My birthday is in the fall, so once again I thought I’d do my birthday spread for myself.
This reading covers the year from one birthday to the next and the intent is to discuss various areas of growth and development. So we’ll start by looking at the three significator cards, then the three challenge cards, and finally the four life message cards.
Here is a view of the spread for your entire reading.
First Operation Method
The following cards were pulled from the Necronomicon Tarot based upon the calculations described below.
Significator Cards – Mastery through Change via Wit
These first three cards are based upon your birth date and together represent the core of your identity. Throughout the reading, they will illuminate various aspects of yourself.
1: Personality Card – The Tower
Your birth date added up to 16.
Sudden Change, Revelation, Chaos
This card represents how you tend to respond to the world around you as well as how others are likely to perceive you. Based upon your birth date, the card assigned to you is the Tower.
You tend to respond to the world by breaking down walls and challenging the old. While you might resist change at first, once it’s begun you will clear the path for the new wholeheartedly. You tend to be dismissed at as an upstart, considered as a visionary, or regarded as disruptive by others.
2: Soul Card – The Chariot
1 + 6 = 7
Action, Hard Control, Will-Power
This card represents your inner drive and motivation. It shows the core of what makes you tick deep inside. Based upon your birth date, the card assigned to you is The Chariot.
Constantly in motion, you are an individual driven to action. However, the high speed of the Chariot requires a firm hand at the reigns in order to get anywhere safely due to the opposing forces that pull it. We’re talking about the concept of yin and yang here. This means you walk the constant line of light and dark, good and evil, chaos and order, masculine and feminine, aggressive and passive, etc. Because of this, it’s not uncommon to flip the cart, run in circles, or drive yourself off a cliff on occasion. When your skills are on point and your internal opposing forces are in balance though, nothing stops you from victory.
Looking at the Tower and The Chariot together, this means you tend to be driven to bring change by your own means. When you are in control of yourself, this change is revolutionary in your life. Unfortunately, when you lose control this change brings nothing but chaos.
3: Sun Card – Queen of Swords
September 12 – October 12
Astute, Experienced, Witty
This card represents your inner light and it’s what makes you unique as a person. Since the Queen of Swords houses the Sun at the time of your birth, this is the card assigned to you.
Been there and done that, you have a sharp mind and sharper tongue. Not one to play games, you tell it like it is exactly as you see it. Even though you come across as cold at times, you still have a sense of humor to appreciate the lighter side of life.
Looking at this card with the Tower and Chariot in mind, care must be taken to prevent the chaos from overwhelming you. Otherwise it will cause emotional turbulence and cloud your judgment, making it challenging for you to maintain control of the internal opposing forces that drive you.
Second Operation Method
The following cards were pulled from the Steampunk Tarot based upon the calculations described below.
Life Challenge Cards – Surrendering to Integration via Balanced Wisdom
These next three cards are also based upon your birth date and together represent the core developmental needs of your personal growth for this year’s cycle. Throughout the reading, they will illuminate various aspects of how this growth will occur.
4: Growth Card – The Hanged Man
Your birthday this year added up to 12.
Suspension of Disbelief, Letting Go, Surrender
This card represents how you need to grow during this year’s cycle. Based upon your birth date, the card assigned to you is The Hanged Man.
The Hanged Man is about suspending disbelief and surrendering to the will of the universe. In order to grow this year, you will need to let go and allow the powers that be have control of what is to come and how life unfolds for you.
The core of your personality is found within the Tower and demands revolutionary change while The Hanged Man requires suspension. This is likely going to be a year that feels like many unbreakable walls to you. As a result you will feel restricted and confined. Learn to work within the structure instead of always tearing it down for a change.
Your drive to be constantly in motion from The Chariot will chafe against the motionless Hanged Man this year. You will likely feel stuck and find yourself spinning your wheels often this year. Growth and development requires rest as much as it needs movement. The challenge this year is learning to appreciate it while you can.
The Hanged Man has much to offer the light within your Queen of Swords. Your sharp eye will appreciate the new perspectives life brings you this year and your past experience will add insight as you face them head on. Just keep your wits about you and you’ll do just fine.
While the Hanged Man will disrupt the core nature of your need for change from the Tower and your drive for motion from the Chariot, the Queen of Swords is fully capable of shedding light on the new perspectives offered this year and appreciating things for what they really are. Since this year appears to be one of rest and contemplation, allow the Queen of Swords within you to take the lead rather than your Tower or the Chariot instincts.
