Deck Review- Shadowfox Tarot

Richard and Jennifer Shadowfox have put together a wonderful deck of varying grey scale images that truly jump right out of the cards at you. This is an excellent deck and I absolutely fell in love with it the moment I looked through it's haunting images. I was drawn to it's appearance online at first glance but once I was able to look at it in person, the pictures were so much deeper than I had imagined.

The Shadowfox Tarot is a 78 card deck that comes in a wonderful 6" x 11 3/8" x 1 1/2" sturdy keepsake storage box along with a 224 page Tarot Book of Shadows that I have to tell you is an amazing wellspring of information in itself. Among the contents of the companion book are correspondences for each card from Alchemical Qualities, Elemental Attributes to Meanings, Mythological Creatures, Influencing Cards and even Musical Moods that enhances the "feel" of each card.

When I get a new deck, I like to shuffle the cards with the question in mind of how we will work together and draw three cards, this generally gives me an impression of the decks personality, and how best we can collaborate together. The deck was a bit sticky coming out of the box, but I found that buffing the cards lightly with a furniture polish wipe took the stickiness right away and the cards shuffled beautifully.

The three cards I drew when determining how we will get along together was the Page of Wands, the Three of Wands and the Ace of Swords. Together these cards tell me that this deck has an abundance of enthusiasm and energy and will offer new ideas and growth to each reading. We shall work in a cooperative, insightful manner with clear answers. This is a deck with a lot of fire and insight and I will absolutely love working with it.

I was quite pleasantly surprised with the Shadowfox Tarot, the images are quite evocative and it's answers are definately straight to the point. This is a wonderful deck full of 3-D imagery and layered insights, I highly recommend The Shadowfox Tarot deck to everyone.

Schiffer Books
Richard and Jennifer Shadowfox
ISBN: 9780764334870

Recipe Of The Week

Salmon Zucchini Quiche

1 unbaked 9 inch deep dish pie shell
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon of butter
1 1/2 cups of thinly sliced zucchini
1/2 cup of chopped onion
one 7 3/4 ounce can of salmon, skin & bones discarded, flaked, reserve liquid
2/3 cup of grated Swiss cheese
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups of half and half
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of minced fresh dill or 1/4 teaspoon of dried dill
freshly ground pepper


Preheat oven to 375ºF. Brush pie shell with egg white. Melt butter in medium skillet over medium high heat. Add zucchini and onion and sauté until crisp tender, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly. Layer salmon, zucchini mixture and cheese on bottom of pie shell. Beat eggs in medium bowl. Gradually beat in half and half, reserved salmon liquid and seasonings. Pour into shell. Bake until set, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly before serving. 4 - 6 servings

Serenity Sunday

An Attitude of Gratitude

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.


"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues" (Thomas S. Monson)


My List:


1.) My family


2.) Great friends


3.) Fall mornings


4.) Beyond Worlds-Your Tarot Tribe (on BlogTalk Radio)


5.) Custom Tarot bags


6.) Carrots from the garden


7.) Ah Ha moments


8.) Journaling


9.) Honey roasted peanuts


10.) Furniture polish wipes

Silly Picture Of The Week

Calliope always manages to curl up in the smallest space on my desk!

Recipe Of The Week

Irish Beef Stew

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds stew beef, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 large garlic cloves, minced
8 cups beef stock or canned beef broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups)
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled carrots
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley


Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add beef stock, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.


Meanwhile, melt butter in another large pot over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion and carrots. Sauté vegetables until golden, about 20 minutes. Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.) Transfer stew to serving bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Deck Review- Decks For Youth

The Gummy Bear Tarot

The next few Tuesdays, I'm going to be reviewing tarot decks for the younger set and the first deck I'd like to introduce is the absolutely adorable Gummy Bear Tarot by Dietmar Bittrich and available from US Games Systems. This is a a very wonderful deck for beginners, young at heart and a great teaching tool for kids.

This seventy-eight card deck features the precious little Gummy Bears all set in traditional Rider Waite poses that most of us learned when first beginning to read the Tarot, however, the images are a bit more simplistic in their appearance and these little darlings make for a wonderful first deck for children and pre-teens.

The cards themselves measure 2" x 3.5" and are marvelous for those small little hands to shuffle. The card stock is of the same US Games stock and not too thick but not too thin as to bend easily as kids may be just learning to shuffle as well as read tarot. My daughter had a very easy time shuffling this deck and quickly deemed it her favorite deck that she has seen to this date, not to mention the hints that she might want to have this for her own use. 

