Perry Cohen And Austin Stephanos

In July of 2015, two fourteen year old boys, Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, went out on a boat near Jupiter, Florida. They were never seen again, and a year later, their capsized boat was found off the coast of Bermuda. Someone recently asked me to do a reading for them, since they are both still missing.

This reading starts with the Chariot, crossed by the ace of cups, which is read reversed, here. The chariot is often a card that describes any pursuit that needs to be managed or "driven", but at mundane levels, it can also describe transportation of any kind. Since the Perry and Austin disappeared while boating, I am going to assume that it refers to either the boat and its operation, or the entire event. When the ace of cups falls reversed, it refers to instability, and sometimes an actual overturning! The ace of cups is also a "water" card, as the suit of cups refer to water. So I think we can already see how the problem began; there was a problem operating the boat.

Beneath this, we have the five of pentacles, upside down. When this card falls reversed, we see companionship. This tells us that Perry and Austin were trying to work together when they ran into trouble. The ten of swords appears behind this, which isn't an encouraging card. This shows failure, and desolation. Sometimes, it can denote a storm. The possible future gives us the five of cups, reversed, which points to possible recovery of either remains, or personal belongings. Next, we have the six of wands, reversed, which is, plainly and simply, bad news after a long delay.

Temperance, reversed, describes the event that led to this situation. This shows bad combinations and inability to maneuver through challenges. Next, in the place of environment, we see the ten of wands, reversed. I am a bit surprised to see this card, as it refers, in its reversed position to situations that involve misplaced trust and outright treachery, but here it is. Somehow, this played a role in the boating accident. In the place of hopes or fears, we have what looks like a fear; the Queen of Swords, reversed. This is a woman who is mean, petty, and sometimes violent; and if not an actual person, then the fear of these qualities also played a role. The last card is the Knight of Swords. He is upside right, so we can assume that he is, at least, kindly disposed toward Perry and Austin. This knight is often law enforcement or military, and may be the one to finally recover both boys. Look for him to be in his late thirties. Somehow, "crown" is a word that is connected to location. This could simply be the fact that Bermuda is English, and the boat ended up so far away from where it launched.

I always wish there was more positive news in a reading like this. I sincerely hope both boys are found soon, so their families can have closure.

Karissa Alline Schell

Karissa Alline Schell was last seen at the home of a friend in Turlock, California on April 21 of 2011, at the age of fourteen. There was some speculation on the part of law enforcement that Karissa may have run away from home, but there is no evidence to back up that idea. Runaways are also in just as much danger as children who disappear under duress, so I have no idea why police promoted such a theory, in the first place. Someone asked me to read for her, and next month, it will have been six years since Karissa disappeared.I will start with the obvious question about Karissa's whereabouts, and see if the Tarot can shed some light on how she can be found.

We begin with the nine of wands, reversed, crossed by the Knight of Pentacles, which is also read reversed. The nine of wands in reversal speaks of impatience and obstacles. The Knight of Pentacles, when he falls reversed, often represents a man who promises to get things done, yet is very slow to deliver. See also "laziness". This dynamic, impatience with a lazy man, somehow played a role. Giving us a bit of background, we have the Page of Swords, reversed. This can represent a snitch or a young person who lies, but it also can represent unforeseen misfortunes. At this point, I am going with the latter. To describe the past, we have the three of cups, reversed. This card often refers to end of something pleasing, but it also often speaks of too much of something....often too much of something that would have been a good thing if done in moderation, such as alcohol. Knights often represent coming and going, as well as men; it appears distinctly possible that Karissa wanted a ride home from a man involved in the scenario, and it somehow did not materialize.

Among possibilities, we have the Fool. This relates to the choice made by Karissa the minute she left the home she was visiting. This choice changed everything, for her. Next, we have the High Priestess, who represents all things hidden. Another symbol on this card is water. This is the card of initiative and resistance; the idea and desire to take action; and the traction, in the form of resistance, needed by the idea in order to take form and become reality. This is the energy at work, behind the scenes.

In the place of fears, we have the Chariot. The Chariot is another card of balance, but unlike initiative v. resistance, the Chariot seeks to persuade two opposite extremes to pull together and work toward a common goal. In practical terms, this means getting two horses to pull the Chariot in one direction, rather than each going in his own direction. Someone, somewhere, is afraid to take the practical steps to bring Karissa home. Next, in the place of environment, we have the Tower, reversed. This is a card of imprisonment of sorts.....sometimes literal. It is interesting that it would turn up in the place of environment. Next, in the place of hopes, we have the Star, reversed. This is pessimism and doubt. This leads me to wonder if Karissa is still alive, and thinks that there is a threat, or a reason that she cannot go home. Perhaps Stockholm Syndrome. Jaycee Dugard's kidnapping comes to mind. The last card is the five of swords, reversed. This is the only card of violence in the reading, and it is the only card that suggests that Karissa might no longer be with us. The five of swords, either reversed or upside right, is a card of violence and revenge, and I never like to see  it in a missing person's reading. Here, it tells us that there is a chance of defeat.

I do not want to give anyone false hope, because of the statistics regarding this type of case, but it appears that there is a chance that Karissa may yet be found alive. I think that the last adult male with whom she was seen should be questioned, and that his testimony can help law enforcement construct a time line that will help shed light on this case. The water symbolism on the High Priestess's card is important. For reasons I cannot fully explain, I have not been given a direction to search. I will say this: living victims move from place to place, while deceased victims do not, adding obvious challenges to finding missing persons who are living.

Anyone who has information should call the police in Turlock, California, at 209-688-5550.

