Tarot Education At Your Fingertips

by Asher on November 11, 2012

Studying and learning the Tarot is a lifelong endeavor. We buy decks and books, read forums and blogs, and perhaps attend Tarot Meetup groups or conferences in our desire to broaden our knowledge. But what if one has no Tarot friends with whom to share ideas, or for whatever reason cannot attend BATS or the Readers Studio? Is continuing Tarot education out of reach?

Definitely not! In fact, there is a wonderful library of educational DVDs available to help us learn new reading techniques, brush up on our Tarot history, explore Tarot reading through art, as well as many other fascinating topics. And they are very affordable, too!

Linda Marson, of Global Spiritual Studies, produces webinars featuring well-known Tarot teachers and readers. These hour-long presentations can be attended live via the Internet in a web-based ‘classroom’. After participating in the webinar, attendees may access the online recordings at no additional charge. Also, the webinars are recorded and available for purchase on DVDs that are played via computer, and can be watched again and again.

I have purchased several of Linda’s DVDs and find them to be of excellent quality. Presenters include Rachel Pollack, Mary Greer, Linda Marson, Bonnie Cehovet and Caitlin Matthews. Topics include Tarot birth cards, Major Arcana readings, the depiction of cartomancers in art, Tarot storytelling and reading the popular Lenormand cards (the newest additions!).

The DVDs are housed in plastic cases with cover artwork describing the webinar. They take about a week to arrive, as they are produced and sent from Australia. Postage is included in the cost of the DVDs, too.  These excellent DVDs belong in every Tarot practitioner’s library. I have watched nearly all of them more than once, and have learned so much from them.

You can take a look at the collection here. I highly recommend these to all Tarot lovers, from beginners to experienced readers and teachers. Check them out!

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Under the Roses Lenormand Deck

by Asher on October 17, 2012

The current Lenormand craze continues to grow, and new Lenormand decks are appearing almost daily. The small, 36-card deck is finding new devotees who are drawn to its simplicity and pragmatic directness. It cuts to the chase and pulls no punches. It requires a new and refreshing mind-set to read the cards, which is very different from reading the Tarot.

I have been studying and reading the Lenormand cards for about nine months now. I continue to be amazed at how literal the cards can be. As part of the online course I am taking, we are asked to do a daily draw of three cards and to make predictions based on the combinations of the selected cards. At the end of the day, we look back on the cards and see how they played out in our daily lives.

A recent draw for me was the Coffin + Clouds + Fish.  I came up with some ideas, including an end to some confusion about money. Upon returning from work, I realized the cards had two messages for me. One was that I was not paid for some contract work I had done (and this day was payday) and I was indeed puzzled about that (it all got straightened out by day’s end). Yet another, more literal message for me was the fact that I was feeling sick (Coffin) and that the day was overcast and rainy (Clouds + Fish)!

As I continue with my studies, I also look at new decks that are being published. One new one caught my eye, the Under the Roses Lenormand. Although the artwork was very attractive, I dismissed it outright because it has keywords at the bottom of each card. I judged it simply as a deck for people who are not willing to do the necessary study and work to learn to read the cards.

A few days ago, I read a very positive review of the deck. So, I went to the creators’ website for a second look. And I am very glad that I did. After looking at all of the cards, I decided to take a chance and order a deck for myself. It arrived a couple of days later, and I must admit, I am very impressed with it.

The keywords that I though would be so distracting are actually not distracting at all. They take up relatively little space at the bottom of each card. The images are very easy to see and focus on. While there are several keywords on each card, they have been carefully selected to reflect the variety of meanings possible for each symbol (A few of them do have me scratching my head, though). The playing card symbols for each card are placed unobtrusively at the top right corner; readers who don’t use the card attributions (I do) can easily ignore them. The large rose on the card back is just beautiful!

