LIZZIE'S LOGIC

Deck Review- The Cat's Eye Tarot

2011-11-29T14:06:00.001-08:00

"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine

Anyone who is, or ever has been owned by a cat, knows that cats work on their own agenda and despite their aloof nature we love them anyway. I first became aware of The Cat's Eye Tarot several years ago, when Debra Givin first began her creation of this deck and followed it's progress with each card. When US Games announced that they were going to be publishing it, I nearly fell out of my chair with excitement!

There are several cat themed decks out there but this one is truly special, not only does it follow the Rider-Waite style, each card tells a story from a very unique perspective...A cats! What better way to see the world than through the eyes of a beloved cat. Debra, a practicing vet for 22 years, exclusively in feline practice, she has absolutely captured the essence of cats in this deck and with each card there is no doubt as to what is going through these glorious kitties minds.

This deck is simply perfect in size and works great for those with smaller hands as it's not too wide to shuffle and handle properly and it has an amazing glossy lamination. I'm big on the art of the card backs and have been known to choose decks in part by the wonderful imagery on the backs and this deck does not disappoint. It features a brown long haired tabby with mesmerizing green eyes that nearly fills the whole card save one thin border of white.

The Major Arcana are graced with cats of white, calico, ginger and tabby, black and siamese all lovingly painted in scenes of blue and plum tones that make these little kitties pop right out of the cards. I always look for a select few cards when considering a deck and the Star is among one of them. I love the way that Debra has portrayed a little calico gently reaching out to the reflection of a star in chilly stream and it brings to mind the phrase "reach for the stars" what a great way to get the meaning of hope across!

The Minor Arcana are just as charming with the suit of Wands picturing fiery ginger cats, the suit of Cups showing wonderful jellicle kitties, the suit of Swords featuring the talkative siamese and the suit of Pentacles with it's tabby striped beauties. Also featured alongside these fabulous felines in the Minor Arcana are fish, reptiles, birds and mice.

I had the best time while working with this deck, I found that it reads very well and I had no problems getting clear and concise messages, just like ones I receive from any cat when he/she is letting me know how it is! I may not recommend it as a beginners deck, however, I think that a basic knowledge of the Rider-Waite symbolism would be helpful but this is truly a deck for anyone who loves and shares their life with cats.

Publisher: US Games

Artist: Debra Givin

ISBN: 978-1-57281-685-5

Images used with permission from US Games

Deck Review- Joie de Vivre Tarot

2011-11-12T10:05:00.001-08:00

From the amazing creatrix Paulina Cassidy, of the Paulina Tarot comes her latest addition to the Tarot community, The Joie de Vivre Tarot...what a truly charming and chatty deck that when translated, means Hearty or carefree enjoyment of life. I had been eagerly awaiting this deck, watching it's progress and marveling over her unique artistic style and now that I have it in my hot little hands it is absolutely wonderful and quite child-like in it's energy.

The Joie de Vivre Tarot is a 78 card deck that is just the perfect size to work with and shuffle with ease. It comes with the standard LWB (little white book) of interpretations and each card and character is described in loving detail and absolutely inspires a truly joyful feel. I thought rather than to review this deck as I usually do, I would perhaps do an actual interview of it instead and I was not disappointed by it's lively and straight forward answers. Here are a few of the questions I asked and how the deck responded...

Tell me about yourself, what is your most important characteristic? King of Swords- "The King Sagacity possesses the wisdom and courage to obtain all his desires. His dove companion, Justice, helps him work against dishonesty." What a terrific card to pop up when describing this decks most important characteristic! The King of Swords encourages the use of logic and intellect to navigate the path ahead and will definately get to the heart of the matter so buckle your seat belt, this deck will take you on a journey to see through all the clutter and fog to show you what the issues really are!

What are your strengths? The Moon- "Illuminating hidden truths, the Moon's energy brings clarity to the surface." Here we can see Phantasm and his three owl companions Daze, Haze and Maze sitting on a branch, illuminated by a huge full moon in the background. The Moon calls attention to the shadow in all of us and leads us to becoming consciously aware of any fears and anxieties that may be projected onto your external surroundings. The Joie de Vivre tarot tells me that it will turn these fears around and into more positive and constructive energy, illuminating a path through the unknown.

How can I best learn from and work with you? Knight of Cups- "Intrigue, the passionate and poetic Knight of Cups is the messenger of ideas and opportunities." This Knight is in touch with his intuition and emotions, and The Joie de Vivre will teach me to blend my imagination and logic to make dreams come true. this deck will bring inspiration and encourage me to undertake the journey of imagination and creativity to which the unconscious will guide my path. What a beautiful statement this Knight makes, I'm filled with an expectant anticipation of this journey with The Joie de Vivre Tarot and can hardly wait to get started!

This is truly an amazing and energetic deck full of excitement and wonder, it would make a fantastic deck for beginners and seasoned readers alike. I love Paulina's imagery and the whimsical yet charming characters that flow through this deck and I had a terrific time reading with it. I heartily encourage you to check out the Joie de Vivre Tarot and see where your imagination and intuition take you!

Publisher: US Games

Artist: Paulina Cassidy

ISBN: 978-1-57281-662-6

Images used with permission from US Games Systems

Deck Review- Tokens Of Light

2011-10-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Although the Tokens of Light are not a deck of cards per se, these little gems by Orna Ben-Shoshan still have the unique ability to shed light on our day to day affairs and give us valuable insights into life using 66 "paths" that enable us to navigate life's sometimes turbulent waters.

According to the Kabbalah, the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are considered as channels through which the Divine Abundance flows through the universe. Each circular Token has it's very own unique spiritual and energetic attributes and represent the process of creation from beginning to end, and therefore correspond to events and flow of our every day lives.

When these Tokens were being created, three different aspects were chosen to compose a system of 66 definitions, giving the reader insightful guidance to help understand the forces that affect different situations in their lives. Each Token has whimsical but yet beautiful imagery on one side and on the other, a number and Hebrew letter with what that letter stands for in Hebrew and translated into English as well so that it serves as both keyword and an "understanding."

There is a fantastic 86 page interpretation booklet that comes with the Tokens of Light as well as a gorgeous silver leaf designed bag in which to hold your Tokens and it can be used as a means of shuffling them too. Now, you may be thinking just how accurate are the Tokens of Light and after working with them for a few weeks now, I have found that they are surprisingly relevant to the questions or situations I have inquired of them.

As an added bonus, this system also includes two amulet coins that are not to be included in readings, but are to carry with you. One represents a blessing for protection and fulfillment and the other that brings balance and success to all areas of an individual's life, what a fantastic, uplifting affirmation is that?

In the interpretation booklet, several "spreads" or ways to use these Tokens are presented but I've found that simply pulling them out of the bag and laying down three or four tokens is quite enlightening and informative. The artwork is stunning and The Tokens of Light were a real joy to work with. I highly recommend them to anyone wanting a more unique form of insight or divination... Anyone would truly benefit from this amazing set of cards.

Publisher:Kabbalah Insights

Artist: Orna Ben-Shoshan

Occupy Wall Street- My Three Card Draw

2011-10-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

For the past four weeks it's been pretty difficult not to notice what has been happening in our country, it's been in the television news, on the internet and in newspapers about the Occupy Wall Street protests. It now has spread to as many as 84 countries around the world... people are tired and I don't blame them. I sat watching reports on MSNBC this morning and I wondered, what does Tarot have to say to us about the situation that we find ourselves in? So I layed down three cards... Situation, Obstacle and Outcome.

For the Situation, I drew the King of Coins reversed, now the King of Coins normally indicates abundance and success but when he appears reversed he often signifies a disproportionate interest in material things and a tendency to indulge in excess. Materialism and excess has been a defining factor of the American way of life for a very long time. It is an attitude that paints the American picture... It has given a perception of wealth and prosperity, however it is more often than not, a shallow example of reality. The possession of things does not equate to financially stability and as we are all finding out that materialism, excess, big business, lack of jobs and other countless issues has led to the unrest we see today.

The Obstacle card is the Page of Wands. Now the Page of Wands reversed as an obstacle card indicates to me that the protesters and their cause must walk a very fine line, they must not appear to be using their strength of numbers and fiery motivation to bully or intimidate the powers that be... steer clear of petty arguments and minor scuffles. So far protests against Wall Street and big business, with the exception of a handful of folks, has been peaceful and non violent. If they want their message to be heard loud and clear, they should avoid indecision and the instability which accompanies it by declaring a firm objective and clear mission statements. Become a united front, speak with united voices, they may need to repeat the message many times but they should remain firm in what is being said.

