#three cards or a full specific reading regarding one thing

[moonlight-prose]

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[soaringwide]

PAC: How to overcome your fears regarding relationships?

Hey :p

Here is a new love pick a card about a topic I've personally been struggling with recently, so I really wanted to dive into it.

The goal of today's reading is to look at what fears you're dealing with in matters of relationships; fears that might manifest as blockages or obstacles in your love life; and how to overcome them.

As always, this reading is meant for multiple people and there are only three piles, so take what resonates and leave out the rest. It can help focusing on your issue or a specific relationship while selecting the pile.

I offer paid readings as well, don't hesitate to reach out to me in DMs.

Ko-fi ★ book a reading ★ pinned post ★ instagram

PILE 1

Cards: 3 of Swords, 9 of Pentacles, King of Wands, Queen of Wands, Slow Down, King of Pentacles, Manic, Queen of Swords, King of Cups, Queen of Cups, 2 of Pentacles, 5 of Pentacles, the World, 7 of Wands, the Magician, the Emperor

Your fears surrounding relationship have to do with heartbreak and loss. It seems you've had your heart wounded deeply in the past. The pain was intense and it took you so long to sooth it, and you had to use all your resources to revive yourself from this state. You had to learn to be independent and flourish for your own sake, to tend to your own inner garden and make a life beautiful and enjoyable for yourself. So you not only are scared to get your heart broken again, but also to lose your individuality and the peace you built for yourself. I think you are attracted to people like you, strong individuals with ambition and passion, but you're scared it's going to get in the way of your own path and vision and lead you apart, breaking your heart once more. I believe you overthink quite a lot and expect things to go wrong before they even do.

These fears are rooted in your relentless mind, forever going full speed from one extreme to the other, in a frenetic quest for meaning and movement. It seems you have trouble feeling satisfied by anything for long because you're always looking at the next adventure, the next prize, the next achievement. It's not that you're ungrateful or anything, but rather, that you are scared you're going to be left with nothing if you stop trying to fix what's wrong in your life. You keep looking for problem to solve, perhaps due to your triggered survival instinct, and it's hard for you to stop and appreciate what you have. So the root of your fears is in your own mind, in the pathways you built years after years and that you solidified. It seems you have a hard time finding your balance, go with the flow and stay in the appreciation of the present.

These fears manifest in relationships by a hard grip on your feelings by your mind. See, your feelings are strong and run deep, and they can get overwhelming very easily. As a result, you react by dissecting them like some freaky science experiment and try to break everything down to understand them, but also to keep them under the control of your logic. It's kind of a toxic pattern, an abusive move from yourself towards yourself. Your words can be harsh and hot tempered because you feel hurt easily and can blow things out of proportions fast. You're so scared of losing your agency and getting hurt that it makes you hyper aware of every little blow at your heart and you go to war a bit too easily. I'd also say that paradoxically, you have a hard time being honest about your feelings and communicating them in a gentle and open way. You may even wait till things become unbearably painful before saying anything, instead of acting earlier when the need arose the first time. You struggle with the idea of vulnerability a lot and perhaps your way around that is to wait till it feels like it's the other person's fault for hurting you instead of your own inability to express yourself authentically.

For what external influences play a part here, I'd say first that you have a strong personal sense of what you need from life and relationships, but that you doubt yourself a lot. You keep comparing yourself to what others have, or what society expects and this is making you feel depleted and resource-less. It's like, people say one thing, and you know it's wrong, but for some reason you keep entertaining the idea even though you know it's rotten and useless for you. In addition, you also feel pressed by time, as if you felt you were following some type of transcending schedule you had to abide by, and if you are late or out of sync, then that means you are failing and it's causing your fears to intensify. This is making your fears worse because these expectations weight on your mind and make you feel broken and worsen you destructive patterns.

For how to overcome your fears, your first need to let go of the struggle mindset. No, life is not out there to get you and you aren't going to lose everything if you dare opening up to love. You are too defensive of your heart and too combative in your approach. You need to replace that mindset by bringing all elements of yourself in harmony. Your mind shouldn't fight your emotions, your passion shouldn't clash with the respect of your boundaries. What I'm trying to say is to take a look at what you're over-doing and what you're neglecting, and bring some balance within yourself. You must also bring clarity in your mind about what it is you want and hold the vision, knowing that you will find what you need when the right opportunity arises. Also, don't hesitate to advocate your your needs and wants. Not like a tyrant, but like someone who knows themselves and know what's best for them, and go after whom they desire without fear. Yes, the battles of the heart are scary and it can be hard to go for what you want due to the fear of loss and pain, but you need to make a conscious decision to not only open up, but also let the other person know where you stand. Trust in your magic, your skills and power, you have everything that you need to succeed.

PILE 2

Cards: 4 of Swords, the Magician, the Star, Inner Awareness, Let Go rx, Queen of Pentacles, the Fool, 5 of Swords, 10 of Cups, Jealousy rx, Optimism, Queen of Cups, Page of Wands, 3 of Pentacles, Death

Your fears regarding relationship come up as fearing your hopes and dreams won't manifest. You are a romantic, a dreamer who has a beautiful and idealistic idea of what love can and should be, but you're struggling to find it. You may currently be in a state of isolation and afraid of it will never end, and that you'll be missing out on the joys of love. You are highly in tune with your higher desires, have a strong faith in the vision you have for the relationship you dream of, however, you're also highly scared that this will not become a reality, because you worry you do not have what it takes to reach your dream. I'd also say you're painfully aware of you own flaws and issues, and you worry you won't be accepted as you are.

The root cause of these fears shows up as a struggle to let go of your need to control and predict when the situation would require to simply take a step forward and embark on an adventure without worrying about the future. You may have been neglecting your love life for a while before this moment, not leaving enough space for relationships to bloom, because you perceived it as a treat for your well being at the time, which might simply mean that you hadn't met the right person or at the right time, and I think it shows up here because these disappointments made you very wary and careful about love and it's holding you back presently.

These fears manifest in your relationships by placing too high of an expectation from the get go on them. This gap between reality and dream is putting pressure on the relationship and on yourself. You may see the relationship as failing and struggling to communicate because you feel so vindicated. You might know that your approach is not working, but failing to understand why, and thinking things were not meant to be as a result, circling back on this idea of fated and perfect love. You may also compare the relationship to the ideal in your mind excessively, which is creating even more tension, anger and frustration, because it doesn't match your ideal.

For the external influences, it seems your current mindset was shaped by an environment that didn't encourage honest and authentic communication of your emotions, needs and desires. Paradoxically, you were told to always remain optimistic and hopeful, that things would always work out without effort, but without giving you the keys to how to work towards that in reality. It's as if it fed into your dreamy nature without allowing you to understand how to build the bridge between dream and reality. You didn't learn the power of your actions and how to take accountability for them, which is again feeding this imbalance between your inner world and the reality of a lived relationship. Also, circling back on the fear of not being accepted I highlighted in the first paragraph, this is also linked to your lack of skills in communication, because you expect people to understand you without having to express yourself, which is unfair to them.

For how to overcome these fears, the cards point at a few things. First, we're being led back to this idea of embarking on an adventure, with passion and confidence, and stepping out of your comfort zone. You must learn that the way you are approaching things is not working and need a deep transformation. You must learn from the mistakes of your past and start anew. Look at the future with hope but take actions toward what you desire. Also, keep in mind this idea that building a relationship requires team work and constant effort, and that things will not always be perfect and dreamy. Some days will be hard, but it doesn't mean they will never be sweet. Be open minded and enthusiastic and learn not to draw hasty conclusions on the relationship or on your person.

PILE 3

Cards: 3 of Pentacles, Page of Pentacles, 10 of Wands, Joy rx, 10 of Pentacles, 10 of Swords, 7 of Pentacles, King of Wands rx, King of Pentacles, Ace of Pentacles, 2 of Cups, 8 of Wands, Forgive rx, Intuition rx, 4 of Pentacles, the Hermit, Knight of Cups

Okay so heads up, this file feels a bit like the results of your own doing.

Your fears regarding relationships have to do with the idea of being burdened with responsibilities and losing access to the usual ways you find joy in life. I'm getting strong fear of commitment. That a committed relationship could get in the way of your present social life, friends and party habits. I see you quite mesmerized by what looks like glitter, as in, what seems attractive and exciting in the moment, which makes you ignore everything else that is around it because you're so fixated on what's in front of you. Basically, it seems like a lot of work and sacrifices for a reward that seems unsure and unsatisfying, and you fear that.

This is all rooted in what seems to be a fear of endings, as in, you fear closing a chapter of your life, both because of the pain of closing such chapter will cause (grief for a time of your life that is gone), as well as for the loss of the pleasures that come with it. You also fear things slowing down and being out of your hands, that your happiness won't depend from your own will only anymore and that you would have to work for it with someone. However, you of course don't see that behind every ending is a new beginning, and that things might not be as clear cut and as desperate and you imagine them to be. It's a bit over dramatic I feel.

This manifest in relationship by a bit of a toxicity if I'm completely honest. The cards point at rigidity and stubbornness as well as pent up anger and passive aggressiveness towards your partner. You might get fed up of them easily, because you feel restricted in your freedom. There is an inability to look past your own trauma and you're pushing its patterns onto your partner instead of addressing them directly. You end up hurting the both of you on the process.

For the external influences, I feel like there may be a connection that is triggering all these wounds for you here. Perhaps someone you were not expecting, someone who wish to come into union with you, to communicate freely and to make you a solid romantic offer. You sense that and it's making you spiral. This connection is putting pressure on you by asking you to make amends with the way you act and to own up to your bullshit (sorry). It may also trigger your intuition that is trying to tell you something, which you are refusing to listen to.

