Victor Dwight Shoemaker

On May 1, 1994, five year old Victor Dwight Shoemaker was walking with his cousins in Hampshire County, West Virginia, and that was the last time he was seen. I came across a comment with a request for a reading for this little boy, and I am going to see what the cards have to say. 

We begin with the three of swords in the first house. This suggests that there were some petty squabbles going on that day, connected to Victor and the others with him. I think it's possible that there were older children who did not want a five year old with them, but ended up taking him along while they played outside. In the second house, we have the High Priestess, of all matters hidden. She is a card of secrets, and the second house represents possessions and material things that are important to either Victor or the perpetrator, here. So we have a petty squabble and something material playing a role. In the third house, of short journeys and juvenile family members, we get the four of swords. I do not like to see this here because the four of swords tells of matters that have been dormant and inactive, and this case has been unsolved for far too many years. I am going to guess that someone has answers that have not been given, yet. 

The Queen of Wands appears in the fourth house, of the mother and home environment, and I am going to guess that this is Victor's mother. She never gave up, and always wanted answers. Following this, in the fifth house of creativity and children, we have the Hanged Man. This is sacrifice, and those looking for Victor have been willing to make many sacrifices over the years, in order to find him. The sixth house, of petty enemies, shows the two of swords reversed. This tells me that someone gave Victor some bad advice, or dared him to do something dangerous, and the results were deadly. There is also a suggestion of abuse, but not by one of Victor's adults. 

The seventh house, of agreements and partnerships, give us the Fool, reversed. This simply shows that Victor was not in the best of hands when he disappeared. He trusted someone, and was let down. The nine of swords, reversed, appears in the eighth house. The eighth house not only tells of death, but also of the fallout of a death. There is still a lot of worry and grief connected to this, and there are people who have wished that they had spoken up immediately. The ninth house yields the ace of swords, and this is a card of extreme love or hate. The ninth house deals with dreams and ideals, and sometimes of longer journeys. I am inclined to think that there was someone who was misguided enough to feel that violence was appropriate, when it was not. 

We have the Queen of Swords in the tenth house of law and justice, and as she appears reversed it is clear that she represents someone from law enforcement or the judicial system. The case is still open, and justice can still be gotten for Victor. The five of wands appears in the eleventh house of friends and casual associates, and when this card comes up, it often refers to lies and cover-ups. As it comes up in a house that speaks of friends and associates, I think this has always been bad news for the investigation. There were other young people who knew what happened to Victor, and did not speak up. The twelfth house shows the King of Cups. This is a man who is kindly disposed to Victor and would like an answer. He is willing to continue looking, and to answer questions and try to keep the investigation open. 

For a location, I am getting a westerly direction, then south, then water. If a path is involved, it winds in a couple of different directions. 

 

More On Aliayah Lunsford

Aliayah Lunsford disappeared five years ago, in Weston, West Virginia. I recently got a request for another reading about her whereabouts, and since she was only three years old at the time she went missing, I have included a computer generated age progression of her picture.

So where could this baby have ended up? We have the King of Wands to begin our answer, crossed by the ace of swords. As this king falls upside right, I will assume that he means Aliayah no harm, and is trying to find her. The ace of swords, when it falls in this position, tells of very strong efforts, and perhaps very strong opinions to go along with the efforts. This suggests that the strong approach may have frightened a witness who is trying not to be fearful about coming forward.

Strength, reversed, appears at the base of this matter, and I do not like to see this card reversed in a reading for any missing child. It tells a story of abuse and bullying. The cards are telling us that this is a large part of the reason for this whole situation. Following this, we have the King of Swords. He is also upside right; and court cards from the suit of swords are often law enforcement. Both kings are professional adult males involved in Aliayah's missing persons case. It is good to see that police are still interested in finding out what happened to Aliayah. Something that is very troubling is the six of swords, reversed. This does not bode well for Aliayah; it speaks of an unfavorable end to the matter, and it tells us that Aliayah has been in the same place for a very long time. Water symbolism should be noted here, only without movement; as if trapped or stuck, somehow. Back to the efforts of those involved in the search: the two of cups (also a watery card) appears as a new possibility. This is good; it augers cooperation from potential witnesses.

