EDSG #1 - 4 Swords, Death and 2 Pentacles

[jenessa]

It is my understanding that the modifiers/(flanking cards) can strengthen or weaken the energy of: the central card.

So when reading triads, the modifiers effect the principal card to the extent that the Central Cards energy will be either enhanced or diminished,, {altho in instances of netural elemental interaction, the modifiers will have little effect on the principal card}.

& As Rodney mentioned: triads are usually interpreted from the centre out.
So we have to consider how the central cards energy would be diminished (or enhanced) by: the modifier.

Furthermore, and for the purpose of this post I will be discussing the 1st. triad: AWE, in which water/death is: the principal card.

-- So water modified by: air = neutral interaction, thus: the passive energy present in 4 Swords/(air element) has no effect on: the concept of inevitable change as suggested by the principal card/Death/(water element).

-- Next if we consider water modified by: earth = friendly interaction, thus: the need to juggle priorities as suggested by 2 Pents has significance in relation to: a career change.

So i'd read this throw as: the querent feels complacent about their career/(4Swords), however this is about to change/(Death), due to: shifting priorites/(2 Pentacles).

Or in otherwords, 2 Pentacles modifies the subject Death,, to the extent that the energy of 2 Pents will somehow contribute to: a significant change as regards the querents career, because the friendly elemental interaction is such that 2 Pentacles/(earth) modifies/strengthens and otherwise supports the element of change found in the Death/(water) card.

So keeping in mind that friendly interaction means that the modifer enhances the action or influence of the primary card, i'd view this as: the need to juggle priorities {2Pent} will contribute to the change inherent in the principal card {Death}.

Also when it comes to working with ED's in a 3 Card Spread/(triad), my research indicates that the outer 2 cards should be read as well or ill dignified in relation to: the centre/principal card.
^^ So in the instance of this AWE triad, i'd interpret this to mean that 2 Pentacles/(earth element) is well dignified, and 4 Swords/(air element) is neutral.

I've also noted that readers can look to see whether the Subject (Principal)/(central card): is supported by the Modifiers
.. OR whether the Modifiers: are working together or against themselves.

& I mention this last because I've noted that Elendil mentioned that with AIR and EARTH in conflict on either side of: WATER/Death (the central card) becomes: the strongest card.

In addition to which, and as Rodney mentioned per standard GD interpretations, A and E cancel each other out, leaving just the W, tho he doesn't ascribe to that way of reading the elemental interaction, and neither do I because when reading triads the emphasis is on determining how the subject/principal card is being effected by the modifiers. So although I LOOK to see if the modifiers are working with one another, or whether they are working against themselves, in this later instance IMO they do not "cancel each other out", given that we need to consider the elemental interaction between the modifiers & the principal card.

Indeed, when it comes to the concept of cancelling anything out,, IMO the only time this comes into play is when both flanking cards (modifiers) are contrary to: the center one, thus: they dominate it completely.

Or in otherwords, IF the flanking cards completely dominate the central card, then the primary card could be weakened to such an extent that it has: little or no influence on the situation,, thus in instances when both modifiers are unfriendly/(enemies) to: the principal card, the elemental interaction is such, that the energy of the central card may be CANCELLED.

& As regards this last observation re: how to determine if the energy of a card is cancelled, please note: this has more to do with triads where both the modifiers are unfriendly to: the subject,, NOT when the modifiers are enemies of one another.

However, there is still something to be gleaned from noting when: the modifiers are working against each other.
For example, and as Elendil mentioned her/his take was such that: "It is time to call it a day and look for a new job (Death), as the work/life balance (conflict between the 4 of Swords = rest and recuperation and 2 of Pentacles = juggling issues) just isn't happening, thus: the current situation at work is simply no longer viable".

 

[rwcarter]

Haven't had time to read all the responses to this point, but I wanted to mention that folks can take part in the EDSG by discussing takes that others have written if folks don't have takes of their own to contribute. I think folks have done a great job so far of explaining how they're arriving at their interpretations, but if someone has a question about how an interpretation was arrived at, please ask.

 

[jenessa]

As per my previous post, I read the 1st. triad AWE in the context of Work/Career as:
-- the querent feels complacent about their career (4Swords), however this is about to change (Death), due to: shifting priorites (2 Pent).


However, in the 2nd. triad WEA:
EARTH (2 Pent) becomes the Subject/(principal/central card), which is supported by: the modifier on the left/Water/(Death), tho EARTH (2 Pent) is being interfered with by: the modifier on the right/Air/(4Swords).

Furthermore, and read in the context of Work/Career this suggests to me that: change IS taking place @ work (Death), in the sense that the querent NEEDS to do a juggling act (2 Pent).

However, because 4 Swords is read as being ill-dignified, the ability to juggle as seen in the 2 of Pentacles, is diminished by: 4 Swords, which leads me to conclude that this may be due to: conflicting priorities, not merely shifting priorities.

Not to mention, that the situation/(subject matter) is such that although the querent needs to do a juggling act (2 Pent), because the modifier (4Swords) is ill-dignified this has the effect of interfering with the querents ability to: successfully juggle different aspects.

[Also Note: in this 2nd. triad the modifiers are neither working together or against one another, but rather remain neutral .. (ie. the subject/Earth, is flanked by: Water & Air which shows neutral* interaction].


In the 3rd triad EAW:
AIR (4 Swords) becomes the Subject/(central card), which is diminished by: the modifier on the left/Earth/(2 Pent),, and AIR (4 Swords) is not effected by: the modifier on the right/Water (Death), but rather the energy of the subject/(air) remains neutral.

Furthermore, and read in the context of Work/Career this suggests to me that: any complacency (&/or lack of activity) on the part of the querent (4 Swords), will lessen (4Swords modified/diminished by: 2 Pent).
^^ (Or rather should I say, the change/activity seen in 2 Pent will have the effect of diminishing the inactivity of 4 Swords).

