Visions of Wolves

A vision of the future

“Come on, it will be fun!” Casey was tugging at my arm as we made our way to a makeshift tie-dye tent sitting on the outskirts of the fete.

“It’s not really my thing, I don’t believe this kind of stuff,” I said playfully pulling back, but not putting up too much of a fight. I’d been in a bit of a rut at work, in love and life in general. That’s why Casey, a friend since school, decided it was time I turn to the spirit world for help and was now dragging me into a fortune teller’s tent.

“It doesn’t matter, let’s just see what she has to say. Clearly my advice isn’t getting you anywhere, and let’s be honest, at this point we’re going to need a miracle or magic to help your love life,” she winked at me so I mockingly glared back. I have never really been in a serious relationship for any length of time. There were guys that I liked over the years but no one that I wanted to get serious with. Casey on the other hand, was a serial dater.

“Alright,” I said rolling my eyes. “But first round is on you at the bar straight afterwards.” She squealed at my response and held back the beaded curtain at the entrance of the tent so that I could walk in first.  

I almost choked on the smell of sage incense sticks as I walked in. In fact, it was so overpowering it made me feel a little light headed. The tent was lined with tables that had piles of tie-dye clothing and bags, crystals, candles and homemade jewellery. Hanging from the top of the tent were dream catchers of all different sizes and colours. It felt cluttered, but homely.

Even though it was late afternoon the light from outside shone through the thin tie dye material casting a dull rainbow of light inside. The incense and candles burning throughout the room also cast a hazy glow. It was everything I expected a fortune teller’s tent to be.

In the centre of the room was a round table with a knitted table cloth over it, a few crystals, a pack of tarot cards and some burning incense. A woman in a brown knitted poncho over a loose, faded green dress was standing at the back of the tent and arranging some of the merchandise. Her hair was grey with a few darker strands that sat in big ringlets down her back. She turned around, tilted her head so that she could peer at us over the top of her thick rimmed glasses and grinned.

“My dears! Come in, come in. Take a seat. How can I help you?” She motioned towards the chairs seated around the table. We each sat down in a chair across from hers.

“I’m Casey, and this is Teal,” Casey said gesturing towards me. “I heard you do tarot readings for romance? Teal over here could definitely use some help from the spirits,” Casey mockingly waved her fingers in the air to emphasise ‘spirits’.

“Yes sweethearts, of course, I’d love to help you. I’m Mystic Maeve, but you can just call me Maeve.” She gave me a cheeky wink, took her seat across from us and proceeded to shuffle the tarot cards. She stopped from time to time to wave the burning incense stick over the deck, or pick up a crystal, whisper to it and then set it down again. Eventually she laid the cards in a long row and looked me dead in the eyes. 

“Alright my love, close your eyes, take three deep breaths and when you open them again, pick a card that calls to you.”

Despite how tense the room suddenly got, a giggle escaped me. Casey nudged me in the ribs with her elbow. Like a naughty child I quickly shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I took two deep breaths and on the third breath I felt my whole body relax.

The incense was so overpowering I felt my whole body sway forward, I caught myself just in time with both hands on the table. For a second my eyes blurred. In the back of my mind I saw something, almost like a memory. I was looking over a steering wheel at a large, dark figure in the middle of a road. The image was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared.

“Whoa,” I said aloud as my eyes flew open. Casey put her hand gently on the small of my back.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, must be my blood pressure again.” I have been getting these short episodes of feeling faint for years. My doctor said it he could see nothing wrong, I just needed to stay healthy and try not to over exert myself.

I shrugged it off, gave Casey a smile and looked over to Maeve who gave me a strange look. “Find the card that speaks to you” she said, speaking now in a serious tone, no longer the down-to-earth grandmother figure we met when we first walked in.

As though a warm amber glow surrounded it, one card stood out clearly. I pointed at it and Maeve snatched it off the table. She brought it right up to her face so she could look at it closely through her glasses. 

