Four Corners
(Woman-Ship) A woman on a journey, a positive or pleasant deception (Bouquet-Fox). A woman’s canniness (Woman-Fox); a pleasant or scenic journey (Bouquet-Ship)
First Three Cards
There’s a change and fresh start for the country that’s connected with a woman (Woman-Storks-House) OR a change at the house of a woman.
Bottom Four Cards
There is heavy , portentous talk around the burden for a child (Birds-Cross, Child-Anchor). A child’s speech and a permanent burden and duty (Birds-Child, Anchor-Cross)
THE COFFIN: A Death or Funeral
The funeral is a public event (Coffin in House of Garden) and is at the centre of the reading. We are brought news,suggesting the death was ‘by chance’ in some way (Clover-Coffin-Rider), and involves a powerful and respected institution, which is admired, vocational and revered (Tower-Bear-Moon). Underpinning it, is success with the public for being hardworking and disciplined (Whip-Garden-Sun). The institution has been lucky to have been disciplined or tamed (Tower-Clover-Whip), and the death is a powerful one for the public (Bear-Coffin-Garden). Ahead, further reverence and a glowing, positive mood is on their way (Moon-Rider-Sun).
Knighting Card:
However, the death has behind it a man with problems or a betrayal (Man-Snake), above it, a long term situation or sense of longevity and tradition for the country or the “House” (House-Lilies), and is underpinned by long term talks, gossip or talks about its future (Birds-Anchor). Ahead is likely to prove the key with regard to health issues and future energies (Key-Tree).
Rows, Columns & Diagonals
In the row leading up to the Coffin card, we can see we have a committed and loyal support or ‘servant’ , as well as a committed companion (Dog-Ring) and a lucky commitment or marriage (Ring-Clover). The death or funeral arrives by chance or unexpectedly (Clover-Coffin-Rider) and brings love and affection from far and wide (Stars-Heart) and over a distance, although some may be feeling rather cold (Heart- Mountain).
In the diagonal leading up to the Coffin, we see a change of government or institution (Storks-Tower), followed by the death bringing a sort of glowing solemnity (Coffin-Sun-Cross)
In the column the Coffin falls in, we see a gloomy kind of power and strength or one that is overshadowed or uncertain in some way (Clouds-Bear), with this powerful ending for the public or that is carried out in public (Bear-Coffin-Garden), by a group of children (Garden-Child).
We can also see from the other diagonal, a suggestion of hidden emotions (Book-Moon) relating to this funeral, that brings conflict, hardship, or discipline (Coffin-Whip).
Meanwhile, the card that is sitting in the House of Coffin in this reading is the Bouquet, suggesting a funeral wreath or bouquet, but also that it will generally be a pleasant (if sad) occasion. The cards around that indicate ‘pleasant or scenic roads’ or multiple options (Crossroads-Bouquet), but that may be involve different income sources (Crossroads-Fish),the loss of money (Fish-Mice), which may erode goodwill (Bouquet-Mice).
THE WOMAN: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
News arrives about the Queen (Woman in House of the Rider, Woman-Letter), indicating a change and new beginning from herself to a man (Woman-Storks, Storks-Man). She is knighted by the Ring, showing commitments and vows, and the Tower, showing her in a position relating to governance, hierarchy, seniority and institutions.
In terms of where she is sitting in the spread and the ‘story’ of that according to the rows, columns, diagonals, we see her in the first column as smart and possibly deceptive or canny in some way, something that may not be all it seems to be, perhaps a ‘role’ (Woman-Fox) around her documented service and support (Letter-Dog). News about her, and a supportive ‘role’ (Woman-Letter, Dog-Fox). The diagonal shows her and a Man, and the influence of chance (Clover)for the public (Garden) and stability, something or someone that is always there (Anchor). In her ‘row’, we can see a change and new start in the domestic sphere (House – could be the country, could be the House of Windsor), which is overshadowed by gloom (Clouds), and a lifetime of knowledge (Lilies-Book), information and knowledge going out in all directions (Book-Crossroads), and seen as positive (Bouquet), or this could represent the funeral wreaths, as the Bouquet falls in the House of Coffin.
