Who Is Buckskin Girl?

Among the unidentified deceased, there is a young woman whose remains were found along Route 55, in Miami County, Ohio. It was 1981, and she was found within a couple of days of her death. An artist reconstructed her image, and she got some media coverage, but none of the leads that were generated led to her identification. She was dubbed "Buckskin Girl" because of the her braids, and because of the handmade suede poncho with a purple lining she wore.

So who was this young woman, and how did she end up on a highway in Ohio? We will see if the cards can help answer those questions. I chose a horoscope layout for this reading.

In the first house, of ego and temperament, we get the Page of Pentacles. This describes a youngish person who is studious when it comes to learning, and who may have had a message or information for someone. Next, in the second house, of money and possessions, we have the eight of pentacles, reversed. We can see that somehow, the dynamic of lost employment or skills misused had a role in Buckskin Girl's murder.. The is followed by Justice, reversed, in the third house, of communication, business, relatives, and short journeys. It is starting to look as if Buckskin girl may have been a witness in a criminal case, and the defendant wanted to silence her; but let's move on, and see what the rest of the cards have to say.

In the fourth house, of home environment and property, we have the four of wands, reversed. Buckskin Girl was not killed by a serial killer, as has been suspected. This card, in its position in the reading, suggests that she was killed by someone she knew, and with whom she was comfortable; possibly a family member or a friend of her family. In the fifth house, of romance, pleasure, and children, we have the two of wands, reversed. This is domination by others. It begins to look as if Buckskin Girl refused to do or say something that someone wanted her to do or say, and she was killed for it. In house six, of everyday things and work relationships, we have the seven of pentacles, reversed. Lack of patience and anxiety over lost money or a lost job was part of the general background and picture, here.

The seventh house, of partnerships, gives us the three of swords, reversed, which is the first truly violent card I find in this reading. It reiterates the idea put forth earlier, by Justice, reversed, of Buckskin Girl having somehow compromised someone. Because the three of swords appears in the seventh house, we must wonder if it was someone close to her, related to her, or possibly married to her. The eighth house, of debt, karma, joint finances, wills and legacies, and sometimes death, reveals the six of cups, reversed. There is an element of clinging to something that is outworn here; or perhaps infighting over a will or an inheritance.

The ninth house, which governs long journeys, gives us the two of pentacles, reversed. The two of pentacles reversed of points to written communication. Buckskin Girl was, indeed, involved in some sort of family business that involved infighting over monetary assets. In the tenth house, we have the Tower, which is a card of disruption and of "the tables being turned". The tenth house is all about ambition and social standing; and it is also the the house that governs fatherhood. This gives us another reference to legacies and wills. Perhaps a stepfather found Buckskin Girl's claim to an inheritance to be too cumbersome. Next, in the eleventh house, we have a woman, the Queen of Pentacles. As she is upright in this reading, I will assume that she is kindly disposed toward Buckskin Girl. The eleventh house governs social standing, friends, wishes, and dreams. Perhaps the Queen of Pentacles is someone who wants Buckskin Girl identified and properly buried. The last card, in the twelfth house, is the Sun. This is the house of secrets and secret enemies, and the Sun is usually a good card. What we are being told, here, is that Buckskin Girl trusted the person who committed the murder. Also, we are being told that while it happened in a location that was remote enough to elude detection, it happened in broad daylight. A less trusting nature and some inhibition could have prevented this murder.

By and large, Buckskin Girl appears to have been the victim of a family member who wanted to dominate inherited assets. Somehow, her presence and her testimony made her a liability. There was written communication involved, indicating that the murder was planned, not spur of the moment. The presence of pentacles, which are the dominant suit in the reading, give us north as a general direction to look for her origins, but there is a bit of confusion connected to this, as a couple of the pentacles are reversed. I think it is possible that Buckskin Girl had recently moved, and was either looking for work, or was residing with someone who was looking for work. If you know anything about this young woman, or recognize her, please call the sheriff in Miami County, Ohio, at 937-344-3965.

Where Is Kathy Sue Wilcox?

Almost forty-three years ago, sixteen year old Kathy Sue Wilcox walked out of her family home in Michigan and never came back. She was billed as a "runaway" in a day and age when "runaways" were not taken too seriously, but she was never seen again. No one ever found out what happened to her.



We begin with the Page of Wands, reversed, crossed by the seven of pentacles, which is also read reversed. This is bad news, brought on by indecision and lack of progress in the investigation. An initial impression I get is that there is something that could have been discovered years ago, but wasn't, because the proper effort was not made.

Beneath this, we get the seven of swords, reversed. Sadly, it looks as if Kathy planned to leave home, for a bit. This is followed by the nine of swords, which is the expected worry and pain felt by her family. Above this, detailing the best possible outcome, we have the three of pentacles, which is the card of the tradesman. This tells me that there IS something that can be done, professionally, to locate Kathy. Unexpectedly, the six of wands follows, telling us that the case actually WILL be solved one day. The six of wands is generally good news, but it tells us to wait for "science to give us an answer". The Knight of Cups appears in the middle of the investigation.......he is upside right, so we must assume that he is kindly disposed toward Kathy. From him, we can expect well thought out ideas and propositions that will actually work. He is an adult, but not as old as most of the people who remember Kathy in Michigan. He either knows something substantial and can help the investigation, or knows how to put together clues in order to find Kathy. Next, we have the six of swords, reversed, describing the environment of the situation. This bothers me a bit, because it screams "standstill!" What is standing still? The investigation? Kathy, herself? This is really the only truly morbid detail in this reading.

Next, in the place of desires, we have the Sun. This tells us that no one who is involved, right now, in the search for Kathy and the investigation played a role in her disappearance. This is good; sometimes guilty parties pretend to search for missing people, in order to throw off police and investigators. Also, this card is telling us that somehow, pleasure in things like gardening, farming, and homesteading play a role in finding Kathy. The final card is the ten of cups, which almost never comes up to describe the lot of a missing person. This card is the definition of happiness, happy marriage, good family life, and soul completion. It is not what I expected. Perhaps Kathy is alive and well. I think it is a possibility. If she is not, she will be found, and her disappearance will be explained.

For clues to Kathy's whereabouts, both cards that usually tell us about location in a Celtic Cross reading about a missing person are "six" cards; the six of wands, and the reversed six of swords. Perhaps the message is "six through the forest, stop at the water." The two "sevens" also give us some clues. The seven of pentacles is often called the card of the farmer, because of its association with crops, trees, and waiting for fruit or crops to ripen. Perhaps there is a clue, therein. And the reversed seven of swords is simply careful planning.....Kathy had every intention of running away. Ultimately, south and west appear to be key directions.

The contact information for this case is in the poster above. Please; if anyone has personal knowledge of Kathy Sue Wilcox, call one of the numbers.

Where Is Melissa Lee Brannen?

 

Melissa Lee Brannen was last seen on December 3, 1989 in Lorton, Virginia, when she was five years old.  She had been at a holiday party held for residents of Woodside Apartments. A man named Caleb Hughes was found guilty of kidnapping Melissa, and while some very compelling evidence was found connecting him to her disappearance, she has never been found.

