Introduction

This class focuses on the meanings of the individual cards. In some cases, the meanings given on the web site are couched in rather generalised or abstract psychological or cosmological language. This is the case because when creating the cards, this was the level where I needed to focus. It has taken a certain amount of input from readers to persuade me that, for the practical purposes of divination, these abstractions need to be supplemented by much more down to earth, practical definitions of the meanings. In fairness to myself, I should also say that I did not want to put off new readers by writing a book for the site!

In a recent exchange, kapherus stated his impression that these psychological or inner meanings should have outer-world equivalents. Logically, this seems inescapable. For the time being, we are not there. However, what follows will I hope provide the first step: my aim here is to clarify and make more specific the inner world references which have sometimes, until now, been unsuitable for practical application by readers.

 The Origin of card Meanings 

Where do the meanings assigned to cards come from? My impression is that there are three possible sources: first, direct clairvoyance or intuition. In this case, there is a strong sense that such and such meaning should be applied, even if the reader cannot give a reasoned explanation why. Second, there is experience: over a long period of reading, patterns of association become apparent – certain situations, events, actions, behaviours and states of being are seen regularly to attract certain cards. The answer to: ‘Why this meaning?’ is then – ‘it seems to work in practice’. Third, we can use the cards to explain each other – this introduces an objective element into the affair, though we will have two obstacles to surmount: 1) badly-phrased questions; 2) decoding the answers.

 Methodology

I am going to work across the grid, looking at all the cards of a given set, then going to the next set.

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I shall begin at the top left of the grid, with set 1. In this way, I am following the order of entries in the directory in the centre of the instruction book provided with the hard copy of the cards. This sequence is also that of the ‘administrative’ numbers 1-81 on the web site. These have no significance from the point of view of Rainring, but I include them here for reference.

 The Directory of Meanings Set 1: Introvert imbalance

NOTES:

1) Set 1 and 2 cards all have a balanced meaning (accessed separately on the four-mention version of the cards), so these balanced mentions will be included here, as they, rather than the unbalanced ones, may be relevant in any particular reading.

2) The images of these set 1 cards contrast with those of their set 2 counterparts: Deflation with Inflation, Control with Abandon and so on. It is therefore advised also to look at these images in the same pairs.

1.      Deflation: Group - Spirit (1 violet/purple):

The image The image of deflation is dominated by a furiously angry woman holding a big snake which threatens a naked man cowering near and trying to protect himself. Above him, a single eye looks out – at those in the image, or perhaps even at us, the viewers. In Deflation the Spirit – the male side – is made to feel small.

A Unbalanced: Your idea of yourself has taken a knock – you’ve been taking an unrealistic, inflated view of your own prowess and capabilities, and you’re being brought back down to earth. Or you may have encountered unexpected difficulties which have dented your self-confidence: in your work, or in relation to another person. This is hard to face, but learn what it has to teach you and you’ll emerge all the stronger for the experience.   

B Balanced: You’re taking some time out appropriately for reflection, meditation, thinking things through. Perhaps you’re questioning long-held beliefs or assumptions; or struggling to digest a new book. At any rate, you’re making needed space to ingest and digest these thoughts, ideas and perceptions; to work though your questions. Provided you’re ready to re-engage with the world when necessary, no blame attaches.

2.  Control: Group – Will (2 red)

The ImageA woman stands in looking down at a seated man, who avoids her gaze. The woman’s dress and manner are provocative, but her expression suggests predation rather than tenderness. One of her hands encircles a red rose on a nearby climber, whilst he holds a book in his lap. In fact, the man is a slave in this household; displeasing either his master or mistress (the woman in the picture) could cost him his life.

A Unbalanced: You’re feeling threatened, so you’re trying to keep control – inside you, outside you, or both. This creates stress, and the anxiety of not being able to maintain that control. In fact, you’re not under threat – your imaginings, not other people or circumstances, are the cause of your fear. The motto ‘live and let live’ is a reminder that everyone needs breathing space. Or is it yourself, your inner thoughts and feelings that frighten you? Letting things out can be such a relief; keeping everything bottled up is too painful.

B  Balanced: this is neither the time nor the place to indulge in letting rip your emotions. Here, you need to keep them in check in order to function effectively and to obtain the response you need from others. This is a situation where self control, not emotional expression, is required of you. In an emergency, for instance, the first requirement is for effective action; emotional reactions need to be put on hold. Provided you can let go when present circumstances change, no blame attaches.

