Reverend Moon Masque March, 2010

The Empress (3)

“Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.” ~ William Wordsworth

Image Description:

The Rider-Waite deck portrays a woman seated on luxurious cushions. Her gown is decorated with pomegranates. A crown of stars rests upon her head, and she holds a scepter in her hand. The landscape around her is lush and fertile; a river flows nearby, while growing wheat ripens at her feet. A heart-shaped seal bearing a female symbol resides next to her seat.

Symbols:

Scepter: Sovereignty

Pomegranates: Fertility

Cushions: Appreciation of luxury

Female Symbol: Femininity, female sexuality

Heart-Shaped Shield: Universal love

River: Flow of life

Key Words:

Mothering, Fruitfulness, Abundance, Senses, Nature

Fool’s Journey:

Having been enlightened by the wisdom of the High Priestess, the Fool next meets the Empress. With a motherly smile, she sits upon her throne surrounded by the lush abundance of Nature. She teaches the Fool how to use his senses and to delight in the goodness of the natural world. Through his experiences, the Fool learns that creation, like a newly planted seed, is fragile. It requires fertile soil, patience, nurturing, and attention to bring it to fruition. Understanding at last that his future will take time to build and grow, the Fool thanks the Empress and continues on his way.

The Lesson:

To learn how to give life to our ideas and projects, and to enjoy our natural existence.

Meaning:

The Empress is life’s womb, where creation may gestate and grow until it is ready to be born. Whether the creation is the conception of new life, love, or the formation of a project or idea it must be sustained through careful attention and care. In this sense, the Empress symbolizes the essence of Motherhood in all of its divine forms.

The Empress can also represent the bounty of nature and the inherent rhythms of the Earth. From her comes all the innate pleasures and joys of physical life. The Empress encourages us to strengthen our connections with the natural world, which is the root of our existence; she asks us to set aside the intricacies of our lives to enjoy the simplicities of Mother Earth.

The Empress can also symbolize lavish abundance of all kinds — food, pleasure, beauty — the kind that nourish our senses with delight. A passionate and deep love of life is reflected in the Empress, instilling within us all the desire to embrace life’s bountiful goodness.

Tags: Divination, reading, tarot, the empress

• Articles

Reverend Moon Masque February, 2010

The High Priestess (2)

“To know that you know, and to know that you don’t know – that is the real wisdom.” ~Confucius

Image Description:

The Rider-Waite deck portrays a High Priestess seated on a throne between two pillars, which displays the letters ‘B’ and ‘J’. The crown of Isis rests upon her head, and the waxing crescent moon lies beneath her feet. The symbol of an equal sided cross is displayed on her robes.  In her arms is a scroll containing the word ‘Tora’.

Symbols:

Crown of Isis: Knowledge, understanding

Pillars: Balance

Letters B and J: (Hebrew symbols for the entrance to the temple of Solomon) Holy place

Waxing Crescent Moon: Women’s mysteries, secrecy

Equal Armed Cross: The four elements — water, air, fire, earth

Tora: Hebrew word for ‘teaching’

Key Words:

Non-action, Unconscious Awareness, Wisdom, Mystery, Hidden Knowledge

Fool’s Journey:

The Fool next encounters a wise and mysterious woman. Majestically seated upon a throne between two pillars, her quintessential presence portrays her sense of  hidden knowledge and unconscious awareness. She seems to be the opposite of the Magician, exchanging creative masculine action for feminine non-action and wisdom. She teaches the Fool the meaning of the tools the Magician has given him, and helps him determine how he can best use them.  Although the Fool suspects that the High Priestess has more secrets she could reveal, for now he has the knowledge needed to continue his journey.

Lesson:

To learn how to use our intuition, and to find the inner wisdom and hidden knowledge in each of us.

Meaning:

As card number two, the High Priestess represents the feminine powers of the unconscious mind. She symbolizes the female passive principle, and the instinctual knowledge and intuition that each of us possesses. Many Tarot readers see the High Priestess as being the opposite counterpart of the Magician; both active and passive energies are required to achieve balance.

In readings, the High Priestess might ask us to look beneath the surface for hidden knowledge. Sometimes we overlook our innermost feelings and the messages of our internal voice, thereby missing valuable counsel in the process. Reflection, meditation, and communion with our Higher-Selves is necessary to illuminate the answers we seek.

