There are some who will tell you that election forecasting is no more accurate than using a Ouija board or crystal ball to divine the future. So in that spirit, we invited Cristiano Gazzara — an intuitive tarot reader and wine dealer in Western Massachusetts — to perform a series of readings regarding the Nov. 7 Worcester municipal election. Gazzara, who knows very little about Worcester at all, says he believes “that the card system provides unique metaphysical insight into the human condition and that, as serious as that sounds, it also has a great sense of humor.” He can be found reading at Tarot Tuesdays at the Majestic Saloon in Northampton or on his socials at HalfBakedBacchus. He says, “This request to read for a city at large fulfills his lifelong goal of being a Merlin or some other court magician.” In order to help apply Gazzara’s reading to the election, we’ve invited three of the city’s avid political watchers — Bill Shaner of Worcester Sucks (And I Love It), Deb Powers and Em Quiles, at least two of whom chimed in with some tarot knowledge of their own.
What are the forces at play in the Worcester City Council and School Committee elections?
Cristiano Gazzara: There is a tension between two overriding forces in these elections that revolves around a lack of imagination. One force is calling for clarity, even outspoken truth. Another force sits almost in judgment, adhering to what they see as boundaries and structure. One side is firm in what the new reality is while still being nurturing. The other sees only what has already been done and how to keep things status quo. To fix this lack of imagination a real rebirth is necessary. The fight between truth and tradition is almost mythological. We see that here, but my initial reading is that it’s more personal, almost down to the candidate level.
Bill Shaner: Oh wow. He just distilled two years of Worcester Sucks posts into one reading. I’m honestly spooked. “To fix this lack of imagination a real rebirth is necessary.” There is absolutely a tension between two overriding forces — a nascent progressive bloc versus a coalition of entrenched centrist Dems and townie cranks. Whenever a council vote goes 8-3, that’s what you’re seeing. Similarly this election has the possibility to be “the real rebirth” in the reading. The definition of rebirth is six progressives on the council. That’s when “the truth” stops getting bullied by “tradition” and takes the mantle of power. And yeah, this is Worcester. Of course it’s personal.
Read more
More: Written in the stars: Reading Worcester’s astrology chart for the Nov. 7 election
More: Worcesteria: The Ghost of Elections Present explains what’s at stake in local elections this year
Deb Powers: Are we sure this reader isn’t a ringer? Like, this reading is just a little too on the nose. People who have been watching Worcester city politics for years probably couldn’t sum it up this concisely. I especially love that they caught the “it’s personal” vibe that saturates so much of Worcester politics, where petty grievances and grudges can bog down items on the table for years.
Putting on my tarot cap for a moment — the Queen of Swords is principled, stands for truth, but leavens it with compassion. They’ve got a keen, analytical mind and a clear vision of what needs to be done. They have been through it, so they get it. That totally describes a number of candidates who have lived experience with some of the toughest issues facing the city, and have put in the time and work to learn all they can about them.
The Emperor, on the other hand, believes in structure, rules and procedure. He rules rather than governs. It’s not just that he believes in tradition and the status quo — it’s that he’s invested in the structure itself. It’s tempting to ascribe that to specific people on the council — even though the shoe definitely fits more than one of them — but it permeates everything municipal. So many city departments operate like little fiefdoms, complete with enough red tape to choke out any kind of innovation.
That Magician card is supposed to be channeling power from above to below, turning words and thoughts into action. When he’s upside down like that, though, he blocks the power from actually working. He waves his wand and chants his incantations, but he’s ultimately powerless.
And that Judgment card? There’s a reckoning due. Judgment Day is coming, and what happens will decide it we have to go through another cycle of watching councilors rise to give speeches or if we get a City Council that’s ready to stop talking about change and start making it happen.
Victor D. Infante: I can vouch that Cristiano is not a ringer, although I suppose that’s not an atypical dynamic in politics anywhere. Worcester sometimes finds itself suspended between being a small town and a big city, and sometimes those polarities have a way of bringing out the best and worst aspects of each.
Em Quiles: Had you asked this question without the divine input of the tarot, I think we would’ve arrived at the same conclusion, but the cards are simply confirming what we already know: change makers bickering with the establishment.
