Elitserien VS the Greenwood Tarot

I was a bit bored, so I played around a bit with a Tarot-deck (The Greenwood Tarot).

Im following the Swedish Hockey League, Elitserien here in Sweden. So I thought that I could ask the cards, if they can give any hint about the teams and how the season will end.

These are the results of my totally unscientific hockey season forecast. Enjoy! 😉

The questions I ask the cards are:

• What will the general “theme” be for the hockey teams for the near future?
• Can the cards tell me anything about the current state or the outcome of the hockey season?

I shuffle the deck and place the cards on the table.

I randomly pick 12 cards that will represent each team. 12 teams, 12 cards.

Its time to turn the cards around.

Team/Card overview:

• HV71: Horse
• Brynäs: The Seer
• Skellefteå: The Lovers
• Frölunda: Protection
• Luleå: Spark of Life
• Färjestad: Wren
• AIK: Heartfire
• Djurgården: Adder
• Växjö: Respect
• Linköping: Endurance
• Timrå: Wheel of Fortune
• MODO: Salmon

Some interesting cards there 🙂 But what does it mean? What do the cards tell me?

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 Team: HV71
Card: Horse (King of Stones)

Symbolism: The prehistoric horse, common in Europe until about 10,000 BC, was depicted frequently in paleolithic cave art. The Uffington white horse chalk figure once held a long barrow in its mouth, representing the breath of life and protection of the dead. The 30,000-year-old carving of an unshod hoof is thought to represent both the vulva (the beginning of new life) and the primal footprint that shows the trackway through the forest.

King: A mature man

Element: Earth

Time: Samhain moving through the Winter Solstice to Imbolc.

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Team: Brynäs
Card: The Seer

Symbolism: The Seer is wrapped in the owl’s cloak of wisdom which is decorated with the totem animals of power and their shamanic spirits. She stands before the World Tree, studying the roots that are deeply embedded in the earth, and close around her are the symbols of the four elements that she meditates: the cup, staff, arrowhead and stone. Her voice may be hushed and she may speak in riddles, but you will listen, because she can point you to a new, wiser beginnings.

Reading: The time has come to focus your power and let it flow through you. Many dreams or desires related to the creative emotional process are ready to be applied in your day-to-day life and you must now give vent to those hidden or suppressed desires. Now the manifestation of inner spiritual or esoteric insights into your practical and physical daily life will bring profound rewards and results. It is a sign of maturity. The Seer may also relate to creative impulses related to art, skills and crafts, and the joy of bringing pleasure and teaching to others.

Aspects and Facets: Inspiration and wisdom. Oracular prophecy. Inner vision. Shamanic flight. Soul healing. Empathy with nature.

Time: Autumn Equinox

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Team: Skellefteå
Card: The Lovers

Symbolism: A handfasted, foilate man and woman stand side by side creating a polaric interchange that generates a Maypole, here symbolized as a living birch tree. The polarity may vary from day to day, moment to moment, but the truly whole person has seen all the fractured elements of their own personality and can deal with them in another.

Reading: Polarity is the key element in the natural ebb and flow of emotional commitment between two people. The Lovers also represent a positive spiritual force of creative emotional energy and the universal desire for harmony and peace. 

Aspects and Facets: Blessed union. Friendship. The rites of spring. The polaric balance of souls. Desire. The Arthurian White Hart. Eternal love. The sacred vow.

Time: Beltane

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Team: Frölunda
Card: Protection (Four of Stones)

Symbolism: A newborn fawn shelters beneath a dolmen as the midsummer dawn rises, bringing hope and renewed vitality to the vulnerable. Shelter and protection for the weak or the spiritually wounded is the responsibility of us all.

Stones: Material Wealth / Achievements / Possessions / Security / Skills / Being of the World.

Archetypes: Greenman / Greenwoman

Time: Midsummer Solstice

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Team: Luleå
Card: Spark of Life (Ace of Wands)

Symbolism: The turning of the cosmic axis that generates the spark of life. The drill symbolizes the skills that exert control over the environment, directed by the human intellect. 

