Television News: The Amazing Race 7: Don't You Be Listening To Miss Cleo Now, Darlin'
So by now, if you doubt the power of the cards, you’d probably best be reconsidering, as they are three for four in picking winners for reality TV shows. They’ve correctly picked Lisa of Big Brother 3, Jun of Big Brother 4 and Freddy and Kendra of The Amazing Race 6, and in The Amazing Race 5, they picked Colin and Christie, the second-place finishers and by far the strongest team in that season. So now I’ve brushed off the dust and whipped them out again. I will perform another three card reading for each team. As in past readings for TAR, the first card will determine how they start off in the race, the second will determine how well they work together as a team and the last will determine when and if they are eliminated. I’ll take the teams alphabetically, starting with Brian and Greg.
Brian and Greg:
First card: Nine of Wands. The Nine of Wands shows a bruised man leaning on a wand and glaring at a series of wands in a fence shape. He has clearly attempted and failed at something, but is wiser for his experience, even if he isn’t happy that he failed. This probably means that Brian and Greg start out cocky, thinking that as the only alpha male team they’ve got the game sewn up, only to learn that they’ve missed a crucial flight or charter. They’ll limp through the first leg, but survive it and come out wiser and stronger.
Second card: Ace of Swords. This is the strongest Ace in the tarot deck, which means that Brian and Greg probably get along better than most of the other teams. They work together well and manage to be a force. There is the possibility of too much of a good thing, however, and they may think that they don’t need to interact with the other teams at all.
Third card: The Star. Ohhhh-kay. That ain’t good. The Star, while usually a positive sign, seems to represent bad, bad things a-happening in the readings I do. The team that got the Star in the TAR5 reading was Dennis and Erika, who went out first, and the team that got it in the TAR6 reading was Jonathan and Victoria, who were the fightiest fighters that ever fought. So either Brian and Greg are out early or they fight non-stop. Since the Ace of Swords contradicts the latter, it has to mean that they have an early exit.
Summary: Taking these three cards together, it appears that Brian and Greg start off the race thinking they’re already the winners and are surprised to find out how competitive the other teams are. After a rough first leg, they emerge and work together, only to get tripped up and eliminated a few legs down the line.
The tarot cards have spoken. Brian and Greg come in eighth.
Debbie and Bianca:
First card: Queen of Pentacles. This Queen is not one who revels in otherworldly pleasure, but one who is down to earth and trustworthy. She is resourceful and not afraid to do what needs to be done. Getting her as a first card probably means that Debbie and Bianca start off quite strong, getting along with the other teams and more or less kicking ass on the tasks. They may have trouble with one or two things, but with a positive attitude, they will be able to overcome them.
Second card: Knight of Pentacles. Ooh, a Pentacles court match. A court match is almost always a good sign, and the Pentacles are the earth suit, which is an exceptionally good sign, meaning that the earth energy of the reading is doubled. Onto the Knight- this Knight is hardworking, unwavering and thorough. He constantly keeps his eye on the goal and will not stop until it is achieved. Having him as a card describing their relationship on the race is a tricky one to interpret, but I think he serves mostly as a counterpoint to the queen: showing that as one member of the team works hard and gets overstressed, the other will step in to let her cool down and vice versa, somewhat of a tag-team effect. We’ve seen this be very effective over the course of the race, so this should bode well for Debbie and Bianca.
Third card: The Magician. Well, that’s a very positive reading. The Magician is one of the strongest cards in the tarot deck and to get him as a final card is a very good sign, indeed. He represents power, concentration and perfect action, just when it is needed most. The last all-girl team to pull him was Linda and Karen, who set the record for female teams on the race. Does this mean Debbie and Bianca break it?
Summary: It’s good. It’s very good. It’s just about on par with the readings I got for Colin and Christie and Freddy and Kendra. Taking the cards together, we see that Debbie and Bianca start strong, having a good understanding of what the race is like. They work well together, sharing the responsibility and continuously surge through the rounds. They make it to the final round and, surprising everybody, land on the mat first. That’s right, folks- Debbie and Bianca will be the winners of The Amazing Race 7.
The tarot cards have spoken. Debbie and Bianca come in first.
Lynn and Alex:
First card: Ten of Wands. The Ten is not a promising card for the start of a journey. It represents overburdening oneself and struggling. Now, while this may be as simple as Lynn and Alex just packing too much in their backpacks, it could also mean that they take the race a little TOO seriously and end up panicking and falling behind because of it. If they are to succeed, they will need to relax and learn that they can’t control everything.