We begin with the two of cups, reversed, crossed by the Chariot, which is also read reversed here, as a foundation.  This refers to a very violent passion, followed up with nowhere to go; a description of some very decadent and forceful desires. The King of Cups is at the base; this is an adult male, who is sensitive and professional. Since he falls upside right, I will assume that he is kindly disposed toward Melissa, and is trying to find her. Next, also in the past, is the King of Pentacles, reversed. This is another adult male, and as he falls reversed, I must label him part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. When the King of Pentacles comes up reversed in a reading, it refers to man who abuses resources and other people, and abuses any authority granted him, as well. Look for this man to have had dark hair and eyes in 1989. 

In the realm of possibilities, we have the eight of pentacles. Generally, this card depicts a workplace or an apprenticeship position, but this hardly seems to fit the bill as an answer to where a little girl ended up after she went missing. It leads me to ponder whether or not the workplace of the King of Pentacles was properly searched. As it is in "possibilities" rather than actualities, I would be inclined to advise searching it again. The nine of cups, reversed, comes up next. This card describes a home with a lot of resources, and; sure enough, the suspect's home did turn up a lot of clues; but as the card falls reversed, all that was found was evidence, not Melissa. 

The first card on the staff is the Hierophant, reversed. The Hierophant is all about orthodoxy and order, endorsing all that is socially approved. As he falls reversed here, the suggestion is to follow a mode that is not as traditional within the usual comfort zones, but to think and look "outside" of the box. In the place of environment, we have the Sun, reversed. This gives us an outside location, possibly a garden or an embankment with a wall. This is a place that is readily visible to the four "kingdoms" of nature: mineral, vegetable, animal, and human. It was once well manicured, but has not been maintained. As we get the number XIX from the sun, nineteen miles to the north or northwest is symbolized. We deal also with the number ten in the Wheel of Fortune, which comes up next, reversed. The symbolism on this card also deals with four "corners", or realities, if you will. In this case, we have Taurus the Bull, showing us earth, Leo the Lion, representing fire, Scorpio's eagle for water, and the Aquarian angel for air. Somehow, this symbolism plays a role in the location of Melissa. Four elements; four corners. The number of the Wheel of Fortune is X, so ten is key, but here, I think it is a placeholder or a descriptive number, such as part of an address or name. The final card is the ten of pentacles, which is also reversed. This card not only speaks of monetary loss when it falls reversed, but of a loss of family honor, as well. Someone who could help with Melissa's location has kept silent for the sake of "family honor", and has kept the secret for all these years! 

Because of the "earth" references, I expect that Melissa was buried, somewhere between ten and twenty miles to the north of where she was last seen. Anyone with information about this should call the Fairfax County Police in Virginia; 703-246-7800.

 

Who Killed Michelle Martinko?

Michelle Martinko was murdered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1979, at a shopping mall. To this day, her killer has not been caught. So we will see what the Tarot can tell us about the culprit, and a motive.

I used a horoscope spread for this reading. In the first house, we get the perpetrator, who is described here as the King of Cups, reversed. This is a man who is not only dishonest, but violent......as we already know. Look for him to have been a bit older than eighteen year old Michelle. Not much older chronologically, but more experienced. In the second house, which tells us about the means and resources by which this crime was committed, we see the six of wands. This means that the killer's most convenient tool was the ability to get Michelle's attention and trust. Had she simply ignored him, history might have panned out differently. Next, in the third house, of short journeys and communication, we have the ten of pentacles. This house also deals with memory and memories; and with inheritance. In the mundane aspect, this card's appearance here has me wondering if there is or was surveillance from a bank that could help; or perhaps, and employee from from a bank who saw something. In more personal terms, it is possible that there was some discussion between Michelle and her killer about money, gifts, or shopping. She wasn't robbed, so this will not lead us to the motive.

In the fourth house, we get some solid information about the killer. This house deals with the home environment and property, and the card that comes up is the eight of pentacles, reversed. The message is clear: whoever committed this crime was unethical in his use of his employment skills, and may have had trouble keeping a job. In the fifth house, of creativity and pleasure, we find the eight of wands. This is a bit sick and disturbing; it points to an individual who finds violence amusing. Also, it points to someone who really thought this murder would resolve something. Following this, in the sixth house, we get the seven of cups. The sixth house is all about mundane, everyday relationships and it also covers work relationships.....yet the seven of cups is about illusions and delusions. Could this killer have mistaken Michelle for someone who had wronged him? Or could Michelle have resembled someone he didn't like, or reminded him of someone against whom he had a grudge? This is pointing very strongly to the killer and Michelle possibly knowing each other as acquaintances, but Michelle not having done anything, at all, to arouse his paranoia.

The seventh house of partnerships gives us the ace of wands, reversed. Once again, we are directed to the killer's problems with employment and work relationships. Somehow, this played a role. In the eighth house, of death, legacies, karma, and debt, we have the Wheel of Fortune, which is lucky chance. So our killer had intentions of killing someone, and his opportunity with Michelle constituted "luck", inasmuch as he was concerned! Next, in the ninth house, of law, higher education, "the establishment", and long journeys, we have the Empress, which is the "mother" card in the deck. At the surface, this truly appears to add to the confusion, especially about the motive, but there are some possible interpretations. This is an influence or a person who is not only motherly, but productive. This is not Michelle, but the real reason for the killer's rage.

The tenth house deals with ambition and career goals, and in this house, we get the Star. This is inspiration, and some sort of assistance that the killer got; he had a very good enabler. In fact, it may have been his own mother, harking back to the Empress. That is why he hasn't been identified. In the eleventh house, of hopes, wishes, friends, and social life; we have the Sun. This tells me that the killer has been in plain sight for much of this time, undetected, socializing and living his life. In the twelfth house, of secrets and secret enemies, we have the four of cups, reversed. The four of cups reversed speaks of new relationships and moving on to new circumstances. Seeing it here, in the twelfth house of secrets and self undoing, it appears that the killer moved on, after killing Michell Martinko, and successfully covered his tracks.


Update: A man named Jerry Lynn Burns has been arrested and will go on trial in the murder of Michelle Martinko. He was found through DNA that was left at the crime scene.

Gail Matthews And Tamera Berkheiser

In September of 1994, Gail Matthews and her five year old daughter, Tamara Berkheiser, were found murdered in her home in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. To this day, it remains a cold case, so I will see what the cards have to say about it.

I decided to cast a horoscope spread for this reading. The first house card, depicting the general situation, is the King of Cups. He falls upside right, so I have to assume that he is friend, not foe. This man is friendly, creative, and kind. His presence here is followed by the seven of cups, reversed, in the second house. The second house deals with  finances and possessions, and the seven of cups reversed tells of determination and clear thinking, so it looks as if Gail and the King of Cups had made some plans, of some sort, that involved creativity, money, and possessions. In the third house, of short journeys, relatives, and communication, we have the Chariot, reversed. It shows that the King of Cups and his influence caused someone else's plans to fail! This is someone who was close to Gail, too. In the fourth house of the home, and, coincidentally, the scene of the crime, we find the Fool. The Fools is a card of opportunities and choices, and I think that besides the obvious message of choices, we are getting a glimpse of the murderer here......a young, immature male. As he is represented by a card from the major arcana, we can assume that for some reason, he was important to Gail.

