worry about extremes with the cards because they turn up in my readings as various shades, rather than black or white. Thirteen on AT did some amazing interpretations for the upright and reversal of each card and they always gave me something to think about. I found some of her reversals so negative for example with the 7 of Cups, everything has fallen out of the cups when reversed, you feel like there are no options, no choices to be made, all hope has gone. I found that so troubling and I have never seen it come up as that meaning in my readings for myself or others. My take on it is that it's more about choices leading to temptation or illusion, be extra careful about bad choices.

 

I agree with this, DanielJUK[/member] .  Even if a card has a negative meaning within the context of the reading, you should never leave the sitter with no hope.  I think you need to be honest with them, but let them know that they always have options, and that there's something positive that could come out of the situation (even if they have to dig really deep to find it).

[Raggydoll]

 

Death can certainly refer to actually death but in my personal experience it often refers to things that has already happened (like if you have lost a loved one and your life is actively influenced by the energies of death). I often have this card referring to the death of my father in my own readings.

 

I never thought about it like this, Raggydoll[/member].  If you lost a loved one, the energies of death would have a great influence on your life - I suppose it makes one appreciate life all the more, and gives them the compassion to help others going through the same loss.  I'm sorry for the loss of your father; I don't know if it's recent or not, but I know that the pain of losing a loved one never really goes away.

 

Thank you. It has been almost four years now and it’s still very raw in mind. I have shared this story before, but for the sake of truly conveying what Death has meant to me I will share it again.

 

One day, out of the blue I suddenly had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen. I felt a dark, heavy sensation and I just knew that it was related to my dad. I didn’t know what to do, so I called my sister. She listened and believed in me. We discussed it and agreed that I should try and talk to mom and gently bring up the topic of dads health. It took me two days to get up the courage, but then I called her. I asked about how dad was doing. She said “oh, he’s fine - in fact, we are about to go out for a walk now”. We talked some more and she also mentioned that my dad had his yearly doctors appointment the next week. I also heard my dad talking in the background and he seemed so normal and happy that I just decided to let the whole thing go, at least for a while. Maybe I had been wrong after all (this was not the first time I sensed tragedy before it hit, though).

 

Well, as you can guess, things did not go so well. I got a phone call later that day and my sister told me that dad had suffered a massive heart attack. They were going to try and perform surgery so I had no opportunity to talk to him on the phone (we lived 3 hours from each other). I told my sister to tell him that I loved him. She did. And he died a couple of minutes later, before they had a chance to operate. And I have struggled so badly to accept everything that happened. It ripped a hole inside of me and it made me feel like this intuitive side of me is completely worthless. And for the longest time afterwards I would have Death present in every tarot reading that I did. It is fairly recently that it stopped. (I had to do go to therapy for post traumatic stress symptoms related to his death, and that therapy did a lot of good in this respect. It made the grieving process feel more organic and bearable).

[Saturn Celeste]

Hello everyone

 

I was looking at the Pictorial Key to the Tarot thread, and it got me wondering.

 

OK, I have this book.  I find it really stark.  Minimal meanings are Ok with me, even just a few keywords to get the gist of what the author intended.  But I don't really have any use for this book at this point.

 

Are the Tarot meanings we use today extremely watered down from those of the past, or is it more that the modern meanings have been updated and expanded for our times, making the older meanings obsolete?  Many of the PKT meanings are extremely negative, (for example, both the Death card and the 9 of Swords can both represent actual death), and are rarely used in readings today.  Other cards have meanings in the PKT that aren't so negative, but are still hardly ever used, such as messages in writing for the 2 of Pentacles, patrimony for the 5 of Cups, and mistress for the 5 of Pentacles.  Of course, it's great that we now have meanings for the cards that fit our modern lives, and that reflect our greater understanding of people and of the world in general, but are we losing something by ignoring the harsher or more old-fashioned meanings of yesterday? What do you all think?

