Tarot Spread: Kimberly Norwood

Kimberly was last seen at approximately 5:15 p.m. in her hometown of Hallsville, Texas. She was walking with three friends in the Caney Creek Estates subdivision at the time. The four children went their separate ways less than one mile from Kimberly's family's house. She never arrived home and has never been heard from again.

Less than an hour before her disappearance, Kimberly had an argument with her mother over the telephone because her mother refused to let her spend the night at a friend's home. She is not believed to have run away from home, however; her parents think she was abducted. They theorize that the kidnapper(s) lived nearby, because the subdivision where she vanished is rural and densely wooded and a person unfamiliar with the area could become lost easily.

The home where Kimberly resided at the time of her disappearance has since been torn down, but her parents live in another house close by. She was within two weeks of graduating Hallsville Middle School at the time she went missing, and was due to enter Hallsville Junior High School in the fall. She was a good student who had tested into accelerated learning classes.

Kimberly's hobbies in 1989 included horseback riding and spending time with her friends and her sister. Her case remains unsolved and is classified as a non-family abduction.

For this particular reading, I shall use a different method that was used by Servant of the Fates. They suggested a thirteen-card spread, so while I still prefer using a Celtic Cross with ten cards, today I will use their method.

1)      The Empress (present) – Nurturing, abundance, mothering, beauty, a businesswoman, creativity, solving problems creatively, a successful business or opportunity.

Kimberly could, at the time of writing, be a mother. If so, this could mean that she is alive. However, this could simply mean that there may be a link to her mother or another maternal figure in her life, or even that she is close to a successful business.

2)      Ten of Swords (problem) – Ruin, a sudden ending, a negative outcome, depression, the result of wrong choices, falling just before the finish line, hardships, a bad omen, projects failing, being stabbed in the back.

This is a very unhappy situation. Perhaps the identity of Kimberly’s abductor will be known, but they will pass on before they can be arrested. They may be already dead. Or we may find Kimberly, but it will be ‘too late’, so to say. Swords indicate westwards, so she could be ‘ten’ of something westward. Swords are connected to spring, the time of year that Kimberly was taken.

3)      Page of Cups (past) – Poetry, handwritten communication, an art student, a younger sibling, school or college friend, a youngster or child. Poets, artists, dancers, altar boys, fundraisers and charity workers, waiters.

The Pages are sometimes known as Princesses and I believe this could be the case as we are looking at a young female. Was Kimberly an artistic sort of child? This card is very likely to represent the time before her abduction. The dates associated with the Page of Cups encompass September 21^st to December 20^th, which Kimberly’s birthdate falls under.

4)      Eight of Wands (Near Future)

Acting quickly, overcoming obstacles, communications, events moving quickly, blockages removed, law of attraction in action, working quickly and efficiently. Postmen and deliverymen, magicians and illusionists, event organizers, lightworkers. November 23^rd to December 2^nd.

Whatever will come next in Kimberly’s case, when law enforcement are on the right path they shall work swiftly and find the answer soon enough. The wands also suggest days, so when the police are on the right track they might find an answer within eight days.

5)      Queen of Swords, reversed (Conscious Goal)

A complainer. Someone verbally vicious, ruthless or manipulative. Cunning, cold-hearted, spiteful. An analytical and intelligent woman, likely to be educated or has an interest in education. The timing covers the dates between September 12^th and October 12^th.

This particular sword is pointing at the cards below her; the Empress, Ten of Swords and the sixth card (Two of Wands). This means that this card might govern the other three.

Could a woman be involved in Kimberly’s abduction? Or is this Kimberly herself? The final date that the Queen of Swords represents, October 12^th, is her birthday. But this might be a coincidence.

6)      Two of Wands (The Buried Truth)

Being in control, gaining control, dominating another or a situation. Wanting more, not being satisfied with your lot. Business partners, workers and planners, hoarders and collectors.

Someone is in control of the situation. This might mean that whoever took Kimberly has a hold on her – whether she is alive or dead – and refuses to divulge any information. They want more, which could mean that they are a repeat offender. Concerning directions, wands symbolise south, which may mean that Kimberly is ‘two’ of something southwards.

7)      Knight of Wands, reversed (Advice)

Arrogance, egotism, misspent creativity, delayed travel plans and blockages, prone to boredom, a trickster and liar. Tour guide, soldier, actor, electrician. Someone energetic and ambitious. They may be sporty, but are definitely adventurous. They are determined but hasty. This card might imply travel or leaving home, a change of job or promotion, acting quickly in business or taking risks.

The advice that the card gives us that someone, or a number of people, must not be arrogant when looking for Kimberly. There may be blockages (a lack of a warrant, perhaps?) and the culprit is a trickster so there may not be enough evidence.

8)      Wheel of Fortune (The Environment)

Luck, chance, opportunity, movement, the cycle of life, ups and downs, a chance meeting that can change your life, good times, success. Gamblers, casinos and card players, stockbrokers, shift workers and pawnbrokers.

