Relationships take many forms. I was listening to Ezra Klein’s podcast this week and he was discussing with author Rhaina Cohen the many forms of relationship that used to be — before romantic love took center stage. Cohen is the author of an upcoming book, The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life With Friendship at the Center.
Even just 100 years ago, men wrote letters professing their undying love for each other…as friends. This kind of intensity, especially in a male friendship, is just unfathomable in today’s culture. And even female friendships today are expected to take a back seat to one’s main romantic relationship.
And what if you don’t have or don’t want a romantic partner or partners? “I love you” is often reserved for romantic or sexual love, but it doesn’t have to be. Either way, it seems like a good idea to take non-romantic relationships as seriously as any amorous ones. And there are many ways to be in relationship and love each other.
This Tarot spread can be used for all of your relationships, romantic and otherwise, and it has the bonus of helping you learn more about the relationships between the cards themselves, too. It’s time we take all of our relationships seriously.
Interdependent Relationships Tarot Spread
This spread shows you how to read the relationships between cards. You can know what each card means, but must learn to relate them to their position and to each other. Ask a question about a relationship in your life (not neccesarily romantic). Take a moment, become still, and draw five cards. Place them as shown and turn them over one by one, looking at each meaning below. Take a deep breath with each card.
CARD 1 YOUR RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW
This is what your relationship looks like right now.
CARD 2 THE STRENGTHS OF YOUR CONNECTION
This represents the area of strength you already enjoy in this relationship.
CARD 3 THE CHALLENGES
This represents the the challenge or challenges you are facing in this relationship.
CARD 4 HOW TO MOVE FORWARD
Here is the way to move this relationship forward. Also, look at the previous cards, how to they relate? How far do you have to go to move it forward? For example: If the first card is the six of pentacles and the second card is the High Priestess, then you might have to look more deeply at the balance of give and take between you and the other person.
CARD 5 WHERE YOU WILL BE
Determine a time frame (One month One year?) for how long this reading is for. This card tells you where you will be then. Look at how it relates to where you began.As an example, if your card is The Wheel of Fortune, it may be that the give and take will flip around due to your work in the subconscious.