The High Priestess can also represent a time of waiting and allowing. It is not always necessary to act to achieve our goals. Sometimes our purpose can be realized through a stillness which allows our aspirations to bloom within the fullness of time.

Tags: cards, Divination, tarot

• Divination

Reverend Moon Masque January, 2010

The Magician (1)

“Action is the product of the qualities inherent in Nature.” ~Bhagavad Gita

Image Description:

The Rider-Waite deck portrays a magus dressed in flowing robes. Belted around his waist is a serpent swallowing its own tail; floating above his head is the symbol of infinity. On a table before him lie the tools of his trade — a chalice, pentacle, staff, and sword (the four suits of the Tarot). One arm is lifted to the heavens and the other is lowered, finger pointing toward the earth.  In his raised hand he holds a wand.

Symbols:

One Arm Raised & One Arm Lowered : Drawing energy into yourself and turning energy into matter

Chalice: The element of water representing emotions

Sword: The element of air representing intellect and reason

Wand: The element of fire representing inspiration and action

Pentacle: The element of earth representing the body or senses

Lemniscate (infinity symbol): Infinity, endless possibility

Key Words:

Action, Conscious Awareness, Will, Concentration, Forces of Creativity.

The Fool’s Journey:

In his travels, the Fool first encounters the Magician, a skillful, confident magus capable of employing the power of concentration to turn will into action. Raising his wand to the heavens, the Magician calls upon the forces of creativity to provide the Fool with all the tools he will need for his journey: the cool Sword of intellect and thought, the fiery Staff of inspiration and action, the overflowing Chalice of love and emotions, the solid Pentacle of the earth, body, and senses. Now consciously aware of the resources available to him, the Fool is better equipped to continue his journey.

Lesson:

To learn how to use our will and resources to create results through action.

Meaning:

As card number one, the Magician represents the male powers of creation through willpower and action. He symbolizes the ability to tap universal forces and to use this power for innovative purposes. The four tools of the Magician remind us of the four suits of the Tarot, and represents their raw, undeveloped, undirected energy ready for use.

In readings, the Magician can imply that the primal forces of creativity are available to us.  If we simply convert our awareness, concentration, and willpower into action, we can change our world. The Magician sometimes serves as a signal to act, providing we understand exactly what we want and we are committed to acquiring it. By directing our energy on the task / goal at hand, we can use the tools of the Magician to turn our hopes and dreams into solid reality.

The Magician card can encourage us to identify our strengths and existing resources. When we are aware of the tools available to us, we can take the necessary actions to use them to their best advantage.

Next issue, we will examine ‘The High Priestess.’ Until then, may the Tarot be with you!

Tags: cards, Divination, magician, reading, tarot

• Divination

Witch1979 November, 2009

A Tarot Primer

One of the most popular methods of divination today is the use of tarot cards.  Commonly linked with witches and gypsies in the popular imagination, tarot has a fascinating history that some groups say can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt.  Though their exact origin is debated most tarot decks can be shown to incorporate a wealth of symbolism in their artwork that gives depth and variety to their possible interpretations in a reading.  The standard Rider/Waite deck was developed by members of the Golden Dawn in the early 20th century, and it intentionally makes heavy use of Qabalistic and astrological themes.  Other newer decks range in subject from pagan deities to angels to basic archetypes.

While modern tarot decks vary greatly in artwork and content, most tend to keep the same basic structure of 22 trump cards, called the Major Arcana, and 56 suited cards, called the Minor Arcana.  The Major Arcana are a pictorial representation of the deck’s theme, usually a variation on the soul’s journey to enlightenment.  Below are a couple of examples of the most common first trump, referred to as The Fool:

In the Rider/Waite and other decks derived from the Golden Dawn symbol system each trump card is associated with a particular path on the Qabalistic Tree of Life and an astrological sign, planet, or element that gives it an added layer of meaning.  The Minor Arcana cards also relate to the elements via the four suits of wands (fire), cups (water), swords (air), and pentacles (earth).  These cards number from 1 to 10 with the addition of the king, queen, knight, and page cards.  Some versions amend the knight to a prince or the page to a princess.  Each of the minor cards then has their own significance as related to the Tree of Life!  Knowing the added symbolism of each card isn’t necessary to enjoying and using the tarot, but it can be a great aid to the reader in attempting to interpret spreads that might otherwise seem confusing.