The cards are 3 ½ x 2 ¼ and printed on quality cardstock. A few of the cards have been re-named (the Grave for the Coffin, the Sickle for the Scythe, the Clock Tower for the Tower, the Locket for the Heart, and the Journal for the Book). Included is an additional set of Man and Woman cards, as well as 4 cards with various spreads. The deck is housed in a nice acrylic box and a black bag is also included (the box fits beautifully in the bag!).

I am so pleased that I gave this deck a second chance. It is a very readable deck with nice artwork, and I appreciate that some of the keywords are causing me to think about some of the meanings. The Under the Roses Lenormand should appeal to both beginning and experienced readers alike. Take a look at the deck for yourself here. And here are a few images of the cards:

 The Key, The Garden, The Ship

Images ©  2012 by K. Hurteau and K. Hill

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

BATS turned 21 this year!

by Asher on September 2, 2012

This year, the Bay Area Tarot Symposium (BATS) celebrated its 21st anniversary! And what a party!  Over a hundred Tarot lovers gathered to fete the “oldest established permanent floating Tarot conference in the US”.

Two days of Tarot workshops with some of the brightest stars in the Tarot universe, including:

Mary Greer – author of many Tarot books, including Tarot for Yourself

James Wanless – creator of the Voyager Tarot

Pamela Eakins – creator of Tarot of the Spirit

Diane Wilkes – creator of the Storyteller tarot and the Jane Austen Tarot

Ellen Lorenzi-Prince – creator of the Tarot of the Crone, and the upcoming Minoan Tarot

Marie White – creator of the Mary-El Tarot

Carrie Paris – creator of the upcoming Lenormand deck & book, Le Jeu de Changement

Nancy Antenucci – author of Psychic Tarot – Using Your Natural  Psychic Abilities to Read the Cards

A first for BATS this year was the inclusion of two workshops on the Lenormand Oracle cards. Melissa Hill, creator of the Melissa Lenormand and the Postmark Lenormand, gave a Lenormand 101 presentation. She had attendees at tables and on the floor, reading the Grand Tableau (a spread of all 36 cards!) in one hour! Mary Greer spoke about the historical development of the Lenormand cards, and presented tips and techniques for reading the cards.

Melissa Hill’s Lenormand 101

A lovely jazz band provided background music for Saturday night’s cocktail party. I did some Lenormand readings at the party (and got some wonderful feedback from Mary Greer!).

And of course there were the vendors! An amazing array of Tarot-related goodies was available for sale: decks, books, bags, DVDs, jewelry, and artwork. I was very good this year; I came home with only 2 books, 3 bags and a mini Postmark Lenormand deck.

Next year’s BATS will move to a new venue. It will be held August 17-18 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, California. If you are at all into Tarot (and Lenormand), you owe it to yourself to attend a BATS gathering!

Thalassa, Queen of BATS

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

(Re) Learning Lenormand

by Asher on August 6, 2012

After my first post on wanting to learn to read the Lenormand cards, I had some success. But, as time went on, other shiny, pretty things (Tarot decks) caught my eye, and I left my Lenormand books and decks behind.

Now, three years later, my interest and desire to re-connect with the Lenormand has surged. I took part in an online class and had even more success! By session 2, I read my first Grand Tableau for a friend who confirmed everything I saw in the cards! I wanted to learn more!

After doing some research, I realized that the class I had completed was not the traditional style of reading Lenormand. While I learned quite a bit from the class, I knew I wanted to learn the traditional Lenormand reading techniques. I learned that there are various “schools” of Lenormand tradition, and that it is not recommended to mix schools. Three years ago, I was trying to combine the French and German schools and did not succeed.

Now, I am a student in Andybc’s course at Cartomantes’ Cabinet. It is a self-paced, traditional approach to learning the cards. All that is required is that you select a school and stick with it throughout the course. Andy offers a list of meanings from several schools (German, French, Russian, Dutch-Belgian) for prospective students to use. I am using the German school, to build on what I learned in my earlier studies.

