Magic Square variation 3: I want, I have, I need, I deserve

The third variation on the magic square spread is fun, but tremendously insightful. It uses the creativity technique of combinations. Combinations spark the imagination, as the results are often weird and wacky. The technique challenges your creativity, as you have to come up with something that makes sense. It also helps you see elements of your psyche from several angles.

In this variation of the magic squares spread, the corner cards (1, 3, 5, and 7) represent the four poles: have, want, need, and deserve. Each corner card is read six times in various combinations.

Cards 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 are “deal with it” or “solution” cards, each read twice, except card 9, which is read four times.

The parts of the spread indicated in green are optional.

At this end of this exercise, you will have a good idea of what you have, want, need and deserve, and 12 ways to accept or resolve the contradictions.

As with any creative thinking exercise with Tarot cards, you will not get the whole picture. You will have many other needs and desires that the spread does not cover; however, you will be contemplating the ones that are important for the moment in which you read the spread. Whether you want to call it projection or reflection with a trigger card, your mind will produce your most important concerns.

Start with the four corner cards. Using the cards as inspiration, identify one “have” (card 1) one “want” (card 3), one “need” (card 5), and one “deserve” (card 7). These elements are constant; what changes, is the way the elements are combined in the 12 statements. Using the template below, compose the 12 statements, each with its resolution:

• I have (card 1) but I want (card 3); deal with it (card 2)
• I have (card 1) but I  need (card 5); deal with it (card 9)
• I have (card 1) but I deserve (card 7); deal with it (card 8)
• I want (card 3) but I have (card 1); deal with it (card 2)
• I want (card 3) but I need (card 5); deal with it (card 4)
• I want (card 3) but I deserve (card 7); deal with it (card 9)
• I need (card 5) but I have (card 1); deal with it (card 9)
• I need (card 5) but I want (card 3); deal with it (card 4)
• I need (card 5) but I deserve (card 7); deal with it (card 6)
• I deserve (card 7) but I have (card 1); deal with it (card 8)
• I deserve (card 7) but I want (card 3); deal with it (card 9)
• I deserve (card 7) but I need (card 5); deal with it (card 6)

Optional:

• I am (card 2), I am not (card 6), my potential (card 9)
• My shame (card 4), my inspiration (card 8, what lifts me above shame and gives me hope), reconciliation (card 9)

Tip 1: Be as concrete as possible when identifying the four poles. For example, if you draw the 6 of Cups, instead of stating "I have many gifts and blessings," be more precise: "I have a generous husband," or "I have two beautiful children."

Now use each middle card to find a resolution for the opposing statements.

Sample reading

Let’s say for the corner cards, you draw and interpret the following:

Card 1—Six of Cups—“I have … a generous husband”

Card 3—Six of Pentacles—“I want … more money to spend”

Card 5—The Empress—“I need … to express my creativity”

Card 7—The Hanged Man—“I deserve … time to just ‘hang around’”

From these, you will get statements such as:

“I have a generous husband, but I want more money to spend.”

“I have a generous husband, but I need to express my creativity.”

“I have a generous husband, but I deserve time to just ‘hang around’.”

Then phrases start to recombine and reverse themselves:

“I want more money to spend, but I have a generous husband.”

“I want more money to spend, but I need to express my creativity.”

“I want more money to spend, but I deserve to have time to just ‘hang around’.”

“I need to express my creativity, but I have a generous husband.”

“I need to express my creativity, but I want more money to spend.”

“I need to express my creativity, but I deserve time to just ‘hang around’.”

“I deserve time to just ‘hang around,’ but I have a generous husband.”

“I deserve time to just ‘hang around,’ but I want more money to spend.”

“I deserve time to just hang around,’ but I need to express my creativity.”

You can see how each statement, while keeping to the four “constants” of your current situation, creates its own tension that needs to be resolved in the “how to deal with it” card.

This spread sets up a mechanical and systematic way of exploring you inner environment. Contemplating your wants, needs and desires systematically ensures that you look at them from all possible angles. The method might seem mechanical, but you need creativity to find resolutions.

Tip 2: The solutions should be concrete and practical. Suppose for the statement “I have a generous husband, but I need more money to spend,” you have drawn the Eight of Cups as resolution card. It is possible to read the card as “turn your back on your wish for more money,” “keep going, you’ll make more money soon,” or “just accept that the days of plenty are behind you.” However, it would be better to find solutions such as “I have several things I no longer need—sell them on eBay,” or “I can make more money available by buying less coffee—I should take in less caffeine anyway.”

 

Related articles

• 12 Creative Uses for Tarot Cards (thespiritualskeptic.com)
• Magic squares: I want, I have, I need, I deserve (www.psychsoma.co.za)
• Magic square variation 2: I want, I have, I need, I deserve (www.psychsoma.co.za) 
• Lesson 38: Combinations (Edward de Bono’s New Thinking)