To conduct a reading with the tarot the reader shuffles the deck and lays out the cards in what is termed a “spread”.  The most commonly known is referred to as the Celtic Cross, which has the reader turn over a total of 10 cards in a specific order and relation to the others.  Each card is meant to reveal a particular aspect of the question at hand.  For instance the first card, the significator, reveals the general influences surrounding the matter, while the tenth card reveals the predicted outcome.  As each card is turned the reader interprets its meaning within the reading, tapping the subconscious but also using knowledge of what each cards symbolizes to understand the picture being presented.  Tarot readings, as with other forms of divination, offer a glimpse into the current state of influences affecting the matter concerned.  A reading doesn’t need to be taken as a future set in stone, but rather more information to be considered before proceeding on a particular path.  Each card can act as a mirror, reflecting back and revealing meanings specific to the person concerned.  In this way tarot helps us to explore both our future paths and our subconscious for greater understanding of our lives.

Until next month, blessed be! )O(

Tags: cards, Divination, readings, tarot

• Articles

Reverend Moon Masque November, 2009

The Fool (0)

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~Chinese Proverb

Image Description:

The Rider-Waite deck portrays a young traveler dressed in colorful motley clothes. Tied to his staff is a nap-sack; in his free hand is a single rose. The sun, in all its glory, shines behind him, and a small, lively dog follows his heels. Walking toward the edge of an impending cliff, the Fool seems blissfully unaware of the fall awaiting him.

Symbols:

Young Person (Youth): Naivety, innocence

Single White Rose: Purity, nonsexual love

Sunrise: New beginnings

Staff: Active creativity

Cliff: ‘The Fall’ into worldly experience

Hills/Mountains: Struggles, adversity

Motley Dress: Foolishness, idiocy

Key Words:

New Beginning, Journey, Spontaneity, Innocence, Apparent Folly

The Fool’s Journey:

Carrying all of his worldly possessions in a nap-sack, the Fool sets out on a journey of a new beginning.  Having just begun his trip, the Fool is still newly born — fresh, open, and overflowing with a sense of spontaneity. Innocent and carefree, he travels to an unknown destination, his mind filled with visions and daydreams of the experiences awaiting him. However, he seems naively unaware of the cliff looming ahead. At his heel, a small dog hurries him (or attempts to warn him of a possible misstep).  Regardless of any hardships or folly he might face, the Fool is ready to embrace all that life has to offer.

Lesson:

To learn how to open ourselves to new experiences and adventures, while utilizing an appropriate degree of caution.

Meaning:

As card 0, the Fool is the first card of the Major Arcana.  It seems no accident the number zero was chosen to represent this card.  In numerology, zero is the number of nothingness and potentiality. Zero symbolizes boundlessness, pure possibility, and limitless freedom.

In readings, the Fool can represent a brand new beginning or a new phase of existence. Unexpected opportunities in life can suddenly appear and ask us to make decisions, which can lead us down new paths. When the world becomes suddenly new, a sense of spontaneity and innocent wonder can ensue, making us feel carefree.

However, the Fool can sometimes remind us of the resulting folly that can occur when we throw caution to the wind for the exhilaration of living in the moment.  Impulsive decisions and unwise choices have a unique way of catching up with us later. Taking risks can be refreshing, but exercising an appropriate degree of caution is always in our best interest. Remember to watch your step, lest you fall and look like a fool!

Next issue, we will examine ‘The Magician.’  Until then, may the Tarot be with you!

Tags: cards, Divination, reading, tarot, the fool

• Divination

Reverend Moon Masque October, 2009

INTERPRETING THE CARDS

The Tarot’s meanings can be personal and subjective to each of us in accordance with our unique experiences and
views of the world. For this reason there are no immutable or absolute definitions that can be applied to the cards.

The cards mean what our intuition and experience tell us they mean, and this can differ from person to person. As
you study the cards do not be afraid to allow your inner voice to suggest nuances of meaning.

When examining the Tarot, you’ll notice that the titles, illustrations, and symbols of certain cards seem to openly
convey their meaning, while the informative clues for other cards may appear more allusive at first glance. When
you encounter a card that you may not easily understand, take the extra time needed to recognize its energies.