Now, as far as a possible Outcome, I drew the Two of Wands. This is a wonderful card to have in the outcome position, the Two of Wands takes the spark of inspiration from the Ace and matures it into an actual path forward, it's about stepping out of your comfort zone and exhibiting great courage. As we have seen, thousands have joined the Occupy Wall Street movement and it seems to me that the longer these protests go on, the better chance we as a nation have, to realize this opportunity to make our country and even the world a much better place. We should all begin to consider our longer-term goals and aspirations and plan ahead for what we will all need to do to achieve such goals as job creation, gay rights, the various forms of oppression, equal status of ALL people... not just a select few and we must demonstrate our patience and focus of intent. Let us all work towards these goals no matter who we are or where we come from.

Deck Review- Tea Leaf Fortune Cards

2011-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

The art of Tea Leaf Reading is referred to as Tasseomancy. Tea has been around for some 5,000 years so it may be that people were reading tea leaves as far back as that. The reader picks up the cup and reads the patterns formed by the tea leaves. Usually the best tea leaf reading will come from readers who also have natural artistic skills but since most of us are not trained as such, there is a wonderful new deck that takes the guess work out of tea leaf reading.

I'd like to introduce The Tea Leaf Fortune Cards by Rae Hepburn and published By US Games. Rae Hepburn has studied tea leaf reading for more than thirty years and with these fabulous cards we can reap the benefits of readings without all the hassle of learning volumes of information.

The Tea Leaf Fortune Cards are 200 lovely round cards (12 Month of the year cards, 6 Astral House cards and 186 Tea Leaf cards) with amazingly appealing artwork that makes reading with them loads of fun, I love the round shape and I've found that shuffling them is actually quite easy. There are a couple different ways that they can be shuffled, by placing them all on a flat surface and mixing them up with your hands or, as I have found, stacking the wonderful little spheres in several small stacks and shuffling as you might do with a regular card deck, making sure to shuffle all the stacks evenly.

This deck and book set also comes with a gorgeous golden bag that you can use to store your cards in and even shake them as a method of shuffling as well. The accompanying 94 page instruction book is a wonderful resource with the history of Tasseomancy, the development of the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards, traditional reading methods, several spreads that you can use with these cards and an alphabetical listing of all 200 cards with an interpretation of each.

I had a really great time shuffling and reading with these cards and I'm simply amazed at just how accurately they read! This is a great deck for anyone who wishes to dip their toes into tea leaf reading and this form of geomancy. This is one deck that would be a wonderful addition to anyone's collection!

Lizzie's Moon Spread

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Moon has always held a place of particular fascination in our lives, provoking the imagination to escape its limits and, as we look outwards, moving us towards an understanding of our inner selves. Monuments and shrines have been built to her; calendars follow her motion; ancient Gods and Goddesses mimic the Moon's gentle and unending pull on the forces of life and, as Carl Jung has described, brings us back in touch with subconscious selves.

In the universal language of the mind, the Moon represents awareness in the subconscious mind. It tells that there is something in a person's life which isn't as clear-cut as they might think. Since most of our feelings and behavior is controlled by the subconscious, it makes sense that, in order to make positive changes in our lives, we have to work on this subconscious aspect of ourselves

Although powerful, intelligent and vast, our subconscious is the feminine aspect of our mind. It is submissive to the command of our conscious, logical mind. Our conscious mind or logical mind, is the decision maker. But too often we go around in life confused because we are influenced by the limitations reported to us by our conscious or logical mind. We become reliant on facts. The subconscious mind has a wealth of information but the problem is how to get at that information.

I pondered and pondered both the conscious and subconscious mind for quite some time and then it came to me...How about a Tarot spread that incorporates information on both aspects of myself, how can I get these vastly different parts of my mind to work together and what messages may be gleaned from doing so...and I came up with what I'm calling Lizzie's Moon Spread using the Moon as a significator.

Moon

card 2 card 3

card 1 card 4

1.) How are my subconscious mind and logical mind communicating right now?

2.) What is my subconscious mind trying to tell me?

3.) What is logical mind trying to tell me?

4.) How do I better integrate my logical mind and my subconscious mind?

First, go through your deck and pull out the Moon card and place it at the top, then shuffle the rest of your deck, cut and lay out four cards as shown above.

Imagine the Moon, shining down upon the four cards...How does the subconscious mind influence the cards that you've drawn? Are there drastic differences in how your logical mind and subconscious mind work? How might you integrate these two parts of yourself? Why not give it a go and see what you can discover. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

The Moon card pictured above is from the beautiful Golden Tarot by Kat Black

Deck Review- The Gaian Tarot

2011-09-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

From seeds first planted in the nineteen eighties, The Gaian Tarot has developed from a Limited Edition deck into the mass market edition, printed and released recently by Llewellyn Worldwide. Created by Joanna Powell Colbert, The Gaian Tarot combines her love of symbolic art and the natural world, and was nine years in the making.

This deck lovingly reflects Joanna's special relationship with nature, her neighborhood and her spiritual community and is an absolutely gorgeous earth centered deck that depicts local Pacific Northwest landscapes, incorporates naturalist history and the very best part...all of these wonderful, everyday people are real! This is a fantastic, multicultural deck that pictures people and animals that are all familiar with Joanna, in her everyday life, her nature journals and photo's taken by her.

Joanna's artistry is simply amazing, her creative process starts out with several thumbnail sketches, a photo shoot, a digital collage, line drawing and finally, a medium of waxed based colored pencils... the imagery is so real that the Gaian Tarot nearly seems as though they are actual photographs.

I was immediately drawn to The Gaian Tarot mainly because of it's earth based theme and was doubly delighted to discover just how truly special this deck is. I do a lot of reviews but this deck definately stood out among the rest the second I held it in my hands and began to slowly look through each card. This is not just a RWS clone, although Joanna has faithfully kept the traditional Tarot structure, the images are fresh and contemporary, making it very appealing and quite relevant to our modern daily life.

The cards are so realistic, making it possible to actually envision yourself as part of the scenery and meaning of each card. The accompanying 288 page companion book is a beautifully written and the card descriptions very nurturing and uplifting. I'm a huge fan of affirmations and each card has really wonderful and reassuring affirmation that you can't help but feel great about yourself after reading them.

There are some differences in The Gaian Tarot that you will instantly notice. In the Major Arcana some of the cards have been given updated and more relevant names such as The Seeker instead of The Fool, The Gardener from The Empress and The Builder instead of the Emperor but this just makes this deck so special because when you think of the traditional Tarot titles and their keywords, isn't the Gardener a more fitting title as she represents fertility and abundance as well as creativity and nurturing, all ideas that befit a gardener or someone who works closely with Mama Gaia.

The Minor Arcana are grouped in an elemental manner, with Swords represented by Air, Wands as Fire, Cups as Water and Pentacles as Earth which in my opinion works very well when reading elemental dignities in a spread. Joanna also updated the familiar Court Cards and more accessible titles such as Child for Pages, Explorers for Knights, Guardians instead of Queens and Elders for Kings. Each Court Card group also has a glorious mix of two male figures and two female figures which makes reading the Courts so much more appealing as they represent actual people and roles that we encounter in our daily life.

This is truly an amazing deck and it would make a fantastic deck to use if you are a beginner! I love it's coloring, modern imagery and earth based theme, I highly encourage you to go give it a look because I can honestly say that The Gaian Tarot is definately one for your collection!

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

Artist: Joanna Powell Colbert

ISBN-13: 978-0738718910

Images used with permission from Llewellyn Worldwide

Book Review- Tarot, Birth Cards and You

2011-09-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

There is a fantastic new book out by Bonnie Cehovet, "Tarot, Birth Cards and You..Keys To Empowering Yourself" and I had the honor of being able to review this amazing book. The title says, Empowering but what does empowering really mean? Well, empowerment comes from within yourself. It results in self-reliance which embodies assuming responsibility, making your own decisions, desiring to be informed/understand and knowing where you are heading.

It's the coming to a realization that something must change and in Bonnie's book, all the information that you need are right at your fingertips, using the archetypes of the 22 Major Arcana to guide you in understanding the path that you walk in this lifetime and to reach your full potential.

The way in which you figure out your Birth Cards is quite simple, using a system developed by The Tarot School, all you need to start with is the month, date and year that you were born. To illustrate this I will use my birth date in order to give you an idea of just how this is done. February 1st, 1966 which is then written like this:

66=

8+8= 16

The number is then used to figure out which Major Arcana cards are your birth cards, in this case mine are The Tower (16) and Chariot (6+1=7). All together, there are eleven Birth Card pairs and a one Birth Card trio, that each come with their own challenges as well as gifts.

This is where Bonnie's brilliance begins to shine, each pair is described in a way that is not only easy to understand but enlightening as well as quite useful to better understand not only ourselves but those around us and can even be used to bring clarification for clients we may work with during a tarot reading.

As I have mentioned, my Birth Card pair of the Tower and Chariot (as with all described in this book) start with astrological information, keywords, theme, how such a combination empowers an individual and is followed by questions for that given card, absolutely transformative affirmations, journeying exercises and summary. At the end of each pair is a terrific segment about working with gifts, abilities and challenges that really defines areas that our Birth Cards can help us in our daily life and long term goal planning.