The course is also part of an online forum, where students can learn, ask questions and practice with each other. It is a very supportive environment, for those who have the discipline for self-study. I am amazed at how quickly my learning has progressed. The course is well designed and each new skill builds on what has been learned previously and sets the stage for the next set of skills. Students begin by compiling a list of personal meanings for the cards (based on the school they have selected). Then, practical exercises teach the skill of card combining, the very essence of successfully reading the Lenormand cards. Also covered in the course are how to incorporate the playing card insets into readings, how to read a line of 5 cards, and how to read a block of nine cards, called a 3 x 3. These skills prepare students to read the Grand Tableau, a large reading using all 36 cards!

Now, my shiny-pretty distractions are new Lenormand decks! I have collected quite a few decks, both traditional and modern. One of my new favorites is the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Lenormand, a perfect choice to use here in the Southwest where the holiday is a popular and important part of the culture.

I have also created and printed my very own deck that I call the Lenormand Moderne. It is composed entirely of photographs, with no computer enhancement or manipulation. I am using it along with the Piatnik Lenormand for my card studies to great success.

The Lenormand is quickly becoming very popular in the U.S. now and I am excited to be a part of the community, as I am becoming a more proficient and confident reader. I am excited to be involved with a group of people who share my enthusiasm for reading the Lenormand cards. We have created a Meetup group, called the Sibyls of the Southwest, to hone our reading skills and share techniques that we have come across.

I haven’t even picked up a Tarot deck in several months!

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Wheel of the Year Tarot

by Asher on June 17, 2012

I arrived at our recent Tarot Meetup, only to discover I had not brought a deck with me (and I usually bring 4 or 5 decks to the meetings)! Luckily, I was near a metaphysical bookstore, so off I went in search of a deck (which would be my first deck purchase of 2012, and my first deck after the Great Purge of 2011).

My eye was immediately drawn to the Wheel of the Year Tarot, a 2011 release from Lo Scarabeo. The vibrantly colored box is illustrated with the World on the front and the 2 of Cups on the back. I was excited to note that the artwork is by Antonella Platano, one of my favorite Lo Scarabeo artists. So it was the obvious choice for my new deck!

As I opened the deck during our Meetup, I had thought it was going to be a colorful RWS inspired deck, but I was wrong. There are nods to the RWS, to be sure, but there are also many wonderful new takes on the cards as well. No heart to be impaled in the 3 of Swords, no thief sneaking away in the 7 of Swords, and a delicious new image for the Devil! How refreshing! It is a deck that reads very well right out of the box, yet offers bright new interpretations of many of the cards.

3 of Swords

The theme of the deck is the turning of the wheel of the year, i.e., the seasons and the eight Sabbaths of neo-pagan celebration. The 8 celebrations and their Tarot attributions are:

Imbolc – numbered cards of Cups (called Chalices in the deck)

Ostara – court cards of Cups

Beltane – numbered cards of Wands

Litha – court cards of Wands

Lughnasadh – numbered cards of Pentacles

Mabon – court cards of Pentacles

Samhain – numbered cards of Swords

Yule – court cards of Swords

7 of Swords

According to the LWB, the Major Arcana “appears to have chosen its corresponding season spontaneously.” Here is how the LWB describes the deck: “The lively colors of a meadow with a carpet of heavenly scented springtime flowers, the light and the welcome warmth of a blinding summer sun, the slow and graceful dance of the yellow leaves that fall from the trees during the autumn [and] the muffles silence of a winter night under a heavy snow fall.” This is a wonderful description of this beautiful deck, although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The colors are extremely vibrant, which I like very much; they might be too much for some people. The backs (non-reversible) depict symbols of the seasons and a 8-spoked wheel.

Back of Deck

I recommend this deck for those who are looking for a colorful deck with interesting new takes on the cards. It is very readable and easy to work with. It might be just the deck you’re looking for!

