* posted with permission

(“I am going on an overseas trip in November and would be grateful for any insight as to how the trip will go.”)

Per our discussion, I’ve used the Biddy Three Card Spread #2: 1. What Will Help You in your Journey’s Goals,2. What Will Hinder You in Your Journey’s Goals, and 3. What is an Unrealized Potential Inherent in this Journey. Here is what came up for you:

Three cards actually fell out of the deck while I was shuffling, one by one. So I stopped shuffling and will go forward with the assumption that these are the three you need to see:

1. What Will Help You in your Journey’s Goals?
   The Chariot
2. What Will Hinder You in Your Journey’s Goals?
   Ace of Swords
3. What is an Unrealized Potential Inherent in this Journey?
   Two of Cups

The journey itself will help in some way. It seems to be a solution in and of itself. So if the decision to take this trip was a result of an issue or challenge … it would appear that the decision was a good one. Is this a spiritual journey of some kind? A pilgrimage or something, so to speak? Also, are you looking to meet someone romantically while you are abroad? This journey is a beginning of sorts. It’s intent is to begin something.

Over thinking may hinder your goals during this trip (Ace of Swords). It’s dark in this

card, but the sword illuminates the landscape. The crown symbolizes mastery of some kind, which implies domination. So this may not just be speaking of over thinking but also of … I feel like an obsession or obsessive behaviour in trying to accomplish this mastery or goal. This is the second card in your reading, but I felt intuitively drawn to read it first.

I can’t tell if the ground is mountains or waves from an ocean but the phrase “rocky crags” popped into my head when I wondered about it. I feel like this mastery, this goal that you are seeking to accomplish, either has been difficult in attaining in the past or that it will be challenging in the present and future. Or both. “It has not been easy,” comes to mind. But the light from the Divine hand wielding the sword actually touches this ground, it comes into direct contact with some of it, or at least appears to. So – there will be  – some sort of comfort and assistance along the way. It will be “softened” for you. The way will be softened for you.

It is possible this can also mean in a literal sense, that your journey will literally have some bumps along the way, but that they will be mitigated by some outside force or persons.

What will help – as I said, the journey itself is the biggest help in the achievement of your goals at this time. The decision to take the journey is invaluable to the pursuit of your goals. The man in this card (the Chariot) wears a crown very similar to the one in the Ace of Swords, even down to the garland woven into it. (The people in the Two of Cups also have garlands on their heads).  The mastery you strive so hard for in the Ace of Swords – it is possible you already possess it, or more of it than you believe. It is possible that the “over thinking” I picked up on in that card is referring to a redundant thinking or acting. You may be striving for a mastery you already possess. Keep this in mind. Have you stopped to assess where you are in your goals since you first started working towards them? It is possible you are further along than you think.

There may also be a competitiveness in your personality … that is both a strength and a weakness. It will be up to you to maintain a balance that will help that trait to help you, rather than hinder you. It shows up in both these cards so  right now it is both helping and hindering your cause. You may do well to  meditate or think about which ways your drive and competitiveness assist you closer to your goals, and which ways you would do better to rein them in at times. Again, this will be on you to do. This isn’t something anyone else can do for you.

The person in the Chariot has already conquered much; you can see it in the city behind him. And now he is (you are) on your way to the next challenge. You are balanced in your drive for the most part, just keep it in mind to make sure it stays that way. You’re very success driven.

After reading the first two cards, I feel like this card (Two of Cups)represents the balancing act I spoke of earlier. Balancing your competitiveness as both your weakness and your strength. Balancing your self esteem with actual reality of what you’ve accomplished and what you deserve to reward yourself for, or at least sit for  a moment and pat yourself on the back.

The winged lion in this card mirrors the winged sphere in the Chariot, the symbol that flies at the front of the Chariot as if it’s a proclamation of who the person is, or what he stands for. It’s like a masthead or a coat of arms, or a flag, similar to those things. It’s a symbol of where you are. Given this symbol’s position in both cards, it seems to be saying that you will find success in whatever you do by keeping the truth of who you are in front of you and over you, guiding all that you do.

As untapped potential, this card represents as I said, the learning curve of your balancing acts. Balancing the inner aspects of your Self towards the attainment of your goals.

So in summary, this is what this journey holds for you.

Things to look out for are over thinking things, wasting time trying to conquer things you have already mastered, watching possible obsessive behaviour patterns, and knowing ahead of time that you may have some rocky ground to navigate, and being ready and willing to take it on. Being sure to balance your competitiveness with what is actually needed to take action on. REWARD yourself for WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED and then LET THE FIGHT FOR THOSE THINGS GO. Lean on the assistance that is offered you. There are crowns, and garlands, and laurels, “halos,” and wings all over these cards. Start taking a look at what you’ve already accomplished and the amazing being that you already are.

Some things that are already helping that you should keep doing: Keep exploring new ground, keep being true to your Self and your goals and values. Keep who you are in front of you at all times.

Works Cited

Esselmont,Brigit. “25 Easy 3 Card Spreads.” Read Tarot With   Confidence: Module 3.
Copyright Biddy Tarot.

Waite, Arthur E.. “Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot Deck.” Smith, Pamela C., Designer,
(Reissued in collaboration with Miss Sybil Waite and Rider & Company, London),
U.S. Games Systems, Inc., 2003, Stamford, CN.

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