The Celtic Cross, Three Card Spread, Five Card Spread, Six Month Spread, I can go on and on.  The Tarot has a number of different way in which the cards can be read.  Some decks have their own spread suggestions and some decks stick with the basic spreads.  When I first learned the Tarot as a teenager, I learned using the Celtic Cross Spread but as the years went on I slowly developed my own spread incorporating what I felt was coming naturally to me into the traditional Celtic Cross.

When it comes to readings you have to go with what seems natural and comfortable.  If the traditional spreads works for you then by all means stick to it but if you feel inclined to add or change something about a particular spread then definitely go with your gut instinct.

The purpose of readings is to give your client the most beneficial information and if you are not comfortable with the spread you are using then you need to find the one that works for you even if it means changing it up a little.  There are some out there that might disagree with my thinking however it’s best for you to be able to flow during your reading then to feel you are stumbling.

I do suggest when you are first learning to do readings that you learn one of the basic spreads and then when the need arises you go ahead and tweak it to suit your energy and by all means if you are comfortable with the traditional ways then please do stick with it.

I’ve learned throughout the years as I’ve done readings that allowing myself to flow creatively assisting others through their life issues and cycle is more important then sticking to a ridged though process.  Listing to that intuitive voice during your readings will keep you well grounded and allow your client to really benefit from their interaction with you and often times ensure future return visits.

So let your creative juices flow and your intuition be your guide during your next reading.

Blessings

Who Are You in the Tarot?

By  Mary K. Greer

© 2011  Red Wheel/Weiser

ISBN:  978-1578634935

272 pages

Paperback        $21.95 (U.S.)

This is, essentially, a reworking, updating and revision of an earlier work.  It is designed to be a workbook.  I’ve read Tarot for years and have never encountered the ideas she promulgates within the covers of this book, which doesn’t say much for the “adventurousness” of my readings.

This is not her first book on the Tarot, and I might,  perhaps, have gotten more out of it if I had read her previous work.  Still, this book is designed to stand on its own and needs to be evaluated on that basis.

Anything which helps to expand our understanding of personalities and why people react in certain ways in certain situations is an invaluable addition to our ability to foresee trends and thus help to control and alter our behavior.

It is not necessary to read through book in the order it is written, although it would be beneficial to at least skim quickly through the introductions to each chapter.  It is possible, however, to just skip around and tackle the topics in any order which appeals to you.

In spite of coming to this book with years of preconceptions, I found her ideas easy to adapt to and understand.  There are numerous charts, forms and illustrations (which you are encouraged to copy) to help you understand the relationships of the various cards and their groupings (constellations).

Her method for calculating Year Cards, for some reason, seems to me to be either badly explained or more complicated than it need be.  I had to read through the procedure several times, and even then I wasn’t real sure of my results.  I have had instances in the past where, for one reason or another, I have read unnecessary complications where none have existed, so I am willing to give Ms Greer the benefit of the doubt and assume that the difficulty lay within me and my perceptions.

Even if you find that the concepts of constellated cards and other ideas she puts forth do not resonate with you, she offers a great deal of insight into the cards themselves and the symbolism and meanings which can be derived from them through seeing them in “unconventional” ways.

While I have some reservations because of my personal difficulties making some of the calculations, I have no hesitation in recommending this book as an excellent source of insight and inspiration.

As we begin the new year we need to bring our attention to the Magician’s message a simple reminder that all we are searching for is easily found within each item in his table  are tools we already have in our possession all we need to do is use them to our best abilities and begin living a fruitful and positive life.

So as the new year begins please take this time to begin using the tools that are rightfully yours. Your God given gifts that will move your towards your life journey.

Happy New Year!

divination with playing cards was a common practice throughout Europe and utilized by Romany gypsies, although they did nor originate the idea. I must be truthful to say playing cards are eerily similar to the minor arcana, with lack of the princess, knave, and page. The King represents the Yod, Queen represents the Heh, and Jack represents the Vau; in retrospect, indicates these are these three divine letters that make the IHVH. The princess is not needed due to the fact the queen is the Heh and there are truly only three Kabbalistic elements: Fire, Water, and Air. Most of the time the Kings are mature males or traditionally men over 40, the Queens are mature females or traditionally women over 40, and the jacks are primarily not gender specific and people under 40.

The Hearts naturally represent the cups of tarot or the water, also to mention they are the Water of the Fire and represent the Autumn time; the Spades represent the Sword or also the air, and the elemental qualities are Air of the Earth, also represent the Winter time; the Clubs represent the Fire and the Wands, they stand as the Fire of the Water and the Summer time; and the Diamonds represent the Earth or the pentacle and mean the Earth of the Air, also signify the Spring time. The very the items these are a symbol of are found exactly in the modern elements of thaumaturgy and thuergy. To understand these elements they are also broken down to masculine and feminine, introverted and extroverted, and also the astrological signs that go with them.