In the fifth house of creativity, children, and sexual encounters, we see the six of pentacles. This could mean several different things; it could mean that someone was paying child support to Gail for her daughter, it could mean that Gail had given or lent money to someone and the gesture was taken as a romantic overture, or it could be a description of the give and take in a romantic relationship or interest in Gail's life. From the current tone of the reading, I will tentatively say it is the second possibility: Gail tried to help someone and the gesture was taken the wrong way. In the sixth house, of everyday matters and work relationships, the four of swords appears. The four of swords is a card of dormancy and rest; it is beginning to look as if someone from a "dormant" or platonic association was attempting to re-awaken the past.

In the seventh house of marriage and partnerships, we find the King of Pentacles, reversed. This is someone who takes wild chances and makes bad choices. Look for him to have brown hair and darkish eyes; he would have been in his twenties in 1994. Abuse, and perverse use of talents are almost trademarks of his; this also isn't this person's only violent crime.

Moving right along to the eighth house, of legacies, transformation, and death, the Death card appropriately comes up. I believe this is telling us that the reversed King of Pentacles actually planned these two murders. In the ninth house of long journeys, the "establishment", and the law, we have the four of pentacles. This lends an air of "pinching pennies" to the investigation.....someone did not want to spend a lot of money or resources. In the tenth house, of career and social standing; and also of "fathers", we have the eight of cups. This is interesting because it shows that Gail was considering a change of scenery, even to the point of giving up some things for which she had worked. Another message, as the tenth house deals with fathers, shows there was a bit of conflict with one here.....possibly her daughter's father? It looks as if Gail was re-thinking a lot of things. Next, immediately after we see that Gail was re-thinking things that had to do with fathers, we actually get the "father" card, the Emperor, in the eleventh house! This is the house of social life and friends, hopes and dreams, and hobbies and pastimes. The Emperor, when he falls reversed, represents an immature, irresponsible man who refuses to grow up and stand on his own two feet. I think this is who and what Gail was dealing with, here. The last card, coming up in the twelfth house of secret enemies and defeat, is the nine of swords, reversed. This is not only worry on Gail's part, but suspicion. Gail had entertained the thought that her killer was a dangerous man before this happened. Sadly, it appears that Gail knew her killer.

Who Killed Dusty Shuck?

Dusty Schuck, a twenty-four year old New Mexico woman, was found murdered alongside the road near Mt. Airy, Maryland on May 4, 2006. The last reported time she was seen by her family had been in New Mexico, a couple of weeks earlier. The crime remains unsolved, and police have very little in the way of evidence. Someone suggested to me that I see if the Tarot can shed any light on her case.

So who killed Dusty Shuck and why? We begin with the Wheel of Fortune, which is an unexpected stroke of luck, crossed by Judgement, which is a re-awakening of sorts, or a realization about something important. Beneath this is the Hanged Man, which is an opportunity that Dusty had suspended in the past, but was looking forward to "un-suspending". Next, we see the Queen of Wands, who is an energetic and creative woman. She is in Dusty's past, and is someone Dusty knew, and had some concerns about her.

The five of cups, reversed, tells us a little about that for which Dusty was searching. She either thought she had made a new friend somewhere, or thought that there was an old friend or relationship that held a reason for her to connect. Next, we find the ten of wands, relating back to the Queen of Wands, to show management of Dusty's affairs. This card often appears to show an unhappy, or premature ending.

The first card on the staff is Strength, reversed. This show domination and abuse of power. Whoever killed Dusty had a certain amount of power, and comfortable about misusing it. Next is the Fool, which tells us that while the choice to commit murder, or to put oneself in such a vulnerable spot as to be murdered, is obviously faulty, there was an air of "business as usual", and "this is nothing new" about this murder. In the place of hopes, we have the Devil, reversed. Dusty was killed by someone who actually thought it was "okey-dokey" to kill! All the cards that describe the killer are from the major arcana, which hint that the killer had some sort of importance in his community; and they also seem to be describing a male killer. Last, we have the Page of Wands, reversed, which is either a bearer of bad news, or bad news, itself. Its inclusion in the reading, along with Strength, reversed, causes me to wonder if Dusty was killed by a police officer, or someone else who had some sort of civic authority.

Anyone with any information about how Dusty Shuck was murdered or how she ended up in Maryland should call the Maryland State Police at 301-739-2101.

New Post On Solarsight

There is a new post on this blog's sister site, Solarsight Tarot Readings. It is about using the Tarot for dream interpretations, something I have not covered here, on this site.

Tarot Analysis Of A Post About Kyron Horman

"Thankyou for any readings you do on Kyron,,He has been in Our Hearts and Minds since this little guy went missing..I have a question..There was a poem that showed up online after Kyrons disapperance..Do You ever do a reading on whether it was written about Kyron and what it means..Needless to say it has been disturbing for many of us and I have never forgotten it.. Here it is...The Eskimo (Rich) posted on July 16, 2010 at 7:58 a.m. on OregonLive; 'The sunny side, where you should be, not in the woods or near a tree. A childs blessing a mans remorse, one cops woman so stay the course. Intent was there, luck prevailed humanity blushed and evil sailed, a course, a path, watery grave. Not the K or T we know but others hands in the fire, so, look elsewhere, you will find a clue, idea and then the end that we all knew, would come, sad and happy to see it gone, our lives will go on but one will not, we shed a tear for little him, but not for them. Please if you can give any insight."




Above is a comment that was sent to me last week, about a reading I did for young Kyron Horman, who was seven years old in 2010, when he disappeared from his school in Portland, Oregon. Curiously, no reading, to date, that I have done for this young man shows that he is deceased, although the odds of finding a missing child alive decrease dramatically with each day the child is missing. Also, while forensic evidence in the forms of testimony and metadata have been recovered, no evidence, as of yet, has been found relating directly to Kyron or his whereabouts.

So to do a reading on the verse that was posted on a news forum, I decided to ask the Tarot if there was any relevant bearing, expressed here, on Kyron, his whereabouts, or his missing persons case.

We begin with the nine of swords, reversed, crossed by the ten of swords. This message seems pretty clear; the nine of swords, in reversal or upside right, tells us about worry, and the ten of swords represents a violent ending, about which many people here are worried. This violent ending is what the image the writer of the verse wished to convey to the readers. Beneath it, we have the eight of wands, reversed, telling us that the writer also wished to see the general public argue about Kyron and the case. Hmm....perhaps the writer succeeded. Next, Judgement appears, reversed. This card often indicates a fear of death when it falls reversed, but just as often, it denotes bad judgement. Loss of home, property, and other worldly goods is also one of the messages of this card in reversal, and I think the writer was attempting to alarm Kyron's family, in order to perpetrate a scam of some sort. In the place of possibilities, the World has shown up, reversed. The message here is, "this goes nowhere." From this, I am leaning strongly toward the possibility that whoever wrote that verse had nothing constructive to say. Next, we find the Page of Swords. This is someone who snoops to the extent of violating privacy at times, trying to find information. So far, this person has been unsuccessful, and functions as a bit of a dilettante.

