TAROT POLITICO

Michigan Primary Prediction: Everybody Loses

2012-02-28T19:27:00.000-06:00

Michigan card for Romney

Polls are open in Michigan and it's looking like a toss up. When Romney and Santorum were running neck and neck in Iowa, the tarot cards clearly predicted Romney would win, but my raw intuition said it would be Santorum -- while Romney was declared the winner on the day of the Iowa primary, my intuition was onto something too regarding the ultimate outcome when the votes were recounted (unfortunately, since there were votes missing, we'll never really know for sure -- what a mess). Leading up to Michigan, I've found myself similarly divided -- the cards say Santorum will win, but I am feeling like it's Romney.

I think that's an indication that this Michigan primary may be as close as Iowa. But, the thing that's different about the Michigan primary is that the cards don't really look good for either candidate. The Five of Cups predicts a loss for Romney, but the Four of Swords is hardly a great card for Santorum. It's a situation where, even if Santorum wins as the cards suggest, everybody loses. Santorum's lead won't last long, and Romney will be seriously wounded. I think what the cards are illustrating here is just how dismal this presidential race has become for the Republican Party. As John Heilemann says in his new piece for New York magazine, "The Lost Party,":

Michigan card for Santorum

"Only the most mindless of ideologues reject the truism that America would be best served by the presence of two credible governing parties instead of the situation that currently obtains. A Santorum nomination would be seen by many liberals as a scary and retrograde proposition. And no doubt it would make for a wild ride, with enough talk of Satan, abortifacients, and sweater vests to drive any sane man bonkers. But in the long run, it might do a world of good, compelling Republicans to return to their senses—and forge ahead into the 21st century. Which is why all people of common sense and goodwill might consider, in the days ahead, adopting a slogan that may strike them as odd, perverse, or even demented: Go, Rick, go."

Quick Hit: Earthquake?

2012-02-08T04:05:00.002-06:00

Maybe it was just something I ate last night, but I'm getting an earthquake vibe for the West Coast. Be safe, ya'll.

Quick Hit: Real Estate Trend - From West to Midwest

2012-02-07T06:43:00.000-06:00

Here's an intuitive hit that came in a dream. We'll see if there's something to it. According to this dream we'll begin seeing a major trend in real estate of people moving from the West Coast back to the Midwest. I got the figure 10%.

Better to Light a Candle Than Curse the Darkness

2012-01-31T06:00:00.116-06:00

This post is part of a Tarot Blog Hop. If you've been hopping along through all the blogs, you just came from TABItarot, and you're nearing the end of a long journey. If you're just joining this blog hop, already in progress, I should tell you that the theme is "How can I be a better candle?" (in honor of Imbolc, also known as St. Brigid's Day, an Irish festival welcoming the first signs of spring).

This theme brings to mind the proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness," which was the inspiration behind the Amnesty International logo above. The candle in the logo symbolizes the light of public attention that Amnesty shines on hidden human rights abuses, which are symbolized by barbed wire.

The political, cultural, social, and economic rights that Amnesty defends were codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. The preamble of the UDHR begins, "Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world," and goes on to lay out a vision for the human family. The Ten of Cups evokes this vision for me.

The best way I know to "be a better candle" is to hold that vision, and, when I see it being violated, stand in solidarity with those who are abused or oppressed. This could mean working with Amnesty International on a letter writing campaign to free a political prisoner in a far away land. Or, it could mean joining the Occupy movement to protest an unfair economic system, right here at home, a system in which "a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by" (see Obama's State of the Union speech). It could be a grand gesture, like demonstrating against the Citizens United decision on the steps of the US Supreme Court, or, it could be a small gesture, like speaking up for marriage equality on Facebook. It could even be something very personal, like letting the principal know if you hear a student at your child's school is being bullied.

I'm convinced that the only way to protect anyone's rights is to protect everyone's rights. Pastor Martin Niemoller's famous statement about the passivity of bystanders in Nazi Germany still speaks to us today:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I invite you to take a moment to visit my blog on Huffington Post where you can become a fan and sign up for email alerts or subscribe to an RSS feed. The next stop on your Tarot Blog Hop is Tarot Notes.

Florida and the "Upset" Card

2012-01-29T21:12:00.005-06:00

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Heading into Florida, all polls point to a Romney win, but could Gingrich pull off an upset? If any card in the tarot deck would predict an upset, it would be the Tower card, and it came up in both Gingrich's and Romney's tarot card readings about the Florida primary. However, placement of the cards is key, and the Tower's placement reveals its differing meanings for the two candidates.

The fact that the Tower shows up in both candidates' readings suggests that both of them see Florida as the make or break primary. But, in Romney's reading, the Tower represents what he most wants to avoid (an upset of his current lead), whereas in Gingrich's reading, Newt is the Tower, and he is putting everything he's got into trying to pull off an upset.

In the reading above, Romney is represented by the Knight of Swords, a card that illustrates Romney's ability to get aggressive when he needs to. The Two of Wands, with the Page of Pentacles "crossing" it, speaks to concern about Romney's ability to "close the deal". Although Romney is ahead in Florida, the Five of Cups in the Foundation position suggests how deep the concern is about what a potential loss would mean for his candidacy. The Magician in the Past position indicates that his South Carolina loss ended his "inevitable" status, but the Ten of Cups and Nine of Cups suggest he's confident the party will coalesce around him. He's feeling lucky. The Wheel of Fortune represents the ups and downs of this campaign season, but, the Ace of Wands in the Outcome position predicts a win for Romney -- this card says he will leave Florida with more energy, enthusiasm, and confidence than he came with.

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But, if Florida is important for Romney, the number of Major Arcana cards in Gingrich's reading says that the Florida primary is even more important for him. This is the primary that will determine, at least in people's minds, whether he is really a contender for the nomination. The Hermit and the Seven of Cups suggest that Gingrich is afraid that losing Florida could cause him to fade into oblivion, but the Star in the Future position says he will find a way to stay in the limelight. The King of Pentacles in the Foundation position indicates how focused on fundraising Newt is. The Seven of Swords next to the High Priestess, who represents all things hidden, points to highly secretive plotting and strategy sessions. Although Newt will lose in Florida, the Judgement card in the Outcome position says don't count him out. Look for Newt to rise from the ashes once again, as he has so many times before.

Key to the Cards:

Mitt Romney
Subject - King of Swords
Environment - Two of Wands
Obstacle - Page of Pentacles
Ideal - The Tower
Foundation - Five of Cups
Past - Magician
Future - Ten of Cups
Attitude - Nine of Cups
Influences - Queen of Cups
Hopes/Fears - Wheel of Fortune
Outcome - Ace of Wands

Newt Gingrich
Subject - The Tower
Environment - Three of Wands
Obstacle - Eight of Cups
Ideal - The Hermit
Foundation - King of Pentacles
Past - Nine of Pentacles
Future - The Star
Attitude - Seven of Swords
Influences - High Priestess
Hopes/Fears - King of Wands
Outcome - Judgement

Being Wrong: An Occupational Hazard

2012-01-29T15:54:00.001-06:00

Politics is notoriously volatile and things can turn on a dime, thus, the saying, "a week is a long time in politics." If you watch Meet the Press, you know that political predictions are often wrong. Indeed, that's what inspired this blog. Watching the pundits endlessly speculate, I thought to myself, "I could predict this race better with tarot cards," and, a blog was born.

While I've generally been quite pleased with my tarot cards' accuracy, I found out recently that political prognosticating is harder than it looks. I called the South Carolina primary for Romney, and Gingrich won -- by 12 points.

The prognosticating pitfalls to which I fell victim are very common ones. I think anyone wishing to hone their intuition can learn from my mistakes.

Confidence is key: It's impossible to overestimate the importance of confidence in the intuitive process. It's just like they told you in high school -- when you're taking a test, go with the first answer that comes to mind. Don't second guess yourself, because that first answer -- the one that came in a flash -- came from your intuitive mind. As soon as you start second guessing yourself, you're using your analytical mind.

It's important to trust your intuition, because it's more accurate. However, everything we've been taught in our Western tradition makes us skeptical of intuition. In the West, we're taught to value analysis over intuition, and with the deck so stacked (pardon the pun), if your confidence wavers for even a moment, your analytical thinking will circumvent your intuition. Using intuition usually seems risky to us Westerners, raised to believe exclusively in the power of rationality. We're so culturally conditioned that we can get seduced by the false sense of security that analytical thinking offers us.

My South Carolina reading provides a good example of second guessing. When the Hierophant card came up in my reading for Romney, the intuitive hit that I instantly got off the card was that Romney's Mormon religion was going to be a big problem for him with South Carolina's evangelical voters. That intuitive hit came in a flash, but my intuitive interpretation of the Hierophant card was in conflict with how the card is traditionally interpreted. The Hierophant is commonly interpreted as signifying convention and orthodoxy.

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My intuition said the card reflected Romney's problem with conservative Christian voters, indicating he would lose to Gingrich. But, because that intuitive hit didn't fit with the traditional interpretation of the card, I second guessed myself, and went with the traditional interpretation of the Hierophant, which would suggest that voters would stick with the more conventional choice, the candidate of the Republican establishment, and Romney would win.

This wasn't the first time I have second guessed myself, and it won't be the last, but I think it's instructive to highlight the importance of confidence in the intuitive process. This example is also illustrative of the fact that everything hinges on interpretation -- intuitive impressions are invariably accurate, but it's how we interpret the intuitive data that determines whether our predictions hit or miss.

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Accuracy and objectivity are linked: My other big miss, besides South Carolina, was a prediction that President Obama's jobs bill would pass. I made this prediction in September, but I had actually been getting intuitive impressions about the jobs bill, and how it fit into Obama's re-election strategy, since August. I was getting such a positive feeling about it all, that I predicted the bill would pass. But, some of that may have been a pro-Obama bias on my part. In the interest of full disclosure, I got on the Obama bandwagon early -- I'd been following him since he ran to be a US Senator and I supported his presidential campaign from day one. When he won Iowa, I went all in. So, with that history, I have to be very intentional about summoning the required objectivity when it comes to predictions about President Obama, otherwise, my wishful thinking can cloud my predictions. I have to confess, when I look at this spread, I still notice that the Judgement card in the Foundation position could herald a rebirth of this bill at some point down the line. It's tough to be objective when hope springs eternal!

Love Him or Hate Him, Ron Paul is Getting Harder to Ignore

2012-01-21T12:36:00.009-06:00

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Congressman Ron Paul finished a strong third in the Iowa primary, and second in New Hampshire. Whatever you think of him, he's earned the right to be taken seriously, and yet, he's not. The Ron Paul Media Blackout was confirmed in October in a study done by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.

If there is a response to the "media blackout" charge, it is that Ron Paul doesn't get more media attention because members of the mainstream media know he can't win -- he's too extreme. But, when Ron Paul is doing well in the primaries and a CNN/ORC International poll shows Paul even with Obama, does that argument really hold water? Increasingly, for the Republican establishment and the mainstream media, it might be more accurate to say, we fear he can win -- he's too extreme.