In subsequent articles we will examine some of the more commonly accepted card meanings in great detail. For
now, simply acquaint yourself with the Major Arcana and begin to explore their surface meanings.

SURFACE MEANINGS

(0) The Fool: Entering a new phase, starting an adventure, living in the moment, being new and innocent, taking a
risk.
(1) The Magician: Experiencing movement through willpower, understanding your intentions, focusing your
energy, having singleness of purpose, utilizing your creative power.
(2) The High Priestess: Being passive, employing your intuition, experiencing spiritual enlightenment, sensing
the secret and hidden, having esoteric insight.
(3) The Empress: Showing maternal instinct, enjoying prosperity, experiencing growth and fertility, focusing on
the senses, feeling connected to the earth.
(4) The Emperor: Using masculine power, creating order out of chaos, enjoying security, dealing with authority,
leading or being led.
(5) The Hierophant: Established codes of behavior or belief, learning or teaching, honoring ritual and ceremony, participating in an organized group, giving or receiving wise counsel.
(6) The Lovers: Participating in a partnership or affiliation, experiencing physical passion and desire, confronting your own beliefs, staying true to yourself, making important moral decisions.
(7) The Chariot: Winning a victory through will, desiring to achieve, experiencing bold confidence, mastering
and curbing impulses, having a clear purpose.
(8) Strength: Showing preservation and endurance, exhibiting calm tolerance, feeling sympathy toward others,
using gentle force, having mental and moral fortitude.
(9) The Hermit: Following a personal quest, accepting or giving wise advice, spending time alone, engaging in
self examination and discovery, withdrawing from the world.
(10) The Wheel of Fortune: Experiencing fate, discovering opportunities through new developments,
undergoing rapid change, standing at a crossroad, coming full circle.
(11) Justice: Confronting equitable or impartial treatment, being accountable, choosing rightly, recognizing the
results of your actions, restoring balance.
(12) The Hanged Man: Pausing to reflect, experiencing a change of mind or circumstances, letting go,
voluntarily losing, giving up control.
(13) Death: Completing a chapter, experiencing crucial and profound change, entering the start of a new cycle,
eradicating the unnecessary, enduring an inevitable ending.
(14) Temperance: Avoiding excess, achieving a harmonious balance, blending forces together, finding peace
through compromise, experiencing good health.
(15) The Devil: Being lured or enticed, experiencing unhealthy attachments, focusing too much on the physical,
being unaware, feeling tied down against your will.
(16) The Tower: Experiencing havoc, facing annihilation, enduring painful alteration, undergoing a shocking
catastrophe, having an emotional outburst.
(17) The Star: Having faith in the future, finding motivation, experiencing renewal, having a sense of belief,
enjoying peace of mind.
(18) The Moon: Feeling apprehension, confronting the unfamiliar, seeing what is not there, having troubled
imaginings and thoughts, becoming confused.
(19) The Sun: Attaining a new level of insight, having your day in the sun, becoming radiantly energized, feeling
invigorated, experiencing a sense of confidence.
(20) Judgment: Judging or being judged, forgiving yourself or others, reaching a higher level of being, becoming
transformed, making a fresh start.
(21) The World: Realizing your goals, coming to a journeys end, experiencing success, feeling satisfied,
reaching a conclusion.

THEMES

Each Major Arcana card seems to follow a particular theme. Simply knowing a card’s basic theme can help you
explore the many other avenues of expression that a card can adopt in a reading. Take the time to study the
following themes and adapt them to your own understanding of the Tarot.

Fool: Beginnings
Magician: Will
High Priestess: Intuition
Empress: Creation
Emperor: Authority
Hierophant: Spiritual/Academic Teaching/Learning
Lovers: Relationships
Chariot: Control
Strength: Inner Strength
Hermit: Introspection
Wheel of Fortune: Change
Justice: Balance
Hanged Man: Sacrifice
Death: Endings
Temperance: Blending
Devil: Bondage
Tower: Destruction
Star: Guidance
Moon: Illusion
Sun: Realization
Judgment: Rebirth
World: Completion

It was a pleasure to once again share with you the wonders of the Tarot. Next week, we’ll take an upclose and
personal look at the ‘Fool’ card. Until then, may the Tarot be with you!

