(357) Saju and tarot cards: their collaborative reading

By Janet Shin

Tarot cards are often read for events such as family or friend gatherings and for some annual parties, like New Year’s Day. Last Lunar New Year’s Day, I was invited to a family party and read fortunes through tarot cards. Usually, tarot readings are conducted in a relaxed atmosphere without being too serious. It was just an annual ritual to read the coming fortune for the New Year when all the family members were at home.

When the eldest daughter of the family opened her cards, we were all stunned at the images her cards revealed. Among the first three cards selected, the last one was ``Ten of swords’’ stabbed in one’s back. Upon picking up two additional cards to confirm the reading, one was ``Nine of swords’’ and the other ``Magician.’’

The eldest daughter, aged 53, did not look positive as all the cards came across as negative. She interpreted the situation to be alluding to the backache she had, which might have resulted in this card selection.

Having known her saju in which a wood branch is chopped by this year’s metal element, I called her to forward my concern. She answered with what recently happened to her family. Her mother had an urgent operation due to a spinal disk problem. Although she was over 80, the family had to confirm the back surgery as it was too painful for the aging mother. The whole family had to share their time and effort to attend the mother’s bedside.

Fortunately, they met a competent surgeon and the operation was quite successful. Now the mother is able to stand and walk by herself.

The ``No. 3 Empress’’ card, selected as the first one out of three, represents a mother who has a strong maternal instinct but sometimes is acute and temperamental. This refers to the mother. ``Eight of wands,’’ the second one, represents rapid progression. They indeed made a quick decision to conduct the operation due to severe pain in the mother’s back. ``Nine of swords’’ reminds us of worries, troubles and hospitalization. Lastly the ``Magician’’ card represents a versatile person, often referring to an expertise.

Tarot cards, with mysterious images and some symbolic numbers and colors, divulge interesting readings. Furthermore it is efficient to share the impression with the clients. Of course, they do not epitomize the situation in question directly; but rather manifest it in a figurative manner, which can be interpreted by an inspired tarot master.

Are you interested in learning more about the ancient Chinese teachings, the "Four Pillars of Destiny" and Oriental ways of fortunetelling or fortunetellers? Janet teaches saju for the public at Seoul National University of Education. For further information, visit Janet's website at www.janetshin.modoo.at or her blog, https://blog.naver.com/janet_shin. You can also contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin.kor@gmail.com. The writer is the author of "Life's Secrets."