The Gummy Bear tarot comes packaged in a wonderful little keepsake tin with the standard LWB (little white book) of meanings accompanied by the strengths and weakness of each card and are presented in a way to be easily read by young readers. On the backs of the cards you will see sixteen bears in four rows of four, in the bright and bold colors of blue, green, red and white and can be read upright or reversed. 


The Gummy Bears cast their magic spells, wield their wands, and delight in reaching out to people through the mischievous imagery found in each card and don't forget, the holiday season is coming up before we know it and this deck would make the perfect gift for the child or the child at heart

US Games Systems

ISBN: 1-57281-471-3
Artist: Dietmar Bittrich

Book Review- Back In Time Tarot

I'm often questioned about books for beginning tarot readers and recently I've been asked to guest on the Spiritscast podcast in October with Feithline Stuart  about learning the tarot so I began to gather up my list of terrific books that are great for anyone just starting out on their tarot journey. Among my favorites are... Mary K. Greer's "Tarot For Yourself", Joan Bunning's "Learning The Tarot" and Rachel Pollacks "Seventy-eight Degrees Of Wisdom" but recently I had the opportunity to read a great book for beginners and experienced alike called The Back In Time Tarot by Janet Boyer.

The Back In Time Tarot is an innovative approach to learning the tarot through experiencing it's wide range of meanings and not memorizing endless keywords and meanings that may or may not stick in our minds. No matter what our background in the tarot, novice or seasoned, the one thing that we all have in common is we all have a past and memories that we can all draw upon to assist us in building impressions and truly meaningful interpretations.

The BIT (Back In Time) method utilizes two things, a deck of cards and a snapshot, or memory, of an event, situation, person and even song that we can then describe through the use of  tarot cards to capture that instant in time thus creating a lasting experience of the cards and their meanings. The combinations and experiences that we can identify becomes endless and when all is said and done you can easily find yourself, as I did, identifying tarot cards in everyday experiences. This is an absolutely wonderful technique for beginners to learn and all you need is your memory and a tarot notebook, you can even write down little tarot snapshots on a scrap of paper or even a restaurant napkin, the more you notice the more fun it becomes!

An example of a BIT snapshot from my memories would be my childhood years spending time with my grandfather. He was my first hero growing up and I have the most special memories of  him coming to my elementary school every Tuesday for a lunch program that allowed grandparents to come in and eat lunch and spend time with their grand children each week. I can remember how proud I felt when he showed up and how special my grandfather made me feel to take time out each week to come eat lunch with me. There were only a handful of kids who's grandparents came and most of them only showed up every now and then but my grandfather was there every week like clockwork and it was truly a time I look back upon fondly.

Looking through my Robin Wood tarot deck, I chose the King of Pentacles to represent my grandfather.  My grandfather farmed later in life, having some cattle, pigs and small farm animals and worked with his hands as a carpenter in his spare time. For many years he worked as a fire marshal for the local timber industry and like the King of Pentacles I saw him as kind, earthy and concerned with nature and the environment. My grandparents were wealthy but my grandfather was very down to earth and practical like the King and always made time for his family but never skimped on spending time or resources when it came to me.

I picked the Six of Wands from the Universal Waite Tarot to represent the memory of when grandpa showed up to eat lunch with me on Tuesdays. I can remember the exhilarating feeling of recognition and importance that I felt from my classmates that my grandpa came to spend that time with me when so many kids did not have the opportunity. I truly felt as I shone brightly in their eyes and the eyes of my beloved grandpa. Like the figure on the card riding his horse through the crowd of admirers, sitting up straight and proud, the attention was on me and my grandpa every Tuesday.

I selected the Six of Cups from the Universal Waite again to represent how I look back on those special memories, a time of innocence and nostalgia washes over me like the childhood figures presented on the card. They stand in a courtyard of flowers and warm memories and it's almost like it was yesterday that I am that age again and my grandpa had just visited me at school.

I also picked the Ten of Cups from the Robin Wood Tarot for this memory as well. In this card we can see a happy youth sitting on a grandfather's lap with contented domestic scenery and even a couple of dogs in the background.  This was one of the happiest times in my life, a time where I was safe, secure and surrounded by those who loved me, it brings to mind how I wish my grandpa was still with me today

The possibilities are endless on how you can capture little snippets in time and turn them into terrific learning experiences that are fun and a great way to find the different ways to pair the Tarot with memories and situations from your past. The Back In Time Tarot takes a fresh new approach to interpreting tarot and I wholeheartedly encourage you to try the BIT method and see for yourself how you can incorporate your memories into snapshots reflected with the Tarot. What memories can you associate with the tarot today?