 

It isn't that the card meanings are watered down, to me, it depends on when the book was written and what type of decks you like.  Just as Raggydoll said about Waite hiding his tarot knowledge back then card meanings during that time are stilted.  Then get into some of the 60 and 70s decks.  Well, I can't so much as I don't have that many but during that time writing was freer and writers were taking a more creative approach to their work.  But there just wasn't the frequency of these books going mainstream.  It was well before Amazon so it would be up to local stores and what they sold to their neighborhood.  80s and 90s was the prelude to new age and by 2000 New Age in retail was very prevalent.  Amazon was getting started and decks and new age retail from around the states and around the world were easier to access.  During this time Oracle decks were starting to get going and that's where I find some of the most flowery and new age definitions came into being.  A few of the decks I have I don't even look at the companion books they are so 'out there man.' ;)

 

As for the meanings getting to watered down?  It all depends on your taste in decks.  If you like the traditional decks your meanings might lean toward the PKT, if you like Thoth your meanings will be Thoth but that's not what to say Thoth readers tend to like in oracle decks if any, or if you like Doreen Virtue your meanings will lean more new age.

[Guest Night Shade]

 

Death can certainly refer to actually death but in my personal experience it often refers to things that has already happened (like if you have lost a loved one and your life is actively influenced by the energies of death). I often have this card referring to the death of my father in my own readings.

 

I never thought about it like this, Raggydoll[/member].  If you lost a loved one, the energies of death would have a great influence on your life - I suppose it makes one appreciate life all the more, and gives them the compassion to help others going through the same loss.  I'm sorry for the loss of your father; I don't know if it's recent or not, but I know that the pain of losing a loved one never really goes away.

 

Thank you. It has been almost four years now and it’s still very raw in mind. I have shared this story before, but for the sake of truly conveying what Death has meant to me I will share it again.

 

One day, out of the blue I suddenly had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen. I felt a dark, heavy sensation and I just knew that it was related to my dad. I didn’t know what to do, so I called my sister. She listened and believed in me. We discussed it and agreed that I should try and talk to mom and gently bring up the topic of dads health. It took me two days to get up the courage, but then I called her. I asked about how dad was doing. She said “oh, he’s fine - in fact, we are about to go out for a walk now”. We talked some more and she also mentioned that my dad had his yearly doctors appointment the next week. I also heard my dad talking in the background and he seemed so normal and happy that I just decided to let the whole thing go, at least for a while. Maybe I had been wrong after all (this was not the first time I sensed tragedy before it hit, though).

 

Well, as you can guess, things did not go so well. I got a phone call later that day and my sister told me that dad had suffered a massive heart attack. They were going to try and perform surgery so I had no opportunity to talk to him on the phone (we lived 3 hours from each other). I told my sister to tell him that I loved him. She did. And he died a couple of minutes later, before they had a chance to operate. And I have struggled so badly to accept everything that happened. It ripped a hole inside of me and it made me feel like this intuitive side of me is completely worthless. And for the longest time afterwards I would have Death present in every tarot readings that I did. It is fairly recently that it stopped. (I had to do go to therapy for post traumatic stress symptoms related to his death, and that therapy did a lot of good in this respect. It made the grieving process feel more organic and bearable).

 

I'm so sorry, Raggydoll[/member] , and I'm sorry that my post brought all of this up for you again. I can tell that you feel guilty, but you shouldn't feel that way at all.  Your Dad sounded fine, and he was going to the doctor's in a week, so I'm sure you thought it would get all sorted out -anyone would.  I'm sorry that you didn't get to talk to him before he died, but if it's any consolation, I truly believe that he can still hear you now, he knows you love him, and he doesn't blame you for anything.  I'm glad that therapy has helped you, and I know that you're going to get stronger and stronger.  <3 

[Guest Night Shade]

It isn't that the card meanings are watered down, to me, it depends on when the book was written and what type of decks you like.

 

As for the meanings getting to watered down?  It all depends on your taste in decks.  If you like the traditional decks your meanings might lean toward the PKT, if you like Thoth your meanings will be Thoth but that's not what to say Thoth readers tend to like in oracle decks if any, or if you like Doreen Virtue your meanings will lean more new age.

 

I guess this is what it really all comes down to.  Everyone reads in a different way, and likes different decks,  so everyone is going to see the cards in a different way

[Raggydoll]

 

Death can certainly refer to actually death but in my personal experience it often refers to things that has already happened (like if you have lost a loved one and your life is actively influenced by the energies of death). I often have this card referring to the death of my father in my own readings.

 

I never thought about it like this, Raggydoll[/member].  If you lost a loved one, the energies of death would have a great influence on your life - I suppose it makes one appreciate life all the more, and gives them the compassion to help others going through the same loss.  I'm sorry for the loss of your father; I don't know if it's recent or not, but I know that the pain of losing a loved one never really goes away.

 

Thank you. It has been almost four years now and it’s still very raw in mind. I have shared this story before, but for the sake of truly conveying what Death has meant to me I will share it again.

