Tarot Toss-Up: A Presidential Selection

The country of Althusalah is holding presidential elections this fall. It's an historic race for many reasons. In a tight race for the Aprolactic party nomination, one candidate is female and the other male.

You decide to get insight into this presidential election by drawing three cards for each candidate.

After shuffling, you draw the following cards:

Candidate One (Female)

Ace of Cups - 5 of Cups - Queen of Wands

Candidate Two (Male)

Wheel of Fortune - Hierophant - 4 of Cups

Based on these cards, what would you conclude about each of these candidates?

As always, any notes on your interpretive techniques--why you say whatever you say--will be welcomed!

-- Janet Boyer

Cards from the Aquatic Tarot

Comments

[Eva Yaa Asantewaa]

Candidate #1: A spoiled relationship leads this woman to crave ascension to her own authority. Ahem...

Candidate #2: This uniter (Hierophant) finds the language of those who want change and know the change they want and the language of those who just know that they are unhappy and disatisfied. He brings them together, finding a way to satisfy both.

[Teresa Michelsen]

LOL. OK, I can't help it.

Female: She sees a great gift - a chance to be the anointed one! Believing she is blessed by the universe with personal gifts, good timing, and support from on high, she goes forth, only to have her hopes bitterly dashed. Undaunted (she's never daunted for long) she finds a lucrative position in the business sector and makes a fortune, while ruling with an iron hand at home.

Male: While starting as the underdog, his fortunes turned for the better. He began speaking to the masses, and lo, the masses did respond. He became a beacon of hope for many and showed his ability to lead. However, upon reaching the Presidency, the soaring emotions of the campaign trail are no more and reality intrudes, dampening his spirits somewhat, though still on solid ground.

[Janet Boyer]

Ladies, this is all sounding vaguely familiar. Hmmm...

*wink*

Great posts!

Janet

[lfeb]

I so wanted to try to do this objectively, without bringing in the obvious comparisons to real situations and my own preferences about them - not sure it's possible! hah!

But here's a try, reading them in a simple PPF configuration -

She started this with high hopes... it was the opportunity to embrace something she truly loves (Ace of Cups). Currently, though, she's finding out that she's not being as readily embraced in return as she expected to be - history and circumstances have dashed a few of her dreams, but she's still got something significant to work with (5 Cups). I think this woman, deep down, truly wants to be liked and focuses more than a politician should on the negative feelings stirred up when she isn't universally liked. However, she's a woman who lands on her feet and has the natural ambition and desire to thrive as she comes into her own in a supporting role in the next administration (Queen of Wands).

Meanwhile, this gentleman seemingly came out of nowhere awhile back - he was in the right place at the right time to launch what some might regard as his path to destiny (Wheel of Fortune). Currently, he's building a loyal and fervent following who look to him for guidance and may even regard him as the path to salvation. Critics might be concerned that there is too much 'cult of personality' in this campaign, but there is no doubt that he is bringing together divergent people under his ethical banner (Hierophant).

Later, however, he is going to need to com to terms with the reality that being a president is different from running for president, and involves compromises and dealing with issues that do not appeal to you. He may find that it's not as nourishing to his ideals as he thinks it is, and may be a little bummed when he realizes what he might have to compromise away to hold the office.

So... she loses the election but in the end it serves her well. He wins the election and maybe loses some of his heart as a result.

[Oracle of PhilaDelphia]

Both candidate’s cards equal 19, The Sun. Illumination is the theme n this election. Win or lose we will learn something about ourselves and about others. What is secret and in the dark will be brought to the light of day.

Candidate 1 female
Total of all cards = 1 + 5 + 13 = 19

She starts with an open heart ready to share her God given gifts with the world (Ace of Cups). But lo’ no one wants them; her gifts are dashed on the rocks (5 of Cups). Rejected and dejected she falls into the pit of despair and hopelessness. But in her darkness she is given the opportunity to look deep within herself and find her strength. She comes out strong and bright, ready to lead the world with her light (Queen of Wands). She illuminates the strength of women.

