Tarot Tuesday

I'm going to  something a little different today, I was reading a fantastic post by Barbara Moore called "Notes To Yourself" in which she approaches an idea of leaving yourself a tarot note to on a specific day in the future. The idea is that you ask yourself "What do I most need to hear on..

Tarot Tuesday

"I would like a story," says the salamander to the Hierophant.


"And what would you like to hear, little one?" The words come slowly. Each syllable seems to be drawn from deep within, pulled up from an individual rootlet. The salamander is used to it, and patient.


Stephanie Pui-Mun Law 
from Shadowscapes companion book

The Hierophant card can be seen as a positive card in a tarot spread... It represents someone in search of higher truths and who is spiritual in nature. Customs and traditions are highlighted and it suggests that we can all find comfort in our culture, especially during hard and difficult times. It is time to get back to basics, like the ancients from our past did.

The Hierophant is someone who is able to see through the superficial and get straight to the heart of the matter. He has a healthy connection with life and living, someone who has experienced life in full and now has the experience and wisdom needed in order to teach others, like that of the wise old tree we see in this card.


He is a spiritual teacher and represents gateways to a higher consciousness reached in a ritualized way.The Hierophant can be considered to the link between the higher plane... he teaches  by word and example as the wise old tree to the salamander.

The Hierophant encourages us to find freedom through knowledge and exploration. He may indicate that it is a good time for you to seek counsel from someone that is more experienced. You may be longing for structured spirituality, perhaps in the form of religious services. 


This might be a time where you are in the process of finding meaning for your life and you may be questioning you own behavior. In a tarot reading, the Hierophant encourages you to look within and explore your truths and it may be telling you to adopt a more conventional way of thinking.

Tarot Tuesday

I received my Shadowscapes Tarot last Friday and have studiously been looking at each card and the artwork since I got them. This is an absolutely gorgeous deck! I read some reviews that were less than favorable, stating that these cards were "too busy" but I found that not to be the case as I looked through them. If you look very closely, you can see the intricate detail in the woodland scene of fairies and other small beings gathering around this tea party to enjoy a spot of tea and good times.

Each card has detail but I do not find that distracting at all, moreover, I truly think that all the little details simply add to the intuitive reading process to form a complete and accurate picture of just what they are trying to say to me. As I looked at them, one by one, I instantly noticed several that will become my favorites...I picked the one that I liked the best to speak about today...

The Six of Cups

"She wanders along the path until she comes to her destination. The creek burbles along it's bed not far from her chosen spot, and she sets up her table and teacups to receive her visitors- first her friends from home, with their shiny button eyes and thread-sewn smiles..." Thus begins the journey into the magical  world of the Six of Cups.

This whimsical scene reminds us of all the innocence and nostalgia of childhood with it's fairy tale like atmosphere that evokes the imagination and daydreams we so often remember from the days when we were young. A  girl pours the tea for her honored guests, teddy bears and bunnies, who patiently await the ceremony. Fish swim up the creek whispering quietly of emotions, psychic and intuitive arts, fantasy and illusion that the suit of Cups represent.

This card marks a time in our lives when we give of ourselves our talents and skills freely without concern. We are undaunted in our efforts to shine our inner light into the world. We fear no retribution. We work in cooperation of a universal flow, and we know that nothing but goodness and kindness rises to meet our endeavors.

In a reading, the Six of Cups can also warn of building castles in the air... though day dreaming  you can visualise your dreams into your current reality but only if you ensure that you have solid foundations on which to build your future. Connections with the past are likely to reappear when the Six arrives and past efforts are set to pay off. Release yourself from nostalgia and be prepared to change behaviors, rose colored glasses have a way of altering the reality of how "the good old days" may have actually been. 

Tarot Tuesday

The Ace Of Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles indicates great wealth and happiness. The happiness may be the culmination of something long desired but does not necessarily have a monetary value...some of the most wonderful gifts of life are not bought The Ace of Pentacles represents new beginnings, fresh energy, and inspiration. In this case, the Pentacles are equal to the alchemical element of earth and therefore symbolize the material world and things associated with matter and the body.


In this card we see a Dragon grasping a Pentacle that appears to contain the Universe. Dragons are creatures that symbolize pure perfection and of being in harmony with both the material world and the spiritual realm.The conclusion of your progress is near, you need only to travel a short distance further and you can actually have a glimpse of what lies ahead. The Aces are all about a new start and this one as a Ace-Pentacle indicates that you need only undertake the work and do it joyfully and be confident about it.