Tags: cards, Divination, reading, tarot

• Divination

Reverend Moon Masque September, 2009

The World (21)

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone’s task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.”  ~Dr. Viktor E(mil) Frankl

Image Description:

The Rider-Waite deck depicts a nude woman dancing in mid air between an oval wreath of laurels. A long, loose sash is flowing around her body, and she holds a double ended wand in each hand. The four corners outside the wreath are each adorned by a creature: bull, lion, eagle and angel/man.

Symbols:

Laurels: Victory, attainment of a goal

Bull: Taurus and the element earth

Lion: Leo and the element of fire

Eagle: Scorpio and the element of Water

Angel/Man: Aquarius and the element of Air

Oval Wreath: Unity and eternity, the mystery of creation, potential realized

Wands: The powers of involution and evolution

Key Words:

Achievement, Accomplishment, Success, Fulfillment, Completion

Fool’s Journey:

The Fool’s success is at hand. With a sense of accomplishment, he takes the final step on the path into the light that marks the completion of his journey. To his bemusement he finds himself back where he had began, on the very same cliff he had once stood upon at a time when he was young and foolish. However now he sees his position very differently. The cliff is not nearly as high in the light of his achievements. With a knowing smile, the Fool steps off the cliff… and soars. He flies higher and higher until the world is a tiny speck in the universe, fading into the stars and planets to create a whole. His fulfillment is now complete.

Lesson:

To learn how to

Meaning:

A major part of achieving happiness and fulfillment is finding a sense of completeness – the awareness that we have everything we need, and that all of the significant elements of our lives are working together in harmony. Anytime we successfully reach this all important goal, we feel as if the World and everything in it is ours to enjoy.

In readings, the World suggests we have reached a time when we are able to enjoy success in our accomplishments and goals. When all is well in our world we can experience internal and external harmony, as well as a feeling of blissful oneness with ourselves and our place in the universe. Knowing where we belong provides a deep sense of peace and well-being.

The World can signify the successful completion of a cycle or stage of existence, the triumphant end to a long-term project, or a sign that a pleasing conclusion is in sight. This card simply reinforces the idea that our hard work, knowledge, wisdom, and patience will yield fruitful results in the end. When we accomplish our greatest goals, the world truly becomes a beautiful place.

Tags: cards, reading, tarot, world

• Divination

Rev. Alicia L. Folberth August, 2009

Dear Reader,

Welcome to ‘It’s In the Cards’ for www.PaganPages.org. At one time this column appeared in Finer Things Magazine in New Haven, CT, and I am very pleased to be writing my column again; this time for the Pagan Community.

Every month, I will do a tarot reading for one person whose question I choose for this column. Also, by writing me, you will have a chance for a free tarot 10 minute reading on the phone. If you would like to contact me about purchasing a reading, please visit my web site at www.SubRosaMagick.com or write me at SubRosaMagick@aol.com.

Since I first began reading for the public 13 years ago, I found that I fell in love with being able to help people in their personal lives and on their path as a spiritual counselor. The cards, I have found, often tell us what we need to know, and not necessarily what we want to know. They provide a way for me to see deeper into the heart of an issue and often what magickal advice I also need to give to bring about change.

Even if you aren’t familiar with tarot cards as a form of divination, they also work in the same way other forms do, be it the Runes, I-Ching, oracles or Ogam. The symbols of the tarot speak on many levels, and allow a connection to be created with spirit; opening a doorway for the universe to communicate on a personal level. As an artist as well as a priestess, I acknowledge the power of these symbols, but as a psychic, I use them to “see” more clearly.

Mediumship isn’t something I intentionally practice, but sometimes I do receive messages from spirit or departed loved ones, and if I receive messages I will relay these to you as part of the reading.

This following is the question chosen for this month.

****************************************

Dear Alicia,

What do I need to do/change in order to achieve my deepest dreams? Birthdate – 06/10/1969.

- Kelly

Dear Kelly,

As a Gemini with Venus in slow and stubborn Taurus combined with the inner restlessness of Mars in Sagittarius, you may find yourself in a bit of an inner conflict when you make decisions, however, with Jupiter in Virgo, luck comes to you rather easily once those decisions are made. Your greatest challenges will be to take risks and find your own personal liberation.