It seems as if there will be a lucky strike. As I said earlier in this reading, if law enforcement comes across a clue, it will lead to solving the case. The Wheel of Fortune is linked to ‘Ten’, but I am unsure if this connects to timing or distance.

It may signify the physical environment that Kimberly is now.

9)      Four of Cups (Hopes and Fears)

Settling for what you have. Missing opportunities, apathy, melancholy, indifference, accepting what you have, wanting what you can’t have.

The Knight of Wands controls the Four of Cups, which could mean that these two cards are linked. Somebody is worried that someone else will be arrogant. Could this mean that Kimberly is afraid that she will not be found? Is she afraid that those that are searching for her will overlook her?

This card is a very upsetting one when referring to a missing person, especially when linked to hopes and fears. The person in the card is staring down at the Wheel of Fortune, which could mean that, if Kimberly is alive, she wishes to escape the dreary life she is in.

10, 11 and 12) Two of Swords, reversed; Four of Wands, reversed; Six of Cups, reversed (The Ultimate Outcome)

Two of Swords – Becoming unbalanced, discord, disagreements, mental blockages, a wrong decision, emotions winning over logic. Managers and magistrates.

Four of Wands – Delays to completion, obstacles causing delays, problems at home, mishaps and accidents. Estate agents, homemakers, project managers.

Six of Cups – Living in the past, skeletons in the closet, leaving the past behind, living to old traditions. Family historians, families, children, childminders, nursery workers, teachers, florists, youth workers.

The Queen of Swords oversees the Two of Swords, so I would hazard a guess and suggest that the conscious goal is related to the outcome. It appears that there is a rather unhappy outcome in this case. Could something close to Kimberly’s home somehow prevent her from being found? Could she have known her abductor? It seems quite likely that the abductor knew the surrounding area, as the place that Kimberly was last seen was somewhere rural. Might they be the person indicated by the Queen of Swords?

But what puzzles me is that whatever the answer, children are involved. I am not sure if this means Kimberly herself, but it appears that there is some connection to children and this will possibly prevent a happy ending.

13) Knight of Pentacles (The Underworld; what can help or hinder)

Business travel, employment opportunities, trustworthiness, slow but steady progress. Landscape managers, soldiers, engineers, mechanics, builders, estate managers, police officers, bankers. Remembering common sense, being determined, digging deep and pushing through.

It seems as if there may be someone at hand who can assist Kimberly in this case. Someone (possibly in the police force) may choose to go down the avenue of interest at hand and look for this child. My message to them is to use common sense and be realistic when searching for this girl.

(Yes, I realise that I am telling people to use common sense while providing a Tarot reading for a missing person, but that’s what the cards say.)

This card depicts a man on horseback overlooking a ploughed field. I would suggest that people should start looking in such a location. As fields are ploughed in the springtime and the Pentacles represent winter, I would say that a clue will become available sometime at the end of winter.

As for which winter, I am unable to say.

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Tarot Spread: Rita Jolly

Rita left her residence on Horton Road in West Linn, Oregon at 7:15 p.m. on June 29, 1973 to go for a walk. She never returned. She was last seen between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. that day, walking uphill on Sunset Avenue. Rita has never been heard from again.

Rita may have been a victim of the serial killer Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy. A photograph of Bundy is posted with this case summary. He was executed in Florida in 1989. He is a suspect in scores of murders, mainly from the Pacific Northwest, though he was convicted only of killing three females in Florida. He confessed to many deaths prior to his execution.

Bundy may be responsible for the disappearances of Nancy Baird, Ann Marie Burr, Lynette Culver, Julie Cunningham, Susan Curtis, Georgeann Hawkins, Vicki Hollar, Donna Manson, Denise Oliverson, Nancy Wilcox, and many other girls and young women.

The women continue to be listed as missing persons. Their remains have never been recovered. It is worth noting that Bundy did not confess to Rita's murder before his death, but he is considered a suspect in many deaths and disappearances he did not claim responsibility for.

Rita's disappearance remains unsolved, as her body was not found and Bundy was never charged or confessed to her murder. Foul play is suspected in her case. She was a junior at West Linn High School in 1973.

I have been interested in Rita for a long time. I found that people still seem to think that Bundy is responsible despite the fact that he had an alibi that day (I will provide a link below).

It is not just Bundy whom people like to point a finger at. Warren Leslie Forrest was also active in Washington and Oregon at the same time. Unlike Bundy, Forrest is still alive as of this publication. I would like it if he was questioned on Rita's disappearance - if he has not been questioned already - but as you will see in this reading, perhaps Rita's fate lies closer to home.

1.       Eight of Swords, reversed. Being released from obligations, taking steps to empowerment, obstacles clearing, fatality.

This could be a sign that Rita met with death. This is not surprising, considering who the main suspects are, but I cannot say for certain if this necessarily means death.