Wands: Creative / Formative / Enterprising / Science / Philosophy / Ability / Being of the Will

Archetypes: Ancestor / Star

Time: Imbolc

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Team: Färjestad
Card: Wren (Page of Stones)

Symbolism: The colours of the goldcrest – red, white, green and black – where once held to be sacred and the common wren was considered a guardian of the winter mysteries. Druids kept wrens as totem animals of augury and prophesy and ritually sacraficed them on St Stephen’s Day (26 December).

Page: A youth or child, male or female.

Element: Earth

Time: Samhain moving through the Winter Solstice to Imbolc.

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Team: AIK
Card: Hearthfire (Eight of Wands)

Symbolism: Hope leading to the attainment of innermost dreams and desires. Fuelling your soul with the belief in yourself and natural justice.

Wands: Creative / Formative / Enterprising / Science / Philosophy / Ability / Being of the Will

Archetypes: Hermit/Judgement

Time: Midwinter Solstice.

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Team: Djurgården
Card: Adder (King of Wands)

Symbolism: At this time of year adders represent serpentine Earth energies rising from the ground into the air and intertwining, as male adders struggle for dominance. (Sometimes this is mistaken for a mating ritual.) They also represent magical power, balance and the healing arts.

King: A mature man

Element: Earth / Fire

Time: Imbolc moving through the Spring Equinox to Beltane.

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Team: Växjö
Card: Respect (Nine of Wands)

Symbolism: When nearing the heart of a sacred quest, motivation and integrity of human desires are challenged. Ancient wisdom demands the seeker be humble and forgiving.

Wands: Creative / Formative / Enterprising / Science / Philosophy / Ability / Being of the Will.

Archetypes: Seer

Time: Full Moon

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Team: Linköping
Card: Endurance (Five of Stones)

Symbolism: The inner strenght and courage to protect yourself and survive the challenges of life. This may mean a withdrawal from trauma to focus emotional power.

Stones: Material Wealth / Achievements / Possessions / Security / Skills / Being of the World.

Archetypes: Blasted Oak / Strenght

Time: Lammas

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Team: Timrå
Card: Wheel of Fortune

Symbolism: An Iron Age loom rests between two hazel trees. On the loom is an unfinished multi-coloured cloak that shimmers and is ever-changing. The Wheel of Fortune traditionally represents the cycles of eternal law and evolution that all living creatures are governed by. Change is unavoidable and necessary if the cycles of nature are to remain alive and regenerative. We can grasp the web of fate and weave in our own special, personal pattern. Nothing is set in stone.Our actions are not without risk. For if things are out of balance with the universe, the Wheel will bring change in order to once again have natural harmony in the web of fate.

Reading: The Wheel has turned, change is at hand. In all nature there is a time and tide. The cyclic laws of birth, death, rebirth are ever-revolving and without change all things stagnate. It is how you deal with this change that is the issue here. Within the tangled and tightly woven fabric of chance you have the power to make a difference. By your own actions you can change you own life. You are not a prisoner of fate, but an integrated part of it. Remember! This is not a dress rehearsal. Life is what happens to you while you are waiting for it to begin! Whether on the surface the change at hand appears to be for the better or for the worse, welcome it, be at peace with it and take control of your own actions within it. Remember, all things must pass.

Aspects and Facets: The Wheel of Fortune. Reincarnation. Karma and the laws of the cosmos. The cycle of life. Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel. The Weaver of Fate.

Time: Autumn Equinox

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Team: MODO
Card: Salmon (Knight of Cups)

Symbolism: Salmon are sacred in most shamanic systems for many reasons, but their ability to swim upstream to their birthplace and spawn is one of the most remarkable. This journey leaves the salmon exhausted and most die in the attempt. Representing, therefore, self-sacrafice and wisdom, salmon were said to swim in pools overhung by hazel trees and to eat the nuts falling off in autumn.