I think my own personal position on Ron Paul is a common one. Some of what he says I find really appealing, and some of what he says I find really scary. On the one hand, I appreciate his refreshing candor, and admire his commitment -- listening to him debate is often thought provoking. On the other hand, much of what he says relegates him, rightly, in my opinion, to the "Crazy Uncle" corner that he seems to be stuck in. Both Democrats and Republicans seem to have this problem with Ron Paul, but Democrats tend to like the opposite 50% of what Ron Paul says from the 50% that Republicans like. Democrats tend to like the part about protecting civil liberties and reducing military spending, while the Republicans tend to like the 50% that's about slashing social programs, but hate the part about withdrawing all our troops from around the globe. As Rick Santorum said, "The problem with Congressman Paul is, all the things that Republicans like about him he can't accomplish and all the things they're worried about, he'll do day one."

My previous tarot card readings that have included Ron Paul show that he's regarded as a very serious threat by the Republican establishment. My most recent reading that included Ron Paul indicated that he may be coming into his own, particularly as we look beyond Florida to more caucus states where his devoted followers can be expected to reliably turn out.

So, let's take a look at Ron Paul's cards above. First, the card of The Hermit, with his shining lantern, indicates that Ron Paul is not running to become president; his motivation for running is to shine a light on the ideas to which he is devoted. While many politicians have tremendous ego investment in their campaigns, the Eight of Cups in the Foundation position would suggest that Paul's motivations are more pure -- he doesn't seek the limelight for himself, he seeks it for his ideas.

The Sun in the center of the spread suggests that Paul's popularity is rising; however, the Nine of Wands covering him says that the mainstream media and the Republican establishment are very wary of him. The King of Cups in the Obstacles position would seem to indicate that, as much as many of Paul's ideas resonate right now, the timing is wrong for his "rip out the social safety net" message -- voters are looking for someone who feels their pain.

Many young people are drawn to Paul as their knight in shining armor, as indicated by The Knight of Cups, and this strengthens Paul's fundraising ability. The Seven of Cups and the Two of Swords together, however, indicate that both the establishment media and establishment Republicans will continue to keep Ron Paul in the "Crazy Uncle" corner.

The most interesting cards in this spread are the last two -- The Moon in the Outcome position, and the final clarification card -- The High Priestess. These two cards together speak loudly and strongly of deception and all things hidden. Since Ron Paul supporters seem generally to lean toward the paranoid, I hate to buttress their conspiracy theories; however, I have to call the cards as I see them. These cards would suggest that it's not your imagination, Ron Paul supporters, there is indeed a "vast establishment conspiracy" dedicated to keeping Ron Paul from winning the Republican nomination. While I doubt that it is actually a formal conspiracy, the cards would indicate that there are people busy working behind the scenes, using their influence and powers of persuasion to ensure that Paul does not prevail in 2012.

If you are a Ron Paul supporter, and you believe in tarot cards, this is just one more confirmation of what you already know to be true. But, is it really a problem that Ron Paul won't win the nomination? Congressman Paul is not seeking the presidency anyway -- what he is seeking is a chance to shine a bright spotlight on the ideas to which he is devoted, and perhaps pave the way for his son, Sen. Rand Paul, to carry the torch forward.

Key to the Cards

Subject - The Sun
Environment - Nine of Wands
Obstacle - King of Cups
Ideal - The Hermit
Foundation - Eight of Cups
Past - Ten of Swords
Future - Knight of Cups
Attitude - Three of Cups
Influences - Seven of Cups
Hopes/Fears - Two of Swords
Outcome - The Moon
Clarification - The High Priestess

South Carolina

2012-01-20T23:58:00.005-06:00

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The intuitive impression I get is that this race will be close, but Romney will win. In South Carolina, Republicans will do what they have been doing since 1980, coming together as one big "happy" family to anoint the candidate who will eventually become the nominee. Romney's cards are on top, and the Ten of Cups suggests that South Carolina's Republicans will choose Romney to gather around as one big "happy" family. The Hierophant is the card of social convention, and here it suggests that South Carolinians are taking the "safest" bet, making the most conventional choice. But, The Empress indicates that voters have real concerns about how secretive Romney is being regarding his finances. They have questions about his unreleased tax returns and the money he's stashed in the Caymans. If they choose him as their nominee, will his secrets be a problem down the road, when it's too late?

Newt Gingrich's cards are below Romney's. The Lovers card says that Newt's ex-wife's interview with ABC News had the desired effect of underscoring the lack of integrity he has displayed in his personal life. Although the Three of Cups shows that Newt's South Carolina troops are rallying 'round him and defending him against the mainstream media elites, the Three of Swords tells another story. The Three of Swords right beside the Three of Cups would suggest that, as much as South Carolinians love Gingrich for championing their resentments, they have an equal amount of anxiety about Newt that just won't go away.

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In the spread above, Ron Paul's cards are on the top row, and they look good. I predict Ron Paul will come in third in South Carolina. The Sun card next to The Wheel signifies tremendous good fortune, and the King of Pentacles would suggest that he might be taken more seriously in the coming weeks. Could it be that after finishing so strong in both Iowa and New Hampshire, Ron Paul might actually get a little of the media attention that he has been denied? Could the establishment Republicans that seem so threatened by him decide to give him a second look?

Santorum's cards, in the middle row, send mixed signals -- The Hermit says he's fading, but The Star says he's on the rise -- the Seven of Pentacles in the middle says it's all about the Benjamins. Does he have enough cash to stay in the game?

The bottom row of cards are for Stephen Colbert/Herman Cain. Since comedian Stephen Colbert, a South Carolina native, cannot get on the official ballot there, he is in the Palmetto state spreading the word that a vote for Herman Cain is a vote for Stephen Colbert. Notice how the tarot cards depict this odd situation. The Two of Swords came up in the middle -- signifying that the Colbert/Cain vote is split between the comedian, represented by the Page of Wands, and the hardworking, overburdened Mr. Cain, represented by the Ten of Wands.

Quick Hit: A Surprising Alliance?

2012-01-10T17:54:00.000-06:00

I'm getting intuitive impressions that Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry may have agreed to form an alliance in the presidential race. Right now they're both going after Mitt Romney, but my impression is that their real target may be Rick Santorum, their rival in the "conservative primary." It seems far fetched, but usually the intuitive hits that seem the most unlikely turn out to be the most accurate. Rick Perry looked like he was out of the race after the Iowa Caucus, but then, just as suddenly, he was back in. Hmmm......

New Hampshire

2012-01-09T22:16:00.007-06:00

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My tarot cards accurately predicted the results of Iowa. So, I asked them about New Hampshire. You don't need a crystal ball to predict that Gov. Mitt Romney will win New Hampshire. But, I wanted to get a picture of how Republican voters are feeling about their front runner, Romney, as well as a snapshot of the other candidates still in the race. You can read what the cards had to say about Romney's current status with voters here.

While the cards for Iowa were very precise and clear, the cards for New Hampshire are more scattered and complex, perhaps reflecting the number of late deciding voters in New Hampshire. Rep. Ron Paul has been campaigning in New Hampshire with his son, Sen. Rand Paul, and Ron Paul's cards, which are on the top row in the photo above, reflect his affection for his son. The Page of Swords represents Rand, and the Six of Cups indicates that Ron Paul wants to see his son continue to follow in his political footsteps. This, the cards say, is the reason that Ron Paul won't pursue a third-party candidacy, much as he might like to. I predict a third place finish in New Hampshire for Ron Paul.

The cards below Ron Paul's are Jon Huntsman's. Huntsman's cards indicate that he is giving his New Hampshire campaign his all and will have some success, but not enough to keep him in the race much longer. I predict that Huntsman will place second in New Hampshire, but it won't be long before he ends his campaign.

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In the photo above, the top row of cards are Newt Gingrich's, the middle row are Rick Santorum's, and the bottom row are Rick Perry's. The Two of Cups and the Two of Swords, reversed, indicate that very conservative voters may choose Gingrich as their candidate rather than Santorum. Rick Perry, meanwhile has moved on to South Carolina.

Key to the Cards

Ron Paul - Page of Swords, Five of Cups, Six of Cups
Jon Huntsman - Three of Pentacles, Knight of Wands, Ten of Swords

Rick Santorum - Six of Swords, Queen of Swords, Two of Swords, Reversed
Newt Gingrich - Nine of Wands, The Sun, Two of Cups
Rick Perry - Eight of Swords, Strength, Seven of Wands

How Are Voters Feeling About Romney?

2012-01-08T22:04:00.002-06:00

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The tarot cards indicate that Republican primary voters are full of angst about their front runner in the presidential race, Gov. Mitt Romney. The Ten of Swords, depicting an anxious figure who can't sleep, points to just how distressed Republican primary voters are. Romney just doesn't feel right, and there is nothing they can do to make him feel right. But these cards show that Republican voters are coming to terms with the idea of Romney as their nominee anyway. The Ten of Cups in the Ideal position indicates that Republicans are starting to feel a strong need to unite as a party. They are feeling drawn to the idea of being "one big happy family," even as they struggle with their anxiety about Romney. You can see the beginnings of order starting to emerge out of the chaos

The Judgement card in the past, and Emperor card in the future, indicate that Republican voters are consoling themselves with the idea that it is Romney's "turn." He ran for president in 2008, and now this is his turn to be the nominee. This is the way Republicans do things -- it is fair and correct, in their eyes.

The Four of Pentacles indicates that their biggest concern about Romney is not that he's a Mormon, or might be more moderate on social issues -- their biggest concern is that he will be a "big government conservative" in the George W. Bush mold. But, Republicans view Romney as the most electable candidate they've got, and that is beginning to trump everything else in their minds. The Five of Cups in the Fear position says that they fear losing to Barack Obama more than they fear taking a risk on Romney's "Massachusetts moderate" ways.

The Six of Swords shows voters moving toward Romney. However, the Seven of Cups says that Republican primary voters just aren't completely ready yet to close the deal -- they are still considering their other choices, and keeping their options open.

Key to the Cards:

Subject - Ten of Swords
Environment - Six of Pentacles
Obstacle - Ten of Pentacles
Ideal - Ten of Cups
Foundation - King of Swords
Past - Judgement
Future - The Emperor
Attitude - Four of Pentacles
Influences - Six of Swords
Hopes/Fears - Five of Cups
Outcome - Seven of Cups

An Interview with Tarot Politico on "All Things Healing"

2012-01-03T21:35:00.013-06:00

Michael Santangelo, co-editor of the Tarot section of All Things Healing, did a two-part interview with me on political prognosticating. You can read part one here or below:

Michael: Thanks for consenting to an interview for the All Things Healing readership. Let me ask you first, how did you get interested in Tarot?

