Reading tarot at the first quarter
Half lit, and the point where the first genuine obstacle shows up. Traditionally a phase of decision rather than doubt.
Currently a waning crescent —
today's moon
Resistance and decision
Half lit, and traditionally the phase where the first genuine obstacle appears. These are the deck's cards of holding a direction against pressure - the Chariot steering without reins, the Seven of Wands defending high ground.
Cards that belong to this phase
| Card | Upright keywords |
|---|---|
| The Chariot | Control, willpower, success, action, determination |
| Seven of Wands | Challenge, competition, protection, perseverance |
| Five of Wands | Conflict, disagreements, competition, tension |
| Two of Swords | Difficult decisions, weighing options, avoidance |
Cards that sit badly here
The Four of Cups and the Hanged Man sit badly here. Both counsel waiting, and this is structurally the phase for deciding.
A spread for this phase: The Obstacle
Three cards, drawn in order. The positions are written for what this phase is structurally good at, which is why the same three-card layout reads differently at each point in the cycle.
| # | Position | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The obstacle I expected | The difficulty you planned for and prepared against. |
| 2 | The obstacle that arrived | The actual one, which is rarely the same. This is the card to read hardest. |
| 3 | What holding the direction requires | The Chariot's question — what keeps the course without reins. |
Journalling prompt
What is the actual obstacle, as opposed to the one I expected?