SONG OF THE FOOL
by Zanna Starr

Based on The Fool
from the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg
(Artist: Yury Shakov)

I am like the wandering skomorokhi of Old Russia,
A clown, a minstrel,
Traveling through cities and across the countryside.
On my hand, a puppet smiles and nods;
He looks exactly like me.
I am fond of gazing into his eyes.
This is how I begin my journey,
Innocent and self-absorbed.
I can be a beggar or a jester,
A wild man, or an insouciant young fellow
Out for a stroll.
Am I a saint or a simpleton?
A genius or an idiot?
Will you try to reason with me?
My wolfish dog laughs at the thought.
I wonder where my road will lead
And I wander where it leads me.

~

Interview with Legacy of the Divine Tarot

I have had my eye on Legacy of the Divine Tarot for a long time and finally broke down and purchased it from Llewellyn during a sale. I have not yet read the accompanying book -- Gateway to the Divine Tarot -- although I did read the dedication which reads, in part, "to Barbara Moore for having pointed me toward this wonderful journey all those years ago with her initial suggestion, 'Have you ever considered creating a Tarot deck?'" Well done, Barbara!

I have not studied or used this deck at all yet. I thought it might be interesting to interview the deck as a complete stranger. After I become more familiar with it, I can revisit this interview and see if my understanding has changed. Those of you who are already familiar with the deck are welcome to make comments!

The Interview

When I opened the door, I found myself looking into dark eyes filled with distress. A young girl stood before me holding two goblets. The broken remnants of three other goblets lay at her feet. I invited her in and poured red wine into the glasses she held. She offered me one and we sipped wine as we talked.

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?
FIVE OF CUPS
My most important characteristic is the ability I have developed to withstand heartache and emotional pain, to acknowledge and deal with shattered pieces while still being aware and appreciative of that which is emotionally whole and healthy in my life. I dwell in sorrow for as long as I must, in order to grieve properly. But when I move forward, I move forward wholeheartedly, leaving broken promises and shards of shattered dreams behind.





2. What are your strengths as a deck?
ACE OF CUPS
My strengths as a deck lie in the realm of emotions, spirituality, and new beginnings. I am always ready to take you in a fresh, new direction -- to show you that there are more fish in the sea than you have ever dreamed of, more paths and more dreams than you realize.






3. What are your limits as a deck?
THE WORLD
My limits are only those you perceive and choose to place upon me. I stand at the center of time and space, surrounded by the realms of existence as represented by the signs of the zodiac. I can turn in any direction, take any step, or simply "be." How then will you limit me?






4. What do you bring to the table -- what are you here to teach me?
FOUR OF WANDS
I am here to teach you how to find green grass and lush foliage, blue skies and rainbows and soaring birds. I am here to share with you a vision of a stream that runs through you and through all creation, to teach you how to find and follow that stream to inner peace and harmony.






5. How can I best learn from and collaborate with you?
THE EMPEROR
You can best learn from and collaborate with me by listening to me and taking my messages to heart, by acknowledging my power in terms of my ability to guide and advise you. I may seem imperious at times, but I have your best interests at heart. My concern for you is that of a father for his child.




6. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
SIX OF SWORDS
A voyage lies ahead for us, a journey into the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual realms. Together, we will travel through the swirling mists of time and place, overcome troubles and celebrate victories. You will learn to breathe deeply and look deeply into yourself, even as you begin to see all that surrounds you more clearly.





Well! It certainly looks like I'm in for a fascinating experience with this deck.

After we finished our wine, the young woman left. She seemed at peace with herself, looking forward to the next stage of her journey.



CARDS: Legacy of the Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti

ORACLE CARDS

The oracle I would like to share today is called Karma Cards. Devised by Monte Farber, the deck is described as "a New Age guide to your future through astrology."

These cards are designed to be read in threes by drawing one card from each of three piles representing Planets, Signs, and Houses. The cards have different meanings upright and reversed. If you are looking for an outcome or what kind of situation/mood/atmosphere you can expect, you read the words printed in the blue panel on each card. If you want to know what you should do in a situation or what you should keep in mind, you read the words printed in the red panel on each card. The letters S, M, and P on the right and left borders of the cards represent Spiritual, Mental, and Physical levels.

To demonstrate how this works, I pulled three cards.

In this set, the "Planet" (actually a luminary) is the Moon, the Sign is Capricorn, and the House is the 6th House -- so we have the Moon in Capricorn in the Sixth House.

Reading the red panels across, we have:
Spiritual level: Defend your goals as a full-time job.
Mental level: Accept the day-to-day reality of serving.
Physical level: Let your feelings tell you how to use the most businesslike way and do it a little at a time.

