MGoTarot Reading: National Championship (Washington)
MGoTarot is a fun predictive tool that I started after the Covid season to see if the cards were more interesting than the football. Thus began one of the great runs of Michigan football. The tarot card readings turned out to be amazingly accurate and insightful in revealing the outcomes and energies of each game.
The approach is a standard 3 card spread showing elements of the past, the present, and the future outcome. Each card tells a story and together they form a larger story based on their positions. I do the reading within 24 hours of the game for accuracy. The method is to shuffle the cards while singing the Victors. I then lay out all the cards face down in a line and select 3 with my eyes closed using my off hand. This process helps to double randomize the deck so I am not selecting the same cards repeatedly like a poorly shuffled deck of Uno. I like to use the Salvador Dali Deck because it puts a chaotic-modernist/art-history twist on the traditional 78 card Rider-Waite Deck. Plus the cards have an oil-paint smell that is totally groovy.
What I love most about Tarot is the way the meanings and significance of the cards begin to grow and develop organically over time. We last saw the Knight of Coins as the outcome for the Indiana game. You may remember that game took place during a total eclipse. Michigan struggled early and found themselves down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. It wasn’t until the moon began to move off the sun did Michigan finally put the boa constrictor into play shutting out Indiana and scoring the next 52 points. Traditionally, the Knight of Coins is about grinding little victories toward major goals. For MGoTarot it has come to represent struggling toward victory. Like the Indiana game, Michigan spent time in the shadows, surviving. How many times have we seen our Wolverines have a 3rd quarter bowl game collapse? Like the Knight of Coins, Team 144 survived in the shadows grinding to stay alive against Alabama before finding their time in the sun. Even the reds and crimsons of the card are reminiscent of Indiana and Alabama.
Going into the National Championship game against Washington, we are greeted by the Queen of Wands. She is a real battle axe that loves to control and dominate. She is inspiring, passionate, and very confident. NOBODY has it better than her. On the card we see Marie Antoinette challenging the viewer. How can she be denied? We have not seen too many wands over the course of the season. They represent our fire. In many ways that is understandable given the amount of crummy teams on the schedule. The Queen of Wands is well timed because it shows Michigan is ready to bring that enthusiasm unknown to mankind to bear against the Huskies. Even on the card, Dali surrounds Marie Antoinette with forces of nature. Below we see a yappy dog with endless energy to get after it. To the left, is a tree growing and expanding like Michigan’s stifling defense ready to wear down one last opponent breaking through any concrete or foundation that Washington may erect.
Though she is dressed in blue, the High Priestess is not a proper outcome. In this case she is offering advice and reminding Michigan to be themselves in this game. This is an original work by Salvador Dali. Overhead the moon alludes to her emotional perspective which can just as easily make or break success. The High Priestess is shown wearing the habit of a nun embodying devotion. But she is also called to be flexible and instinctual as depicted by the cat. As the second card of the deck, she holds the scroll of her life and destiny in her own hand. Likewise, Michigan has proven all season they have the devotion, instincts, and skills to win it all. They do not have to get fancy, just avoid stupid mistakes and play their own style. So these are great cards, but so far no decision. DECIDER CARD:
THREE OF CUPS! BE READY TO PARTY!! This is the moment the Michigan collective has been awaiting for so long. Everyone is on the same page feeling the excitement and glory. Let your joy overflow and share it. This is a moment to remember and savor for the rest of our lives. The three Nekkid Ladies have finally delivered our deepest desire. Gone are the monsters in the margins. Instead, the Three Graces as painted by Giorgio Da Gubbio are presented on a grand stage backed by a blue grotto. We have seen this card twice, both times when we beat Iowa to win the Big Ten. Be sure to take a moment to savor and enjoy the moment. Nothing screams good times like the 3 of Cups and winning a National Championship!
January 8th, 2024 at 6:06 AM ^
this is the most foolish garbage that gets posted here. it is an embarrassment to this list and our school, and it pushes great content out of the way, great 'shares' by some of the rose bowl attendees, great stuff by guys like LSU and bronxblue. stop posting this manure.
this is childish stupidity.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:34 AM ^
Wow this has really gotten under your skin, eh?
If you don't put stock in it, simply move your cursor on to the next diary. The reading occupies a bit of prime real estate for a day, then floats away.