How to overcome these challenges then? The cards point at a need for a deep, thoughtful introspective journey, which will lead you to let go of your resistance to change. You're currently holding everything in, and I'm getting the image of a dam that is about to break down, little cracks growing and growing, and you're trying to cover them with your hands, but it's a losing battle. You need to learn to come forward, be vulnerable and authentic with your feelings and move towards what calls your heart without negating your deeper feelings and intuition. Make amends to you heart and pay attention to its whispers.

[twst-hottest-takes]

In your opinion, rank the books from worst to best. (You can include/not include the Prologue and Book 7(cause it ain’t done yet))

*Cracks knuckles*

Okay, I'm about to do my darndest.

Ranking TWST story chapters based off my own personal criteria and opinions:

Disclaimer: This will be very subjective and opinionated.

If you've read any of my other similar posts you'll know the drill. No one is obligated to agree with me, this is just how I order things, as asked for by Anon here.

Starting With the Worst!

Book 5: They had 75 chapters and wasted so much time lollygagging. I love the twistunes/rythmics but we didn't need to do the instrumental of "Piece of My World" three times. Extra points lost for the EN server not getting the "Hi-Ho" twistune. This chapter suffered a lot from character bloat. Kalim and Jamil were really back-seated and while I love Deuce and Epel in this chapter it doesn't make up for the fact that they take up a lot of space where Scarabia should have been shining. Also, we didn't need to check in on what every single character we've met so far was doing during the culture fair. That's side-story junk. Oh and if you've read my first essay on how Vil sucks as a character you'll know that's the biggest pitfall. His writing is inconsistent and abyssmal and I don't feel bad about the cause of his diva tantrum. They had a lot to work with and squandered 80% of it. On top of that the MC is more of a side character than usual and is pretty much relegated to a plot device--OH AND GRIM ATTACKS US AT THE END!

(P.S. I voted for RSA too.

Book 2: This one hurts my soul. It's above Book 5 because it doesn't waste as much time and I am way more invested in Leona as a character than Vil. That being said, the writing is still pretty bad. Leona's plot and motives make him look like a total idiot loser, and they don't even try to treat the sabotage plot as an actual mystery. We have some half decent intrgue in the plot but the explanation for why events are happening is maddeningly underwhelming (again because it makes Leona [who is supposed to be smart, mind you] look like an idiot). When people say this book feels like early game content for the sake of early game content, you can see why. Oh, but on the bright side the MC is treated like a participant in the events (though they end up with a concussion because of Grim. . .again). That becomes disappointingly less common as the story continues.

Book 7: For now it goes here. As of the EN updates it would go higher because the Diasomnia arc is actually really compelling, but I know what's coming and guess what? THEY ARE WASTING TIME AGAIN! Book 7 gets points for actual good writing (almost like you can tell who they put the most effort into). The MC has a personal stake and a bit of influence on this story because of the relationship with Malleus that's been being established over the last few chapters. However, they are dilluting the good parts with the dream hopping nonsense which does NOT need to go on for as long as it has been. The new cards are a lot of fun, sure, I like fanservice, but I have my limits when it cuts into the main events. Also, no twistunes yet.

Prologue: Very much a perfect mid point on this list. A pretty solid start to the story. Nothing too fancy, but I figured I'd add it in here because it does fairly well to set expectations for the rest of the story. It gives us the basics of the minigame elements and the first gacha is always memorable. Nothing too fabulous, but a potential fun romp full of bishie shenanigans. Bonus points for the animated OP they played at the end. Mid to the max in the most flattering way I can mean that.

Book 3: The writing is pretty streamlined in this one. I don't have much bad to say about Azul other than his backstory is a little generic and his actions regarding the MC specifically make it hard (for me) to feel bad for him. Savanaclaw got a much better spotlight in this chapter than their actual featured chapter. My major gripe with this Book is that the MC is written to have the IQ of a salad bar. Stupid for the sake of the plot is one of the most annoying things for me, especially considering this is supposed to be the player insert. I hate being forced to put a dunce cap on just so that nonsense can happen. Leona has every right to call us dumdums, we didn't ask for a lawyer or even try to read the fine print on that contract! Otherwise? The writing only gets better (on the ranking list) from here.

These last three will basically reflect what I said in my Overblot ranking. Trying to order them is tough because they're all pretty strong, but I'm managing somehow.

Book 1: A great start to the main game. Riddle is hard to beat as far as antagonists go. He sets up the pattern for the future chapters super well and is a fairly well written character. There is just the right amount of exposition, the cast isn't overwhelming, and the finale is really well put together. Riddle feels like he actually had an arc, which results in the slightest difference in character that can result in further development down the line, and he wasn't let off the hook too easily for all the grief he put everyone through (something we can't say for most everyone else). If the rest of the chapters had been handled with this level of care this list would be a lot harder to make.

Book 6: Would be number one if it didn't have my first and foremost issue of feeling like it wastes my time. Not to a very extreme degree despite the length, but all those tower battles took soooo long. . .I just have to take some points off for that. That gripe aside, it's generally well written, the character interactions are pretty fun, the MC is useless but actually is trying to be involved. We get to be separated from Grim for a while, and stop the apocalypse from happening. Of course, the finishing touch is that Idia's story is very different from everyone who came before him. His characterization is consistent with what we've seen up until this point and his backstory and motivation for overblotting all check out. We got some good lore out of it, and a break from school based teen shenanigans. It hit me in the feels and escalated the stakes significantly without feeling too over the top. I'll also knock is down a peg for not having any twistunes to break up the monotony.

Book 4: Surprised to see this one at the top? (Bottom) Well it was a hard pick, but I'd say I just enjoyed it more than Book 6. The cast was whittled down, the MC isn't a total idiot and even though they get manipulated by Jamil, it's cathartic when we get to participate in the scheming against him towards the end. While I was a bit bored of the repetition between the first couple of days trapped in Scarabia, it's not that bad and does set up the conflict of Kalim being manipulated rather well. Palling around with Octavinelle as allies instead of opponents was great. Jamil is a good antagonist, who again is consistently characterized and well written. The icing on the cake is Ace and Deuce responding to our distress signal at the end of the chapter! It made me audibly "Awwww" because hey, who can blame the poor MC for thinking that up until this point no one really cared about them unless it was in the name of manipulating them? So yeah, Book 4 is my favorite. Best shenanigans, fun twistunes, straightforward and coherent plot that at least tried to make the mystery mysterious (even though we all knew what was going on from the start, let's be honest here), and the character moments are fantastic!

And there you have it! My thoughts on ranking the major arcs in the main story of TWST so far. I hope this is what you were looking for, Anon! I'm sorry this one took a little longer to answer, but I wanted to make sure I had all my ducks in a row when it came to putting this one together, while also not being excruciatingly detailed.

Now. . .

. . .what does everyone else think? Feel free to reblog, comment, or respond with whether or not you agree with how I ranked the various books and let's talk about it a bit more.

Thank you for asking!

[gladstones-corner]

On Tarot Reading Methods

Recently, I’ve seen some posts regarding how tarot “should” be read—especially for beginners. I want to clear the air: I find such posts reductive and limiting. There is no wrong answer for reading tarot. Some prefer larger spreads to read patterns and trends; other prefer smaller spreads to be more intimate with each card.

While this blog typically covers forging your own path from an intermediate to advanced standpoint, it’s worth revisiting the basics with a trained eye from time to time. So, this post will examine two competing approaches towards tarot: the card based and pattern based methods.

Before anything else, I want to say one more thing. These approaches form two ends of a spectrum. When beginners start reading tarot, they typically pick one of two camps. After some time, though, readers should move towards the center of the spectrum until they find their particular balance.

Therefore, this post does not claim that one is better than the other—it is simply a comparison of methods. Choosing one happens at your discretion.

One last note before we get started: this commentary applies primarily to the following tarot decks and their major derivatives:

Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot

Thoth Tarot

Hermetic Tarot

Builders of the Adytum Tarot

Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Decks such as The Wildwood Tarot, which are based on their own system of correspondences, should have at least a surface level interpretation of them in the accompanying handbook. From there, you can apply some of this commentary—but primarily I’ll be speaking from within my tradition in this post.

Okay, with all that out of the way, let’s get started.

Card Based Reading

In this method, the querent asks their question, then looks at each card in isolation before comparing the picture as a whole. Many who do this believe that each card’s depth offers a full answer on its own. This can be a convincing argument, given how many associations a single card can have:

Visual description

Motifs

General interpretation

Specific interpretation (consciousness, relationships, etc.)

Associated archetypes

Numbers

Correlations to other divination systems

Astrological correspondences

Deities and mythologies

Honored days

Stones, herbs, and natural phenomena

And so forth.

Of course, the drawback is that it is easy to get lost in all the interpretations and leave with more questions than answers. However deep you reach, there are still deeper layers. For example, Scorpio’s appearance in the Death card of the Thoth tarot comes with a slew of its own correspondences, which have their own correspondences, and so forth. As a result, those who begin with the card based method tend to favor smaller card spreads, such as single daily pulls and three-card spreads.

Pattern Based Method

Querents in this method ask their question, then rely on the relationship of the cards as a whole as opposed to the deeper meanings of each individual card. Proponents tend to argue that tarot is a fluid act with a flow to it, and as such nothing can be read in a vacuum. This can also be a convincing argument, as it encourages readers to see the forest through the trees for a more complete textual analysis.

However, in focusing on comparison between cards, you can lose some of the deeper meaning. For example, unless multiple cards have astrological symbolism (e.g. Death’s Scorpio and Lust’s Leo), it’s easy to forgo the astrological correspondences of any single card. Thus, deeper layers of connection can go undiscovered. As a result, those who begin with the pattern based method tend to favor larger spreads, such as three-card daily pulls and variations of the Celtic Cross.

Comparing the Two Methods

As previously stated, starting with either of the methods is a matter of personal preference, so long as it doesn’t limit you. Note that three-card spreads are popular among both methods; try reading the same three-card spread with both methods and see which you like more.