Second card: Page of Cups. The page represents a connection with the emotional and intuitive side of our personality. As a relationship-based card, it represents deep connections between two people and a strong mutual understanding. Lynn and Alex will get along extremely well if this is any indication.
Third card: The Emperor. The Emperor is a card of authority and regulation. He is strict and completely by-the-book. What this means with regards to the race, I have no earthly idea. The closest thing I can think of is that they either don’t listen to the rules correctly and are knocked out due to a time penalty or are able to use another team’s rule infraction to their benefit. Flip a coin- it could be either one.
Summary: Taking these three cards together, it seems that Lynn and Alex start out panicking and flustered, unsure of what to do, when or how. They manage to chill out and last a few legs, successfully working together and determining that their relationship is a success. Towards the end, they are either tripped up by a rules infraction or squeak out due to someone else’s mistake. The finish is not strong enough to show a top three, but they do seem to make it some ways in the race.
The tarot cards have spoken. Lynn and Alex come in fifth.
Megan and Heidi:
First card: Seven of Swords. The Seven is a card of dishonor and oversight. The man on the card is so busy stealing five swords, he doesn’t notice he has left two behind. This could mean that Megan and Heidi try something that backfires spectacularly (like, say, trying to lead another team astray and getting lost themselves) or it just might mean that they’re trying to strike out on their own without help from another team. Whichever, it’s not a promising start.
Second card: Two of Swords. The Two represents a stalemate, which, again, is not promising. It can mean that they disagree strongly on a course of action to take, it can mean that they are split on which Detour option to take, or it can mean that they realize they really don’t get along after all. Whichever, there are sure to be some awkward moments between them.
Third card: The Tower. Oh, ook. The Tower is never a positive card. It represents upheaval, disaster and destruction. The last team to get the Tower was Jim and Marsha, who experienced a potentially game-ending injury less than thirty seconds after the race began. Now, I’m not saying that one of them loses all her headbands in a freak ceremonial fire accident, but something happens on the first leg that could put them completely out of the race, and given the negative overtone of the entire reading, I’m willing to bet it does.
Summary: Bad. Baaaaaad. Megan and Heidi start out up to no good and find out they’ve outfoxed themselves. After they experience this setback, they start to become standoffish towards one another and are desperate for the leg to end. By the time they limp onto the mat- last- they are more than ready for loser lodge.
The tarot cards have spoken. Megan and Heidi come in eleventh.
Meredith and Gretchen:
First card: Eight of Cups. The Eight is an interesting card to get when determining the start of a journey, as it symbolizes reaching a turning point during a journey, and thus would make much more sense as the second or third card. As it is, it most likely represents the weariness aspect of the card, showing that Meredith and Gretchen have no idea how hard the race was. They will struggle, but will make it through at least the first couple of legs.
Second card: Three of Pentacles. Well, that’s about the best card to get. The Three represents teamwork at its most efficient and competence. This can explain how Meredith and Gretchen get past the physically stronger teams- by outthinking them and working together well as a pair. They probably won’t make it to the end on teamwork alone, but may last longer than couples that are bickering or outright fighting.
Third card: Wheel of Fortune. The Wheel of Fortune is always a card I find personally hard to interpret. I feel that it can represent almost anything, but seems more certainly to represent some sort of turning point or destiny. As it is, it means that Meredith and Gretchen do not win, but make it further than people expect them to. They may not make it halfway, but they do make it a comfortable way in the race before elimination.
Summary: Taking the cards together, we see that Meredith and Gretchen start off weakly, but manage to pull together with strong teamwork. Experience and smarts pay off for them as they bypass some of the dumber, less cohesive teams. They make it a few elimination rounds before getting knocked out.
The tarot cards have spoken. Meredith and Gretchen come in seventh.
Ray and Deana:
First card: Eight of Swords. Ohhh, don’t fence me in, whoa-whoa-whoa- sorry. Okay, so the eight shows a blindfolded, tied-up woman attempting to make her way out of a maze of swords. She has no idea where she’s going, if she makes a wrong move she’ll be cut and if she panics and runs for it, she’s done for. This card shows us how taking a deep breath and just thinking for a minute instead of rushing willy-nilly into whatever the problem du jour is is much more effective an approach. As the leader card, it means one of two things for Ray and Deana- either they are able to successfully work while everybody around them is totally losing it or they end up freaking out and not being able to work together at all.
Second card: King of Wands (upside-down). An upside-down king is never a good sign. The King cards by nature are all bold and strong. This translates into the upside-down card as well. However, all the positive associations are now reversed into negative ones- meaning that this king is not creative, charismatic and inspirational, but rather stuck in one frame of mind, screaming all the time and a complete downer. Hmm... does that sound like anyone from last season to you? As the relationship card, it’s not a good sign for Ray and Deana- the fact that it’s a masculine card means that Ray is probably dominant and not in a good way, choosing to yell at and berate Deana rather than encourage her along.
