Triple Goddess Spread

 

I love the Witches Tarot deck by Ellen Dugan. The suggested interpretations reflect a witch’s mindset, which resonates of course. The detail on each card is intricate and beautiful. Correspondences appear on each card, reflecting the element, plants, tools, animals associated with each card. The major arcana cards provide foundational insight into life’s journey, and in the Triple Goddess Spread, the High Priestess, the Empress and The Moon are removed and set aside as significators. Suitable for both a broad and narrow focus, this spread can indicate influences over a lifetime, or a shorter time period. It can also illustrate how a problem or issue begins, what’s happening currently, and it’s possible outcomes.

Representing the Triple Goddess, the High Priestess represents the Maiden Goddess, Diana, Persephone, and is associated with the Moon and lunar magicks in the waxing phase. It reflects an inner knowing, and calm, controlled power. It indicates new beginnings, and a life full of possibilities.

The Empress represents the Mother Goddess, Gaia, Isis and Demeter, Venus, protection of home and family, fertility and birth, creativity, and expressions of Full Moon magick. It centers around what’s happening now.

In the future possibilities or outcome position, sits The Moon. An expression of Crone Goddess energy, and magicks in the waning phase. Hecate appears representing hidden future outcomes, with the promise of wisdom, intuition and knowing gained from a lifetime of experience to guide our way forward.

From that point, three cards are drawn for each Goddess card. Typically I view them as part of a landscape spread. One can also view them in the same manner as the Goddess cards, that is, possibilities, what’s happening now, future possibilities or outcome. I prefer the landscape choice as it gives me a more blended feel.

Looking over the spread, all Elemental energies but Air are represented, with Fire beginning each group as if providing the impetus for whatever occurs. It’s influence is proactive.  A Major Arcana card appears in each grouping, with Wands appearing at the beginning of each. Pentacles appears in two groups, and Cups appears in one.

Overall, the casting is a positive one, indicating growth, transformation and successful outcomes achieved by the focus of personal power in the form of drive and leadership. The three Major Arcana cards add spiritual weight and influence to the casting. The Sun in the possibilities group influences positive achievement, happy times and magicks of increase. The Wheel of the Year encourages us in the present to work within seasonal energies to achieve the best outcome. It indicates that life is continually transforming, and suggests going with the flow, observing the ebb and flow and cyclical nature of energies around us. The Chariot in the potential outcome position represents willpower, leadership, drive, ambition. It suggests tenacity in overcoming obstacles, and  the personal power necessary to manifest magick. Balance of energies in a neutral fashion reflects the wisdom of Crone energy and sets the tone for potential outcomes.

In the first grouping, then, we have the Nine of Wands, Two of Cups and The Sun, representing the Elemental energies of Fire and Water. Both the Sun and Wands, express masculine energy in the form of physical activity, and correspond to the Fire Element; while Cups, expresses feminine energy in the form of emotions, and corresponds to the Water Element. The Nine of Wands cautions the querent to be alert to possible trouble, but indicates the courage to perserve and triumph. Setting boundaries is key with the Nine of Wands which relates to the Two of Cups, a card representing romance and relationships. Stressing equality, along with The Sun, the Two of Cups suggests reconciliation and partnership. This first grouping then may suggest that going forward, relationships should reflect healthy boundaries in an effort to either preserve or reconcile a relationship. Emotions play a part with a focus upon balance. Relating the three cards to their significator, The High Priestess as the Goddess’s Maiden aspect brings a calm, controlled power to whatever endeavor She influences. Her inner wisdom provides direction and balance.

The Queen of Wands, Wheel of the Year and the Ten of Pentacles comprise the Mother aspect position. Its concern is with life in the present. In this group, Fire (masculine) and Earth (feminine) Elemental energies are represented. The difference in this group, however, is that both Wands and Pentacles represent physical activity. Beginning with the Queen of Wands, we have a nurturing Mother figure, strong in magickal talents, around whose loving presence the family revolves. Along with the Ten of Pentacles, she is the grounding force of the family and suggests inherited magickal abilities passed down through generations. Protective by nature, The Empress as Mother Goddess uses the influence of the Wheel of the Year in her understanding of the seasonal or cyclical nature of life, of fertility and creative force, embracing Full Moon magick in her expression of feminine power as she guides those around her with wisdom and love.

In the position of Crone aspect, the Ace of Wands (Fire), The Chariot and the Ace of Pentacles (Earth) influence potential outcomes. Transformative energy is expressed by creative, ambitious action manifested by both the Ace of Wands and The Chariot, overcoming obstacles with tenacity and perseverance. Interesting that in the final position of outcome, they both speak of beginnings, reinforcing the cyclical nature of things. Taking to heart the wisdom of the Crone, we play the long game, respecting our inner voice, gained from knowing, from a lifetime’s experience. The Ace of Pentacles grounds us to Earth elemental energies and represents abundance and wealth. In it’s truest sense, abundance occurs when we perceive health and happiness as our natural state and bring our actions into alignment with that. Herb magick is the focus, green magicks or hedgewitchery in particular, or just reflective of my own bias. It’s reflected in the immanence of all. As above, so below. We are all expressions of one Source energy. One family, whether human, animal, mineral..the truest expression of abundance. That we really are all in this life together. From a lifetime of wisdom gained, the Goddess in her Crone aspect feels that immanence deeply, that eternal oneness that holds everything together. The three cards would suggest that staying in that flow of immanence, staying neutral, less reactive, and more the observer might be of benefit. It’s the ability to step back and look at a situation dispassionately that the wisdom of the Crone brings.

To sum up, the casting illustrates the witch in a positive light, guiding her to that inner voice of Spirit within as she moves through the cycles of life, or a situation if that applies. Life is eternal, never ending. There’s no real beginning or end. There only Is. As tying the tenth knot in a knot spell signifies that after the spell’s done, we begin again, so does this casting. She uses her personal power throughout to balance the energies surrounding her in a positive manner, nurturing her family, friends and community. She understands the relationship and expression of immanence as she extends herself to others and to the world around her. Going with the flow of Source energy is her blessing that she extends to all.

~Blessed Be the Witches Tarot!