The Devil

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Downsizing into 2012

by Asher on December 27, 2011

I have been collecting Tarot and oracle decks for about 20 years, and amassed a collection of around 650 decks (a small collection by some standards!). They were kept on 5 bookshelves, and eventually began rising from the floor in various stacks. Mass market, independently published decks, limited editions, signed and numbered, and OOP decks all filled my living room. For awhile, I did go through them all at least once a year, but that eventually became overwhelming. It was just so much stuff!

Simultaneously, after nearly four years apart (for graduate school and work), my partner got a job and moved back here. The week before Thanksgiving, we began the daunting task of combining two households. On his end in California, Phil began to seriously evaluate his stuff to see what could be let go of. And he suggested I do the same! The idea of trimming my collection (we had a party when I hit 500!) was not what I wanted to hear. But after some earnest thought, I realized he was right. It was time to let things move on…and I had begun to lose the urge to collect just for the sake of collecting. I had not bought a deck in several months, so it seemed a perfect time to go through my collection.

I sat on the floor and began to pull decks of the shelf that I knew I would never miss — that was the easy part! Next came the decks that I absolutely could not live without, and into a pile they went. Finally, I was left with several shelves of decks that required careful consideration about whether to keep them or let them go. After several days, the process was over, or so I thought…

Not wanting the hassle of advertising them for sale, boxing them up and going to the post office, I had an idea. I called several friends and told them to come armed with boxes and bags. They arrived and took what they wanted, and the pile began to diminish (and their collections grew exponentially!) I also filled up three boxes of decks (and books) to donate to a beloved Tarot organization. The rest of the piles were given to a friend to sell on eBay to help her raise money to begin the adoption process.

I had done it! From a collection of 650 or so decks, I kept around 200-250 or so ( I have yet to do a final tally). I now have a collection of decks that I actually want, instead of having them for the purpose of collecting. It was an amazing feeling! The new collection is very eclectic, with a mixture of historic, themed, well-known, virtually unheard of, and collector’s item decks. They are now housed in the living room in a colorful set of fabric drawers in a wooden display (with a bit of overflow onto a small bookshelf).  Here is their new home:

My partner and I have moved into a beautiful three-bedroom home, and are working to make it our own. We are combining things and still downsizing. Clothes, books, kitchen items, knick-knacks, furniture and other things are being donated to local charities. Instead of just having stuff, we have only what we enjoy having around us. Phil took fantastic pictures of many of the items I let go of, and the photos take up virtually no space at all. We are so happy with our new home, and look forward to living with much less clutter around us. It is a good beginning to 2012!

Happy New Year to everyone! May 2012 bring you peace and joy and love.

 

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

New book: Abiding in the Sanctuary

by Asher on December 3, 2011

 

 

 

Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin, co-directors of  Tarot Professionals, have just published a new book of great historical significance.

Abiding in the Sanctuary: The Waite-Trinick Tarot, A Christian Mystical Tarot (1917-1923) is the result of several years of research into the second deck created by Arthur Edward Waite. Not a divinatory deck, these images were designed as meditations on the 22 paths of the Tree of Life.  Their placement on the Tree is quite different from that of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Waite was a member of the Golden Dawn, but after the schism that led to the order’s eventual dissolution, Waite founded his own mystical order.

Waite wanted to emphasize mystical Christianity in his work and rituals, and did so through his Fellowship of the Rosy Cross.  He worked with artists John Trinick and Wilfrid Pippet in the creation of the images, which illustrate what he called “The Great Symbols of the Paths”. These images were used in the FRC rituals as meditations on the paths of the Tree of Life.

These images were never seen by the public until a few of them were illustrated in Decker and Dummett’s A History of the Occult Tarot (1870 -1970), published in 2002. Through a amazing series of synchronicities, Marcus and Tali were able to locate, photograph and secure publication rights to document these images in this beautiful book.

