LEN: Rachelcat Reads for Joan Marie

[Rachelcat]

We're back together again! I can't wait to hear your story, and I'll try to come up with some reasonable kind of answer!

[Joan Marie]

We're back together again! I can't wait to hear your story, and I'll try to come up with some reasonable kind of answer!

I'm so glad it's you listening to my question. See, I'm in a kinda lonesome and dangerous situation here.

I'm the housekeeper on a ranch owned by a kindly and gentle old widower. His grown son and his teenage grandson both live here too. It's just the 4 of us and 1000 or more head of cattle. I have been with this family since the grandson was just a baby. They took me on when the boy's daddy died. Poor kid was already motherless and then he went and lost his daddy too.

So in addition to housekeeper I have played a motherly role to the grandson, and been a open ear for the old widower when he needs someone to talk to, the only woman in an all male world. I care deeply for them both and though I do keep a proper distance, I can't help feeling like I am more than just "hired-help" around here.

The problem is the son. You see, he and I are about the same age, middle 30s. He is a real handful. He is nothin' like his gentle and wise god-fearing father. No siree. This one is a real rounder. A drinker and womanizer. But I'll tell you what, I don't believe any one of them women minded gettin' womaized by that fella. He is one beautiful specimen of a man and I can tell you that the sight of him out my kitchen window with his shirt off was enough to make me put my dishtowel down more n' once.

I am not unattractive myself mind you. But living way out like this, I do not meet any men to speak of. And I am getting lonely.

The other night, I was alone. I live in a little sorta guest house just off the main house. It was a sultry summer evening and I was having a little nip of whiskey when the son, got home from the bar in town where he'd had to leave early. Something about a jealous husband. Well he came a knockin' and I invited him in. We got to talkin' and the tension that had always been there betwixt us just started to rise, if ya know what I'm sayin'.

Well he had me goin' with his devilish charms, but then the dummy suddenly just threw his self at me in a way that was none too gentlemanly. I kicked him out. And though that was the right thing to do, I can't say I was happy about it. If ya know what I mean.

And now here finally is my dilemma and I thank you kindly for staying with me so far. Ya see, I just don't think I can stay here anymore now. I got real strong feelings for the son but I know he's no good. And I can't see a way for me to pretend what happened twixt us didn't happen. I feel bad for the old man and the grandson. But I ain't their kin. I gotta make decisions for myself. Despite all these feelings, I am just the hired help after all.

My question is, should I stay or is it time for me to go?

Once again I thank you kindly for your help.

[Rachelcat]

Thank you for trusting me with this very important question. Here are your cards.

I’ve used a spread that I’ve tweaked myself. And I’ve gone with a more intuitive approach than I usually use, which actually means it’s probably a bit more trustworthy than my more intellectually influenced readings.

Indirect influences on your question: Child, Book, Letter
I feel like there’s other information you’re not giving me, and it has to do with the grandson.

Direct influences: Ring, Book, Paths
Once you make your choice, it will be forever.

You: Ring, Cross, Child
You’ve been committed to raising the child as your Christian duty.

Issue: Tree, Book, Whips
The uncomfortable situation has been growing for a while now. You’ve tried to keep it a secret, but now it’s an open conflict.

Advice: Letter, Key, Paths
Yes, it’s time to go. Paths is often read as the choice, but here I’m seeing it as leaving, going on the road. In fact it’s very important that you go, but it’s also very important (Key) that you tell your employer/the grandfather your true reasons for leaving.

Past: Ring, Tree, Letter
You were committed to the family and you let them know that. You helped raise the child, but you also grew into an adult with this family.

Present: Cross, Book, Key
You’re right, this is the time to bring about a resolution and bring all secrets out into the open.

Future: Child, Whips, Paths
You will miss the child, and he might be angry with you for leaving, but he will understand eventually. (I think this is why it’s so important that you give your true reasons. The grandfather will let the child know when he’s ready, and that will make everything easier for him to understand.)

I hope this helps you. It’s difficult for me to advise someone to completely uproot themselves, but the cards are saying that, and I think maybe you already know what you have to do. I wish you nothing but good things in your future.

[Joan Marie]

Thank you so much for this reading Rachelcat!