The reversed Ace of Pentacles can indicate that you are worrying too much about money. We all need to pay attention to our finances but to be overly concerned can steal our capacity for happiness in the present moment. Count your blessings... do what you can and leave the rest to the Universe. In spiritual issues, the reversed Ace of Pentacles is a signal that you may benefit greatly from increased contact with people who are on a spiritual path. 

Whether that's a path that's very similar to your own or whether you wish to learn more about very different ways of looking at things is up to you. The point is to go out into the world, and learn more about what others are saying, thinking and experiencing.

I'n health concerns, you don't have to spend a fortune to get and stay healthy. Simple things help support your health and many things are under your direct control, such as thinking positively, eating well, resting, getting exercise, and so on. Start small. Live one day at a time.

Tarot Tuesday

The Lovers

When we see this card, we automatically think of love, romance, marriage and a happy future. But it can mean more than that depending on what we are focusing on. It can also mean self love and healing and intimacy but not necessarily sexual. It can also signify a new relationship or that a current relationship is going through a big change. This Deviant Moon's card speaks of  stopping and taking a look at what's going on in your life and take a moment to listen to that inner voice to see with our inner sight.

 The Lovers card does indicate love and passion but there are going to be some choices involved. How you choose will be either very positive or negative but not much in between. Love can bring virtue to one's life... serving love can also bring virtue  but choosing poorly out of lust can wear away at love and virtue. No one said love is easy. 

If in a reading this card is reversed, it could point to an obsessive relationship or fantasy dominating one’s life or pining for past relationships or an unbalanced relationship, making the mistakes... not learning from past and frustration in love or marriage. However, letting go of a relationship that brings no pleasure may allow you to be free to attract new love into your life. This is a risk that could well bring you greater rewards.

Tarot Tuesday

My favorite card has always been The Moon card, whatever the deck but The Deviant Moon Tarot deck tops them all with Patrick Valenza's rendition of the Moon, with gossamer strings coming down from a full moon and it's two characters dancing on the end of them like marionettes.

Down through the millennia, people have always had a close affinity with the Moon. The lunar cycle affects oceans and all natural tides and if you've ever worked in a nursing home or home for the mentally ill, you can identify with this behavior, sometimes even starting a few days before the full moon occurs and a few afterward. 


Many say, from hospitals, 911 call centers to the local police stations, that people are more emotionally disturbed and active when the Moon is full, hence the origin of the word lunatic. The Moon can affect our emotions because our emotions, desires and dreams come from the inner, hidden part of us.


The Moon can be one of the most complex of tarot cards... it represents the inner depths of the psyche, the powers of intuition and illusion. It is a card which represents the subconscious and tells you that there is something which isn't as simple as it may look. Often, the Moon suggests that you dig deeper into an issue.


In a tarot reading, the Moon beckons us to make a decision. Do you want to rise into a higher consciousness or remain attached to illusion? Beware of inconsistencies in your life. Something is not what it appears to be. Perhaps now is the time to trust your intuition and feelings more than your logic in worldly matters.

Tarot Tuesday

I have a little Yahoo widget on my  computer desktop that randomly pops up a new picture from my photo's folder ever fifteen minutes. I was sitting at my desk the other day...staring off into space and musing absent mindedly when the Four of Pentacles  (from my Deviant Moon Tarot)  popped up in the top left of my screen. I glanced at it, looking at the figures on the card when my eyes suddenly zeroed in on the little clock on a chain around the demon-looking creature's neck.

I've drawn this card and written about it a couple of times but I was struck by a sudden insight  as I have been lately with any card from this deck...There is a time issue here, slightly reminescent of the character Ebeneezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol". The Four of Pentacles is typically the card of the miser. Thoughts of material possessions fill his head, leaving no room for anything else. He is not free to do anything with his life... he can't go anywhere because he is too busy holding on to his coins.

 In the Deviant Moon Four of Pentacles, we can see this demon-looking creature linking arms with a rather frightened looking man (clinging pathetically to his Pentacles) and it appears to be pulling him from an empty street into a doorway filled with flames.  The frightened man is looking behind him as if  seeing his life in retrospect and realizing much too late that all his worldly possessions mean nothing and his whole life was for naught.

There is a lesson here...many people catch on but many do not...Life is too short, too precious to get caught up in possessions and greed,  worrying about how to get more, to keep what you have to the exclusion of all else, forgetting that which is of real importance. People are important, loved ones, family, time well spent...kind words that need to be spoken, acts of random kindness perpetuated...where are the areas in which you have been miserly...? How often do you make the time that you can spend with those you love and create wonderful memories?

