I decided to enlist the help of Antonio Lupatelli's Tarot of the Gnomes (Llewellyn) to create a meme related to my status as a self-employed individual -- writer of books, tarot reader, and jewelry designer. I drew cards at random to place in the following positions:
How my friends see me
How my family sees me
How society sees me
How anyone with a steady job sees me
How I see myself
How it really is
The results totally cracked me up. Here they are:
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| Tarot of the Gnomes by Antonio Lupatelli (Llewellyn) |
How my friends see me: FIVE OF WANDS
My close friends know that I often feel like I'm in a constant battle to solve problems and get my work in front of potential customers. Perhaps more importantly, I am constantly in conflict with the part of me that sees only the negatives: the shortage of customers, the lackluster reviews, the "outgo" that far exceeds the "income."
How my family sees me: FIVE OF CHALICES
Learning, growing, gaining experience -- sitting on a little stool, dressed in funny clothes, having a drink. The traditional interpretation of disappointment or regret isn't readily apparent in this version of the card, but I think my family is aware that I am disappointed by the level of success I have achieved, which I would describe as "too little, too late."
How society sees me: THE EMPRESS
In society's eyes, the self-employed person must surely be ruler of her domain, yes? Powerful, in total control of every aspect of her work, invincible, overflowing with self-confidence.
How anyone with a steady job sees me: FIVE OF SWORDS
Ha! Free as a bird, roaming the range, living off the land, eating a whole chicken cooked over an open fire.
How I see myself: THE WHEEL
Round and round and round I goes. Where I stop, nobody knows. I am in tune with the Universe, part of the movement of life, poised and stable in the midst of change. This is how I would *like* to see myself, but I really don't.
How it really is: JUSTICE
Yeah, I can see myself here: blindfolded, clutching a sawed-off sword in one hand and holding scales aloft in the other... The keyword given for this card is "Consequences" and I think that about sums it up. That's how it really is. Everything I do in my work has consequences. The trick is to somehow achieve the consequences I am working toward rather than a bunch of random consequences I don't expect or desire.