Reading the blue panels across, we have:
Spiritual level: The nurturing of dedication to achieve service to others
Mental level: Feelings caused by focusing on what is good for us
Physical level: Reactions resulting from the rules imposed by your work

Knowledge of astrology isn't really required to use these cards, but I feel they are more useful if one has a working knowledge of that field.

I enjoy using these cards, even though they can be seen as formulaic and "too structured." Sometimes, I'm in the mood for a direct, simple message -- and as an astrologer, I enjoy the associations made with the planets, signs, and houses.

Zanna

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In addition to my 60 Tarot decks, I own a great many oracle decks. I love these decks, but don't use them as often as I would like. Every now and then, I am going to share a card from one of these oracle decks here on the blog. I hope people will enjoy seeing cards from various decks and will gain something from the interpretations of the cards!

ORACLE CARD

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Today's oracle card is from The Green Man Tree Oracle by John Matthews and Will Worthington. Uniting tree lore with the ancient Celtic alphabet known as Ogam, this deck draws on "the innate wisdom of the natural world." This is one of two "tree oracles" I own, the other being The Celtic Tree Oracle by Liz and Colin Murray.

Our card today is BIRCH (Betula alba/pendula), associated with the Ogam name Beith and the Roman letter B. Its divination meaning is "Beginnings" and, indeed, it is the first letter of the Ogam alphabet. The Birch is also one of the first trees to flower in the spring. It is linked with the beginnings of the Celtic year and the sacred festival of Samhain (November 1).

One title given to the Birch is "The Lady of the Woods," based on the tree's willowy, fluid form. I have a Birch tree right outside my office window. I love the way it leans and bends in the autumn breeze, its leaves various shades of green and gold. The Birch is said to be ruled by the planet Venus. It was sacred to Norse goddesses Frigga (goddess of married love) and Freya (goddess of fecundity). In Welsh tradition, the Birch is linked with the owl goddess Blodeuwedd, treacherous as well as loving. In Classical Greek lore, the Birch summoned Ariadne.

The "Green Man Wisdom" provided for this card is: "A good beginning leads to a good conclusion."

Four Aces Spread

The Four Aces Spread was featured on Mary K. Greer's Blog. There is a link to Mary's blog in the sidebar under the title Great Blogs. You can get the details of this spread from her blog.

My reading focus was Life Sphere and my Aces appeared in this order: Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles.






















Ace of Wands.....Wheel of Fortune.....Nine of Cups.....Ten of Swords
Work and Creativity are indeed the primary focus of my attention and energies right now. In the Wheel of Fortune I see the ups and downs of creative work and the need to maintain balance and keep myself centered. The 9 of Cups suggests bounty and an emotional "high," whereas the 10 of Swords seems to represent reaching "rock bottom." Just as the Wheel implies, there are highs and lows. I need to avoid being carried away in either direction, whether it be the direction of the 9 of Cups or the 10 of Swords.

Ace of Swords.....The Lovers.....Eight of Pentacles.....Page of Wands
I think not only problem-solving but also thought processes and self-communication (Swords) can be seen as interfering with my work and creativity. The Lovers reminds me that I always have a choice about how to view things and which attitude to take. Some of the problems I experience can be solved by hard work (8 of Pentacles). Others can be solved by a fresh, innovative, imaginative, creative approach and outlook (Page of Wands). I get a sense that I need to reconnect with the idealism and optimism of my younger days.

Ace of Cups.....The Devil.....Temperance.....Six of Wands
Love and relationships may help me resolve tensions between 1 and 2, or suggest helpful actions. My spouse as well as my friends and family are extremely supportive of my work and creativity, helping to offset my sometimes negative thoughts and self-communication. The Devil reminds me that I often place restrictions on myself or accept restrictions and limitations that I have the power to reject -- not only in my work but in relationships as well. Seeking balance and moderation in the area of relationships can help me do the same where work and creativity are concerned (Temperance). The 6 of Wands suggest the ability to succeed in reaching balance and stability.

Ace of Pentacles.....The Sun.....Eight of Swords.....The Hermit
The blindfolded woman on the 8 of Swords is flanked by a child on horseback (The Sun) and an old man with a lantern (The Hermit). She cannot see either of them, but perhaps she is aware of them anyway. She may be choosing not to let these powerful forces influence her at this time, or she may be accepting restrictions that she has the power to reject. I tend to see The Sun as representing confidence and strength regarding Money/Security matters, and The Hermit as representing inner knowledge and understanding about Money/Security matters (or an encounter with someone who can act as my guide in these matters). As a result of my interactions in the areas described by the other three Aces, I may find myself dealing with my attitudes toward Money/Security from both an external and internal perspective. I find it interesting that The Hermit is linked with the zodiac sign Virgo, my Rising Sign. I tend to be overly anxious (in typical Virgo fashion) about Money/Security issues.