The first card on the staff is the ace of wands, representing the writer's fears. This is a wonderful card, telling of new creations, births, fortunes, wonderful business ideas, and the like. Why would it be in someone's fears? But that is what scares this person. Following it, we have Justice, telling us that the judicial system is, in some way, playing a role in the verse writer's life. This could also refer to education, or balance in general, but with a focus on legal aspects; but I think here it refers to involvement with the court. Next, in desires and hopes, we find the three of pentacles, reversed. Our verse writer was either unemployed when the verse was written, or is unreliable and unskilled in his or her chosen field. The last card is the Page of Wands. Usually, this augers good news of some kind. It is a message that we, the public, have yet to hear, in terms of Kyron's case. It looks to me as if there is actually a witness yet to come forward, who can help solve the case. This is not related to the writer of the verse, however. The writer of the verse was speculating; had it been anything more, testimony would have been shared in a more traditional way, with those whose jobs and skill sets involve using witness statements to solve missing persons cases.

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Brandon Victor Swanson

Brandon Victor Swanson disappeared after leaving the home of a friend in Marshall, Minnesota. His car was found near Taunton, Minnesota. After experiencing car problems, he spoke briefly with his father via cell phone, which is how his car was located, but no one can find Brandon. Someone asked me if I would do a reading for him, so I will give it my best.

This reading begins with the Knight of Cups, reversed, crossed by the two of pentacles, which is also read reversed, here. When the Knight of Cups falls reversed, there is always trickery involved, as this is usually an untrustworthy man in his early twenties. His presence is followed up by the reversed two of pentacles, which points to forced, or simulated calm. At face value, it looks as if Brandon was carjacked and told to tell his father he was okay, when he really wasn't. But let's look further.

Another court card appears to lend some background information; the King of Pentacles, reversed. This would be a man who is older than the Knight of Cups, and I would expect him to have darker hair than the Knight of Cups and a darker complexion. He falls reversed here, and since his suit is pentacles, this points to a man who misuses his assets and, possibly, gambles. So we have two unknown people who might know what happened to Brandon.

The next card is also a court card; it is the King of Cups. As this card falls upside right, meaning that he is friend, not foe; I am inclined to identify him as Brandon's father. He is the last known person to have spoken with Brandon. This is followed by the Page of Pentacles, reversed. This leads me to believe that Brandon did not simply "disappear"; there was foul play involved. This page heralds bad news, and often theft, when reversed. Temperance comes up next; reiterating the message of competing interests and bad combinations. I would also venture a guess that Brandon either saw or heard something that could have compromised one or both of the men, the knight and the king.

The first card on the staff, describing problems connected to finding Brandon, is the seven of wands. This card tells of things that are guarded; secrets, homes, property, the like. The message here is that Brandon has not been found because he is either on private property, or somewhere bordering private property. Someone has deliberately impeded the search. The next card, showing environment, is Justice. This shows us that law enforcement still has an interest in finding Brandon, and if outworn ideas are scrapped in favor of trying new, Brandon can and will be found. It is quite likely that this will involve a search warrant, however. This is followed by the six of swords, which is a card of travel. The six of swords has appeared in the place of desires, and is a wish on the part of someone involved. The nine of pentacles is the last card, and it is a card of solitary enjoyment of property. This supports what we have seen in the seven of wands, by which we were told that private property and the need for a search warrant is pertinent. It is also a suggestion to look near or in a garden or flowerbed, or a small vegetable garden, near a house.

The pentacles and cups in this reading take us north and west, as directions. Fourteen is the number of the Temperance card; that is a likely number miles that should be covered. I found myself drawn to the small sun on the Temperance card; "sun" may be an actual, physical symbol here, such as part of the name of road or a place. Perhaps the name of a town that is somehow sun-related, or the name of a business. Somehow, this symbol is meant to give us a clue.

I always wish I had better news when I do a reading like this one. I will keep hoping for the best.

Why Is Terri Horman Speaking After Five Years?

Terri Horman, former stepmother of missing Kyron Horman, the second grader who disappeared from his school in Portland, Oregon, in 2010, has opted to grant an interview to People Magazine, after five years of silence. She has been a person of interest in Kyron's case since the summer of 2010, and has failed at least two polygraphs. She now insists that she was not involved in Kyron's disappearance. But why wait five years to address the media? Let's ask the Tarot.

This reading begins with the Page of Cups, crossed by the ten of swords. The Page of Cups is a young person, who probably has not had much experience in life, and has some idealistic notions that border on dilettantism. This person has also had an influence on Terri, and may be the one who convinced Terri to speak publicly. Judging from the shadow cast by the ten of swords, I am going to guess that this was a huge mistake; on the part of the Page of Cups, and on the part of Terri Horman. The ten of swords speaks to things that end in ruin.

In the distant past, we have the Tower, reversed. This describes oppression and imprisonment, and Terri Horman has stated that she does, in fact, see her life that way. Moving along to the not so distant past, we have the two of wands. This card tells of an effort to manage one's affairs, and control one's house. Terri wants to take control of her situation, and up until now, she has not had control. Her other goal, as shown in the next card, the ace of swords, reversed, is to overpower the negative press she has received from law enforcement, Kyron's family, and Kyron's supporters. This is still not within her reach.

The next card we get is the King of Swords, reversed. This is a powerful, middle aged or older man. As he falls reversed, I would expect him to be adversarial to Terri, almost to the point of becoming unjust. Her opinion, anyway, will be that he is unjust. The King of Swords is often involved in law or law enforcement, and Terri can bet her bottom dollar that someone involved in those fields is listening to every word she says. This king has had enough of waiting patiently for Kyron's case to resolve.

The first card on the staff is the ten of wands, reversed. This tells us that Terri feels that her separation from her youngest child, Kiara Horman, who was only a baby when Kyron disappeared, is unjust. She is rightly concerned that she will never have an actual relationship with her daughter. The next card, describing the surroundings and environment, is the seven of swords. This is the act of taking something that does not belong to one, or of attempting to declare something "finished" when it is not. Once again, the control Terri wants to exert is not within her grasp. The next card, in the place of Terri's fears, is the King of Pentacles, reversed. This is a man who is talented in business, but uses his talents for abusive or dishonest purposes. Right here, I drew another card, asking what this king's role in Terri's affairs would be, and I got Judgement, reversed. Upside right, Judgement tells of renewal, and resolution. Since the card has fallen reversed, it describes a man who does not actually want those things for Kyron Horman's case. The last card is the six of cups, reversed. This card sees Terri clinging to the past. Not only is Terri clinging to outworn sentimentality; there is property and money to which she would like to cling.