Let’s take a look at an example: a three-card spread could be composed of a Body card, Mind card, and Spirit card. Each one explains a facet of the Self that we should be aware of for the proceeding week. Using the Thoth tarot, we get the following:

Body: VIII – Adjustment

Mind: XIV – Art

Spirit: 0 – The Fool

In the single card method, we look at how Adjustment affects our Body, how Art affects our Mind, and how The Fool affects our Spirit. We may find commonalities as a byproduct, but in essence the single question “what do I need to be aware of” has yielded three distinct answers.

We flip through our favorite interpretation book (in my case, The Crowley Tarot by Akron and Hajo Banzhaf) and find all the deep symbolism in each answer. For brevity’s sake, let’s summarize:

Body: take better care of the body through disciplined nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

Mind: find balance of the mind by facing cognitive dissonance and overcoming it.

Spirit: approach life with a sense of newness and openness.

Should we use the pattern based method, we look at all three cards at once. We examine colors, common imagery, even numerical similarity—nothing is off the table. A quick glance at our favorite interpretation book gives us the surface meanings, but beyond that we rely entirely on the imagery present. For brevity’s sake, let’s summarize here as well:

The Self needs a balance of openness and discipline to fully find peace. Where the Body revels in patterns and structure, the Spirit revels in freedom. In the Mind these come together and cause stress. To overcome it, allow both their space.

Either method will net the same broad strokes; the difference is the road taken to get there.

Finding Balance Between the Two

So far, we’ve discussed the merits and drawbacks of each method. We also looked at a sample reading and how to apply each method. That’s all well and good, but how do we find a balance between the two?

The answer is that it depends on your preferences and access to the wider world of correspondences beyond those in your interpretation book. Typically, the answer also depends on the context of the reading as well. I sometimes use a modified spread from The Psychonaut’s Field Manual by Archtraitor Bluefluke. It looks like this:

The core of the question

What could help

What could hinder

The catalyst to the situation

Possible Outcome 1

Possible Outcome 2

Possible Outcome 3

Cards 1-4 use the pattern based method. This allows me to see the trajectory of the situation and how the different factors interact with each other. However, cards 5-7 use the card based method. This is because each outcome is distinct, so to view them concurrently makes little sense.

The main point is to find a balance that works for you. The sheer amount of correspondences for the tarot is so vast that you can play to your strengths. In keeping with the theme of the post, if you’re an astrologer, you can leverage your knowledge of astrological correspondences.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading. I want to stress one more time that neither method is superior to the other. Both are equally valid; both are equally necessary to a full-fledged reading. Finding your particular balance is going to take time and practice, but it’s well worth it.

Until next time, stay safe and stay tuned. Blessed be.

[inkblackorchid]

Hello! First off I want to thank you for these amazing stories you’ve written! Admittedly the best Yusei/Aki stories I’ve ever read, in my opinion. This is actually how I discovered 5d’s. I came across your story ‘Snapping jaws and piercing horns’ and no kidding I thought Yusei and Aki were a couple in the anime. (I was also confused on how Aki lost against Andre - you wrote it so precisely I thought it happened in the anime also!) However, I was wondering if you could make a scenario where they have an argument, which of course happens in relationships. I wanted to see what they were arguing about and how they dealt with it. Thank you and have a nice day!

Hiiii! Thank you for reading my stories, I'm glad you enjoy them! And wow, that's really, really high praise. It makes me super happy to hear the stories almost tricked you into thinking they were canon, haha. (I'll admit I wrote them wishing they were, lol.)

Now, as far as an argument between Aki and Yusei is concerned—I'll admit the idea has tickled my brain from time to time, but believe it or not, that's harder to set up than you think. And not because I don't think they argue (everyone does, whether they're a couple or not), but because of the understanding I have of the canon characters and the way my stories play out. I have a feeling this answer might get longer than it strictly needs to be, so uh... Hope you're up for that.

Here's the thing: I think these two have fairly different tempers when it comes to arguments and fairly different priorities in that regard, too. I'd go as far as saying it's canon that Aki definitely has the shorter fuse between them. She's more likely to get worked up at all, and she's more likely to get worked up about things that may not be super important, either. Meanwhile, as far as my memory of canon serves, it's hard to get Yusei worked up at. all. Full stop. And that's not because he doesn't get angry, but because it seems like he only expends the energy to argue with someone when it's about a really big thing. We see him argue with the Goodwin brothers about fate. Big thing. We see him argue with the prison chief about the value of cards. Big thing, because we know believing no card is worthless is a central aspect of Yusei's character. We also see him argue with Rudger/Roman about the Zero Reverse, which is a very big thing, because it's the most personal topic in the entire show for Yusei by far. However, we don't see him partake in any of Jack and Crow's squabbles or otherwise argue about minor things. You get the gist.

What's more, we only see Yusei argue with Aki, specifically, a whopping three times in the whole show, maybe four if we're being generous. Two of those times are during their two big duels, where Yusei's arguing with Aki for the sake of her own well-being, because he's trying to convince her she's not a monster, the third time is when Aki is literally jumping from a moving vehicle to another because he's—understandably—concerned for her safety, and the fourth time is when he's technically arguing with the whole 5Ds team by insisting he should go to Ark Cradle alone, which everyone else justifiably insists is a terrible idea. (What's noteworthy is that this is, again, a matter of safety. So we know there's one thing that reliably gets Yusei worked up: The worry that people he loves might be in danger.)

Here's where my personal interpretation of these two comes in, then. I think that frankly, for any person with a halfway "average" temper, Yusei is an absolute nightmare to argue with. Because unless the topic's big enough to get him worked up, too, he just won't argue. Worse yet, if someone's just picking a fight to let off steam, I see him as the type of guy who immediately figures out the underlying issue and starts talking about that instead. And if you've ever been in the position of wanting to snap at someone about nothing because you needed to let off steam, you'll know that a person like that is the worst. target. of all time. for that kind of outburst. Because they start poking at the vulnerable thing you didn't want to talk about instead, and this is exactly how I see Yusei. This is the same guy who, within his very first duel with Aki, figured out that try as she might to pretend she does for Divine's sake, she doesn't actually enjoy hurting people with her powers, after all—something we know she wasn't thrilled to hear at the time.

Aki, on the other hand, I could see occasionally get frustrated with something and then short-tempered with other people because of it. I don't think she can be moved to an outburst of truly catastrophic proportions unless it's about something big, either. But Aki would be a hundred times quicker to snap at someone without really meaning to, and wouldn't need world-shaking reasons to start arguing with people, either. But with Yusei on the other end of the argument? Unless it was about something fundamental, she wouldn't get much of a reaction because he'd be quick to guess she's actually upset about something completely different than she claims to be. He'd see right through her, which would possibly only piss Aki off even more.

So, let's finally get back to your central question: In what scenario would these two genuinely argue, then? The closest to it I've personally ever gotten in my stories was in chapter two of Be Careful what you Wish for, and that was similar to what I described above: Aki was high-strung for a completely unrelated thing and wanted to kick off an argument to let off steam. Except that time, she caught herself because she knew she'd basically be yelling at Yusei for no reason.

If I wanted a situation where they'd genuinely fight, though, it'd have to be about something big. About some moral dilemma, about someone's safety, or hell, about one of the few topics that get under both their skin. Something even Yusei would consider worth the effort to get worked up about, and something that isn't a front for something else. I don't think it'd be the most explosive argument, at least not from both sides, and I don't think it'd be overly drawn-out, either, but it certainly wouldn't be any less heart-wrenching for it. Because when you argue about big things, you inevitably argue in the worst of ways. Aki would probably be louder and meaner, but Yusei's arguments would cut deeper. I think they'd both feel bad about it fairly quickly, too, but who would apologise first would depend on what the argument was about, I think, and whether either of them was more "in the right" from a purely logical standpoint. I think generally speaking, Aki would be a little more hesitant about apologising, not because she can't admit she's wrong, but because she has a harder time swallowing her pride than Yusei when she knows she's wrong. Between the two of them, I think Yusei is also less likely to hold a grudge; when he forgives someone, he forgives them, period, whereas Aki sometimes has a slightly harder time letting go due to her own past experiences.

But yeah! That's how I see these two, at least. As for whether a full argument between them will ever feature in my writing, that depends on whether I could properly set it up. (It looks like there might be an opportunity to let them clash in the fic I'm currently writing... maybe. If the rest of the plot doesn't end up taking up an unreasonable amount of space already.)

Sorry for the long answer, these kinds of questions just really make me think ^^"

[mystictarotcafe]

@bluebutterfliese;

Here is the answer to your request. What I felt while reading your message sent to in search of a new deck I've been waiting to use. It seems it likes you so I am using it and a 5 Card spread.

Spread: 1: (center) present, 2: (left) The past, 3: (Current Future), 4: Beneath 1 or bottom)Unseen influences, 5: (Above 1, or top) Hidden potential.

Deck: Tarot of the Divine by: Yoshi Yoshitani

Reading:

1: Page of Wands: Childlike optimism, playful, discovery, person in your life that is quick to love and quick to anger, if it resonates with you yourself it means you are a kind and considerate soul.

Is there someone in your life that is moody? Rather a silly question isn't it? We all have someone we interact with that fits that description and you being a kind person are sensitive to their mood swings. Focus on what is theirs to deal with and separate it from what is yours. You are not responsible for this persons emotions. Only your own. Be true to your inner child and the you that you are.

2. The moon: Anguish, deception, relief, enlightenment, trickery.

This tells me that you have been through rough situations and survived. You are intuitive and the moon has been there lighting your path to enlightenment. The moon allows us to see ourselves as we truly are in all three of it's forms (maid, mother, crone). It is the light in the darkness. Listen to your dreams as they unfold and follow your intuition regarding them. They have something to say but you need to be open to hearing it or it will simply pass into the dark and forgotten. During this time any storms you are dealing with will start to wane.

3: Knight of Cups: Affection, chivalry, meaningful gifts, taking action, romantic dreamer that is a pure and innocent soul, easily lead, restless and seeking their personal holy grail, returning.