The true power of Tarot archetypes and the use of Birth Cards rests in their ability to intuitively see deeply into our lives and find new meaning. They can shed new light on many of the issues that challenge us including some things that we may not even be consciously aware of. Once these issues are brought to our attention and are properly understood, we can then seek ways to address them.

Did you know that using affirmations for a twenty two day period ( the length of time it takes to become part of our lives) can begin to heal us on all levels? They do this by opening us up to new ways of thinking and new possibilities. What an absolutely beautiful thought, that life as I know it can become richer, fuller and all those negative things I have a tendency to tell myself can be overcome...I can take all that Chariot and Tower energy and use it to guide my life, to direct how I approach and handle situations!

I could absolutely go on for days about how this information can truly transform how we see ourselves and our roles in the world! There is just so much information in this book, it is an excellent addition to one's "tarot toolkit" for personal enrichment, understanding and goal setting to reach one's full potential. This really is a "must have" book in your tarot book collection!

Publisher: Schiffer Books
Author: Bonnie Cehovet
ISBN: 9780764339028

Tarot Reading

2011-09-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

If you are changing jobs, in transition, starting or ending a relationship, or just want some guidance, a tarot reading is the perfect experience for you.

The true power of tarot reading though rests in its ability to intuitively see deeply into our lives and find new meaning. It can shed new light on many of the issues that challenge us including some things that we may not even be consciously aware of. Once these issues are brought to our attention and are properly understood, we can then seek ways to address them. To this end, a tarot reading can also recommend positive steps we can take in our lives to resolve most types of problems.

If you are interested in a tarot reading with me, just hop on over to my Tarot Readings page found in the right hand sidebar and book your reading today!

In Memory

2011-09-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Deck Review- The Golden Tarot

2011-09-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

When I asked to review The Golden Tarot by Kat Black, I had no idea of what was in store for me, I love reviewing decks and sharing what I think with others and generally I always give positive reviews of a deck because I feel that each deck is a true treasure for someone to cherish and develop a strong bond with. The Golden Tarot absolutely blew my mind with it's hard shelled, keepsake box and breathtakingly beautiful gilt edges and fabulous imagery! It instantly became one of my favorites.

The Golden Tarot was first introduced on the web and despite it's start involving piracy and then finally a campaign by online fans which ultimately led to it's publication by US Games Systems, we now have a gorgeous deck that brings a Medieval/Renaissance flavor that adds elegance and surprising depth to this deck. I love the stand up, slip off top box that holds the cards and the 198 page instruction booklet safe and sound between use, it's not only quite attractive but sturdy and durable. The edging on the box is done in a brown and gold-ish design that adds just the right touch to make it stand out.

This deck was created to showcase the highly under rated, phenomenal artwork from the 1200-1500's (in which we see artwork just before the very beginnings of the Renaissance period) which began to show reality rather than a stylized representation of the earlier art seen in the medieval period. Much of the Golden Tarot's style is from a period called International Gothic that eventually evolved into the Renaissance style. Kat Black chose not to use artwork that was familiar (like works from Botticelli, daVinci and Michelangelo) in order to bring recognition to the brilliant but lesser known paintings that needed to be shared and discovered by everyone who has the privilege of working with this gorgeous deck.

The 22 Major Arcana as well as the 56 Minor Arcana cards are all digitally collaged and I was quite surprised to discover this because the images are so seamless I would have never known had I not read about her teqniques and artistic style. I discussed the cards with a few friends of mine and after looking at the imagery, they were surprised as well since the cards are so perfectly presented.

The Major Arcana are absolutely magnificent, I love the earthy colors and and gilded edging on the cards that simply take my breath away, I remember remarking to folks how beautiful The Golden Tarot is with it's gilt edging and gorgeous light brown marbled borders with card titles across the bottom written in very elegant font. The deck is reminiscent of The Rider Waite and the meanings are easily recognizable with little added images that really lend a depth to readings that I haven't found in other decks, like the Temperance card in which we can see a winged nun standing in a small stream pouring water from one stylish cup to another.

Above Temperance is a small saint bestowing a blessing upon her that I absolutely love. I'm not sure why this small saint impresses me so much but it so totally fits in with this rendering of Temperance and it is one of my favorite cards from The Golden Tarot.

The Minor Arcana are also absolutely gorgeous and are also bordered with the same light brown marbled borders and titles of each card at the bottom. The suits are Wands, Coins, Swords and Cups with Court Cards named Page, Knight, Queen and King. I just adore the way Kat chose to present the Court Cards with the youthful Pages, each standing holding the symbol of their suit, the Queens each show a beautiful bust of each Queen also holding the symbol of their suit, the gallant Knights each riding an elegantly decorated steed and the King of Wands and Swords seated at a gorgeously adorned throne and the Kings of Cups and Coins standing with symbols of their suit surrounding them.

This is absolutely among one of my favorite decks and shuffles fantastically making it a joy to work with. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my interpretations of cards pulled from The Golden tarot the last two weeks as I worked with it and got ready to write my review, I even noticed fresh ways of looking at interpretations that I may not have thought of simply because the artwork and imagery is so beautiful. I would absolutely recommend this deck for both beginners and experts alike and I truly think this would make an excellent addition to anyone's Tarot collection.

Publisher: US Games Systems

ISBN: 1-57281-434-9

Size: 2 7/8" x 4 3/4"

Artist: Kat Black

Images used with permission of US Games

Serenity Sunday

2011-08-07T03:42:00.000-07:00

The Four of Cups depicts a young man forlornly looking over three cups in front of him, off to his side, appears a bright shiny Cup just waiting for him to reach out to it, yet the man is disastified. This is a card of dissention, and malcontent. When this card comes up, it often means that the person is seeking more than their needs and is not content with just having their needs met, when maybe what is needed is being thankful for one's blessings.

Count your blessings, this is such a simple charge and a reminder to be grateful for what we have. Yet in the craziness and the hustle and bustle of daily living stopping to be grateful and count our blessings is often one that we fail to overlook. Instead of the losses focus on the positive aspects of life, it can help in shifting attitudes and life challenges.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Roses blooming

4.) Birds at the bird feeder

5.) Overcoming obstacles

6.) Iced tea

7.) Great books

8.) Good friends

9.) Butterflies

10.) Good night's sleep

Deck Review- Upcoming reviews

2011-08-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have some amazing decks that I'll be reviewing in the coming weeks...

* The Celestial Tarot by Kay Steventon and Brian Clark

* The Gendron Tarot by Melanie Gendron

* The Golden Tarot by Kat Black

* The Lover's Path Tarot by Kris Waldherr

* and a special review requested by Sheri, tune in to see which deck it might be!

These are really great decks and I hope that you will drop by to check them out!

Serenity Sunday

2011-07-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

In Kindness

Author: Anne Marie Cline

Kindness speaks the words,

Your heart could never speak.

Your wings hold me up,

And give me strength when I am weak.

The warmth of your protection,

Brings music to my heart.

You open up the doors,

You show me where to start.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Good friends

4.) New books

5.) Words of encouragement

6.) Iced sweet tea

7.) Sleeping in

8.) The sound of a waterfall

9.) Starry nights

10.) Evening walks

Deck Review- Tarot of the Cat Peple

2011-07-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall and published by US Games is a truly unique and visually pleasing deck that is filled to the brim with cats of every sort...one of my favorite animals. Kuykendall, affectionately called "the cat lady" by those who know her, uses influences of architecture, anthropology, art history, costumes in history and her many travels, in creation of this wonderful deck.

This 78 card deck measures 2 5/8" x 4 5/8" and is just the right size for shuffling. It has a glossy lamination and intriguing imagery that makes reading with these cards a real pleasure. I absolutely adore the cat mirror image on the back and that was what first drew my attention to this deck...well, I love cats too and with this deck I can combine my love of cats with my love of Tarot.

The Major Arcana is the beginning of five kingdoms, and is called the Diamond Kingdom, home to the Sky People. The imagery follows the Rider Waite tradition and meanings are easily recognized. I love the Fool, pictured with a small striped cat clinging to his leg as if to stop him from a dangerous fall and the Star card which pictures a finely dressed woman holding aloft a cat surrounded by glittering stars against a dark background. Card twenty is also impressive, named Rejuvenation, which is the Rider Waite equivalent of Judgement.

The Minor Arcana starts with the suit of Swords and the Ruby Kingdom, home to the Fire People and their gorgeous felines. Next is the suit of Wands, the Emerald Kingdom home to the Sand People. The suit of Cups is the Topaz Kingdom where the Salt people live and last but not least is the suit of Pentacles, the Sapphire Kingdom, home of the Rock People. Each kingdom is described in the LWB (little white book) and descriptions are given of the landscape, inhabitants personality and even products that each make.