So there we have it. Terri wants control of her involvement in Kyron Horman's missing persons investigation, and she wants to regain property and other odds and ends from her past. I could not help but notice that nothing in the reading suggested that she might be trying to find Kyron.

Is Kyron Safe Somewhere?

Here is a comment that came to me yesterday: "Looks like the ex-stepmother has finally decided to speak out and give an interview. Is Kyron safe somewhere?" The question has tugged at many hearts over the past five and a half years, since Kyron Horman disappeared from his second grade class at Skyline Elementary in Portland, Oregon. The question now deserves a closer look.

This reading starts with the three of swords, crossed by the nine of pentacles, which, in this case, is read reversed. When the three of swords falls reversed, it often indicates, in addition to infighting and strife, a meeting with someone who has been compromised by the subject. The nine of pentacles, when reversed, tells of voided projects, lost friendships, and sometimes, the loss of family or home. This seems consistent with the situation of Terri Horman, Kyron's former stepmother. Beneath this, we get the Page of Swords, reversed. This refers to a factor in the past, and the Page of Swords reversed often shows unpleasant surprises, for which someone involved is not prepared. People and circumstances did not proceed the way the perpetrator had expected.

Another card describing past events is the Fool, reversed. This is telling us that bad choices, and bad decisions were made, perhaps in relation to the events foreshadowed by the Page of Swords. Kyron's disappearance was planned, because someone had been compromised by him, and something went completely wrong. The person responsible for the crime did not have a reliable "Plan B".

The possible future shows us the World, which is an encouraging card to see here. This card foretells success and triumph. On more basic levels, it can also tell of travel. It is followed by the Queen of Pentacles, and as she falls upside right, I will assume, for the time being, that she is friend, not foe. She is an adult female who values security, particularly financial security, and stability. Her symbols are related to Earth; farming, ripe fruit, agriculture. I would expect her to have an olive complexion and dark hair and eyes. Her presence, is as of yet, unexplained.

The first card on the staff is the three of pentacles. This is the card of the craftsman; the job well done. Sometimes, it also describes a person or a family...it indicates wealth. It is in the place of self image and fears, and shows a fear of these elements. Is someone afraid that money will talk louder than blood or justice? The next card, in the place of environment and personal connections, is the Queen of Wands, reversed. I think this is a rather obvious reference, but I will go ahead and describe the character on this court card, anyways. The Queen of Wands is often blond, or red headed. She is passionate and active when upside right, but when she falls reversed, as she has here, she is jealous and cruel. Yes, this is the person who can tell us exactly where to find Kyron. The next card is Strength, reversed, which speaks to abused authority. The Queen of Wands took it upon herself to do something she did not have the legal or personal right to do, yet others thought that she did! She took advantage.....

The last card in the reading is the King of Pentacles. This is a man who, like his counterpart, the Queen of Pentacles, enjoys stability and security. I would expect him to look like his Queen, olive with dark hair and eyes. Also like the Queen of Pentacles, he falls upright, so it can be deduced that he is friend, not foe. A lot depends on him, here. He has control of the situation right now. Once again, like all of the readings I have done for Kyron in the past, his death has not been detailed. I also find it very interesting that two court cards from the same suit, pentacles, have appeared in present and future positions in this reading. This aspect, in addition to the World, would suggest very strongly that the answer to this question is yes, Kyron is somewhere safe. I hope that I am right.....it is possible that I have missed something, it is possible that my wishful thinking interfered.....but that is my interpretation of this reading.

With each passing day, a missing persons case gets more difficult for law enforcement to solve. In a case involving a stranger who either kidnaps an adult or a child, if the stranger intends to kill the victim, this usually happens within the first three hours. Kyron has been missing for over five years. If, as the reading suggests, he is still with us, he is not a seven year old anymore. He would be thirteen, and his appearance would be very different. If you know anything about Kyron's current whereabouts, will you please call the number on the poster above, and let someone know?

Jonathan Shay Is Still Missing

Jonathan Shay, who disappeared in July of last year, still has not been found. I was asked to do an updated reading, and this time, I am going to see if I can just hone in on possible locations. It has been much too long for a thirteen year old boy to be missing. Anyone who has seen Jonathan in person, or has information about his whereabouts should contact their local police or the FBI.

Grrr....this basis of this reading is the six of wands, reversed, (enemies and bad news) crossed by the ace of pentacles, also read reversed, which is monetary corruption and ill-gotten gains. The message is already troubling, and we are only two cards into the reading. As a foundation to this situation, we find the magician, reversed. This is someone who used a skill, and quite likely Jonathan's trust, for abusive purposes. Moving along to another card describing events in the past, we have the ten of swords, which I do not like at all in this position. This is a card of endings, often sad or violent endings. But we will corroborate this with the other cards.

As a possible future event, we see the two of wands. This tells us that there are some people close to Jonathan's case who have not given up on finding him, and are still looking for him. At this point, details that would seem insignificant, along with obvious clues, are very important. The next card is the ten of wands, reversed. Here, we have not only separation and loss, but separation through duplicity; this sheds light on the reversed Magician. Somehow, the person represented by the Magician has had an opportunity to lie in person to investigators.

The first card on the staff, describing, in this case, the lies told to Jonathan, is the four of wands. He was promised a happy adventure. What actually happened is the Chariot, reversed. This is perversion, collapsed plans, and sometimes revenge. On mundane levels, this card sometimes refers to vehicles. Perhaps a Mercury Cougar.........as it has fallen reversed, I would expect the car to have mechanical problems or to have sat, stationary, for a while. Temperance reversed is the next card. This tells of unfortunate mixes, such as bad friendships or the mixture of bad business associates and friends. Perhaps it is merely a friendship that involved individuals who are not compatible, but this aspect has somehow played a role. The nine of swords is the last card. This is not only a card of worry, but when it falls reversed, it tells of imprisonment of some kind or other. I think it is possible that the whoever was involved in Jonathan's disappearance is already in legal trouble.

Honing in on location: the abundant presence of swords in this reading points us first to the east, then we are also pointed south by wands. I keep coming back to the Chariot....not only in its more spiritual meaning, but its literal and mundane meaning. Finding a vehicle that was connected to this incident will yield some evidence, and it is a vehicle that is not terribly reliable and has probably sat, neglected, for a time. Perhaps the owner isn't even in a position to retrieve it. But it must be located. All the speculation in the world will not take the place of solid evidence.

I always hope I am wrong when an interpretation such as this is apparent. I will keep hoping and praying that I am this, time, too. In the meantime, I hope Jonathan is found; no child should be missing this long.

Who Might Know About Alissia Freeman?

The question about the Page of Swords, in my last reading, about Alissia Freeman, has been asked. Who is this person, and how does this person relate to Alissia's situation? Alissia disappeared on December 13, while allegedly taking out trash after cleaning up her room, and has not been seen since. So I will ask the Tarot to hone in on this hint that was dropped in the last reading.