Tarot Politico: I was probably around 10 years old when I saw Tarot cards for the first time. The Aquarian Tarot, an Art Nouveau deck, came out in the early ‘70s and made a big impression on me. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that the Aquarian deck I remember had been purchased at some funky Georgetown shop that reeked of Patchouli. My father was a political consultant and I remember D.C., and particularly the Georgetown neighborhood, as a very different place than it is today. Now its commercial district is full of upscale establishments, but in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Georgetown’s business district had a head shop on every corner and was crawling with hippies, astrologers, and wiccans.

Michael: So what sparked your desire to link Tarot and politics?
Tarot Politico: Late last summer, the 2012 presidential race was gearing up, and pundits were beginning to engage in that constant, fevered speculation that presidential campaigns bring. Pundits were using polling, historical data, and sophisticated analyses to make predictions, with mixed results. So, I thought, why not ask the Tarot cards? Just like that, Tarot Politico was born. The blog started as an experiment, to see if my intuitive right brain would yield something more insightful than what a traditional political pundit would come up with using his analytical left brain. At the very least, I thought it would be fun. The tone of my posts tends to be lighthearted, yet penetrating.

Michael: I agree. Your posts are very accessible, and you use a straightforward spread as well. It looks like the Celtic Cross (with variants). How did you decide to use that spread?

Tarot Politico: Many readers of my blog are interested in politics, but know next to nothing about Tarot. My instinct was to make the Tarot aspect of the blog as accessible as possible by using the classic deck and the classic spread – and I love to use them, there’s a reason why they’re the gold standard.

Michael: The Huffington Post position must be amazing. How did that come about?
Tarot Politico: I’m a compulsive Huffington Post reader. I’ve been logging on several times a day for years. When I started the Tarot Politico blog I thought it was something that might be of interest, so I contacted the editor.

Michael: How do you pick the topics for your readings?
Tarot Politico: During a political news cycle, a “narrative” tends to develop. Journalists and pundits start focusing a lot of attention on a few questions. Sometimes, the focus seems to narrow to a single question. For example, for a couple weeks in the Fall it seemed like everyone in the media was focusing on the question of whether New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would enter the 2012 presidential race (I predicted he wouldn’t, and he didn’t). So, I will often ask the Tarot cards the burning political question of the day, to see if the cards can shed any light. Although I’m running with the “media herd,” my approach is different – intuitive rather than analytical. I think of myself as the yin to their yang.

Michael: Are there any political topics that you have shied away from? If so, why?

Tarot Politico: Back in September, I wanted to blog about the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, but issues involving Israel and Palestine felt too tense and sensitive to blog about on Tarot Politico, so I didn’t publish any of my readings.

The interview continues with part two here or below:

Michael Santangelo: What has been the most interesting political topic you have looked at with the Tarot?

Tarot Politico: I like to use the Tarot to peek behind the scenes at the hidden agendas of these public figures who wield such tremendous power and influence in all of our lives. I think the Tarot provides amazing, and often surprising, insights into character, motivation, and strategy. For example, when Occupy Wall Street emerged, I did a reading that painted a vivid picture of how Republicans would raise money by demonizing the movement.

Even more fascinating to me, though, is how the Tarot reveals the human side of these politicians that we tend to see as bigger than life. For example, when Vice President Dick Cheney published his memoirs, I asked the cards what his true motivation for writing In My Time was. I’m no Dick Cheney fan, so I was surprised when the cards indicated that he was a devoted father and wrote his memoir, first and foremost for his daughter Liz. My reading regarding Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry’s attempt to mandate HPV vaccines in Texas was another interesting case. Although the cards revealed, predictably, that the possibility of securing campaign contributions from the vaccines manufacturer, Merck, may have been a factor in Perry’s decision, the cards also revealed Perry’s deep empathy for women facing cancer.

Michael: The cards can be very revealing, for sure; and I bet people that one would not expect might look to the Tarot or other divinatory means for guidance. For instance, we all know about Nancy Reagan and the astrologer she had do predictions for her. Have you received requests from any politicians to do readings?

Tarot Politico: That’s an excellent question and I’m delighted that you asked. But, for obvious reasons, mum’s the word.

Michael: I understand. Well, it was worth a try. On another topic, have you received some insight into the Republican nominee for the 2012 general election?

Tarot Politico: I don’t see the future as set in stone; it’s constantly changing. As they say, “a week is a long time in politics.” But, here is one trend that’s constant. Romney seems to be the “inevitable” nominee, and yet Republican primary voters can’t quite cotton to him. In my reading of the situation, the Six of Wands beneath Romney shows that victory seems assured, and yet the Hanged Man crossing Romney indicates that his reversals of positions, as well as a lack of aggressiveness in his style, continue to be a problem for Republican voters. The Nine of Wands indicates that Republican voters simply don’t trust Romney, but, the Knight of Swords and the Fool cards point to Romney starting now, in the few weeks left before the Iowa caucuses, to get aggressive and take risks to try to seal the elusive deal with voters.

(Editor’s note: Iowa’s largest newspaper, “The Des Moines Register,” endorsed Romney on December 18th, the day after this interview concluded.)

(Tarot Politico's note: After this interview went to "press", in the "Huffington Post" I accurately predicted the results of the Iowa Caucus: Romney, Santorum, Paul. You can read the post here.)

Michael: Do you have a sense of Obama's chances for re-election?

Tarot Politico: Back in the summer I did a reading on what voters want in 2012. The reading revealed that what voters are looking for is a champion of the middle class. Subsequent events, such as the Occupy Wall Street protests, have underscored the depth of that sentiment within the electorate. The placement of the King of Hearts in my reading indicates that President Obama must position himself as the champion of the middle class and wholeheartedly embrace that role. His recent speech in Kansas proved that he can strike a tone that is unifying, and does not leave him open to charges of “class warfare.” The speech President Obama gave in Kansas needs to be the heart of the message of his campaign: "I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays by the same rules. Those aren't Democratic or Republican values; 1% values or 99% values. They're American values, and we have to reclaim them."

Michael: Thanks so much for your time. I know I will keep checking your posts, filled with insights, and presented in a clear and entertaining style.

Tarot Politico: Thanks. It’s been my pleasure.

Who Will Win Iowa?

2012-01-02T18:22:00.007-06:00

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I asked the tarot cards to tell me who would win Iowa, then I thoroughly shuffled and laid the cards out. Here's how they fell. The top line of cards are Ron Paul's, the middle line of cards are Rick Santorum's, and the bottom line of cards are Mitt Romney's.

The message of the cards seems pretty clear. In fact, you don't even need to be a tarot card reader to interpret these cards. Go ahead, scroll back up to the photo and try your skill at divining who will win Iowa. How'd you do? See, political prognosticating is easy. All it takes is some crystal balls.

Here's my interpretation of the cards. Beginning with the top row, the Ace of Cups, reversed, indicates that Ron Paul may have peaked too early. The Tower card signals that Paul is marketing himself, in the final hours before Iowans caucus, as the anti-establishment candidate who will really shake things up. The Tower also points to the onslaught of negative advertising Paul has had to try to withstand as an anxious GOP establishment contemplates the frightening possibility of Ron Paul as their nominee. The Fool card indicates that Paul is perceived by too many Republicans as a reckless choice.

Moving to the middle row, we see the Nine of Cups, showing how Iowa Republicans are rallying 'round Rick Santorum as their chosen champion of the socially conservative cause. The Four of Pentacles indicates that Santorum is viewed as solidly conservative, both socially and fiscally. And, the Three of Wands, which pictures a figure gazing out on the horizon, shows that Santorum is a beneficiary of the "not Romney" vote -- Santorum is the choice of those still waiting for a better candidate than Romney. I have to admit, if I were picking on raw intuition alone, I would say Santorum is going to win.

However, moving to the bottom row, these cards clearly predict that Romney will win Iowa (either that, or the Universe is just messin' with me). If you're a Tarot Politico reader, you know that the King of Cups has been showing up a lot lately -- he represents what voters are looking for in a leader right now (though Romney may not fully fill the bill, Iowans may be deciding he's the closest thing they've got). The Empress card represents growth, perhaps indicating here that Romney will have the momentum as Iowans head out to caucus. The final card, the Six of Wands, pictures a returning hero, wearing a laurel wreath, seated atop his noble steed, being hailed by all. In tarot, this is known as the "victory" card -- enough said.

Tarot Politico's 2012 Predictions

2011-12-29T16:09:00.000-06:00

Click on photo to enlarge

In this overview spread for 2012, the card in the center signifies the general theme of the upcoming year. The World is an auspicious card representing happiness, wholeness, consummate success, fulfillment, and attainment. It is a card of dreams coming true, and it speaks to the completion of a cycle or culmination of a phase. In the wake of all the protests that occurred around the globe in 2011, it's hard not to read this card as an indication that we have witnessed a watershed moment for human rights.

Moving from the sublime to the ridiculous, how will the 2012 presidential race unfold? The spread above is laid out like a clock, with the 1 position representing January. The Ten of Pentacles points to some positive economic influences in 2012 that could help President Obama's bid for re-election. I'm not predicting a full economic recovery -- I'm still seeing changes shaking things up, and one could be dramatic. However, there will be genuine economic bright spots too this year, and that should lift people's spirits.

The Six of Wands could spell a victory in February for Obama if the GOP once again holds the payroll tax holiday extension hostage.

The Hanged Man and the Death card indicate that the Republican race for the nomination will continue to careen through a series of reversals and transformations right up until August, when restless, reckless Republicans will grudgingly get in line behind their nominee. The Four of Swords in October points to a lack of enthusiasm among the electorate as they prepare to go to the polls in early November.

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Will there be a third-party candidate? I don't know that he'll actually take the plunge, but the cards above point to a ready and willing Ron Paul. Rep. Paul is represented here by the King of Swords, and his son, Sen. Rand Paul, by the inverted Knight of Swords. These cards indicate that Paul's son, Rand, might be among some key players discouraging his father from running as a third-party candidate. The inverted Fool card covering Ron Paul indicates that the Republican establishment would view his potential third-party candidacy as extremely reckless and threatening to the GOP's chances of taking the White House. The Ten of Cups in the Outcome position says that Ron Paul will probably forgo a third-party run in order to keep peace in the Republican family.

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Will Romney be the Republican nominee? Romney is often described as the "inevitable" nominee, yet "inevitability"seems ironically elusive, always just out of reach. We've all heard the theories about why Romney can't seal the deal: he's a flip-flopper; Republican primary voters are skeptical of his conservative credentials and suspicious of his Mormon faith; not only is Romneycare too much like Obamacare, but Romney's moderate temperament is too much like Obama's. Those are the standard theories, but the cards offer an alternative theory with a surprising psychological twist. The Four of Cups says that, although Romney gives every appearance of wanting desperately to be president, he is actually more conflicted than he looks.

Romney is not just your average family man. While many politicians pay lip service to the idea that "family is my first priority," for Romney those words are true in a profound way, the cards indicate. Deep down, Romney has serious concerns about how his potential presidency could affect his family. But, even if he is a bit conflicted, what Romney has going for him is the money and organization to outlast this weak Republican field. If current trends continue, it may take Romney until August, but he will probably eventually grind out a victory and become the Republican nominee.