Knight: A young male or female.

Element: Water

Time: Lammas moving through the Autumn Equinox to Samhain.

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Comments/Thoughts:

These are comments and thoughts of mine, about the meaning of the cards. Feel free to add any comments, or interpretations of your own 🙂

HV71: Horse

The barrow, as I see it, represents the history of the team. The team tragically lost one of its most popular players, Stefan Liv, in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash earlier this year. The King, represents a mature man, and the Element is Earth. As I see it, this could very well represent Stefan Liv. The time of the card, Samhain > Winter Solstice > Imbolc, means its around Dec 21 to Feb 1. Does this mean that HV71 will have a positive beginning of the new year? The Playoff start in the beginning of March, so this could very well be an excellent timing for the team. I think this card means this team will end up high in the end of season table.

Brynäs: The Seer

The time of this card, indicate the “Autumn Equinox”. That is around Sept 21. This makes me cofused. Thats the beginning of the hockey season. Does it mean that Brynäs will get a long great season, from the beginning to the end? As I read this card, it means the team has found a great “balance”. I think this card means that Brynäs will end up somewhere in the Top of the table at the end of season. The Seer, is a “Major Arcana” card. Its a powerful card, and maybe Brynäs is a Powerful team this season.

Skellefteå: The Lovers

The timing of this card is interesting. Beltane; or May 1. The hockey playoff usually ends around April, so I guess this card might indicate that Skellefteå will be in the tournament, til the very end..Will the team have to struggle with some kind of polarity? Or maybe benefit from a polarity? The card mentions The Arthurian White Hart (deer)? A sacred vow? Strange.. Im not sure what this means.. But it sounds positive.

Frölunda: Protection

Now this is an interesting card. One of the things Stones represent, is Material Wealth. Frölunda has been struggling with their economics lately. This might indicate that the struggle continue. Or maybe that the Material Wealth will increase. As I see it, the “Protection” represents Frölundas Goalie. (They currently have a danish Goalie that at the moment has the best statistics in the league). The team has also been struggling with injuries lately. Does this card imply, that the weak and wounded need shelter and protection? 4 of stones. As I see it, this is a low value compared to other teams cards. I think this means the team will end up in the middle or lower part of the end of season table. The timing of this card is confusing though.. Midsummer Solstice? Thats around June 21. No hockey is played then.

Luleå: Spark of Life

The timing of this card is “Imbolc”, or around Feb 1. Good timing, thats the end of the season. This might indicate, that the team will get a boost and gain on its competitors, at this time. A spark of life. A star?

Färjestad: Wren

I got a nice laugh from this card! Follow my thoughts now:
“The colours of the goldcrest – red, white, green and black“ – Those are the colors of the rivaling neighbor team Frölunda!

“where once held to be sacred and the common wren was considered a guardian of the winter mysteries” – Winter mysteries? Well. Färjestad played 2 “winter” outdoor games, in 2009-12-27 and 2010-12-26.

“Druids kept wrens as totem animals of augury and prophesy and ritually sacraficed them on St Stephen’s Day (26 December)” – Totem animals that were sacraficed at December 26! Färjestad beat Frölunda Indians, in the Outdoor winter game, the 26 th of December!

This card does not tell me much about what the outcome of the season will be for Färjestad. Page of stones is a pretty high value card. At the same time, the timing of the card is Samhain > Winter Solstice > Imbolc, or around Nov 1 to Dec 21. Does this indicate that Färjestad will have great success until Christmas? But where will it go from there?

AIK: Hearthfire

Hearth… or heart-fire? 8 of wands is a pretty low value card. Does this indicate AIK will end up low in the end of season table? The timing of the card is also a bit strange. Midwinter Solstice, Dec 21. Thats in the middle of the season. This could mean, however, that the team will be fuelling up, and gain strenght before the last parts of the season begins.