Published in hardcover, with both color and black and white photographs and illustrations, this book is a limited edition of 250 copies. With a preface by Mary K. Greer, the book includes biographical accounts of Trinick and Pippet (as well as other examples of their artwork), additional material about A. E. Waite, and the glorious images themselves. A two-page spread illustrates the placement of the images on the paths and two methods of contemplation using the images are also detailed.

Expected to sell out, this limited edition is available here.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Batty for BATS 2011!

by Asher on September 17, 2011

A few weeks ago, I attended the 20th anniversary of the Bay Area Tarot Symposium (BATS), sponsored by the amazing Thalassa and her minions, the Daughters of Divination. It is a two-day festival celebrating all things Tarot, and offers workshops and lectures by the crème de la crème of Tarot authors and deck creators.

This year’s lineup of presenters included Mary K. Greer, Rachel Pollack, James Wanless, Joanna Powell Colbert, Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, Corrine Kenner, Barbara Moore, James Ricklef, Kooch Daniels, and many more. In addition, there was the Tarot Bazaar, where one could purchase decks, books, jewelry, leather Tarot pouches, DVDs, and artwork. Many of the presenters were also available for readings (at last year’s BATS, I had an amazing reading with Rachel Pollack).

One amazing event that I was involved in was a Tarot “throw-down”. A friend from California and I both brought our Pam-B decks to BATS. After the cocktail party on Saturday evening, we both sat down and went through our decks card by card. We compared card stock, size, color, and condition (these decks are at least 80 years old!). We had quite a group observing, too. Mary Greer and Rachel Pollack attended! Mary read selections from Waite’s Key to the Tarot and Rachel offered gens of wisdom from her many years’ experience of working with the cards. Next year, we hope to repeat the process with a Pam-A, Pam-B and Pam-C. It should be very exciting, especially to see examples of these vintage decks together in one place.

Here are four new books that I acquired at BATS this year, hot off the press, for your perusal and enjoyment.

Mary Greer needs no introduction. She has been teaching and writing about Tarot for many years. Her newest book, Who Are You in the Tarot? is a brand new, revised and expanded version of her classic book Tarot Constellations. In the book, Mary uses the principles of numerology to help us determine our birth cards, soul card, personality card, and hidden factor or shadow card. Both Major and Minor Arcana cards are used to create a personal constellation of cards for self-exploration. Mary gave a presentation at BATS based on the book that was well attended and very well received.

Another well-known Tarot author is Corrine Kenner. Her newest book Tarot and Astrology is a very well written book combining the art of tarot and the science of astrology. Using the Golden Dawn system of correspondences, Corrine weaves the two disciplines together clearly and elegantly. Both beginners and advanced Tarot practitioners will find practical knowledge in this book that will enhance their work. The book includes, diagrams, tables, spreads and is illustrated with Corrine’s own deck, the Wizards Tarot.

Another new book that I am enjoying is Bonnie Cehovet’s Tarot, Birth Cards, and You. Using the Tarot School’s method of calculating birth cards (a bit different from Mary Greer’s method), Bonnie helps us reveal our pair of birth cards. Once our cards are determined, we can read about the archetypal themes of the cards, learn the astrological associations, create affirmations, and learn to work with the gifts, abilities and challenges of our birth cards. She also includes detailed guided meditations or journeys into the cards as well as questions to ask along our journey. This is a new and unique way of working with our birth cards.

The fourth book I got was one I had not heard of until now. Written by Claudine Aegerter and Berenice Benjelloun, The Spirit of the Tarot: Numbers as Initiators of the Major Arcana is quite a tome. The book’s 523 pages cover the Major Arcana and the esoteric numerology contained therein. The authors teach at the Connaissance School of Numerology and the book is a compilation of lectures given at the school. The book is illustrated with the Oswald Wirth Tarot. This is not going to be a casual read, but an intensive study, which I enjoy.

Consider attending BATS next year, when the Symposium turns 21, and “is old enough to drink!” (Ruth Ann Amberstone). It promises to be an exciting celebration of learning and socializing and fun!

