Daydreamer v.3 {.......visions.......}

In this section, I’ll go over the impact Hitomi's powers have on her emotionally and include information on the tools she uses, Tarot cards and dowsing.

Tarot
Hitomi’s tarot cards were given to her by her grandmother. The Major Arcana is based on traditional tarot sets, while the Minor Arcana is based on the Merlin Tarot (source). In Tarot, the Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, the Minor Arcana 56, making the whole set 78 cards. The 22 Major Arcana, also known as the Trumps, contain archetypal imagery while the Minor Arcana consists of more literal illustrations (ex: The 3 of Wands depicts 3 wands).

Tarot Origin
No one knows for certain the origin of tarot cards. What is known is that playing cards and tarot cards are connected. The “what came first, the chicken or the egg?” question can be applied to these two devices, as some scholars aren’t sure if tarot gave birth to playing cards or vice versa. What mostly interests scholars is the origin of the symbols on the decks. There are countless theories, from the thought that they are based on Egyptian mysticism to the theory that they represented certain aristocratic Houses. What most people seem to agree on is that the symbols used on tarot decks are archetypes, albeit evolving ones, that seem to connect with people on a deeper level. I am not a practitioner of the tarot, so I can only present what seems to be the “consensus” in spiritual attitude towards the tarot. I’m sure each practitioner views the tarot, it’s origins and symbols, a bit differently, depending on personal spiritual beliefs.

The Celtic Cross
The layout Hitomi seems to use most is the Celtic Cross. The Celtic Cross uses 10 cards and is one of the most common spreads in interpreting the tarot. For an explanation of the Celtic Cross spread, please visit Byzant Tarot.

Dowsing
Dowsing is the art of looking for hidden things. Some people are able to sense where things are hidden based entirely on instinct. Some use tools, such as divining rods, pendants and the like to help them in their search. People use dowsing to look for minerals, water and people. No one really knows how dowsing works though; some speculate that dowsers are able to naturally tune into the vibrations of the object they are searching for by concentrating hard enough.

The Impact
As the series opens, Hitomi is just an average girl who likes to do Tarot card readings. The only thing remarkable about that hobby is the fact that she does pretty accurate readings. When she lands in Gaea however, all that changes. Hitomi begins to experience horrible visions, visions where people are hurt or killed and destruction rages. These visions cause Hitomi much emotional trauma and weigh on her conscience heavily when she is unable to stop the outcome. Yet the real clincher is when Hitomi is told that her horrible visions are a result of her insecurities and worries. She is told that she is able to guide the future with her apprehensions and cause the horrible fates she sees. The key to ending these visions, she is told, is to stop worrying and wholly believe in the people around her. She needs to develop trust in the people she’s with and not rely on tarot cards or anything else to see what’s coming. You must put faith and trust in the people around you. Divining, Escaflowne seems to say, is a crutch a person uses when they are too afraid to trust in people. There is no such thing as predetermined fate. We make our own destiny.

Resources:
Tarot: Byzant Tarot, The Origins of Tarot
Dowsing: About.com article on dowsing, Introduction To Dowsing