I got me a whole mess of dishtowels needing folding right now and soon as I'm done I will give you some detailed feedback on your lovely reading.

[Joan Marie]

Thanks so much. I took this scenario from the 1963 film "Hud" starring Paul Newman (at his most irresistable) Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas.
It's one of my favourite films and has been for many years.

Just to give you a tiny taste of the sexual tension betwixt these 2, have a gander at this spicy hot scene:




Her smile!

Indirect influences on your question: Child, Book, Letter
I feel like there’s other information you’re not giving me, and it has to do with the grandson.

You are probably right here. The grandson is becoming a man and she (Patricia Neal - I'm leaving character now) had the feeling recently that he might be developing some confusing feelings toward her. He's a nice kid, takes after his grandfather. But there is a lot of tension on this farm of all kinds and it's all a lot for this kid to handle. She's not his mother, she's not even family, and for the first time she gets the feeling that the kid is starting to realise that and maybe see her in a way that is really inappropriate. She knows she can't let those feelings of his grow.

Direct influences: Ring, Book, Paths
Once you make your choice, it will be forever.

This is true.

You: Ring, Cross, Child
You’ve been committed to raising the child as your Christian duty.

Here I have to disagree with your interpretation. The cross in Lenormand is a a sign of trouble. Nothing to do with religion. I think raising the child was something she didn't sign on for but she bore the task with a kind of feminine grace. So yes she was committed but it was a painful task, I think mainly because her actual role was as hired help. How to bridge that gap between that and motherly tenderness could not be easy. She's kind of a tough customer herself really.

Issue: Tree, Book, Whips
The uncomfortable situation has been growing for a while now. You’ve tried to keep it a secret, but now it’s an open conflict.

On the nose.

Advice: Letter, Key, Paths
Yes, it’s time to go. Paths is often read as the choice, but here I’m seeing it as leaving, going on the road. In fact it’s very important that you go, but it’s also very important (Key) that you tell your employer/the grandfather your true reasons for leaving.

Agreed. The letter is important. Not sure how she'll explain the sexual nature of her departure to that sweet old man. Telling him his son and grandson are horndogs doesn't seem appropriate. She should definitely express her regret but I think the old man is wise enough to figure out what's gone wrong without her spelling it out. maybe the Paths is her choosing carefully how she explains her departure.

Past: Ring, Tree, Letter
You were committed to the family and you let them know that. You helped raise the child, but you also grew into an adult with this family.

Agree with the first part, and I see where you got the 2nd part. But I think it means more like her feelings of affection for the family match theirs for her. The time she was with them meant as much to her as it did to them. She should emphasise that in the letter. As I said, the old man can figure out the rest.

Present: Cross, Book, Key
You’re right, this is the time to bring about a resolution and bring all secrets out into the open.

Again, this cross means trouble. The secrets aren't important. Everyone knows already that Hud (Paul Newman) is rough. And the kid needs protecting, no sense in dragging him. These cards say to me to focus on the "better" truths. That it's with sadness that she's leaving and she wishes them all the best.

Future: Child, Whips, Paths
You will miss the child, and he might be angry with you for leaving, but he will understand eventually. (I think this is why it’s so important that you give your true reasons. The grandfather will let the child know when he’s ready, and that will make everything easier for him to understand.)

I think this is saying more that the worries she has about the kid are well founded. He's going to have a rough road ahead. She can't do anything about that.

I hope this helps you. It’s difficult for me to advise someone to completely uproot themselves, but the cards are saying that, and I think maybe you already know what you have to do. I wish you nothing but good things in your future.

Thanks so much for this reading. Your advice was spot-on.

Check out how she leaves. It's brutal. You will also see where I stole that dishtowel line. One of my all time favourite lines from any movie.

[Rachelcat]

Thanks for the feedback, and for the clips! Yes, she's pretty cold. I think she'll be able to take care of herself wherever she goes!

I struggle with the cross as troubles for two reasons. I'm too tied to cross, anchor, heart as faith, hope and love. And clouds are troubles, so why do we need two troubles cards (in only 36 cards)?

But your interps with cross as troubles certainly made more sense than mine!