& If we consider the subject/AIR in relation to the last modifier, given that this reveals a neutral interaction, i conclude that the focus of this triad is on: a change (Death) in the status quo (4 Swords).

[Also Note: in this 3rd. triad the modifiers E & W are friendly to one another, so 2 Pent & Death can be viewed as: signalling a "change in priorities"].


In a NutShell:
-- the focus of the 1st. triad AWE concens: impending change, due to: shifting priorities.

-- the focus of the 2nd. triad WEA concerns: change that IS taking place, and which results in: the querent's having to juggle conflicting priorities, (however the elemental interaction is such that this may prove difficult for the querent).

-- the focus of the 3rd. triad EAW concerns: a change in the status quo, due to: changing priorities, (altho in this scenario this type of change is unimpeded).

 

[jenessa]

Folks can respond to as many or as few of the triad/area combinations as they want. (As Elendil did).

I'd like to comment on what others have posted in the area of: Work/Career re: EAW
^^ (Tho because i'm commenting on other peoples posts, please note: that i'm not just quoting them verbatim).


Rodney's Take re: Work/Career:
EAW - With AIR as the central card/(subject) he's concluded that: the querent is burned out (4S), from working too hard (2P)
^^ {given that 2P/(earth) & 4S/(air) are enemies}, and thus: Q. considers looking for a new job (Death).


Elendil's Take re: EAW for Work/Career:
-- The flanking cards/(modifiers) support each other (EARTH + WATER)
^^ {friendly interaction = strengthens for: good OR ill}

-- The central card/(subject) is in direct conflict with EARTH, tho it is neutrally aligned with WATER.

Thus this spread might conceivably be read as follows: There has been absence form work (4 Swords) perhaps due to illness. This period away from the work place has not been helpful since in the meantime changes have occurred there (2 of Pentacles).
This absence may also have required juggling the finances/resources. Unfortunately I do not see that a return to work is going to be possible (Death) and that it perhaps TIME to accept this fact, instead of trying to resume/struggle on.


Tigerangel's Take In Work/Career EAW: With reading from the centre card first (A) being next to (E) it shows to me that their thoughts are unbalanced and that the (W) is needed for them to get back into a balanced state.
^^ Or in otherwords, her/his assessment is that: change is needed.


Jenessa (my take) in Work/Career EAW: i felt the focus of this triad concerned a "change in the status quo" due to: changing priorities, and that this type of change is unimpeded.


In a Nutshell re: EAW
-- Rodney views the CHANGE (ie. looking for a new job) as: something the querent considers.
-- Tigerangel views CHANGE as: being needed.
-- I view the CHANGE (in the status quo) as: happening.
-- Elendil views the CHANGE as: being final.

PS: I apologize for my style of editing, but i want certain things to stand-out given that the use of ED's can reveal subtle nuances.

 

[Marilyn20]

I don't have much time, so I will just concentrate on the first triad. I'm quite new to this concept, so feel free to point out any errors or concepts I'm not getting!

Air - Water - Earth
4 Swords - Death - 2 Pentacles

The 4 of Swords is neutral to Death, to me meaning a resting period followed by an intense transformation. 2 of Pentacles is also neutral to Death, meaning to me the transformation, while intense, will be balanced smoothly and integrate well into the querent's life. The 4 of Swords and the 2 of Pentacles are in conflict with one another, perhaps suggesting to me that the resting period and subsequent transformation may in fact be forced by a lack of balance in the querent's life.

 

[rwcarter]

Air - Water - Earth
4 Swords - Death - 2 Pentacles

2 of Pentacles is also neutral to Death, meaning to me the transformation, while intense, will be balanced smoothly and integrate well into the querent's life.

Water and Earth are friendly to each other, not neutral.

 

[Marilyn20]

Whoops! Thanks for checking my work. I can tell this is going to take some serious concentration .

In that case, I'd say that the 2 of Pentacles being friendly to Death would say to me that this transformation will be very smooth; though it will be a major one it will be welcomed by the querent and those around her or him, and fit nicely into the current life the querent is leading.

 

[Tigerangel]

Water and Earth are friendly to each other, not neutral.

Just to check although Water and Earth are friendly they are also passive with each other aswell so they move slowly with each other. Is that right or have I got that wrong?

 

[rwcarter]

Just to check although Water and Earth are friendly they are also passive with each other aswell so they move slowly with each other. Is that right or have I got that wrong?

I wasn't delving into active/passive, but you're right. Earth and Water are passive while Fire and Air are active.

Now that I've updated the TB&M index I can play catch-up on the rest of the forums....

 

[jenessa]

WEA for Work/Career:

WATER and AIR which flank the central card are neutrally aligned at best. EARTH is in direct conflict with AIR although it gets support from WATER so the AIR card would be weakest in this spread and its energies would be compromised

This might translate as major changes and transformation in the workplace (Death and 2 Pentacles) which are making things difficult. Coping strategies are strained to the extent that there is a perceived need to take some time off (4 of Swords) but this would only prove to be a temporary respite (the healing energy of rest associated with this card being compromised) . I see this particular reading quite pessimistically....

I really like your take on this, and i understand how you arrived @ this interpretn.

I'm particularly interested in using ed's to determine the dominant energy of a throw, so like you, I take note of which cards are strong or weakest. & Altho i know in "theory" that its useful to look @ the modifiers to see how their interacting with one another, i'd never thot to consider their interaction as part of figuring out the dominant energy for the entire throw.

Not sure if i've penned that in a way you can understand, but i like your style and i had an ah'ha moment re: your concise approach. Well done & many thanks for sharing.