Spades (Swords)- Conflict, Obstacles, forewarning,  and Wisdom to be gained. It is a masculine, extroverted, and are the air signs of astrology (Libra: Twos to Fours, Gemini: Fives to Sevens, Aquarius: Eights to Tens ). The spades are the intellect of the querent.

Clubs (Wands)- Intent, Will, Goals,  and new projects. It is a masculine, extroverted, and are the fire signs of astrology (Aries: Twos to Fours, Sagittarius: Fives to Sevens, Leo: Eights to Tens ). The clubs are the intent of the querent.

Hearts (Cups)- Relationships, Friendships, Feelings, and Desires. It is a feminine, introverted, and are the water signs of astrology ( Cancer: Twos to Fours, Pisces: Fives to Sevens, Scorpio: Eights to 10′s ). The clubs are the emotions of the querent.

Diamonds (Earth)- Possessions, Employment, Finances, and Materialism. It is a feminine, introverted, and are the earth signs of astrology (Capricorn: Twos to Fours,Virgo: Fives to Sevens, Capricorn: Eights to Tens ). The clubs are the emotions of the querent.

To understand the Aces through the Tens one must realize what impact the Kabbalah has on playing cards. Aces represents the spiritual crown, Twos represent the Wisdom to be gained, Threes represent Understanding, Fours represent Mercy, Fives represent Power, Sixes represent Balance, Sevens represent Glory, Eights represent Victory, Nines represent the Foundation, and Tens represent the Kingdom. The idea of the kabbalah being used card reading is crucial, if you know the kabbalah then you can pick up any set of tarot or playing cards and instantaneously comprehend the meaning of the deck. The divination readers use owe a lot of the set up to the Kabbalah. You may read further into the symbols of these 10 aspects of the kabbalah in the Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic by Israel Regardie.

Numerology is also crucial in card divination: 1 (Aces) is a new start or beginning, 2 is relationships or friendships, 3 is pure energy output, 4 is family and home based, 5 is judgement or karma, 6 is perfection and balance, 7 is spirituality or a walk of wisdom, 8 is finances, and 9 is completion, 10 represents 1.

My favorite deck of course is the traditional Rider-Waite deck the art is classic and the cards are the most recognizable cards available.  I prefer the Rider deck because it makes the readings a bit simpler to explain to my clients when I’m reading them.

Then there is the Deviant Moon Deck this Deck has amazing and gothic art work the deck for me is reminiscent of Alice In Wonderland it’s a great deck for collectors however I don’t recommend it for actual readings since it is a little darker then most cards.

For the Vampire lovers there are two decks that I recommend. The Vampire Tarot with simplistic art work and my favorite  Vampyre (Phantasmagoria) this has beautiful artwork and comes in a gift box with an extensive book that details the cards.

Another beautiful gift box set is the Commemorative Pamela Coleman Smith set. The set comes with the Smith-Waite cards, a bag to put the cards in, an pictorial key book,  book on the work and Times of Pamela Coleman Smith and additional art cards. It’s a beautiful gift set comes in a sturdy box and as far as gift giving goes this one is my most reccomended because of all it includes.

There are quite a few decks that make great gifts and you can find most of them at your local bookstore.  If you have a reader, collector or want to give yourself a gift of cards check out the ones I mentioned above you won’t be disappointed.

Happy Holidays!

That being said I’m going to discuss The Sun.  The Sun cards in general means that things are going fairly well for you and even in it’s reversed state the Sun means good things however in the reverse state the card specifically reminds you that you have to be thankful of what you have no matter the situation or the things that are wrong in your life it’s time to count your blessings and refocus on the good.

The Four of Cups has a similar meaning.  In general the card tells you to count your blessing and be grateful and also reminds you not to wallow in self pity or negative self chatter as this negative chatter is damaging to the soul and spirit.

Within the Tarot Deck there are a number of cards that present themselves when we are not being grateful for what we have.  At times overwhelmed by the negative points in our life we tend to focus on anything but gratitude.  But the reality is that being grateful opens you up to receiving more good things.  As gratitude shifts your energy you’ll find yourself focusing on the good and less on the bad this energy shift then bring the law of attraction into play and the more grateful you are the more things to be grateful for will come along.

One of the exercises that I recommend when we are not mindful of “Thanks Giving” is creating a gratitude journal and working on it every night being grateful for at least 5 things a day no matter how insignificant they might seem to you at that moment.