In the place of fears, we find the Knight of Wands, reversed. This is a young man, younger than the two kings, and as he falls reversed, his involvement in Aliayah's case is more suspect. Two things that came into her life through him are violence and family discord. Next, in the place of environment, we have the ace of cups, reversed. Once again, we have water symbolism, but this time, we see instability and an overturning of the situation. Also noted is the fact this is the second ace, or card with a value of "1". This could mean that Aliayah was never more than a mile away from her home, or it could be a hint to a possible street name or address. The combination of "one" and "water" stand out. Next, we have Death, reversed. The message on this card, when it falls reversed, is similar to the six of swords, reversed. Nothing has changed in a long time. Something that is very sad is that the reversed Death also describes the hopes of the reversed Knight of Wands. He is hoping that Aliayah is not ever found. The last card we have in this reading is the five of pentacles. This is sadness and loneliness. Sometimes, it speaks of a church, sometimes it speaks of return of the missing; but it usually speaks of sadness when it falls upside right. My sense of this is that the five of pentacles refers to time, here. Five of something.......

I wish there was an easier way to write all of this. I hope Aliayah is found soon.
 

Melanie Metheny

Melanie Metheny has been missing from West Virginia since July 19, 2006. Since then, her name has come up in testimony once, during a trial in West Virginia, but she still has not been found. 

We start with the four of wands, a happy, celebratory card, crossed by the five of swords, a violent, vengeful card. It appears that Melanie was simply going about her own business on July 19, when she was targeted by a very violent man. This is founded by the ace of wands, which represents the window of opportunity this man was able to open, here. The ace of wands can describe  new family, birth, or business opportunity, and sometimes, an inheritance; but it is always an asset that acts as an opportunity, not something to be hoarded. Whoever the man is, he knew enough about Melanie to know that she had something he wanted, and thought he could take, as illustrated in the six of pentacles, which follows. The six of pentacles tells us that Melanie might have been willing to lend or give this man money, but he, for some reason, wasn't satisfied. As the card has fallen upside right, it does not quite fit the scenario of a robbery, but the violence of the five of swords describes the situation as very similar to a robbery. 

The next card is the Knight of Cups, reversed. This man is a liar, who is often involved in theft and fraud. Sometimes, drugs, alcohol, and addiction are part of the picture. This is the person who can lead us to Melanie. The four of swords follows, reversed. I believe the message in this card, as it has come up, is paranoia. The unrest, and sometimes, fear, that are associated with the four of swords falling reversed have a lot to do with why Melanie disappeared. The perpetrator was unwilling to take a chance that she would testify about him. 

For self, indicating Melanie, we get the three of cups. As a situation, this is another happy card, but it falls in a place we often find fears. She was aware, at some point, that she had been snatched from a family she cherished.......the ultimate robbery. As a location, it would indicate springs and small streams. For environment, the Tarot gives us the five of cups, which is another water card. The five of cups tells us that clues have been overlooked, and valuable information has somehow been rejected. As a location, it would also indicate streams. In the place of hopes, we find the Emperor, who represents control. He is also a man who would like to see Melanie found. While law enforcement is usually represented by court cards in the suit of swords, I think the Emperor may be an investigator. He would love to use force on the suspect to gain information, as illustrated by the ace of swords appearing as the final outcome, but hopefully, he will remember to be a bit more subtle and mindful of emotions when he gathers information, which is another message of the three and five of cups. 

Another suggestion of the four of swords is man-made tunnels and shafts. 

Two Sad Updates

The remains of Skylar Neese were finally identified a couple of weeks ago, after she was found, during the winter, in Pennsylvania, a few miles over the West Virginia border and from the area where she lived. Her mother issued a statement. While her remains have been identified, the circumstances surrounding Skylar's death have barely begun to be investigated or explained. Skylar's mother, in the above referenced statement, makes a very relevant point about law enforcement's treatment of situations involving teens who have allegedly "run away" from home and are missing persons. The second update is about Robin Pope. The remains of a woman have been found near the area where she was reported to have last been seen, and Maryland is working to identify the person. There are speculations that she may be Robin Pope.