Djurgården: Adder

The adder is a King-card. It is also a Wand, like the rivaling neighbor AIK. Does this indicate that Djurgården will be the strongest of the two teams? I guess this implies that there will be a continous struggle between Djurgården and AIK, but that Djurgården might be the strongest, at the end. The timing of the card seem to be very good. Spring Equinox to Beltane. Thats March 21 to May 1. The end of season and the playoff!

Växjö: Respect

Växjö is the newcomer this year. Therefore it is interesting to see that they drew the “Respect” card. Does this tell us that Växjö is here to stay? 9 of wands is a very low card though. The card might imply that Växjö will be challenged at the very end, when they “near the heart of the sacred quest”. The timing of the card is Autumn Equinox. Thats Sept 21. I think this card means, that Växjö will end up low in the end of season table, but that the team will remain in the Elitserien. Does the team end at place 9 in the table?

Linköping: Endurance

Survive… Withdrawal from trauma… Those are heavy words. The card is also the lowest of the Stone cards of all the teams. As I see it, this does not look good for Linköping. Endurance is the key word though. And I think the question is, will Linköping endure til the end of the season?

Timrå: Wheel of Fortune

Now this is a crazy card! It suggest that “Change is inevitable”, Birth, Death, Rebirth. What does this mean? Will the team Start, then Die, then be Reborn? As I see it, the team will end at the bottom of the table. However, the Wheel of Fortune might allow the team to win the “Regulation series”: Kvalserien? The timing of the card is Autumn Equinox, or Sept 21. Does this mean the team will continue in the Elitserien at the beginning of the next season, or drop down to the league below? I guess we’ll just have to spin the wheel, and see where it ends.

MODO: Salmon

Knight of Cups.. The only Cup-card of these teams. Does this mean that MODO will go for the Cup / Throphy at the end of the season? It sounds unlikely. However the card represents the Salmon. The salmon can swim upstreams.. Does this mean that MODO will gain strenght and climb the table. An interesting card indeed! This implies that MODO is not to be counted out in the race yet.

 

What will the end of season table look like? Who will win the Playoff?
This is a quick and very inaccurate table. Here I simply listed the teams, based on their card number.
I will add another table, once I’ve taken the card readings in consideration. That table Will look a bit different Im sure.

Here is another table. I tried to take the card readings in consideration here. And the table looks a bit different.

 

And based on the tables, I predict that one possible outcome of the Playoff might be like this:

 

Now this ends my totally unscientific hockey season forecast. 😉

See you later.

Riksdagsvalet – A totally unscientific election forecast (the greenwood tarot)

I was a bit bored, so I played around a bit with a Tarot-deck (The Greenwood Tarot).

There is an upcoming political election here in Sweden, September 19. (which is actually on the same day as the International Talk Like a Pirate Day) So I thought that I could ask the cards, if they can give any hint about the parties and the election.

These are the results of my totally unscientific political election forecast. Enjoy! 😉

The questions I ask the cards are:

• What will the general “theme” be for the political parties for the near future?
• Can the cards tell me anything about the current state or the outcome of the election?

I shuffle the deck and place the cards next to the political symbols.

I randomly pick 1 card for each party.

Its time to turn the cards around.

Party/Card overview:

1. Vänsterpartiet: Reindeer
2. Socialdemokraterna: Struggle
3. Miljöpartiet: Lynx
4. Feministiskt Initiativ: Greenman
5. Piratpartiet: Hearthfire
6. Sverigedemokraterna: Spark of Life
7. Centerpartiet: Wolf
8. Kristdemokraterna: Rest
9. Folkpartiet: Decision
10. Moderaterna: Insecurity

Some interesting cards there 🙂 But what does it mean? What do the cards tell me?

 

 

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Party: Vänsterpartiet
Card: Reindeer (King of Cups)

Symbolism: The picture shows male an female reindeer as both sexes have antlers. Male reindeer rut in the autumn for dominance of the herd and the antlers are a potent symbol of sexual power. Fly agaric is also found at this time and the reindeer appear to eat this highly toxic red fungi and seem drunk. Some shaman drank the purified urine of the reindeer for its hallucinatory properties once the toxins had been removed.

