I have recently started working with Nancy Hendrickson’s book “Ancestral Tarot – Uncover Your Past and Chart Your Future” (Weiser Books, 2021). The very first question that the reader is asked to work with is “Which Ancestors do I want to work with?” The reference is not to specific ancestors, but to categories of ancestors. There is a three-card spread that the reader works with, to determine whether they want to work with Ancestors of Blood (card number one), Ancestors of Place (card number two), or Ancestors of Time (card number three).
I drew the Knight of Cups, the Haindmaid of Coins (Page of Pentacles) and the Four of Swords from Brian Williams “The Minchiate Tarot”. Hendrickson suggests that when we choose which card to follow, we look not only at the type of ancestor that is best for you to begin working with at this time, but also you are likely to encounter. For me, at this time, the Knight of Cups (representing Ancestors of Blood) would be emotionally supportive, but might be the easy path. The Handmaid of Coins (representing Ancestors of Place) for me speaks of grounded and centered study. The Four of Swords (representing Ancestors of Time) contains a great deal of truth, but also a great deal of pain, and would require addressing many shadow issues (IMHO). The Handmaid of Coins (representing Ancestors of Place) is my choice of these three cards.
We are then asked to draw three more cards to show the impact that the first three cards would have. From the same deck I drew Love (Ancestors of Blood), the Four of Staves (Ancestors of Place), and the Queen of Staves (Ancestors of Time). Amazing at the emotional context Ancestors of Blood brings to me. However, this is energy that I don’t need in my life right now. My work is going to be with Ancestors of Place, which actually surprises me!
I will share more as I go deeper into this work.
(c) March 2021 Bonnie Cehovet
Reproduction prohibited without written permission from the author.
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