 

2.       Nine of Swords, reversed. Prolonged anxiety, going over old ground, not finding the solution, mental exhaustion, seeing an end to despair. It could mean imprisonment or reasonable fear.

Could this possibly mean that Rita was alive for a time after she was last seen?

It might also link to the search for her. The second card refers to obstacles that the Querent – in this case Rita – comes across, but it might connect to law enforcement. They possibly latched onto the idea that Bundy killed her and refused to let go of this possibility. The idea of ‘going over old ground’ could literally mean examining a place that was previously searched, or looking back at other suspects.

 

3.       The Hanged Man, reversed. In limbo, being narrow-minded, not seeing from all sides, not letting go, having false motives, holding back. Freedom fighters, humanitarians, eco warriors and protesters.

The idea of protesters makes me think of the Vietnam War, although Rita’s case may have nothing to do with it. Did she know anyone who took part in a protest? This card represents the Querent’s past, but I cannot find anything online that may suggest that she was involved in any protests.

The idea of false motives, however, makes me wonder about someone tricking her. Someone that she thought that she could trust. It might NOT have been Bundy, though; since this card links to the past, she may have been hurt by someone in her past, or someone that she knew lured her away.

 

4.       Seven of Pentacles. Delays in payment, long term returns, slow but steady growth, not working as hard as you could, working for nothing, little reward for a lot of effort. Farmers, long term investors, garden centre workers, tree surgeons.

The fourth card indicates the future. In the case of a reading for a missing person, the future refers to the time after they were last seen. Pentacles relate to money, so this makes me think that money was involved somehow. Did Rita owe someone money?

The idea of ‘little reward’ and ‘working for nothing’ makes me think that for forty-five years law enforcement has been barking up the wrong tree. A quick look at Bundy’s timeline shows that he was in Seattle on the day that Rita went missing. The exact timing is unknown, but I do not believe that he was in Oregon at all on that date.

 

5.       Eight of Pentacles. Being cautious, foresight, careful with money, learning, education, a period of study, working hard, attention to detail, meeting deadlines. Factory workers, the self-employed, mature students, tradesmen, skilled workers, craftsmen.

Could Rita be the ‘mature student’ described here? Is she the one who is ‘careful with money’? How does money fit into her disappearance?

Regardless, I think that the person responsible for her disappearance could fit into one of the jobs listed above. The fifth card symbolises the best that the Querent can hope for. The idea of money worries comes up again in regards to this.

This card also represents the Sun in Virgo, which it certainly was on the day that she went missing.

 

6.       Eight of Cups, reversed. Questioning your decision to leave, not being able to move on, fear of the unknown, clinging to the past. Backpackers, travellers, night shift workers, solitary workers, groundsmen and maintenance workers.

Rita had to ‘leave her life behind’. Whether or not she chose to, however, is another question. Something that interests me is the idea of groundsmen and maintenance workers. Warren Forrest worked for a Parks and Recreation department. Could this be a factor?

Since the Eight of Cups when standing upright shows a figure making his way towards the mountains, when this card is in reverse I believe that it means that the Querent went AWAY from the mountains. Since the mountain range was to the east of West Linn, I think that Rita went westwards.

 

7.       Two of Pentacles, reversed. An imbalance between work and home, not coping with work, discord, resisting change, incomplete projects, buckling under pressure. Injustice.

Was Rita also struggling at school? I believe that school had just ended on June 29^th, so it does make me wonder if she believed that she hadn’t done as well as she expected.

However, the idea of resisting change or an incomplete project again makes me think about how rigid investigators seemed concerning whether or not Bundy was responsible. All of the cards so far heavily imply that he was NOT involved in Rita’s disappearance, as well as the fact that he seems to have an alibi for that date.

But the idea of ‘injustice’ infuriates me. I think that the police were so focused on Bundy that they missed the real culprit, who may have been right in front of them! Most crimes are committed by someone the victim knows, after all.

 

8.       Seven of Swords, reversed. Being caught out, ashamed of your actions. Blaming others, making excuses, walking away at a crucial point, uncovering a sham. Private investigators, researchers, burglars.

Compared to the last card, this one is somewhat favourable, especially since the eighth card signifies the Querent’s hopes and fears. Rita, wherever she is, must either be scared that those looking for her are making excuses – and may even have been diverted from the real culprit when Bundy was caught – or hopes that her case will be reopened and as such the culprit will be named.

 

9.       Five of Swords, reversed. An attempt at disruption, petty arguments, attention-seeking behaviour, malicious gossip, paranoia, intimidation, manipulation, humiliation.

The Five of Swords depicts three people on a beach. One of them is carrying two swords, while three others lie on the sand. I may have been right in thinking that Rita was taken westward. Perhaps she is near a beach, or even underneath one.

 

10.   Two of Wands. Being in control, dynamism, gaining control, dominating another or a situation, seeing the big picture, wanting more, not satisfied with your lot, focusing on your intent. Business partners, office workers and planners, travel agents and hotel inspectors, hoarders and collectors, silent partners.