Will Obama win re-election in 2012? Since early September, when I did my first reading on what Americans want in a leader in 2012, the King of Cups has been coming up. Scroll back up to the photo at the top of this post and notice how the King of Cups makes his appearance in September in the 2012 overview spread I began with. The King of Cups card continually points to the voters' wish for a leader who is "all heart." They want someone who feels their pain and, most of all, they want a champion of the middle class in the White House. I got this intuitive sense of the electorate's hopes early in September and it was soon confirmed by the the birth of the Occupy Wall Street movement in mid-September. The electorate is sending a message; let those who have ears hear.

If President Obama wholeheartedly champions the middle class, I believe he will win the 2012 election, but I see his victory hinging entirely on his ability to come across as fighting for average Americans. The tone he struck with his speech in Kansas earlier this month showed that he can craft a message that positions him as a patriotic uniter and not a "class warfare" divider. His message in Kansas needs to be the message of his campaign: "I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays by the same rules. Those aren't Democratic or Republican values; 1% values or 99% values. They're American values, and we have to reclaim them." Look to hear more of that kind of talk from President Obama in 2012...

Key to the cards:

Photo #1 - 2012 Overview
January - Ten of Pentacles
February - Six of Wands
March - Ace of Wands
April - The Hanged Man
May - Eight of Wands
June - Ace of Pentacles
July - Death
August - Nine of Cups
September - King of Cups
October - Four of Swords
November - Three of Pentacles
December - Eight of Cups
Year's Theme - The World

Photo #2 - Will there be a third party candidate?
Subject - King of Swords
Environment - The Fool, Reversed
Obstacle - King of Wands
Ideal - The Wheel
Foundation, The Emperor, Reversed
Past - Three of Swords
Future - Four of Swords, Reversed
Attitude - Page of Pentacles
Influences - Knight of Swords, Reversed
Hopes/Fears - Six of Pentacles, Reversed
Outcome - Ten of Cups

Photo #3 - Will Romney be the nominee?
Subject - Eight of Cups, Reversed
Environment - Star, Reversed
Obstacle - Hermit
Ideal - Queen of Wands
Foundation - Seven of Wands
Past - Wheel, Reversed
Future - Page of Pentacles
Attitude - Ten of Wands, Reversed
Influences - Six of Swords, Reversed
Hopes/Fears - Ten of Cups
Outcome - Four of Cups

2012 Economic Forecast

2011-12-29T14:55:00.000-06:00

The top row of cards shows what we may see on the surface of the economy in the four quarters of 2012. The bottom row shows the more profound changes taking place beneath the surface.

Uncertainty and change, indicated by the reversed Knight and Page of Wands, will continue; however, the Nine and Ten of Pentacles indicate that this will be punctuated by genuinely promising economic bright spots that point to the direction in which the economy is headed. In 2012 there will be a heightened awareness of the chasm that has opened between the "haves" (represented by the suit of Pentacles) and the "have nots" (represented by the suit of Wands), with the "have nots" growing increasingly agitated and impatient for reform.

But, beneath the surface, we can see that profound changes are already taking place. The Tower indicates that this is a transformative time for the economy during which a crumbling, old, dysfunctional structure is being replaced with a more balanced, dynamic, and creative economy.

The juxtaposition of the the reversed Page of Wands, representing bad economic news, over the Empress, representing all that is creative, fertile, and fecund, shows that the economic news may be worst when the economy is, in reality, revving up.

What Do Republicans Want in 2012?

2011-12-23T00:49:00.004-06:00

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As the Iowa caucuses quickly approach, the tarot cards say that Republican voters are still wishing and hoping that they will somehow be rescued by a latecomer to the race. These cards say that Republican primary voters just can't come to terms with the Republican field of candidates, especially their "inevitable" nominee, former Massachusettes Governor Mitt Romney.

The Two of Wands, and the Three of Wands both depict figures in a posture of expectant waiting, looking to the horizon for that better candidate to appear. The Five of Cups depicts mourning and indicates that Republicans have gotten themselves into a cyclical series of disappointments. Like children making sandcastles, Republicans have been building candidates up, only to knock them down in frustration when they don't prove to be all that was hoped for. The Tower card in the Past position speaks to just how destructive this process has become. The road to the Republican nomination is now littered with candidates restless Republican voters briefly pinned their hopes on -- first there was Michele Bachmann, then Donald Trump, quickly followed by Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, and now, Ron Paul.

The Two of Swords in the Foundation position says that Republican primary voters feel fundamentally overwhelmed by the daunting task of choosing a nominee from this weak field of candidates. The Ace of Wands in the Obstacle position indicates that Republican voters want to be inspired. They want a candidate they can be enthusiastic about -- they want to fall in love, not just fall in line behind an "inevitable" nominee about whom they have deep misgivings.

The dearest hope of Republican voters, represented by the Four of Pentacles, is that they will send a Republican to the White House to reign in government spending. Their greatest fear is that they will send Governor Romney to the White House and he will betray their fiscally conservative principles, just as President George W. Bush did, by expanding the size and scope of government and dramatically increasing the federal budget.

On top of finding it difficult to get past Romney's flip-flopping, and it's possible future implications, Republican voters seem deeply suspicious of Romney's Mormon faith. Beyond even that, they seem to have a problem with Romney's basic temperament. Like the electorate as a whole, Republicans are looking for a candidate who is "all heart", represented by the King of Hearts. Romney's lack of warmth leaves them cold.

The Four of Wands in the influences position indicates that the Republican establishment wants Republican primary voters to commit to Romney. However, the more the establishment pushes for Republican voters to "put a ring on it," the more the voters resist. Indeed, The Fool card in the crucial Outcome position shows that establishment pressure to get behind Romney is backfiring, sending voters over the edge.

The Republican primary voter is becoming downright reckless, willing to entertain the possibility of choosing a nominee as flawed as Newt Gingrich, a candidate whose "baggage has baggage." The Republican establishment is betting that primary voters will eventually settle down and grudgingly accept Romney, and they probably will, but, looking at these cards, it's hard to see exactly how, or when, primary voters will fall in line.

Subject -- Two of Wands
Environment -- Five of Cups
Obstacle -- Ace of Wands
Ideal -- Three of Wands
Foundation -- Two of Swords
Past -- The Tower
Future -- The Queen of Swords
Attitude -- King of Cups
Influence -- Four of Wands
Hopes/Fears -- Four of Pentacles
Outcome -- The Fool

Quick Hit: South America

2011-12-12T06:59:00.003-06:00

UPDATE 1/3/2012: I continue to receive intuitive impressions regarding the increasing importance of South America for the US economy....
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Woke up with Brazil on my mind last week, Chile on my mind this morning, where is this going?

Supercommittee: Things Are Looking Bleak

2011-11-17T22:17:00.000-06:00

The Five of Pentacles is about the bleakest card that could come up for the supercommittee, but that's the card that appeared in the critical position for today's reading. The cards for the supercommittee continue to radiate weakness. It's not a pretty picture. There's still some time left for them to pull it together, but if the trend so far continues, don't count on it.

Supercommittee: Bipartisan or Bipolar?

2011-11-11T15:18:00.000-06:00

The Subject

The congressional supercommittee tasked with getting a deficit reduction deal done is getting on a real roller coaster ride. The cards say that everything is hinging on one key player. Republicans are hoping to get Democrats on board with their proposal. The supercommittee is feeling like they're getting some of their mojo back, perhaps because Europe's problems are creating a sense of urgency. There is more collegiality.

Things will look quite promising, but then, at the last second, the cards say, the deal will fall apart. Is this just one more battle, or has the war been lost? Check back for further updates.....

The Outcome

Quick Hit: The Supercommittee

2011-11-09T09:12:00.001-06:00

This morning, I focused my intuition on the congressional supercommittee that is tasked with reaching a deficit-reduction deal; I got the words "a much larger tax hike" and pulled this card, the Ten of Swords. Looks like the Republicans aren't eager to embrace the Democrats' latest proposal. It's getting ugly.

Where's the Supercommittee's Mojo?

2011-11-07T23:34:00.000-06:00

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A Grand Bargain may not be in the cards for the congressional supercommittee tasked with negotiating a deficit-reduction deal that cuts at least 1.2 trillion from the federal deficit over ten years. They still have a couple weeks until their Thanksgiving deadline, but, if current trends prevail, you can rule out a big, bipartisan deal of major significance, the tarot cards say. Indeed, if tarot were poker, this would be one weak hand. How much does this hand suck? Let me count the ways.

First, in tarot terms, this hand has no heft -- there are no cards from what tarot readers call the "major arcana". The major arcana cards denote importance and significance, but all we have here are minor cards.

Second, just as in a regular deck you have Queens and Kings, in tarot we have what are called "court cards." The court cards in this spread are all lower ranking, with nothing rising above the level of a Jack. Again, weak. The supercommittee players are coming to the table with low expectations. The Knight of Swords in the Past position suggests the supercommittee has lost its mojo.

Third, this spread contains two cards that symbolize partisan gridlock, and their placement is particularly unfortunate.

Let's take a closer look at some of the cards. The Seven of Pentacles and Three of Wands in the center of the spread, with the Ace of Swords above, indicate that the supercommittee is dligently focused on doing their job -- they are carefully assessing America's debt problem, looking to the future, and trying to come up with a plan. But the Nine of Cups in the Obstacles position indicates that Republicans are rigidly holding the line, rejecting a Democratic plan that reduced the deficit by 3.2 trillion by cutting 500 billion from entitlement programs and raising 1.3 trillion in new tax revenue.

Democrats, for their part, are dug in, too. The Two of Swords in the Attitude position suggests that virtually all the players are coming to the table in an uncompromising frame of mind. Because it failed to increase revenue, Democrats rejected a Republican plan that reduced the deficit by 2.2 trillion with a mix of entitlement cuts and tax code revisions.

If a Grand Bargain appears to be off the table, do these cards at least offer some hope that a deal could be reached on cutting the 1.2 trillion that would prevent the triggering of automatic draconian cuts from social programs and the defense budget? Yes. The Six of Swords in the Future position shows that this is far from over -- the supercommittee is still on the journey. The Three of Pentacles in the position of Hopes and Fears indicates that, while they may have given up, for now, on a Grand Bargain, the members of the supercommittee still hold out hope of getting a deal done.

Quick Hit: The Card of Deception? (updated)

2011-11-06T11:09:00.005-06:00

I pulled The Moon card and got the word "Texas." The Moon is often interpreted as the card of deception. Hmm, makes me wonder what the Perry campaign might be plotting?
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UPDATE: Monday, November 7, 2011: Sharon Bialik comes forward and holds a press conference to accuse Herman Cain of sexual harassment. Coincidence?

Is the Economy Scaring You to Death?