What I find the most unnerving is the Magician in reverse. Not trying to overstep Cristiano’s interpretation, but like Momma Deb said, in it’s upright, he’s a damn magician! Wields the power of the cosmos and is able to make them a reality in the material world. But because everybody is in their feelings, we’re getting nowhere … Within the Queen flows the divine feminine energy, who is clearly not afraid to speak truth to power — we see she’s talking with her hand, a depiction of action, while the other is steady with the sword, a Queen through that rules with intelligence, intuition and action — not emotions (we would’ve seen other suits if emotions were involved). She’s literally addressing the Emperor across the way, who is in the upper echelon of power. He’s established yet not very action-oriented — status quo. The reversed Magician certainly tells us that they are getting in their own way. It’s a clash of ideas.
The Judgment card is a divine sentence. Within the context of the question — is a reckoning what is needed, or what is going to happen with this election? I’d like to think it’s the latter. We’re about to have a game-changing wake-up call and everybody’s edges are about to be snatched, but it will be in the benefit of all. You can see that by the people below rejoicing and accepting what’s being handed down. Like music to our ears. Get ya popcorn!
I can easily see the Emperor being the city manager, and the power his office yields, and the Queen to me represents more women stepping up and calling truth to power — I see Etel Haxhiaj, Nelly Medina, Jermoh Kamara, Tracy O’Connell Novick, Domenica Perrone, Maydeé Morales. The Judgment is not coming from one source, it’ll be from a collective of these Queens of Swords who will wield their individual powers.
Will the City Council see a change?
Gazzara writes: The first card, Two of Pentacles, tells me an axiom: Change is constant, and a well-prepared person can handle it with relative ease. Cards with the designation Twos do indicate new business partners and new perspectives. To affect change a new influx of passionate ideas is necessary. The Ace of Wands signals a fresh start that seems to come from nowhere. I’m seeing a new player entering who can shake things up, with ideas that come from the gut. Ones and Twos indicate changes and fresh starts. There’s a ways to go but a change is coming.
Quiles: If I were to see this reading by itself, I’d say no, we wouldn’t see any change because neither card is a card of change per se, in my opinion.
However, in the first reading we saw the Judgment — which in itself speaks to change. It has been a long trial, each side provided their testimony, and the Gods have passed down the verdict deemed fair. “I said what I said”-type energy. Cue the Ace …
The new beginning brought to us by the Ace of Wands following the verdict of the Judgment is the change. Note how the hand is coming out of a cloud, indicating this comes from the divine. The wand is a suit of passion and creativity. I think we’ll see an influx of great innovative ideas.
Considering that this is preceded by the Two of Pentacles, a card of the material world as well as balance, it leads me to believe the council will work cohesively and figure out how to make it work. The infinity symbol here has no beginning or end, which to me doesn’t necessarily indicate change. If we were to take the power dynamics of the first reading (Queen versus Emperor) and attach it to this card, we can easily correlate the two. There’s two coins, one is up and one is down. There’s two boats, one is small, the other is larger, sailing on a small and a large wave of water, respectively. The Juggler has one feet on the ground and the other off the ground. Everything is asymmetrical but somehow balanced with its counterpart. But most importantly, the ground he is standing on is hella stable. Not a single rock or anything there to make him lose his balance. My guy is two-stepping — indicating he’s having fun and is in control.
I think we will see a City Council that will manage to work together, and move forward with some dope ideas.
Powers: Hm. A fresh start that seems to come from nowhere? I guess that rules out a surprise mayoral win for Bill Coleman, hmm? I don’t necessarily see the Ace as being a newcomer, but definitely a change. If you squint just right, it kinda looks like a hand passing off a baton — or a gavel. Looks like a strong possibility of a new mayor.
And if we take the cards at literal face value, we’re looking at two new people on the City Council who will shift the current dynamic. It won’t be a drastic change, but it will be a productive one. All of the twos are about navigating duality and forming partnerships in some kinda way. The Two of Pentacles is an especially sweet card in answer to this question. This two is earthy and practical, with a good sense of balance. The phrase “shifting alliances” is stuck in my head. I suspect we’re going to see a lot of what Maydeé Morales called “collaboration, not compromise” in the upcoming term. Considering how often we’ve seen the City Council — current and previous — voting in very predictable blocks, a spirit of collaboration will be a refreshing change.
