Far From Equilibrium
Tools · Reference spread

Equilibrium Cross

The Equilibrium Cross brings two systems into view. The left circle is the inner system. The right circle is the outer system. The cards show what is happening within each system, and what happens where the two meet.

Begin with the numbered sheet. It describes the work of each position without tying it to a particular card. The Solar and Lunar sheets then show two expressions of the same ten-stage pattern. Neither is an answer key. They are different ways of putting pressure on what you see.

Far From Equilibrium · Tools

Equilibrium Cross

The numbered positions

Ten positions. One pattern.
  1. 1 Boundary
  2. 2 Polarity
  3. 3 Pattern
  4. 4 Structure
  5. 5 Permeability
  6. 6 Contact
  7. 7 Navigation
  8. 8 Integration
  9. 9 Understanding
  10. 10 Completion
Inner system Outer system
  1. 1 Boundary · Seed Now

    The boundary of this moment.

    Boundary · Seed Now

    What is present and held here? This is the seed of the reading: the situation as it exists now, before we decide what it means.

  2. 2 Polarity · Root What is hidden

    The complexity we must work through.

    Polarity · Root What is hidden

    Every clear intention meets support and resistance. This is the unseen root system: the other side of the situation, crossing what we think we know.

  3. 3 Pattern · Sprout What emerges

    The first visible consequence.

    Pattern · Sprout What emerges

    Something is beginning to show. This is the sprout: the immediate possibility created by the relationship between the first two cards.

  4. 4 Structure · Blossom What holds

    The structure beneath the moment.

    Structure · Blossom What holds

    Choices, habits, rules and relationships have given the situation its form. This is what holds it together — and perhaps what keeps it stuck.

  5. 5 Permeability · Pollination What changes

    Where the boundary must open.

    Permeability · Pollination What changes

    Change requires exchange. What is entering? What must be released? Something crosses the boundary, and neither side remains quite the same.

  6. 6 Contact · Fruit What meets

    Where intention becomes relationship.

    Contact · Fruit What meets

    The inner situation meets the world and becomes tangible. This is the active point of contact: the thing, person or consequence we actually have to deal with.

  7. 7 Navigation · Bounty What carries us

    The terrain we move through.

    Navigation · Bounty What carries us

    Past effort has created momentum, context and consequences. We cannot control the terrain, but we can notice what is carrying us and choose how to steer.

  8. 8 Integration · Heat What must be integrated

    The pressure of holding differences together.

    Integration · Heat What must be integrated

    Our energy meets other people, demands and systems. Where are we working with that pressure, and where are we wasting ourselves fighting it?

  9. 9 Understanding · Union What becomes understood

    The knowledge no single card can hold.

    Understanding · Union What becomes understood

    Hope and fear often arrive together. Hold the contradiction. What becomes visible only when the different parts of the spread are allowed to speak to one another?

  10. 10 Completion · Light What completes

    The whole pattern and the next boundary.

    Completion · Light What completes

    The spread reaches its edge and can be seen as a whole. Completion is not a fixed outcome. It is the point from which the next cycle begins.

Far From Equilibrium · Equilibrium Cross · Working reference Numbers · Positions 1–10

Far From Equilibrium · Tools

Equilibrium Cross

The Solar Major Arcana · Cards 1–10

The outward expression
  1. 1 Boundary
  2. 2 Polarity
  3. 3 Pattern
  4. 4 Structure
  5. 5 Permeability
  6. 6 Contact
  7. 7 Navigation
  8. 8 Integration
  9. 9 Understanding
  10. 10 Completion
Inner system Outer system
  1. Seed, card 1, in position 1: Now
    1 Now
    Boundary · Seed Now

    What is present and held here? This is the seed of the reading: the situation as it exists now, before we decide what it means.

  2. Root, card 2, in position 2: What is hidden
    2 What is hidden
    Polarity · Root What is hidden

    Every clear intention meets support and resistance. This is the unseen root system: the other side of the situation, crossing what we think we know.

  3. Sprout, card 3, in position 3: What emerges
    3 What emerges
    Pattern · Sprout What emerges

    Something is beginning to show. This is the sprout: the immediate possibility created by the relationship between the first two cards.

