Moondance by Karen M. Black

her. Michelle was an astrologer. In astrology, the circle with the dot in the center, Althea knew, meant the sun. The small crescent shape, the moon. From visiting Michelle over the years, she knew that the sun sign represented a person’s central energy, while the moon represented a person’s emotions, their inner selves. The ascendant, which is depen-dent on the time of birth, shows how one’s personality is expressed.
    “As you know, you have a Capricorn sun, and a Pisces moon and a rising sign of Taurus. On the outside, you’re matter-of-fact, all business. On the inside, that’s another story. Capricorn and Taurus are earth signs — ambitious, practical, security driven, sometimes stubborn.”
    “Who, moi?”
    “And Pisces, as you know, is a water sign — sensitive, emotional, very creative, spiritual — the sign of a dreamer — and in the moon’s position, a side that very few people see. Your Piscean qualities represent your emotional foundations, who you are when you think no one else is looking.”
    “Yes, you keep saying that.”
    “And I will continue to, even as you, Althea, in your earthy way, continue to disagree.” Michelle smiled at her, in a way that Althea knew couldn’t be swayed. Michelle turned to Kevin and Tori’s birth dates.
    “Here we have another Taurus, slow moving, dependable, a little bit stubborn and sensual, with a Capricorn moon, which sometimes takes life too seriously. And here, we have another Capricorn, with a Taurus moon and Cancer ascendent. Is this one a man or a woman?”
    “A woman.”
    “Grounded, almost masculine. At the core, she’s very dependable, all business, yet she has a nurturing, protective side. You can count on this one.” Althea shifted in her seat.
    “You’re wrong so far.”
    Michelle smiled at her and took a deck of tarot cards out of a velvet bag and pushed them toward Althea. Althea smiled. In movies, tarot cards were often portrayed as being creepy and melodramatic. But in Michelle’s hands they sang, revealing insights that were always surprising.
    “Please shuffle the cards.”
    “Okay. I’m interested in knowing why —”
    “Don’t say anything more, let the cards show why you’re here.”
    Althea sat back and tried to relax. She knew from Michelle the tarot cards had originated in the 1400s in northern Italy. She knew that each of the cards contained an image that symbolized an area of life and the unconscious mind.
    “Place them in three piles. Good, now touch one. Thank you.”
    Michelle picked up the cards, placing the pile Althea had touched on top. Then she placed a card in front of her and covered it with another, crossing the first.
    “This is your present. And this is what’s crossing you.”

chapter 8

    ALTHEA WAS CLEANING OUT her office. A number of boxes on the floor were packed with things she’d take with her. A swelling garbage bag was filled with paper she’d recycle.
    She opened an orange folder that contained a glossy brochure. It described how the Rotman MBA ranked with other business schools worldwide, praised its distinguished faculty, told of the caliber of students who attended and the lucrative careers they subsequently enjoyed. By getting this degree, she knew she would double what she was making, easy, maybe more. On the back page was a post-it note with her handwriting on it. ‘Say I want to get into exec mgt. Poss via consultg.’ She had written this as she prepared her MBA application last spring. It was based on a discussion with Tori.
    “Remember they measure their success by their grads’ titles, salaries and long-term career success,” Tori had said. “Then they can hike their fees, get a better ranking and be more exclusive. So you have to look hungry.” She’d been right.
    Althea had passable undergrad marks and an above-average GMAT score. She also had a creative advertising background and an English degree, which Tori had helped her use to her advantage.
    “They don’t want a