I simply adore this deck and it's unique artwork and people living alongside their faithful feline companions. This is a terrific deck that combines fiction and fantasy to produce a truly wonderful deck. This would make a great deck for both new and experienced readers and it's story makes for hours of great readings.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Artist: Karen Kuykendall

ISBN: 0-88079-078-4

images used with permission from US Games

Serenity Sunday

2011-07-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

A great way to use giving thanks to appreciate life more fully is to use gratitude to help you put things in their proper perspective. When things don’t go your way, remember that every difficulty carries within it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit. In the face of adversity ask yourself: “What’s good about this?”, “What can I learn from this?”, and “How can I benefit from this?”

Those who practice gratitude tend to be more creative, bounce back more quickly from adversity, have a stronger immune system, and have stronger social relationships than those who don’t practice gratitude. To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Great friends

4.) Fresh baked bread

5.) Sunny Summer days

6.) Watching the local parade with my kids

7.) A good book

8.) Croaking frogs

9.) Morning walks

10.) Handmade gifts

Deck Review- The Vanessa Tarot

2011-07-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Vanessa Tarot by Lynard Narciso and published by US Games, is a totally fun and modern deck full of sassy ladies and up to date themes. The Vanessa Tarot has taken it's influences from several areas including pop culture, female role models from both the large and small screen as well as heroines from comic book genres.

This 78 card deck is just the perfect size at 2" x 3.5" and easily fits into smaller hands and makes shuffling a breeze. The card backs are purple with pale colored pinstripes and blue stars making it able to be read upright or reversed. The lamination is glossy and appealing, making the fabulous imagery truly unique and is not too "slickery" that it's difficult to keep a hold of the cards. It comes with the standard LWB (little white book) of meanings and comes in a terrific keepsake tin in which to store all the cards.

The Major Arcana follows the Rider Waite tradition but with more modern, fresh scenes such as the Star which pictures a bathing beauty in a lovely purple bikini, frolicking in the water with her pail and shovel and the Hierophant as a sassy school teacher sitting on her desk as she instructs her class and the Wheel of Fortune, which I absolutely love, showing a finely dressed game show hostess standing in front of the traditional Wheel image.

The Minor Arcana, also follows the Rider Waite tradition and continues the fresh upbeat theme of this deck with cards such as the Eight of Wands picturing a witchy clad woman on a broom like the image we all grew up with of Elizabeth Montgomery in the t.v. series Bewitched as well as the Seven of wands with it's She Ra image, holding off six Wands from below.

This is a truly great deck and brings a fresh approach to the standard images many of us are used to but that's what makes it such a fun deck to work with. It's easy to connect with this deck and it's wonderful ideas and would make an excellent deck for both new and experienced, young and older readers.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Creator: Lynard Narciso

ISBN: 1-57281-574-4

images used with permission from US Games

Serenity Sunday

2011-07-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) New tarot decks

4.) Feather pillows

5.) Cool breezes

6.) Happy times

7.) The interwebs

8.) Iced tea

9.) Lazy Sunday mornings

10.) New friends

Serenity Sunday

2011-07-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Summer Chimes and Summer Wines

Listening to the summer chimes,
Of summer sounds of summer time,
Bringing all that nature is,
That shows and sounds like,
Summer chimes,

Chimes of soft winds,
Chimes of soft river streams,
Sounds that say of that time and season,
That summer time sounds so sweet,
It rings the sounds of summer chimes,
With rays of sunlight streaming by,

Summer chimes with summer wines,
Can be the momentum interludes of summer times,
When summer time is to be,
There in natures places,
Full of bloom and hidden places,
Where,
Listening to the summer chimes,
Of summer time,
And sitting and drinking,
A summer wine,

With the summer chimes,
And summer wines,
With summer and its nature sounds,
Bringing out the musical chimes,
Of summer sounds,
Along with summer chance,
And the per chance that evolves,
Bringing summer chimes,
With summer wines,
Of true summer chance,
With love intwined,
And summer wine,

So if per chance,
To meet again,
That evolves and begins,
From summer meets,
Bringing that summer chance,
To summer chimes,
With summer wines,
That begins and lasts,
Within in the hearts of those,
That let per chance happen,
And fall in love,

Then it will continue all year long,
For those that took the chance,
In summer chance,
And let the per chance,
Take it course,
And win,
For love to hear,
The summer chimes,
Sipping summer wine.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Summer fun

4.) Iced Mocha

5.) Fresh roses

6.) Frogs in the pond

7.) Lemonade

8.) BBQ's

9.) Cool breezes

10.) Blooming herbs

Serenity Sunday

2011-06-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Gratitude Spell

What You Will Need:
~ Green Candle
~ Patchouli Oil

Instructions:
During the waxing moon, annoint your green candle with patchouli oil. Light the candle and say the following several times to Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth and beauty: "OM Mala Lakshmi, Lakshmi, Lakshmi, Namah." This chant thanks Lakshmi and opens the door for abundance to come into your life. Let candles burn themselves out safely, or repeat for consecutive days until larger candle is gone.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Ibuprofen

4.) Herbal tea

5.) Turkey sandwiches

6.) Puffs tissue

7.) Fresh baked bread

8.) Great friends

9.) Classical music

10.) Laughter is the best medicine

Serenity Sunday

2011-06-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just as “Milk does a body good,” Epsom Salt may be one of the most perfect nutrients for flowers and plants. And mid-to-late spring is the ideal time to nourish the soils and roots of your favorite foliage and flowers with this inexpensive and easy-to-use compound. According to the Epsom Salt Council, research indicates Epsom Salt can help seeds germinate; make plants grow bushier; produce more flowers; increase chlorophyll production; improve phosphorus and nitrogen uptake; and deter pests, including slugs and moles.

I have a small rose garden in front of my house and each year I treat them to 1/2 cup of epsom salts in mid spring, along with the rose food I feed them regularly. I learned of this little trick years ago when I worked at a local nursery and later as a master gardener in my area. At first I scoffed and was very skeptical but one year I figured that I would be open minded and try it, lo and behold my roses started pushing new canes from their graft and were generally hardier and more full. I promised myself that I'd be open minded from then on because sometimes...you just never know when a great tip might turn up!

My List:

1.) My children

2.) My friends

3.) My cats

4.) Learning from past mistakes

5.) My willingness to let go and let the Universe handle it

6.) Time for myself

7.) The scent of the air after a rainstorm

8.) Finding the positive in a negative situation

9.) Knowing hope is always present

10.) Seeing joy on another's face

Serenity Sunday

2011-06-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Gratitude Spell

Gratitude will get you everything. To make use of this kind of magic, set your altar with a suitable incense such as frankincense or myrrh, as well as a safe incense burner and a lighter. Light the incense and smell the sweet smoke, then say:

Lord and Lady, I give thanks
For Sun that warms and wind that sings.
You have given me so much,
Now I give thanks for all these things.

Spend as much time as it takes to count your blessings, and speak what you appreciate about each blessing. Thank your divine patrons as you would thank a family member for a perfect birthday gift. Ask for nothing.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Great friends

4.) Good times

5.) Sunshine

6.) Tarot

7.) Red licorice

8.) Calculators

9.) Packages in the mail

10.) Fishing

Deck Review- The Connolly Tarot

2011-06-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Connolly Tarot, created by mom Eileen Connolly and illustrated by son Peter Paul Connolly is a wonderful visually pleasing deck, reminiscent of medieval stained glass often associated with majestic cathedrals found all over Europe.

Peter Connolly has created stunning imagery using colored pencils and rich colors, making this a truly stunning deck. The images follow the Rider Waite symbolism and are easy to follow, making it a great deck for beginners and intermediate readers and has a great positive feel to it. The cards are laminated lightly and the design on the backs make it able to be read upright or reversed.

Although following the Rider Waite symbolism, the Major Arcana does have a few minor differences like card number 13 titled Death in most decks has been softened and renamed Transition reflecting transformation and the change of life's path and card 15 normally titled the Devil, renamed Materialism which reflects that perhaps the tools of life have been abused.

The Minor Arcana are just as beautiful and detailed as the Majors and each have Roman numerals at the top of each card. There are a lot of chubby little cherubs in this deck and adds a sense of charm and spirituality that runs through both Major and Minor Arcana. I just love the colors, they are striking and the symbolism is gentle and easy to interpret. This would be a great deck for any collection.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Creators: Eileen Connolly and Peter Paul Connolly

ISBN: 0-88079-437-2

Images used with permission from US Games

Serenity Sunday

2011-06-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

Friends For Life

We are Friends
I got your back
You got mine,
I'll help you out
Anytime!
To see you hurt
To see you cry
Makes me weep
And wanna die
And if you agree
To never fight
It wouldn't matter
Who’s wrong or right
If a broken heart
Needs a mend
I'll be right there
Till the end
If your cheeks are wet
From drops of tears
Don't worry
Let go of your fears
Hand in hand
Love is sent,
We'll be friends
Till the end!!!!