If you do nothing at all this is the future that is most likely. I find knights are full of action. They are the take care of the business that is put to them. This specific knight may be someone who is coming from across water. They are amicable and respond quickly to any form of contact but they lack the ability to see things through to the end. Here you are looking for the "perfect love" as your holy grail. It is as hard to come by but just as great a treasure. You've either recently met, reunited, or are going to meet the person I described above. The one that lacks the ability to see things through. This is your current path but most likely not the best one for what you are in search of. Easily led and lack of commitment and follow through are a part of their personality. Look to card 4 for ideas on how to change this path.

4: 10 of Cups: Harmony, domestic bliss, found family, security, peace and/or peace making, lasting love or friendship, hearts desire.

This card is full of unseen influences that may change the path you are on. You may find yourself in a reunion with loved ones or old friends. For this card to influence your life you need to do some soul searching and look deep inside at your inner self. Look at the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly or horrifying. Face them. It will take time but it will lead you to your true hearts desire and harmony within yourself. If you are honest with yourself when looking inward then card 5 could come into play.

5: Knight of Swords: Brave, confident, active, pure hearted, passing of misfortune.

This is a possible future path outcome as a change occurs inside you. Things move swiftly, that's why the knight has a steed, so be ready for the rollercoaster affect. Things move swiftly but you shouldn't jump into anything. Take your time. This card represents someone who is brave, intelligent, loyal, faithful (pure hearted), and a good companion. Are these traits you'd like in a FS? Father for your children? Maybe it's what you'll find inside that will draw your special someone to you?

You have the ability to guide yourself by listening to yourself, talking to trusted allies, and embracing your all.

From the cards you are a kind soul looking for comfort, security, lasting love, and a caring partner for you and your children. You've got a childlike charm and liveliness that people are attracted too. Your soul mate will reflect these with a pure heart, caring nature, intelligence, protectiveness (bravery), along with being active in life. To obtain these things for yourself you need to embrace all of you so they can embrace these parts, too. Take your time to deal with what needs dealt with. There's no hurry. Your knight is most likely looking for you, too.

Image won't rotate for me, sorry.

[theninthdoor]

chenle || a look into 2023 (part II); tarot reading

(In Part I: General View of His 2023 ⭒ His Role/Attitude ⭒ Swords || Mental State.)

⭒ Cups || Emotional State: cards: six of cups reversed, three of cups reversed

This one is quite simple… While he has outgrown his emotional connections, he might still be refusing to acknowledge it and adapt his behaviour, and so it becomes very messy very easily. There could be constant misunderstandings and petty fights, as everyone seems to be stuck in the past and refusing to act their age. They can't see eye to eye because they aren't able to look at each other as they are in the present moment. He's getting older (obviously lol), and so he could be having a hard time dealing with adulthood and how friendships are during this period of our lives. Things aren't as they were, people aren't the same as before, and sometimes that's hard to accept, leading then to a lot of loneliness and resentment. Growing up is bittersweet...

⭒ Pentacles || Career/Financial State: cards: three of pentacles reversed, four of pentacles

These were the exact same cards that we got for Jaehyun??? That does make me wonder if part of the delays and problems we'll be seeing with their careers is actually more general to NCT than specific to a member or two... Things just aren't running smoothly with them. Like I said here: "There isn’t a clear plan for how things will move forward, so it just feels like everybody is working against each other as they can’t come to an understanding." Now- I got two separate messages regarding this: First, a lot of things aren't being properly explained to the members. Everything is planned without their involvement, and only later is it present to them as a final something that they just have to execute. That's it. There could also be many people there that don't know each other well enough (and each other's work style), so that also makes it harder for the members to complete these tasks to the best of their abilities. Secondly, they can't even pretend to look excited and motivated anymore, since it just feels like all of their hardwork is for nothing. Their skills aren't being put to good use and many don't get the right opportunities to showcase their talents. (This is basically what I kept hearing: The stage is too full and we're all stepping on each other's toes.) At last, as we saw with Jaehyun, Chenle still has financial stablility in 2023, regardless of the disruptions that might come up in his career. Money might not come as abundantly as before, but he's certainly able to get a comfortable income.

⭒ Wands || Energy/Creative State: cards: ace of wands, two of wands reversed

2023 will be a very creative and active year for Chenle. He might start a new hobby (ie. a sport), or find a renewed passion for his current activities. He's taking initiative and thinking outside of the box, and perhaps even motivating others to do the same as a result of his drive and excitement. Chenle might become a little more daring and confident, as well. That could then be seen through his demeanour or style; or even through something career related, such as a new solo/group project or the usual YT content that they release every once in a while. Overall, he's just very excited to try something new that will keep him active and allow for his creativity to flow freely. However, he still might not be able to go as far as he would like to or he might not even want to go too far out of his current position. Either because of insecurities, lack of opportunities or inability to plan things out properly, he will hold himself back from venturing into places that aren't familiar to him yet. So, essentially, he's very active but we won't see any extreme progress.

(Disclaimer: all readings are alleged and for entertainment purposes only.)

[guardian5tiger3]

Hi, how are you? Thank you for offering free readings. I’m single right now so I would like to ask what’s coming towards me in love for the rest of the year? - JD♍️

I knew I liked you you're actually synchronistic for me! I have an old friend named JD and I'm a Virgo moon:) nice. Your first card is temperance.

Definitely you are being very balanced the rest of this year and onward. But I actually got the three of swords and the fool..so yah something might happen or it already did and I just got the strength card so you're definitely doing your best to stay clean from it and keep it moving..I'm getting that you should try to get out there and talk to other people even if it's just chilling with your friends but also it would be nice for you to get to know "the scene" and see what kind of options are out there so maybe just talking to strangers to get to know different people and open your mind up to different options that will be out there. Just kind of exploring energy and figuring out what you really want. Somebody might end up offering you something regarding love but I don't really see you liking them back actually because you'll know what you do and don't want so I think this person coming through is why they want you to figure that out and I think also flipped around this person is kind of a test like , hey , can you recognize what you don't want? Spirit is kind of saying they want you to slow down and take your time to smell the roses in a way. What's meant for you will surely come your way at the right time and you may just end up regretting not enjoying what will soon be your past as much as you could have been. The whole it's about the journey not the destination thing is kind of what they're telling me .I don't know if you would get married but they're promising that or the equivalent of it and it's super nice like the perfect time in your life is when that will take place. Whoever that will be with they aren't actually fully in the place for that yet and they themself(their higher self I suppose) is actually requesting that you kind of take your time. If you do stay mindful and enjoy the present as your full reality you will actually pick up on this person's energy a lot more than you think you will. This kind of is giving me the vibe that you'll get together or meet this person whatever sooner than 10 years from now know what I mean. But they don't want you to know when. They said when the time is right. I see you might have a few things to do and accomplish in the mean time outside of love first.

Peace and love this was a super promising reading for you. Your guides are super super sweet and kind of nurturing I guess? Depends on the specific one but yah. Look forward to something in regards to love in the next few months , but it's either going to be a sign from the person I was discussing about and or it's not romantic but another form of love from someone. The beach is significant somehow if nothing else way in the future someone special will take you to a beach. Whatever it may be. You are blessed.

Peace and love friend. Stay positive. 💗

[alexp-tarot-readings]

TAROT READING THING:

Disclaimer:

I will never message you asking if you want a reading; this is my only account here on tumblr. If someone happens to scam you while using my name, it’s not my fault; I cannot control what others do. But I can ask that you let me know what the account name is, and I can have them reported. My prices are also subject to change; as demand grows or decreases.

Tarot Reading Rules

1. I will not read anything relating to your (the client) sex life. Nor will I read anything regarding your partner's performance in bed, or similar.

2. Please allow at least one to two days for me to reply; I do have a full time job that is very stressful.

3. Unless discussed prior to the reading, what you pay for is what you get. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less.

Tarot Reading Prices:

1 card pulls (yes/no questions):

$1.50

3 card pulls (past, present, future):

$3.00

3 card pulls (more in depth yes/no):

$3.50

Additional cards:

$1.00

Regarding specific spreads:

If it is a three card spread, it’ll still be $3.50; however, let’s say it’s a 10 card spread; the total price will be $10.50, this is because 3 cards=3.50

3.50 + 7(additional cards)=10.50

Basic addition, but don’t worry, I’ll help you with the prices if need be.

ALSO!!! I only accept USD ($), through Cashapp!! I’ll send you my cashapp in a private message, where you will get the reading done.

If you would like the reading done over a video call on discord; my discord is below.

AEP is writing#6776

**you will not have to have your video on if you’d like a video call, I just like to do them because I feel a little more connected to my client! I will ask for you to ask your question vocally(if you can), though.**

[lunapwrites]

Elemental Readings Part 1 - Earth

So the other day I sat down and started trying to learn about elements with regard to tarot. The discovery here has been that it adds some DIMENSIONS to readings that I had simply not considered before.

This comes about in two ways: first is providing a focus for the specific readings that I'm doing (ie: I have learned some new, detailed spreads to use that I am excited about.) Second, however, is down to interactions between the cards themselves. Each of the suits represents an element: Water for Cups, Earth for Pentacles, Air for Swords, Fire for Wands. And each of those elements reacts with the other in a particular way. For example, you might imagine that Fire and Water might not get along well... such is the case for Cups and Wands. However, on the flipside, Cups and Pentacles get along swimmingly. But Cups and Swords? Neutral. And the way that this works during a reading is that if you look at the suits of adjacent cards, it can let you know how strong a point is.

...This will be easier to explain with visuals lol. (Edit: I was rushing when I posted this and forgot to drop it below a cut for folks who DIDN'T want to see a whole ass dissertation on their feeds today, so my apologies. I've fixed that lol.)