We start with the ten of wands, crossed by the five of cups. A moment of power has been used unwisely, here, by someone. Also, another impression I get from the ten of wands is that there was a proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back." The five of cups, crossing it, is read reversed this time, meaning that an old friend, but in a friendship bearing a newly defined context, has somehow offered hopeful expectations. This caper was planned, as we can see via the three of wands, reversed, beneath this. The three of wands shows a planned, cooperate effort, and reversed, it show an underhanded effort. The Emperor follows this. He is the "father figure" of the Tarot, and as he falls upright, I will assume, for the moment, that he means Alissia no harm. Something that bothers me a bit, though, is that a possibility abuse of authority is referenced by Strength, reversed, following the Emperor. The next card is the Queen of Pentacles, and she is in the very near future of this situation. She is someone with a lot of skill, and she uses her skills very well. She is part of the effort to find Alissia.

Back to the contributions of the aforementioned Page of Swords.......We find the Hermit, reversed, in the place of fears. This does not help very much with a physical description, but it describes a person who is immature for his age, and refuses to take age appropriate responsibility or, otherwise, grow up. As for looks, I would look for a young man in late teens or early twenties with brown hair and eyes. The card that tells us of the Page's opinion of himself is the Hanged Man. He thinks that he has a "connection" to matters that are "spiritual", and uses this to manipulate others. In reality, he is more of a perpetual "Peter Pan" type. The nine of wands appears in his hopes, and this tells us that he is impatient and unable to manage stress. The last card, Justice reversed, tells us that he has had some issues of his own with our justice system. A word of warning, however; is that when this card falls reversed near the Hanged Man, which it has in this reading, it is a good idea to tread carefully and not be too severe. A lot could be lost by impulsive severity, and the hope is to bring Alissia home safely.

Myra Alissia Freeman

Myra Alissia Freeman was taking out the trash one evening at her home in Alabama, where she lives with her parents. She is seventeen years old, and the back story, along with the sheriff's contact information, is on the poster. But what happened, and where is she?

The basis is the seven of wands, reversed, crossed by Temperance. The seven of wands usually refers to something left unguarded when it falls reversed, and it speaks to loss, and the embarrassment that follows loss; as if one should have known better. Temperance shows good combinations and management. Beneath this, we have the eight of pentacles, reversed. The eight of pentacles is the card of the apprentice, but as Alissia was only seventeen, we can probably safely assume that this refers to schooling. As it falls reversed, it shows stresses, or problems, in that area. So we are given school stresses as a backdrop.

Following this, but still in the recent past, we have the four of wands, reversed. This is completed harvest and the chance to relax after hard work, and that is what it means in either the reversed or upright position. Reversed sometimes suggests that while things are not perfect, things are still pretty good. A possible outcome is the seven of pentacles, reversed, which I do not like. The seven of pentacles is the reaping of the fruits of one's labor when it falls upside right, but in reversal, it means the opposite: wasted efforts with no reward. This is a suggestion that Alissia may not be found immediately. The next card, in the near future, is Death. While the card can foretell a death, it is much more common for this card to tell us about a major change in someone's life, or in a situation. So far, I have not seen any violence in this reading that would have caused a death.

In the place of fears, we have the four of pentacles, which is a fear of waste, or a fear of not having enough money. I am actually happy to see this card in this position, as it relates to things that are on Alissia's mind. The next card is the Page of Swords, reversed. This page is in the place of environment, and is a young person who probably knows exactly where Alissia can be found. As the card has come up reversed, it suggests spying and lying, which is how this young person helped Alissia disappear. In the place of hopes, we have the Empress. This is the "mother" card of the Tarot, and as she appears upside right, we can assume that the mother in the situation, Alissia's mother, is her ally, here. This is also something that is on Alissia's mind. The final card is Justice, reversed, which worries me a bit. When Justice falls reversed in a reading, it usually warns that an authoritative decision somewhere along the line will be made, and it will impede progress. This could mean several things. First, it could be telling us that the police will determine that Alissia "ran away", and since she is seventeen, they will not realize that runaways are in just as much danger as kidnapping victims, and close her case. Or it could warn us that someone with whom Alissia is spending time could become paranoid or unjust in some way, and harm Alissia...or it could mean that law enforcement simply looks in all the wrong places and does not have any solid leads. I hate to see this card reversed as a final outcome.

As for location, Death would point us north. The item on the card that caught my eye is his flag, bearing the white, mystic rose. Could Alissia have ended up in a place that has "rose" in it's name? The four of pentacles also points us north, but the card is reversed, so perhaps things are stalled. The Page of Swords would use east as a direction, but he is also reversed, but the transformation of Death clearly shows that Alissia has traveled enough to dramatically change her situation. It appears, by this reading, that while she is in danger, it is not too late for rescue. I hope she is found soon.

Mary Georgine Lang

 

 Mary Georgine Lang disappeared in 1983, while running errands for her boss, a local attorney. Some of her personal effects, along with her car, were found a few days later, but Mary Lang is still missing. I have laid a horoscope spread for her reading.

In the first house, we find the three of cups. Normally, this card comes up to tell everyone that all is well, however; in this case, we must look at its alternative meaning, which refers to quick endings. The nature of the type of relationship represented by this card is often romantic, but other friendships can also be described. The four of swords comes up in the second house. This is a very different message from the first house card. The second house governs money and possession; it appears that Mary's money "went dormant", or "froze", after she disappeared. Somehow, this played a role in the big picture. House number three, governing communication, relatives, and short journeys, gives us the eight of cups. This tells us that very shortly after Mary disappeared, the whole effort that was put into her disappearance was abandoned. So whatever this was all about was a failure. In the fourth house, we have the four of wands, telling us that Mary's home environment had some sort of protection......it ties in a bit with the four of swords we saw in the second house, connected to her finances.

The fifth house, of sex appeal, creativity, and children, shows Death, reversed. Once again, the message is that the sought-after asset here has been "frozen", or was never in Mary's possession in the first place. In the sixth house, health, work relationships, and mundane everyday matters, we get the Knight of Wands, reversed. The type of man usually described here is a jealous one, with a violent temper. His position in Mary's work relationships is interesting; this is definitely where he found a connection to her. The seventh house gives us the three of swords. The seventh house governs marriage and partnerships, and the three of swords often appears to describe a divorce, or in-fighting within a family. These elements played a role in Mary's disappearance. 