The last card not only represents the outcome of a situation, but is the most important card in a reading. I wonder if this particular card represents the person responsible for Rita’s disappearance. He – or even she – may not have been satisfied with whatever happened to Rita. They chose to dominate her, whether before or after her abduction. Even after they were finished with Rita, they wanted more. This is a very sad card to end a complex reading.

In conclusion, I think that Rita might have been taken by someone she knew. Perhaps it was someone she owed money to, or someone she knew owed them money. It could have been someone that she met at school. Either way, I think that it ended tragically and one of the reasons that the culprit may have been able to get away for so long is because people – particularly law enforcement – chose to put all of their resources into questioning Bundy.

People chose to focus on serial killers because they do not like the idea of someone from their own community being responsible for a horrific crime.

http://web.archive.org/web/20200707115440/https://web.archive.org/web/20060621144017/http://tedbundy.com/errata/freebies/Ted%20Bundy%20Multiagency%20Investigative%20Team%20Report%201992%20from%20tedbundy.com.pdf

Tarot Spread: Michelle Jolene Lakey

Jolene visited her mother at Mercy Hospital in their hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania on August 26, 1986. She was last seen walking on north Washington Avenue towards her home, which was in the 1300 block of that street. She was planning on spending the night at a female friend's house on Myrtle Street.

Jolene may have entered an unidentified light yellow car approximately one block from her family's residence. She has never been seen again. Authorities believe she was abducted by a non-family member.

Frank Osellanie is considered a possible suspect in Jolene's case. He was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a nine-year-old Scranton girl in 1990 and has been in prison ever since. He is considered a person of interest in several other cases, including the 1978 disappearance of Joanne Williams.

Osellanie admitted to knowing Jolene and said she sometimes visited his auto shop and he gave her rides home. He maintains his innocence in her disappearance, however, and investigators are not sure whether he was involved.

Jolene's parents are divorced; she had not seen her father for three years prior to her disappearance and he was not notified of her abduction for seven months afterwards. Her mother moved away from Scranton shortly after her disappearance and now lives in Oxford, New York. Her case remains unsolved.

This seems to be a case of grabbing a child off from the streets; a crime of opportunity. I am not certain as to whether the suspect involved was responsible, but I shall keep an open mind.

1)                  Nine of Pentacles. Gain, reward for your efforts, success in projects and business deals, realizing your goals, a kept man or woman.

This card signifies the Querent’s present – in this case when Michelle was last seen. I wonder what ‘project’ refers to. The card shows a woman surrounded by tall bushes. Maybe Jolene is surrounded by bushes or there were bushes close to where she was abducted.

 

2)                  Two of Wands, reversed. Self-doubt, loss of control, scattered energy, abuse of power, being dominated, disrupted plans and interruptions. Business partners and office workers, travel agents, hoarders and collectors, silent partners.

Might Michelle have been taken by someone she knew? Or at the very least someone she trusted. She might have had doubts about this person or persons’ plans soon after entering their house or vehicle. The idea of disrupted plans appears to me to link to her disappearance.

The card shows a man standing behind a wall as he looks out onto other buildings and onto water. Could Michelle be behind tall walls, or perhaps be close to a large body of water? Lake Wallenpaupack is the nearest large body of water that I can think of. Might she be there?

 

3)                  Fool, reversed. Folly, chaos, lack of direction, poor judgement, being gullible, blocks, restrictions.

I think that Michelle must have been tricked somehow, whether or not she knew her abductor.

 

4)                  Justice, reversed. Miscarriage of justice, imbalance and unfair treatment, being discredited, not being able to speak your truth, making or receiving the wrong decision, jail.

The fact that Justice happens to be reversed makes me think that Michelle may never receive justice, which is a horrible thought, especially when it concerns a child. However, the jail and unfair treatment might imply that she was held for a time after her abduction. I still cannot work out if she will receive actual justice, however. It is rather interesting that Justice represents the number 11, the age Michelle was when she went missing.

 

5)                  Five of Swords. Defeatism, arguments, negativity, troubles, disturbances, feeling broken, spite and malice, selfishness, revenge.

The fifth card symbolises the best that the Querent – Michelle – can hope to achieve. If so, then this is a very unhappy card and therefore she was in an unhappy situation. Or perhaps these were feelings that Michelle herself had, either before or during her ordeal. Were there problems at home? Child predators can easily spot a child who is in need of love. This happens far too often, I am sad to say.

 

6)                  Seven of Swords, reversed. Being caught out, being ashamed of your actions, blaming others, making excuses, walking away at a crucial point, uncovering a sham. Private investigators, researchers, festival staff, fairground or attraction workers, thieves, burglars.

This card shows a man walking away from a group of tents. Might this mean that Michelle was taken out of Scranton? I wonder if her abductor will be caught, if he has not been arrested already for another crime.