Angelica N. Brissett

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Best friends

4.) Sunny days

5.) Hope

6.) A shoulder to cry on

7.) An ear to listen

8.) Tarot

9.) BBQ's

10.) Text messaging

Deck Review- The Fenestra Tarot

2011-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Created by Thai artist Chatriya Hemharnvibul, The Fenestra Tarot is an elegant blend of soft mauve, cream and olive watercolor tones influenced by elements of Egyptian history, Japanese manga, western art and classical mythology. This is a truly beautiful deck both graceful and artistically appealing.

The card stock is nice and sturdy yet flexible when shuffling and the cards have a wonderful glossy lamination that really makes Chatriya's artwork pop. The deck itself measures 2 3/4' x 4 3/4" making it a perfect for any sized hands to shuffle. Each card has a wonderful border around it which makes a wonderful window like frame around the images and the word Fenestra itself means window which I found both enlightening and charming at the same time.

The Major Arcana features a stylized and gorgeous border with two graceful roses at the bottom of each card. This deck follows the Rider Waite tradition with it's imagery and makes it a very nice deck for beginners and experienced alike. The Moon card is quite lovely and features two female figures above and below a moon showing half and full phases. The Moon is always one of the first cards I look at in a deck and Chatriya has painted this card exceptionally well in my opinion.

The Minor Arcana are equally as beautiful with their ornate yet distinctly different border from the Majors. It is in the Minor Arcana where you can really notice the Japanese manga influence in the imagery of it's characters but the modern depictions are quite pleasant and comfortable to look at. This is a great deck, I love the colors and it's imagery appeals to me. It is very easy to read with and gives pretty detailed and accurate readings. I definately would encourage one to add the Fenestra Tarot to their collection!

Publisher: US Games Systems

Artist: Chatriya

ISBN: 1-57281-560-4

Images used with permission by US Games

Serenity Sunday

2011-05-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Before I was a Mom,I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts.

I slept all night

Before I was a Mom,I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep

Before I was a Mom,I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn't stop the hurt

I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom

Before I was a Mom,I didn't know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body..

I didn't know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond

between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

Before I was a Mom!

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Opinions

4.) New tarot bags

5.) Home made vegetable soup

6.) Patience

7.) Sage

8.) Funny videos

9.) BBQ's

10.) Sweet tea

Tarot Tuesday

2011-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

I drew these cards one day last week, as I have a routine of doing everyday and found myself quite surprised. I usually sit and ponder my daily draws as I sip my morning coffee and this day was really not much different this day until their meaning suddenly came to me...it was the Serenity Prayer. I'm not sure if many are aware of this prayer, it's one of the sayings from Alcoholic's Anonymous and goes something like this...

God, grant me the Serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

the Courage to change the things I can

And the Wisdom to know the difference.

It was so surprising because my little inner voice came through loud and clear and there was no doubt in my mind that this was their message to me and as I glanced at the calender, I happen to notice the date...May 19th, my mother and step-father's anniversary. Tarot never ceases to amaze me because you see, my parents met at a meeting many years ago and are still happily married today, it had slipped my mind but my cards knew. I was reminded to call them and wish them a very Happy Anniversary.

Deck Review- The Medieval Cat Tarot

2011-05-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Being a tarot lover and cat enthusiast, I get to combine my two most favorite things with a deck illustrated by Lawrence Teng and text provided by Gina M. Price and Lawrence Teng called The Medieval Cat Tarot offered by US Games Systems Inc. This is a charming deck featuring dapper little felines, all in elegant fifteenth century finery.

This is a 78 card deck measuring 2 1/2 "x 4 3/4" based loosely on the Rider Waite tradition but differing in the aspect that it depicts images of folk art style illustrations and limited symbolism. That, however, does not affect this decks ability to convey concepts and feelings found in more symbolically detailed decks.

The Major Arcana are not numbered but do have the name of each card found at the bottom so that if one were to prefer Strength and Justice to be in a traditional or reversed order this can be accommodated. The one thing I did notice about these little kitties is that the usually titled High Priestess and the Heirophant are called the Popess and the Pope respectively which adds a certain flair, given the unique nature of this deck.

The Minor Arcana are also not numbered but have each suit in the appropriate number shown on each card along with a small cameo in the middle expressing the feeling or concept of each card. The Courts Card images are richly pictured with the Pages in renaissance style cloaks, each holding the symbol of their suit, the gallant Knights on their decorated steeds, the Queens primly sitting on their thrones with imagery of each suit along side of them and the regal Kings, also sitting on their thrones showing the nature of their suit in the background behind them.

All of the cards are bordered attractively and the shiny lamination is absolutely perfect for showing of these little cats at their best and comes with the standard LWB ( little white book). This an excellent deck for beginner to intermediate tarot readers and the cards read wonderfully and quite accurately too. I absolutely love this deck, not just for it's subject matter of cats but the style of the cards and colors used in the deck. I highly recommend this deck for any collection.

Serenity Sunday

2011-05-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Tolerance

Tolerance refers to an attitude of openness and respect for the differences that exist among people. Although originally used to refer to ethnic and religious differences, the concepts of diversity and tolerance can also be applied to gender, people with physical and intellectual disabilities, and other differences, too.

Tolerance means respecting and learning from others, valuing differences, bridging cultural gaps, rejecting unfair stereotypes, discovering common ground, and creating new bonds. Tolerance, in many ways, is the opposite of prejudice.

Society was founded on freedom from religious persecution and on tolerance of differences in beliefs and cultural heritage. The differences (or diversity) that come from people from all over the world enrich our culture, bringing new ideas and energy.

But does tolerance mean that all behaviors have to be accepted? Of course not. Behaviors that disrespect or hurt others, like being mean or bullying, or behaviors that break social rules, like lying or stealing, should not be tolerated. Tolerance is about accepting people for who they are — not about accepting bad behavior. Tolerance also means treating others the way you would like to be treated.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Uneventful Saturdays

4.) Comedy

5.) Tarot

6.) Scented candles

7.) Koi

8.) Ponytails

9.) Ficus trees

10.) Baseball

Deck Review- Preview

2011-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working with some pretty amazing decks right now that I will be reviewing in the upcoming weeks...here's a preview of the deck titles!

The Medieval Cat Tarot

The Old English Tarot

The Hanson-Roberts Tarot

The Connolly Tarot

The Fenestra Tarot

Tune in next Monday to see just which deck I'm reviewing!

Serenity Sunday

2011-05-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Lemon Thyme

A sweetly scented, evergreen herb and a cultivated form of wild thyme. It is a popular culinary herb due to its mild citrus flavor and is often used in stuffings, with chicken dishes or added to fruit salads and jellies.

Lemon thyme has therapeutic effects as well and is popular as an alternative to standard Western allopathic medicine for a variety of problems, including anti-ageing properties, relieving muscle spasms as well as easing a tight chest and promoting relaxation.

I have a couple varieties of Thyme in my herb garden and highly advocate adding the Lemon variety to yours, it's creeping and mounding nature adds a wonderful, scented addition around water features such as a pond or just as a terrific contrast along with other herbs.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) Great friends

3.) LOTS of laughter

4.) Frogs serenading me from our pond at night.

5.) Weeding the flower beds

6.) The scent of Hyacinths

7.) Roses bursting with foliage

8.) My readers..you guy's are the BEST!

9.) Mowing the lawn

10.) Smudging the house in honor of Spring

Deck Review- The Kingdom Within Tarot

2011-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Kingdom Within Tarot is a truly unique deck based on the restored tree of Life as put forth by Charles Stanfield Jones, a star initiate of Aleister Crowley. It's based upon the ancient systems of Astrology, Qabalah and universal archetypes as well as sacred myths. It is a great deck in which to study these systems while discovering spiritual truths that had previously been hidden.

This is a little larger deck and comes in a beautiful hard covered box that you can use for storage. The lamination is glossy and wonderful, making the images almost seem 3-D. It comes with a 176 page companion book that gives very detailed descriptions of each card's symbolism as well as general meanings.

The Major Arcana cards are filled with detailed images and symbols like colored spheres, relating to a different path on the Tree of Life, astrological symbols as well as planets and other information. the images are unique and thought provoking, aiding to a deeper insight into life's questions. The colors are vivid and bright and pleasant to look at.

The Minor Arcana are just as detailed with many symbols seen in each card. The Courts are an interesting group, the Kings each have four grey spheres, one in each corner, correlating with Chokmah, the Father, the Queens have four black spheres for Binah, the Mother, the Princes have golden spheres representing Tiphereth, the Son and the Pages have four spheres divided into equal colors for Malkuth, the Daughter.

As detailed as the information is in the companion book, there is a much larger more in depth book that goes along with this deck called The Alchemy of Tarot Practical Enlightenment through astrology, Qabalah and Archetypes of Tarot which in itself is a wonderful study guide not only to the cards but of The Tree of Life itself and all the other symbolism found within the deck. This is an excellent reference manual for study and understanding and I was quite in awe of it's contents.