Earth - Home and Finance

Full disclosure: I fucked up the spread on this one lol. There should in fact be a third card in the center row (since each of these is modeled after the alchemical symbol.) HOWEVER it still read me for filth, so we'll just. Go with it lol. I'll get it right next time.

Top row deals with what is currently supporting me within this sphere. Queen of Pentacles represents a practical person with a nurturing side. Someone resourceful, calm, and supportive. The Emperor, likewise, represents someone with a strong, authoritative presence. He creates law and order out of chaos. And then, inexplicably, the Three of Swords, which is... heartbreak, disappointment, and grief.

To the outside eye, this makes little sense. However, I happen to know that the Queen is one of my cards, and the Emperor is one of my partner's; with that context, the support structure is our relationship. The Three of Swords represents the fact that we are currently Going Through It, but rather than creating tension, it's bringing us closer.

The second row deals with the tools that I can use to move forward. The Page of Cups represents new ideas, creative opportunities, and intuition. Eight of Wands is a card of action and movement: it's time to GO. HOWEVER, Cups and Wands don't get along, so the combined effect here is... meh. The creative energy waxes and wanes, as does the energy to do the thing.

The final card is the obstacle: in this case, the Queen of Cups. She shows up a lot during the course of these readings, because I am by nature an extremely emotional person, and these emotions are a double-edged sword. The Queen represents compassion and sensitivity, as well as intuition.

One thing to note is that while the center cards do conflict with one another, overall the reading is fairly balanced, but leaning slightly towards the passive side (two cups and a pentacle vs a sword and a wand.) This gives me the impression that this progress will be a trickle rather than a rush... which tracks.

Overall: this is about the painfully slow process of decorating my house lol. I have been going through little fits and bursts of reorganization and measuring windows and walls and doing my best to make this place feel more like it belongs to us. (I have gone so far as to buy curtains. Truly, the end times are upon us.) But I keep getting hung up on my anxiety about whether or not he's going to agree with my style, and then getting all up my own ass about it because he won't just decide for me lol.

The lesson here is basically just that I need to take the reins on being the creative director and trust myself (and him!) with this process, because we both need the change of environment more than I need things to be perfect. It's a good exercise for both of us. XD

I've done the other elements as well, so I'll be posting up more readings some time later!

[ecreip]

I like to mess around with custom YGO cards sometimes, and recently I had an idea for a Pendulum archetype. Working name: "Paranosis", an admittedly straight forward portmanteau of "Parasite" and "Hypnosis". The gameplay gimmick is giving the opponent Pendulum Scales that have negative effects for their controller. For lore, all the monsters are Normal Monsters who were corrupted in some shape or form, making them vulnerable to a parasite that targets the mind. They retain their ATK/DEF and Attribute, but their Types have changed to Insect (the parasite's Type) and their names are just "Paranosis [Type prior to infection]". Their identities and memories are being slowly erased and they become more (self-)destructive due to the parasite's influence. Currently I have four Pendulum Monsters, two Traps, and two Spells. The effects can be read in the attached images, but I'll briefly discuss why I chose the four monsters I did.

Warrior Dai Grepher: He has the Dark Grepher and Dark Lucius timelines where he clearly was not okay. His rivalry with Warrior Lady of the Wasteland (aka D.D. Warrior Lady) is also at play, specifically insecurities regarding the numerous chaotic things that have happened in their battles.

Gogiga Gagagigo: His first released card is Gagagigo and his youngest version is Gigobyte. The flavor text of each Normal Monster that portrays his life talks about his dark destiny and how he basically loses his own soul by the end. However, he also has close connections Eria, the Water Charmer and Marauding Captain. I focus on the former since he first partnered with her when he was young, but I might adjust the flavor text to account for the latter since that's the one his Gagagigo self most commonly interacted with.

Dragon Core Hexer: Original the monster Dragon Horn Hunter, constant exposure to dragon's blood in her hunts have corrupted her in body and soul. She wasn't even able to save her village, which was destroyed without her ever realizing. So yeah, gal's going through it (and she's also my favorite Normal Monster altogether so I had to include her).

Dunames Dark Witch (Dunamis Valkyria in the OCG): While Grepher clearly appears sinister in his Dark persona, the Dark version of Vakyria (the constant of her name in all other versions and what I'll refer to as henceforth) isn't as evil looking. She also doesn't have an Even Eviler Form™ ala Dark Lucius. But I went with her cause it allowed me to have two Level 4s (Valkyria and Grepher) and two Level 8s (Gagagigo and Hexer) that were all different Attributes and Types (which is important for the naming scheme and flavor). Plus I think someone who is a bit more courageous than the others allows for some spicy flavor text.

Please excuse the lack of placeholder images for the last three cards, but I wasn't sure what to use and didn't wanna get bogged down. The monsters are just the arts from their Normal Monster versions I'm referencing. If these had proper unique art, they would all be somewhere full of variable mixtures of fear and anxiety-induced rage (plus something indicating that an insect is influencing and blinding them to amplify their fear). Pervading Paranosis uses cropped art from Array of Revealing Light.

[sixthwater]

status:

Open [✓] Closed []

Hello dear Hearts 💖 , Flowers 🌸 , and Stars 🌟!

Welcome to the tumblr page for info on my paid readings so you can get some insight before you go to request a reading from me! Before requesting a reading, only two things are required from your end:

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[likeadog]

it takes 2 seconds of research to know that although tarot reading as we know it today (with each card representing a certain archetype) was conceptualized by a french person, there are records of romani people using tarot cards (as in those used in europe to play card games) to read fortunes long before the western conception of tarot. don't just comment "shrugs" on something you clearly don't have the background on especially if you're white

"two seconds of research" well anon i did four hours! four hours of research.

(also the reason i answered with shrug is because the anon called it TACKY, not appropriative. if they think it's tacky i'm not going to dispute that, i had nothing else to say in regards to the tackiness.)

this is going under the cut bc i have a lot of screenshots and links and im doing this on my computer so its doing that thing where it wont let me reorganize images.

first of all: the idea of tarot being exclusive to roma is hotly contested and considered even by some to be offensive and pushing the card-fortuneteller stereotype

ok, now, onto your main claim regarding tarot itself:

"although tarot reading as we know it today (with each card representing a certain archetype) was conceptualized by a french person, there are records of romani people using tarot cards (as in those used in europe to play card games) to read fortunes long before the western conception of tarot."

so we're talking about different things. cartomancy with playing cards ISN'T TAROT. tarot is a different subset of cartomancy! there are many, including roma-exclusive bocht and dukkering. what you're referring to is classic cartomancy, which also wasn't invented by roma people, nor was it likely invented in one place at all.

throughout the 14th-18th centuries, cartomancy began popping up all over Europe. Notably, the first example we can find of cards with fortunes on them are from the Mamluk games brought from Turkey vis-a-vis Muslim trading in Spain, as old as 1325 if I recall correctly. It's likely they could be older, but due to fragility, we don't have many surviving sets. Not only that, but records in 1379 show that a game called "Naib" had been introduced by Muslim people in Europe, also played by cards.

In the 15th century, you also saw Lot Books pop up in various parts of Europe, which were even used by clergymen for a short while, before it began to be regarded as witchcraft. I could go on a lot more about the history of "good" divination and "bad" divination but to be quite frank it's not that relevant.

From here on I'm going to be referring a lot to things from A Cultural History of Tarot, by Helen Farley. Good read if you like Italian history.

The playing card deck as we know it predates anything resembling tarocchi by over 50 years, to start. If anything, records lead us to believe Roma people used the belgian-genoese card set for most of their cartomancy, which lacks the 21 additional archetypes of tarot, even in its early stages.

What Roma people DID bring to Europe, however, was palministry, something that originated and India and that they brought over during their migration, and most early accounts of their fortune telling (at least, anything more descript than the word sortilege) included this. however, picking up fortune-telling as a main source of income only really began to occur in the 1500s and onwards, as Roma were highly regarded tradesmen in the form of metalworking, horse care, and various other industries. Naturally, this would shift with the cultural pressure they were under as persecution changed over time.

the regular playing card tarot, while we do not have a definite creation of, was likely created in the late 1300s or early 1400s in Italy, as murals seen with the specific trumphs can be seen from that time period. The oldest full tarot, the Visconti Tarot, which was dedicated to the life of Duke Filippo Maria Visconti-- at least, two of the three known decks. The symbolism on this tarot all specifically relates to him, which was likely the case for any other hand-crafted card deck. These would be expensive, and noblemen were the most established players of Tarot and Tarocchi, even if cheap packs had appeared by the mid-1400s.

Tarot only spread to the rest of Europe in the 16th century, however, when Milan fell to Swiss and French forces. If Roma people were already actively using it and travelling with it broadly, the game would've been spread beyond Italy long before then, since we have reports of Roma people in Europe as early as the late 1300's. It also only began using a standard pattern (The Tarot of Marseille) in about 1700. The first record of TAROT, SPECIFICALLY, being used as a divination tool is from 1750, found on a sheet of card meanings from the University of Bologna.

By this point, Roma people had already taken up cartomancy with their own practices and with easier to find decks, certainly, as well as the use of crystal balls. However, all of these methods that we know of were done for money for people outside of the Roma culture as a way of survival and tradesmanship. For some it was spiritual, but for many it was just business, and they had their own cultural divination that we don't have record of because it's closed. (Fun fact: the use of crystal balls was because European people already associated it with divination from the Druids.)

the first form of tarot divination bears no resemblance to that which arose in 18th centure France, which was first evidenced in Etteilla, or a Way to Entertain Oneself with A Pack of Cards, which was published in 1770.

Much like the Renaissance era Italy, 18th century France was in a spiritual crisis; that is, faith in the church had waned rapidly and people were desperate to find something else to believe in. This is the first boom of modern occultism as we know it, and it's a really long and complicated and troubling matter that does involve a lot of cultural appropriate, but I'm going to stick to what's relevant here.