 

One day, out of the blue I suddenly had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen. I felt a dark, heavy sensation and I just knew that it was related to my dad. I didn’t know what to do, so I called my sister. She listened and believed in me. We discussed it and agreed that I should try and talk to mom and gently bring up the topic of dads health. It took me two days to get up the courage, but then I called her. I asked about how dad was doing. She said “oh, he’s fine - in fact, we are about to go out for a walk now”. We talked some more and she also mentioned that my dad had his yearly doctors appointment the next week. I also heard my dad talking in the background and he seemed so normal and happy that I just decided to let the whole thing go, at least for a while. Maybe I had been wrong after all (this was not the first time I sensed tragedy before it hit, though).

 

Well, as you can guess, things did not go so well. I got a phone call later that day and my sister told me that dad had suffered a massive heart attack. They were going to try and perform surgery so I had no opportunity to talk to him on the phone (we lived 3 hours from each other). I told my sister to tell him that I loved him. She did. And he died a couple of minutes later, before they had a chance to operate. And I have struggled so badly to accept everything that happened. It ripped a hole inside of me and it made me feel like this intuitive side of me is completely worthless. And for the longest time afterwards I would have Death present in every tarot readings that I did. It is fairly recently that it stopped. (I had to do go to therapy for post traumatic stress symptoms related to his death, and that therapy did a lot of good in this respect. It made the grieving process feel more organic and bearable).

 

I'm so sorry, Raggydoll[/member] , and I'm sorry that my post brought all of this up for you again. I can tell that you feel guilty, but you shouldn't feel that way at all.  Your Dad sounded fine, and he was going to the doctor's in a week, so I'm sure you thought it would get all sorted out -anyone would.  I'm sorry that you didn't get to talk to him before he died, but if it's any consolation, I truly believe that he can still hear you now, he knows you love him, and he doesn't blame you for anything.  I'm glad that therapy has helped you, and I know that you're going to get stronger and stronger.  <3

 

Don’t worry, your post did not upset me. I don’t have a problem talking about this any longer. It is quite healing to hold space for this type of conversation. We need to be able to talk about death, fear and sorrow. If we don’t, then we will not be able to fully connect with our cards. That is what I truly believe.

[Flaxen]

Thank you. It has been almost four years now and it’s still very raw in mind. I have shared this story before, but for the sake of truly conveying what Death has meant to me I will share it again.

 

One day, out of the blue I suddenly had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen. I felt a dark, heavy sensation and I just knew that it was related to my dad. I didn’t know what to do, so I called my sister. She listened and believed in me. We discussed it and agreed that I should try and talk to mom and gently bring up the topic of dads health. It took me two days to get up the courage, but then I called her. I asked about how dad was doing. She said “oh, he’s fine - in fact, we are about to go out for a walk now”. We talked some more and she also mentioned that my dad had his yearly doctors appointment the next week. I also heard my dad talking in the background and he seemed so normal and happy that I just decided to let the whole thing go, at least for a while. Maybe I had been wrong after all (this was not the first time I sensed tragedy before it hit, though).

 

Well, as you can guess, things did not go so well. I got a phone call later that day and my sister told me that dad had suffered a massive heart attack. They were going to try and perform surgery so I had no opportunity to talk to him on the phone (we lived 3 hours from each other). I told my sister to tell him that I loved him. She did. And he died a couple of minutes later, before they had a chance to operate. And I have struggled so badly to accept everything that happened. It ripped a hole inside of me and it made me feel like this intuitive side of me is completely worthless. And for the longest time afterwards I would have Death present in every tarot reading that I did. It is fairly recently that it stopped. (I had to do go to therapy for post traumatic stress symptoms related to his death, and that therapy did a lot of good in this respect. It made the grieving process feel more organic and bearable).

 

Raggydoll, thank you for sharing your experience. I also had something very similar with my father - same sense of foreboding and that something was very wrong. My father also seemed to be in very robust health so I tried to ignore it. Next day I got a phone call to say he’d been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

 

Death often comes up in my readings to refer to actual physical deaths in the past. I’m very mindful that it doesn’t just mean ‘transformation’ in a psychological sense.

 

Illness and death were much more common occurrences for our ancestors. Just thinking about how vaccinations and antibiotics have helped with what were once very common and serious diseases. Infant mortality is also much lower now. My grandparents all had at least one sibling who didn’t make it to adulthood.