5: Mentor Card – The World
12 + 9 = 21
Completion, Integration, Involvement
This card represents this year’s teaching spirit for you. Based upon your birth date, the card assigned to you is The World.
This card is about finding completion by integrating and being involved with the world around you. Your mentor wants for you to learn how to be a part of the world again. Pay particular attention to your family and communities to discover ways you can play more of a role within them. If these things do not exist for you, then it’s time for you to start building them. Remember even though you can’t choose the family you’ve been born into, you can always choose the people you call home.
The Hanged Man calls for surrender while The World calls for integration. Perhaps you have been spending too much time on your own or not enough time within your community and family. Whichever the case may be, it is time to become more involved and surrender yourself to the social process.
The Tower demands revolutionary change while the The World calls for integration. Examine your social circles. Examine your family life. Be honest with what you find there. It’s time to clear away any bad habits you may have that hinder your relationships or your ability to form relationships. It’s also time to clear away toxic dynamics that may exist between you and others. This may very well mean saying good-bye to people, but it could also mean setting better boundaries with them.
The Chariot drives you to be on the constant move while The World calls for integration. You need to stop and ask yourself how you are going to be involved with your friends and family if you never stay put long enough to actually spend time with them. Find ways to include them in your activities or join them in theirs instead of leaving them behind on the sidelines.
The Queen of Swords has a sharp eye while The World calls for integration. Here your inner light can assist your mentor well by shedding light on what you need to know for the Tower, with the changes you need to make within your community and family, and the Chariot, with where you need to be and when with your community and family. Your past experience will also help you organize your time to make all of this come together for you.
Looking at these four cards together, The World offers an opportunity this year for the core aspects of your self to learn from your community and family in terms of improving your relationships and being more involved. By capitalizing on your keen insight from the Queen of Swords, you have the capacity to guide the changes you need to make from the Tower and steer yourself in the direction you need to move as driven by the Chariot. In this way, you can become integrated and more involved with the world in a productive way rather than destructive.
6: Compass Card – Justice
12 + 17 = 29
2 + 9 = 11
Balanced Wisdom, Decision, Karmic Law
This card represents this year’s guiding spirit for you. Based upon your birth date, the card assigned to you is Justice.
The Justice card is all about balanced wisdom in making decisions while being mindful of karmic law. The purity of our intentions need to be in balance with the outcomes of our actions. And while the laws of our land may be supposedly blind when it comes to stuff like this, Justice on a universal scale never is so it’s important to remember that. What we put out into the universe will eventually find its way back to us through the wheel. It’s this concept that will be guiding you throughout the year.
The Hanged Man calls for suspension and new perspectives while Justice calls for balanced wisdom in decision making. These two concepts work well together and build upon each other easily. Take your time to see all sides of an issue and consider all the options before you. Avoid making rash decisions you’ll end up regretting later.
The World calls for integration while Justice calls for balanced wisdom in decision making. Yes, you do need to become more involved within your community and family, but do so wisely. Go where you are needed, wanted, and welcomed. Go where you find joy, peace, and fulfillment. Go where you can bring these things to others. This is what it means to be truly integrated and complete.
Looking at your three challenge cards for this year together, you are being asked to surrender into new perspectives with the Hanged Man so that you can integrate with the World and find fulfillment, but as you do so you are cautioned to use balanced wisdom in making decisions with Justice.
Your Tower personality demands revolutionary change but Justice cautions you to use balanced wisdom as you decide where these changes occur in your life this year. It will do you no good to tear down every wall you come across since you very may well need some of those walls before the year is over. So take your time, consider your options, and devise a plan with the big picture in mind before you start renovating your life this year.
Your soul wants to charge ahead, as shown by the Chariot, but Justice cautions you to use balanced wisdom as you decide upon where you’re going this year. You’re not going to successfully arrive at your destination if you aren’t paying attention to how you’re getting there.
Your inner light from the Queen of Swords has a sharp eye and is more than capable of keeping your wits about you and drawing upon your past experiences to assess your current situations. This synergizes well with Justice’s caution to use balanced wisdom in decision making.
Examining the three cards that define your core aspects of your self with your compass card, it appears that in order to have a productive and successful year you will need to use your wits and assessment skills from the Queen of Swords in tandem with Justice’s balanced wisdom to make good decisions regarding desired changes with the Tower and where you want to be going with the Chariot.