Original Night Stalker

The unknown rapist dubbed the Original Night Stalker was active in California 1976 to 1986. He was primarily active in Sacramento and in parts of southern California. DNA and other forensic evidence has linked him to at least twelve murders and over fifty sexual assaults on women. He has also been called the Diamond Knot Killer, the East Area Rapist, and the Golden State Killer. Someone asked me to do a reading about him, so I will see what the cards might tell us. So who is this Original Night Stalker? And what finally happened to him? Someone asked me to ask the cards, so I will do just that!

In the first house, of personality and appearance, we see the six of wands. This tells us that we are would look for a man with who knows how to communicate and present himself. He also has a falsely exalted opinion of himself. Look for a man between 5'11" and 6'1" tall, with light brown or blondish hair. Of course, the hair may be greying and the hairline receding by now! The second house of money and possessions shows the Hermit; our stalker does not invest too publicly or have joint accounts or partners in business. He is a loner. We see the Lovers in the third house, showing that he does have family, and possibly a girlfriend or a wife. The third house also governs short journeys and written communication.......this may mean that a former or current romantic partner knows about his past and his covering for him. The Sun falls in his fourth house, of home environment. The stalker's family sees him in a very positive light, and would be shocked to hear about his criminal past. Also, this could be a mundane reference to the state of California!

Moving on to the fifth house, of creativity and sexuality, we find the Tower. The Tower is a card of all kinds of conflict and mayhem, so it is no surprise to find this card in the fifth house! As the card is upside right, all of the stalker's problems are unresolved. Next, in the sixth house, of work relationships and day to day life, we find the King of Wands. This may be a workmate or an employer. Another aspect of the sixth house is worry, and the King of Wands is usually an upstanding and good man; it is quite possible that the stalker worries that this King suspects him of current or past faults. This is a man who makes the stalker uncomfortable. The seventh house, of important partnerships, such as marriage, gives us Strength, reversed. We can expect our stalker to be involved in an abusive relationship. When Strength falls reversed, this often means abuse of institutionalized power, and as we see it in the seventh house, we can see that he would be an abusive husband or lover. Next, in the eighth house, of karma, death, joint finances and legacies, we have the ace of swords. This house also governs debt, and its symbolic body part is the genitals. Somehow, this is linked to karmic debt, and a debt to society. It should come as no surprise to him that his DNA, left at crime scenes, has already identified him! All we really lack is a name. The ace of swords tells us that he may have a child, whose DNA also provides a link. Swords also often refer to information, and at some point, we can expect information from all parts of his life to converge, and someone will put it all together.

 The ninth house, of long journeys, protection, foreign countries, and the establishment and the law, gives us Judgement. This is encouraging, because Judgement and the law go hand in hand. The scope of the investigation will come as a surprise to the stalker and his family. Because Judgement appears upside right, I believe he will be caught. Because it is in the ninth house, he may try to hide somewhere far away from where he committed his crimes. In the tenth house, which governs career and ambition, and one's standing in the world, we have the Moon. Despite the stalker's best efforts, he is seen as a liar and creep. He has not have very good relationships with superiors at any job he has had, either. In the eleventh house, of friends and social life, the nine of wands shows up. In light of the rest of the reading, this is not encouraging. This shows our stalker never quite making friends, but always on the fringes of social circles. He is a loner, appearing to be......just waiting for something. The twelfth house, the house of self undoing, secrets, and secret enemies, gives us the Magician. Someone who knows what he is doing will eventually find the stalker. The stalker appears to have found victims within his own little microcosm, or circle of "family" members, but I believe he will, at some point, be matched with forensic evidence from the past.

Pearl Pinson

 On May 25 of 2016, a fifteen year old girl named Pearl Pinson was abducted on her way to school in Vallejo, California. Since then, a suspect has been identified and shot during a conflict with law enforcement and an attempt to flee and elude, but no one has located Pearl. Someone recently requested that I do a reading about this case, so I will ask the obvious question concerning her whereabouts.

We begin with the World, crossed by the four of swords. Usually, the World is a card of success and opportunity, and Pearl's day may very well have begun that way. Another meaning of this card is travel, and also being outside. Its number in the Major Arcana is twenty-one, which may be a significant number, here. It is crossed by the four of swords, which indicates that there is a temporary lull in activity right now. This is based by Death. Death usually does not foretell an actual death, but in the case of a missing person or a crime victim, it is not a good card to see at any point in a reading. This card may also bear a double meaning: it may refer not only to Pearl, but to the suspect who was shot and killed by law enforcement. It is followed by the two of swords, which reinforces the message given by the four; a stalemate or a standoff of some type, regarding resolution of Pearl's case.  

Moving into possibilities for the future, we have the two of wands. Here, we see the use of practical and scientific methods and police work. The case is still open, and law enforcement has not given up. Next, we have the nine of swords, which shows us doubt and delay. We also sometimes see this card to describe mourning; it may be a warning that this will result, here. 

The eight of cups, reversed, appears in the place of fears. This is a fear that the spiritual may take a back seat to they physical, in some way. It is feared, by someone connected to Pearl, that as time goes on, the search will not be carried out with the same diligence as it was immediately after she disappeared. Next, in the place of environment, we have the nine of wands, telling us to be patient, and above all, not to give up. In the place of hopes, we see the ten of cups, which is the hope of a happy ending.....but sadly, the final card is the five of swords, which is violence, vengeance, and cruelty. I always wish readings such as this looked more positive, and I always hope I am wrong in a case like this.

The parts of the reading that deal predominantly with the kidnapping contain a lot of swords, which would point us east. Also, I would look for a stone or brick wall of some sort that is not in good repair. Shallow water, about eight feet is also a factor. I also expect "twenty-one" to be a clue, as well; perhaps within twenty-one miles from where Pearl was last seen. Because travel is so often the mundane meaning of the World, I think there may be railroad tracks nearby.