I’ve chosen a simple seven card horseshoe spread for you, which is also a lunar crescent in the same moon phase as I write this column. An extra card is drawn to represent you.

1…..S…..7

..2…….6..

…3…..5…

……4……

The Horseshoe card spread positions:
Significator card representing you
Card #1: Past

Card #2: Present situation

Card #3: Future

Card #4:

Card #5: Outside influences

Card #6: Challenge/Limitations

Card #7: Outcome at this time

The Significator card is the Ten of Cups, representing you. You are very concerned with your loved ones, and they bring you great joy. Let this be the strength that propels you forward.

The first card is the Empress (3), inversed, which represents the past, but influences the current situation. It speaks of you as being a nurturer who has given away too much of themselves, presumably for too long a period of time. This tells me that you need to take care of yourself first for this to be the foundation of those dreams. Castles in the air are nothing until the foundations are placed under them.

The second card indicates present circumstances, which is the Ten of Pentacles, inversed. Tens are cards of completion and fulfillment. This card is the physical side of the home, in contrast to the emotional Ten of Cups above. At present, there does not seem to be the physical or monetary support to further your goals and vision. Inversed, it suggests transformation, of a situation ending.

The third card is the Six of Pentacles, representing the near future. This card directly ties into the last, as financial restrictions will change and progress will be facilitated. You can expect resolution and some very real and practical help offered to help you achieve your goals.

The fourth card is the Magician (1), inversed. Although upright, this card indicates power, and when inverted, it indicates abuse of power. It is deceptive magic and slight of hand, of things that are not as they appear to be. Seeing that this is the card which advises you – this is a warning to stay on the good path and not stray from it through another’s advice, which you can count on it being self-serving. Be careful with the gifts that you will be given in the future.

The fifth card representing outside influences is the Ace of Pentacles. As the Six of Pentacles suggests, there is prosperity coming your way. If you were considering a home-based business (which would be perfect for you) this would become a possibility. Aces are beginnings and cards of initiation. Once you have the means available you should begin.

The sixth card is the Eight of Wands, inversed, and in this lies your challenge. I believe this is connected to the Magician inversed as above, a conflict with someone who may be too close to you – quite literally. A price may have to be paid in making your decision to go forward and much discord over the issue, which doesn’t surprise me. People change and behave badly most often when money is at stake.

The seventh card is the Seven of Swords. Sevens are mutable, but your dreams can be reached with perseverance and a refusal to be dictated to by the wants and needs of others. What you sow now, will be reaped later in abundance. I can’t emphasize enough that you should already have begun your plans and to do your research before any of this manifests. Your dreams will bear fruit in direct proportion to how much energy you put into them, and the energy involved must be steady.

I drew one last card, the one from the bottom on the deck, and it was the Four of Cups. This symbolizes what is hidden from you, and doubly so by the car itself. Please be open to new possibilities beyond what you can see. The brass ring doesn’t come around very often, and sometimes what appears to be brass is actually gold. The universe will provide the means, but you must provide the determination. As in the Charge of the Goddess, “Keep pure your highest ideals; strive ever towards them, let nothing stop you or turn you aside.”

Blessings,
Rev. Alicia Lyon Folberth

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR READING TO APPEAR?

If you would like me to do a reading for you in the next issue of Pagan Pages, please send me your:
1. Name you would like me to use in the article (it doesn’t have to be your given name)
2. Full birth date
3. Your question. Feel free to ask anything!
4. Send it to: SubRosaMagick@aol.com

Tags: cards, Divination, reading, tarot

• Divination

Mindy Lee August, 2009

I recently had someone contact me via email requesting that I do a tarot reading for her.  I’ve never met her and had no idea what her current situation was.  I sat with a notepad, my favorite deck and a flickering candle.  I felt that the reading connected totally and the cards were making perfect sense, like they were falling into place.  Sometimes when I do a reading I get in the “zone” and just know that the message is coming through loud and clear.  After finishing up I typed what I had written and sent the reading to the inquirer feeling rather accomplished.  Within a day of receiving the reading she contacted me telling me that the reading was right on target, but not what she wanted to hear.  Next I got all the details on her sorted love affair and she went on to try and convince me to change the meaning of the cards.  I told her that I couldn’t give her romantic advice, but if she read the message again and maybe put it away and looked at it in another week, she would see how it applied to the situation.  The week came and went and this time she sent me an email with specific questions, numbered even!  “Why doesn’t he see that I’m so much better for him than his wife?”….”Should I lie to him and tell him I’m moving away just to see what he says?”  Needless to say, I have decided to suggest to her that she finds someone else who perhaps would have more insight into her situation.