King: A mature man

Element: Water

Time: Lammas moving through the Autumn Equinox to Samhain.

 

 

 

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Party: Socialdemokraterna
Card: Struggle (Eight of Arrows)

Symbolism: In the darkness of failure the burning torch of hope remains lit in the human soul and encourages struggle. Courage is needed to survive the storm.

Arrows: Conceptual / Communicative / Ambitions / Cunning / Intellect / Being of the Mind

Archetypes: Hermit/Judgement

Time: Midwinter Solstice

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Miljöpartiet
Card: Lynx (King of Arrows)

Symbolism: Still found in mountain woodlands in part of Europe, the lynx is one of the creatures at the top of the food chain. With its speed and cunning, combined with its ability to climb trees, it is a formidable hunter as well as a fierce protector of its young.

King: A mature man

Element: Air

Time: Beltane moving through the Midsummer Solstice to Lammas.

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Feministiskt Initiativ
Card: The Greenman (The Emperor)

Symbolism: The throne of kingship and stability is vacant, as the figure of the wild man stands sentinel over it with the spear of power and the horn of plenty, ready for the king to take his place and stand as defender of the land. The Greenman is a symbol of the flourishing hearth of the male polaric aspect of nature, constantly returning in thinly disguised cyphers such as the Green Knight, Jack in the Green and Robin Hood himself.

Reading: Now is the time to experience being at the apex of the cycle of life. Enjoy it!

Aspects and Facets: The Great Father. The hearth of the Pendragon. The Dagda.

Time: June. Air. Midsummer Solstice next to The Greenwoman.

 

 

 

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Party: Piratpartiet
Card: Hearthfire (Eight of Wands)

Symbolism: Hope leading to the attainment of innermost dreams and desires. Fuelling your soul with the belief in yourself and natural justice.

Wands: Creative / Formative / Enterprising / Science / Philosophy / Ability / Being of the Will

Archetypes: Hermit/Judgement

Time: Midwinter Solstice.

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Sverigedemokraterna
Card: Spark of Life (Ace of Wands)

Symbolism: The turning of the cosmic axis that generates the spark of life. The drill symbolizes the skills that exert control over the environment, directed by the human intellect.

Wands: Creative / Formative / Enterprising / Science / Philosophy / Ability / Being of the Will.

Archetypes: Ancestor/Star

Time: Imbolc

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Centerpartiet
Card: Wolf (Knight of Stones)

Symbolism: Revered as a ruthless tracker and a hunter, the wolf has had a special symbolism for thousands of years and was the subject of ancient Pictish stone carvings. Comfortable in the dark and cold winter, it was seen as a guardian of the dead on their journey through the night to the Otherworld.

Knight: A young male or female.

Element: Earth

Time: Samhain moving through the Winter Solstice to Imbolc.

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Kristdemokraterna
Card: Rest (Four of Arrows)

Symbolism: Recharging after a period of stressful activity, work or emotional trauma. Allow time for the imagination to fly into the Otherworld  to renew an rejuvenate vitality.

Arrows: Conceptual / Communicative / Ambitions / Cunning / Intellect / Being of the Mind.

Archetypes: Greenman/Greenwoman

Time: Midsummer Solstice

 

 

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Folkpartiet
Card: Decision (Two of Wands)

Symbolism: Awakening of the subconscious senses related to the desire to resolve decisions. The gateway stands open before the whole person prepared to take positive action.

Wands: Creative / Formative / Enterprising / Science / Philosophy / Ability / Being of the Will.

Archetypes: Archer/Justice

Time: Spring Equinox

 

 

 

 

 

——————–

Party: Moderaterna
Card: Insecurity (Seven of Arrows)

Symbolism: Ungrounded fears and confusion lead to instability and panic, self-torture through guilt or illusion and the need to deal with fragmented or rejected aspects of personality.

Arrows: Conceptual / Communicative / Ambitions / Cunning / Intellect / Being of the Mind.

