A couple of weeks ago, a reader contacted me with some possible theories concerning a missing teenager named Sierra Lamar. Sierra was last seen on March 16, 2012, while waiting for the school bus. Since then, a suspect by the name of Antolin Garcia Torres was identified, prosecuted, and convicted, yet Sierra has never been found. The reader had some questions concerning possible co-defendants and motives that have never been explored, along with places that have not been searched. I decided to do an update, asking about it.
The question I am asking is "why did Sierra Lamar disappear?" I will do a horoscope spread, which should reveal many dynamics in the situation in one reading. While the Tarot cannot give us names and addresses, per se, understand why something happened can lead us to reliable theories and clues.
We begin with the six of pentacles, reversed, in the first house of potential and the beginnings of the situation, itself. This card, reversed, refers to bad debts and bribes, both of which probably did not involve Sierra directly, as she was a minor. The second house deals with finances and possessions, we have have Temperance, here. Temperance is a blending of physical elements, or cooperation between people, so I must wonder if this refers to an agreement, or a broken agreement. Moving along to the third house, we have the four of cups, reversed. Third house significations are familial relationships, written words, and communication of all kinds. The card that landed here is the four of cups, reversed, which shows a new direction for matters to take, based upon communication. So far, it appears that there was an agreement that did not actually involve Sierra, and that there was premeditation to kidnap her, that day.
The fourth house, of environment and home surroundings, gives us the nine of swords, which is worry. This card has a double meaning: Sierra's family was and is worried, and the motive for taking her was a dark one. This is a card of grief. In the fifth house, of creativity, we have the five of swords....a card of violence and revenge. It is descriptive of the perpetrator and his perspective, and I hate to see it in the fifth house. It shows someone attempting to hurt an individual or family, and dreaming up mean spirited ways to do it. The sixth house, of known enemies and inconveniences, shows us the eight of cups, reversed, which is a card of mirth and happiness when upside down. This, too, is from the perpetrator's perspective. He did the horrible thing he attempted to do. The seventh house, of agreements and partnerships, has the Queen of Cups, reversed. I do not think this is Sierra; in fact, I think the perpetrator had problems with someone else, and just used Sierra as proverbial "punching bag". This is a woman from whom the perpetrator experienced an imagined slight. The eighth house goes hand in hand with the seventh house, as it symbolizes the results and assets of partnerships, such as joint bank accounts or co-owned property of any kind. It also refers to death, but that is not its only signification. The card here is the Page of Cups, and I believe that is Sierra. It shows a youth who is creative and imaginative, and its placement in the eight house shows that there was something the perpetrator wanted from her, that morning, but did not get.
In the ninth house, of education and and ideals, we get the Knight of Swords, reversed, who I believe is the perpetrator. This knight often represents violence, and the coming or going of a toxic or lethal situation. It's a card I hate to see in a reading like this, and I truly hope I am wrong in my interpretations, here. The tenth house, of public matters, gives us the nine of pentacles, reversed. When the nine of pentacles falls reversed, the message is simply failure; possibly from a lack of independent ideas or input from dishonest sources. There hasn't been any new information to make public in quite some time. In the eleventh house, of hopes, wishes, and helpful people, we have the King of Cups. He would be a professional who knows what he's doing, and can help with forensic evidence and in interpreting the data that's already been given to him. The twelfth house, of secrets and endings, gives us the Queen of Swords, who is a woman, probably law enforcement at some level, who has information that has not been made public. I am encouraged to see her here, because that means that someone is still trying to solve the case.
As for where Sierra might be found, nine seems to be a significant number. The fourth house card, of environment, is the nine of swords. Nine parts, or possibly nine miles, are possible messages. Then, in the ninth house, we have the card of the perpetrator, himself, showing up as the Knight of Swords, reversed. I believe he acted alone, but in retaliation for something that might not have even happened. His whole reason for being where he was that morning was to harm someone. Then, in the tenth house, we have another nine, this one being the reversed nine of pentacles. This card is a bit troubling, since one of its meanings is a cancelled project. I believe this may have been a cancelled search in a critical area, and I hope efforts are made to double down on this in the future. I think the defendant who was prosecuted was the right person, but I think someone else, possibly a woman (the reversed Queen of Cups in the seventh house) may be holding back information that could help bring some closure.