In the eighth house, governing legacies, wills, and death, we have the Hermit. This speaks directly to the reality that Mary is missing, and must be found in order discover what actually happened to her. Since the Hermit falls upside right, we can count on resolution, one day. The ninth house, of long journeys, law, the "establishment", and long-held beliefs, bears the five of swords, reversed. This is not a very nice card to see here, because it screams "violence" and "revenge". Also, since the ninth house is connected to law, often civil law, it takes us back to possible connections to Mary's employer. House number ten, of career ambitions and social status, back this up with the Page of Pentacles, reversed. It looks as if someone had either stalked Mary on the day she disappeared, or given information about her whereabouts and vulnerabilities to someone with bad intentions. In the eleventh house, of hopes, wishes, and friends, we have the three of pentacles, reversed. This is very telling. This points almost directly to a "friend" who did not like the way Mary handled something connected to her employment! Almost as if this "friend" wanted Mary to manipulate a legal matter, or violate a law, as a "favor", and was disappointed! In the twelfth house, of secrets, secret enemies, and self undoing, we find the six of wands, in the reversed position. This is the successful advance of an enemy. Also, a "message", of sorts. As for location, the eight of cups suggests possibly eight miles to the west, but as it falls reversed, this locations may have been reconsidered or changed. The five of swords in the ninth house bears a suggestion of east as a direction, but once again, the card is reversed. It appears that whoever hid evidence did a certain amount of backtracking and redistributing. One of the alternative meanings of the five of swords has to do with "storms ahead", but storm clouds are not unusual in Kansas! It's possible that we are being directed to a location that has "storm", "cloud", or "stormcloud" as part of its name. Or a place that has a name like "tornado" or "cyclone". The suggestion of the reversed six of wands in the twelfth house would be "six" to the south, but as it is reversed, north ended up being more important. Other symbols to look for are crosses, laurel, and bright flowers on vines. She is not very far from a church.

Murders Of Patricia Smith And Patricia Magers

Here's a cold case from Wichita, Kansas, from 1992. Patricia Smith and Patricia Magers were both shot to death in the bridal shop where they worked. A composite sketch of the suspect appears on the poster, above, but no one was ever arrested and brought to justice in this case. Let's see what the Tarot can tell  us.

I used a horoscope spread for this reading, and while I shuffled, the Knight of Wands fell out, reversed, so the descriptions of a suspect with reddish hair in 1992 are apt; however the first house in this reading has given us the Knight of Pentacles, and the second house has given us the Knight of Cups. These two houses represent personality and financial prospects, respectively, so what are two knights doing here? Also, these knight fall upside right, describing them as part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. The Knight of Pentacles is methodical and moves slowly, going through everything with a fine toothed comb. The Knight of Cups is more expressive about his feelings, and may be a spokesperson for the local police. He is often a messenger of sorts. He is still hopeful that the suspect can be found. In the third house, we find the Empress. The third house is about letters, communication, short journeys, and relatives; the Empress is the "mother" card in the Tarot. We have a suspect who has used a woman, either his own mother, his childrens' mother, or a woman who has children who are not connected to him, as a "front". He has probably retreated to her home, and she is probably unaware of his pastimes. Look for her, also, to have reddish hair and a complexion similar to his. This is backed up by the fourth card, in the place of home environment, which is the nine of cups.....the card of home environment! This suspect is completely unworried about getting caught.

The fifth house, the house of sex appeal and pleasure, gives us the Queen of Pentacles. This is an adult female; brunette and possibly with brown eyes, with whom the suspect has had a romantic relationship. She is not, as of yet, connected to his life of crime, but she represents the prototype of his victims...mostly brunettes! House number six, work relationships and everyday matters, gives us the King of Cups, reversed. As an employee and as a neighbor, this man is dishonest and twisted; he has a perverse sense of entitlement.
The seven of pentacles appears reversed in the seventh house, of marriage and partnerships. This suspect has probably been divorced at least once, and has lost income or property he considers rightfully his because of it. In the eighth house, of death, transitions, and legacies, we have the Moon. This clearly points to imagination, and the suspect almost feeling that by targeting a certain "type", brunette females, he can "regain" something. Almost as if he thinks he is "owed" something.

In the ninth house, the house of long journeys and the "establishment", and relationships thereof, we have the six of swords, reversed. This is very interesting, because it indicates that wherever this killer is, currently, he is not doing much travel. His home, or his stomping grounds, are probably in the same part of the Midwest as Patricia Smith and Patricia Mager's homes had been. He has even used this as a strategy. Also, look for him to be on probation for other types of crime. The tenth card, in the house of career ambitions and social status, is the seven of cups. This person has a vivid imagination about his own abilities, and has never really applied himself to a stable type of gainful employment. Those who know him are well aware of this. The eleventh house, of hopes, wishes, friends, and hobbies, shows us the ten of pentacles. Somehow, the suspect has either inherited, or by some other means, acquired a large amount of money or property which he did not earn. In the twelfth house, of secrets, secret enemies, and self undoing, we have the ten of cups. So far, this suspect has gotten away with everything he has done. Kansas authorities are not really hopeful that they will find him, either, especially if he is related to someone in the community who is enabling and protecting him. His mistake will be in thinking that his enablers will remain perpetually interested in enabling him.

What Happened To Ashley Summers?

 

Ashley Summers disappeared from her home in July of 2007, when she was fourteen years old; apparently having run away from home. She telephoned her mom about a month later, but no one has heard from her since. So what happened?

We begin with the three of cups, reversed, crossed by the King of Wands. The three of cups reversed is often a message about excess, such as too much drinking, too much partying, ect. The King of Wands, taking his position crossing this, seems to be a clear enough message; an older male attempted to put a stop to the behaviors and excesses described by the three of cups reversed. Beneath this, we have the Page of Cups, reversed. This is a young person, quite possibly Ashley, who is a bit sneaky at times, and difficult. The nine of wands, reversed, follows, giving us a clearer picture of the impatience on the part of the King of Wands, and the defiance on the part of the Page of Cups. We have a rebellious teen.

Crowing the situation, we get the eight of wands, which is a card of infatuation and sudden decisions and actions. Somewhere in the background to this, Ashley had a love interest who inspired, and possibly assisted in her disappearance. Next, we see the seven of wands, reversed. This is indecision and anxiety; it is the fast forwarded "snapshot" of part of the situation today, over eight years later. Indecision and anxiety play major roles in the continued lack of resolution of Ashley's case. 

In the place of fears, we find the Queen of Pentacles. This is a woman connected to the situation, who was an adult at the time Ashley went missing. As she falls upside right, I will assume, for now, that she has Ashley's best interest at heart. The next card, in the place of environment, is the High Priestess. The High Priestess represents hidden matters and mystery, and this aptly describes Ashley. She has not decided to come forward yet. In the place of hopes, we have the ten of cups, which gives us two things: hopes of Ashley's well-wishers, hoping to find that she is doing well; and hopes of Ashley, herself, for happiness and family. As a final outcome, we have the Empress, which is an interesting card as an outcome. The Empress represents feminine influence and motherhood, and this is the energy at play, here. I think that the mother figure, and perhaps Ashley's own mother, is the voice to which she is most likely to respond, and in turn, the echo in her own life.

What Happened To Jeremy Coots?

Four year old Jeremy Coots wandered away from his babysitter's home in Atchison, Kansas,in 1977. After no one was able to find him, it was presumed that he fell into the Missouri River. He is presumed dead, but he has never been found. Perhaps the Tarot can shed some light.

We begin with the Knight of Cups, crossed by the eight of cups. This is a happy young man, on a mission of friendship or even love, but as the eight of cups suggests, he suddenly abandoned this activity for some reason. I do not believe he is Jeremy; but I do think he is someone with whom Jeremy may have crossed paths that day. Beneath this, we find the King of Swords, reversed. This time, I do not think the king's presence refers to another person, but to a situation, this situation being fear. This king often represents law enforcement, or law in general; and here, I think he is telling us about fear of the same, or fear of lawsuits. Somehow, that veneer colors this situation.