Tarot Tuesday

The Seven of Swords  usually refers to deception and betrayal. We can see the thief seems to be sneaking off with some swords but the soldiers in the distance may be well aware of his actions. He may be caught simply because he was not careful enough. As we all know, it's often very difficult to "get away with something." When we do something in secret and think we are safe and undiscovered, something goes awry and our secret is revealed to our embarrassment. 


The card urges caution when attempting to use cunning to gain an advantage, because it could very well backfire upon us. The Seven of Swords also may refer to the need to act shrewdly and the long run, deception does not produce the reward we desired and may in fact cause much damage to our relationships and reputation 


In a reading, it is an indication that caution and wisdom are necessary in the face of a temptation to achieve gain by dubious means. Sometimes the Seven of Swords means that you are running from something - commitment, responsibility, hard work, love. You may be letting problems slip because you don't want to deal with them but  we  have to face what has to be faced and the Seven of Swords lets you know when you might be making things worse by running away.

Tarot Tuesday

Today I drew two cards that gave me a little ray of sunshine...the Four of Pentacles and the Two of Wands. The Pentacles are a suit of material possessions, industry, business, commerce, trade, finances, and security. They represent the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth covers the mundane material things of life, property, money, home and nature. They also represent manifestation, realization, proof and prosperity. 


Typically, the Four of Pentacles indicates security but is also the card of the miser, material possessions very important to him, showing that his thoughts are all about his "things". As we see in the card, it that he can't go anywhere because his feet are busy holding the coins down. He is so tied up with his possessions, that he can't do anything else. His possessions are so important it has affected his life view. 

The Wands, however, has to do with primal energy, growth, the will, inspiration, determination, strength, intelligence, intuition, and creativity.The Two of Wands represents a mature person who may provide you with assistance to obtain your desires. something good is about to happen and you may very well see it materialize. An offer is about to be presented.Always remember not sell yourself short or settle for less, though. There IS some thing better on the horizon.

I have struggled lately with (other's) personalities and viewpoints as well as digging up all the "icky rotten crud" from my past and these cards were absolutely a ray of sunshine for me today but that does not mean I can just sit back and wait for good news, it does mean that in order to have a happier outcome and brighter future, I must work for it. I must put in the effort and creativity to see the rewards ahead.

There are so many levels to these cards that build upon one another and they are oh so appropriate for my situation but it would take many more pages to describe and I really don't want you all overloaded. I'd like to say thank you to everyone for their kind words yesterday, I'm doing much better today.

Tarot Tuesday

In readings, the Six of Wands appears when you have been working hard toward a goal and success is finally within reach. The recognition you have sought so long is yours. Now you can receive the acclaim, honor and reward that you deserve. If you do not feel close to victory now, know that it is on its way provided you are doing all you can to make it happen. The victory of this card does not have to involve beating someone else. 


You can triumph over yourself, the environment, or the odds. It can also represents a healthy self-esteem. Feeling good about your accomplishments is an important part of success, but too much pride can lead to arrogance and self-inflation. When you see this card, check that you are not feeling superior to others.


Some ways the Six of Wands can be interpreted: 


Employment: If you're looking for a position, this card is a very positive indication. You will find something that is better than you had hoped for. If you're currently in a position that you want to stay in, things are about to get even better at work. Your efforts are valued... just keep doing what you are doing.


Romance: In a committed relationship, this card means that things are looking up. Suddenly, you are likely to find yourself feeling closer and happier with your partner than ever before. If you're unattached, take heart  the appearance of this card can mean you're about to enter a relationship with someone you've been dreaming about. This is a very positive sign.


Spirituality: In the context of spirituality, the Six of Wands can indicate getting in touch with deep joy and love of living. You are already on the right track. Get in touch with the joy inside you, and then share it. The world needs the gifts that only you can offer.

Tarot Tuesday

There are many books out there on tarot...many, many...but one of the "must have's that I always suggest to people just starting out is "Tarot for Yourself  a Workbook for Personal Transformation" by Mary K. Greer.  In this book, she discusses how to discover the number for a year and how it corresponds to a specific Major Arcana card. It's quite simple...just take the year, 2010, and  add up all of the digits...2+0+1+0= 3...So the new year will be a 3 year. The number three card in the Major Arcana is The Empress.

