Madame watched as the young man rose. "I have not given you the reading yet, my good man. And it is cold out there. Come sit back down, please, and I will tell you what the cards mean." She smiled up at him just as warmly and began...<br/><br/>Pointing towards the first card, she said, "This one represents your past. You'll see the gentleman walking away from that which he's built, yes? The cups are all stacked upon each other, signifying that someone put an effort into building something. But, then they leave it. As though it didn't matter to them anymore." She sighed sadly and continued. "You have obviously been involved with someone before, but for whatever reason, you felt it was necessary to walk away..."<br/><br/>Adjusting the card slightly as some errant breeze had turned it, she pointed to The Star. "This represents your current state, the present. The Star indicates a lot of hope. You have hope for your future. And there are bright prospects ahead for you. But, you must not be so caught up in the future that you do not deal with the present." Her eyes looked up into his, giving him a piercing look if he were to see it in the low lighting of the tent.<br/><br/>Jerking her head towards The Hermit, she grimaced slightly. "That right there represents your obstacles. And while you may think the meaning is obvious, it is not quite so. The Hermit usually indicates someone who is very well schooled. Someone who is now a teacher, one who perhaps travels to and fro to show others, to teach. Why should this be an obstacle for you? The Hermit has no roots. He has no way of staying anywhere long enough to attract someone to him. For, by the time he's done so, he's ready to leave." She sighed once more, and pulled her shawl a bit tighter around her shoulders. The tent flap flickered in the wind. Her eyes looked at it accusingly, but continued on.<br/><br/>Touching the last card, she said, "Finally, we have The Emperor. He is older, wiser now. He has been through many battles. You see his throne? Decorated with the heads of the Ram? They are symbols of virility, of course. Of his prowess, able to conquer at will, eh?" She chuckled at this, having known  many men who fit this description well over the years. "This card represents your future. Note that he sits alone. And yet, within the deck, there is the Empress. I think this is a good sign for you. You will not<strong>always</strong>be alone. But, you have many more years of loneliness ahead of you until you settle down with a mate."<br/><br/>Zoya sits back and looks at the cards once more. Then, again, her eyes dance with the young man's. "I must tell you this. Your future is not set in stone. No matter what the cards may say, they merely point out the path that you are on right now. You have the power to change things, if you so desire. Take heed of your obstacles. Do you wish to continue being alone, whether you travel physically or spiritually, your current path prevents you from finding a mate any time soon. But," she said, pointing towards the Emperor card again, "you may very well find it later in life. So, again, I tell you that it is up to you, which path you choose."<br/><br/>Smiling at him softly, she murmurs, "Now, do you have any questions for me about your reading, dear boy?"