I found The Kingdom Within a truly wonderful deck with it's associations and symbolism and the companion book's information is very valuable to anyone who would like to study The Tree of Life and other such detailed concepts. I'm not sure if I would recommend this deck for an absolute beginner as some of the information is a lot to take on when just starting out but I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Tarot and it's rich symbolism.

Publisher:Schiffer Books

Authors: Juno Lucina and Shannon ThornFeather

ISBN: 9780764337109

Serenity Sunday

2011-05-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Usually every day it is my custom to grab my tarot deck and draw three cards for that day and see what they have to tell me. Tarot cards are funny things, they have a knack of telling you what you need to hear whether or not you are ready to hear them. I drew the three cards you see above Friday and I knew by the Star (my birth card) that this message was for me and I knew by the Queen of Wands (Kali) that it involved a strong female figure and some sort of renewal indicated by Aeon.

I sat at my desk pondering these cards for several minutes, just trying to figure out just what they were saying and for a long time their message eluded me so I let my attention drift over to my computer screen where I had TweetDeck running so I can keep up on all the latest Tweets. All of a sudden a Tweet appeared...it was about Mother's Day and in a flash that little light bulb in my head clicked on. I know what they're trying to tell me...and it was pretty simple too...I needed to resurrect my efforts to connect with my mother and call her on Mother's Day.

I wasn't really sure that I wanted to hear that I needed to call my mom on Mother's Day because you see, to say that our relationship was tenuous at best would be an understatement, which is probably why I didn't connect the Queen of Wands with my mother right away. So, what did I do next? I sent a text to my middle daughter asking her if she had spoken to Grandma Ginger lately and if so, how was she doing...I learned that she had surgery quite recently and was in the hospital (I guiltily glanced at my cards feeling rather unsettled at their message) so I knew that I needed to gather the courage and give her a call.

I called my step dad to see which hospital she was at and found out that she had been released and was staying with a relative during her recuperation and he gladly gave me her cell number (my mother has a cell phone, would wonders ever cease?) I called her and surprisingly she answered almost right away. I asked how she was doing and I could tell that she wasn't immediately sure who was asking but I forged on and she realized it was me. I wished her an early Happy Mother's Day and I could tell that I had certainly caught her off guard but she cordially said thank you and I felt a little better since the conversation went well.

It felt good to hear her voice, she sounded well and strong as ever and hopefully my call gave her something to think about. I never have forgotten about her, I think of my mother often...not just on her birthday, Christmas or even on her anniversary to my step dad but usually I'm too much of a coward to call and just let sleeping dogs lie. I really miss my mom, I wish that we had been able to have a relationship. I know she'll never read this post but Happy Mother's Day mom, I love you.

My List:

1.) My mom

2.) My kids

3.) Great Friends

4.) My Tarot cards

5.) Hand made Mother's Day gifts

6.) Memories

7.) Courage

8.) Cell phones

9.) Rice crispy treats

10.) Second Chances

Plant Of The Week- Anemone

2011-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

There are many different species of anemones so knowing as much as you can about anemone flower care is crucial if you want them to survive and thrive. The plant is a perennial that can be found in three different varieties. These are the spring flowering type, the tuberous Mediterranean, and the larger fall flowering type.

Although these are all different types of plants, there are some commonalities in anemone flower care. In general, anemones should be planted in the fall. The tuberous types should be separated in the spring as should those with rhizomatous roots. The anemones with fibrous roots can be separated in spring or fall, but should be kept in the pot for a year to ensure that it is well established before transplanting them to your garden.

It is important to water your anemones regularly. They need to be planted in well-drained soil that is moderately fertile. They need either full sun or sparse shade. Soak the flowers overnight before planting them and plant them 3-4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. In the fall you can cut them back to the ground and they will grow again in the spring. You should also divide the clumps every 2-3 years.

The anemones produce pretty flowers in varying colors, including purple, red, blue, white, and sometimes yellow. These flowers are cup-shaped and grow on elongated stems. The anemone is used medicinally to treat emotional distress and menstrual cramps and other related menstrual problems.

Anemones are a common plant that grows wild throughout North America, Japan, and many countries in Europe. The most common anemone is the Japanese anemone, which is due to the fact that they are not only beautiful, but relatively easy to care for. These anemones do well in many soil types, from sandy to clay-rich, and they can easily do well without a lot of supplementary irrigation. You can grow these plants in partly shaded areas.

The Japanese anemone is not really from Japan, but was developed by botanists in England, France, and Germany. They used Chinese species from which to develop the Japanese anemone and these plants are completely manmade. However, they are seen in abundance in many gardens and most varieties that exist are more than 100 years old.

Anemones are exceptionally beautiful flowering plants that serve to enhance the look and feel of any garden. So if you are looking for a new addition or to experiment with something new just for the fun of it, then you can take on anemone flower care in your garden and see the fruits of your labor grow into exceptional brilliance.

Deck Review

2011-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's been very hectic around here lately so I haven't had much time to work with a deck that I'm going to be reviewing and I want to give it time to talk to me and be able to work with it a little more, so my review will be posted next Monday. Tune in to see The Kingdom Within Tarot by Juno Lucina Shannon and ThornFeather. This is a great looking deck and there's a lot to work with so thank you for your patience.

Serenity Sunday

2011-05-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Beltane Recipes

Fried Honeycakes

These cakes were left in the garden to please Faery visitors. If you plan to leave an offering to the Faery, double the recipe to keep some for your family. They're scrumptious.

1/2 cup sweet white wine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 cup honey
2/3 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Oil for frying
1/8 teaspoon salt

Beat the wine & egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt & sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand 30 minutes. Combine the honey & nutmeg in a small bowl.

Heat 1/2-inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot, but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey.

Yield: 1 1/2 Dozen.

My List

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Fantastic friends

4.) Bagels and cream cheese

5.) Chocolate

6.) Blooming plants

7.) Text messaging

8.) Science fairs

9.) Crystals

10.) Sleeping in

Deck Review- The Journey Oracle

2011-04-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Developed by Adrienne Trafford, this deck was created at a time where she found herself wondering several deep questions about just where she was at and had she contributed or inspired others and through this very soul searching, we now have the wonderful little deck called The Journey Oracle.

This 46 nicely illustrated deck measures 2 7/8" x 4 1/2" and is a great size for working with and it shuffles quite easily. The card stock is a perfect thickness and the lamination is glossy and makes the colors really stand out.

Each card is bordered by a different color such as lavender, light blue rich earth tones and other attractive pastel coloring. I love her artwork, the images are simple and lovely and speak volumes with their expressions.

This deck comes in a wonderful hard shelled box that you can keep them in and is accompanied by 95 page expanded LWB (little white book) that includes how to use the cards, what each card says and points to consider when working with any particular card. Some of the cards include Appreciation, Luxury, Patience and Rebirth, there are also four Queen cards with the designation of Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds and Spades.

Along with the Journey Oracle, she has also created The Journey Coloring Book which features the images used in the deck. It is separate from the deck but provides hours of coloring fun with a theme of women making decisions. The pictures to color are full page illustrations and compliment The Journey Oracle fantastically!

The Journey Oracle

Publisher: Schiffer Books

Artist: Adrienne Trafford

ISBN: 9780764337833

The Journey Coloring Book

Publisher: Schiffer Books

Artist Adrienne Trafford

ISBN: 9780764337840

Images used with permission of Schiffer Books

Serenity Sunday

2011-04-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Deaf are they who do not hear me –
For my aria carries on the air with that of the mistle thrush.
My laughter’s in cool crystalline streams which wash the hills.
My whisper is found in rippling and rustling grasses.

Insensitive are they who do not feel me –
For mine are the soft fingers that brush your face
And gently tousle your hair on warming breezes.
It’s I who make the daffodils dance wildly to my tune.

Blind are they who do not see me -
Busily melting white snow on winter-worn hilltops;
Joyfully romping in the fields with the young lambs;
Stimulating new life, new growth and new hope.

Didn’t you recognize me in quiet woodlands and country lanes?
Or in ploughed fields, cottage gardens and on river banks?
Yet it is I who lengthen the days and strengthen the sun.
Think too, of me as the gentle rain falls on the good earth.

See me, hear me, feel my touch -

I AM SPRING!

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Tomato starts

4.) Raised garden beds

5.) Sunshine

6.) Azalea flowers

7.) Easter egg hunts

8.) Lava lamps

9.) Good music

10.) Terrific readers

Deck Review- The Spiral Tarot

2011-04-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to her Celtic grandmother, Kay Steventon has brought us the wonderful Spiral Tarot with it's magical images and rich coloring. Kay's grandmother instilled in her at an early age that life is like the ancient symbol the spiral, everything begins, runs it's course and ends only to begin again. This is a lovely deck both intuitive and Mystical to work with.