3

Social expansion, creative successes

This is a social, happy year and it generally tends to exude bright and cheerful vibrations. This is a year to check up on old friends and broaden social circles to include some new ones. Romance and love affairs may bloom. Life to its fullest now ( but don't get too carried away, you might have to pay the consequences later on.)  The mantle of responsibility will seem to have lifted a bit. 


Many things will be happening at the same time but so don't get too many irons in the fire. Take some time to enjoy what life has to offer but keep healthy goals in mind. A 3 year is a good time to expand personal creative talents, especially those related to the arts and verbal skills. Recognition in this regard is likely this year.

Tarot Layout For The New Year

1.) Influence(s) passing away with the year.

2.) Accomplishment(s) of the past year to reflect on.

3.) Goal(s) for the coming year.

4.) Obstacle(s) you may encounter in the coming year.

5.) Energies that will help you in the coming year.

6.) What is the over-all theme of the coming year?

*(s) ~in case you wish to draw a clarifying card to further understand the card drawn.*

Tarot Tuesday

The Ace of Cups

Keywords for the Ace of Cups can include: faithfulness, fertility, joy, love.  The commencement of creative or artistic projects.  All the positive powers of the unconscious mind. In timing, the Ace of Cups indicate summer and aces symbolize beginnings.

In this card we can see an open hand as if offering up a gift and the cloud lets us know that it's a divine gift.. the white dove shows us that the gift is pure. The pond indicates the unconscious mind and the five waterfalls reflect the five senses. The lilies are our inner emotions that are developing with the assistance of the water around them.


When the Ace of Cups turns up in readings, it inspires us with confidence and happiness. If it appears in a daily draw situation, it can indicate the start of a loving relationship of either the romantic or friendship type, it can represent the beginning of a project in which a great deal of loving energy is involved or sometimes it can reveal the beginning of a new life.


In a tarot reading where the Ace of Cups is reversed... it indicates that the emotions have been damaged, that the heart is blocked and that the individual in question may have difficulties connecting to other people. In other words, what might be called "A broken heart." In this case the Ace speaks to us of opening our heart and allow the divine healing energy to fill us up again.











The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about. — Wayne Dyer

Tarot Tuesday

There's  a new  podcast in town and I really encourage you to listen, it's called SpiritsCast by Feithline Stuart....and I quote  " It is the mission of this show to bring you information and education about a wide range of spiritual practices and beliefs, including but not limited to divination, devotion, ritual, spellcrafting, personal empowerment, meditation, and healing. There are plans in the works to create a series of thirteen special supplementary shows that will help you build your own foundational spiritual practice. I hope to interview emerging and established pagan and spiritual authors, practitioners, and musicians, too!"  Great show Fey, I can't say enough!

 On this podcast she does a tarot section and after listening to the very first pocast, I was inspired to try her method of pulling a card each morning. I usually do something similar but in the evening and I pull three cards. I have been doing this the last two mornings and disturbingly enough on both mornings I pulled the Eight of Cups. 

Hmm, the cards are really trying to get my attention! It's always difficult to read for myself because objectivity can be lost. Anyhow, I'm going to set aside my apprehension and talk about the eight of Cups as if I were reading for someone.

In this card we can see a figure who is walking away from eight golden cups behind him. He has crossed a stream and is headed to an unknown destination. This card has always bothered me because Cups  are  associated with emotions and matters of the heart and to get this card two days in a row symbolizes to me a message of  urgency. I notice that there is an empty spot in the top row of cups suggesting that there is "something missing."

Perhaps despite the golden cups that are present, he has gone off to find the the cup that contains something that he requires...maybe although he has eight golden cups, they mean nothing without that Ninth Cup...(keeping in mind the Nine of Cups is called the "wish card").  The Eight of Cups is about disappointment, abandonment issues, weariness and searching for a deeper meaning.

On this level, I can agree with the Eight of Cups as I sometimes feel like there is a key component of my spirituality that had been lacking and I indeed I had been searching for a deeper meaning, especially in light of my recent move and the reasons I had for cutting all ties with someone I once considered family. It left me very disappointed, feeling extremely weary and more than a bit sad and now as I type this all out, I can see that this card is telling me to move on as the Eight of Cups is sending me the message that this situation was long overdue for a change ( my daily practice had started to suffer over the last few months) and not to hang on to outdated ways of being.... but to forge on and continue building my spirituality.

I apologize for the rambling tone in this post but sometimes if I reason things out, I can finally get the whole picture. I used the Universal Waite Tarot because I prefer it's colors as opposed to the strong use of yellows in the original Rider Wait deck.