2011-10-23T18:40:00.021-05:00

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In this Tarot card reading about the global economy, I drew the Death card. Does that give you a Halloween fright? I thought it might. But, it shouldn't scare you. As every Tarot card reader knows, the Death card does not symbolize the finality of physical death; the Death card signifies transformation. It is a card of change, and change is good. There is much to be hopeful about in this spread.

The Death card in the Foundation position of the spread signifies that, as the year 2011 is moving toward its close, the global economy is undergoing a transformation. The King of Wands at the center of the spread signifies President Obama. The Six of Swords in the past position and the Justice card in the future position, highlight the influence of the Occupy Wall Street movement -- the cards suggest that the economy is transitioning from one that serves the top 1% at the expense of the 99%, into an economy in which there will be more broadly based prosperity.

Click on photo to enlarge

The Five of Cups in the Ideal position shows that Obama is focused on unemployment and preventing further job loss. But the Two of Swords in the Obstacles position signifies partisanship and indicates that Republicans are putting up opposition to anything and everything President Obama proposes to help the economy. The Knight of Pentacles represents Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, and other Republican presidential candidates who are attacking Obama's economic policies daily. The Magician card suggests that Obama knows the voters expect him to work some economic magic, and he is optimistic that his Jobs Act, Millionaires Tax, and more populist message are winning support from voters that will help break through the partisan gridlock.

Finally, the Four of Cups in the key Outcome position offers hope for the economy. This card suggests that new and unexpected opportunities will emerge out of this economic transformation. I was delighted to see the Four of Cups fall in the Outcome position, because it's one of my favorite cards. The Four of Cups is the card that says, "relax, let it come to you." It's a card that speaks of opportunities appearing out of nowhere. You can't force it, manipulate it, or anticipate it -- it's bigger than you are, so you just have to let it happen and ride the wave.

Put these cards all together, and what they foretell is a whole lot of economic hope and change.

Is Gaddafi Alive or Dead? (updated)

2011-10-20T08:12:00.020-05:00

Click to enlarge photo

These cards say that, as of 7:45 a.m. central time, Gaddafi is still alive. The Tower in the Obstacle position indicates that Gaddafi was in hiding because of the revolution in his country. The Six of Cups indicates that he may have been in hiding with one of his children. The Three of Wands indicates that he was concerned with his future. The Four of Wands in the Ideal position shows that he still held out hope he could return to power. The Seven of Pentacles, reversed, in the Foundation position indicates a loss of money or power; however, the Three of Pentacles in the Attitude position shows that Gaddafi was confident of regaining his money/power to the end. The Two of Wands, reversed, shows that others were determined not to let that happen and the Eight of Swords shows that Gaddafi feared capture. The Five of Swords in the Past position indicates that Gaddafi might have been turned in by someone he trusted. I interpret the Nine of Wands in the Outcome position to mean Gaddafi is being held.
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Update: As of about 9:00 a.m. US central time, Gaddafi is being reported dead. He was initially reported to have been wounded in the legs, but is now reported to have sustained a head wound as well. Looking at these cards in light of what we know now, The Nine of Wands in the Outcome position does show a head wound. The Tower card was probably trying to communicate something beyond what I interpreted as revolution -- perhaps an explosion or extreme violence "crossing" Gaddafi in the Obstacle position. The Three of Wands may have been saying that Gaddafi knew his capture was imminent. It is reported that one of Gaddafi's sons was killed by his captors and another is at large.

You can also check out my post on Gaddafi from September 5th: http://tarotpolitico.blogspot.com/2011/09/where-is-gaddafi.html

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Update: 2:53 p.m: According to the New York Times "Al Jezeera and CNN broadcast amateur video that appears to show Gaddafi was still alive when he was captured...the images raise questions about how and when he died."

MSNBC is reporting that, according to several sources, Gaddafi's estimated time of death was 4:00 p.m. EET. Using a Time Zone Converter, I was able to figure out that 4:00 p.m. Eastern European Time converts to 8:00 a.m. US/Central Time. If the time of death reported for Gaddafi is accurate, Gaddafi was still alive at 7:45 a.m. US/Central Time when I did the reading above.

Occupy Milwaukee

2011-10-17T14:22:00.002-05:00

I joined about 1,000 other protesters to Occupy Milwaukee on Saturday. Here's a good article from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that I thought captured the demonstration well. Here are some great pics from Fox6.com. Occupy Milwaukee is on Facebook.

Could Cain Be the Republican Nominee?

2011-10-15T20:46:00.016-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

Time for me to put my cards on the table. Back in August I did a reading on the question, "Who Will Be the Republican Nominee?" and the Tarot cards suggested that the nominee might be a CEO who was new to politics. I also got intuitive impressions that there could be something about the 2012 election that would be highly unusual, unexpected, and unprecedented.

As the campaign of Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain continues to gain ground, I am struck by how his candidacy dovetails with these intuitive impressions: Herman Cain was CEO of Godfather's Pizza, is new to politics, and could turn the 2012 presidential election into a battle between an African American Republican nominee and an African American president, which would certainly qualify as highly unusual, unexpected, and unprecedented.

So, let's look again at these cards I cast in late summer to learn more about who the Republican nominee might be. In the center of the spread sits the nominee himself, The Emperor -- I got an intuitive hit that this card represented a CEO, not a governor, senator, or congressman. The Six of Pentacles suggests voters will look to him as an economic savior. The Three of Pentacles indicates that fundraising will come very easily to this candidate. The Nine of Pentacles in the Obstacles position could be Cain's wife, who is supportive of her husband, but, in Cain's words, "prefers to maintain the calmness and tranquility" of their home life.

The Sun in the Past position and The World in the Future position suggest that this is a man who has had extraordinary success in the past and is poised for consummate success in the future. The Star indicates high hopes.

The Ace of Wands and the Ace of Swords suggest that this is someone who is new to politics. Aces symbolically represent the start of brand new ventures. To have two Aces in a spread is unusual in itself, but to have one of them in the very powerful Foundation position strongly suggests someone, like Cain, who has never held public office. The Hanged Man card depicts an inverted, acrobatic figure who has turned things upside down to get a fresh perspective -- it speaks of someone who can defy expectations and make others see him in a whole new light.

I need to take a moment here to talk about race and the Tarot cards. When I cast these cards back in August, I didn't have a particular candidate in mind, and Herman Cain was not yet on my radar. However, looking at the cards now in relation to a Herman Cain candidacy, some may find it disturbing to see a card called "The Hanged Man," because it may evoke images of lynching. But, I want to make clear, as I have mentioned above, the Hanged Man's image is one of turning events upside down and has nothing to do with violence of that kind. The face of the man depicted on the card is peaceful; he has chosen to comfortably suspend himself to get a fresh perspective -- traditionally, this card speaks of insight and wisdom.

An additional issue is that the The Rider Waite Tarot Deck, which was published in 1909, lacks ethnic diversity. That topic could be a whole blog post in itself. With those caveats, we continue to the last card in the reading.

The final card, in the Outcome position, is the Wheel of Fortune. How to interpret this card? Interpretation is the key to the art of fortune telling. Intuitive impressions are invariably accurate; interpretations of those impressions, on the other hand, can be way off. The other tricky part of fortune telling is that the future is not set in stone. In fact, to mix metaphors, the future is a moving target. Most things are constantly in flux and changing moment by moment.

Nowhere is that more true than in the political world. As former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said, "a week is a long time in politics," and people have been repeating that line ever since because it's so true. Anything can happen -- these races are notoriously unpredictable. One way to interpret this Wheel of Fortune card is to say it suggests that things are in flux, changing moment by moment and it's too early, even for an Intuitive, to predict who will be the nominee.

However, I don't think all things are in flux. My personal belief is that some things, a very few, may be "written" or fated. In other words, there may be an element of destiny in our lives. The Wheel of Fortune card is sometimes interpreted that way, as the card of Destiny.

The Wheel of Fortune card might be suggesting here that Herman Cain is entering the realm of destiny. That's not to say he'll win the presidency, or even the nomination, necessarily. But, if I were David Axelrod or anyone concerned with Barack Obama's re-election, I wouldn't underestimate Herman Cain. Even if he was the CEO of a second-rate pizza chain. Even if his 9-9-9 economic plan bears a striking resemblance to the default tax rate in the video game SimCity4. Even if he defended himself against charges that he was "the flavor of the week" by repeatedly comparing himself to Haagen Dazs Black Walnut ice cream, a limited edition Haagen Dazs flavor that was essentially a "flavor of the week."

No matter how tempting it might be to do otherwise, if I were in charge of President Obama's re-election campaign, I would take Mr. Cain seriously.

The Subject - The Emperor
The Environment - Six of Pentacles
The Obstacle - Nine of Pentacles
The Goal - The Hanged Man
The Foundation - Ace of Wands
The Past - The Sun
The Future - The World
The Attitude - Ace of Swords
The Influences - Three of Pentacles
The Hopes/Fears - The Star
The Outcome - The Wheel of Fortune

Republicans Will Have a Fundraising Field Day With Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-09T22:33:00.005-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

I predict that Occupy Wall Street will be a campaign cash cow for Republicans. If you've ever wanted to pull back the curtain and look behind the scenes at how the Republican message machine operates, these Tarot cards will give you a sneak peek.

In the center of the spread is the King of Swords, signifying FOX News president and mastermind Roger Ailes, sitting upon his throne. The Four of Cups on his far left indicates that he regards Occupy Wall Street as a serendipitous gift -- one he plans to fully exploit. The Wheel of Fortune suggests that Ailes believes the protests may be the game changer the Republican Party needs to sway independents decisively in their favor. The card to his right, the Three of Wands, depicts him gazing out into the future with visions of 2012 victory dancing in his head.

The Nine of Cups, representing the environment surrounding Ailes, symbolizes the strict message discipline Republicans will display on this issue. The Knight of Wands and Page of Cups, above and below Ailes, symbolize the brilliant Republican strategists who are busy crafting that message. They are spending every waking moment framing the Republicans as champions of Capitalism and the American way, who are keeping the marauding mobs at bay.

These cards practically hum with the industrious energy of operatives working at full throttle on a strategy they believe will bring them that much closer to victory. By the way, don't be surprised to see Chris Christie, represented by the Knight of Cups, becoming a point person for this message, as he auditions for the attack-dog role he could play as a vice presidential candidate.

The Two of Pentacles indicates that President Obama is in an awkward position, trying to juggle, in his typically cautious style, competing interests and views. Protesters are voicing their disapproval of Obama's 2008 decision to bail out banks and Wall Street. The president needs to defend the decision he made when the economy was headed for a cliff, and at the same time embrace the "we are the 99%" sentiments of Occupy Wall Street. If Obama doesn't champion the middle class with the same enthusiasm as OWS, he doesn't have a prayer of being re-elected.

The Nine of Pentacles in the Outcome position indicates that Republicans will raise a great deal of money through their demonization of the Occupy Wall Street movement. However, there is a wild card in this spread. The Four of Swords in the Obstacles position indicates that "Reagan Democrats" who have been voting against their own economic interests for decades might just wake up and smell the decaf Carmel Macchioato. Many a regular guy has been played for a chump by Republicans, but, the placement of this card indicates a real chance that Joe Six Pack is getting wise. If Occupy Wall Street can make inroads with this huge portion of the electorate, they might have discovered the elusive defence against the dark arts of Roger Ailes.