The Spiral Tarot is a 78 card deck measuring about 2 3/4" x 4 1/8" and is just the right size to shuffle and hold in your hands. The cards have a nice glossy lamination that seems to make the imagery shimmer with life. All the cards are edged in a beautiful purple marbling effect that really is quite attractive.

The Major Arcana are quite lovely in their blue, gold and emerald hues, picturing traditional tarot images found in other Rider Waite clones. Each card has the element, Hebrew letter (Golden Dawn attribution) and astrological glyph among the images and if you look really closely each Major Arcana card you can see the the tree of life in the background

The Minor Arcana are also full of golds and blues and emerald tones that absolutely make them stand out fantastically, I just love the colors used in this deck. The Minor Arcana are where all the action takes place and each Minor card is brimming with lively, active scenes. There is a companion book that goes with these cards that you can buy separately and I really wish I would have ordered that too, to gain a little extra depth and information on the cards.

This deck is a great deck for beginners and experienced alike as it's so easy to work with and it's answers are clear and a bit playful. I had a fantastic time working with this deck and would recommend it for anyone.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Artist: Kay Steventon

ISBN: 1-57281-097-1

Images used with permission from US Games

Serenity Sunday

2011-04-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

A Kitten's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep
The King-Size bed is soft and deep
I sleep right in the center groove
My human cannot hardly move!

I've trapped her legs,she's tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night
No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Till morning comes and 'I WANT FOOD'

I sneak up slowly to begin
My nibbles on my human's chin
She wakes up quickly,I have sharp-teeth
And my claws I will unsheath

For the morning here
And it's time to play
Always seem to get my way
So thank you lord for giving me
This human person that I see
The one who hugs me and holds me tight
And sacrifices her bed at night!

written by Penny (Tibbyperry)

My List

1.) My kids

2.) My cat

3.) Great friends

4.) Rainbows

5.) Peaches and cream scented candles

6.) Great books

7.) Imagination

8.) Stop smoking patches

9.) Spring rains

10.) Fantastic readers like you!

Spring Rose Care

2011-04-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's time to start caring for your roses this season. Getting them off to a healthy start includes removing the protective mulch that you placed around them last fall, pruning them and starting this year's fertilizer program.

I like to remove the mulch in two stages since the weather is still unpredictable. First, remove about half of the mulch, wait about two weeks and then remove the rest down to the two inches you will leave for summer. Clearing the mulch should expose the base of the stems at ground level to a width of about 3 inches beyond the stems all the way around. This will allow warming and sunlight at the crown so that new stems can develop for this year's growth.

When you prune, you'll be doing two things: setting the shape for this year's growth and effective disease control. Removal of some old stems from the center opens the plant to better airflow. Cut to just above buds that face the direction of preferred growth (usually to the outside.) This allows for better airflow and more rapid drying of the foliage for the rest of the growing season and helps to prevent or at least reduce fungal growth.

You should cut the plant to three to six of the largest, healthiest, best-space stems. If you want mostly color in the bed, you can trim stems back to six to ten inches in length and enjoy a shorter, bushier plant this summer. It you want to leave the plant taller for a background effect, and winter has been kind, you can just trim any dead stem tips so that new growth will start all along the old stems. This can give you some lovely flowering shrubs with much height and color for the summer. I have found this particularly effective with some of the old stand-by rose varieties such as Carefree Beauty, Betty Prior and The Fairy.

No matter what length of stem you prefer to leave, trim the roses to an outside bud - one that is forming out away from the center of the plant and will lead new growth in that direction. Trim approximately one-eight to one-fourth inch above the bud and at an angle with the bud, so as not to injure it. After pruning, be sure to dispose of all trimmed sections as well as undertaking a thorough leaf clean-up from last year's remnants to avoid any disease carry-over. A small dab of Elmer's wood glue on the cut end can help stop cane borrers from causing trouble.

As a last but important step, be certain to fertilize your roses. Use a rose fertilizer, available in both granular and water-soluble forms as well as in combination with certain pesticides. Check with your local garden center for suggested types. Follow the manufacturers' instructions on the package, and fertilize at the suggested rate and timing schedule.

It's best to wait until you are certain that spring is here before starting heavy fertilization. Otherwise, you push your plants into early growth, only to have them chilled by late freezes. (Nipped in the bud!)

Now, sit back and enjoy the blooms that are certain to burst forth in late May to early June.

Deck Review- The Haindl Tarot

2011-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

First printed in Germany in 1988 and later by US Games Systems in 1990, the Haindl Tarot is truly a unique deck where ancient wisdom and modern thought meet. The Haindl tarot has been a popular deck for many years and is even printed in several languages throughout the world. I had been very curious about this deck and after seeing scans of it, I knew right away I wanted to review it.

The deck itself is comprised of 78 cards measuring 2.75" x 5", a standard LWB (little white book) and the cards have a light lamination, just right that they shuffle like a dream. This deck's imagery is strikingly beautiful and so richly done it's almost as if Haindl painted the images from the very earth herself.

There are companion books written for this deck, an original two volume set by Rachel Pollack, one for the Major Arcana and one for the Minor Arcana including the Court cards, which was later revised in 2002 and another book written for this deck, also by Rachel Pollack, called "Haindl Tarot: A Readers Handbook." I highly recommend obtaining the set or the readers handbook as it explains in great detail the rich symbolism found in this deck.

The 22 breathtakingly beautiful Major Arcana cards each have a Hebrew letter, planetary or zodiac sign as well as a rune incorporated into the artwork that gives each card layers upon layers of meaning that seamlessly blend together to form a magnificent tapestry. It is very easy to look at a card once and go back later to find something new that you hadn't noticed before. Around the border is a colored line representing the element to which the card is associated.

The Minor Arcana, Ace through Ten are a unique blend of beautiful artwork and traditional suit meanings. Included is an I Ching hexagram on each card and the cards are also bordered with a corresponding colored line representing the element. The I Ching hexagram serves to set a wider view of each card including social conditions, nature and what might be called "the mood of the cosmos." These hexagrams extend what the card has to say, sometimes balancing ideas that can become too extreme.

The four suits are organized with Wands (Fire) representing East, Cups (Water) representing the North, Swords (Air) representing the South and Stones (Earth) representing the West. Haindl's vision for this order was taken from the Native American concepts that saw the four directions as carrying special qualities, such as the dawn for the East, sunset for the West, cold for the North and warmth for the South, associating them with the seasons, particular colors and healing properties.

Haindl took a different approach with the Court Cards, assigning each suit not from the royal court, often seen in most traditional tarot decks, but from different spiritual qualities of the Gods and Goddesses from cultures of the four directions as stated in the Aces. This gives us a much broader understanding of the Court figures down to the very essence of personality and it's components and how they interact and not just the concept of the characters or their general appearance as defined with other decks.

For the Wands Court and the direction of East we find the Mother, Father, Son and Daughter representing India with Kali, Brahma, Radha and Krishna. Haindl found the culture of India to be deeply inspirational and a place where religion and myth still play an important role in daily life.

The Court Card suit of Cups comes from Europe and the grail stories from the European culture. Here we find Mother of Cups the Venus of Willendorf statue, Father of Cups Odin, The Daughter of Cups Brigid and the Son of Cups, Parsifal.

Swords Courts are inspired by Egyptian culture and it's mythology. These paintings were done in Egypt as he took in the temples, the land and the very people themselves. Here we find the Mother of Swords represented by Nut, the Father of Swords, Ra, the Daughter of Swords, Isis and the Son of Swords, Osiris.

The Courts of Stones are the most beautiful in my opinion drawing from Native American traditions with the Mother of Stones, Spider Woman, the Father of Stones, Old Man, the Daughter of Stones, White Buffalo Woman and the Son of Stones, Chief Seattle.

By drawing upon all of these cultures and traditions in creating this fantastic deck, Haindl opens up a deeper understanding of the tarot and it's meanings. His artwork is simply beautiful and I found myself being drawn into the images and actually experiencing the cards themselves. This is a powerful, deeply spiritual deck in which Haindl took influences from many different areas to give the message of reconciliation between Earth, our first mother and of nature and man himself.

Although I would not recommend this as a deck for a beginner it is certainly a deck for someone with a little more experience in working with the tarot or those who prefer to read intuitively. There is a shamanic quality to this deck and can be used for personal readings and meditation as well. I absolutely adore Haindl's vision of the cards and their symbolism. Not too long ago I did an article of "What makes a good tarot deck" and in my opinion, the Haindl Tarot far surpasses just a good tarot deck, this is truly a perfect tarot deck.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Artist: Hermann Haindl

Author: Rachel Pollack

ISBN:978-0-88079-465-7

Serenity Sunday

2011-04-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Candle Meditation is practiced as you would imagine by focusing on the flame of a candle. It can be done as a warm up for regular meditation, or it can be your entire meditation regimen. Candle meditation is something that you would want to practice if you would like to work on your concentration skills.