Third Operation Method
The remaining cards from the Steampunk Tarot were shuffled and selected randomly for the rest of this reading.
Life Message Cards – Teamwork at Home, Community at Work, Social Discipline, and Intuitive Health
The next four cards in this spread are the life messages for you in the four areas of your life: Home, Work, Social, Health. Each message covers what to keep in mind throughout the year in terms of your significator and challenge cards.
7: Home Life Message Card – Three of Pentacles
Collaboration, Planning, Teamwork
This card represents what you need to know about your home life for this year’s cycle. The card that came up for you is the Three of Pentacles.
The Three of Pentacles is all about collaborating, planning, and working together as a team. It’s rare in life to be truly alone and in your home this is no exception. The message life has for you this year is that you need to share the work of the home with your family more. It doesn’t matter whose shoulders the burden of the work has been falling upon as of late, it now needs to be more evenly distributed. Everyone lives there needs to share it. Everyone needs to be doing their part to whatever capacity they can. This requires communication, clear expectations, and planning within the home but it can be done.
Your Tower personality demands revolutionary change while the Three of Pentacles calls for teamwork within the home. Sit down with the family for this exercise. Examine the list of household tasks performed and who typically tends to them. List the duties and obligations each individual has outside the home as well. Take into consideration the time, mental, and emotional investment required to complete these tasks as well. Who is over burdened? Which of their tasks can be shifted to others who are equally capable of handling them? Keep going through the list for each person until everyone is satisfied.
Your Chariot soul demands movement and likely wants to do everything yourself, but the Three of Pentacles calls for teamwork within the home this year. This is particularly important if you have children in your home. They need to learn these life skills and they also need to develop self-esteem. Allow them to be a part of the team. Allow them to help you take care of the home. Give them responsibilities and chores. Doing so frees you up to do other stuff by the way so it’s not like you won’t have anything to do here.
Your Queen of Swords inner light has plenty of experience to draw upon to answer the call for teamwork from the Three of Pentacles within the home this year. You should be more than capable of knowing how to talk to your family members, being aware of who needs the help, and seeing where the work needs to be done.
The Hanged Man calls for surrender while the Three of Pentacles calls for teamwork within the home this year. This means you need to be willing to plan and work with your family this year. No more trying to do it all yourself or trying to pass the buck off to someone else. It’s time to make the effort to see it from your family’s point of view and share the burden.
The World calls for integration while the Three of Pentacles calls for teamwork within the home this year. This is a perfect opportunity for you to become more involved with your family. By taking care of the home together as a team you are able to spend more time with them and hear them out more often. It gives you the chance to deepen and strengthen the bonds between you. Make this time quality time for you and your family.
Justice calls for balanced wisdom while the Three of Pentacles calls for teamwork within the home this year. Care must be taken as tasks are distributed between the family that expectations are clear and that no one ends up feelings over burdened. There is nothing wrong with making adjustments as you go throughout the year as needed. Family dynamics are fluid after all.
8: Work Life Message Card – Four of Wands
Rituals, Celebration, Community
This card represents what you need to know about your work life for this year’s cycle. The card that came up for you is the Four of Wands.
The Four of Wands is all about the rituals of routine and celebration that we enjoy within our communities. The message life has for you this year in the work place is that there is joy to be found within your work. You have a place and a purpose here within its community if you are willing to find and embrace it.
Your Tower personality demands revolutionary change while the Four of Pentacles calls for celebrating community within the work place. What is it that you truly care about and value? What do you stand for and believe in? What fuels your passion? Look where you are now and ask yourself if it reflects any of this. If it doesn’t, ask yourself how you can begin to build that for yourself one step at a time.
Your Chariot soul demands constant motion while the Four of Pentacles calls for celebrating community within the work place. Look around you and ask yourself if you are in a work environment that allows for and appreciates your style of action and movement? If it doesn’t, ask yourself how you can get yourself to a place where it is one step at a time.
Your Queen of Swords inner light has the ability to quickly assess your current situations and apply your past experiences, which synergizes well with the Four of Pentacles’ call for celebrating community within the work place. Whether or not your work environment is a good fit for you now, you are more than capable of appreciating what you have for what it is. Enjoy the good today while you build towards something better for tomorrow.
The Hanged Man calls for surrender while the Four of Pentacles calls for celebrating community within the work place. You might feel stuck in the work environment you have this year, so make the effort to see things from different perspectives and trust that the universe knows what’s best for your growth and development. You never know what you might learn and discover from this experience this year.