 

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

World Tarot Day 2011

by Asher on May 24, 2011

May 25, 2011 is World Tarot Day, and time to join with Tarot aficionados around the world. It’s a a day for sharing Tarot with family, friends and strangers…give a free reading, give someone a deck or a Tarot book, or create your own celebration.

From the official site (click on the WTD banner on the right) is a brief description of the evolution of the day itself: “World Tarot Day (founded by Den Elder in 2003) celebrates the Tarot as an authentic spiritual tool of self-discovery and divination for modern life. It is a tool for our times which has seen a phenomenal upsurge of interest during recent economic, political and spiritual uncertainty.”

We celebrated WTD at both of the Tarot Meetup groups that I co-facilitate. I gave a presentation on the functions and intelligences assigned to the Major Arcana by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn when they overlaid the cards onto the 22 paths of the Tree of Life. There are some amazing concepts there that deserve to be dusted off and incorporated into our readings. My co-facilitator described WTD and its connection to Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. She also introduced the 42-card spread designed for the day, also in honor of Adams’ work.

What is a holiday without gifts? I brought a selection of Tarot books and allowed each participant to select one to take home for his/her library.

We also read with a spread I created for the day, which you are encouraged to use on World Tarot day. Here it is:

1. What role has Tarot played in my life over the past year?

2. What role will Tarot play in my life during the coming year?

3. How can I enhance or support my life with my use of Tarot?

4. What is the spirit of Tarot for the coming year?

Happy World Tarot Day to all!

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

New Year Spread

by Asher on January 1, 2011

As the cold begins to subside on this New Year’s Day, I decided to look at the upcoming new year and what it might hold for me. I used the Gaian Tarot and Joanna’s New Year Spread from the companion book Gaian Tarot: Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves by Joanna Powell Colbert. This year, 2011 will be an Emperor year (2+0+1+1 = 4), which happens to be one of my birth cards, so it will be an important or eventful year. The cards I pulled will help me see how things may unfold.

Card 1 — What do I leave behind in the old year?   The Tree

Also known as the Hanged Man in other decks, the Tree tells me this is the year to leave behind confusion, sacrifice, and feeling that everything is upside down in my life. And that is exactly how the final quarter of the old year ended. Some health issues arose, throwing me off balance,  out of focus, and wallowing in a “Why me?” attitude.  Spending many hours in doctors’ offices was not an enjoyable use of my time, although important diagnoses were made and a plan for surgery in the spring was put into place. So I can walk into 2011 with a clear path of what lies ahead for me. I will have great support from my partner and friends, and have a list of who is willing to help out during my recovery. And since 2011 is an Emperor year, I will be in charge of my health and recovery, and will find balance and stability as the year goes by.

Card 2 — What do I open up to in the new year? 2 of Water

In the companion book, Joanna says of this card: “You have a caring, compassionate connection to another. You choose…to continue a relationship based on a deep heart connection, as you recognize and honor the Divine in each other. This connection brings you healing and joy” (p.97). My partner and I have been apart while he attended graduate school and works on a 3rd year fellowship, which will earn him national licensure.  He is greatly enjoying his time in California, and has been reluctant to move back home, while I have been unwilling to move to California. Since my health issues have arisen, plans have changed. He will be at my side during my surgery and recovery, and will move back here this year as we make sure I am healthy again. After a couple of years, we can begin to find a place we would both be happy to relocate to. His decision has helped me a great deal in looking forward to the surgery and recovery, as well as making up for the time we have been apart. He is an amazing man, and I am so very lucky to have him in my life! He is a huge part of the balance, stability and clarity I have at the start of this year year.

