Third Readings : Wofford's Subconscious

The third Wofford reading pertains to the subject’s subconscious, and let me tell you, reading a college’s subconscious is just as difficult and abstract as it sounds.  By far, this has been the most challenging (and unclear) set of readings I’ve seen – perhaps because these new readings feel similar to earlier results.

Instead of initially bringing the three items together as one (as I’ve done with concepts of the college’s ideals and “soul”), I’m going to break them down more independently and hope that some sense of coherency is revealed in the end.

"A powerful choice means responsibility"

The seventh spot pertains to love, lust, artistic self, and instincts.  This reading was done at Gibbs Stadium, the sacred site of Wofford football.  To a certain extent, the chaos of a game comes out in the reading.  However, this game feels more like the board game Risk rather than any college sport.  Instinctively, Wofford is all about companionship, movement, responsibility, and the fear of treachery.  Drawing from the past is also important, but there is a feeling that Wofford needs things outside of itself to succeed.  There is a fear of mistakes, and relying on others (as in Risk) certainly comes at a cost.  Choices mean responsibility and choosing who to side with is a big decision.  Siding with others and integrating new ideas feels dangerous.  Potentially, Wofford could gain a new sense of spiritual harmony with the help of another, but in the end, it is likely that this new companion – outside of ourselves – will betray our intentions. 

The eight spot is about procreation, arts, and crafts.  Some sources also say it is the place of scientists and designers.  The reading was done at the Marsh dormitory and, in many ways, I get the feeling of freshman year.  In the first two cards is an immaturity, a feeling that things will get better but our own powers are currently misused and miscalculated.  I believe these cards represent the present.  However, the resounding idea here lies in the unique opposition of career (embodied by pentacles) and passion (embodied by cups).

Now of course, the conflict of career and passion isn’t novel (its often a theme in many readings), but here, the interesting element is way the subject sees passion and career.  Passion leads to instability, frustration, and disappointment, yet unconventionality and new relationships (coming again from the cups) are shown as some of the greatest hopes for the future.  The greatest strengths on the career side come from the Queen of Pentacles (who I never knew was so loving).  This card is just amazing: intelligent, thoughtful, generous, opulent, secure.  She is the rich matriarch who – in her maturity – understands the importance of giving and humanitarian aid.  But, this particular strength is tragically misunderstood by friends and relatives and will ultimately make Wofford stand apart from others.  This distance can make the college look like a prodigy: unique and insightful but at odds with the times.

The ninth spot is of the psychic self, the imagination and, to some extent, the creative mental and physical forces.  I read the cards at the Tony White Theater, a place that’s quite accustomed with the questions of the self and imagination.  Here, Wofford’s psyche comes off as very conservative: methodical, patient, hardworking, responsible, practical (the Knight of Pentacles).  But there is also a quality of a poet, a wisdom here gained through time and experiences with sadness.  This sadness has led to privation as well as the love of a private life.  Currently, the struggle lies in the conflict between privation and prosperity.  Wofford (as we all know) has been doing well and the community senses change (as mentioned in previous posts).  But despite this optimistic feeling of transformation coming from others, the psyche conservatively fears making weighty decisions – the impulse is to continue in private.  Seeking to continue methods of the past (handling simple tasks one at a time) will cause stagnation, doubt, and – potentially – shame.  However, meeting new responsibilities with tact and hard work can lead to a success that is actually more simple than expected. 

These results sound similar to Wofford’s ideology, its spirit.  However, the feeling I get from reading them is quite different.  Earlier, with questions of spirit, I felt the presence of forward-thinking, unseen board members, making deciding policy from above.  Those cards stressed Wofford’s economic goals and relationship to the community as being the most important.

Alternatively, in these new readings success doesn’t always mean material wealth and loss doesn’t always mean sour investments.  Rather, success seems to come from within.  Instinct, service, and the psyche are focal points, and in drawing these together, we get a interesting picture of a rarely seen Wofford personality.

In this light, Wofford resembles a garden.  Proper attention and care have made this place a greenhouse of prosperity, thriving through seasons bitter and sweet.  However, with success the college overgrows and must make a decision.  On many levels (economically and spiritually) this is a very difficult choice.  However, true strength lies in the untapped realm of arts, crafts, and procreation.  Procreation (a word that once seemed out of place) now makes complete sense.  To expand, the college needs to create.  Becoming more ingrained with the community outside our garden’s walls will not only benefit those around us but also give us an inner strength and source of pride that will be unique to the college.

The cards consistently show uncertainty with the future, but perhaps this is a necessary discretion.  Relying on the school’s strength at being methodical may someday make seemingly complex problems more approachable and clear.

Given this perspective, Wofford’s fortune looks good.