Infante: I think no one should ever rule out Bill Coleman! Eventually, the roulette wheel has to stop there. I mean, statistically speaking! But joking aside, I wonder how much difference even a subtle realignment of the City Council would make. For example, would there be a substantive difference if Khrystian King were mayor, even if both he and Joe Petty were still on the City Council. I don’t have an answer to that, but in real-world terms, the majority of the City Council are not that far apart ideologically. The splits generally come from local and personal issues which largely don’t fit into a right-left rubric. Could even a subtle change in priorities result in significant change?
More: Hall Club marks 125 years of Worcester women gathering, organizing
More: Worcester Walks: A slightly spooky late October hike on the Parsons Cider Mill trail
Powers: I think the answer to that is an unequivocal yes, though I wouldn’t classify a different mayor as a subtle change. Meetings chaired by King — or Guillermo Creamer Jr. or Donna Colorio or Coleman, for that matter — would have a significantly different tone. A different mayor could also mean a shakeup of committee assignments, which would have other consequences in how items sent to committee are handled, or not handled, as the case may be. Those are just off the top of my head.
Even if we don’t change mayors, though, introducing new voices with different perspectives and personalities will change the dynamics, not just the votes on items but the discussion leading up to decisions. When you change the participants in a conversation, the focus and tone is necessarily going to change.
Shaner: It’s good to hear a “new influx of passionate ideas is necessary” because that’s exactly what we’re working with here. We have a roster of progressive candidates who have a markedly different vision for what the City Council is and does, and there are a number of people who’d qualify as the “new player entering who can shake things up.” That particular prophecy would be most fulfilled to my mind if Rob Bilotta beats Candy Mero-Carlson in District 2. Rob is running on his strength as an advocate for accessibility issues in a city which has historically struggled with them, and he’s made audacious claims such as the impact of development on residents is more important than the profit margin of developers. At a time when housing is such a crucial issue, might that be an example of “ideas that come from the gut?” We shall see. In any case, another encouraging reading.
Powers: The more I look at this, the more I see to tease out of it. The Two of Pentacles is a card of maintaining balance — as Em notes, the lemniscate (infinity symbol) is essentially a perpetual-motion machine. There’s a lot of juggling of things to essentially keep us right where we are. At the same time, that card suggests that change is constant and inevitable, and we have to make constant adjustments to keep from losing our balance and falling flat on our faces. I’m doubling down on the collaboration-not-compromise I mentioned before — this two has less push-pull energy than other twos and more “keep the ball moving” energy. The thing is, we’ve been keeping the ball moving in a cycle. The Ace of Wands is a big change of energy and passion coming into the council. The fact that the hand is coming from a cloud makes me think that the new energy is not necessarily coming just from the council. Where Em sees divinity, I see the energy coming from people outside government — newly awakened and involved residents who are demanding more accountability and transparency, at the very least.
Will the School Committee see a change?
Gazzara writes: The Hierophant shows a tendency to rely too much on tradition and what has always been. Someone in this position might say what has always worked doesn’t need to be fixed. If they were to outreach and interface with their constituents, as the Three of Pentacles suggests, they would see there is plenty to talk about and it’s worth listening. The reversed Six of Pentacles suggests there is a “give-and-take” energy that isn’t being engaged. The Magician card returns to say that if they can engage, that imagination and creativity could lead to positive change.
Quiles: My thoughts: How fitting is it that the Hierophant is showing up? If we were to choose one card from the whole deck to represent academic institutions, it’d be that one. The same dynamic at play of Establishment/Change (Hierophant/Magician). Except here they aren’t necessarily clashing, they appear to work together. At council, we saw the Two of Pentacles pointing to internal partnerships and collaboration. Now we’ve moved up to the Three of Pentacles, another Establishment card, but this time it’s forming partnerships with community. Two’s company and Three is a party. I can see this as welcoming new members from the community to the table. Looking at Nelly.
Will the School Board see a change? Looks like it won’t be a big change, but the right people will come on board that will help strengthen the values they hold as an academic entity and move forward with progressive ideas. Perhaps even shake some of that energy from the Six of Pentacles. Good news is I don’t see former Superintendent Maureen Binienda fitting any of that, so fingers crossed.