Key to the Cards:

Subject - King of Swords
Environment - Nine of Cups
Obstacle - Four of Swords
Ideal - Knight of Wands
Foundation - Page of Cups
Past - Four of Cups
Future - Three of Wands
Attitude - Knight of Cups
Influences - Two of Pentacles
Hopes/Fears - Wheel of Fortune
Outcome - Nine of Pentacles

Quick Hit: What Does Future Hold for Occupy Wall Street Movement?

2011-10-05T23:02:00.003-05:00

The Subject

I did a reading to see what the future holds for the Occupy Wall Street movement. I sense that the movement is growing and will have significant impact. The 10 of Wands suggests that this movement represents the interests of people who are feeling overburdened.

The Environment

The Star surrounding it says that Occupy Wall Street is bringing attention to the needs of working people in a way that is inspired and inspiring. The Sun indicates that this movement has optimism at it's core -- the people who are demonstrating believe they can make a difference by taking action.

I am getting an intuitive impression that this movement will have a significant voice in the media. I also sense that the movement will have success in getting candidates it champions elected -- as it develops further, successful candidates may even emerge from among its ranks.

The Ideal

Count Christie Out...For Now

2011-10-03T17:36:00.002-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

A run for president in 2012 just isn’t in the cards for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Although Christie’s style and temperament are just what voters are looking for in the 2012 general election, these cards say that he wouldn’t be able to win over the primary voters of the Republican religious right. The Two of Cups in the Foundation position indicates that Christie’s previous support for civil unions would make him fundamentally unacceptable as a candidate to the hard right Republican base.

The Ace of Swords and Seven of Swords, representing past and future, suggest that any attempt to spin the civil unions issue would undermine the authenticity that is Christie’s stock in trade. The Seven of Cups in the position of Obstacles, as well as The Moon in the Outcome position, heavily underscore the sense that Christie’s support of civil unions would inspire profound distrust in cultural conservatives.

The Knight of Wands and Page of Wands suggest that Christie thinks clever communication strategists could craft an acceptable message on the issue. The cards would say that the handlers have Christie’s ear, but the handlers are wrong – this issue is simply a deal breaker for these voters. The Queen of Pentacles at the heart of this spread suggests to me that Michele “Pray the Gay Away” Bachmann could use this issue to considerable advantage. The Moon and The Hermit together indicate that Christie's candidacy would be eclipsed by more socially conservative candidates and he would fade.

Let’s look at a second reading below:

Click on photo to enlarge

The Fool, pictured about to take a step off a cliff, indicates that Christie feels getting into this race at this time would be an enormous risk for him, although the Ace of Wands suggests that there is plenty of inspiration and enthusiasm surrounding his potential run. The Christie camp is very confident of their message, but the Ace of Swords in the Obstacles position says that the logistics just aren't coming together, and they aren’t sure they can meet their sky high fundraising goals. It is looking like it is just too late to get in.

Worse than that, although his family is now on board, the Three of Swords suggests that Christie still doesn’t feel in his heart that running for president in 2012 is the right move. The Two of Swords indicates that Christie has given the idea very serious consideration in recent days, and he has made every effort to see if a campaign could be pulled together – but, he just can’t shake the feeling that it’s not the right move.

So, why do I say count Christie out, for now? Because I am getting some intuitive impressions that Christie could well be tapped as a 2012 vice presidential candidate. I interpret the Knight of Cups card in the Outcome position to mean that Christie would be open to the idea of running for vice president. If so, who would be at the top of the ticket? I pulled a final clarification card to address the question – what came up was the King of Pentacles. It's early yet, and my crystal ball is still misty, but I couldn't help noticing that the King of Pentacles holds a lone star.

Key to the Cards:

Reading #1

Subject - Queen of Pentacles

Environment - The Lovers

Obstacle - Seven of Cups

Ideal - Knight of Wands

Foundation - Two of Cups

Past - Ace of Swords

Future - Five of Swords

Attitude - Page of Wands

Influence - The Emperor

Hope/Fear - The Hermit

Outcome - The Moon

Reading #2:

Subject - Queen of Swords

Environment - Ace of Wands

Obstacles - Ace of Swords

Ideal - Six of Pentacles

Foundation - The Fool

Past - Strength

Future - Three of Swords

Attitude - Two of Swords

Environment - Six of Cups

Hope/Fear - Hierophant

Outcome - Knight of Cups

Clarification Card - King of Pentacles

Daily Christie Reading: Veep?

2011-10-03T08:38:00.000-05:00

Why do the words Christie -> Kerry -> Perry keep mashing up in my mind? Why do I keep getting the name Perry when I think of Christie? As unlikely as it seems at this very moment, could I be receiving an intuitive impression of the ultimate ticket? In about 9 months, we'll find out if Republican bumper stickers will read: Perry/Christie 2012.

Daily Christie Reading: Disclosing Bundlers

2011-10-02T12:31:00.007-05:00

Iowa State Sen. Jeff Danielson and Iowa Democrats, in cooperation with the Democratic party on the national level, are calling for Republican presidential candidates to disclose their "bundlers" who make large campaign contributions. Could this end up being a problem for Chris Christie? Read more: http://www.iowademocrats.org/2011/07/state-senator-jeff-danielson-idp-chair-sue-dvorsky-call-on-republican-presidential-candidates-to-disclose-major-fundraisers/

Daily Christie Reading: The Mystery Man

2011-10-01T21:51:00.001-05:00

The Knight of Pentacles keeps coming up in nearly every Christie reading I do. The suit of Pentacles represents all things financial. There is a sense of anxiety and difficulty around this card. Does this card represent some kind of financial deal that could become a problem for Christie in a presidential campaign? Does this card represent Obama's fundraising ability and concerns about being able to match it? At this point, I'm a little stumped -- clearly the card is significant, it seems to follow Christie around, yet it's full meaning has yet to be revealed.

What the cards more clearly indicate is that the Christie camp is working incredibly hard right now. They are in full on planning mode and, the cards say that an announcement of Christie's candidacy is imminent. However, the celebratory mood of yesterday is gone. The cards say that Christie sees this as a huge roll of the dice. As he anticipates a leap into the fray, what is uppermost in Christie's mind is the life that he is giving up, and the very real possibility that he could make that sacrifice and still lose the campaign.

And, one more thing. Don't count Perry out yet......

Daily Christie Reading: The Shift Has Happened

2011-09-30T20:41:00.000-05:00

The key card for today's reading is The Hanged Man -- this card indicates that Christie is reversing his previous decision. The shift has happened; Christie is changing course. The cards say that in the lead up to this shift, there have been important conversations between Christie and his wife, a former president, an important money person, and most recently, a member of the clergy. The Christie camp is in a celebratory mood. But, these names keep jumbling in my mind: Christie/Kerry/Perry -- the governor needs to tread very carefully now.

Daily Christie Reading: Money and Moving Toward a Decision

2011-09-29T20:44:00.002-05:00

The Seven of Pentacles is the key card for today's reading about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. This card indicates that the governor is still assessing and evaluating a possible run for president. He is particularly preoccupied with the financial aspect of this potential campaign and is meeting with donors and fundraisers. Today's reading confirmed that Christie's family is now on board and behind Christie if he decides to run.

Having moved off of his very firm stance against running, he is still in an uncertain space of searching his heart while practically assessing the money situation, strategy, and logistics. However, he is moving rapidly back to the solid ground of a firm decision. The cards indicate that Christie believes that some of the upcoming traveling he has planned will give him the information he needs to make a decision in the near future.

Quick Hit: Is This the End of the Euro?

2011-09-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

Did a quick reading on the Euro and the Temperance card came up in the Outcome position. Things may be somewhat unsettled for a bit, but this card says that things will stabilize for the Euro by the end of the year.

Quick Hit: Will Christie Run?

2011-09-27T06:29:00.000-05:00

Even Gov. Christie himself doesn't know anymore. Christie is under enormous, unrelenting pressure from his party. Although his denial was definitive, he is reevaluating......

How Will Voters Respond to Obama's "Buffett Tax"?

2011-09-21T23:26:00.005-05:00

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President Barack Obama’s proposed “Buffett Tax” will improve his re-election prospects, according to the Tarot cards. Setting up a guideline to ensure millionaires aren’t paying lower tax rates than middle income Americans will help Obama connect with the 99% of voters still waiting for the immense wealth concentrated in the top 1% to trickle down.

The King of Cups at the center of this spread is symbolic of the kind of leader voters are looking for right now – someone with lots of genuine “I feel your pain,” Clinton style empathy. The cards on either side paint a picture of Americans hanging on to middle class status by their fingernails and fearing that they will soon lose their grip and fall into poverty.

The Page of Pentacles indicates that voters’ hopes at this point are modest. They aren’t looking for miracles, just some improvement and the feeling that things are moving in the right direction. On some level, the voters understand that what we have been going through isn’t so much a recession as it is a global economic restructuring; and anyone running for president needs to understand that this race isn’t so much about the economy as it is about empathy. It’s the empathy, Stupid, that matters most this time.

The Lovers and The Devil provide a point and counter point – the voters long for more cooperation in Washington, signified by The Lovers, and they are frustrated by the gridlock they see instead, signified by The Devil. The Ace of Wands, in combination with the Knight of Swords, says that Americans are ready to be inspired again, by a Knight riding in on his white horse.

I sense that The Queen of Swords in this spread represents Hillary Clinton – I drew a clarification card for confirmation, and the card that came up, The World, would seem to indicate that, yes, this is indeed the Secretary of State. These cards would say that the president has sought Mrs. Clinton’s advice on this domestic matter and she has some reservations about the Buffett Rule.

Perhaps, like her husband, she supports the Buffett Rule in principal but is concerned about the timing. Maybe she would agree with the assessment President Clinton gave when he appeared on Face the Nation on Sunday and advise waiting for the economy to recover before raising taxes as part of a “long term” deficit reduction plan. (I know. I confess to the ultimate sin of assuming Bill speaks for Hillary. Forgive me, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuit.) Or, it could be that she agrees with Mark Penn, her 2008 campaign strategist, who recently blogged on Huffington Post, “Obama -- Don't Bring Back Class Warfare."

But getting back to the voters, the Ten of Pentacles “covering” the King of Cups would seem to indicate that most Americans believe in a progressive income tax and see a certain amount of “wealth redistribution” as appropriate. The card to really watch in this spread is the card in the Outcome position – The Chariot. This card represents the will of the voters and suggests that, in this presidential race, middle class Americans are looking for someone to champion their cause.

