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20090929

Days of open hand

The gentleman knows I cannot possibly answer THAT -- even if I knew the answer, sir.

Why, no, I suppose not... No harm in asking Madame Rosinka, sir...



Or failing that, and closer to home, there is always the strange little fellow by the fireside.

Actually...I did take it upon myself to submit the gentleman's question to his attention.

He seemed quite amused by it. And quite pleased -- a little bit too eager, if you ask me, sir.

No, he didn't say anything. He just pulled out some cards and laid out three of them for me on the counter, sir.

The cards are till right there.

His kind is fond of bothersome practical joke, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

The first card is The Changeling, sir. And, ah, it is reversed.



The first card in a layout such as this one traditionally stands for the past. It indicates what has happened to affect the gentleman's question.

The card in the middle typically stands for the present and is supposed to represent what is affecting the gentleman's question.



Why, yes, it is a Fire Drake, sir.

No, I am not familiar with that particular deck.

The gentleman is right, the last card is about the future. A Selkie, sir.



I don't know.

The gentleman does realize that I have no idea what any of those cards mean, doesn't he?

Maybe the gentleman can ask around. Or try his luck online.

7 comments:

  1. Sir, my abject apologies. The sudden outburst distracted you from your duties. I simply wasn't thinking.

    I certainly don't expect the bartender to know the wheresabout of the membership---even when we're in here. I suppose sometimes in casual conversation---or a more conventional card game at the bar---someone may let drop an anecdote that could reveal where one may spend time.

    What happened was I had approached Sherlock over there---his usual conversation companion being called away somewhere I guess---and I said, "Holmes, for the first time in my career I've encountered a case that is completely baffling." And he replied, "First off sir, I'm not Holmes at all, but instead Abraham Van Helsing." "Good grief," I said, "you see how it is: I don't know who anybody is!" And then I let loose my cry about the mysterious Nausicaa.

    As for Madame Rosinka, I don't know the lady and try to avoid divination. I got caught up in the I Ching some years back, and subsequently required psychiatric attention. I've not tried crystal gazers, but that's more along my line. Psychic trance and spiritualist seance have been productive. We may have a member or 2 in here who can do that sort of thing. Is there a quiet room, where perhaps the glowing essence of Nausicaa might be summoned?

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  2. Ahhh... one eve I shall have to bring my deck along. I never charge for a reading. I do it for friends occasionally & myjinself obsessively. Hee! However, I am not familiar with the pictured deck at all! My personal fave is the Aleister Crowley Thoth... 'tis unbelievably accurate IMHO. But I do have several decks to choose from. (Several? Shhhhh.... okokok, I likely have several dozen decks. *ahem blush* Yet I feel my collection shall not be completed until I own the gold-edged Salvador Dali deck! OH! It takes my breath away! It also takes roughly 100 buckaroos. Eek!)

    I had a friend send me an I Ching well over a year ago & I haven't even opened it! It's strange... it jintimidates me & I've no idea why. I also have received Runes as a gift which I've never tried. Sometimes 'new things' frighten me. I tend to stick to the tarot, pendulum work (I'm awesome with a pendulum! ;-) & once in a blue moon automatic writing (admittedly, that freaks me out a bit especially when it works well!).

    I happen to think the Bartender simply picked the third card for its image. ;-) (And no using the old excuse that it's a random draw! Your subconscious picked it you know. Now we all know what's on your mind. ;-)

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  3. I asked the I Ching the following question: Will jin open her I Ching? Here is the answer that came at Tarot.com~~~

    Hexagram 63: After Completion

    It is a fine irony that after completion of some project or great enterprise, there is still much left to do. Completion is merely a pause in the cycle of creation and decay, a momentary still point for the swinging pendulum of life. Though completion does imply a period of restful pause — one that usually has been well earned — it is not an actual end, but rather a uniquely harmonious flat spot in the constancy of change and movement.

    The image of After Completion is that of a kettle of water boiling over a fire. When the forces are balanced, the water boils properly; but if the pot is too full, it may boil over and put out the fire; or, if the fire is too hot, it may evaporate all the water. In the equilibrium that follows the completion of something significant, the current dynamics must be watched carefully to assure that a proper balance is maintained.

    After Completion is the time for fine-tuning, for refinements and embellishments of what has already been accomplished.

    Even if we are enjoying a rewarding situation right now, the laws of the natural world dictate that influence and success will eventually decline. So, don't let current good fortunes prompt careless or relaxed attitudes. A successful endeavor or partnership needs to be carefully tended and maintained. What is incomplete should be finished, and brought to fruition without delay.

    Take satisfaction upon completion, but do not dwell on it. To do so could bring a halt to your influence and capability.

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  4. The line that jumped out at me:

    "What is incomplete should be finished, and brought to fruition without delay."

    That's probably why I haven't opened the I Ching... there's always something that needs finishing in my world before I start something new & I am currently working me arse off to cease my jinpulsive procrastination.

    I procrastinate because I want it all perfect (I'm a Virgo you know ;-) but it takes too long to make it all perfect! Vicious circle. So... there sit the 'new things' untouched until I tie up all the loose ends.

    P.S. OMG!!!!! I LUVLUVLUV that recipe you posted for me! It sounds beyond divine & I shall try to make it this weekend. I may even turn it jinto a new blogpost! :-D

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  5. The item, over at jintrinsique, is a tomato eclair. At first glance, that may not sound very inviting...but the recipe begins to work upon you. I'm quite surprised, though, that jin is going to try it.

    My problem with I Ching is my Pisces tendency to obsessive/compulsive. Put that with my passive/aggressive, and you get COPA. Compulsive/obsessive/passive/aggressive: the new support group I formed for similar neurotic people. We never seem to get around to having a meeting however...but we know whose fault that is!

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  6. On Procrastination..... (in case you haven't seen this? If not, it's about time you got on the ball and got to it.)

    "To be is to do" - Aristotle

    "To do is to be" - Sartre

    "Do be do be do" - Sinatra

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  7. Heck, that one might even be worthy of going up on the Wulfshead's men's room wall. Which is where I think I first saw it, that is if anyone here is crass enough to scribble on the men's room wall?

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