Third card: The Devil. Oh, joy! This really is just a bundle of love, in’t it? The Devil represents hopelessness, ignorance and a loss of freedom, none of which signify any kind of success on the race. As a final card, it likely means that after making it through the first couple of legs, Ray and Deana are on the verge of a breakdown. They just can’t work well together and end up imploding and limping into the Pit Stop just to get Phil-iminated.
Summary: Outlook not so good. Taking these cards together, it appears that Ray and Deana get off to a rocky start, panicking and wigging out. They refuse to work together well and one of them likely ends up screaming at the other at more than one point on the race. After a couple of miserable legs, they are unable to make it any further and collapse in disgust and defeat.
The tarot cards have spoken. Ray and Deana come in ninth.
Rob and Amber:
First card: Six of Pentacles. The Six is an interesting card to get as a starter. As it is, it can represent either having or not having what is necessary to succeed. It can mean finding a unexpected help along the way to give a large advantage, or it can mean that what is needed is juuuuuuust out of reach. As it is, it means that Rob and Amber probably start out not expecting how hard the race will be and getting kicked in the teeth at least once before the first day is out. However, once they get their groove going on, a surprise assist will let them make it to the top of the pack, where they will dance and sing and totally make out.
Second card: Four of Swords. Ooookay. Hmm. Most of the cards in the Sword suit are about aggression and going for the gold, which would seem to fit Rob and Amber’s mentality. However the Four is the one exception- it represents quiet contemplation and preparation. As their relationship card, it likely means that once they get started racing, they know exactly how to succeed and prosper, working every angle and jumping through every loophole. They will likely be one of the more effective teams over the course of the race.
Third card: The Moon. And just when everything looked perfect, the Moon rears her head. The Moon is a card of fear, bewilderment and losing direction. She comes up just when everything seems to be looking great and her attack is unexpected. What it means for Romber is after dominating the early parts of the game, they find themselves at a sudden disadvantage that, try as they might, they just can’t recover from. It might be a mistake in an airport that just puts them too far behind like Mary and Peach or it might be a day from Hell like Hayden and Aaron. Whatever it is, it does them in, knocking a very strong team out of the running.
Summary: Taking the cards together, we see that Rob and Amber start out cocky, but after a humbling beginning regroup and assess the race with a new perspective. They race strongly through the first half of the race, winning at least a couple of legs in the process. However, just about halfway through, something happens that is so horrible and devastating that they just cannot recover from it, much to the other teams’ relief.
The tarot cards have spoken. Rob and Amber come in sixth.
Ron and Kelly:
First card: Four of Cups. The Four is a card of reflection. We see a man sitting under a tree being tempted by a gold cup (looking very similar to Buddha’s period of meditation, it might be noted.) He neither notices nor seems to care about the cup, so deep into thought is he. This card also represents selfishness, which might mean that Ron and Kelly refuse to help any other team out at the beginning of the race, thinking that they are strong enough to get through it without any help from others.
Second card: Page of Wands. The Page of Wands is the human equivalent of the yappy little terrier that will grip onto the end of a rope and you can swing the whole thing, dog and all, over your head at a thousand miles an hour and the dog will not let go. The Page is always energetic, rushing to get things done and having a hell of a time doing it. As their relationship card, it means that Ron and Kelly work together and do it quickly as they push steadily through the race.
Third card: The Hanged Man. Oh, dear. The Hanged Man represents a paradox that I have explained before- that we can succeed only by surrendering and going with the flow. The fact that this card is so contradictory to the first two means that Ron and Kelly not only don’t choose this possibility, it means they don’t even consider it. They just bulldoze through everything when a subtle touch is just what is needed. This will probably result in them ignoring something crucial or being so caught up in what they’re doing that they don’t realize it’s the exact wrong thing to do. Whatever the case, it spells an early exit.
Summary: Taking the cards together, it seems that Ron and Kelly start out and go through most of the race running separate from the other teams. They don’t care about any other teams, they are simply looking out for themselves. Ironically, when they make a critical mistake early in the game, it is likely that another team could have helped them out. They will be a surprise early exit and a reminder that an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.
The tarot cards have spoken. Ron and Kelly come in tenth.