Gratitude is a powerful weapon represented by the Sun it’s warming, nurturing, and life giving just as the real Sun is to the earth Gratitude is to the soul so take a moment to reflect on the good things in life and open your soul to the possibilities.

by  Edred Thorsson

© 2011  Wesier

ISBN:  978-1-57863-136-0

Paperback       143 pages

$14.95  (U.S.)

This book may, arguably, be considered a classic in the field of runic work.  Originally copyrighted in 1988 (and originally published by Weiser in 1990) it is still in demand today.  It is the final installment in a trio of books (with Futhark:  A Handbook of Rune Magic and Runelore:  A Handbook of Esoteric Runology ) which is intended to provide a basis for understanding the Germanic runes, their history and interpretation, and their relevance in our  modern world.

Each entry contains a wealth of information.  The standards are there – Phonetic value, the Germanic name, and the most common English name – but that is just the beginning.  There are several sources for runic interpretation in the historical literature (“Old English Rune Poem” (OERP), “Old Norwegian Rune Rhyme” (ONRR), and “Old Icelandic Rune Poem” (OIRP)), and stanzas from each are examined for each of the Elder staves (symbols, in common usage).  There is not universal agreement among these sources, covering as they do, a variety of times and locales, and this very disagreement offers insight into the cultures involved, and the understanding of runecasters through time.

If you have had no previous exposure to the use of runes, it would definitely be advantageous to do some reading before starting into this book.  Admittedly, my own runic experience is extremely limited, but I have had some exposure to, and use of, the runes and the culture(s) they developed in so I wasn’t floundering in the dark.

Assuming the first two books display this level of commitment and dedication to expanding knowledge of runecraft (and I haven’t seen them, so I  don’t KNOW that they do even if I do expect them to), this set needs to be a part of the training materials available to novices.  Dr. Thorrson (doctorate in Germanic Languages and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas) has made every effort to be both comprehensive and easily understood in his presentation.

Moving beyond the basic, though by no means simple, interpretation of the individual runes, he devotes time and space to various forms of layouts and what they can contribute to the understanding of the information and guidance which is provided.

This is NOT a book about “fortune telling”, nor is it a book about “games” which can be played with the runes.  It is an attempt to help the reader attain a proper mind-set or consciousness which is susceptible to influences beyond the realm of normal sensory input, so that insight may be attained about what is occurring in the present and how that may influence what is yet to come.

If you are interested in the subject of runes, and want  more than a simple “pop” approach, I highly recommend this book.

But did you know why else October is such a special time of year?

It is believed that during this time of year the veil that separates the world of the living and the world of spirits is thin cumulating on October 31st when the veil is at it’s thinnest.  This belief goes way back to ancient times when the Celts believed that during this time the souls of the dead would come back.  October 31st was known as Samhain and was celebrated as the new year a time when crops were harvested and cold and darkness where upon us.

This belief of the thinning of the veil is celebrated throughout the world for example Mexico celebrates the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) where families visit the cementeries not only cleaning and repairing headstones and plots but also taking the time to commune with the dead in the form of celebration where a meal is eaten and the families pray for their loved ones. Even the Roman church got involved celebrating All Saints Day to honor the saints and martyrs of the church.

As a result of the thinning of the veil between the worlds it is a prime time for Tarot card readings and any type of psychic work.   As a reader during this time you should be able to have an easier connection to the spirit world and your readings should be more fluid and accurate. As a client you will be more open to recieving a reading and this in turn allows your reader to give you a prime reading. The intuitive and psychic abilities of many people become magnified during this time of year.

If your in the process of learning the Tarot the month of  October should be used as a time for practice not only in the definition of the cards but also allowing yourself to listen to the internal voices and vibrations that reach you.

So keep in mind as we travel towards the end of the Celtic Year to focus on strengthening your inner connection and voice to the spirit world. Take some time to pull out your tarot cards and play yes play with them, look them over, handle them, cast them. Take advantage of not only the fun aspects of October but also the psychic aspects and enjoy not the candy and the vibrate connection that comes with All Hallows Eve.