Author: Janet Boyer

Publisher: Hampton Roads Pub Co (October 17, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1571745874

Serenity Sunday

Besom Chant


Besom, besom long and lithe
Made from ash and willow withe
Tied with thongs of willow bark
In running stream at moonset dark.


With a pentagram indighted
As the ritual fire is lighted;
Sweep ye circle, deosil,
Sweep out evil, sweep out ill,
Make the round of the ground
Where we do the Lady's will.


Besom, besom, Lady's broom
Sweep out darkness, sweep out doom
Rid ye Lady's hallowed ground
Of demons, imps and Hell's death hound;
Then set ye down on Her green earth
By running stream or Mistress' hearth,
'Till called once more on Sabbath night
To cleans once more the dancing site.



My List:


1.) My family


2.) Great friends


3.) Cool evenings


4.) Full moons


5.) Wheat bread


6.) Dragonflies


7.) Fall foliage


8.) Meditation time


9.) End of season roses


10.) Candles

Silly Picture Of The Week

Shadow and Calliope snuggle on the bed. Yes, the rest of her is under his head!

My Favorite Cards

I had an interesting conversation the other day with my friend Janet Boyer in which we discussed our favorite cards that we looked for when looking at a potential new deck and Janet came up with the brilliant idea to put up a post asking this very question. Among the responses on The Fool Stop Tarot blog were the cards people chose and a bit about why they were chosen but there was one comment in particular that got my mental machinery turning. The question was..."What do these cards that we always look for in a new deck say about us?" So I figured that I would list my favorite cards I look for in any new deck and what that might say about me and I encourage you to do the same and let me know just what you come up with

The very first card I always look for is The Moon, I'm not sure why this card has always been a favorite of mine but it never ceases to enthrall me how beautiful and mysterious the Moon can be. The Moon is symbolic of the imagination and can be an illusion in itself. One must guard against accepting illusions as they may cause an error in  judgement. There will be many unforeseen changes and unexpected occurrences and only when you are willing for things to be the way they are and accept them they are, will they change. We cannot run from the problem and the only way out is through.


I've never really been a daydreamer, I've pretty much seen life as it actually is... maybe my choice in the Moon card is telling me that at times I would very much like to hide or harbor illusions about events simply because some events can be painful but as the Moon implies, the only way to deal with problems and struggles is not to hide from them but face them head on in. I still love the romantic dreamy feel to this card and it will always be my favorite.

The second card I always look for is the Star,  my birth card and the card of Aquarius. The Star card in tarot is often called a card of hope. Here, however, it is not hope as we often view it as wishful thinking, but in the archaic use of the word which means to have trust and confidence in the future. I for one hold this card dear to my heart, I always look to the positive and hopeful side, choosing to see the possibilities rather than the road blocks. Life is too short to waste on seeing ones limitations and not it's possibilities so I am the eternal optimist.

The third card I always look for is The Hermit. With the Hermit card we recognize that each of our thoughts and actions are a brick we use to build our lives, we partake in the creation of our own reality. The Hermit has had to learn this lesson by means of distancing himself from the regular, routine world. By removing himself from the "normal" stream of societal thought, the Hermit is able to listen to the inner stirrings of his own intuition and act upon it. I have aways been a somewhat solitary type, preferring my own company as opposed to large social gatherings


I had always chalked it up to being and only child but I somehow think that this is just another facet of the core parts that make me who I am. I am always seeking that calm inner place of thought and personal growth, a place to let my inner wisdom guide me rather than follow the crowd. It's not that I'm not social by any means but in times of stress I like to go to that quiet, still place within myself and regroup and recharge.


It's rather funny as I finish up talking about what my favorite cards may indicate about myself, that there are no Minor Arcana cards that I seek out, they are all Major Arcana and as we all know the Major Arcana are all about the human condition. Each card represents the joys and sorrows every man and woman can experience in a lifetime. A Major Arcana card is always given extra weight in a reading. When one of these cards appears, you know the issues at stake are not mundane or temporary. They represent your most basic concerns - your major feelings and motivations.The human drama illustrated in 22 cards and not the day to day activities and goings on of the Minor Arcana. 


 Now it's your turn...what do your favorite cards say about you?