Deck Review- King Solomon Oracle Cards

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

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

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

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

For Your Health

Today I'm going to talk about something a little different, I'm not sure if many of you know but I live with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and for a long time it greatly affected my life to the point that for several years I became a virtual recluse. It's only been in the last year and a half that I've finally become able to come to terms with this issue and through therapy and medication, I'm finally in a place where I can be comfortable in my own skin.

Not to prattle on about the odd inner workings of my mind and to make a long story short, the Dr. and I recently agreed upon a medication change and with any medication comes side effects, some are harder to deal with than others but with this medication came weight gain...23 pounds in less than a month! I began to notice that I was having a great deal of trouble keeping my asthma under control and had a serious lack of energy. Feeling good about yourself can be extremely difficult when you can't catch your breath or find the energy to do even basic tasks.

Anyhow, there was this diet being passed around  "Sweetie's" family and it piqued my interest, it's a diet that they put heart patients on to lose weight before surgery and it's super healthy to boot. So I figured I'd try it and low and behold... I lost most of the weight that I'd gained plus, I started feeling like a million buck too. Amazing as it is however, I'm still not a morning person and sometimes people still freak me out but I feel great and I am learning how to eat healthier and take life in stride (and just try and stop me in the afternoon!)

I encourage those of you who may be interested to print this out and try it, it's delicious as well as good for you and you won't believe how great you feel.

Sacred Heart Medical Diet

This 7-day eating plan can be used as often as you like. If correctly followed, it will clean out your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. After only 7 days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least 10 pounds and possibly 17 pounds, and experience an abundance of energy.

SOUP:

• 1 or 2 cans of stewed tomatoes
• 3 plus large green onions
• 1 large can of beef broth (no fat)
• 1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix (chicken noodle)
• 1 bunch of celery
• 2 cans green beans
• 2 lbs. Carrots
• 2 Green Peppers

Season with salt, pepper curry, parsley, if desired, or bouillon, hot or Worcestershire sauce. Cut veggies in small to medium pieces. Cover with water. Boil fast for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue to cook until veggies are tender.

This soup can be eaten anytime you are hungry during the week. Eat as much as you want, whenever you want. This soup will not add calories. The more you eat, the more you will lose. You may want to fill a thermos in the morning if you will be away during the day.

DRINKS:

• Unsweetened juices
• Tea (also herbal)
• Coffee
• Cranberry juice
• Skim milk
• Water, water, water

DAY ONE

Any fruit (except bananas). Cantaloupes and watermelon are lower in calories than most other fruits. Eat only soup and fruit today.

DAY TWO

All vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed with fresh raw, cooked or canned veggies. Try to eat green leafy veggies and stay away from dry beans, peas or corn. Eat veggies along with the soup. At dinnertime tonight reward yourself with a big baked potato and butter. Don't eat any fruits through today.

DAY THREE

Eat all the soup, fruit and veggies you want. Do not have a baked potato. If you have eaten as above for three days and not cheated, you should find that you have lost 5-7 pounds.

DAY FOUR

Bananas and skim milk: Eat at least 3 bananas and drink as much milk as you can today, along with the soup. Bananas are high in calories and carbohydrates, as is the milk but on this particular day, your body will need the potassium and carbs. Proteins and calcium to lessen the cravings for sweets.

DAY FIVE

Beef and tomatoes: you may have 10 to 20 ounces of beef and a can of tomatoes, or as many as 6 tomatoes on this day. Eat the soup at least once today.

DAY SIX

Beef and veggies, eat to your heart's content of the beef and veggies today. You can even have 2-3 steaks if you like with green leafy veggies but no baked potato. Be sure to eat the soup at least once today.

DAY SEVEN

Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and veggies, again, be sure to stuff yourself and eat the soup. You can add cooked veggies to your rice if you wish.

By the end of the 7th day, if you have not cheated on this diet, you should have lost 10 to 17 pounds. If you have lost more than 17 pounds, stay off the diet for two days before resuming the diet again.