Last year I had an experience with an individual who was highly upset with the fact that I read Tarot for profit and “personal gain”. This woman accused me of “commercializing what she held as sacred and that I was selling the religion of Wicca and spiritual practices as a business.” After recovering from the hurt and shock I experienced at the allegation, I contemplated what my own views were in regards to my business. This is what I discovered:

I view Tarot as a sacred tool for divination. I use the cards to tap into Divine Source in order to attain knowledge and retrieve messages meant for others. I relay these messages to my clients. Are those whom I read for able to receive their own messages without my help? Yes, indeed they are. It is my belief that everyone has the ability to connect and communicate with the Spirit Realm. But just because they have the ability does not mean that they use it. At the moment when they are sitting across from me at the table they chose not to utilize their ability. Why is that? Well, the reasons are as numerous as the individuals. Sometimes their connection may be weak. Perhaps their connection is clouded. It is possible that the individual doesn’t believe that they possess the ability to connect. Regardless of the reason – at that point in time they sought out my guidance. Should this mean that the time they sit with me should be free? Am I not “allowed” to charge?

I know there are those who believe that any ability born of spirituality should be free. They believe that if it originates from God/Creator/Divine Source/Spirit – it shouldn’t cost anyone anything and while I can understand their point of view – I don’t subscribe to it. I believe that because I am doing a service clients pay me for my time – the time I spend with them – not my actual ability. Just for a moment, think back to the days when there was no concept of currency and people bartered for what they required. I’m sure we can all recall the village mid-wife or medicine woman. These women would make “house calls”. When needed she would go to a dwelling and deliver the baby or cure the illness and in return the family would give her a meal, a loaf of bread, a blanket, or some wool. She was compensated for the service she provided. True, it wasn’t cash but in 2011, not many individuals trade or barter like they did back then and believe me, neither the utility company nor cell phone company would take a loaf of bread as payment for my monthly bill. So most of my clients pay me with money. This is not to say that if I were offered a service or item for a Tarot Reading, I’d turn it down, on the contrary – I would welcome it. And in fact I have a regular client who is a hairdresser and we trade. She receives a Reading and in return my daughter or I receive a haircut.

A few months ago, my husband shared with me an idea he read about on the internet which stated that healing or spiritual services are in fact priceless. You cannot put a set price on either. They could cost millions or next to nothing. The decision of price is between the one giving and the one receiving. Both parities have the privilege to accept or reject it. I tend to agree with this point of view and can easily say the same about my Tarot Readings.

I also came to the realization that there is more than money that I gain from reading the cards for others. I find enlightenment in the service that I provide. I find understanding in the connections that I make. This ability isn’t just a technique that I was taught or something that I learned from a book. It is intuitive. It is a relationship that I took the time to nurture. It is a relationship between me and my cards, between me and Divine Source, between me and the Spirit Realm. divination is an understanding. It is an attachment. These people aren’t just “problems” or clients. Each of them is a sacred being. Each of them is joined to Spirit just as much as I am and it is through this connection that I unite with All. With everything. In those precious moments, through those intimate connections,  I receive enlightenment and understanding. And that means more to me than a profit ever could.

The deck is called Goddess on the Go by Amy Sophia Marashinsky with art by Melissa Harris.  Each card is 3.5 x 2 and the art work is beautiful with muted colors and soothing images.  The cards are described as love letters to women and they also come with a handy dandy booklet which is chockfull of affirmations. Each card has it’s own affirmation written on it such as “I am filled with tranquility” or “I am a complete success”.  The cards are small enough to be tucked in your pocket or tossed in your purse.

What I love most about these cards beside the small size is that the affirmations are relatable.  How many times throughout the day to we not trust or inner guidance? How would that change for you if you grabbed the card with the affirmation “I am trusting my inner guidance”?  The cards hold positive clips of writing that remind us as women to trust or instinct or be grateful for everything we have. These cards not only benefit adult women but also teen girls who are going through their own life adjustments and insecurities reminding us that we are Goddess in our own right.

Now how do I use these cards?  I love to have small affirmation decks scattered throughout my house. Not only does this allow me to grab one read it and Meditate on it, it also allows guest and family members to do the same. Typically I set the cards out in bowls or small containers where they can be easily grabbed, read and returned.

This particular deck I keep near my bedroom door allowing me to grab one yup on the go and read it and then I spend the day trying to be mindful of the affirmation I read.

Now if you want to use cards as affirmations throughout your day and you don’t have an affirmation deck you can always use your tarot deck. Each card in the tarot deck holds a meaning for instance the ace of cups means contentment, nourishment, abundance etc when you pull that card from the deck you can spend the day meditating on or reminding yourself of the abundance and contentment you have in your life. Another idea is to create your own affirmation cards some retailers actually sell the blank tarot decks where you can create your own deck or you can also buy a small package of artist trading cards easily purchased at any craft or art store. And if you can’t find those use good old blank paper.

Using affirmation cards or the tarot deck as affirmation cards is a great way to keep us grounded and remind ourselves of issues within our lives that we need to be mindful of.  So grab your deck and have fun.

Till next time.