Etteilla, and his contemporaries, all assigned the origin of tarot to Roma people under the assumption they were from Egypt. The big spiritual movement of the time was Hermeticism, a belief rooted in the idea that Ancient Egypt was the center of all human knowledge, and that its mysticism could elevate you to a god (or something along those lines). Egyptomania was in vogue because Napoleon had just conquered the country and was importing in raw materials. The misconception that Roma people were from Egypt was well established (and in the early years, Roma people used it as a way to get letters of safe-keeping and alms from noblemen when charity was in vogue with the church during the 1400s-- this doesn't excuse the misconception, but it is part of why the misconception initially spread), and so, in keeping with his fanatacism around Egypt, these occultists claimed that Roma people were the keepers of secret esoteric Egyptian knowledge-- and that THEY, THE CHOSEN ONES, were entrusted with "translating" it. It had nothing to do with actual Roma people. I'm not even sure any of them were ever actually recorded talking to these weirdoes

Skipping over a lot of details, this would happen again about a century later in Victorian England, during the height of their Egyptomania. This is when we'd really get the version of the tarot we know today, complete with a reading style and spreads that have no basis in anything other than French and British people Making Things Up.

However,

I'm not going to say Roma people don't use tarot. As mentioned in many articles and various sources, it was adopted as a way to make money and survive, since it could be transported easily and the cultural fascination around it was strong. I'm not even saying it can't be spiritual to Roma people-- as seen in this article, it very much can be and is. And I won't say that the conversation around divination as a way to make money isn't important-- fortune-telling laws disproportionately target and are enforced upon roma populations, which is an indisputable fact. I think the initial anon calling it tacky is well within reason.

However, your claims that it originates solely in Roma culture is wrong, and is something disputed by both other Roma people and primary historical sources.

If you'd like my other sources I'd be happy to supply them but a lot of the information is found in A Cultural History of Tarot, as well as a few other books I read.

also why do you always accuse my mutuals of all being white. the reason i opened the question to my mutuals is because I have roma mutuals or maybe even just a mutual who knows more about the history than I did. good lord

[thattimdrakeguy]

Three Jokers only becoming an important Batman story because DC Comics kept advertising the fuck out of it. Only for it to be regarded as a soaring disappointment barely anyone talks about anymore actually makes me sad sometimes.

They were so certain, and in the end it was like a fart in the breeze.

I got this little Three Jokers poster after ordering a comic for some reason. Was just included, I don’t know why. Pretty sure I got Three Jokers playing cards through the same way.

So DC was putting the money in.

They just didn’t put enough forethought or talent in. Jason Fabok can’t bring a wet fart of a story to greatness by himself.

Seriously who’s great idea was “Let’s make sure this was a whole waste of time and this story basically means nothing, and nothing would be any different if this story didn’t exist” when it came to developing this story? It’s an empty story.

Jason fucking Todd killed the mother fucking Joker that killed him, and I hardly see it talked about anymore. Something that should’ve been huge was used as a schlocky shock ending to get people to read issue 1. Didn’t even feel important afterwards. There’s just some bickering about it that goes no where. A JOKER IS PERMANATELY DEAD, the same one that killed him mind you, and it barely means a thing. And people still talk about when he beat Tim up (ironically the same writer) nearly two full freaking decades ago. I could be missing something, maybe they do. But like, unless you’re chasing his tag constantly, I’m not seeing anything.

We don’t even know who the Jokers are by the end. Yet Batman knows the modern Joker’s identity? How? Where would he even begin to start with that? Everyone that could’ve possibly known it was him died if I’m remembering right. His randomly alive wife, probably has no clue what became of her husband. What are the odds that she’d recognize this dude with a face that got deformed so he didn’t look like himself? There’s literally bodies of people that are made to look exactly like him through the same means. So it’s not her, as if she had a personal line to Batman anyway. The Joker certainly isn’t giving anyone clues about who he is. He likes to make-up random crap. SO HOW? You can’t just say “Oh by the way Batman knew this whole time.” like huh? What do you mean like 1 week after they met later he found out? So did he meet the modern Joker first? That doesn’t make any freaking sense continuity wise.

We got a romance that’s going to go no where, and was only started because--a fan asked Tynion I think? On his old blog? And it happened in one of thee Eternals, or implied anyways. And now it’s brought to this where it goes no where anyways? Why bother, they stick her with Dick so much specifically that it’ll likely never happen in anyway that isn’t cheap.

There’s good moments, and some fantastic visuals.

But fuck it’s still a turd of a story.

[philtstone]

Listen LISTEN u already KNOW I am nothing if not a HO for the way u write casual intimate touches,,,,,,,,so how about,,,,,,,“don’t want to let go hugs” for,,,,,,drum roll pls,,,,,,,sarah/bucky 👀👀👀

part of this verse and specifically relevant to a plot point in "clover". shoutout to @firstelevens for gently coaxing me through the unreasonable volume of nerves i experienced posting this. there be angst ahead. im a little sorry in advance

you can also read this on ao3 :)

Sarah's been thinking of her mother all afternoon.

She's not sure why. Maybe because her back and feet ache, that dull tiredness that comes from a long week of work. Or maybe because the house is so full. People are moving in and out through the porch and the living room and the kitchen and the backyard. Her mother always ran a full house. If there was a person needing something, they were let in through the front door. Sarah's long come to realize that the most prevalent need was for a friend, even if it was wrapped up in an ask to borrow plastic tablecloths or extra sugar or get a recipe they just couldn't crack.

So she's got her mom on her mind. There's a tenderness to her remembering. Also a fragility. Her mother, who had given up college not because of some oppressive social tragedy but because she had wanted to. Her mother, halfway pregnant without meaning to be and jumping feet first into a new business she didn't know much about running, her husband’s hand held firmly in her own. There's a reason there used to be about four years difference between she and Sam. More or less nullified now, but anyway. Sarah wonders what her mother had felt, in that moment, filled with love for the life she had but faced with the unchangeable reality of what she never was given to mourn the loss of in the first place.

Sarah is thinking of all this when she enters the house, laughing at some nonsense Sheira's spouting. Sheira always spouts nonsense when tipsy on coolers, and she's outside on the porch now, perched in her husband's lap and hooting her head off at Mr. Liu's whacky stories. Annette's in the backyard, mediating an age-old debate between her mother and Ms. Gloria regarding some brand of seasoning, and Annette’s boyfriend's talking knitting patterns with Carlos by the landing floor bathroom.

Sheira protests Sarah's leaving, but it’s loose, distracted, the way comfortable friendship can be at this hour and with the knowledge you're all home.

"No, I'm just gettin' some water –” Sarah’s saying. “I'll be right back, you keep on making a fool of yourself, girl."

"Now Sarah, you know my wife's always foolin'."

"Mr. Langston you better keep your thoughts to yourself, or I'm leavin' this lap. Go on, Sam honey, deal the next hand. Look at this. I’m bettin’ on him, ‘cause Captain America won’t cheat."

“Yeah, but old Sammy will.”

“Aw you know my poker face ain’t worth a damn, Lou, c’mon –”

Sam's losing at cards to some of the dock guys. He's got a full smile on, one that he's shot over at her every so often since about four thirty when she passed him by in the kitchen. It's closer to eight now. They've got half the street over -- Sarah's not sure how it happened, but one thing led to another. Maybe it's 'cause Sam's home. It's close to the end of the summer, wind turning, kids feeling some kind of way about going back to school. Cass has been babbling all week about how he's gonna have to start thinking of college next year -- a whole three hundred and sixty-five days from now. AJ is already scandalized on his behalf.

Just now, the kids are running up and down through the house. She heard something, an hour or so ago, about a game of cops and robbers tangled up in a Tik Tok challenge Sarah's had just enough Mom Bandwidth to declare acceptable for consumption – vaguely, she's aware that Bucky's been corralling 'em, and that is enough for her. It's nice and cool indoors when she slips through the screen door and pads her way toward the kitchen. Laughter filters in through the windows from all corners of the place. There's music playing. There's a kind of loving in the air. Sometimes, Sarah thinks she tricks herself into not savoring it as much as she should.

You're so practical, Mama, Cass told her a few months ago, grave in the kitchen while he helped her with the overfull garbage bags. I think you run our house a sorta way and it makes everyone forget that's not just how things are, like, everywhere.

Sarah has to stop her pilgrimage because Elling Clancy's string bean self has just raced patter-footed past her, holding an old nerf gun with her hair in its customary tangled nest and hollering something about Sugar shorin' up their defenses.

"Elling! Don't be slipping on my hardwood and bustin' your head open now!"

"No Ms. W!"

She is about to move on when she hears the much quieter murmur of voices coming in through the living room. Sarah pauses, leaning back, and looks in through the door. She feels her whole self soften, one hand coming up to flutter against the slipping strap of her sundress.

Bucky is with little Nina Calleigh by the foot of the couch. Sarah's sure Nina must have tired out from the older kids' game, needed a rest or a break or a distraction; there's a bent copy of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe open but abandoned on the floor by their legs, and one of AJ's old dinosaur figurines discarded by what must be Bucky's half-finished glass of sweet tea. They're engrossed in something, he and Nina, heads bent low together over it, a secret little conversation all of their own. At four, Nina's started loving those. She's determined to communicate everything either as a yell or a lispy whisper in your ear, both done with equal force and conviction. Doesn't help that her older sister is Sugar, and Sugar sees it her God-given duty to full body slam the whole world at any given opportunity.

Bucky moves his arms, lifting Nina up from her place on the floor to prop her against his chest. For the first time Sarah spots Alpine as a raggedy little ball of white in his lap, one of her tiny white feet poking out over the strong bend of his knee. Nina wants to cuddle with the cat, Sarah realizes, but keeps grabbing at her with abrupt movements and getting scared when Alpine startles.

"Gentle, we gotta be gentle," Sarah hears, feeling her lips twitch up into a small smile when it's followed by Nina's protesting,

"But I am been' gentle."