This diet is fast. The secret lies within the principle that you will burn more calories than you take in. It will flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. This diet does not lend itself to drinking any alcoholic beverages at any time. Because of the fat build-up in your system. Go off the diet at least 14 hours before any intake of alcohol.

Due to the variety of digestive systems in individuals, this diet will affect everyone differently. After day three, you will have more energy than when you began, if you do not cheat. After being on the diet for several days, you will find that your bowel movements have changed. Eat a cup of bran or fiber. Although you can have black coffee with this diet, you may find that you don't need caffeine after the third day.

The basic fat burning soup can be eaten anytime you feel hungry during the seven days. Eat as much as you wish. Remember the more you eat, the more you will lose. You can eat broiled, boiled or baked chicken instead of the beef. Absolutely no skin on the chicken. If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on only one of the beef days. You need the high protein in the beef for the other days.

Continue on the diet as long as you wish and feel the difference both mentally and physically.

DO NOT - DO NOT

No bread, alcohol, carbonated drinks (including diet drinks). Remember, absolutely no fried foods.

DO - DO - DO - DO

Drink plenty - at least 6 to 8 glasses - of water a day, as well as any combination of the following beverages: black coffee, unsweetened fruit drinks, cranberry juice and skim milk.

This diet comes from the Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital that is used for overweight heart patients in order to lose weight rapidly, usually prior to surgery.

Deck Review- Sneak Peek

I'm taking a break from my reviews this week but I've got some really fantastic decks that I'll be reviewing in the coming weeks, check them out...

~ The Spiral Tarot by Kay Steventon

~The African Tarot by Denese Palm and Marina Romito

~ The Faerie Tarot by Natalie Hertz

~ The Haindl Tarot by Hermann Haindl

~ King Solomon Oracle Cards by Orna Ben-Shoshan and Itzhak Mizrahi

I'll see you this next Monday with my latest review!

Serenity Sunday

Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present.


 In addition, behavioral and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Hot coffee

4.) Roses

5.) Opinions

6.) Patience

7.) Tarot

Tarot Tuesday- Three Of Pentacles

The Three of Pentacles, like the Threes in the other suits, represents the initial completion of a goal or plan. In this case, the Three seems to imply the fulfilment and manifestation of a creative venture, business, or building project.


The inspiration of the one is beginning to be concreted in the material world, and the decisions of the two have been made successfully. An initial satisfaction is now being enjoyed and the project is well underway.


The message of the Three of Pentacles, therefore, is primarily one of encouragement. If you continue to work toward the fulfilment of your dreams and do not allow disillusionment to dampen your enthusiasm, ultimately you will experience prosperity and success in your goals.


What new beginnings are you experiencing in the material realm? Is there some project or creative venture you have been putting off because of fear of failure? The Three of Pentacles indicates that dreams can be made real with persistence, determination, and effort.

Deck Review- Sol Invictus, The God Tarot

With the rise of Goddess and feminist themed decks in recent years, decks that honored the Divine Masculine were noticeable absent. Sol Invictus, The God Tarot is not solely aimed at men who wish to explore the Divine Masculine but for anyone who wishes to bring some balance into their lives and to have an option.

Developed by Kim Huggens and Nic Phillips,  The God Tarot tries to provide a balance in the Tarot world left by the large number of Goddess Tarot decks and has succeeded in producing a deck not to simply make a statement but to be a useful divinitory tool as well. The Gods and characters in this deck have been drawn from a huge range of sources the world over, from both legend and real life such as Sir Galahad, traditionally the Chariot, Loki, the Moon, Isis and Osiris, the Lovers, Oedipus, the Wheel of Fortune and even Jesus of Nazareth as the Hierophant.

This deck contains the 22 Major Arcana and 56 fully illustrated Minor arcana cards but the Court cards are titled a bit different in the fact that the gender we normally see with the courts has been removed for example, in the Queen of Cups the title "Nurturer of Cups" is used to convey the the message of the card. Women are still evident in the deck but are not the main focus.