I think again of the suspect. I CANNOT say for certain that he is involved, but this is something to take into account when looking for Michelle.

 

7)                  Magician, reversed. Deceit, con artist, liar, communication blocks, abuse of power, ill intentions, manipulation. Electricians, communications workers, the self-employed or technologically minded.

This card links to Michelle’s environment. I believe that this card signifies the person who took her, especially if she currently shares his environment. He may have known her and abused that trust to get Michelle to come with him.

 

8)                  Queen of Pentacles, reversed. Narrow-minded, selfish, immoral, insecure, obsessive, neurotic, a gold-digger. Teacher, cook, interior designer, career woman, manager, works with animals.

This card symbolises Michelle’s hopes and fears. There might have been a female involved in her abduction. This woman likely has dark hair and eyes and may be over forty.

I see an animal-themed park close to Lake Wallenpaupack. I wonder if this could be a clue as to where Michelle is now.

 

9)                  Lovers, reversed. A broken love affair or relationship, infidelity, business falling apart.

The ninth card connects to the Querent’s hopes and fears. Perhaps Michelle is afraid of love or trusting the wrong person. I would not be surprised, especially if she already knew her kidnapper. Or maybe if a business fell apart then somehow Michelle would be found. Could evidence be buried underneath a business’ foundations?

 

10)               Ten of Cups. Fulfilment, perfect harmony, satisfaction, a happy family unit, your dream becoming reality, a growing family, a happy communal living. Landscape gardeners, festival organizers, youth workers, churchgoers, charity workers, community workers, volunteers.

This is a very pleasant card to end a reading on, despite the circumstances, as the Ten of Cups is always a joyful card. I believe that whatever the outcome, Michelle’s loved ones will receive closure and, if Michelle was alive as of the reading, she will be found alive. The card shows a house on a hill with two adults and two children underneath a rainbow. This links back to my theory that she is not in Scranton, but in the countryside.

Tarot Spread: Christopher Kerze

Christopher stayed home from school on April 20, 1990. He said he had a bad headache and planned to stay home from school. His father went away on a business trip that day and his mother left him alone at their Eagan, Minnesota residence, after giving him an over-the-counter pain medication for his headache.

When they came home, the family's light blue 1988 Dodge Caravan was gone, the family dog was running around loose, and there was a note on the kitchen table from Christopher reading: "Mom, Something important came up + feeling somewhat better. Back by six. (Unless I get lost.) Love, Chris" The word "lost" in the note was underlined twice. Christopher's mother believes his statement about getting lost was just a reference to the fact that he occasionally got lost while he was driving.

Christopher never arrived home and has never been heard from again. He withdrew $200 from his savings account the day he disappeared. The next day, a handwritten note arrived at his parents' home, postmarked Duluth, Minnesota; that town is about two and a half hours from Eagan.

The note said Christopher had lied about being sick so he could use the family's car to get away "to not even I know where." He said he intended to take his own life, and apologized for hurting his family and loved ones.

Two days after Christopher was last seen, the Dodge Caravan was found abandoned on the roadside in Itasca County in northern Minnesota, near the George Washington State Forest and the Chippewa National Forest, about twenty miles north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Christopher's grandparents lived in Grand Rapids. Inside the van were the keys and a note from Christopher explaining who owned the van.

An extensive search of the area turned up no indication of his whereabouts; it's possible he hitchhiked to an unknown destination. After Christopher's disappearance, his family got a tip from someone who claimed they'd picked up a hitchhiker resembling him who asked to be taken to Duluth, the place where the suicide note had been mailed from. This story has not been verified.

The family also got a lot of strange calls where the caller would not speak and there would be background noise like a party. Christopher's mother believes the strange calls were from him. They continued for six months before stopping abruptly.

In 2004, the Eagan Police Department got an anonymous letter postmarked Seattle, Washington that asked them to stop looking for Christopher. The letter writer said Christopher was a "guardian angel" and that he would return home when he was ready. Police eventually concluded the letter was a hoax.

Prior to his disappearance, Christopher hadn't given any indications there were problems in his life. He was an excellent student who'd been invited to join the National Honor Society and was a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist, and he was a member of his school's swimming team and played the clarinet. His other hobbies included skiing, camping, reading, laser tag and computers.

Christopher was carrying his father's 1954 to 1956 model Mossberg 20-gauge bolt-action shotgun with a three-shell clip at the time of his disappearance, but he apparently didn't take any ammunition with him. Authorities believe the gun may have been abandoned somewhere in rural Minnesota and was possibly found later by a hunter.

Photos of a similar gun, and watch similar to what Christopher was wearing, are posted with this case summary. Investigators would like to hear from anyone who found such a gun in 1990 or afterwards.

Christopher's case remains unsolved and many agencies classify it as a runaway. His parents still live in the house where they lived in 1990, and have kept the same phone number. Police believe it's likely he took his own life and that his body has not been found yet.

