I wouldn’t say I’m the most spiritual of people. I’m not adverse to learning and listening to people that are but I can’t say I believe in the supernatural. I’m open to anything though so when my friend told me about this mysterious man on the canal that does tarot card readings I was all ears.
Merlin Trotter was his name and he did he readings from his canal boat which moves along the river from London Fields down to Islington. I knew whereabouts to find this mysterious man but not the exact location which only added to the enigma of the experience.
As I strolled down the canal looking for Merlin’s boat I could feel my heart beating faster and faster and the prospect of what he was going to say or reveal. Would death be round the corner? Am I destined for failure? Am I doing the right thing with my life? I had no idea what to expect. My anxiety surprised me as I thought of myself as a sceptic but alas my palms were sweating.
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When I got to the boat, Merlin was there sitting at his table almost like he was expecting me. The boat had a mystical feel to it. There were cushions with mirrors, multicoloured throws, different sorts of artwork hung up and Merlin with a waistcoat, hat and his cards in hand. All Merlin asks for for a reading is a ‘donation’, but I only had £20 with me, so £20 it was.
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He welcomed me aboard and I sat down, my heart beating faster and faster. Merlin asked what my star sign was ‘Sagittarius’, I said. The same as him, he replied. Instantly something to bond over. Out came the Sagittarius card and I was then handed the cards.
He told me: “I want you to shuffle the cards but really think about what you want the cards to tell you, whilst you’re shuffling picture what you want the cards to show you.”
I’m not going to lie, I was more concerned with how to shuffle this massive deck of cards that I’d been handed but I began to focus and started speaking to the cards (in my head). Merlin then fanned the cards on the table and asked me to pick any seven cards. Once they were laid out he explained that the cards represented a little bit about myself, a little bit about where I am now and a bit about what the next six month looks like.
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Since doing a bit of research I’ve learnt that Tarot cards, like a normal deck of cards, have suits or Minor Arcana. Rather than spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, the suits are wands, swords, cups, and circles or pentacles, each with a different meaning on how you approach life. I was getting a lot of ‘wands’ which apparently means I’m fiery and passionate. He added that he could tell I like learning and I like my job – so far, so good.
He said there had been a lot of uncertainty in my life in the past three months but I’ve got good fortune coming my way. All that worry and uncertainty is soon to pass and I’m going to be confident and secure in my life, although he did warn me not to get too confident.
I was asked to shuffle the cards again and draw out 10 cards this time – this was a deeper look into what was in store for the next six months. At this point there was a lot of pointing at the cards and saying things like ‘Aries, ‘Cancer’, ‘Pisces’. I couldn’t really keep up and I had no idea what any of these things actually meant other than they were star signs.
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But then Merlin said that he saw a proposal coming in the next six months.
“I’m getting proposed to?!” I said, slightly anxious.
“Well, it’s A proposal,” he stressed “It could be you get an invite to a wedding or something but definitely some sort of proposal.”
A wedding invitation I could handle, a wedding proposal – steady on. Next he said there was a lot of travelling coming up. He could see two trips for me and that was something he was pretty positive would definitely happen. I’ve not got anything booked as of yet, but watch this space.
Merlin accurately guessed that I had two past relationships and then asked me how old I was. When I said 27, he told me my love life was about to change. “From 28 and onwards women start in relationships, you’ve done the hard work already. From 28 it’s the men that start losing and the women that are winning.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and wait to tell my boyfriend things were about to change in a couple of months so buckle up. And just like that the cards were put away and it was over. Am I a believer? I’m not sure but I definitely left questioning parts of my life that maybe I hadn’t thought about before and there’s never any harm in a little bit more self awareness and reflection – it’s cheaper than a therapist, I guess.
I told Merlin afterwards how relieved I was that he didn’t see any ominous cards and it looked like my future was bright.
“Oh no, the death card is a good card. Trust me, it means change is coming.”
I’m not convinced about that bit.
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