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3. Withdrawal: Group – Heart (3 green)

The image

The image is dominated by a man’s face in the foreground. His expression is one of alarm and suspicion. Over his shoulder, in the background, we see a woman at a garden gate, holding up a jug and looking surprised and annoyed. The man a vagabond - who wears a hooded cloak, has just refused a drink, and the woman’s expression implies that this is strange, because they are acquainted and he has never before refused in this way.

A Unbalanced: Feeling disturbed and vulnerable, your self-confidence at a low ebb, you retreat from human contact. You don’t answer the phone, refuse invitations to go out, rebuff advances by concerned friends. A stranger offfers you a kindness and you refuse suspiciously. You reject your neighbour’s offer to lend you his new hedge-trimmer - what will he want in return? In Withdrawal, neurotic fears block your natural impulse towards friendly contact with your fellow-beings. 

B Balanced: You don’t feel able to go out to people at this time and place. Perhaps a recent encounter has left you badly hurt and you need time to recover. Or you are unwilling to respond, because you really have nothing at all in common with this person/these people, or know that you can feel no genuine warmth towards them. If this avoidance of contact is neither long-term nor generalised, no blame attaches.

4. Torpor: Group – Form (4 orange)

The image

A desert scene late in the day comprises two seated camels and two Tuareg tribesmen enveloped in long blue robes, their faces almost hidden, resting in the shade of a rock. A fox is seen trotting in the background, and the distinctive tracks of a sidewinder snake can also be observed. The camel facing the viewer has a sarcastic, even supercilious expression on its face – implying that, although it may be a beast of burden used by man, it has reasons for feeling superior to us humans.

A Unbalanced: you are feeling tired – physically, morally, emotionally.  You’re exhausted, fed up, and have no enthusiasm for anything. But actually, there’s nothing wrong with you physically. What are you trying to avoid? What is it you can’t face? Or maybe, you just need to connect to something you really WANT to do –then you’ll get all your energy back.

B  Balanced: You’re tired and only want to laze around. You know why – it’s because you’ve been through a very demanding time, expended a huge amount of energy, now your body’s telling you: give me a break! You’re not feeling blue, just tired. Enjoy your rest with a clear conscience; recharge your batteries: your energy will return in due course and with it renewed activity. No blame attaches.

C The Big Meaning.

Torpor has an altogether more mysterious meaning: the still centre, the place which is the centre of all movement and activation; the place where all the opposing forces are in balance, and there is calm. It means this both for the soul of the universe and for the individual soul.

[Rainring interprets Torpor (big meaningIt’s not because I am now doing everything I can to make the cards simple that they cannot also be expanded in the direction of complexity. For those of you who are working with the four-mention cards, here is the amplification for Torpor (big meaning). This could not be done satisfactorily with the simplified web version of Rainring. Centre: TORPOR; North: Play, U/λ (reversed) loss; South: Resonance λ, U λ loss (supplementary: Self λ, U / Not Out) West: <Obsession>, U / L.B.W. East: Flow Self, U / Simplicity]

5. Obsession: Group – Unconscious (5 indigo)

The image

The scene seems to be at night, perhaps by moonlight. A young woman sits cross-legged on the rim of a fountain. Behind her there is a tangle of roses and thorns, with a nightingale singing. The woman has just forced open a large gourd, from which a butterfly shoots upwards and outwards. In contrast to her apparent physical frailty, her face reveals great strength of purpose, though her eyes are abstracted and give the impression of madness.  

A Unbalanced: You’re in the grip of something you can’t shake off – your thoughts and feelings keep returning there over and over, like to the partner who left you, the boss who sacked you. Or something makes you constantly anxious – dirt maybe, or your weight, or whether you’re wearing the right outfit. There’s some kind of deep emotional disturbance here. If such thoughts and feelings persist unchanged over an extended period, have you tried expressing all this - in words, paint or music for example; or considered seeing a therapist?

Note that one form of obsession is widely accepted in society: that ruthless, single-minded ambition which makes someone willing to sacrifice everyone and everything. It is not less pathological for being respectable. This person’s activity masquerades as being outer-directed – in reality, it is powered by their battle with inner forces.

B Balanced: A strong focus on your inner world is taking place. Are you a scientist on the brink of an important discovery? Are you an artist of some kind, a philosopher or clairvoyant? Are you a medium or involved in shamanic work? At all events, you have withdrawn much of your energy from the outer world to focus on inner exploration. But do remember the fate of Nietzsche. Keep your mooring lines to the outer world firmly hooked up, be prudent and no blame will attach.

