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".
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".