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I found out my good friend Lit-chan did Tarot readings, and I was immediately: "Ooh! Do me!!!"

Then she came back with questions: What spread? What question? What deck should I use?

I chose the Celtic Cross spread, the traditional deck, and, of course, I asked about my career as a manga-ka.

Then she asked for a significator card. In order to pick one, I had to research the meaning of the cards. In the end, I picked the Fool, which represents potential. Which I suppose is the stage I'm at, where I have the potential, but I haven't done a lot to shape it and really work for it. The Fool is on a journey, much like myself, so I figured it was probably a good one. ^_^

So, without further ado, here's the reading: (As a visual, here's the layout.)

Spread: The Celtic Cross
Deck: a Universal Waite deck
Question (or situation) being read about: Your future as a manga-ka.


Significator Card: The Fool



First Card - "That Covers Him", meaning the general environment at the time and the influence of such.
Two of Wands (reversed)
The Two of Wands suggests emotions such as surprise, wonder, emotion, and trouble. The environment you're dealing with, whether it be now or in the future, is all one big surprise party: it can turn out good, or bad. The emotion probably signifies the passion that you put into your drawings and your work, and the underlying meaning of this card, fear, might show that you're obviously unsure of how this will work out. As of now, all you're really doing is waiting for someone to jump out and scream "SURPRISE!".

Second Card - "This Represents His Obstacles" - if the card is favorable, it will be something good, but not necessarily a connecting good.
Five of Wands
If you could see the picture on this particular card, you'd see a five boys using the wands as weapons, so to speak, as if they were in some kind of minuscule fight. Fights, as we all know, represent struggle, and of course, competition. It's a card of gain, if upright as is; but whether or not it means gain in recognition, or gain in skill, it's hard to tell; what exactly are you competing for? Are you trying to be the best? Are you wanting to be incredibly rich and famous? Or do you just want some skill to make it? You'll have to work through the struggles and keep fighting for what you want; giving up in that particular industry leaves you with very little.

Third Card - "This Crowns the Significator" - represents the best that he can arrive at, or his ideal in the matter, or what he wants to make his own.
Five of Cups
In the simplest of terms, this card is a card of loss. The man stands looking at the three cups he has lost, but seems to ignore the two that he has. Bitterness, frustration, and inheritance. I've never gotten a card like this as a crown before. We can take is as the best that you can arrive at: you'll get there, you'll look at your work, and think "Wow, I really, really suck when it comes to this and that", which can, in turn, result in frustration and bitterness with your artwork. Or perhaps your ideas. The inheritance part on the other hand is the part that everyone overlooks; you forget you have the talent that a lot of people don't have (and probably wish that they did have), but you take it for granted and only focus on the things that you "simply need to have" to be good.

Fourth Card - "This is Beneath Him" - This is what you have, you can work with this and use this.
Knight of Wands (reversed)
Your first court card of the spread, and it happens to be in the reversed position. The Knight of Wands is on a journey, armed with a shorter wand, but he is in no hurry. Though the reversed meaning doesn't bring misfortune to his adventure, it does bring interruption. Division, discord, and rupture; all of which you're probably experiencing right now. It can be needy family members taking up your time, or it could simply be a moment of laziness. As of now, you're learning to deal with the pit stops, the interruptions, the everything that keeps you away from doing what you really want to do. Most likely, it's keeping you from drawing, or working on original ideas.

Fifth Card - "This is Behind Him" - It's the current time that you are leaving, and probably the past of the matter at hand.
Three of Swords (reversed)
Either way, the Three of Swords is not a happy card. The image is of three swords piercing a brilliant red heart, clouds and rain in the background. When reversed, this card signifies error, loss, distraction and confusion. I'm going to safely assume that, for a while, you were a bit iffy on whether or not this was really the path for you, and thus you were distracted from improving on it. I'm not quite sure where the error and loss comes into play when speaking of the past of becoming a manga-ka; perhaps something to do with your family life that I've never heard about, or a friend bringing you down.

Sixth Card - "This is Before Him" - It's the current that is coming into action and will affect the matter at hand.
Eight of Pentacles (reversed)
The Eight of Pentacles actually fits your future very, very well; an artist at work. Reversed, though, represents the downsides to being at work all the time. Your ambition can be voided, and then there's the vanity. Being so immersed in your work, and seeing yourself grow through the obstacles, you might start thinking "Hey, I'm pretty much amazing, aren't I?" and your ambition can turn from the good kind of ambition, to the bad kind, if that makes sense. Even though you will begin to improve, don't get too full of yourself, or you might lose sight of reality and what you're really capable of.


These were the six cards of the actual cross. Now begins the four off to the side.


Seventh Card - Signifies himself, his attitude, and his relation to the matter.
The Hanged Man
Although it may sound like a card of grief, The Hanged Man is, in fact, hanging by his leg, but at his head shines a brilliant light. This card links with wisdom, but sacrifice. You're probably well-educated on what can happen down the road; the rejection, the hard work, the bitterness of the industry. You already know about that stuff and you're willing to accept it when it comes. The sacrifice, though, is probably what signifies yourself more than your attitude. You're willing to do the distance, but at what costs? Your drive is there, but be careful what you might pass up.

Eighth Card - Signifies his house, his environment in the affair - the influence, people and events happening around him.
Nine of Pentacles
The card is a bit vague in what it shows: a woman with a bird standing around a vast amount of grape vines in the garden of an exquisite house. When facing upright, it shows safety, success, and accomplishment. Your home life is probably a positive influence on you: the people, the happenings, all of them seem to be in your favor; I'm sure this is one of the better cards to get in a situation like this. But be alert, because the good faith your family has in you might start to go bad (as what it would mean if the card were in reverse).

Ninth Card - Signifies his hopes and fears.
Two of Cups
The Two of Cups has an illustration of a man and a woman pledging to each other, and above the cups in their hands rests the wings of Hermes (who is best known as the messenger of the Gods). It's obvious you hope for success, who wouldn't? But the other meaning of this man and woman might have something to do with...romance or friendship? Are you wanting something in that area too? Someone with similar dreams perhaps? Your fears, however, can't be seen in this card; you're hope outshines them by far, though they are still there.

Tenth Card - Represents what will come. The card that ties together the other nine cards.
Seven of Pentacles
Oh boy, the card of contradictory! It all makes sense to me now! This card deals with affairs in money and business, but also quarrel and ingenuity. It's all over the place; you've got to deal with the business portion, you have to deal with the inner struggles, you have to deal with your creative bursts and the blocks of creativity, and all that fun stuff that comes when talking about pursuing a career, especially this one.

Summing it all up:
This was the hardest spread I've ever done. Not the whole setting it up and getting the meanings, but putting the meanings together to make sense of it all. Naturally the 10th card somehow took care of that.
You chose the Fool, and it's widely known that the Fool is on a journey; a long one, and some would think he's rather (pardon the word choice) foolish for being so lost in a folly. But these cards backing you up tell me that you know what can happen, you might be ready for what can happen, you have the influences, you have the obstacles, but there's still that irritating confusion there that just won't go away. You'll have those moments where you give up, you'll have the times where you think you're on top of the world, and you'll have other periods of time where you'll just be lost. You're prepared though, and that's a good thing. This journey to become a successful manga-ka is a long and tiresome one.