I felt a little uncomfortable writing about a boy who may have committed suicide. But I decided to look into his case nevertheless. There are roughly thirty more cases from across the world that I wish to look at, mainly those of children, but I believe that this is the only one where suicide may be involved.

I shall add links to suicide hotlines at the end of this reading.

1)                   Two of Pentacles, reversed. An imbalance between work and home, discord, resisting change, a turn for the worse, incomplete projects. Accountants, shift workers, those with multiple jobs, stock market investors or traders, market traders.

Due to Christopher’s age, I wonder if the imbalance refers to his school work. Did he have trouble at school? From what I can find, he appears to have been a good student. Maybe he felt overworked?

 

2)                   Nine of Pentacles. Gain, rewards for your efforts, realizing your goals, financial and personal independence, material security, self-sufficiency, a kept man or woman. Those with a trust fund, horticulturists, the retired, bird keepers, landscape gardeners.

The second card represents the obstacle for the Querent – in this case Christopher. It seems to be an odd card to indicate an obstacle. But perhaps it may refer to a person. Could someone who fits the criteria suggested perhaps have quarrelled with the boy?

 

3)                   Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Failure in business, blockages in production, fruitlessness, poor investments, a turn in either direction, fear of success, self-sabotage. Planners, long-term investors, garden centre workers, plant growers.

I think about Christopher’s alleged – and I cannot stress that word enough – suicidal tendencies when I see the word fruitlessness. Remember, if you or anyone you know has suicidal thoughts, I have listed some helplines below.

The fruitfulness could normally indicate someone’s fertility, but as Christopher was seventeen, I am not sure that this what the card is referring to.

 

4)                   Four of Swords. Calling a truce, a rest, agreement, considering your position, tomb, coffin.

I had a terrible feeling in my gut when I turned over this card. I felt as if I were intruding on Christopher’s private moments, especially since the fourth card in a reading indicates the future (when I do readings for missing people, the future refers to the time after they were last seen). I feel positively awful as I say with certainty that it seems as if Christopher is dead, whether by his own hand or someone else’s.

 

5)                   Strength. Inner strength, self-assurance, self-control, patience, strength through personal power, vitality, compassionate.

This card is a little difficult to interpret. On the one hand, as the fifth card represents what the Querent wants to achieve, it could signify what Christopher wanted from life, but did not feel as if he could achieve. If this were the case, I think that this particular card might have been reversed. So perhaps he set out with the intention of suicide, but something changed his mind. If so, what happened to prevent him from going home? Was he the victim of a crime? Was he ashamed?

 

6)                   Fool. New beginnings, spontaneity, adventure, innocence, fearlessness, a leap of faith, freedom from constraints, seeking freedom.

Does this mean that Christopher ran away? It certainly seems so. He was seventeen, an age where foolishness and spontaneity abound. Could it be entirely possible that the sadness of the Four of Swords was a turning point and not an omen of death, with Christopher realising how string he really was? I truly hope so.

But if this is the case I must ask again where he has been all this time.

 

7)                   World, reversed. Plans falling through, unfinished business, delayed success, non-movement, stagnation, being stuck in a rut.

The seventh card signifies the Querent themselves. Whether or not Christopher chose to die that day, this card may indicate his suicidal tendencies. As the card is reversed, the ‘success’ that may have been delayed, or ‘plans’ that fell through may refer to ‘bad’ plans – his intention of killing himself.

Either way, the non-movement is confusing. There is some evidence that he made his way to Duluth. He could still be living there if this is true.

 

8)                   Nine of Wands. Determination, test of character, belief in your personal power, being able to push through. Soldiers and the military, security guards, striking workers.

The eighth card refers to the Querent’s environment. Again the idea of failing to kill himself comes up. It is the only explanation I can think of.

 

9)                   Page of Wands. Messages, electronic communication, renewed vigour, school or college friend, youngster or child.

The ninth card represents hopes and fears. The message makes me think of the note he left behind, or even the letter mailed from Duluth. I wonder if a school friend managed to help him get away. Perhaps they were the first person that he went to. Maybe Christopher is scared that this person may give away what they know. Is he frightened of returning home? Ashamed?

 

10)               King of Pentacles, reversed. Materialistic bigot, exploiter or harsh employer, opinionated, cruel, poor business decisions, sex addict. Estate agent, businessman or manager, banker, teacher or other educator, mentor, exporter or importer.

This card may indicate the reasons behind Christopher’s decision. There must have been someone in his life that Christopher wanted to get away from. I think it would be best to take another look at his school life and any extracurricular activities that he undertook. I believe you will find the answers there.

Suicide Hotlines

https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/suicide/ (UK)

https://suicidepreventionpathways.org.au/ (AUS)

https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ (CAN)

http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international/germany-suicide-hotlines.html (GER)

https://www.youthline.co.nz/(NZ)

http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (USA)

Tarot Spread: The Princes in the Tower

 

This reading shall be a little different than normal. Not only am I looking into a mystery that is over five hundred years old, but I shall look at astrology using www.theplanetstoday.com.