Ryan and Chuck:
First card: Knight of Cups. This is the Knight most people picture when thinking of the code of chivalry- he is a gentleman, a romantic and a lover. He knows what must be done and he does it, even when times look very grim indeed. Getting him for a first card means that Ryan and Chuck start out the game as the guys everybody likes. They are the comic relief, the team everybody hopes sticks around so that the mood is more jovial. It doesn’t say much for their actual racing ability, but their charm will clearly be their strongest weapon in the race.
Second card: Four of Wands. The Four represents excitement and celebration. It usually is a sense of relief after a hard day’s work. It doesn’t make much sense as the second card, but if we switch this for the first card and the Knight of Cups for the second, it paints a clearer picture: showing that Ryan and Chuck get along with the other teams well, but aren’t exactly the strongest team at the beginning. After a rocky start, they will build in strength until they are at the top of the pack.
Third card: Temperance (upside down). Temperance is a card normally about balance. In an upside-down position, it means extremes. As a final signifier, it means that Ryan and Chuck are one of the earliest teams out, or they’re still in it at the finale. Judging from the overall ‘rough start, good finish’ theme to the reading, I’m going to guess that it is the latter of the two.
Summary: Ryan and Chuck don’t have an easy beginning to the game. They are out of shape and they have a hard time competing with the other teams. However, once the stress begins to wear on some of the more high-strung teams, they are able to use their wits and southern charm to breeze right past the harried teams. They make it close to the very end, only to lose in a heartbreaker.
The tarot cards have spoken. Ryan and Chuck come in fourth.
Susan and Patrick:
First card: Queen of Wands. The Queen is a lover of life, one who takes every moment and appreciates it. She also leads a very busy, active life and is a natural athlete. As the beginning card, she probably symbolizes a very good opening leg for Susan and Patrick. They may not be as strong as some of the other teams, but they are able to use their brains and social skills to leap to the head of the pack. They will probably ally with at least one other team before the first leg is done.
Second card: Three of Cups. The Three is an card of exuberance and friendship, showing three young women dancing and toasting excitedly. As the relationship card, it can only mean that Susan and Patrick get along like gangbusters on this trip and find a new level of friendship in their relationship. As the Three can also refer to joining together and working well, it bodes rather well for their chances in the race.
Third card: The Chariot. The Chariot is a victorious card, one that symbolizes a personal victory. While this may seem to point to a win, I need to point out that the Chariot does not refer to winning a competition, but more to winning a personal battle. As the final card, it likely means that Susan and Patrick remain in the running on the final leg of the race and cross the finish line to the cheers of the other teams. It is not as strong a winning indicator as we might think, but it does signify a strong run.
Summary: Taking the cards together, we see that Susan and Patrick start off strong and never let that grip go for their entire run of the race. Their social graces and smarts will save them and result in the other teams frequently helping them out. Although I don’t believe they win (Debbie and Bianca’s reading is just too powerful to overcome) they are likely very close behind landing on the mat.
The tarot cards have spoken. Susan and Patrick come in second.
Uchenna and Joyce:
First card: Two of Wands. The Two of Wands is a card that signifies boldness and the willingness to take a risk. It can also represent originality and a sense of success. For the first card in the reading, it means that Uchenna and Joyce likely start out the race intending to run it by following the pack. Once this proves to be less than successful, they take a risk by branching out on their own, deciding to run the remainder of the race without worrying about other teams. How successful this is depends on the last two cards.
Second card: Page of Pentacles. And all becomes clear. The Page represents success, prospering and making plans work. That it comes up as Uchenna and Joyce’s relationship card likely means that the better they do in the race, the better their relationship gets until they are kicking ass and smiling the whole way through.
Third card: The Sun. The Sun is a very positive card, representing a revelation, a renewed burst of vitality or becoming assured of your own power and success. As the final card, it means that Uchenna and Joyce make it quite far in the race. The lack of a victorious affiliation with the card probably means that they don’t win, but it would not be surprising at all to see them be one of the three teams crossing the finish line.
Summary: It’s pretty darn good. Uchenna and Joyce start out unsure of themselves, but after choosing to ignore the other teams and worry only about themselves, they become extremely successful and a major force in the game. Their personal success will outweigh their success in the game, as Debbie and Bianca and Susan and Patrick will edge them out at the finish line, but they will finish the race much happier people than when they started.
The tarot cards have spoken. Uchenna and Joyce come in third.
And there you have it. According to the cards, the first three teams out, in order, will be Megan and Heidi, Ron and Kelly and Ray and Deana. The teams in the middle will be Brian and Greg, Meredith and Gretchen, Rob and Amber, Lynn and Alex and Ryan and Chuck. Uchenna and Joyce will come in third, Susan and Patrick will come in second and Debbie and Bianca will win it all. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!
Written by Jonathan; TVRules.net