The Major Arcana cards list the name of the card, for example 0 the Fool, and also the name of the character each card is modeled after, in the case of the Fool, Percivale is listed. The Minor Arcana are structured much in the same way with the exception of the Courts that I've described earlier. Sol Invictus comes with a wonderful 264 page companion book that covers the creation process of this deck, explains about myth and why we need it in our lives and the structure of the deck. It's a terrific resource when reading with this deck and explains each card, the God that it portrays and the divinitory meanings.

Also covered in the book is "Using the Tarot,"  which covers the basics for beginners like reading books, practice and methods, "How to read Tarot," covering reading the meaning from the book, using your intuition and how to combine both aspects.  Freewill and fate when concerning the Tarot are discussed as well as how to use The God Tarot in ritual. I especially found the section titled "Astral Pathworking" quite interesting and informative.

The cards are good and sturdy, shuffling well and have a nice glossy lamination. There is a red sun design on the backs so they can be read both upright and reversed. I really like the sturdy box that the cards and  companion book come in, it makes it easy and great for storing them. This is a great deck to read with and I very much enjoyed reading about all the characters and their myth and legend used in this deck, this would be a good deck for anyone to add to their collection.

Publisher: Schiffer Books

Authors: Kim Huggens and Nic Phillips

ISBN: 9780764327612

Serenity Sunday

In earlier times, farmers would often haul stones from ancient circles and build their homes from them, as they held special significance being from those sites. Later, houses were built upon the cornerstone principle in which it was significant because all other stones or bricks were then set in reference to the cornerstone.

Over time, the cornerstone became part of a symbolic celebratory process and placed in  prominent outside corners of  buildings, almost like a cultural representation of the peoples that designed and built them. Some cornerstones included time-capsules that represented the era that a particular building was erected or items specific to the town or city that it was built in, so that future generations can look at these items and ponder on them.

What is the cornerstone that makes up your spirituality...? What is included in the foundation, in which you set all of your beliefs around...? Are there any specific traditions that you include in your beliefs, that you pass on to your children (like a time-capsule for the future)...? Meditating on these things helps to focus ourselves in our daily practices and ground ourselves in the important aspects of our beliefs and why we hold them dear.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) Laughter

3.) Good friends

4.) Sunny days

5.) Red Rooibos tea

6.) Honey roasted peanuts

7.) Jasmine flowers

8.) Chocolate cake

9.) Mylar balloons

10.) Fried oysters

Snow Drops

Snowdrops were traditionally thought of as fairy spirits. Thus, they are perfect omens of the future, especially as they bloom with the new year. When snowdrops appear try this ritual.


Place a single snowdrop in a glass vase beside your bed. Gaze at its petals amd remain silent until u sleep. Ask to dream of your future love.


* if u dream of picking snowdrops, u will have a very happy year, and a wonderful surprise in love.
* if u dream of smelling a snowdrop, u must grab hold of an opportunity that is already before u.
* to dream of a basket of snowdrops means a wedding approaches; a posy of snowdrops indicates a birth.
* if u see snowdrops in a circlet, this means u will have a new love.
* dreaming of the flowers growing under a tree says your spirit is blessed and your love will blossom.

Tarot Tuesday

This card depicts a fox in fine looking garb holding a set of scales in his left hand. Two robed foxes are holding out their hands at his feet. He is giving coins to the one on the right of the image, but not the one on the left. Above are the six pentacles... Three along the top of the card... two more under the left side of the card and one more under the right. This gives a slight impression of imbalance.

This can imply the division between those with resources and those without. Remember, there are many kinds of resources; money, time, power, information, imagination, ability. This card may represent the fact that maybe your resources are limited: you can't do everything, and you can't help everyone, you can't have your cake and eat it. Sometimes you need to make hard choices. Sometimes you don't get something and someone else does. It's not fair, but sometimes there is just not enough for everyone.

In my experience I have found that the two most common themes that clients identify with are...1.) You need to make sure that with your giving ....you do not come across as better than or more important than those you are helping... and... 2.) It is a good idea that you keep an eye on your resources and not over extend yourself and in turn be the one needing help.