Bookish Challenges discussion

2024 October - Tarot Card Challenge



Are you ready to read by fate this October? This October, in the spirit of Halloween, let the cards guide your reading journey through the eerie and the unknown.


Only books completed from 1 October 2024 will be counted! You will get your first tasks before though to plan ahead


The Challenge

1. We will play a Bookish version of the Tarot Card Reading

2. You will be reading for 15 prompts from a total of 78 cards deck. I will shuffle a virtual tarot deck and you will choose a number. I will then reveal the card. It is all based on positive interpretations or constructive guidance!

Your 3 set of tasks will depend on what it symbolises in the aspect of love, career and finances.
You need to read for only one of those 3 tasks. Or you can read a book in which the cover connects to the card in some manner.

3. If you feel stuck, you have 1 skip available which you can use to read any book. For skipping more, please use 1 point to draw another card to get the tasks related to another card.

4. You will win 2 points per task and additional 5 points for completing all 15 tasks!

5. If you don't have a personal point account thread yet, request one here.

Sample game:
I shuffle the deck and you choose a number. The number gives you Magician card which symbolises the following:
1. Love: creating opportunities for love, being proactive in love
2. Career: harnessing career opportunities, determination and drive
3. Finance: pursuing financial opportunity, making use of skills
So you can read a book where a character is being quite proactive in love / character has a lot of drive / character is making use of all their skills to make money.


Or you can read do a cover based task: something magical on cover / a character with one hand risen in the cover / someone wearing red and white on cover / flower vines or cover

A little about Tarots

🔮 Tarot began in the 15th century in Europe as a card game called Tarocchi. It was originally used for playing, not for spiritual or fortune-telling purposes. In the 18th century, tarot started being used for divination and mystical purposes, especially in France and England.

🔮 Tarot card decks will always have 78 cards within it. You're going to have 22 major arcana cards or trump cards and then you'll have 56 minor arcana or minor trumps or pips.

🔮 While many people think of tarot as a way to predict the future, it's actually more about self-reflection and gaining insight into current situations or challenges. Think of it as a way to explore your thoughts and feelings.

🔮 Famous artists like Salvador Dalí and writers like Italo Calvino were inspired by tarot. Dalí even designed his own tarot deck with surrealist imagery.

How the Tarot Deck is Structured:

Major Arcana (22 cards):

These are the "big" cards that represent major life themes or lessons. Some well-known cards are The Fool, The Magician. They deal with big ideas like change, growth, love, and power.

Minor Arcana (56 cards):

These cards are more about everyday life. They're divided into four suits:
Cups (Emotions and relationships)
Pentacles (Work and money)
Swords (Challenges and intellect)
Wands (Creativity and action)
Each suit has cards numbered 1 to 10, plus four "court" cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Points: 16


Your Draws
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Summarised Reading:
1. A successful future as long as you pursue your goals methodically and strategically.
2. You now have a clearer idea of what you need to change and how you need to be true yourself and your needs.
3. You should remain objective in your current situation - you must establish truth by sticking to the facts.
4. A problem in communication and no agreement or understanding takes place. You may be facing competition in an area that you are not used to.
5. You are be returning to a familiar place. You are seeking to reconnect with people from your past.
6. It is the perfect time for you to get together with close people such as friends and family. Furthermore, if you have been working on a certain project, this card entails that you will be reaching a particularly important milestone.
7. Let go of what you have lost, and focus on the new path forward because that is where your life is meant to go
8. While you suffered, you perhaps were not aware of your own strength, but you are now perhaps recognizing that the loss helped you discover your own resilience and inner power.
9. You have to progress from just having the plan to actually achieving what you set out for.

Completion Post:
Book & Author:
Date read:
How it fits:
Next number:

Choose a number from 1 to 78 to start. The cards are shuffled in each turn so you can choose the same number again.

You have 1 free skip available to read a book of your choice. For additional skips, please spend 1 point and choose another number to get another card.

I choose 11.

The Emperor – Authority, power, structure

"To see him in a reading presents a chance to grow in terms of the goals that you have set for yourself. It presents a successful future as long as you pursue your goals similar to the fashion that the Emperor does, methodically, and strategically."

1. Love: use practicality in love, unexpressed emotions
2. Career: structure, discipline, routine
3. Finance: controlled, disciplined and responsible with money

Completion Post

Book & Author: Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Date read: Oct. 7th, 2024
How it fits: Reyna and Kianthe are practical in their relationship with each other and although Kianthe isn't very responsible with money, Reyna surely is.
Next number: 2

Judgement – Rebirth, judgement, absolution

"To see this card can indicate that you are in a period of awakening, brought on by the act of self-reflection. You now have a clearer idea of what you need to change and how you need to be true yourself and your needs. This can mean making small changes to your daily life or making huge changes that not only affect you but the people close to you."

1. Love: renewal of love, making adjustments in relationship
2. Career: finding career purpose, accountability at work
3. Finance: reflecting on financial habits, reflecting on your values

Completion Post

Book & Author: Death of the Black-Haired Girl by Robert Stone
Date read: Oct. 16th, 2024
How it fits: Steven Brookman, a married college professor, has an affair with a student, Maud. By accident, Maud dies right in front of Steven and his wife, Ellie. Ironically, the guilt and remorse, renews Steven's love for his wife. After, the truth of the affair comes to light, he was fired from his tenure at the college, but he ends up finding career purpose with writing the book he always wanted.
Next number: 8

King of Swords – Authority, clarity, truth

" The King of Swords appearing in a reading suggests that you should remain objective in your current situation - you must establish truth by sticking to the facts. The King of Swords and his intellectual power implies that you will need to use your intellect to make your point known and attain your goals. Besides your experience and education, you should be sharp and observant, to see deeply into problems that come your way."