The highest Major Arcana card in this reading is The Sun. I can triumph best by paying special attention to the solar qualities of energy, strength, success, prosperity, happiness, friendship, optimism, and good cheer. As a Fire card, The Sun is compatible with the Ace of Wands (Fire) in the first position, reinforcing the message that it's not what happens to me that matters but how I respond or react. There is at least one Fire card in every row. I am being encouraged to make use of the passion, energy, optimism, and confidence associated with that element.*

* My elemental associations are based on those established by the Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD).

ORACLE CARD

The oracle card I am sharing today is from the Egyptian Pyramid Oracle by Verona McColl. This deck was given to me by a friend -- it's one of very few decks in my collection that I did not purchase myself.

The Egyptian Pyramid Oracle consists of five "Houses," each consisting of five cards. They are the House of Change (linked with the element Water), the House of Power (Fire), the House of Wisdom (Earth), the House of Inspiration (Air), and the House of Temptation (Spirituality).

Card 13 in the House of Wisdom is Thoth, the god of wisdom and learning, and the inventor of writing. Thoth is also the divine governor of stability, the inventor of the calendar, patron of the exact sciences, inventor of the vital healing formulae, lord of time, reckoner of years, and helper of the dead. Here he is shown in one of his typical forms, that of an ibis.

In the little book that accompanies this deck, Verona McColl tells us that this card represents a wise, mature, prudent person who will lead us to our goals and provide us with the strength to succeed. If the card is reversed, we are advised to take care that we do not reject a mentor's help or turn our back on wisdom. We must also be careful not to follow bad advice.

Gazing at this card, I feel calm and receptive to the wisdom that is being shared. I feel that my inner strength is fortified by the energy of this card.
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In addition to my 60 Tarot decks, I own a great many oracle decks. I love these decks, but don't use them as often as I would like. Every now and then, I am going to share a card from one of these oracle decks here on the blog. I hope people will enjoy seeing cards from various decks and will gain something from the interpretations of the cards!

Nine of Wands - Astrological Associations

NINE OF WANDS

Astrological associations for the Minor Arcana cards typically involve both a planet and a zodiac sign. The attributions established by the Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD) are by far the most commonly used. However, some Tarot decks use a different set of associations. As a professional astrologer, I find it interesting to compare and contrast these associations from deck to deck. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Nine of Wands represents the energy of the Moon (emotions, the unconscious) and the zodiac sign Sagittarius (a mutable Fire sign). Crowley titles the card "Strength." He writes that this card "is referred to Yesod, the Foundation; this brings the Energy back into balance." He also notes that the path of Sagittarius on the Tree of Life joins the Sun and Moon, giving the Moon "a double influence." Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "Confidence and urge to develop (Sagittarius) rising from the unconscious (the Moon)."

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Nine of Batons with the second subdivision of the sign Sagittarius, with Jupiter as the natural ruler and the Moon as the subruler. She writes: "Love of romance, home, and family and a strong imagination accompany the influence of the Moon as subruler of the second subdivision of Sagittarius. . . The influence of the Nine of Batons alternates between expansive and contractive and is often restless and changeable. Profound sensitivity and foresight accompanies a sympathetic and generous nature."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens describes the Nine of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Ninth house." This makes sense in that the Nine of Wands is the ninth card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Ninth house is associated with the zodiac sign Sagittarius, a Fire sign ruled by Jupiter. Thierens notes that the Nine of Wands is traditionally associated with such keywords as "obstacle, delay, suspense, adversity, slowness, contrariety, calamity, misfortune, renvoy, trouble." He writes: "It is at least strange to find only malific expressions of the co-ordination of the element Air and the principle of mind with the house of Sagittarius, the thinker." Ultimately, the keywords Thierens assigns include a number of positive traits: "Teaching, instruction, guidance, teachers, masters, guides. Planning, travelling, sport; journalism editors and journalists, public lecturers, orators; prophecy and predicting. . . controversy, contradiction, antagonism, mental strife, etc. . . . extension of thought, spreading of news, rumours, preaching, excitement of the people and revolution." (Note: The system devised by Thierens is radically different from that of the OGD. I will not go into detail here, but will simply provide the astrological associations for the card under discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this system, I recommend the book referenced above.)