"'Kay, give me your hand. See? Like this." Together, they pet the cat once, Nina's chubby brown hand held delicately under the smooth metal plates of Bucky's fingers. "She doesn't get scared like that."

"Oooh," says Nina, pretty and wide-eyed, small bubbly voice filled with wonder. "She's so sof'."

"You wanna pet her again?"

"Yah! Can I pet her the whole night?"

Sarah can’t tell what it is. The way he is holding her, maybe, bracketed carefully upright but with enough space that she can be her own little person as she overbalances in the generous movements that four-year-olds so favour. Or the look in his eye, an open, selfless thing with no one around but Nina to see it, not quite adoring because he would never allow himself that with a child that wasn’t Sarah’s. This is something she has come to learn about him, has had to work to understand. But God, she feels it, that look, right in the center of her own chest. She watches him continue the conversation, listening intently to Nina’s small declarations, one hand reflexively coming up to cup the back of her head and tuck back the loose, flyaway curls haloing around her dimpled cheeks. Something sweet, aching, and long-forgotten wells up from a deep place in Sarah’s heart.

She makes it the rest of the way to the kitchen, slides down against the cabinets beneath the sink. By the time she has wrapped her arms around herself her cheeks are already wet.

She doesn't really know why she is crying. She tucks her hands around her mouth, tries to keep it quiet. It's not too hard at first; it's a quiet emotion that she's feeling. She pulls her knees up, and closes her eyes as tightly as she can, like maybe it will stop that way.

Footsteps creak on the kitchen landing and then she feels a warm body beside her. Her brother’s wide familiar hands cup her shoulders like he used to do when they were kids.

"Hey now," Sam says, somewhere above her.

"How'd you know I was gonna be here?" Sarah mumbles, face still covered, not without a touch of frustration.

"I'd like to think I know my sister."

"Shit," Sarah says, sounding far more watery than she means.

"You've had this look on your face all afternoon," Sam says, more gently than Sarah expects. "Been keepin' my eye out. You need a minute?"

Cass is nearing the end of high school, AJ about to start it, both turning into beautiful young men. She's so much older -- different body, different heart, different mind. Last week she heard on the news about another Black child in Baltimore, hurt by the people meant to protect her, and felt some measure of relief at her own decisions.

"I'm bein' so silly," Sarah whispers. She can feel Sam waiting on her, listening. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Sam. I don't know --"

She knows – he’s always been good with them. Even at his lowest points, those early days he’d visited, she had noticed. With her own boys, and their friends, and their cousin Lola’s brood last Thanksgiving – and there has been a quiet acceptance to it on both their parts, that this is it. They’re happy. Sarah is so overwhelmingly, achingly happy sometimes, at the fullness of the life she’s fought tooth and nail to build.

"I don't -- can you be grateful, like so grateful, I don't even know -- but there is a part of your heart that breaks anyways, I, Sam --"

"Oh," Sam says. "Oh, Sarah, yeah, of course. What happened?"

"Nothing," Sarah says, which is not a lie, and begins to cry in earnest. Sam wraps her up in a hug. She can still hear the sounds of the party, too-close, like it’s just outside the kitchen door waiting to jump in.

Sam shifts against her and Sarah realizes there is another presence pausing at the doorway. A child’s small voice asks a question. She stills, trembling, unable to calm herself. There is a rustle of movement, then toddler feet against Sarah's cracked laminate tiles.

"Hey bubba. You know where Cass is?"

"Yah. He’s playin’ in the backyard."

"Can you go hang out with him a minute?"

"'Kay."

"Okay. Thank you."

Three swift footsteps, and then he is there beside her.

"What --"

"Hey, hey, it's okay.” Sam, firm and reassuring. “She's fine."

"Sarah." There's quiet urgency to it. "Are you hurt anywhere? What happened?"

"She's just feelin' a little fragile right now," she hears Sam say, quiet above her.

“What …”

Sarah looks up, chest gasping, feeling a bit cracked open at the edges. Now that she has started crying, she does not know how to stop. It's always been like this. She hates crying, she remembers, ‘cause it’s always been like this.

Bucky is looking at her intently, brows drawn together in a soft shape, mouth parted slightly in the middle.

"Hey," he says softly, when she meets his eye. She is suddenly desperate to explain herself. She lets go of Sam, grabs onto him, brings her hands to his face. She presses one to either side and pushes her thumbs uncoordinated over the warm shell of one ear and the high curve of a cheekbone, feeling as though if she does not touch him she will fall apart.

"I love you," Sarah says, breath stuttering with the force of it. She is still crying, but she's moved beyond caring now. "I love you. I love you so much, I don't say it enough, but I --"

"Okay," Bucky says quietly, like he understands. "Okay." Then he folds her into a hug, letting her face press against his heart, beneath his chin. It’s not tight, not like the kind that squeezes, but there’s an unquestionable firmness to it. She can feel him press his mouth against the top of her head over the uneven crown of her braids. He is steady and present. She's pulled into his lap. She doesn't want to let go. She doesn't know what to do with all the grief that's so abruptly welled up inside of her, tangled into something beyond words. She can feel the murmur of some exchange above her head, and then the creak of Sam's feet leaving. They sit there for another minute, and Bucky is warm and solid and thrumming around her, and Sarah cries.

When he eventually shifts beneath her, Sarah operates on instinct and tightens her hold, nails digging into the hard curve of his shoulder blade. There is a beat, like he is making a decision, then Sarah feels a slight tensing of muscle, and the small swoop in her belly as she is lifted easily into the air.

She keeps her face pressed against the soft t-shirt covering his shoulder as Bucky walks them quietly from the kitchen into the living room, then beyond, to the den. The quiet click of the door shuts behind them, and Sarah is placed gently down on the rusty orange cover of the daybed, before he climbs up behind her on sock-clad feet and pulls her to his chest. He wraps himself around her from behind -- arms solid around her torso, knees bracketing her wide hips where her skirt has crumpled up around her thighs. He leans back against the wall, takes Sarah with him, and keeps them there, pressed together, only breathing steadily in the mundane fresh-laundry smell of the room.

The change in location helps her recalibrate. It's been so long since he’s stayed in here, Sarah thinks. Bucky’s a tidy creature by nature and habit, so he hasn’t really left much clutter behind. His books are on the shelf though, now, by her filing cabinet of tax stuff and the laptop Sam keeps at the house. Beside that is the small stack of college brochures she knows he’s collected in case Cass’s anxieties flair up again. Meticulous, like she said; over-prepared. Sarah has dealt with the hard press of survival by becoming a crisis-to-crisis kinda person. She’s always joked that there’s someone in her corner, throwing her in with Bucky and his compulsive twelve-step contingency plans.

She can hear a quiet echo of kids' laughter through the window, out into the backyard.

"Sarah," he says quietly, after a while. "I love you too."

"I know that," Sarah says. Her voice is stronger now, but raw. She looks down, rubs her thumb over the strap of his watch.

"You tell me you love me all the time." She stays quiet. “What’s going on?”

It is hard to explain. For many reasons, but foremost, because she doesn’t know if she can do it in a way that leaves him forgiving of himself.

“I think I had to grieve a little,” Sarah says.

He shifts around her, then runs his hands down her arm. Again, it is a movement light but unquestionably firm, and present. She can feel him press a kiss to her neck.

“Okay,” he says, and does not ask further.

They will go back out in a bit, she thinks, and be full of love for the life they have again. But in a minute, in a minute.

[majorsoapfan]

The Umbrella Academy Season 3 Episode Titles Analysis

Now that the episode titles for season 3 have dropped, I’ve spent the last few days wondering and theorizing just what they could mean. Most of what I’ve gotten so far rests on symbolism, headcanons, potential theories and a lot of googling, but we all need some way of staying sane until season three drops, right?

Now this is just what I’ve come up with so far, I could be massively wrong in all of these, but these are just my predictions based on what I know of the characters and plot so far, previous ways of naming episodes and the very little I know of the comics.

Meet The Family

Now this one is very self-explanatory and we’ll most likely get to know our birdies very well in this episode. We’ll probably be seeing a flashback to the Sparrows as children fighting crime - maybe already being better at it than their Umbrella counterparts were when they first started.

I’m hoping that we’’ll see another montage of introducing the siblings as adults like we saw in season one with our Umbrellas - which had been so helpful to me at the time as I had started watching the show about a week before season two dropped. I had known absolutely nothing about the show when I started, I had only clicked on it because Robert Sheeran was in the card as Klaus with his pink umbrella and I thought he was pretty. I became a massive fan all because I had thought Robert was pretty and I was bored.

So yeah, I loved the initial introduction montage of the siblings as it helped me figure out who was who quickly without wasting time. And I think that doing something similar for the Sparrows will also help give a better and quicker insight into their personalities and how they work when we see them in episode one.

The World’s Biggest Ball of Twine

If you google ‘ball of twine’ it does mention that this is an archetype for an odd roadside attraction. Now if we’re going literal here, there are plenty of such attractions in the States, including one of just this in Texas, where our dysfunctional family had been last season. Maybe an indication of a road trip or even them fleeing the Sparrows and New York in order to regroup and figure out their next step without the birds circling in?

Ball of twine can also mean wrapping really strongly around something, especially as the material mentioned is usually very strong and durable. A ball of wool isn’t the episode title after all. Now this could mean maybe a family or an emotional issue that is massively at play here. Or more likely, the Umbrella’s and more specifically Five, are trying to figure out their exact steps and actions in the 60′s and just how badly they changed the past and future, both in the general sense of the world and for their own personal lives.

Ball of Twine can also mean wrapping around something tightly, so maybe a trap is being put in place or enacted. Either for the Umbrellas by the Sparrows, or the Umbrellas are trying to lure their counterparts into a trap to regain the upper hand.

Pocket Full of Lightning

Now the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this title is something like this being described or mentioned regarding a character and their abilities. Now the characters that come to mind immediately when referenced to this are either Vanya or Christopher. Or maybe it may have something to do with a team-up, more than likely the Sparrows and what can happen when they team-up and combine their powers.