The World calls for integration while the Four of Pentacles calls for celebrating community within the work place. First the home and now work, life seems hell bent with you diving into people this year. Seriously make an effort to network and get to know others this year. Strengthen your bonds. Improve your social skills. This appears to be the year for building your village. Don’t ignore this. You may need it in later years to come.
Justice calls for balanced wisdom while the Four of Pentacles calls for celebrating community within the work place. Be wise in how you invest your resources within your work environment. You cannot be all work and no play just as you cannot be all play and no work. Care must be taken that as you make decisions in this area of your life that your work-play balance remains even.
9: Social Life Message Card – King of Pentacles
Security, Control, Discipline
This card represents what you need to know about your social life for this year’s cycle. The card that came up for you is the King of Pentacles.
The King of Pentacles is all about security, control, and discipline. These are all aspects of containment, particularly with the self, in various ways and this year these aspects apply to your social life.
Your Tower personality calls for revolutionary change while the King of Pentacles calls for social discipline. The Tower is all about tearing down structures that aren’t working to make way for things that can. Here you need to look at your relationships and examine what’s keeping you safe, in control, and within your boundaries. Anything that isn’t needs to be modified so that it is or outright removed. This is what it means to have healthy relationships.
Your Chariot soul is driven to act and move while the King of Pentacles calls for social discipline. This means you need to be looking at how you behave in relationships as well. Are you behaving safely? Are you in control of yourself? Are you respecting boundaries? Healthy relationships are a two way street and you must meet people in the middle. It goes both ways.
Your Queen of Swords inner light can help you with the King of Pentacles call for social discipline with your sharp eye for details and your past experience. You know what to look for and what you can tolerate. You know where your limits are socially. Do not allow someone to push you beyond what you can manage. Boundaries is what keeps everyone safe. Embrace this.
The Hanged Man calls for surrender while the King of Pentacles calls for social discipline. This suggests that for some time you’ve been having trouble with boundaries. Whether it’s respecting the boundaries of others or holding your own, this is an area of your life that needs some work. It requires clear expectations and communication with those you interact with so make the effort to see things from a new perspective in your life. Make sure you understand what it is you truly need before you set those boundaries. Make sure you understand what others really need. A great deal of pain and misunderstandings can be avoided when we do this.
The World calls for integration while the King of Pentacles calls for social discipline. Integrating ourselves into society is most successful when we are able to establish and respect solid boundaries for ourselves and others. By doing this, we remain aware of what is and isn’t acceptable behavior in any given situation. It also increases the safety of everyone present when everyone is in control of themselves.
Justice calls for balanced wisdom while the King of Pentacles calls for social discipline. With this last one, it is imperative to understand what boundaries are and what they are not. We cannot ever set boundaries for other people. They are not something that causes harm. They are not controlling, manipulative, invasive, or domineering. They are clear, firm, appropriate, protective, receptive, and set by the person intended to serve. So when you are setting boundaries, keep this in mind. Who does it serve and for what purpose?
For a better understanding of boundaries and how they function, visit: Boundaries
10: Health Message Card – Queen of Cups
Intuitive, Spiritual, Emotional Security
This card represents what you need to know about your health for this year’s cycle. The card that came up for you is the Queen of Cups.
While your physical and mental health will always require attention and you need to continue to see your care providers, it appears that this year you need to pay closer attention upon your spiritual health. Doing so will have the added benefit of creating additional emotional security for you and help you feel more complete as a human being.
As you feel more whole, you are going to feel more motivated. This in turn will improve your physical and mental health because you’ll be more likely to stay on track with your care plan. Someone that feels whole is more receptive to the thoughts and suggestions of others during the planning process, which means you’re more likely to produce a more effective care plan with your care providers.
So developing and strengthening the intuitive and spiritual side of you will make you a better advocate for your health overall. This year, practice trusting yourself as to what you need emotionally and spiritually in order to be well.
Your Tower personality demands revolutionary change while the Queen of Cups calls for intuitive health this year. This means you need to examine in your life what brings you joy and clear away the things that do not. Do you have toxic habits that are bringing you misery? It’s time to break them. This could be as simple as a better sleep routine. Have old things cluttering up your home that no longer brings you joy? It’s time to give them away to someone that will find joy in them. That old car rusting out in the lawn that doesn’t run and you can’t fix? Yeah, that needs to go.