  4. Blossom, card 4, in position 4: What holds
    4 What holds
    Structure · Blossom What holds

    Choices, habits, rules and relationships have given the situation its form. This is what holds it together — and perhaps what keeps it stuck.

  5. Pollination, card 5, in position 5: What changes
    5 What changes
    Permeability · Pollination What changes

    Change requires exchange. What is entering? What must be released? Something crosses the boundary, and neither side remains quite the same.

  6. Fruit, card 6, in position 6: What meets
    6 What meets
    Contact · Fruit What meets

    The inner situation meets the world and becomes tangible. This is the active point of contact: the thing, person or consequence we actually have to deal with.

  7. Bounty, card 7, in position 7: What carries us
    7 What carries us
    Navigation · Bounty What carries us

    Past effort has created momentum, context and consequences. We cannot control the terrain, but we can notice what is carrying us and choose how to steer.

  8. Heat, card 8, in position 8: What must be integrated
    8 What must be integrated
    Integration · Heat What must be integrated

    Our energy meets other people, demands and systems. Where are we working with that pressure, and where are we wasting ourselves fighting it?

  9. Union, card 9, in position 9: What becomes understood
    9 What becomes understood
    Understanding · Union What becomes understood

    Hope and fear often arrive together. Hold the contradiction. What becomes visible only when the different parts of the spread are allowed to speak to one another?

  10. Light, card 10, in position 10: What completes
    10 What completes
    Completion · Light What completes

    The spread reaches its edge and can be seen as a whole. Completion is not a fixed outcome. It is the point from which the next cycle begins.

Far From Equilibrium · Equilibrium Cross · Working reference Solar · Cards 1–10

Far From Equilibrium · Tools

Equilibrium Cross

The Lunar Major Arcana · Cards 11–20

The returning expression
  1. 1 Boundary
  2. 2 Polarity
  3. 3 Pattern
  4. 4 Structure
  5. 5 Permeability
  6. 6 Contact
  7. 7 Navigation
  8. 8 Integration
  9. 9 Understanding
  10. 10 Completion
Inner system Outer system
  1. Harvest, card 11, in position 1: Now
    1 Now
    Boundary · Seed Now

    What is present and held here? This is the seed of the reading: the situation as it exists now, before we decide what it means.

  2. Falling Leaves, card 12, in position 2: What is hidden
    2 What is hidden
    Polarity · Root What is hidden

    Every clear intention meets support and resistance. This is the unseen root system: the other side of the situation, crossing what we think we know.

  3. Preparation, card 13, in position 3: What emerges
    3 What emerges
    Pattern · Sprout What emerges

    Something is beginning to show. This is the sprout: the immediate possibility created by the relationship between the first two cards.

  4. Reflection, card 14, in position 4: What holds
    4 What holds
    Structure · Blossom What holds

    Choices, habits, rules and relationships have given the situation its form. This is what holds it together — and perhaps what keeps it stuck.

  5. Transition, card 15, in position 5: What changes
    5 What changes
    Permeability · Pollination What changes

    Change requires exchange. What is entering? What must be released? Something crosses the boundary, and neither side remains quite the same.

  6. Hibernation, card 16, in position 6: What meets
    6 What meets
    Contact · Fruit What meets

    The inner situation meets the world and becomes tangible. This is the active point of contact: the thing, person or consequence we actually have to deal with.

  7. Night, card 17, in position 7: What carries us
    7 What carries us
    Navigation · Bounty What carries us

    Past effort has created momentum, context and consequences. We cannot control the terrain, but we can notice what is carrying us and choose how to steer.

  8. Stillness, card 18, in position 8: What must be integrated
    8 What must be integrated
    Integration · Heat What must be integrated

    Our energy meets other people, demands and systems. Where are we working with that pressure, and where are we wasting ourselves fighting it?

  9. Solitude, card 19, in position 9: What becomes understood
    9 What becomes understood
    Understanding · Union What becomes understood

    Hope and fear often arrive together. Hold the contradiction. What becomes visible only when the different parts of the spread are allowed to speak to one another?

  10. End, card 20, in position 10: What completes
    10 What completes
    Completion · Light What completes

    The spread reaches its edge and can be seen as a whole. Completion is not a fixed outcome. It is the point from which the next cycle begins.

Far From Equilibrium · Equilibrium Cross · Working reference Lunar · Cards 11–20