But lightning also has a lot of symbolism in many different societies and periods and in all honesty, I feel like I have to mention this. Symbolism includes but isn’t limited to: illumination, destruction, punishment, inspiration and revelations. Lightning is also highly associated with the King of the Greek Gods Zeus. Maybe Marcus or Reginald?

Marcus is after all described as a natural leader after all, gaining perhaps a Zeus like image in the public eye?

Whereas Reginald on the other hand would definitely see himself as being as King and acts like it at times, using his children as his soldiers to advance his agendas. Zeus isn’t a very kind or forgiving God either so unlike Marcus maybe this has something to do with the Hargreeves patriarch?

Kugeblitz

Thank you Tumblr for having already given me the definition for this episode title when I had first found out the episode titles so I know that it means a black hole formed from radiation.

Luther and Five when I think of this title in terms of its definition a kugeblitz has me thinking of both space and science, as both topics are highly associated with these characters. Black holes have ties to space which Five who’s powers are teleportation and Luther who spent four years up in space both have ties to a title like this.

But of course we can’t forget the actual alien in the family Reginald Hargreeves. A black hole could be a reference as to what happened to his original planet, or maybe signalling a potential threat later on in the season. Will it cause another apocalypse or a warning for an alien invasion perhaps?

But it also might have links to a well known Umbrella Academy villain, Dr Terminal. I haven’t read the comics so I will admit to a lack of knowledge on this villain although I will Google him later. But as the season will be focusing on the Sparrow Academy and potentially any previous villains, Dr Terminal seems to be the most well known in the fandom and thus the most likely to make an appearance, whether in flashbacks or in person. A few people here seem convinced that this episode title will have something to do with him in some form.

Kindest Cut

When I think of this episode title, my first thought goes of course, to Diego. People can often get cut with knives and they are of course Diego’s preferred weapon of choice.

Maybe however they are referring to another powered sibling and what harm their abilities can cause. Top contenders after Diego of course, are Vanya whose power we know can cut after seeing what she did to Allison at the end of ‘The Day that Was’ in a moment of anger.

But if we go with the Sparrows then Alphonso is at the top of my list. His character sheet is mentioned as him bearing the scars from his years of crime-fighting. His power is assumed to be the voodoo from the comics and if he can transfer the injuries he obtains or inflicts on himself to others, this may be what this title means.

But, and this theory I think is the one that I’m most obsessed with right now, is that the episode title could be an adaptation of the saying ‘unkindest cut’. The definition for this is ‘a cruel or devastating injury or insult inflicted on you by a supposed friend’. 

If we go by current timeline we’re in then my money is that Five may be joining the Sparrows either under duress or having worked out an agreement with Reginald that his siblings would be spared if he did. Only his family might not be aware of what Five has planned and agreed to and would only see the apparent betrayal of what they have all gone through together as a family. Of only seeing their brother join the team that probably want them dead.

But this betrayal may also be coming from the Sparrows and Sloane perhaps. Sloane is an inverse of Five in a sense in that while Five is driven by his desire to save his family, Sloane often feels like hers are holding her back from experiencing her dream of leaving. Maybe she betrays the Sparrows in some way by letting an opportunity to capture the Umbrellas flee or seeking them out as allies.

Marigold

According to what I can glean from the comics, marigold refers to the balls of light that eventually became the 43 super-powered children. So could we be getting an explanation as to how these supers came to be and why?

But like with episode three’s episode title, I can’t not mention the symbolism connected to this title. Marigolds often have conflicting symbolism today. In modern western society their bright colours often have them being associated with the sun and positive emotions and energy such as happiness, optimism and good luck. Not what I think the episode will be about.

But on the darker side of things, which is something that I do think has more ties into what to expect, is that they also refer to jealousy, grief, despair, mourning and cruelty. It is a flower associated with death and the Day of the Dead in Mexico and is said to offer protection from evil spirits. This connection with death is what I first thought of when I saw the episode title and the most obvious character associated with Death is none other than our ghost-boy Klaus Hargreeves.

Klaus as a character has a lot of ties to death naturally and I did see a post on here describing how Klaus will be entering the fourth stage of grief which is depression for both Ben and Dave during season three. This makes sense as they are now both gone in a way that not even his powers can reverse nor can he summon their spirits. Marigolds can often symbolize a despaired love and strong passion as well as well as pain and grief, so it could be a reference to Klaus’ depression over permanently losing both his closest brother and his love. But the main reason I do think that this episode does tie in heavily with Klaus is that it’s a mid season episode and so far that’s usually when Klaus undergoes most of his development. Maybe it’ll continue that way in season three.

Of course if Marigold will also represent a despaired love there are other options in the Umbrellas other than Klaus and Dave: Diego with both Eudora Patch (who is possibly still alive in this timeline) and Lila Pitts still bouncing around the timeline. Allison dealing with leaving her 60′s husband Raymond Chestnut and maybe trying to track down her ex Patrick to find out what happened to daughter Claire in this timeline and Vanya with love Sissy Cooper. Or maybe even Five and Dolores or possibly a love interest for Luther could be a reference to this title. 

Explaining how the Umbrella and Sparrows came to be wouldn’t take the whole episode giving us time for some potential (doomed) love.

Auf Wierdershen

This is very likely to be a Klaus focused episode, even if Marigold isn’t.

The episode title is German for goodbye and Klaus is the character most associated with Germany. Klaus is the only character to have spoken German during the shows events so far and his name is of German origin (interestingly enough, all of the male Sparrows bar Ben, have their names tied to Germanic origin. Meanwhile, Fei’s name is of Chinese origin, Jayme has both Spanish and Hebrew roots, while Sloane is derived from an Irish surname Ó Sluaghhadáin). Not only that but it is considered fanon that Klaus was born in Germany just like Diego and Vanya’s roots are considered to be Mexico and Russia respectively. 

Not only that but he literally has ‘goodbye’ tattooed on his hand.

‘Goodbye’ has many different interpretations for what this could mean especially if this is a Klaus centric episode like we are assuming. And like I mentionned above with Klaus going through the fourth stage of grief in season three, this might be the episode where he moves into the fifth and final stage: acceptance. Perhaps by having one last talk with Umbrella Ben in the afterlife or by trying to track down Dave after Vietnam and discovering he (seemingly - I do have hopes for Commission Dave later on) did live a long and happy life after the war. 

Mending fences with Ben and both getting the chance to air their genuine grievances with one another and mend their relationship from the horrific state it was in at the end of season two might help Klaus find closure. Klaus and Ben both love each other but they crossed a lot of lines and hurt each other deeply with their behaviours last season and they deserved the chance to try and fix the issues as well as say a proper goodbye to one another. This could give Klaus the opportunity to say just that as well as moving into accepting Ben’s death once and for all.

And when it comes to Dave, maybe just knowing that Dave moved on can help Klaus move from depression into acceptance. He was more than fine with stopping Dave from enlisting in the army during season two even knowing that it would mean that Dave would never meet or fall in love with Klaus. He was willing to sacrifice his chance at love with Dave if it meant that Dave would survive. Perhaps if he knew that Dave had been happy and safe in his later life he could then move on and say goodbye? 

And maybe by coming to terms with the departure of two of the biggest influences in his life, motivate Klaus to embrace a new outlook and control of his life and his powers?

Wedding At The End Of The World

This very clearly has ties to the very first episode of the show which is ‘We Only See Each Other At Weddings and Funerals’. Both have marriage and death connected in their titles. The characters that we know have been married so far out of our Hargreeves family so far is Reginald and Allison.

Reginald was married on his home planet when his wife died. Not a lot is known about her other than she was the original owner of Vanya’s violin in the original timeline. Maybe we’ll get information on her and just why Reginald left his home planet?

The next character married so far is Allison who so far has been married twice already (maybe they’re going three for three this time?). And judging by the episode title in season one, that event was the last time the Umbrella Hargreeves (bar Five) were all together as a family until they arrived for Reginald’s funeral. Maybe there’s a link there.

Or maybe this is referencing a whole other wedding that may be happening during the events of season three? I wouldn’t be surprised if Five reunites with Delores and decides just to get married to make it official. To paraphrase Klaus, it’s probably one of the healthiest relationships that family ever had regarding love.

Six Bells

Now this tile had me stumped for a good bit and it will probably make more sense when season three does drop and we watch the episodes, but for now I can just theories on it.

Bells have often been associated with religious services, which may tie in with the last episode, but can also be rung for important events or in deference of important people.

But what is really getting me is that the title is six bells and there are six Umbrellas left so far. Could the bells be in reference to something regarding them, some sort of trap perhaps? Which will definitely tie in in some way to the seasons finale:

Oblivion

Now like episode one this one seems fairly self-explanatory. This seems like Hotel Oblivion is finally coming into play here, meaning they are probably switching the order of stories from the comics. But the question is: if it is Hotel Oblivion, did the Umbrella’s enter the Hotel/prison out of free will or were they trapped here by the Sparrows? Anything goes at this point considering that it’s the last episode of the season.

But when it comes to the Hotel there are so many possibilities as to what happens here:

- Are all of the Umbrella’s trapped inside or did one escape and their other cell mate is a Sparrow perhaps (Sloane maybe for trying to leave the Sparrow Academy?)

- How will this set up the cliff-hanger for season four? Will all or some of the Umbrella Hargreeves be trapped in the hotel once the season ends and that helps set up the tension for the next season. Or maybe a break out of prisoners just like in the comics occurs and the Umbrella's are forced to deal with it?

-Where will this leave our Sparrows at the season end, because I know that we’re going to get attached (I know I will). Will some of them come with us into season four? Maybe they are split into two teams as the season ends, each containing a mixture of both Umbrella’s and Sparrows?

Well that’s all I have, maybe I’m right about some of it, maybe I’m all wrong, just need to wait until season three to find out.