Passing Down the Art

I grew up with a mother that read Tarot (and still does), and I'm enjoying the process of passing this art down to my kids. Every once in a while my oldest daughter (newly 14 years old) will pick up her phone and shortly thereafter I'll hear a shuffling sound emanating from it. "What are you doing?" I ask.... "My card of the day draw," she says. I think that through Tarot apps she's been studying on her own, under my radar.

Last night she was inspired to cook us all dinner based on recipes from a colonial American cookbook she received as a gift years ago. While she was cooking meatballs and potatoes and green beans I started to throw out card names and see what associations she could make with them. Knight of Wands, Strength, no problem. I thought I'd try and throw her a curve ball and I gave her the Lovers. I figured she'd say "love and romance" but her very first comment: "Choices." Awesome!

I asked her to tell me about the Chariot, thinking it was unlikely to be one she's familiar with, but she came at me with "focus, determination, moving forward." Okay I was feeling very proud at this point. We chatted about some further aspects of this card, and she nodded knowingly.

So I suggested we move to the Minor cards, and she said that she felt she understood the suit of Cups pretty well, so I had her go through them, starting at the Ace, and she killed it. It was fun to listen to her process. She would start talking about the card imagery she was seeing in her mind's eye, and drawing meaning from that: "The Three of Cups...well I know there are three people having a good time, there's food and drink, and they look happy. It's about celebration and having fun with people."
The only card she felt stuck on was the 5 of Cups, so I helped her to remember traditional images of the person staring down at three spilt cups, and she took it from there. "He's sad about what he lost but if he turns around he'll see that he still has some good things in his life." Did I mention that I'm a proud mama?? :-)

I asked how she felt about the other suits, and this was her answer, which made me laugh quite a bit: "Wands I'm sort of okay with, Pentacles I don't know very well, and Swords....bad things happen. 9 of Swords...ugh!"

So needless to say, she surprised me with how much she's been absorbing, and it was really moving to hear her talk about the cards so comfortably and naturally. I can't wait to see what kind of reader she'll be, and to see how the legacy of divination continues to be part of our family line as time goes on!

Yule Blog Hop 2013 - Bringing Light into Darkness

Previous/Master/Next

Welcome to the Yule Blog Hop 2013! To access more fabulous posts, please use the links above, which will immediately take you to Joanna Ash's Sun Goddess Tarot blog, and Chloe McCracken's Inner Whispers blog! Our wrangler, Joanna Ash from Sun Goddess Tarot, chose the theme of "Bringing Light into Darkness" for this hop, and it feels very appropriate for many reasons.

As readers, we are always engaged in the act of bringing light into darkness. We help illuminate and provide insights into a variety of challenges that people experience, and often seek rays of hope even when a reading may look rather bleak. There is a reason for the term "light worker," after all! Whether we are connecting to the spirits of passed loved ones, pondering a Tarot or Lenormand spread, manipulating a client's energy, or drawing runes, our goal is to provide clarity and guidance to someone in need (and sometimes that "someone" is us!).

On the evening before Thanksgiving this year, I sat down on the couch to compose a new spread. The Hobbit was on the television, and as I was considering how to approach the spread, it suddenly occurred to me to create one based on the Lord of the Rings!  I started to think of characters and traits (whether subtle or obvious), and when I was finished I realized that I'd made something I really wanted to share on this blog hop:

Light of Earendil Spread: Bringing Light to Darkness

Card 1: Gollum (What shadow am I currently encountering?)*

Card 2: Frodo (What hidden/unrecognized strength may help me work with this shadow?)

Card 3: Light of Earendil (What illuminates the darkness for me?)

Card 4: Gandalf (How can I master my power?)

Card 5: Elrond (What counsel will help me confront my current obstacles?)

Card 6: Mirror of Galadriel (What may the immediate future hold?)

I decided to apply this spread to current work-related challenges I've been experiencing, where a personal dispute between two people has expanded to include/impact the entire department:

Light of Earendil Spread
Using Wildwood Tarot (Sterling Ethos 2011)

1: Gollum - 9 of Bows reversed (Respect)

The shadow overtaking my workplace brings feelings of confusion and victimization.  In turn this leads to defensiveness which then leads to scheming and more confusion.  There is a quality of chaotic energy here, a lack of self-respect and mutual respect, of feeling attacked. Things are pretty out of control and there is a serious need for intensive, open communication and renewal of camaraderie that has been lost.

