5W & H - Haven't Done One of These In a While...

Back around when I first started this blog, I tried out this exercise a couple times and liked it, then sort of...slipped my mind. Realized I've yet to do it with my Thoth (which I am still working with, if not so much on this blog) and figured...might as well give it a go!

The exercise can be found in the original on Zanna Starr's lovely blog, where her directions for it are as follows:

"For the 5W's and an H exercise, we use one Tarot card to answer the questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? As an additional requirement, each answer can be only one phrase or sentence. The idea is to respond intuitively, without a lot of description or explanation."

Thoth Tarot - Emperor 

Who?

A strong, disciplined fellow. An authority figure, a leader who knows exactly the bounds of his duties and responsibilities. A person who is always organized, who has iron-will, who follows through on his commitments. A father figure.

What?

Inflexible rules, laws, requirements. Ambition, assertively followed through. Leadership skills, management. The strength to make difficult decisions. Obligation. The social contract. Power - personal and institutional. Masculinity. Order and discipline, of others and of the self.

When?

A time when a firm hand is needed. A time to be decisive. A time to charge into action. A time when you need one person firmly in control, acting swiftly. When everything must be put in its proper ordered. When stability and security are the priorities of the day.

Where?

At the top - in the throne room, in the penthouse suite, in the CEO's office. A place where chaos must be put to rest. A place with a firm history of tradition. Where a leadership vacuum waits to be filled. The 'old boy's club', the house of the patriarchy. Where there is fire to be mastered.

Why?

Because freedom and creativity can only take you so far without discipline, without follow-through, without some focus and guidance. Because everyone is beholden to someone. Because sometimes authority is what is needed to make sense of the chaos. Because sometimes, even when it isn't needed, a person like that can take command through sheer force of personality. Because most people want some kind of stability, even at a price.

How?

In a discipline, organized, methodical manner. Following a set schedule, a routine. Listening to a set of directions. Aggressively, assertively when necessary, with force. Sticking to the rules, the established way of doing things. Driven by external obligation. Straight-laced. With a crack of the whip, when necessary. With just a bit of fear.

Another go at '5 Ws and an H' exercise

So decided I felt like giving this one another try. I do like doing things with tarot that are a bit intellectually challenging, so why not giving this one another shot with a different deck. Trying to be briefer this time with my responses, perhaps?

Again, found the exercise on Zanna Starr's blog, where her directions for it are as follows:

"For the 5W's and an H exercise, we use one Tarot card to answer the questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? As an additional requirement, each answer can be only one phrase or sentence. The idea is to respond intuitively, without a lot of description or explanation."

Swedish Witch Tarot - Wheel of Fortune

Who?
Someone going through some major life transition or personal transformation. Someone in the process of moving between major phases of their life, whether for the better or for the worse.

What?
A major change, a new phase of things beginning. A cycle. Rising from the ashes or falling from a pedestal. Movement, lots of movement, lows and highs. Something showy.

When?
When there are lots of changes going on, physical or mental or both. When things are moving forward, leaving the past behind. When its time to move on.

Where?
A place of movement, transition, perhaps literally so - a place of wheels, vehicles and such? A place of personal significance, where some major life change happened in the past - or, alternatively, a brand new place for a fresh new start.

Why?
No reason, randomnosity, because shit happens sometimes whether you deserve it or not. Fortune, random, chance - not justice well weighed, here. Life moves, wheel spins, sometimes you win sometimes you lose just roll with it, that's why.

How?
Quite naturally, forces will ensure that wheel spins. Out of your hands, out of your power. The change will happen, good or bad, the old will end the new will begin, unstoppable.

Trying out "5W's and an H"

So before even creating this here blog, while lurking around the various corners of the internet, sometimes I'd run across cool exercises and activities to do with tarot...

This one, called 5W's and an H is from the lovely Tarot Notes blog of Zanna Starr. I love experimenting intellectually and engaging with tarot in different ways, so this was def one I've been a wanting to play with. Zanna gives the directions as this:

"For the 5W's and an H exercise, we use one Tarot card to answer the questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? As an additional requirement, each answer can be only one phrase or sentence. The idea is to respond intuitively, without a lot of description or explanation."

For my purposes, because I am verbose, I'm giving myself permission, this time, to go on longer than just the phrase or sentence. Also, because I like using it, this shall all be in the second person :0

Silicon Dawn - The Magician

Who?
You are fucking READY. You can do this. Take over the world. You have all you need: the suits for working your magic; the masks for telling the lies you need to tell; your keyboard, because where else would you start but online, that vast kingdom of incomprehensible power; and sweet, sweet coffee. You'll have your way soon enough, because you have vision, because you are perfectly comfortable with yourself, because you KNOW exactly what you want and how to get it, and if anyone disapproves of your methods or goals - well, that's silly sad for them, now isn't it?

What?
Working your magic. Gathering up the tools of your trade, the things that make you powerful. Channeling your energies, channeling your wants into concrete things. Using the things you are so good at to achieve. Not letting anyone or anything get in your way - obstacles, after all, can always be outsmarted. Your own ability, skill, talent, and drive. A focus on you, you, you - center of everything.

When?
Whenever you want. When you feel that the time is right. When you are ready. No need to rush things, to be premature, to start before you have everything you need. Make yourself that cuppa first, dig through your closet to find that perfect hat. But once it is time, once you start, do not lift those fingers from the keyboard - do not hesitate, go as far as that momentum will take you, allow the magic to flow out into the world.

Where?
In your little corner of the world, the place you call your own, where your trinkets are, where your powerful things are set up, the place you know every inch of as well as your own body. And also, in turn, everywhere - that ephemeral network of digits and code, waves of sound or light or energy or data spinning through the air unseen, taking your words in an instant to someone halfway across the world, pervading everywhere you go and yet unseen, invisible. Work your magic here and watch the effects unfold in a place you've never been and will never go to.

Why?
Because it's what you want. Because you have the power, and what exactly would be the point of developing all that skill if you aren't going to use it for something useful. Because sometimes the little deceptions and obfuscations just roll of the tongue without you realizing it. Because this is who you are. Because you have something to prove to yourself, and the world.

How?
With a smirk and a grin and a cheeky sarcastic comment as your go. With supreme confidence and a steely grit, sipping that coffee and typing and typing however long it takes. With the ability, the vision, the creativity needed to synthesize everything: the magic of the swords and pentacles and wands, of chants, and the lies you can tell so well, the masks you wear anytime you need to without compunction, with technology and a shrug of your shoulders. Alone, because that is how you roll.