6. Submission: Group – Self (6 yellow)

The image

A scarecrow with hollow eyes and mouth stands in the middle of a field of corn stubble after harvest. From one of his arms hangs a medallion with a wolf’s head carved on it. Half a dozen black crows fly near or perch on him, apparently quite aggressive in their intentions.

A Unbalanced: You feel powerless to stop another or others invading your personal space. You feel too weak to stand up for yourself. Do you find it impossible to say no? Are you overcome by guilt at putting your needs and desires before those of others? Are you too frightened to displease someone else? Underneath your fear or guilt there is anger that wants to say: ‘Leave me alone! I’ll do what I like!’ Most people, if you behave like a doormat, will stamp all over you.

B Balanced: true inner strength makes it possible to defer to another, even if to an observer this might seem to be merely weakness of character. The ‘gentle giant’, confident of his physical prowess, feels no need to throw his weight about.  In a furious row between spouses, the strong one is the one capable of backing down. It has been said that the worst leader is the one the people hate, better is the one they love, but the best is the one they do not notice.  If you concede from strength, not from weakness, no blame attaches.

There is also a big version of Submission: when you give in to the overwhelming power of fate. There are greater forces in the cosmos than the will of man. The wise man learns when to fight to the last ounce of his strength to accomplish his stated purpose, and when to bow, gracefully, to those greater forces. Then, honour attaches.

7. Inhibition: Group – Communication (7 blue)

The image

The image is dominated by a young man and woman, seen at a country fair. In the complementary card Exhibition, the youth is singing and playing his guitar with gusto and the young woman is dancing with abandon. In this card however, they stand still, their body language suggesting self-protection. The spotlight is on them, the spectators have gathered, but they appear overcome with shyness and unable to perform.

A Unbalanced: In certain situations, you find it difficult to communicate. With those close to you, or when you feel safe, it is easier. But in a room full of strangers, or where you have to demonstrate expertise, or where you feel potential hostility…you become tongue-tied. In Inhibition, you want to be able to speak, and it is appropriate, even necessary to do so, but there is an emotional block. If you are young, experience of life may develop your self-confidence and resolve the problem. Otherwise, you may need help with this.

B Balanced:  Appropriate inhibition would be to bite back the insult to a boy soldier armed to the teeth at a roadblock when he demands a few banknotes to help ‘him feed his old mother’. Or it might refer more generally to the benefits which will be derived in certain cases from keeping one’s own counsel. An interviewer, actor, very junior member of staff would all experience situations where inhibition was the suitable form of behaviour. If inhibition is a choice to remain quiet at appropriate moments, rather than a compulsion to do so at inappropriate ones, no blame attaches.

8. Will Denial – Group: Conjugation (8 magenta)

The image

In the foreground we see a young girl, very pale and as though stunned with grief. In the background, a teenage boy is being led away by an older man. The boy turns his head to look back at the girl, whilst the man, who has his arm across the boy’s shoulders, indicates by his body language that he means business. On the branch of a tree, pink flowers appear.

A Unbalanced: Like the man in the image, you are denying feelings in this situation – your own or others’. You may not even want to admit that emotional distress is being caused. Feelings can be inconvenient, perhaps threatening to disrupt a task or plan you are engaged with. Are you at risk of some loss of control? Do you see emotional behaviour as immature, childish? This card could also be just a reminder: an emotional aspect to your situation or activity is being kept under wraps. Later, it may well need to be brought out into the open.

B Balanced: The Will end of the spectrum is concerned with recognising, valuing and expressing emotion. Sometimes however, as in the present case, there are sound reasons not to give free reign to feelings. You are dealing with your present situation from a spirit-sided perspective – emphasising reason, reflection, use of the mind. You have judged that these circumstances require this type of approach, rather than a more intense, emotionally-responsive form of behaviour. You are not denying the feeling side, and no blame attaches

9. Ebb – Group: Quest-ion? (9 grey/brown)

[Notice of intention to withhold information.If we provide on this blog a complete set of detailed references for the card meanings, we lay ourselves open to the possibility of someone else pirating them. We have therefore decided to withhold the detailed meanings for all the cards of group 9 until we can publish all this material commercially. We are really sorry for the inconvenience this may cause, but the interests of those wanting to work with the cards will, in the end, be best served by us being able to devote ourselves full-time to Rainring. To have any hope of doing this, we need to make our input produce a sufficient financial return. Rainring has so far only been a hobby for us, and indeed an expensive hobby. Now we would like to move it forward to a new stage.]