Hello. How are you? I am at home for the afternoon, and it just started pouring rain outside. I love rain. Anyways, today I am going to start a process, something I've been meaning to do for years now... I am going to do a Tarot card reading for one of my Cyrodiilic characters. I am doing this to possibly gain insight into his motivations, his present attitudes and situation, and his possible future.

I used to read cards when I was college-age, and I'm not sure when I stopped. Probably my late 20s. I even worked at the Tarot Card Hotline for a couple weeks! Didn't like it much, though. Anyways, that's another story (seriously) for later. ...

I have discussed some of my characters (as we all do every day), attempted to visualize what they would be like if they lived here on Earth... what sort of psychological makeup they would have. And I also wrote up a horoscope for one of my past characters, and then attempted to interpret a portion of it. Today, I wanna try something new.

Here is http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad208/xenaclone/Image0126.jpg. And here are a few things about him. He is a Redguard bandit who has had recently come to the Imperial City. Ordinarily, the bandits of Cyrodiil tend to stay out on the roads, and in the wildlands. As long as they are in groups, they are okay; safety in numbers, basically.

Kahreem decided he wanted to have a go at city-life, and why not? Plenty of easy targets abound. As long as he stays out of trouble, he has the possibility of gaining some wealth! Becoming his own man.... why live out in some creaky old fort under the constant eye of a Ringleader (who takes the lion's share of wealth), when one can really concentrate on stealing from those who have plenty, in the very city that could contain wealth?

These are some of the ideas Kahreem had before making his way into the I.C. But none of this has come to fruition, yet.

Instead, he wound up at the Bloated Float, got into a fistfight with Aval Uvani (sorry, I know that's mis-spelled), and was placed up in jail while he was unconscious. Further details about Kahreem of Weet, and where he's at in the world, can be found in the Character Updates #1 Spoilers thread.

Since he's a brand-new character, and I really don't "know" him yet, I thought he would make the perfect Querent. A Querent is somebody who seeks a reading (cards, I-ching, tea leaves, etc.), and the Reader is obviously the person who does the reading itself.

There are a zillion different Tarot card decks, some of them are very ornate and detailed with images and art; others are simpler, just a step away from regular playing cards. I have probably about 7 decks in total, but back in the day I only used one of them. I am going to be using what is known as the Rider deck, which has become one of the most popular decks over the past 100 years or so. I find it the easiest to interpret, personally.

There are also dozens of ways to read cards, and by this I mean the way the cards actually get laid out upon a table. I am going to use a quick and simple spread known as The Horseshoe. The Horseshoe uses 7 cards, laid out in an upside down U shape, which is (duh) the shape of a horse's shoe.

Here is the way these cards will get placed (and later read) ...starting with the card on the bottom left, going upwards to a point, and then back downwards to the card on the bottom right.

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Card 1: The Past. This may be the immediate past, or it may go further back in time.

Card 2: The Present. Immedite present. Circumstances surrounding Kahreem at his present point of existence.

Card 3: Immediate Future.

Card 4: Card of Consultant: We are now at the top of the horseshoe. This card represents something on Kahreem's mind. If we were speaking of Earth readings, this is usually why the person came to have the reading in the first place.

Card 5: Attitude of Another. This will probably be a person known to Kahreem, and somehow connected with what is on Kahreem's mind.

Card 6: Obstacle. Some sort of obstacle Kahreem may face in his future, or is facing now. If a favorable card comes up here, there is no real obstacle.

Card 7: The Outcome. This final card is what would be the final result of all, assuming Kahreem stays on his present course of life. I'm thinking he will do just that. He's pretty fixated on robbing, stealing, and occasionally terrorizing others.

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@

The thing about Tarot cards and other forms of divination is that they do not lock a Querent into his or her fate. Back in the middle ages and Rennaisance, this is what people feared about getting a reading. They feared that if the reading is a bad one, there was nothing they could do about it. They would die or get sick or whatever. Today, this is often not the case.

Perhaps since life was slower back then, this is where such beliefs started. Many people lived their entire lives in one village. pr om pme particular area. Living in such a way might certainly limit a person's ability to change things.

Nowadays, it is known by responsible Tarot card readers that if the future shows up as a bad one, we do have the vision now to change. We are not usually locked into a unmovable future, if we keep an open mind. Basically, if someone gets an unpleasant reading (especially for the future), this future will only be possible if the Querent stays on his/her present course of life.

For instance, if someone is an alcoholic and shows up to work late every day, and then goes to have a card reading and it's not looking good, this reading will only be pertinent if this recalcitrant alcoholic keeps on showing up to work late, and then doing Jim Beam shots on his desk. If he manages to start showing up on time, and also stop drinking, he has now changed his future.

We always have free will.

I will probably roleplay this. Kahreem goes to visit somebody in-game, then gets his cards read. Who is a good NPC to get a reading from? Any ideas? If nobody answers, I will eventually find the NPC Kahreem is seeking, so no worries.

reserved for reading...