 

More information, as of Sunday, March 24; Robin Pope has been identified through dental records.

 

Why Is The Skylar Neese Case Stalled?

Someone recently asked me for an update to readings I have done in the past for Skylar Neese. While I do not feel that there is anything I can add to what the cards have already revealed, perhaps I can muse over the question of why this case seems to have stalled.

 

I have three cards for the past, and those are Death, the High Priestess, and the King of Cups. Death tells us immediately, from the beginning, that there are circumstances that are not under the control of any person, at this point. The High Priestess represents secrets. There have been some leads; simply no one has made the information public. Together, these two cards would take us northwest. The next card I have for the past is the King of Cups. He is an intelligent man, and his role in this situation is favorably disposed toward Skylar. I think he is someone who is trying to find her.

 

For the present, I drew the five of cups, the ten of swords, reversed; and the Hanged Man, also reversed. The five of cups says that there are clues or factors which have not yet been taken into account. The ten of swords refers to power plays, or posturing. And when the Hanged Man falls reversed, this indicates an unwillingness to sacrifice something....be it information or evidence. I really think there is a "game" of sorts occuring at this point in time between authorities, witnesses, and suspect(s). This would certainly explain the lull in movement here.

 

The future gives us the eight of pentacles, the Chariot, and Judgement, reversed. The eight of pentacles is the element of career skills, in this case, law enforcement skills, applied in solving the case. The Chariot is the ability to bring the testimony and the evidence together, explain and correct the conflicts between the testimony and the forensic evidence, and move forward. Judgement coming up reversed as the last card does not bode well for the reading. I think that someone with evidence is planning to hold out as long as he/she can. I also think that eventually, there will be a resolution, but it will fail the hopes of many people involved.

 

Revisit Of Aliayah Lunsford

Aliayah Lunsford disappeared almost a year and a half ago, in West Virginia. Why hasn't she been found? I will go ahead and do an update for the earlier readings I have done in this case.

For the past, I drew the Page of Swords, the four of cups, and the Queen of Cups, reversed. This page represents spying, and messages given with ulterior motives. The four of cups would point west, and indicate outdoor locations with trees, streams, AND standing water, such as lakes or ponds. The Queen of Cups, when reversed, is a woman who is not trustworthy. The Page of Swords is a person younger than the Queen who knows her secrets, yet has not come forward.

For the present, I drew Death, The World, reversed, and Judgement, reversed. Death usually does not foretell death per se, but major changes. This is one of those rare instances when I feel that the message is straightforward. When the World appears reversed, it is usually telling of failure and inability to move, and I think this card is telling us that this child has not moved or changed location on the "physical plane" in a long time. Judgement reversed tells us that someone out there would rather take the secret of what happened to Aliayah to the grave, rather thann come clean.

For the future, I drew the Moon, The Tower, and tpf pentacles, reversed. The Moon is deception and paranoia. At some point, information about Aliayah's disappearance could become ammunition of sorts against someone, or blackmail fodder. In the reversals described by the Tower, however; such fodder may become obsolete or ineffective......the reversed ace of pentacles shows that someone who formerly had something to lose by revealing the Queen of Cups's secret may find him or herself in a different position, without as much to lose, or without anything to lose by telling the truth. Also with the Tower comes different power hierachies. A new prosecuting attorney or a new sheriff may make a difference in the future.

My original reading for Aliayah Lunsford is here.
 

Skylar Neese

Skylar Neese was reported missing by her parents in West Virginia on July 7 of this year. It has been over nine weeks since she disappeared. The question put to the cards is what happened to Skylar, and where is she? This reading starts with the Moon crossed by the four of cups, which is deception entangled with malcontent. There has already been a coverup in this girl's case. In a case like this, the Moon can tell of secret enemies. Below this, we have the two of swords, reversed. Skylar was already dealing with someone she knew she should have avoided. Following this up, we get the Page of Swords, which indicates spying or planning. Someone had either stalked Skylar or planned to take her somewhere. Next, we have the Knight of Pentacles. As a person, he is a man between the ages of nineteen and fortyone or so, and as an event, it refers to something that was planned. It's position in the reading indicates that more will be revealed, but rather slowly. As a location, it takes us north, to plowed fields. The number associated with it is twelve. The Moon's direction is west........possibly a northwest direction figures into this picture. Another card that came up is the Hermit, reversed. Reversed, this card tells of an adult male who acts like a teenager and refuses to grow up. Almost a perpetual Peter Pan.