The Princes in the Tower is one of the England's most fascinating mysteries. It could also be considered England's oldest missing persons case. Ever since I was a small child I have adored history. As I have also been annoyed at mysteries I cannot solve, I spent hours pouring over my theories regarding the two boys.

Writing a full summary of the two Princes would take far too long, so I have to assume that you already know their history. If not, I recommend these websites.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes_in_the_Tower
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Princes-in-the-Tower/
https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/did-richard-iii-really-kill-princes-in-tower-debate-historians/
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-princes-in-the-tower/#gs.2wtut6

1.       Page of Pentacles, reversed. Prodigality, liberality, luxury, unfavorable news, closing yourself off from others.

Could the unfavorable news that is mentioned be that knowledge that the boys were illegitimate? By medieval standards at any rate; King Edward IV had been engaged to somebody else by the time that he married Elizabeth Woodville, the boys’ mother. Engagement was considered just as important as marriage in those days.

Pages also refer to children and the two princes would have been considered to be children both then and now. The Page of Pentacles also covers the period between March 21^st and June 20^th. King Edward IV died on April 9^th 1483, Prince Edward arrived at the Tower on May 19^th and was joined by Prince Richard on June 16^th. Not only are these important dates in the timeline, but they are the three events (prior to the boys being declared illegitimate) that definitely happened.

2.       Ace of Cups, reversed.  House of the false heart, instability, revolution, loss of love, feeling unhappy, feeling unloved.

The revolution mentioned here might have been a fear of revolution against Richard III. I am certain that the boys would not have wished to take part in any way. They were just children, after all. Any ‘caretakers’ that might have been responsible for them while they were in the Tower might have lied to them or even plotted against them.

The Ace of Cups covers the period between September 23^rd and December 20^th. There was an initial uprising in September 1483, although I am not sure of the exact date. Most people who believe that the princes were murdered suggest September or November 1483. But remember, the Tarot picks up on anything that surrounds the Querent – the Princes – and this includes rumors.

3.       Eight of Cups, reversed. Questioning your decision not to leave, not being able to move on, fear of the unknown. Travelers, night shift workers, solitary workers, maintenance workers.

Keep in mind that ‘night shift workers’ and ‘maintenance workers’ would not have been referred to as such in the fifteenth century. The card shows something walking away from the Cups that are depicted. Perhaps the boys wished to leave the Tower. There would have been advantages to this; if the boys’ enemies did not know where they were then they would be safe, even if it meant rumors of their deaths.

Guards who worked during the night might have been involved somehow. It makes the most sense to smuggle the boys out at night, whether this was on the orders of Elizabeth Woodville or someone else. Something of note is that Elizabeth Woodville had her daughters sent into Richard III’s care in spring 1484, which would have kept them safe, especially since her eldest daughter would marry Henry Tudor if he took the throne (which she did). Why would she do this if she believed that her sons were dead? True, females had a slightly weaker claim to the throne than their male relatives, but they would still have been seen as threats to Richard III if they opposed him.

The most likely answer is that she knew what had happened to her sons.

4.       The Emperor. Stability, power, protection, aid, reason, authority, responsibility.

It seems as if the boys – or whoever was looking after them – had to work with power, either for or against them. SOMEONE wished to protect the boys.

The Emperor can be seen as fathers, senior politicians, heads of family or heads of state. Richard III would have fit three of these four categories. Some people believe that King Richard had the boys – or at the very least Prince Richard, as his older brother had been ill when he was housed at the Tower – hidden away, due to the fact that they might have been illegitimate but considered a threat nonetheless and planned to announce their survival once he had defeated Henry Tudor.

Of course, this did not happen, but if Henry Tudor had known that the two children were alive then he would have targeted them. This is something we tend to forget due to Tudor propaganda.

If King Richard HAD ordered the boys’ deaths then I believe that this card would have been reversed. But as this is not the case – and I believed anyway that he had no reason to wish them dead if they had been declared illegitimate – I swing towards this theory.

5.       Three of Pentacles. Work, a new job or career, trade, skilled labor, gifts, legacy, inheritance. Architects, builders, bricklayers and stonemasons, master craftsmen, carpenters.

The message of this card is that to reach success then you must take action.

Someone managed to get the boys out of the Tower. The passage could have been paid for – or helped by – a merchant or a laborer. The card shows a stone building, which reminds me somewhat of a church or perhaps even the Tower itself. Could someone from the church have offered to hide the boys? Before Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Catholic Church had a lot of power and was considered second only to the king. If word had somehow got out that the boys were being hidden by the church then if someone tried to kill them, they would at best have been seen as a fool, or at worst a menace that had to be punished by execution in public.