“Ah yes, The Emperor. The next romantic partner in your life will be powerful and protective. They're a leader, an authoritative figure with a high social standing. They are ambitious but fair and care a great deal about their loved ones.” She placed the card face-up in front of us and leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table and her chin on the back of her hands.

“Pick another” she said, suddenly even more engaged in the reading.

I sat up straight, took a deep breath and pointed to another card with the same glow. “This is the Two of Cups” she said, once again holding it close to her face and then setting it face-up next to The Emperor card. “This card represents soulmates. This partner that you will meet, you’re connected, bound for each other. Some may say you're fated.”

We repeated the process again, every deep breath I took drew me further away from reality. I was completely focussed on the cards and hanging onto every word she said. “This is the 8 of Wands. It means movement, travel, action. You will meet them when travelling or taking a new direction in your life.”

The next card was The Moon which she told me represented intuition, dreams and premonitions. She said that this card represented my soulmate and I. That I should follow my intuition and listen to my dreams, that’s where I’d find answers. She placed the card down next to the others in front of me and sat back, unconsciously pushing her glasses further up on her nose.

“Ok darling, this is your last card. It could be a warning, or guidance. It will tell you something you need to know going forward.” I nodded my head in agreement and stared down at the cards. Two cards gave off a similar glow. I was mentally jumping between the two when I felt my heart start to race. Just then a short, icy breeze crept up my neck from the entrance of the tent behind me. 

Feeling the pressure of the decision build, I quickly pointed to the one on the right of the deck. As Maeve picked it up a rogue gust of wind burst through the beaded curtain, blowing out all the candles in the tent, increasing the smoke from the incense and blowing the tarot cards across the table.

We all jumped, but Casey let out a yelp that made me jump a second time. I looked back at the table and saw that Maeve had put her one arm down just in time to stop the cards from flying off the table. In the other hand she held the card she had just picked up.

Casey and I both started giggling, clutching our chests while trying to catch our breaths. “My word, I got such a fright!” She said looking at me. “Me too! I was so focused on the cards.” I looked over at Maeve who I then realised hadn’t moved from her position. Casey and I both stopped laughing when we realised the concern on Maeve’s face.

“Maeve? Are you ok?” I asked. As though suddenly brought back to reality she sat up straight. Never taking her eyes off the mess of cards in front of her. She moved her arm and picked up the only card that had flipped over when the wind blew in.

She sat back for a moment, took a deep breath with her eyes closed and then looked forward. “The spirits aren’t done, they’ve sent us another card.” She placed the card I picked and the card that flipped over down on the table in front of me. The rest now lay in a messy pile at the edge of the table.

“This is the card you picked, the 2 of Swords. It means that you’re going to have to make a choice. You’re coming to a crossroads in your life that wont be easy. You will have to choose whether you stay on your current path or you accept the intuition the moon has presented you and become someone new. And this…” she said pointing to the second card, as I read the title I froze, Death. 

Everything was still except my heart, which was now beating double time. “The spirits sent you this additional message. They want you to know that not only will you have to make a choice, but that choice includes transformation. The death of the old you and the rebirth of something new. The spirits say don’t fight it. You have not yet reached your purpose and full power in this life.”

We all sat in silence for what felt like ages until Casey finally broke the ice. “Wow thank you Maeve, I’ve never experience anything like this. Teal? Should we get going?” All I could do was nod, I hadn’t noticed I was holding my breath until that point. I finally breathed out. 

“Uh, yeah, umm, wow this was a lot to take in. Thanks Maeve. I’ll be umm, sure to remember this.” I was fumbling. Maeve forced a smile at us both but it just unnerved me even more. Casey paid her, tucked my arm in hers and hurried us both outside.

“Casey?” I finally muttered once we were far enough away from the tent.

“Yeah?” She said, clearly as spooked as I was.

“I’ll take that drink now…”