Shaner: Wow. This reading has Maureen Binienda nailed. Dead to rights. I’m honestly starting to get spooked. The Binienda campaign is safely the marquee narrative of the School Committee race, and her pitch is probably better described by “what has always worked doesn’t need to be fixed” than what she’s actually saying. In recent forums, she’s railed particularly hard against the committee’s decision to bring busing service “in house” and away from a third-party contractor. Binienda’s time as superintendent was marked by her insistence that the company providing the busing was doing a good job, despite abundant evidence to the contrary. Under Binienda, there was no “give-and-take,” and that dynamic played no small part in the School Committee’s decision to part ways with her. Since Binienda’s departure there’s been a renewed effort to reach out to the community and pursue creative solutions. What I’m seeing in this reading is an indication that the energy Binienda would bring to the committee is unneeded and unwanted. She is the Hierophant at a time we need the Magician.
Powers: Several years ago, I encountered Mayor Joe Petty at a Juneteenth Festival, and teased him into drawing a card. The card he drew: the Two of Pentacles. I can’t help but think of him whenever I see that card. Cristiano doesn’t have that association, though, so I’m going to pretend it isn’t there. On a more general note, it’s a card of collective collaboration — the group of people at the foot of the ladder are giving direction to the crafter who is doing the actual work. That’s a perfect description of the role of the School Committee — more oversight than action. The crafter — the superintendent — works to realize the vision of the School Committee, and the school committee works to provide the support and resources needed. It does work best when there’s free give-and-take, so the reversed Six is a concern.
The School Committee race is very definitely playing out as a showdown between the Old Guard and the Upstarts, who won big in the last School Committee election. It’s not just Binienda coming back for another try to control the Worcester Public Schools, but Dianna Biancheria, and their supporters who are going to be much more comfortable electing someone who isn’t known as a firebrand. The current School Committee made huge strides toward engaging the community more, but they still have a way to go, and the reversed Six of Pentacles suggests that there’s a risk of backsliding on the give-and-take they’ve gone to such lengths to establish. I’ve also heard some rumblings recently that lately, the School Committee has invited input from students, parents and teachers, but not necessarily given that input the respect and consideration it deserves. It’s a tricky line between inviting representation and allowing involvement, and it’s a line I think they’re up against. Things could get really interesting if Nelly Medina is elected, because of all the candidates, she’s the one who won’t stand for anything she sees as token representation.
And yes, I love seeing the Magician make a comeback from an earlier reading. I think we’ll see a definite change, but I’m not entirely sure that it will be for the better.
Will the election sway the political vibe in the city?
Gazzara writes: Yes. With the best possible outcome the city government will take the initiative seen in the Knight. The Knight of Pentacles is not brash in their decision making but they are prepared to spring into action when needed to do what is in everyone’s best material interest. To do that, the city will need to choose wisely what projects to take on and which to set aside. At the moment, this is likely not their strong suit. The Four of Pentacles indicates a scarcity mentality which may have something to do with a burden of projects that seem impossible to handle. If poured into the correct projects, however, being a little more giving will be a step in the right direction.
Powers: Again, a personal aside — I once described Khrystian King as having Knight of Pentacles energy — make of that what you will. Of all the knights, if I were going to pick one to manage anything, he’s the one. He tends to be slow to start, but that’s because he’s busy doing the background work and making sure that everything is in place. He’s not flashy like the Knight of Swords, and he’s not going to burn everything down, like the Knight of Wands, and he’s not a romantic dreamer with sweet words, like the Knight of Cups. He’s a strategic planner. If he proposes something, you know that he’s considered all the angles and is prepared for (most) possible unintended consequences.
Cristiano mentioned the Four of Pentacles as “scarcity mentality,” and the reversed 10 of Wands suggests a reason for that — the city has been trying to meet all the needs of our residents from our own limited resources. That’s why every time someone suggests, say, giving yellow trash bags to low-income residents, the first question asked is “Who’s going to pay for that?” instead of “How can we pay for that?”
A number of the candidates (including several incumbents) for City Council and School Committee were heavily involved in one of the most successful citywide collaborations ever — the Worcester Together roundtable, which brought together stakeholders in all areas of city life to get us through the early days of the pandemic. If they bring the lessons learned from Worcester Together to the City Council and School Committee — and in some cases, they are already doing so — we could see some real positive change and fresh new ideas in the coming term.