Being in the church also makes sense if you know anything about Welsh history. In 1282 AD Princess Gwenllian of Wales was just an infant when her father, the last king of Wales, was defeated in battle by Edward I of England. She was placed in a nunnery in Lincolnshire – as were her female cousins – so that she would never marry and therefore would no longer be a threat. Perhaps something similar happened with the Princes in the Tower.

(Something I would like to mention is that although I am now a Wiccan, I was brought up a Catholic. Attitudes have changed in the 500 years since, but I still respect the religion of my ancestors and if I see any horrid comments, I will not tolerate them.)

This card also covers any time that Mars is in Capricorn. I had to do some research, but I think that the next time that Mars was in Capricorn was between 6^th February and 17^th March 1484. It might be possible that someone managed to get the boys to safety during this time.

6.       King of Swords. Something rises from judgement. Power, command, low, offices of the crown, authority, intellectual but enigmatic, trustworthy and reliable.

The princes had some power and command when they were last known to be alive, in the summer of 1483. The fact that this card is of a king suggests that these two children gained power somehow. Could this possibly be in the church, under false names? Or even abroad?

This card covers any time that Venus is in Cancer. Venus was in Cancer between 19^th May and 12^th June 1484. The sixth card covers the future, so we need to keep that in mind.

7.       Two of Cups, reversed. Separation, the end of a relationship, arguments, distrust, business deals gone awry.

The seventh card represents the Querent, so I believe that this might have been a reminder that the boys did not trust anyone. This card can also signify friendships and caregivers. Were they afraid of the people who were looking after them? If so, were they right? Something of interest is that this card covers the period between June 21^st and July 1^st, during which point they would have been declared illegitimate. The arguments mentioned might have been whether the boys were legitimate, or whether they still posed a threat.

8.       Eight of Swords. Fear of failure, bad luck, being held back, unforeseen obstructions, being outmaneuvered, being outplayed.

This card represents the environment around the Querent, or in this case Querents. I am not sure if this is what definitely happened to the brothers – the Tarot can never provide definite answers – although I personally believe that this could represent their worries, or even the worries of those looking after them.

Something else that I think is interesting is that this card also covers anytime that Jupiter is in Gemini. Jupiter entered Gemini was on 1^st May 1491; eight years after the boys were last seen. Could it be possible that the brothers managed to outlive King Richard? The King of Swords also rules the Eight of Swords, so their environment links to what they wanted to work towards.

9.       Four of Wands, reversed. Obstacles causing delay, disruptions, problems at home, mishaps and small accidents.

The ninth card links with the Querents’ hopes and fears. The problems at home could be a reference to the brothers’ living situation. The disruptions might have been that their whereabouts had to stay secret due to the constant fighting. The card shows two young people underneath a banner outside of castle walls, so I truly believe that they somehow managed to get out of the Tower, although whether before or after Richard III died in battle I am not sure.

This card also covers any time that Venus is in Aries. Venus was in Aries between 8^th March and 31^st March 1484. Maybe they left the Tower during this period?

10.   King of Pentacles, reversed. An old and vicious man, an exploiter or harsh employer, weakness, perversion, corruption, opinionated, cruel, wasteful, greed.

The last card indicates the overall outcome and is the most important card of the reading. If this card had represented King Richard then I believe that it would have been listed as the obstacle (the second card in the reading). In addition, as King Richard died when he was 32 years old, the ‘old and vicious man’ could mean Henry Tudor, who died in 1509 aged 52, which would have been considered old by the standards of the day.

This card covers the period between 12^th August and 11^th September, which includes the date of the Battle of Bosworth Field (22^nd August 1485 AD). King Henry was certainly a greedy man, as he hoarded vast amounts of money (his son Henry VIII would go on to waste all of this attempting to conquer France and Scotland). When Henry Tudor became king, he asked a fortune-teller where they would spend Christmas. When the fortune-teller replied that they would be at home, Henry Tudor called them a fraud and said that they would spend Christmas in prison as he would have them locked up. Henry Tudor was not a very nice man, despite all of the Tudor propaganda.

I think back to the eighth card, with Jupiter in Gemini. If the brothers’ ‘atmosphere’ came to an end sometime after the beginning of May 1491, then it must be sometime after this that Henry VII learnt that they were alive. Whether or not they would have been abroad or in the church, they still remained a threat. Jupiter began to enter Cancer on 15^th May 1492 and Venus entered Cancer four days later – remember, ‘something rises from judgement’.

If Henry VII learned that the brothers were still alive during this time period then it would have spelt danger for them. Either way, something important happened to the brothers if they were still alive in 1491.

Nevertheless, considering the treacherous world that the Princes lived in, surviving for at least eight years after everyone said they had died is quite impressive. Or perhaps it was even later. If the King of Pentacles refers to an old man (Henry VII turned fifty in January 1507) and the hopes and fears of the boys is connected to a time when Venus is in Aries, the boys could have been alive as early as 5^th May 1507 (at which point they would have been 37 and 34).