2: Frodo - 5 of Vessels (Ecstasy)

My unrecognized strength is my optimism, and my ability to seek healing through focusing on what's still good in the department. The 5 of Vessels is about harnessing the energy of love in order to move past pain and disappointment.  Instead of focusing on what's been lost, it's about using that energy and moving it forward.  This card shows stars in the sky that remind me of the Light of Earendil, which comes from a star.  It's the power of universal energy, a light in the darkness, hope, and emits a feeling that "this too shall pass".

3: Light of Earendil - The Green Woman

My own illumination is provided by the Green Woman. In part I feel this represents my connection to the earth; she encourages me not to get carried away by emotions, but to be gentle and look for creative solutions. The Green Woman has very nurturing energy, so perhaps it will benefit me to tap into my own mother energy in this situation. But more importantly, the Green Woman reminds me of the energy of the department chair, a wise woman with wonderful talents and a warm personality who is starting to steer the ship slowly back on course. When things have looked most bleak, I've placed my hope in her and haven't been disappointed. It's interesting to note that this was the only Major card in the spread, and I value the extra weight that it carries, particularly in this position. 

4: Gandalf - 10 of Vessels

I can master my role in this situation by recognizing the bounty of love in my life, which prevents me from buying into external emotional excesses and imbalances in my environment. By calling on the abundance of positive energy, I can help both myself and others move past hostile feelings and perhaps find peace. 

5: Elrond - King of Vessels

My wise counsel for this situation is to take on the characteristics of the King of Vessels.  He is the master of emotions and healing energies, and exudes patience, calmness and diplomacy.  His energy encourages the understanding of all parties involved.  This king is caring and supportive, and interested in finding common ground, but at the same time has clear boundaries in place.  So perhaps I will find a way to lead (subtly) by example: with balanced emotions, without reacting or overreacting to anything that arises.  That seems reasonable.

6: Mirror of Galadriel - 2 of Arrows (Injustice)

The 2 of Arrows suggests the potential for continued feelings of injustice in my department, the sense of the scales not being balanced. There are difficult decisions/choices to be considered and made, and it may be challenging to decide what approach or direction to take. There is a sense with this card of things feeling a bit stuck - despite an awareness of the challenges, there may yet be complications and confusion when it comes to making a clear decision. I seem to get this card quite a bit when it comes to work readings!  And it isn't terribly uplifting but it does sound likely given the state of things at present. "Should I stay or should I go, one day is fine the next is black…..if I go there will be trouble…if I stay it will be double!" (yes, this is the Clash). ;)

Summary: All elements are present here, with a predominance of water, which makes sense because relationships and emotions seem to be the core of the dilemma. I like the balance of feminine energy in the Light of Earandil/Green Woman and masculine energy/King of Vessels - water and earth, both passive energies. The summary card is 8, which corresponds to the Stag (justice, decisions, balance, clarity, objective understandings), whose energies are certainly relevant here. The raw water energy/power in the 10 Vessels pours downward, bolstering the King below, who is master of water. 5 doubled is 10, so there is a numeric connection between my hidden strength (5 Vessels), how I can master my power (10 Vessels), and the advice (King Vessels).

Despite an uncertain future, I love how this reading flows, how it highlights the major challenges, the light in the darkness, and how I can be my best self when it comes to working with those challenges - after all, that's what Tarot's all about, right?

Happy Yule to all, and may you continue to share your light with the world!

Previous/Master/Next

*I chose Gollum instead of Sauron to represent the "shadow" because Sauron seems just too big, bad and evil to represent everyday challenges we face. Gollum is very ordinary in many ways, and yet became intensely corrupted, and a slave to his own weaknesses. He does a lot of wicked things, but we can at least acknowledge his "humanity." 

The Guardian and The Great Bear

Ellen at Greylady’s Hearth has been doing some lovely blogging about her experiences with the Wildwood Tarot (and other decks). I recently did a reading for her as she won the give-away I was holding, and I used the Wildwood Tarot for her spread (and she wrote a really beautiful blog post about the reading which you can see here).

Spending some time with this deck over the past week has had me considering (for the millionth time) just how beautifully it flows – not just in terms of the sequential arrangement of the cards (which can be found in any deck), but in how it relates to the Wheel of the Year, which is part of the uniqueness of the Wildwood. Two of the cards that share an indelible connection are the Guardian and the Great Bear. In traditional decks the Guardian (card 15) is called “the Devil” and the Great Bear (card 20) is called “Judgment.”

What I see when I view these cards together is a clear path of discovery and growth, and one that is more obvious and more deeply meaningful to me than most other decks have been in this regard.

