Beast Tamer Spread
Most of us have a part of ourselves that we try to deny, and that denial holds us back from being our best, most complete selves. This part of ourselves if often referred to as our shadow, but for the sake of visual metaphor let’s call it our bete noire.
What part of yourself have you been denying? Picture it as a caged animal. What if you took the bars of ignorance and fear and turned them into pillars of love, compassion, and understanding? What if you nurtured it into a loyal companion instead of treating it like an enemy?
The beast will come in a different form for everyone. This shouldn’t be a quest for positivity, but a quest for balance. We need both dark and light to be human. So while there is a lot of focus on toxic negativity, I’d like to also acknowledge that there is such a thing as toxic positivity. Being, or pretending to be, positive and happy all the time is a denial of your true self. It’s OK to feel a range of emotions, its OK to make mistakes, it’s OK to learn and grow. In fact, it’s necessary to living a full, healthy life. So, don’t look at your negativity and automatically dismiss it as a bad thing. Conversely, don’t blindly accept positivity as a good thing. Negativity is a force that pushes you forward but can sometimes push too hard, positivity is a force that keeps you stable but can cause stagnancy. It’s your job to be the balancing force between them.
I chose this spread as a companion for the eights because renewal, will, change, and action all have to come from within. They represent a time of realization that leads to positive change. Use it to tap into and tame a part of your subconscious that you’ve either been denying or just never became aware of. Hopefully, it can help you become an objective observer of your inner demons instead of a victim.
Beast Tamer Spread
Type: Self-Reflection or Querent Driven
Level: Intermediate
0. Your beast
1. Support it
2. Soothe it
3. Energize it
4. Learn from it
Place cards 1-4 face down to build a cage. Place card 0 face up in the center of the cage to represent your beast. What part of that card can you see in yourself? Take some time to meditate on it if it doesn’t come to you right away. Use this card as a visual representation of your beast to take with you even after you’re finished with the spread. Set it free by flipping the cage cards one by one. These cards represent ways you can support it, soothe it, energize it, and learn from it.
My Reading
My beast was revealed as the VII of Cups reversed. This card has shown up in pretty much every reading I’ve done for myself this year. I think what it’s trying to tell me is that my beast is indecision created by my fear of making the wrong choice. I’ve been having trouble trusting my gut instincts lately because I feel like most of the decisions I’ve made in my life so far have been the wrong ones. As a result, I’m not where I want to be career wise. The V of Wands revealed that I can support my beast by changing my point of view and realizing that the struggle is unnecessary. The VIII of Pentacles reversed revealed that I can soothe it by remembering that it’s OK to take a step back to reevaluate my focus and my goals while I’m trying to better myself. I’m always growing. The Page of Pentacles revealed that to energize my beast I should look at this as a time full of exciting new opportunities. If the desire and enthusiasm are there, material success will follow. Finally, The King of Swords reversed revealed that the lesson to be learned is that a clear head is necessary to cut through confusion. The find the focus I need I should worry less and trust in my own power, values, and belief in myself. This card also reinforces the VII of Cups reversed in that they both pertain to mental confusion, but in different ways. There is never going to be a clear answer, but I should approach the quest with more grace and understanding.