Shaner: To say it’s “likely not their strong suit” is yet again extremely on the nose. I think the conflict on the City Council right now runs to the level of understanding their fundamental role. What should be the institution which sets strategic direction and priorities for City Hall tends mostly to follow the City Manager while councilors act as individuals, tasking themselves with “constituent services”-type work. The end result is a city manager who operates unilaterally for the most part, while 11 customer service reps compete among each other for his attention to their specific projects and priorities. This is totally opposite of what should happen and is more a reflection of the people in those seats than the design of the government. Councilor King is one of the most outspoken critics of this dynamic and often calls for the council to take its oversight role more seriously. Should he assume the role of mayor, it’s easy to see him fulfilling that Knight of Pentacles role in reshaping what the council does.
Quiles: This resonates true with the city taking a swing at a “renaissance” and ending up not being able to sit at the big boys,]’ table after all. It’s overburdened itself by biting more than it can chew. Seems like good things are coming despite it all, which makes me hopeful.
Powers: So now, I have a question for all of you just for funsies: I mentioned that King has big Knight of Pentacles energy. What other tarot court cards do you see sitting at the Council and School Committee table? Like, Sue Mailman gives such grandma energy, she’s the epitome of the Queen of Pentacles. She’s not shy about getting down in the dirt and getting things done. Thoughts?
Quiles: I would say Tracy Novick has Queen of Swords energy — all about facts and data but also nurturing and compassionate. I would also associate it with Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez.
What effect will this election have on the next two years in Worcester?
Gazzara writes: The Ten of Wands reaffirms that there is too much going on, causing a burden and even a lack of focus. The future of the city is the Knight of Wands, where passion and action can combine to create valuable, measurable change. Naysayers will need to be kept at bay and the city will have to rise above. That does not mean their constituents necessarily, but rather colleagues that want to fight rather than accept the new change. If these readings find their best outcome, change is not only possible but is coming. It will require a kind of alchemy. This election asks all of Worcester to really ask what tasks matter most to help the city transform into its best iteration yet.
Powers: Once again, right on the nose, especially the part about colleagues who’d rather fight each other. We’ve all been pretty upbeat about these readings so far, taking Cristiano’s most positive interpretations as givens, even where he’s been cautious. I haven’t missed how much of what he said has been couched in ifs and potentials, though. There’s been a strong undercurrent of “if they can get it together” running through all the spreads. This spread, with all those wands, in response to that question? It throws up a few warning flags.
Wands energy is fiery and passionate, but it can also be reckless. The Knight of Wands is impatient AF. If things don’t move fast enough for him, he’s not afraid to set a few things on fire. A lot of people have mobilized and started paying attention in the lead-up to this election, so we have a whole lot of fiery knights running around right now. They’re not going to simmer down and go quietly home to wait for the next election. Some of them will be carrying a heavy load of grudges, and the feelings generated during this campaign are likely to show up in the council chambers and beyond. I think we’re going to see a lot of grassroots action happening around the city as people start realizing they have the power to make changes happen without waiting for permission from the elected bodies.
Shaner: In this bit about “naysayers,” I think we see a deeply rooted impulse by the old guard of the political scene to reflexively discredit any sort of new idea coming out of the progressive movement. It’s been a problem for the past two years, but in recent meetings, it’s been particularly transparent. They are voting against people more than they’re voting on ideas. While “nonpartisan” in theory, there is a strong 8-3 partisan divide between new progressives and everyone else. Sometimes the votes are 7-4, sometimes they’re 9-2, but they’re always a reflection of this dynamic. It’s not hard to predict outcomes at this point. In this way, Cristiano’s assessment they’re looking to “fight rather than accept the new change” is an apt assessment. And there’s a certain obvious irony here, considering the way “naysayers” tends to get used around here. The old guard is quick to use that word to dismiss those who’d like to see the city change, implying they’re merely critics for the sake of it and not interested in improving the city. Those quickest to throw around “naysayer” are themselves the naysayers! To my mind, the “alchemy” required here is relegating those naysayers to a minority position on the board, overpowered by a six-councilor progressive bloc. It’s mathematically possible to achieve that in this election, but extremely difficult! Sort of like literal alchemy. But, unlike those literal alchemists, our goal is at least possible … scientifically.
Quiles: Change is coming, and “it will require alchemy.” I think this sums up the entirety of the conversation! We’re about to see some shocking revelations and get on a path towards true progress and change. I’m here for it.
For more election information, contact the office of City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli.
All opinions expressed here are either the opinion of the speaker, or the opinion the speaker is divining from the cards, and are not intended as an endorsement of any candidate by Worcester Magazine.