You achieve candle meditation by taking a candle, any type of candle, sit in front of it and stare at the flame. For this type of meditation, you would normally sit in the lotus position in front of the flame. You may choose to sit on a chair instead of the floor, but the candle should be eye level. Once you are seated and the candle is lit, stare at the candle flame. In staring at the candle flame, you will begin to think of everyday items; things that have to get done, schedules to be followed, and others. Eventually those thoughts will fade and you will be left with your freed mind.

When it comes to candle meditation, concentration is the key and the object that is improved upon. In staring at the candle, you allow your thought and contemplation to focus briefly on the every day concerns of your life before you return to your deliberate contemplation of the candle flame. In letting your everyday distractions go, and continuing to focus on the candle flame, your concentration becomes stronger.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Trees in bud

4.) Garden centers

5.) Freshly cut grass

6.) Quiet time

7.) New books

8.) Destination Truth

9.) Plums

10.) Electric pencil sharpeners

Deck Review- The African Tarot

2011-04-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

The African Tarot by artist Marina Romito and written by Denese Palm is a charming little deck published by US Games. Hailing from South Africa and inspired by the Shangaan culture, this brightly colored deck is both appealing and fascinating to work with.

Based on Rider Waite imagery, this smaller than average deck (The cards measure 2.5 x 3.5") is perfect for smaller hands and a great deck for beginners to learn to read with. The vibrant imagery draws largely on the African experience, depicted in a primitive art style. Evoking universal childhood emotions, African Tarot can help you explore your true inner nature.

This deck is absolutely adorable and surprisingly accurate to read with, it consists of 78 cards, the standard amount in a deck, and has a delightful image of a turtle on the back of the cards which can be read upright or reversed. I absolutely love the coloring used on the cards and the whimsical figures. This is a perfect deck for anyone and quite unique deck for any collection.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Artist: Marina Romito

ISBN: 1-57281-020-3

Serenity Sunday

2011-04-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

I quit smoking this last Friday after having smoked since I was eighteen. I've tried cold turkey several times over the years with no success so I thought I'd try the step down method, progressively lowering my nicotine levels until I'm totally weaned off. I thought about using nicotine patches but the adhesive gave me rashes last the time I tried them so this time I'm trying something completely different. They're called e-cigarettes, it looks like a cigarette but it delivers the nicotine through a water vapor and when you exhale, it actually looks like smoke.

The filter part of the e-cigarette is what contains the nicotine and as I change the filter, the level of nicotine goes down just like it would if I were to use the nicotine patches but without the annoying rash. I have my mind pretty set on quitting, it's a pretty repulsive habit and it's high time I got healthy. The real test will be this coming week (Spring break for the kids) but I have some coping strategies set up and I think I'll do just fine, half the battle is reminding myself how much better I'll feel being a non smoker!

So, wish me luck and I'll do updates now and then just to keep myself accountable, I know it's going to be hard but I'm worth it!

My List

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Terrific friends

4.) Willpower

5.) Meditation

6.) Deep breaths

7.) Warmer weather

8.) Great books

9.) Smoke free clothing

10.) Spring flowers

Deck Review- King Solomon Oracle Cards

2011-03-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

The creation of the King Solomon Oracle Cards is a collaboration between the knowledge and experience of Itzhak Mizrahi, a renowned Kabalist and metaphysical expert, and the talent of spiritual artist Orna Ben-Shoshan, a universal well known artist, who creates healing art through channeling. Together they have created a marvelous little deck that is a joy to work with and a pretty accurate deck as well.

This 36 card deck is based on the Kabbalistic "72 names of God" which each represent unique strengths and are written in angel writing placed on each card according to the layout of the ethereal and dreamlike artwork. The colors used and the imagery itself are imaginative and quite playful lending a unique quality to the deck as a whole.

Created as a deck for personal use, you don't need to be an expert in order to use these cards. When you first open up the box, there are four amulet cards that are not part of the deck but to be used as sacred amulets written in angel language as well as Goetic symbols whose purpose is to act as a blessing in your everyday life. On the backs of these cards you write your name and that of your mother, for example... John son of Sharon.

Card I – for income and property: The holder of this amulet shall find tremendous financial profit, will increase richness and be blessed witheverything he does.

Card II – Love Relationships: The holder of this amulet shall wind the most competent spouse, and improve existing relationships.

Card III – Health: The holder of this amulet shall improve his health and be protected from any illness or injury.

Card IV – Guarding and Protection: The holder of thisamulet will be protected from any evil eye and negative energies and his path safely guarded in all his deeds.

There are several ways you can use the 36 cards, each card has keywords and meanings for three different areas such as: 1.) The situation 2.) The person you are inquiring about and 3.) Advice on the action to take. Each area has a number of possible interpretations which are contained in the LWB (little white book) that accompanies this deck.

So, say for instance, you were looking for advice concerning how to connect better with your family and drew card number 7 Fertility-Children- Family, the advice would be to "Do good deeds for your family and children, give willingly to a family member." Giving time and being of service to your loved ones not only draws you all closer together but also strengthens that family bond. Sometimes just being there for them is the greatest gift one can give.

In the back of the LWB, there are several layouts for using the cards and biographies of it's creators. The card stock is simply perfect and shuffles very well with a fantastic light lamination. This is such a fun little deck, I love the light and airy artwork and it's busy little characters. This would make a charming deck for any collection.

Publisher: US Games Systems
Author: Itzhak Mizrahi
Artist: Orna Ben-Shoshan
ISBN: 978-1-57281-666-4

Images used with permission from US Games Systems

Serenity Sunday

2011-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Every time you see a tree
or dream a cloud,
there is that in you of the tree
there is that in you of the cloud.

The saguaro dreams in drought
and endures. The cloud dreams
our woe --sneezes, cries.
The rain falls

Elaine Maria Upton

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) Warmer temperatures

3.) Great friends

4.) Optimism

5.) Hummingbirds

6.) Feather mattresses

7.) Hugs

8.) Sappy movies

9.) Crocus'

10.) Lazy weekends

Deck Review- Faerie Tarot

2011-03-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Faeries, gnomes, mushrooms and wizards abound in this charming and bouncy little deck named the Faerie Tarot by Nathalie Hertz and published by US Games Systems. Paying homage to the four seasons and nature the Faery Tarot is a delight to behold and to work with.

This deck comes in an attractive slip cover case and nestled inside, you find a brightly colored and charming deck picturing the faeries and the nature that makes up this deck's images. An added bonus is also included, a poster sized card spreadsheet featuring a Celtic Cross spread for you to use with this deck.

Based on the RWS deck, these 78, jaunty little faeries walk us through nature using bright and attractive coloring and delightful imagery. The deck itself measures 3.5"x4.75" and is a little wider than average but I found it just as easy to shuffle as a more narrow deck. The cards themselves are wonderfully bordered in hues complimenting the image of each particular card which delicately fades out at the bottom where the names of each card are displayed.

When looking at a deck for the first time, I usually go to specific cards first such as the Star, the Hermit and the Moon but in this deck, the Chariot caught my eye right off. In this Major Arcana card we can see a small blonde faerie riding a beautiful spiral designed sea shell drawn by a blue and a green seahorse, I love the coloring of this card and I could nearly feel as if I were riding right along with this little faerie.

The Minor Arcana are just as delightful with each suit based is a season of the year. The Faerie Tarot starts out with the suit of Swords and the season of Winter followed by Wands featuring the season of Autumn, the Cups bearing a Spring theme and last but not least Pentacles showing Summer imagery.

This is a great deck to work with and the colors are what makes it a very enchanting deck for me. I found it quite easy to read with and it has it's very own way of speaking. I would recommend this deck for beginners and seasoned readers alike who want a fresh new perspective and a little faerie inspiration when reading the cards.

Publisher: US Games Systems

Creator: Nathalie Hertz

ISBN: 1-57281-600-7

Images used with permission of US Games Systems

Serenity Sunday

2011-03-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Spring

A sense of warmth is tapping at the door;
And hope, a feeling out from distant lore
– Or so it seems – clears the deep refrain!

Emerging youth: a dormant lea awakes.
The raging colour, singing loud, partakes
In annual birth – spring is born again!

A zest anew for nascent life
Begins in floral train:
Carriage one: a snowdropp thrill;
Carriage two: the crocus;
Number three, a daffodil – dancing,
Drawing focus – as she would,
Attention seeker!

How I love our spring:
The bold and sleeker feel I get,
An inner glow, a ring!
I’ve paid the winter’s chilly debt, so
Now upon the wing!

Mark Slaughter

My List

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Budding plants

4.) Warmer days

5.) Sunshine

6.) More daylight time

7.) Tarot

8.) Great friends

9.) Rainbows

10.) Pink Floyd