 

In the place of fears, we have the Fool. The Fool is a card of choices; and while Skylar had all of the information she needed to make the proper choice here, she hesitated.....as the card appeared upright as a fear. Her considerations at the time are represented by the nine of cups. This is a card physical well-being and health. Next, in hopes or fears, we have the Emperor, which is the "father card" of the Tarot. This also refers to male domination. The final card is the two of wands, reversed. Relating this card back to the two of swords, which came up in the reading reversed earlier, it appears that a disagreement ended in Skylar being dominated by an older male. The two of wands could also be a resort or a large estate.

Why Did Aliyah Lunsford Disappear?

I have intended to do a reading for Aliyah Lunsford, three years old, for a long time, as she has been missing since September 24, but somehow, the right question just did not present itself until today. It really "felt" better to ask "why", rather than "how", or "where", which are questions I usually ask when I do a reading for a missing person.

I did a Celtic Cross reading, and the basis is the ten of cups, reversed, crossed by the five of cups, pointing to the past. This tells me that everything a family should have offered a little girl was not offered, or given to Aliyah, for some reason. The five of cups tells of unrealized potential in this situation, and unappreciated blessings. It could also mean a return, or something or someone missing finally being found, but I do not think so, here. This is very sad.

Founding this, we have Justice, reversed. Legal matters were somehow not in this little girl's favor, even as early as age three. While social services may have had a hand in this reference to the law, I really think it was more a personal matter, between Aliyah's parents. The next card, speaking of matters in Aliyah's very recent past, is the Empress, reversed. This is a mother, or a mother figure, who is very selfish, shallow, and not very "motherly". I am assuming, for the moment, that this is Aliyah's mother. I could be wrong about the "who", but the character traits and the presence of a person fitting the description remains. This person is a big part of the "why" in "why did Aliyah go missing?". The next card, telling me the best possible outcome of this, is the seven of wands, reversed. If the Reversed Empress would simply reveal what she knows, and stop playing games with law enforcement and doing her best to keep them "away from her door", so to speak, that would be best, and possibly help recover Aliyah. What will happen, however; has a lot to do with a male in the Empress's, and Aliyah's, lives. He is the Knight of Swords, reversed. This is not a good card, and not a good position for this card, in any missing person's reading. It often heralds violence or a violent death. In this case, I think the card does double duty, describing a person AND an event; namely, the the last person to see Aliyah alive, and possibly, what happened to her on the morning of September 24.

The first card on the staff is the King of Pentacles. This is an older, sensible, down-to earth man who may be able to ask the right questions and put together a scenario that will lead searchers and investigators to Aliyah and the truth about what happened to her. The next card, describing the environs around Aliyah, and possibly to the opinions and feelings of friends and family about her, is the Queen of Wands, reversed. This is a jealous, angry woman who is attempting to mislead law enforcement and throw the investigation off course, This is NOT the Empress, to whom I referred earlier. As a curious note, I wonder how jealousy plays a role in the disappearance of a THREE YEAR OLD? Ok; moving along to the "hoped for" outcome; I have the Devil. This can be taken two different ways; it can represent the hopes of law enforcement and the community to solve this case using tried and true methods, bound to tradition, not having to think outside of the box, or it can represent to desires of the perpetrator to continue thwarting resolution and justice. Possibly both; either way, it creates a problem in finding this little girl. As a final outcome, I get the Lovers, reversed. This could represent bad relationships, bad combinations, or bad choices. The message I get from the card reversed in this position, as the outcome of this reading, is that the Empress and the Knight of Swords are the combination described by the Lovers, and when their bad combination disintigrates, bits and pieces of the truth will come out. After that, the King of Pentacles will be able to put those bits and pieces together, and the guilty parties will be confronted.

I was never given a true direction or a location; but I do see water, and slow movement north.