Archetypes: Guardian/Death

Time: Samhain

 

 

 

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Comments/Thoughts:

1. Vänsterpartiet: Reindeer

Fly agaric, hallucinatory properties & sexual powers? Hmm, drug/sex politics? I have no idea. The fungi is nice and red/white like the V-logo though. 😉 A mature man? -King/Shaman Lars Ohly? I have no clue what this will mean for the election result

2. Socialdemokraterna: Struggle

Now this actually makes sence. S seem to have big trouble with people not liking the leader Mona Sahlin. (At least the papers write so) The party is in opposition and are indeed “struggling”. One could also say that S is in the darkness of failure, after loosing the last election in 2006. I guess this indicates that it will be tough for S in the upcoming election.

3. Miljöpartiet: Lynx

Im not sure about “top of the food chain”, but i can kind of see the symbolics of “protector of its young” and that Lynx kind of fit into the image one might have of a green environmentalistik party. And i guess treeclimbers arent far from treehuggers. 🙂 “Still found in the mountain woodlands”… hmm. Would this indicate that the party will gain a lot of votes from the northern part of the country?

4. Feministiskt Initiativ: Greenman

Now this card is a bit funny. A feminist party and the Greenman card! The Great Father. A “pendragon” is a chief dragon, or a strong leader. King Arthur was a pendragon. This is very strange and im not sure what the outcome of the election will be for Fi. One thing is certain though. The Fi party strongly depends on its pendragon: Gudrun Schyman! Fi might be on its “apex” of existance right now.

5. Piratpartiet: Hearthfire

A fitting card for the upcoming pirate party. Hope, dreams, justice. I would say that this card is a positive indication for the outcome of the elections. Nothing is certain, but there is Hope. The archetype “judgement” also fits in an interesting way I would say, when you think about the fight for integrity/copyright reforms/surveillance. The image kind of looks like a node in a network. A hearthfire fed with information from eight directions.

6. Sverigedemokraterna: Spark of Life

I’ll admit that I dont like this card/party-combo. I would say its a positive card. Its a symbol of a new energy, a new force. A primal beginning. Fire generated by a prehistoric bow and drill. A symbol of ancestors. I would say the card indeed fit with the image of the SD party kind of. I do hope though, that the spark is only a spark, and not a bushfire when it comes to the elections.

7. Centerpartiet: Wolf

A ruthless tracker and hunter. Hmm. A sneaky card indeed. The card also indicates a defender of your boundaries, a safe place to withdraw from the world. My thoughts here go to the internet integrity/surveillance. C hasnt exactly been the best party for people wanting to preserve integrity and less surveillance. Does this indicate that the party will “sneak” through the elections and survive, or will it pass on to the “otherworld”? Is Maud Olofsson the “wolf”?

8. Kristdemokraterna: Rest

Now this is another funny card/party combination i would say. When u look at the picture, you could think of it like a bolt striking from the heavens 😉 The card kind of indicates that a trauma will appear, and that one would need to enter the otherworld to recharge. Does this indicate that the same thing will happen in the elections? Rest… in peace?

9. Folkpartiet: Decision

Now here’s a card that kind of has a clear meaning, but im not sure what it will mean when it comes to the party. The party need to make a decition in order to succeed? What do they need to make a decition about? Hmm. Interesting card indeed.

10. Moderaterna: Insecurity

Now this is a strange card/party combo i would say. Insecurity, fear, panic, guilt, illusion. Now those are strong negative words “Deal with fragmented aspects of personality”? Could that indicate that the party need to fight something from the past? Im a bit confused since most things indicate that the party will do well in the upcoming elections. But this card tell the opposite. I would say that this indicates that the election will not go well for the party. The card also has connections to the “death” card. But what will die? The Alliance? An intriguing card indeed 🙂

Now this ends my totally unscientific election forecast. 😉
If you’ve managed to read this far, please feel free to drop a comment or note 🙂

See you later.