Does my future lie in Rebma or elsewhere?

A Tarot reading by Madame Zora in Argent.

Significator, where you are now The Fool: the start of a new phase; a youth or adolescent; a creative dreamer; an influence which is unexpected and unplanned but which exerts a powerful force on the matter in hand; it is a challenge that can transform the situation in the querent’s favour if properly handled; it indicates that an important decision or choice will have to be made

Aspirator, where you are aiming 8 of Wands: hopeful change, movement and activity; the ending of delays and a quickening of events. Suggests a suitable time for taking the initiative, acting with courage and confidence to grasp opportunities as they occur. Important journeys are indicated

Instigator, what brought you here Queen of Wands: a woman with green hair, apparently underwater

Cryptic, hidden influences The Empress (reversed): domestic upheaval, maternal tyranny or over-protectiveness; sterility or an unwanted pregnancy; a sense of the Universe as impersonal or malevolent; psychic alienation; emotional poverty; a domineering or controlling woman

Culminator, where this is heading The Lovers: a time of choice between old and new, based on intuition and inspiration rather than intellect and reason.

Pivot, the focus The Star: Hope, faith, trust; insight into future possibilities, offering hope and fulfilment; a widening of horizons, physical or mental; new life and vigour appearing as a gift from the gods; inspiration and revelation from the gods – a light in the dark; (reversed): rigidity of mind which cannot expand beyond its familiar boundaries to take in new opportunities for progress; the inability or reluctance to widen one’s world view; self-doubt; lack of trust – misuse of a god-given gift or a refusal of that gift; pessimism, loss of hope, depression.

“A feminine spread with but a single reversal, suggesting good fortune. Please don’t be offended by the Significator, it merely refers to your youth, lack of worldly experience, and your immediate situation.

“As with your friend, the Aspirator shows you’re enjoying your journey and anticipating adventure and opportunity.

“The Instigator is the Queen of Wands, who I feel may be the same person as in a previous spread, the woman of the legendary underwater city to the north – certainly she’s from the same place.” [Nerine just knows this is her mother, Llewella.]

“The Cryptic is the Empress (reversed) – this card reversed refers to a domineering woman and maternal over-protectiveness, but recall my earlier comments regarding reversal – Reversal may indicate, firstly, that the person is in trouble; secondly, the person must be avoided or, thirdly, the card represents a different person but in some way similar to you. Of course, sometimes it means two or more of these together but in this case it may mean an empress is in trouble or she should be avoided. Of course, with all portmanteau symbolism, one meaning does not exclude another.” [Nerine is aware that Moiré has aged rapidly over the last few years, her once green hair turning silver and suffering physical frailty. Calling her domineering seems a bit harsh – but then Nerine recalls how Morganthe and Martin both fled her house, and her political opponents have called her a tyrant…]

“The Culminator is The Lovers. Again, I feel it does not refer to romance, though I may be wrong. I would suggest it means the ultimate decision, whether to leave Rebma or return, is essentially up to you.

“Finally, the Pivot is the Star – one of my favourite cards – it shows that the correct choice may lead to a ‘widening of horizons’ and ‘future possibilities’ but a poor choice to a form of mental self-imprisonment.

“Of course, anyone who leaves a place can usually return – nothing is final.”