Key to the Cards:

1 - The Subject - King of Hearts

2 - The Environment - Ten of Pentacles

3 - The Obstacle - Queen of Swords
4 - The Ideal - The Lovers
5 - The Foundation - Knight of Swords
6 - The Past - Four of Pentacles
7 - The Future - Five of Pentacles
8 - The Attitude - Ace of Wands
9 - The Influences - The Devil
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Page of Pentacles
11 - The Outcome - The Chariot
Clarification Cards: The World, Page of Cups

Random Quick Hit

2011-09-20T07:48:00.000-05:00

....dow jones closing up today....

Random Quick Hit

2011-09-20T07:11:00.002-05:00

....sky...sharp-fashioned-chain-of-puddle-shrieks/shieks....puddle jumpers make me nervous; could all politicians, rock stars, and american citizens just stay off the small planes for a week, thank you.....

Will the Rolling Stones Tour the World to Celebrate Their 50th?

2011-09-18T16:34:00.014-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

INTERPRETATION OF THE CARDS: Politics, not music, is usually my beat (no pun intended). But when I woke up this morning with the songs "Moves Like Jagger" and "Rumour Has It" doing a mash up in my mind I had to consult the cards. Rumors have been swirling that the Rolling Stones are planning a world tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Mick Jagger denies the rumor, but the cards confirm it.

The Five of Wands indicates that there has been struggle and conflict within the band over financial reversals. The Moon card covering the Six of Pentacles, and the Five of Swords would indicate that an attorney, manager, or financial advisor provided bad advice that was costly. There was deception involved, and now the band is embroiled in a fit of finger pointing.

You don't need a crystal ball to predict dissension in the ranks of a rock and roll band. On the contrary, what has been truly unpredictable is the band's longevity. The Magician card in the Foundation position gives due credit to Jagger's masterful ability to hold the band together -- if not through magic then through sheer force of will. The Chariot card in the position of Hopes/Fears would say that Jagger is hoping he can keep the wheels from coming off before the band makes it to their 50th anniversary.

The King of Wands and The Empress cards show that Jagger has deep reservoirs of creative inspiration at his command. But, unlike most rock and rollers, he also has a good head for business (which he studied at the London School of Economics). The Nine of Pentacles contrasted with the Temperance card would suggest that Jagger will be setting a more balanced, austere tone, different from the wine, women, and song extravagance of the old days.

The World card fell in the Outcome position. In a reading about a world tour, that card really needs no interpretation.

Update 9/19/11 I would like to end this reading on a positive note, unfortunately, I am also receiving inutitive impressions of a less happy nature. I hear a woman crying and sense that this either indicates some domestic disharmony in Mr. Jagger's life, or worse, some kind of danger. Rock stars need to take every precaution in this day and age. Be safe, Mick!

KEY TO THE CARDS:

1 - The Subject - Six of Pentacles

2 - The Environment - The Moon

3 - The Obstacle - Five of Wands
4 - The Ideal - King of Wands
5 - The Foundation - The Magician
6 - The Past - Nine of Pentacles
7 - The Future - Temperance
8 - The Attitude - The Empress
9 - The Influences - Five of Swords
10 - The Hopes/Fears - The Chariot
11 - The Outcome - The World

REALLY Random Quick Hit

2011-09-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

The songs "Moves Like Jagger" and "Rumour Has It" keep mashing up in my mind. Could it be that Mick Jagger protests too much when he shoots down rumors of a 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour? I don't know, but I can't get these songs out of my head.....

Random Quick Hit

2011-09-16T07:46:00.002-05:00

....image of escalator going up and word Gardasil...predicting Merck up today (a stock tip for any crony capitalists who might be interested :)

How Will Accusations of Crony Capitalism Impact Perry?

2011-09-15T22:45:00.025-05:00

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INTERPRETATION OF THE CARDS: Why did Gov. Rick Perry attempt to mandate HPV vaccines for sixth grade girls in 2007? Did he do it because, as he claims, he "hates cancer?" Or did he do it because, as rival Michele Bachmann contends, he coveted campaign contributions from Merck, the company that makes the vaccine? These cards would say that the answer might be both -- he hates cancer and loves money.

The position of the Page of Pentacles in this spread would suggest that Perry was happy to receive campaign contributions from Merck, and the contributions may have factored into his decision to mandate the vaccines. Bachmann's accusation of crony capitalism made sense to me (and it's not often that I think Bachmann makes sense), but, the cards indicate there is more to the picture. In fact, the cards paint a striking portrait of a man with empathy for women facing cancer. The Eight of Swords and Two of Swords both picture women blindfolded, bound and blocked by swords, signifying illness and surgery. The final clarification card I drew was the Death card, suggesting that Perry is sincere when he says, "I hate cancer."

The Ace of Cups in the Influences position suggests that those closest to Perry believe the best of him and see his motivation as pure and uncorrupted. But how will Perry's HPV decision impact his campaign? The Five of Wands -- a card symbolizing strife -- is at the center of this tarot spread and indicates that powerfully disruptive energy was unleashed at the CNN/Tea Party debate when Bachmann went after Perry on the issue. The Perry campaign roiled in turmoil -- I sense extreme agitation, annoyance, impatience and frustration. The HPV issue will continue to have an impact on Perry with socially conservative voters. The Ten of Wands indicates the issue has been a burden for Perry in the past, and he is wary going forward, but, the HPV issue is not an insurmountable obstacle at this time.

The Emperor card shows that Perry is firmly fixed on his immediate goal of winning the nomination. The Hermit indicates that being attacked on the HPV issue is causing Perry to turn inward and do some reevaluating or course correcting. He may come to the conclusion that there are some socially conservative voters that he will simply have to write off because of the HPV issue and move on.

QUESTION POSED: How will the HPV issue affect Perry's candidacy?

KEY TO THE CARDS:

1 - The Subject - Five of Wands

2 - The Environment - Ten of Cups

3 - The Obstacle - None
4 - The Ideal - Page of Pentacles
5 - The Foundation - Eight of Swords
6 - The Past - Ten of Wands
7 - The Future - Nine of Wands
8 - The Attitude - Two of Swords
9 - The Influences - Ace of Cups
10 - The Hopes/Fears - The Emperor
11 - The Outcome - The Hermit
Clarification Card: Death

RANDOM QUICK HIT: The rise of China may soon become a hot topic in the presidential race -- will this benefit Romney, Huntsman?

Will Obama's jobs bill pass?

2011-09-12T05:49:00.002-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

Question: What will be the outcome of the legislative process concerning the American Jobs Act?
1 - The Subject - The Empress
2 - The Environment - Knight of Wands
3 - The Obstacle - Nine of Cups
4 - The Ideal - Page of Cups
5 - The Foundation - Judgement
6 - The Past - Three of Cups
7 - The Future - Ace of Wands
8 - The Attitude - Four of Pentacles
9 - The Influences - The Sun
10 - The Hopes/Fears - The Devil
11 - The Outcome - Temperance
Interpretation: I predict success for the Jobs Act, due in no small part to Obama's willingness to fight for it (Knight of Wands). As I began this reading, I noticed the light from a nearby lamp was shining too bright in my eyes, which I interpreted to mean that Obama will draw the media's spotlight to the jobs bill. The Sun card in the position of Influences would also support the interpretation that media coverage will be critical to the bill's success.

There is a sense that a great deal of creativity and inspiration went into the drafting of this bill (The Empress, Page of Cups, Knight of Wands), and it was put together in a spirit of cooperation (Three of Cups). I see a complex relationship for Obama with his Republican opposition. I see Republicans representing the most privileged (Nine of Cups) holding tightly together in a very disciplined way; however, I see Cantor (Page of Cups) as willing to work with Obama to get a modified bill passed. Like Obama, Cantor sees this as a "make or break" moment for himself and his party. There is a sense that the time is right for this bill and Americans want to see something happen on jobs. The way I interpret these cards, Cantor understands that the Republicans need to redeem themselves, or suffer the consequences of the Debt Ceiling Debate Debacle at the ballot box.

Obama sees this as a critical "do or die" moment for his presidency (Judgement). He is full of inspiration and vigor for this new project (Ace of Wands). His greatest fear is gridlock (The Devil). But he will succeed in creating bi-partisan support for a balanced bill (Temperance). A modified form of the bill will pass, and Obama will gain support by making the bill as appealing to fiscal conservatives as he can (Four of Pentacles).

Where is Gaddafi?

2011-09-05T19:05:00.006-05:00

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Question: Where is Gaddafi?

1 - The Subject - Eight of Cups

2 - The Environment - Justice, reversed

3 - The Obstacle - Nine of Pentacles
4 - The Ideal - Seven of Wands
5 - The Foundation - Three of Pentacles
6 - The Past - Five of Wands
7 - The Future - The Devil
8 - The Attitude - Ace of Cups
9 - The Influences - The Empress
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Four of Swords
11 - The Outcome - Four of Pentacles
Clarification Cards: Page of Wands, The Lovers

Interpretation: It just wouldn't be any fun if we didn't raise the bar and try to get the answer to a really tough question. So, here it is: where is Gaddafi? First, these cards would seem to indicate that he is alive and went into hiding (Eight of Cups) because he feared for his life (Four of Swords). While he is eluding justice (Justice, reversed), he sees himself as innocent (Ace of Cups) and fully expects to receive a hero's welcome upon his return (Seven of Wands).

Gaddafi's biggest concern at this point, aside from staying alive, is money. While financial transactions were initially solid (Three of Pentacles), there are concerns about a woman (Nine of Pentacles, The Empress) who holds a great deal of influence. The Outcome card would indicate that money will become very tight (Four of Pentacles). The near future will find Gaddafi in some sort of security bunker that feels like a prison (The Devil).

I pulled not one, but two clarifications cards because I was frustrated at not getting a more precise location. The clarification cards didn't narrow things down, just indicating that Gaddafi is still in the Middle East. The first clarification card, the Page of Wands, with pyramids in the background, perhaps indicates that communication lines with Egypt are still open. The second clarification card, picturing The Lovers in the Garden of Eden suggests a Middle East setting, perhaps near mountains.

Why did Cheney really write "In My Time"?

2011-09-03T12:56:00.008-05:00

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Question: What was Cheney's motivation for writing his memoir, "In My Time"?
Bonus cards: Six of Cups, Four of Swords
1 - The Subject - The Devil
2 - The Environment - Two of Swords
3 - The Obstacle - Five of Wands
4 - The Ideal - Five of Cups
5 - The Foundation - The Hermit
6 - The Past - Death
7 - The Future - Knight of Wands
8 - The Attitude - Page of Swords
9 - The Influences - Three of Pentacles
10 - The Hopes/Fears - The Hanged Man
11 - The Outcome - Ace of Pentacles
Clarification Card: Judgement

Interpretation: This was a very interesting reading to do. Using mediumship, I was able to "walk in Cheney's shoes" and see things from his point of view -- his wry sense of humor came through, along with his sense of devotion as a father. Full disclosure: I have been as angry as anyone about the way Dick Cheney acquired and wielded his power, but, as an intuitive, I am not sitting in judgement of him -- I am seeing things from his point of view (he is the "target" of the question). So, this reading represents Cheney's motivation from his own point of view.

