Editor's Note: "Tarot Toss-Ups" present a brief scenario and an associated spread of cards. We "toss up" the story and cards...and everyone can chime in with ideas, interpretations, and insights! Leaving your own comment is fast and fun...and participating is a great way to learn more about Tarot!
Donna comes to you for a reading because she's concerned about her 14 year-old son. He seems moody lately, and Donna would like insight on how to best support him, as well as comunicate with him effectively.
You shuffle the cards and draw:
4 of Pentacles - Death - Queen of Swords
What would you suggest to Donna based on these cards?
As always, any notes on your interpretive techniques--why you say whatever you say--will be welcomed!
-- Janet Boyer
Images are from the Aquatic Tarot
4 0f Pents - This card represents a 14 year old very well in may ways...consumed by the material realm and confused by it as well. He seems to be holding something a bit too hard.
Death - This card marks the end of his childhood. He is becoming a man. She must come to terms with this herself and close the chapter on his boyhood.
Queen of Swords - It is not time to approach him from a more intellectual level. Mothers tend to nurture the emotional needs of their children, but now he needs his intellectual needs stimulated more.
Posted by: Gayla | October 23, 2007 at 02:06 PM
First thoughts...Death is the centre of attention. The boy is trying to hold onto something that has to end (4 of P). The mother (Q of S) can help by giving a clear view of the future, by being honest and frank about what he has to leave behind and teaching him to accept that letting go is part of life.
It seems the boy is reluctant to talk about it so the mum needs to be direct in attacking the problem.
Posted by: Lynda | October 23, 2007 at 02:36 PM
Well, I'm new at the cards.
From what I've been learning about interpretation, he's miserly, had a rebirth of thinking, and is becoming more intellectual.
But intuitively and because of the question, I see a more dramatic and upsetting story.
The 4 of pentacles means he's misered himself from the world. He's turned all his energy inside himself and isn't sharing anything with anyone.
Okay, here I may be going of the deep end, but I've got to be honest with what I see. This interpretation is going a little out on my own and may be completely off base, perhaps its a projection on my part.
I know the death card usually means rebirth, but it's right next to a woman presenting a weapon that can kill.
To me, this means he's feeling suicidal. If it was the king of swords, I'd say the card was more concerned with the direct action of suicide, but the queen of swords could represent the female energy of this concept which means he's feeling suicide out, going intuitively towards it, maybe not consciously or directly dealing with the issue yet, but it's an idea in the back of his mind. Something definitely floating there.
He needs to talk with people, so he can communicate what he's going through.
Attempting to get psychic, I can't exactly nail the level of suicidal intention. Perhaps because it's fluctuating. Perhaps because my getting psychic needs work.
In any case, if what I'm reading is right, I believe it's important to get him to open up and talk or have a good therapist get him to open up and talk, so you can get him the help he needs.
From my reading of the 4 of pentacles, it seems that _most_ of the battle will be getting him to talk.
Don't wait around and let him keep being moody in silence.
Posted by: David Alan Richards | October 23, 2007 at 03:20 PM
4 of Pentacles - Death - Queen of Swords
I would tell Donna, that the 4 of Pentacles says he is going through changes and doesn't know what to do. He's not a little boy nor is he a man. He feels lost. His moodiness is coming from confusion and anger. His fear is just making him stagnant and depressed.
The Death card is Destiny stepping in. He'll be forced to make changes anyway whether he likes it or not. Growing up is inevitable part of life. This is something he has not grasped yet.
Finally, The Queen of Swords I feel is part of you mom. That he needs your guidance to help him through this. He needs to be inspired. Talk to him how you felt growing up as a teen. Try to slowly find things he is interested now to help him feel more confident and mature. Don't let his moodiness upset you. Be clear and consistent to talk with him. Eventually you'll get through and be able to help him.
Now how did I come up with this. Well the cards talk and I do my best to listen. Then write down what I feel and hear.
Posted by: Michelle | October 23, 2007 at 05:38 PM
I think the cards suggests she is overprotective with the teenager and once she realize such attitude must change for good, she can be on her way to have open communication with her son.
Posted by: Flavio | October 23, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Great responses everyone! (And David...welcome to the world of Tarot! You did just fine. *smile*)
Anyone else want to chime in?
Janet
Posted by: Janet | October 23, 2007 at 10:07 PM
The Four of Pentacles tells me that the boy is clinging tightly to something -- very possibly an old way of life that is now changing.
The card of Death suggests that there is perhaps a major life change happening in the boy's life (part of which can certainly be his moving from boyhood to manhood). But perhaps Donna was recently separated or divorced, which can have a major impact on her son who clings tightly to the old way of life and finds it hard to accept changes. This card could even portray a significant move or relocation for which the boy is very unhappy about.
The Queen of Swords, to me, would suggest that Donna be there for her son as his mother. However, her son's moodiness may require that Donna be firm with him (but still loving of course). She may serve her son's interest best by being assertive, enforcing rules, and not letting his emotions be an out in which he can "get his way." Donna is naturally concerned about her son's moodiness and should pay attention to that. It's a time when she is called upon to be a strong, guiding parent to help her son be strong through changes as well.
Posted by: Velvet | October 25, 2007 at 12:05 AM
Unless he is really showing big signs of depression, or just normal adolescent withdrawal - I see that: She has provided him a stable home 4 of P, now he She realizes he has to go out into the world. She is losing her baby to the big bad world. Death. She needs to use her knowledge of the world and teach him about it. Queen of swords.
Posted by: Cat | October 25, 2007 at 09:53 AM
To me, the 4 of Pentacles tells me that the son is going through a lot of body issues, typical of a boy his age. He's pretty obsessed with what's happening to him physically (the guy in this card is hanging onto everything will all his might and is so occupied with it that he can't do anything else) and doesn't want to share these changes with her.
The Death card is a lesson for them both - this is a major milestone for him, as the boy 'dies' to make way for the man. For her its a lesson that the old ways of relating to him need to change - she's no longer the primary nurturer of his physical needs, as he has transformed into a more independent person capable and needing to start making his own choices and caring for himself without her.
The Queen of Swords tells her what sort of mothering he needs right now - first, she's facing away from the previous cards. He needs some privacy while he works through this, so she needs to avoid micromanaging him. She also needs to keep a clearheaded approach, keep tabs without being in his face or overly emotional about it and make sure the information he needs is available to him.
Posted by: le fey | October 26, 2007 at 03:21 PM
4 of Pentacles - Death - Queen of Swords
I don't see Donna's son as the main problem, I see Donna as having emotional blockage issues.
Part of her son's moodiness stems from the fact that she is unable to open her heart to him (4 of pent) in a more open & free manner. She is too rigid and fixed (#4) in her approach or role as a parent.
She needs to change her attitude (Death) with her son's process in order to understand better.
The Queen of Swords points to her own pain and she will continue to treat her son without much emotional warmth.
The best way for Donna to support her son is by putting down her sword of intelligence and by getting in touch with her own "feelings" first.
Pentacle covers her heart, she sits high on the horse above everyone else & continues to hold sword in her hand. No wonder the kid is moody lol.
Posted by: Madame Seaqueen | October 27, 2007 at 12:59 AM