The Handshake

Here's a nice card from The Celtic Wisdom Tarot - the Dialogue of Art, which seems to have descended from the traditional 2 of Cups. This card shows Myrddin (or Merlin) and Gwenddydd, sitting together over a stream. She was his twin sister, and because of his psychic and magical abilities, created an observatory with seventy windows and seventy doors, for him to keep watch over the land. That's it in the background, under the light of the moon. I especially like this card because it speaks of siblings. I always think of it as being connected to my closest friend, who is like a sister to me, so it strengthens it's meaning somewhat. I consider the 2 of Cups to be platonic (at least to begin with) and this version heightens that.

But when I turned this card today, my usual ideas around it's meaning were not what I saw first. I saw our bungalow in the background, with a small stream leading to it. That is our future. And in the foreground, I was most concentrated on Myrddin and Gwenddydd's hands, clasped in one another. I saw this as a mutual agreement and wondered how it would affect our day. I was pleased to just pick up the phone to our solicitor, who announced that the contracts have been exchanged this morning. The call ties in very well with this card's image, I feel. Have you ever had that experience where you look at a card and think 'I completely understand you at this moment'? Well that's how I feel when I look at this one right now. We are sitting on that small wall, soon to step over and follow the stream. I find single card draws can really pack a punch, which is why I try to keep these draws here as such. Too many cards confuses things for me. Most often, I think that less is definitely more.

My uncle and aunt are coming to collect the fish from our pond in a moment. We have a massive ghost carp out there and many fancy goldfish. The carp must be about twenty years old, I'd guess, and since the goldfish have continued to breed over the years, I have no idea how old they are. The new occupants do not want them, so my uncle is taking them to his pond, which is bigger. After that has been sorted, there will be more packing and then I have to go to the Job Centre. I began my claim over a month ago and am on my second fortnightly signing, but still haven't received any cash. I have called to try and find out what has happened, but nobody there knows what is going on with it. As frustrating as this is, it comes as no surprise to me. If I get the dizzy advisor I had last week, I doubt I will be any better informed by the close of play today.


Illustration from The Celtic Wisdom Tarot by Olivia Rayner