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Like the OGD, Mann's deck associates the suit of Wands with the element Fire. Mann describes Wands Eight, Nine, and Ten as "The Rainbows of Sagittarius." Wand Nine is assigned to the Second Decan of Sagittarius -- Mars in Sagittarius. On the King Scale of Color, Mars is linked with the color red and Sagittarius is linked with the color blue. Mann's keywords for Mars are ""will, desire, energy, enthusiasm, temper, arrogance, passion." For the sign Sagittarius, his keywords are "hibernation; advent; the inner life; meditation; expansion; realization; aspiration; higher mind; religion and philosophy; sport; freedom; rebirth."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
Liz Hazel's suit of Wands is the suit of the Fire element, embodying "ambition, vigor, creativity, travel, high spirits, and energy." Her use of the colors red, yellow, and orange is a lot more subtle than what we see in the other cards in this set. Like most of the others in this discussion, Hazel associates the Nine of Wands with Moon/Sagittarius. In her excellent book Tarot Decoded, Hazel notes: "As ruler of the unconscious, the Moon has dominion over the inaccessible and uncharted depths of the mind. . . Her dark side represents loneliness, isolation, and sorrow." In the Nine of Wands, the Moon/Sagittarius connection can represent "Preparation, strategy, thinking through possible responses to a situation in advance. . . Patient and wary observation of a situation." Ill-Dignified characteristics include "Knee-jerk response without adequate consideration. . . unseen dangers. . . Betrayal by one who was thought a friend. . . Overproduction, oversupplied."

Personally, I see a great difference in the energy represented by the Moon as opposed to Mars. Therefore, A.T. Mann's Mars/Sagittarius Nine of Wands *feels* very different to me when compared with the Moon/Sagittarius attribute of other Tarotists mentioned above. With Mars/Sagittarius, I have the sense of Fire, Fire, and more Fire (Mars rules Aries, a Fire sign). The Moon, on the other hand, is associated with the Water sign Cancer. Fire and Water are considered to be incompatible elements, prone to conflict. When they work together in a balanced manner, however, they can be quite powerful as a team (think "steam engine").

Arthur Waite describes the Nine of Wands as signifying "strength in opposition." He writes: "If attacked, the person will meet an onslaught boldly." The phrase "if attacked" suggests a defensive posture to me. The energy of Mars is aggressive and assertive, not passive or defensive. The Moon's energy, on the other hand, can be seen as passive/defensive.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

ORACLE CARD

Today I would like to share a card from The Druid Animal Oracle. This was my very first oracle deck, and it is still one of my favorites. The card I am sharing from this deck today is the Wolf. According to Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm (the creators of this deck), the Gaelic word for wolf is faol (pronounced foil).

Key words assigned to the Wolf are Intuition, Learning, and The Shadow. Gifts, Qualities, or Abilities assigned to the Wolf are Sensitivity to the Otherworld and Shape-Shifting. The Wolf is paired with the Dog, and is viewed as a creature of elemental Earth.

Other details on the card include snowdrops (the flower of the Druid festival of Imbolc at the beginning of February). Indeed, the season depicted on the card is the time of Faoilleach -- the Wolf-month -- which corresponds to the last fortnight of winter and the first of spring (i.e., February).

In Celtic tradition, the Wolf was depicted as a fierce creature, yet it was also seen as highly social, intelligent, and friendly. Its wildness was offset to a large extent by its apparent affinities with humans.

As an Oracle, the Wolf conveys a sense of faithfulness, inner strength, and intuition, along with learning. The Wolf tells us that we have much to gain by spending time alone and that we should not fear loneliness or reject parts of ourselves that we do not yet understand or know.

Merlin, of course, found companionship in a wolf, and this is something we can do -- if not literally, at a spiritual level. We start by examining and questioning the age-old images of wolves as murderous monsters and by exploring the validity of more positive associations.

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In addition to my 60 Tarot decks, I own a great many oracle decks. I love these decks, but don't use them as often as I would like. Every now and then, I am going to share a card from one of these oracle decks here on the blog. I hope people will enjoy seeing cards from various decks and will gain something from the interpretations of the cards!

Eight of Wands - Astrological Associations

Astrological associations for the Minor Arcana cards typically involve both a planet and a zodiac sign. The attributions established by the Order of the Golden Dawn (OGD) are by far the most commonly used. However, some Tarot decks use a different set of associations. As a professional astrologer, I find it interesting to compare and contrast these associations from deck to deck. The use of astrological associations with Tarot is completely up to the reader. This is merely intended to be interesting and fun.