Wildwood Tarot
John Matthews, Mark Ryan, Will Worthington
Sterling Ethos, 2011

The Guardian is the intimidating keeper of shadows, who bars entry into the cave of knowledge.  In order to enter the cave you must be strong enough, brave enough, ready enough, to face your fears, your self-doubts, your weaknesses.  If you’re not prepared for the journey, the skeleton of the cave bear will frighten you away.  If you are prepared, your inner strength and balance will reduce the scary bones to an inactive pile of just that…bones. With nothing left barring the way, you are free to enter the cave, to journey within, to confront your truths, however unpleasant, challenging, or beautiful they may be.

Wildwood Tarot
John Matthews, Mark Ryan, Will Worthington
Sterling Ethos, 2011

After your journeying, which includes the sacred energy of the Hooded Man, you reach the conclusion of a cycle of personal transformation, and emerge from the cave at the Great Bear. Now, instead of scary bones, you see a vivacious, fierce animal perched on top of the cave, roaring an announcement to the world that you have arrived. The pole star shines above guiding you forward on a new path, in a new phase of life. The northern lights radiate through the night sky, pouring energy and joy down upon you. You’ve reached a new level of balance between your primal force and the deep wells of your spiritual nature.

So I see a mirror here between these two cards, that provides an important link. It involves the mastery of our Selves, conquering our shadows through acceptance and acknowledgement, the willingness to undertake a journey through the depths of who we truly are as spiritual beings within physical forms.

Taroscope: Week of December 15-21, 2013

Notice that the title said "Taroscope" - as in, singular!? I am playing around with how I want to continue doing my weekly, community draws, and today I thought I'd pull a single card on whose energy all the astrological signs can meditate.  In some way or another, each card in the deck touches our lives, and the card I drew for today is quite fitting for this time of year:

The 6 of Pentacles, from the Deviant Moon Tarot:

Deviant Moon Tarot - Patrick Valenza
US Games/2008

The 6 of Pentacles is about give and take.  I've heard some people associate this card with "gifts with strings attached" but I don't see it that way at all (unless in some circumstances as a reversal). This card always sings to me of reciprocity, and the beauty in paying things not only back, but forward.  We don't always have the opportunity to return favors, but we always have the opportunity to give of what we have when we realize that we're in the position to be generous.  That may be the ability to give of our own time, our resources, or even simply our attention.

So we are now in Yule, or Christmas time, when the topics of generosity, giving, receiving, and kindness abound. Organizations set up "Giving Trees" where anyone can leave a donation for a needy family.  Communities come together to prepare care packages for those who are facing a meager holiday due to unemployment, homelessness, a family loss, or even military deployment.

I saw someone write the other day that this time of year is when bribery becomes so prevalent. I suppose that between some parents and children it could be the case ("behave or Santa won't bring you that toy you want so badly!!"). But I'd like to think that at its core, the holiday encourages all people to embrace the joy and light that accompany not only reciprocity, but simply giving because we can.

So let the energy of the 6 of Pentacles sit with you this week, and allow you to be more conscious of your own important, vital role in the world community. How are you thankful for gifts received? How do you give of your time, talents, heart, resources? Each positive act is like a drop of sunlight that brightens our shared existence!

Mind Over Matter

I've heard people talk about the 3 of Swords as the "mind over matter" card, and that it can represent the ability to "get to the heart of an issue." I think these are interesting interpretations that contribute a lot to the understanding of this somewhat unpleasant card.

It's not fun to see when it pops up in a spread… we think heartbreak, disappointment, jealousy, betrayal, pain, sadness, despair.  I've heard this card described as heartache that impacts the mind and the ability to make decisions, which makes sense as it's in the suit of Swords, and therefore pertains to the intellect. I've also experienced this card in a reading as representative of someone considering betrayal, which again fits with Swords in that it's a decision that affects emotions.

Radiant Rider-Waite/US Games

But one of my favorite interpretations, which I've seen recently when it was in relationship to the 5 of Cups in a reading, is the idea of rising above the pain of disappointment and heartbreak so that clear decisions can be made. In other words, having the strength to be logical and intellectual in the midst of sadness; the ability to make sensible decisions by rising above pain, and taking a good look at the reality around you.  This is not easy, and in fact I think it only comes after having spent a long period of time grieving - even if the grief has become a regular part of life to the extent that it isn't always obvious or immediately recognizable. It still sits below the surface. But something must happen, a catalyst that gently shifts the focus from the three empty cups to the two that are still full. And I think that card is the 3 of Swords. Spears of clarity pierce through the pain-riddled heart, encouraging mind over matter, with the promise that with each step the road will become easier.