Candidate 2 male
Total of cards = 10 + 5 + 4 = 19

He starts with a gamble (Wheel of Fortune). Will he rotate to the top and be King or will he be crushed under the cruel Wheel of Society? He comes forth and uses his best voice to draw down the God to Earth and His Will be done on Earth (Hierophant). He gathers many loyal acolytes who bow adoringly at his feet. But belying it all is the underlying ancient and ageless patriarchy corrupt and rife with self-righteousness.
What follows is a time of reflection (4 of Cups), what is in my heart? What are the humble gifts I have for the world? What will God show me is the purpose in my existence? That will be rooted in the earth where it will water the roots of a great and ancient tree of humanity.

[rachelcat]

This is a work of fiction. I went with the cards (and my imagination), not current events (or my preference)!

When Candidate 1 announced her candidacy, people were thrilled that their country now had a bona fide woman candidate who can actually win. They were in love with her and her (relatively) feminine vibe (Ace of Cups!). In the course of a long, bitter campaign, certain unsavory rumors about her past surfaced and soured the general celebratory atmosphere (5 Cups). Then the voters had a change of heart. The rumors really weren’t so bad. And if they WERE true, they show that she just might be the strong, energetic, no-nonsense person their country NEEDS in a president (Queen of Wands)!

In the anything-goes early days of the presidential race, Candidate 2 developed from a long-shot into a front-runner (Wheel). His family-values and fiscal-responsibility platform resonated with conservative and liberal voters alike (Hierophant). Soon it became accepted wisdom that he was going to win it (Hierophant). In the final days of the long, bitter campaign, the candidate seemed to lose steam, maybe even lose his nerve. (Frankly, he was uncomfortable with the rumor-mongering and dirty tricks used in his name in the campaign, and felt that being president would just bring more of the same.) Even though the voters didn’t know about his reservations, they felt his increasing reluctance to accept the job they were, until recently, ready to hand to him (4 Cups).

On election day it soon became clear that the country would soon have its first ever female president, but she would be one in a long line of strong energetic leaders (Queen of Wands)!

[Mark McElroy]

[this is a really great post]

[Anya]

Female candidate--Well, the Ace of Cups is all things feminine and emotional. This is the strength of this candidate--as a woman, she is intimately in tune with her merciful side. This is what power means to her--having the power to help others. However, she has also suffered much loss recently, and it is setting her back somewhat on her path to gaining the nomination. She needs to regroup and look at what she still has, and then move on. And then she will be in an excellent position to win the nomination.

Male candidate--For a large part of this campaign, has felt as if random forces were at work, spinning him first upwards, then down. He has not felt in control. He’s turned to advisers in whom he’s placed perhaps too much confidence--control-freaky men who dole out their secrets reluctantly. At the end of this campaign cycle, he’ll still be in a strong political position--perhaps offered a new choice, like being VP, to contemplate.

[trei]

luck favors the male to win a position of authority; but he is not up to it; after he wins, he will lose interest (he enjoys the quest, not what the job will entail).

the woman has a great opportunity, but it is based more on feelings and she will lose; yet she will be offered something else; eventhough she won't appreciate the offer, it will be a position of great influence.

[sravana]

I just wanted to comment on the Hierophant, in aspect to a current male presidential candidate's problems with his (former) pastor.. ;)

[Janet Boyer]

Ohhh, good one, Sravana!

And, really, it's the whole "pastor" issue that seems to be "roll of the dice" (Wheel) that may have led to the male candidate losing a bit of steam for awhile.

Another thought: The Hierophant is seated ABOVE the kneeling individuals. Perhaps a connection to the male candidate's comments about the folks in Pennsylvania (who cling to "religion and guns" and exhibit xenophobic tendencies) which were perceived by many as "looking down his nose" at rural/common folk with an elitist, patronizing attitude.

After that taped conversation, I wonder how many voters decided that the male candidates "gift" was just more of the same-old politics as represented by the crossed arms of the figure in the 4 of Cups--as well as the three lined up in front.

Janet