Tarot Magic

I was feeling a little stuck with the PNR today.  I had to start the Evil Day Job early yesterday, so I didn’t get any words in the morning.  I had to run PE clothes to Littlest’s school over lunch, so no words then.  Then I had to drive around picking everyone up from Spanish and yearbook club after school, cook dinner, etc.  This morning, I just couldn’t get into what I had.  Did I write myself into a corner?  What happened next?

Something was wrong or missing and I didn’t know what it was.  I felt like I was missing something with the hero.  It was too easy.  He knew what–I mean whom–he wanted, and there wasn’t anything to keep him from getting it.  He didn’t have any conflict or angst.  He knows what she is and what she’s capable of, and he doesn’t care.

But it can’t be a romance if there’s not conflict.  Why shouldn’t these two people be together?  What could keep them apart, from his POV?  I had no idea.

When that happens, I always go to tarot and just see if a card will spark some ideas.  For this project, I’ve been using Deviant Moon.  Most of the cards were familiar, refreshing my memory about many of the other characters, but didn’t really speak to me about the hero, until I got the Ten of Swords.  That reminded me that his sanctuary could also be a coffin.  I’d neglected to remember that detail, so I need to go back and tweak a few things to bring that motivation into line.  Not a big deal and not the key missing piece I really needed.

So I was going to look at my Steampunk tarot…but I forgot I lent them to my beloved sis.  Hmmm.  I don’t like my Rider Waite.  They just don’t speak to me at all.  The only other cards I have are the New Orleans Voodoo tarot that I intend to use for a different series.  I haven’t done anything with them, other than flipping through to see the artwork when I first got them.

It was worth a shot.  So I shuffled them and pulled out a card.

And I about fell out of my chair.

I can’t tell you the exact card because I don’t want to give everything away.  Just know that it could NOT have been more perfect and yet more unexpected to find that particular card in a voodoo set.  I took an entire page (front and back) of notes.

To those who give all, all will be given.  Masked faces twist in the abandonment of self.

And I got a brand new plot point that will come in very handy near the end of Act 2.