There is so much more to divination than most people realize.  Nothing is more aggravating than receiving a call from someone who is desperate for a tarot reading when they are in self-caused turmoil or are caught in a situation that they know is wrong.  Most of the time these people don’t hear what the cards are trying to tell them and usually they will pick and choose parts of their messages to fit into the answers they want to hear.  If you are not going to listen to your true inner voice, then there is no sense in looking for someone to validate your feelings with a reading.  The first thing you need to realize is that your reader is not your psychologist.  We cannot persuade the married man you are so desperately in love with to leave his wife and fall in love with you.  We cannot give you the lottery numbers for the next power ball drawing and we cannot assure you that stealing money from your great grandmother to pay your bookie off was the right thing to do.  Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying.  If someone comes to me seeking advice for a situation, I will gladly read for them and do my best to present their messages in a non-judgmental fashion.  But, please don’t ask me to tell you everything is going to be alright and that you are a misunderstood soul who is skipping down the pearly path to heaven.

Now please don’t see me as some cranky old gypsy who is complaining about the people she reads for, that’s not at how it is at all.  I just feel that if things are more understood there can be more attention to understanding and getting answers from the higher powers rather than cornering them into giving an answer that they, and we, know is wrong.

Tags: cards, Divination, reading, tarot

• Divination

Reverend Moon Masque June, 2009

The Moon (18)

“Do not fear to step into the unknown for where there is risk, there is also reward.” ~Lori Hard

Image Description:

The Rider-Waite deck depicts a great moon, showing its three phases as one, hovering in the sky flanked by two sturdy towers. Two bodies of clear water, a pool and the ocean, are separated by land. Leading from the water a path winds in the distance between the two towers.  In the foreground a dog and wolf howl at the moon, while a lobster in the pool behind them crawls toward the bank.

Symbols:

Crayfish: The unconscious, primordial and primitive

Dog: Domesticated and tamed side of our nature

Wolf: Primitive and wild side of our nature

Moon (all three phases): Body, mind, and spirit

Water: Reflection, receptivity, the subconscious

Path (leading from water): Spiritual path emerging from the subconscious or emotion

Key Words:

Fear, Illusion, the Unknown, Imagination, Bewilderment

Fool’s Journey:

As the hour draws later the sky begins to darken, and the Fool’s path becomes less visible. Disorientated, he stumbles in bewilderment through the inky fog of darkness surrounding him. To the Fool the darkness is the unknown that causes his imagination to play tricks upon him. In the distance the cries of wolves paying homage to the moon call to the Fool, and he stops to listen. The Fool realizes he has two choices. He can join the creatures in their serenade or he can utilize the moon to help him find his path. Making his choice, he begins following the moonbeams reflecting from the water’s surface. Banishing his fear as mere illusion, he resumes his journey.

Lesson:

To learn how to confront our fears and anxieties, whether they be real or an illusion.

Meaning:

The Moon is a symbol of our psyches, which speaks to us through the inner language of imagination and dreams. This hidden aspect of ourselves sometimes leave us wandering in the dark, thus it is crucial to our inner development that we bring our shadows to light. By understanding our dark side we can emerge stronger and more confident in life.

In readings, the Moon often stands for the fears and anxieties we experience when we are confronted with uncertainties or the unknown. When foreign problems or unfamiliar situations arise that we do not fully understand, our feelings can become tenuous and confused. While dealing with such energies it is important to trust the light of our intuition to offer us the insights we need to find our path again.

This card can also represent the illusions and deceptions we create when we are unable or unwilling to see things clearly and in their true light. Sometimes in an effort to protect ourselves from a painful truth we will resort to fantasy, distortion, and a false picture of reality. Only after illuminating these dark corners of our lives can we experience the clarity of truth.

Tags: tarot

• Divination