This was a full reading, with several extra cards in the mix. As sometimes happens when I shuffle the cards, a couple of cards popped out at me, presenting themselves as an important basis for the reading (the cards are pictured in the bottom left hand corner of the photo). The first card was the Six of Cups, and I interpreted this card to mean that Cheney wrote this book, first and foremost, for his daughter, Liz. The card that followed, the Four of Swords, indicates that he wrote the book with a strong awareness of his death and the idea that this was his chance to change people's perception of him before he died.

The card that came up as the Subject, representing Cheney, was comical -- The Devil. While many of us do, indeed, see Cheney as the Devil, remember this reading is from his point of view, and seemed to me a wry nod to his "Darth Vader" image and an acknowledgment that he feels trapped by the image (Two of Swords) he earned in political battle (Five of Wands).

In retirement, he feels a keen sense of isolation (The Hermit) and a loss of the vitality and power that his career gave him (Five of Cups). I interpret the Death card in the Past position to mean that Cheney has lived with an awareness of his mortality. The Knight of Wands in the Future position indicates that, surprisingly, writing his book wasn't all about his legacy. Writing the book is his way of getting back in the game. The Page of Swords shows that he approached this new writing venture very thoughtfully and strategically -- he negotiated the best deal he could get (Three of Pentacles). The money was surprisingly important to him -- the money side of this new writing venture represents vitality to him (Ace of Pentacles). If he can keep earning money, he is still vital. His great hope for this book was that it would turn people's opinion of him around and make them see him in a whole new light (The Hanged Man). I pulled a final Clarification Card and it was Judgement, an indication that, for Cheney, this book was about redemption in the face of death.

What do voters want in 2012?

2011-09-03T12:38:00.012-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

Question: What do American voters want from candidates running for president in the 2012 election?
1 - The Subject - The Hermit

2 - The Environment - Five of Cups
3 - The Obstacle - Knight of Wands
4 - The Ideal - Four of Pentacles
5 - The Foundation - The Fool
6 - The Past - Justice
7 - The Future - Nine of Pentacles
8 - The Attitude - The World
9 - The Influences - Death
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Eight of Wands
11 - The Outcome - King of Hearts

Interpretation: American voters are feeling deeply alienated from government and politics (The Hermit). They are despondent about their losses (Five of Cups). They feel disappointed by the inspirational young knight who rode in on his horse but didn't save them (Knight of Wands). They want a candidate who is a "what you see is what you get" kind of guy, who calls it like he sees it -- a leader who will take risks on their behalf instead of calculating the political costs of every move (The Fool).

Voters may feel a sense of grievance about fairness -- that there used to be a sense of fairness and justice that is lacking in America today (Justice in the Past position). The Nine of Pentacles in the Future position indicates that, in the immediate future, voters may be intrigued by a wealthy or well-funded woman who might seem to address this grievance, however, they will not continue to be interested in this figure for the long haul (could this be Bachmann, Palin?)

Ultimately, what Americans are most concerned about is America's position in the world (The World) and the perception that America is in decline (Death). The dearest hope of Americans is that a reinvigoration of innovation and American ingenuity will turn things around. What they are really looking for in their next president is someone who will be their champion. They are looking for a guy who is ALL HEART.

As I write this, I have to say that, while I did not get an intuitive image of any particular candidate when I did this reading, looking over what I have written, all signs seem to point to Chris Christie being the leader Americans are looking for right now. Christie has made it crystal clear that he will not seek the office in 2012. But, if the RNC is consulting the same crystal ball I am, they will do everything in their power to make him run.

Will Sarah run?

2011-08-29T22:44:00.007-05:00

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Question: What is Sarah Palin thinking regarding getting into the 2012 presidential race herself?
1 - The Subject - The Hierophant, reversed
2 - The Environment - Nine of Pentacles
3 - The Obstacle - Seven of Cups
4 - The Goal - Ace of Cups
5 - The Foundation - Four of Cups
6 - The Past - King of Swords
7 - The Future - Five of Cups
8 - The Attitude - Seven of Swords
9 - The Influences - Three of Cups
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Three of Swords
11 - The Outcome - Ten of Pentacles

Interpretation: The Hierophant, reversed, would say that this is a spiritual question for Sarah, but she is spiritually confused. The Nine of Pentacles shows her enjoying to the fullest the wealth she is accruing, and the Eight of Cups shows that she is struggling with the idea of walking away from it. The Four of Cups in the Foundation position shows that the opportunity of a presidential run came to her -- she didn't seek it out. Her highest ideals in this matter are very pure, innocent, and spiritual, as indicated by the Ace of Cups in the Goal position. The Seven of Swords in the Attitude position indicates that, although she has a spiritual side -- and thinks of her presidential aspirations in spiritual terms -- there is another side to Sarah that is very cynical and calculating.

There is a man in her life who has encouraged her to think big and has planned her career (King of Swords in the Past position). In the immediate future, Sarah may suffer a loss, possibly a loss of money (Five of Cups in the Future position). She enjoys a wonderful community of support, especially among women (Three of Cups in the Influences position), but she is filled with anxiety and deeply sensitive to criticism (Three of Swords in the Fear position). In the end, Sarah will go for the money (Ten of Pentacles). While she might stick her toe in the water, she will not make a serious run for the White House in 2012.

Who will be the Republican nominee?

2011-08-28T20:06:00.007-05:00

Click photo to enlarge

Question: What qualities will the Republican nominee for president in 2012 possess?
1 - The Subject - The Emperor
2 - The Environment - Six of Pentacles
3 - The Obstacle - Nine of Pentacles
4 - The Goal - The Hanged Man
5 - The Foundation - Ace of Wands
6 - The Past - The Sun
7 - The Future - The World
8 - The Attitude - Ace of Swords
9 - The Influences - Three of Pentacles
10 - The Hopes/Fears - The Star
11 - The Outcome - Wheel of Fortune

Interpretation: The Republican nominee will be someone of power and stature, indicated by The Emperor in the Significator position. Voters will be looking to the nominee as an economic savior (indicated by the Six of Pentacles in the Environment position). In the Obstacle position is the Nine of Pentacles, a glamourous wealthy or well-funded woman (perhaps Michelle Bachmann?).

In the Foundation position is the Ace of Wands, indicating that the nominee sees this run as an inspirational and invigorating new venture in his life -- this would imply that it is his first run for president. The Hanged Man in the Goal position indicates that his candidacy will involve people seeing him from a completely different perspective.

This is a man who has met with tremendous success in the past (The Sun in the Past position), and his immediate future looks even brighter, predicting consumate success (The World). As the Ace of Swords in the Attitude position indicates, he will approach this run as a planner, precisely mapping out his run right from square one. The Three of Pentacles in the Influences position indicates that fundraising will come easily. The nominee's hopes could not be higher (The Star in the position of Hopes/Fears), but the ultimate outcome of the presidential race is still undecided (as indicated by The Wheel of Fortune in the Outcome position).

Can't help thinking that The Star in the spread might be symbolic of Texan Rick Perry. If the nominee isn't Perry, it could be a late-comer CEO (The Emperor) making a first time run (2 aces in the spread) during which people see him from a completely different perspective (The Hanged Man).

How hard will Irene hit NYC?

2011-08-27T23:24:00.006-05:00

Click on photo to enlarge

Question: What will be the severity of the impact of Hurricane Irene on NYC?
1 - The Subject - None
2 - The Environment - Three of Swords
3 - The Obstacle - Temperance
4 - The Goal - The Devil
5 - The Foundation - The Lovers
6 - The Past - Ace of Cups
7 - The Future - Nine of Swords
8 - The Attitude - Six of Cups
9 - The Influences - The Heirophant
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Death
11 - The Outcome - King of Swords

Interpretation: NYC will be gripped with anxiety and will suffer losses as a result of the storm, as indicated by the Three of Swords in the Environment position. There will be problems with water flowing through outdated systems that will have trouble channeling and containing it, as indicated by Temperance in the Obstacle position and the Ace of Cups in the Past position. New Yorkers love their city (notice the Lovers card in the Foundation position), but are well aware of it problems -- the storm may highten a sense of moral outrage about them (notice the Devil in the Goals position). New Yorkers will fear the worst (the Death card in the Fear position); however, they will pull together to help each other and face the storm with a positive outlook. Mayor Bloomberg will ultimately come out of the storm looking strong and in charge - but, the storm will have its impact on him (as indicated by the King of Swords in the Outcome position).

Lybia and Obama's legacy?

2011-08-27T22:03:00.005-05:00

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Question: How will the majority of Americans view Obama's intervention in Libya by the end of his presidency?
1 - The Subject - None
2 - The Environment - Death
3 - The Obstacle - The Emperor
4 - The Goal - Seven of Swords
5 - The Foundation - The Chariot
6 - The Past - King of Swords
7 - The Future - Two of Swords
8 - The Attitude - Seven of Cups
9 - The Influences - Seven of Swords
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Judgement
11 - The Outcome - Two of Cups

Interpretation: There will ultimately be an accord by the end of Obama's presidency that will make Americans view the intervention in Libya favorably. However, for the immediate future there will be more death, oppression, corruption, deception, and manipulation. There will even be fears that the situation in Libya could somehow trigger a nuclear event (signified by the Judgement card in the Fear position). All of these dire trends are indicated by the Death card in the Environment position, as well as the preponderance of cards from the Swords suit showing oppression, and corruption. The Seven of Cups in the Attitude position indicates that President Obama may be deceived at some point. However, the Chariot card is well placed in the Foundation position, indicating that there is an underlying strength in the Arab Spring that promises greater stability, and the ultimate outcome, represented by the Two of Cups, is peaceful.

What's Pelosi plotting?

2011-08-27T15:49:00.004-05:00

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Question: What is Nancy Pelosi plotting for September?

1 - The Subject - Queen of Pentacles

2 - The Environment - The Hierophant
3 - The Obstacle - Temperance
4 - The Goal - Two of Swords
5 - The Foundation - Nine of Cups
6 - The Past - Six of Swords
7 - The Future - The Magician
8 - The Attitude - Five of Wands
9 - The Influences - The Wheel
10 - The Hopes/Fears - Five of Pentacles
11 - The Outcome - The World

Interpretation: Nancy Pelosi will achieve a major victory in September. She will be working closely with President Obama and will be frustrated by his tendency to compromise and play more of a "mediator" role than a leader role in negotiations. Ms. Pelosi has amassed considerable support and has reason to feel solidly confident. Although she was forced to beat a sad retreat on the issue in the past (an issue which was dear to her heart), this time she will be utterly masterful and meet with consumate success.

The issue in question involves negotiating a very difficult choice between two options. Ms. Pelosi will approach the matter, as she typically does, with a fighting spirit. The fate of the issue will hang in the balance, and Pelosi's worst fear will be that the wrong outcome could have devastating consequences for the economy. But ultimately, she will prevail, and the resulting massive success will have a tremendously broad positive impact.