Making a Grand Tableau Mat

I've been dreaming of the Ciro Marchetti Grand Tableau cloth available from his website, ever since I saw Donnaleigh de LaRose use it in one of her amazing video tutorials. As I worked my way into practicing with this massive spread, I realized that I needed some kind of mat with the Houses all situated. The Marchetti cloth is beautiful, but also a bit over my budget for now, so I decided to take an idea from yet another of Donnaleigh's videos, and use some printer paper to create my own mat. Durable? Not so much..!  But it serves the purpose very well, and for practicing it's perfect!

First I dug out some printer paper. I lined some cards up on a single sheet so I could see the best fit, and then I lightly traced the cards out with a pencil. Then I put the cards away and retraced the pencil lines with a Sharpie. For following pieces of paper I just laid a new piece of paper over the original, and traced the Sharpie lines that were visible:

That took five sheets of paper (I did the mat in the 8x4 +4 structure). Then I wrote the House and number on each card spot, and lined all the pages up to make sure they matched up with each other:

Finally it was time to try out a Grand Tableau! (Not for the faint of heart!!)

Grand Tableau with Gilded Reverie Lenormand

I expect that eventually I'll have to replace the paper mat, though for now I'm storing it in pieces in a folder for safe keeping.  But it took only about twenty minutes to create, and it's really invaluable!

Taroscopes for the Week of December 8-14 2013

We're getting closer and closer to the big holidays! Last night we got our tree and this morning we put on the lights and decorations. Our house is looking quite festive now, I have to say! Most of all I'm enjoying the pine aroma wafting through the air! So this week we have all the elements represented, along with two Majors and two Courts. I used the Halloween Tarot by Karin Lee and Kipling West....just because I love it! Let's see how it's panned out!

Capricorn - 3 of Ghosts (Cups): Get out of the house this week and enjoy the company of others, whether it's tea or beer with friends, a holiday party, or even simply a shared lunch at work.  It's a good way to let off steam, and the friendly vibes this week will contribute to a good time!

Aquarius - 3 of Bats (Swords): Again!? You must have a lot going on lately, Aquarius! Don't let any disappointments get the best of you this week. "Mind over matter" will help you deal with things, even if it's not the most enjoyable process.

Pisces - Wheel of Fortune: Expect the unexpected this week! Things will probably flow smoothly for you, and whatever projects or plans you've been throwing together should go off without a hitch.

Aries - Emperor reversed: Structure is good, but sometimes too much of it can take the fun out of things. You may be feeling a bit constricted this week, but don't forget to enjoy yourself and try to keep things in perspective. Imperfections and disarray can provide excellent learning opportunities.

Taurus - Ace of Imps (Wands) reversed: Your best opportunities this week will come from you rather than your environment.  If you're feeling frustrated because your creative flow just isn't flowing, then try a new approach and perhaps a new project that might reignite your spark.

Gemini - 8 of Pumpkins (Pentacles): Your axe will be all over that proverbial grindstone this week. It may be a busy work week that requires a lot of your attention, and you may also be developing your crafty skills making fun, hand-made treats to give as Christmas gifts.

Cancer - King of Pumpkins (Pentacles): Enjoy your environment this week, and allow yourself to bask in the comforts of home and hearth. You'll be the master of your world, and will find a way to resolve any issues that may arise, and still have plenty of time left over to enjoy a soul-satisfying meal by the fireplace.

Leo - 7 of Ghosts (Cups): You have many exciting opportunities this week, where do you even begin?? Well, make a list, prioritize it, and get to work! You definitely want to harness the energy surrounding you - so much potential!

Virgo - 8 of Ghosts (Cups): If you're feeling "meh" this week, spice things up a bit. Get Chinese take-out instead of pizza. Break your routine, whether at home, at work, or hey - in both places! The change may be just what you need to refresh and inspire you.

Libra - 10 of Bats (Swords) reversed: Last week your 4 of Swords encouraged you to find time for more rest, and this week you just may manage to find a way to rest that pretty little head of yours and refresh and renew your mindset. Just take a deep breath and let things flow - transitions are good for the soul!

Scorpio - Knight of Bats (Swords): This will be a fast paced week! Don't forget to be mindful of your ultimate goal, and avoid making any unnecessary sacrifices on your way to gittin' 'er done. Focus your intentions and enjoy the ride! 

Sagittarius - 6 of Bats (Swords): If it wasn't working the way you wanted it to, let it go and move on! There are new opportunities in the challenges you face this week, and all it takes to capitalize on them is a perpective shift.

Whew! You might have noticed that these are a bit shorter than before...I enjoy doing them so I want to continue each week, but I also wanted to find a way to make it more practical (less time-consuming)!  Have an amazing and empowering week, everyone!

P.S. If you want to put your name in the hat for a free reading, it's not too late! Drawing will be held next Sunday, December 15th. For more info, click here!

Taroscope Spread with Halloween Tarot