Your Chariot soul demands action and movement while the Queen of Cups calls for intuitive health this year. This means you need to examine what you’ve been doing and determine whether it’s bringing you closer to where you want to be in regards to your wellness. Are you actually doing things that promote your wellness? Does it bring you joy? Sure, everyone needs exercise but it doesn’t have to be boring or miserable. Pick something that is fun for you that you will look forward to doing and see as a reward rather than as a chore. Same with food. Everyone should eat healthy, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Make it interesting. Turn it into an adventure. You get the idea here. Whatever it is you choose to do for your health, make sure it is both enjoyable and promotes wellness.
Your Queen of Swords inner light can assist you with answering the Queen of Cups call for intuitive health this year. Using your past experience and your ability to make quick assessments of your current situations, you are fully capable of knowing what will and won’t work for you. Utilize that to your advantage. You know what motivates you and drives your passions. Tie that into your health and wellness. Allow yourself to see you as a whole person and not just in pieces or parts. For instance, if you enjoy music and art ask yourself how you can incorporate that into your wellness plan. Don’t be afraid to get your care providers on board with your thoughts. You may be surprised with the ideas they can come up with.
The Hanged Man calls for surrender while the Queen of Cups calls for intuitive health this year. What this means is you will need to surrender to your intuition as you consider what’s before you and seek out new perspectives as you approach your wellness. Instead of simply blaming external forces, such as other people, ask yourself how you are contributing to your current state of being or what you could be doing differently to improve the situation. Sometimes it will mean limiting involvement with certain individuals, if not removing them from your life entirely. But until you get into the habit of stepping back and assessing your circumstances objectively, you won’t be able to determine which courses of action are right for you.
The World calls for integration while the Queen of Cups calls for intuitive health this year. Take the time to pay attention which communities and family members uplift you and which ones drag you down. Become more involved with the ones that lift you up, encourage you to be well, and support you in doing better for yourself. Don’t invest yourself in the ones that tear you down, belittle your dreams, and pull you away from your wellness goals. You deserve to be seen and heard as the person you are. Surround yourself with those that do this.
Justice calls for balanced wisdom while the Queen of Cups calls for intuitive health this year. When in doubt, go find out. Intuition can only carry you so far when it comes to your health and well-being. You have care providers that work with you on your care plan. Speak to them. Tell them your goals and concerns. Let them know what you plan to run with and they’ll let you know if you’re being reasonable or not. They’ll also assist you with setting realistic, manageable steps to help you reach your goals. Using a balanced approach such as this ensures you remain on track in a healthy and safe way.
Special Message Card – You Have Control
0: Special Message – King of Disks
Security, Control, Discipline
This card is a bonus card, at no cost to you, and serves as a special message for you at this time. I drew this card from the Necronomicon Tarot and the card that came up for you was the King of Disks.
The King of Disks is also called the King of Pentacles in other decks. What I find interesting about this card appearing here is that it has appeared once already in this reading in the Social Life Message with the Steampunk Tarot.
Let’s take a moment to compare these two cards:
The focus in the message from the card in Steampunk Tarot deck was on discipline in your social interactions, but look how in the card from the Necronomicon Tarot the imagery clearly depicts a scene of control. The man remains within the boundary of his circle of protection while the spirit he is summoning remains within the boundary of its summoning sigil. According to the rules of ritual magic, as long as these two stay inside their boundaries they are kept safe.
This means that your special message for this year is that despite the fact that you are being called upon to surrender in order to grow with the Hanged Man, you still have control in your life. It may not feel like it at times, but you will always have the ability to make choices. Your boundaries will continue to exist; you only need to honor them. You are not being called upon to become a doormat or a scapegoat. You are being called upon to step back and trust in the universe to show you new perspectives this year. The reigns aren’t being taken from you; you are still free to choose your path. You are merely being offered the scenic route this year. So grab your compass, plot your course, and enjoy the ride.
Thank you for taking the time to read my birthday reading this year. If you found it interesting, please let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to receive a personalized birthday reading of your own, you can order one at Tode’s Tarot.
~ Necronomicon Tarot by Anne Stokes (Illustrator), Donald Tyson (Author) © 2012
~ Steampunk Tarot by Aly Fell (Illustrator), Barbara Moore (Author) © 2012
~ Credit for 3D model and assets used in renders can be found here.
In certain jurisdictions, a tarot professional is required to disclose to you that tarot readings should be for entertainment purposes only, and if such a law applies to this reading, then you are hereby on notice thereof.