The four of pentacles follows this, heralding obstacles and setbacks in financial matters. Once more, this is in relation to the Knight of Cups, rather than Jeremy. Crowning it, we have the nine of cups, reversed. It tells of mistakes, possibly too much drinking. Then we have the nine of wands. A waiting game was played by someone, followed up by deliberate but discreet defensiveness.

In the place of fears, we have the nine of swords, reversed. This is a fear of not only a lawsuit, but of prison. The general environment gives us the Queen of Pentacles, reversed. This is a female presence, and as she falls reversed, her contribution to Jeremy's disappearance was a negative one. The sun comes up, reversed, in the place of hopes. This is a hope on someone's part that this whole matter stays clouded. The last card is the five of cups. This is a sad card to see in this position; it foretells recovery, but it is still a card of loss. The five of cups is also symbolic of water, often of shallow rivers or creeks. The Queen of Pentacles is associated with earth, however. The Knight of Cups, in fact all knights, often symbolize matters coming or going in the Tarot. On mundane levels, knights are sometimes people traveling or people driving. My first thought when I saw the basis, with the knight crossed by the eight of cups, was that Jeremy had wandered away and gotten hit by a car. If not, a car was definitely involved, somehow. Water is also involved. The wands point us south, perhaps nine miles, as tentatively suggested by the nine of wands. I would also look for evidence outside, as suggested by the Sun. I always hope to find that I am wrong when the interpretation of a reading comes to me this way. I hope Jeremy Coots is found soon.

Where Are The Fandel Children?

Amy and Scott Fandel, a brother and sister in Alaska, disappeared on from their home on September 5, 1978. He was thirteen years old, she was eight. They had been left home alone for the evening, and were not reported missing until the following day. Their case has not been resolved, so lets see if the Tarot can give us any answers.

This reading starts with the eight of wands, reversed, crossed by the Queen of Wands. This appears to be jealousy, aimed at this queen, almost as if harming the children were a means of expressing anger toward the Queen of Wands. Beneath this, we have the five of swords, reversed, supporting this. It is a suggestion that someone incurred a loss, of sorts, to the Queen of Wands, and exacted revenge upon her. We also have the two of cups, reversed, in the background, telling us that the loss involved either a friendship or a romantic partnership.

Crowning all of this is the Empress, reversed. She suggests that the children should not have been left alone. Following this, we have the six of swords, showing travel, possibly across water or across a border between different states.

The children were not taken by a sole abductor, as the three of wands appears in the place of "self" on the staff. The three of wands indicates a cooperative effort between different individuals. The next card, in the place of opinions of others, is Justice. This tells us that whoever took Amy and Scott felt perfectly justified in doing so. Next, we have the Fool, in the place of hopes. This is clearly a hope of moving forward without getting caught or discovered. Last, we have the two of swords, reversed. When the two of swords falls upside right, we see stalemated situations, but when it falls reversed, the message is quite the opposite: some time in the future, we will see movement in this case, but it will be unusual and almost appear to be the wrong thing at the wrong time.

The only card suggesting death or violence is the five of swords; this worries me; still, I do not see death in this reading.....that is not to say it hasn't occurred, though. The direction we see here is south......and combined with the six of swords, it is at least a couple days journey to the south. This whole crime appears to have been dreamed up and mostly executed by a woman, as there is a lot of feminine energy in this reading, lent by the Queen of Wands and the Empress. What I do not see are efforts on the part of law enforcement to find the children, or the results of such efforts.

How Has William Bradford Bishop Evaded Capture?

I have gotten several requests for another reading about William Bradford Bishop, who killed his Montgomery County, Maryland family in 1976 and dumped them, along with evidence, in North Carolina before he disappeared. He had worked for the U.S. State Department and for the U.S. Foreign Service for most of his career, but when handed a desk job in Washington, D.C., he responded with the murder of his family. I am not sure that I can add anything to the Tarot's initial comment on this, but I might be able to get some insight on how Bishop has evaded capture since 1976.

We start with a basis of the five of swords, reversed, crossed by the Page of Swords. This gives us a picture, via swords and air, of control of information and words. Somehow, Bishop has managed the information connected to his whereabouts very well. Has he seriously lived under the radar, though? When the five of swords falls reversed, as it has in this case, there is always a chance of defeat. We must note that the Page of Swords crossing the reversed five is upside right, so this page is likely to side with Justice, not with Bishop. It appears that there is a person, possibly a young person...or a significantly younger person than Bishop, who knows the story and can give us information.

Beneath this, we find the nine of pentacles. Bishop has made a very secure home for himself somewhere. He found a way to obtain everything needed for survival. Another card following this this is the Knight of Wands, reversed. This is a recent disruption in either Bishop's life, or in the secrecy of his situation and whereabouts. There has been a disagreement of sorts, about the carefully managed information. Either someone close to him has lost trust in him, or someone who knows his secrets has experienced a better offer, so to speak, than Bishop can offer. Bishop's secrets are in danger of getting aired openly. Next, in the realm of possibility, we have the Queen of Pentacles, reversed. This is a moody, mistrusting woman. And well she might mistrust; after all, look at the charges against Bishop! She is probably olive in complexion, with dark hair and eyes. So far, her testimony and contributions are only in the realm of possibility, though. Coming up in the near future, we have the five of wands, reversed. This card usually refers to games and deception, but as it falls reversed here, the message is about contradictions. Someone may come forward with embarrassing or dangerous secrets.

In the place of fears, we have the ten of pentacles, reversed. This lends an aura of fear of loss or "poor risks" to this situation. Bishop has remained successfully on the lam for many years by carefully evaluating every risk he has taken; but somehow, his abilities are outmatched, of late. The Hermit follows, in the place of environment. There is still a perceived duty, on the part of the law enforcement community, to find Bishop, and the few who know Bishop's secrets are aware of this. We find the Sun, reversed, in the place of hopes. There is, at some level, a changed plan or a nullified contract in the picture. We finish with the World, reversed. This is fear, and an inability to move on; in this case, from one physical location to another.

It seems that William Bradford Bishop has managed to evade capture by lying and manipulating information. When the five of swords or the five of wands appears in any reading, we can expect dishonesty somewhere in the situation at hand, but both have appeared in this reading! Bishop is probably using a different name, and probably had his name "officially" changed before the internet became a reality. It is strongly possible that those with whom he associates himself do not know the truth about him. As this reading tells it, there are only a couple of people who do know. The subject of inheritance is also broached, in a cursory fashion, via the ten of pentacles. Is there a chance that one of his enablers has passed away, and that person's assets are out of Bishop's reach? It's all an interesting question. Another piece to this puzzle is the fact that no one has demanded a verifiable backstory from Bishop, accounting for the earlier parts of his life. This may play a role in justice for his murdered family.