• Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing The King of Wands & The King of Swords     We haven’t looked at the Court Cards of the Tarot for a while, so it is a good time to compare two Court Cards. This month we will compare two Kings, the King of Wands and the King of Swords. If you have been journeying with me already, you can skip the next paragraphs that offer some foundational information. The 78 cards of a Tarot deck consist of 22 Major Arcana cards (dealing with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, and archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing The Magician & The Chariot     I’m in a Major Arcana kind of mood again, so let’s compare two Major Arcana cards: The Magician and The Chariot. First, let’s review some terms. If you’ve read my column before, you can skip the next paragraph. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. An archetype (pronounced “ark eh type”) is a generic, idealized model of a person, an object, or a…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing The High Priestess and The Hierophant     This month, we will stay within the Major Arcana and discuss a pairing that I briefly mentioned last month: The High Priestess and The Hierophant. First, let’s review some terms. If you’ve read my column before, you can skip the next paragraph. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. An archetype (pronounced “ark eh type”) is a generic, idealized model of a…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing The High Priestess & The Empress     We have done a lot of comparing of two cards in order to discover subtle differences that help with interpretation. This month, we will examine two cards that we already know are different, with the intention of discovering more subtle meanings. I’m in a Major Arcana kind of mood as this year comes to a close, so let’s compare two Major Arcana cards: The High Priestess and The Empress, two aspects of the Sacred Feminine. First, let’s review some terms. If you’ve read my column before, you can skip the next paragraph. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing the Ten of Wands & the Ten of Swords Many Tarot cards can seem similar enough to each other that interpreting them when they both show up in a spread can be challenging. One way to achieve a deeper understanding of a card is to compare it to another card. This month we will compare two Minor Arcana cards, the 10 of Wands and the 10 of Swords. We will explore similarities between these two cards and the differences. I will be using card images from the Rider Tarot Deck for this analysis. Both of our cards have the number 10. The number 10 represents the end of one…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing the 4 of Cups and the 4 of Wands     Many Tarot cards can seem similar enough to each other that interpreting them when they both show up in a spread can be challenging. One way to achieve a deeper understanding of a card is to compare it to another card. This month we will compare two Minor Arcana cards, the 4 of Cups and the 4 of Wands. We will explore similarities between these two cards, and then we will look at the differences. I will be using card images from the Rider Tarot Deck for this analysis. The basic messages or traditional interpretations of these two…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk 2nd Edition

    Comparing 2’s & The Hanging Man     Many Tarot cards can seem similar enough to each other that interpreting them when they both show up in a spread can be challenging. One way to achieve a deeper understanding of a card is to compare it to another card. This month we will compare a Minor Arcana card, the 2 of Swords, with a Major Arcana card, The Hanged Man. We will explore similarities between these two cards, and then we will look at the differences. I will be using card images from the Rider Tarot Deck for this analysis. First, the similarities. The basic messages or interpretations of these…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing 3s and the Tower     Many Tarot cards can seem similar enough to each other that interpreting them when they both show up in a spread can be challenging. One way to achieve a deeper understanding of a card is to compare it to another card. This month we will compare a Minor Arcana card, the 3 of Swords, with a Major Arcana card, The Tower. We will explore similarities between these two cards, and then we will look at the differences. I will be using card images from the Rider Tarot Deck for this analysis. First, the similarities. The basic messages or interpretations of these two cards…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot Talk

    Comparing The Fool and The Wheel     I’m in a Major Arcana kind of mood, so let’s compare two Major Arcana cards: The Fool and The Wheel, also known as The Wheel of Fortune. First, let’s review some terms. If you’ve read my column before, you can skip the next paragraph. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. An archetype (pronounced “ark eh type”) is a generic, idealized model of…

  • Monthly Columns

    Moon Rituals For the Summer Excerpted from The Moon Spells Journal by Diane Ahlquist

    Moon Rituals For the Summer     JUNE In June, a month of long days and short nights, we experience the last moon of spring as solar energy is heating up, days lengthen, and we celebrate the peak of solar power. The world around continues to transform. Crops and herbs grow in leaps and bounds; hives are full of honey as bees take advantage of the long days and bountiful blooms. As the life-giving solar force heightens vibrations, fortifies resolve, and builds strength, we are impelled to make hay while the sun shines! Infused with warmth from the extended hours of daylight, nights are short, fragrant, and enthralling, packed with…