1. Love: high standards for love, controlled emotions
2. Career: stern but righteous mentor, challenged to do your best
3. Finance: being disciplined with finances, acting logically

Completion Post

Book & Author: Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
Date read: Oct. 23rd, 2024
How it fits: Dolores ends up working for Vera, and Vera is a challenging employer that mentors Dolores on what to do with her husband, Joe. Dolores is also disciplined with money and insists Joe makes sure he puts money away for their three children's future.
Next number: 5

I also just read Dolores Claiborne and really enjoyed it! She is one disciplined woman!


Five of Wands – Conflict, competition, disagreement

"There is form of conflict in one’s life. This may be an existing conflict or brewing and eventually blow up in one's face. It may also depict a problem in communication, for example in a situation where no one really wants to listen to the other - meaning that no agreement or understanding takes place. The Five of Wands can also mean that you are or will be facing competition in an area that you are not used to. "

1. Love: competition between suitors, conflict between lovers
2. Career: competition between colleagues, competitive work environment
3. Finance: financial instability, conflicts about money

Nistha wrote: " I also just read Dolores Claiborne and really enjoyed it! She is one disciplined woman!


Five of Wands – Conflict, competition, disagreement

"There is form of conflict in one’s life. This ma..."

OMG yes! I've been trying to read more of Stephen King's books! Now I gotta read Gerald's Game!

Completion Post

Book & Author: Pageboy by Elliot Page
Date read: Nov. 3rd, 2024
How it fits: Elliot has conflicts with a few people in their past, most notably, their significant other at the time, Paula. "...And during our fights I couldn't help but get defensive..." (Chapter 12). Elliot is also an actor, which I can only assume must be an extremely competitive work environment.
Next number: 7

Six of Cups – Nostalgia, memories, childhood

"The Six of Cups appearing can indicate that while we may look upon the past with a happy eye, we must avoid living in it. It can also mean that you are be returning to a familiar place. You are seeking to reconnect with people from your past. Bringing back old memories reminds us of our childhood, a time when things were simpler. "

1. Love: reconnecting with ex, reliving happy memories, healing after breakup
2. Career: returning to previous work, not repeating past mistakes, learning career lessons
3. Finance: moving back in with parents, financial gifts, sharing finances

Completion Post

Book & Author: The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
Date read: Jan. 12th, 2025
How it fits: Kismet separates from Gary and moves back in with her mom, Crystal.
Next number: 19

Four of Wands – Celebration, harmony, homecoming


"The overall meaning of the Four of Wands is that it heralds celebration as well as a harmonious, happy and relaxed home environment. The symbolism within the Four of Wands poses that this is the perfect time for you to get together with close people such as friends and family. Furthermore, if you have been working on a certain project, this card entails that you will be reaching a particularly important milestone. "

1. Love: weddings, engagements, gatherings and public celebrations of love
2. Career: feeling supported by colleagues, office parties, bonding with colleagues
3. Finance: financially supporting loved ones, financial stability and comfort

Completion Post

Book & Author: The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
Date read: Apr. 2th, 2025
How it fits: June had support from her friend, Sana, and other friends and colleagues regarding her Tea shop.
Next number: 4

Ten of Swords – Endings, failure, collapse

" The Ten of Swords indicate a major disaster of some sort. It shows that a certain force of extreme magnitude has come to hit you in your life - one that you may have not foreseen. There is a sense of betrayal that is indicated here, for the character is stabbed in the back. Let go of what you have lost, and focus on the new path forward because that is where your life is meant to go. "

1. Love: breakup, separation, sadness, grief, pain, infidelity
2. Career: loss of job, office politics, breakdown from stress, burnout
3. Finance: financial loss, failed investment

Completion Post

Book & Author: There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
Date read: May 28th, 2025
How it fits: Ashish was very hurt when Celia decided to talk to other guys. So he finally gave in to his parent's matchmaking.
Next number: 27

The Star – Hope, inspiration, healing

"
To see this card is a message to have faith, for the universe will bless you and bring forth all that you need. You have gone and passed through a life challenge. While you suffered, you perhaps were not aware of your own strength, but you are now perhaps recognizing that the loss helped you discover your own resilience and inner power. It is only now that you can really appreciate all that you have."

1. Love: optimistic about love life, healing from past wounds
2. Career: positivity brings career rewards, high hopes about job
3. Finance: reaching financial goals, remaining inspired

Completion Post

Book & Author: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Date read: May 31st, 2025
How it fits: Nora attempts suicide after her cat dies because she feels lonely and has a lot of regrets, however, she finds herself in the Midnight Library and works through her regrets and she realizes that she wants to live.
Next number: 9

Two of Wands – Planning, decisions, future potential


"You have already set out to achieve a particular task, which means you have turned an idea into a realistic plan. Such a plan will require fulfillment and therefore you have to progress from just having the plan to actually achieving what you set out for. While the beginning might seem tough and difficult, the Two of Wands card encourages you to strive on and push forward."

1. Love: setting romantic goals, making plans in love, planning future together
2. Career: planning your career, taking first steps in your career, envisioning dreams
3. Finance: planning your long term financial future, laying foundations