The House of the Woman, meanwhile, contains the Sun, for success, glory and happiness. Above that Sun, we see news of a death or funeral, and the sense of the big picture, of ‘far and wide’ and of ‘stardom’ (Coffin-Rider-Sun), and there is that sense of growth and vitality, of branching out wide, too, worldwide, around that of success or glory (Garden-Sun-Tree). I can’t help thinking of empire, or commonwealth, with its many branches. Underpinning that, too, there is a sense of serious, permanent obligation and duty for a child, or perhaps from childhood (Child-Anchor-Cross). There also may be a hint that this represents the ‘end’ of public deference from ‘subjects’ (aka ‘children’) , or that the death publicly impacts her children (Coffin-Garden-Child). There appears to be news of positive continuity (Rider-Sun-Anchor), and a wide and far-reaching energy of ‘obligation’ and burden (Stars-Tree-Cross).
The Sun is knighted by what looks like a past positive speech or more likely in the Queen’s case, a positive speech (Clover-Birds – her famous speech“My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be dedicated to your service” perhaps?) suggesting this has contributed to her success, and we see this is a significant and powerful person, an important and likely wealthy matriarch figure (the Bear can represent motherhood as well as material wealth and power), a protector in some way (Bear-Key). The Sun is also knighted by the Heart, suggesting love and a great deal of affection.
THE MAN: Now King Charles III
The Man appears just below the Woman (so ‘next in line’ so to speak), so is almost certainly Charles. He is sitting in the House of Scythe (for pain and hurt) so will be in a lot of pain at this time. Around him is a change, news of it, and that it’s documented (Storks-Letter), as is a written commitment (Letter-Ring – perhaps the Proclamation) and the change in governance or ‘at the top’ as part of that commitment (Storks-Tower-Ring). Above him is a change and a new beginning in the Household after the Queen (Woman-Storks-House), either side of him is government or official documentation (Letter-Tower). He is underpinned by good fortune and support for his obligation, or is lucky to have a supportive companion at this time (Dog-Ring-Clover). We can see he had the Queen’s written support in some way recently, even with regard to his wife and companion, Camilla (Woman-Letter-Dog), that he now changes or has to make new vows (Storks-Man-Ring), and it’s a chance for his ‘house’ to govern (House-Tower-Clover).
Here, he was knighted by the Fox and Whip, showing hard work, possible sneakiness and cunning and trying to keep his head above water, and ahead of him (this was just before) misery and gloom over the death and the funeral (Clouds-Coffin).
In terms of the rows and columns he’s sitting in, we see the change above him (Storks), his duty/promise below him (Ring) that he finds difficult (Snake). Diagonally, we see his mother and himself and an opportunity or luck with the outside world, the public (Garden) that could be longlasting (Anchor). For him, however, it’s really about having support at home (House) and a loyal partner (Dog). In his row, we see recent news and documentation, then power and governance (Tower-Bear), being held in regard, elevated or this being a vocation that is of great importance (Moon-Key). Money matters and enterprises will also be key, however (Fish) and there will be worries and losses on this front (Mice).
The House of the Man, meanwhile contains the Garden, so he will be under the public eye, particularly when it comes to the funeral (Clover-Coffin-Rider). The death and funeral will be hard to deal with publicly as a son (Coffin-Whip-Child), but he will come out of it positively (Sun), possibly able to bask in the ritual, pomp and spectacle of the occasion (Rider-Sun-Anchor). Again, it is a public commitment (Garden knighted by Ring), involving regard and high office (Tower-Moon), as well as wide-ranging duties and burdens, including, of course, being the head of the Church of England (Stars-Cross).