Card 3 — Key opportunity of the new year: Temperance

Joanna tells us that Temperance “offers the serenity of the middle way between polarities. Embrace the different parts of your personality and life’s experiences, both light and shadow, joyful and painful. They all combine together, resulting in your unique individuality. [Temperance] also indicates someone who may be in need of healing…and [she] will facilitate that” (p. 57). What an perfect message to hear! During the last months of 2010, everything seemed very black and white, very either/or. So Temperance helps me envision a more holistic life and to accept the ups and downs that it may bring, and to grow from the lessons it teaches.

Card 4 — Key challenge of the new year: Magician

The Magician plays his drum, caught up in the rhythms he creates. He creates his magic with his hands, and my livelihood is made by using my hands as well. There are also handprints on the cave walls, and Joanna says that “The hand creates magic…[and] hands bring the Unseen into the Seen” (p.12).  This a a magnificent challenge for me in 2011. I have lost my spark, my rhythm, my desire  to be an active participant in my own life. This year is a time to embrace my creativity and inspiration and to enjoy my life, my family and friends who bring me such joy and happiness. As Dolly Levi says in the musical Hello, Dolly!, “It’s time for me to rejoin the human race”, and that’s what I am going to do in this new year!

Card 5 — Hidden concern: Death

Death is also one of my birth cards (1+3 = 4) and reflects the shadow side of the Emperor. There are times when I cannot be in full control of everything in my life, and must be willing to relinquish that control to others. A huge challenge for an Emperor, and for me as well! I like to be in command and make my own decisions, but when my surgery comes, that control must be delegated to my doctor and his team, to my partner and friends, as I let go of the issues that have compromised my health. Death is also a sign to begin the process of downsizing in my life, as my partner and I look forward to the joining of our lives together in a new home. He has reduced the amount of stuff in his life, and I am beginning to see what I can let go of, also a big challenge for me. I like being surrounded by the things I have collected over the years. But I realize it is time to let go of much that has been cluttering up my life, making it hard to move forward. It will not be an easy process, but will be very beneficial in the long run.

Card 6 — Deep widsom/advice from Gaia :  9 of Earth

In the Gaian Tarot, nines “depict the qualities of solitude, experience and wisdom. We have reached a level of self-mastery, peace and wisdom that has been hard-won. [Nines] represent the ability to live in the present moment” (p.130). This card is a culmination of all that I have accomplished in my life to this point. Joanna words really resonate for me: “You’re at the peak of your creative powers, and are well paid for your work. You are connected to your family and community, yet have time alone for creativity and spiritual pursuits. It is a time of peace and plenty, both internal and external” (p.134). This is such sage advice — to focus on the present moment and to enjoy the fruits of my labors. I have  accomplished a great deal over the years, and have wonderful memories of many people, places, and events. Instead of rushing to do more, now is the time to sit back, reflect upon, and enjoy what I have done, and how it has made me who I am today.

Card 7 — Key theme of the new year:   4 of Water

How fitting, that for my key theme for the new year, that I pull a 4!  (Remember, that 2011 = 4, as well as the Death card) Fours signify balance, stability, boundaries, structures, and (in the Gaian Tarot) sacred space. The girl gazes contemplatively into the waters of Chalice Well, a sacred site in Glastonbury, England (a place that I would love to visit one day). This card shows me that keeping my emotional reserves fully replenished will be crucial this year. It may be time to visit a scared space, especially one that has a body of water (a challenge when you live in a desert climate!).  2011 is not a time to allow my emotions to overflow, or stress me out; instead, it will be wise to go with the flow (recognizing that Temperance is my key opportunity for the year). It will be a good time to sit and reflect and see what lurks beneath the surface of my emotions. I can examine what is there and not let it overwhelm me.

This was an amazing reading! Nothing new, but certainly a strong reminder of what is important to focus on in the coming months. 2011 seems to be a year of growth, healing and balance, all of which I need in my life at this time. Heartfelt thanks to Joanna Powell Colbert for creating the stunning Gaian tarot deck and book….it’s truly an inspiring part of my deck collection!

Images from the Gaian Tarot © 2010 by Joanna Powell Colbert

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

← Previous Entries