Yes, there are many belief systems espoused by members of Michigan fandom, inclusive of "Hail Mary" passes to lucky sweatshirts; Sr. Jean vs. Mrs. Wagner to "I tuned in and we started losing so I turned off the game, you're very welcome"; and... Tarot.
These aren't mutually exclusive, nor exclusively subscribed to by the Michigan collective (see this Moth story about the Saints' 2000 playoff victory vs. the Rams)
This column has turned out to be uncannily on track, this year even for the first Bowl game. And I have reason to believe the readership of this column is waaay higher than reflected in comments and likes.
In any case, there's plenty of room for multiple entries.
Otoh-- a house divided. This is not a good day for hate-posting. I welcome you to go your own way, a rose tucked in your hand.
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The draw and reading are beautiful. I dare say the third card is indeed a pretty good decider card, and the last-- unblemished joy in cherry-on-top successful contract negotiations. Interlinked arms; Harbaugh stays.
ashe.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:40 AM ^
these are a disgrace to the board and our school, and pushes worthwhile stuff off of it. maybe he could post this manure on the board and not the dairies.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:49 AM ^
When fans comment on stuff like this, the way you did, it's a disgrace to the board and our school. Maybe you could not post on this "manure" and move on?
January 8th, 2024 at 5:58 PM ^
1822,
Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
January 9th, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^
Person of culture, I see
January 8th, 2024 at 12:24 PM ^
Thanks Wolverista! I think youre right. My snap judgment after the 3rd card left me wondering because sometimes I do only get an element of the outcome (Detroit Lions readings will get weird like that). But once I started typing this out, the context of the first 2 cards made it obvious that the High Priestess was in deed a good answer. The cherry on top just confirmed it is going to be a champagne kinda night. Don't tell the haters, but I am hoping to do a deep dive reading on Harbaugh and then Juwan soon.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:23 AM ^
So you want me to be wrong?
January 8th, 2024 at 11:46 AM ^
If I may, since you started doing this, what is your record?
TBH, I enjoy your posts. They're fun to read and adds something different to the boards.
I hope you're right! Go Blue!
January 8th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
I have really only blown it on the Georgia and TCU games. There have been some other weeks where I was out of town or another time I was too pissed off to even bother with other people's energy. My most common mistake is that the cards give the answer, but my interpretation is wrong, (like the Empress giving us 45 points against TCU).
Top 3 that nailed it:
3. Bowling Green 2023 was the Tower Card game
2. MSU 2021 was the Wheel of Fortune shenanigans game
1. Michigan has a 10 of Swords defeat before they can take the B1G to court
I wouldn't keep going if I kept getting them wrong. With 78 cards there are plenty of ways to screw it up through random probability.
January 8th, 2024 at 5:17 PM ^
Meh, it's kinda silly, but it's harmless. No worse than "The Knowledge" if anyone remembers him...
(Yes...)
January 8th, 2024 at 7:12 PM ^
Must you really throw a turd in the punch bowl? It’s all in good fun.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:31 AM ^
I enjoy this feature, as long as it reinforces my belief that the Maize and Blue will win tonight. Reading it got me two minutes closer to gametime, so there is that. Compared to some of the "Content" we've seen this week from posters, this is gold wrapped in platinum.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:10 AM ^
sure why not? :)
January 8th, 2024 at 11:04 AM ^
i believe
January 8th, 2024 at 11:06 AM ^
Thanks for these, MGoTarot. You bring another perspective that's fun and interesting. Why not?
January 8th, 2024 at 11:36 AM ^
Three has been a good number for the team this year.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:00 PM ^
MICHIGAN - "Because We Said So"
January 8th, 2024 at 6:57 PM ^
Nothing but love for you homie! You nail every reading…. Free will is a thing and you capture a snap shot in time… things can change!
January 8th, 2024 at 7:01 PM ^
Love this section. Always gives me something to think about. It gives a different perspective.
Yes for sticks for fight and cups for emotion. The readings have been remarkably on point.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:07 PM ^
Just what I needed, with my 26 min before the game nerves. Confidence! This team is just different. This is the year.
January 9th, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^
One of my superstitions this year has been to read this column the day after the game in order to see how accurate the reading was. It's crazy how spot on you were this year, MGoTarot. I'm not a believer in readings, but I do have my superstitions.
Thank you for taking the time to put this column together every week and for us combined being the reason Michigan won a National Championship ;) Go Blue!
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