Yay! I finally found time to do a bit of exploration into the astrological implications of the EIGHT OF WANDS!

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Eight of Wands represents the energy of Mercury (planet of the mind and communication) and the zodiac sign Sagittarius. Crowley titles the card "Swiftness." The astrological association makes sense in several ways. For one thing, Mercury (named after the speedy messenger god) is the fastest planet in our solar system. Sagittarius is a Fire sign, and Fire signs are known for high energy and impulsiveness -- tending to act and react quickly in nearly any situation. Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "Confident, farsighted, hopeful (Sagittarius); thinking and perceiving (Mercury)."

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Eight of Batons with the first subdivision of the sign Sagittarius, with Jupiter as the natural ruler and Mercury as the subruler. She writes: "The fortunate and creative sign of Sagittarius is here given the quick intellect of Mercury. . . There will be much communication and travel, a quick intellect with great versatility and good judgment."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens describes the Eight of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Eighth house." This makes sense in that the Eight of Wands is the Eighth card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Eighth house is associated with the zodiac sign Scorpio, a Water sign ruled by Pluto and/or Mars (depending on which astrologer you talk to). Based on this association, Thierens describes the energy of the card thusly: "the influence of Scorpio will make the mind acute and sharp, so as to investigate and to examine the most hidden riddles, while in this house the mind comes to the sensation or consciousness of pleasure and pain, thirst and drinking. . . As to swift or speedy messages, this may sometimes happen, because the Scorpion is sometimes very sudden in its movements." Keywords include examination, interrogation, quick response, searchers for the hidden side of things, poetry, music and sculpture, sex questions. (Note: The system devised by Thierens is radically different from that of the OGD. I will not go into detail here, but will simply provide the astrological associations for the card under discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this system, I recommend the book referenced above.)

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Like the OGD, Mann's deck associates the suit of Wands with the element Fire. Mann describes Wands Eight, Nine, and Ten as "The Rainbows of Sagittarius." Wand Eight is assigned to the First Decan of Sagittarius -- Jupiter in Sagittarius. On the King Scale of Color, both Jupiter and Sagittarius are linked with the color blue. Mann's keywords for Jupiter are "idealism, vision, expansion, mania, success, popularity, religion." For the sign Sagittarius, his keywords are "hibernation; advent; the inner life; meditation; expansion; realization; aspiration; higher mind; religion and philosophy; sport; freedom; rebirth."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
Liz Hazel's suit of Wands is the suit of the Fire element, embodying "ambition, vigor, creativity, travel, high spirits, and energy." Her use of the colors red, yellow, and orange is a lot more subtle than what we see in some of the other cards in this set. Like most of the others in this discussion, Hazel associates the Eight of Wands with Mercury/Sagittarius. In her excellent book Tarot Decoded, Hazel notes that in astrology, Mercury "represents the conscious mind and cycles of awareness and perception. . . teaching and learning, the ability to perceive and understand, and the capacity for thinking and intuiting." In the Eight of Wands, Mercury can bring "good news, exciting messages. . . a swift and penetrating intellect, clever solutions, high spirits and a happy heart" as well as "nervous energy. . . practical jokes that cause humiliation. . . too many deadlines all at once."

The sense of swiftness and quick progression toward a goal that I get from the Eight of Wands across a wide range of decks seems like an excellent match for the energy of Mercury and Sagittarius (and Jupiter through its rulership of Sagittarius). Thierens offers an interesting comment about Scorpio, which is not a sign I normally associate with quickness (I think of Scorpio as being more contemplative and brooding) -- the Scorpion can and does strike quickly!

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

ORACLE CARD

The oracle card I would like to share with you today is from Oracle of the Dragonfae by Lucy Cavendish. From the back of the "Magickal Guidebook" accompanying the deck: "Lucy Cavendish. . . is a classic book witch and adores writing, reading and creating enchanted workshop experiences. Lucy Cavendish currently lives in Sydney with her pixie-like daughter and the spirit of her beautiful labradoodle dog." Her website is www.lucycavendish.com.

The dedication in the front of the book reads: "For you. For having the courage to believe."

The card for today is The Blue Lady. Her motto is: "Nothing is impossible." Ms. Cavendish writes: "What is impossible to some is quite natural to her; she believes in infinite and precious possibilities, and allows what other declare impossible to come forth."

The message The Blue Lady brings to us is to trust and rely on the strength that is within us, to feed and support that strength, to give our dreams a chance. Others may try to diminish us, but we need to know that we can summon our inner courage to resist them. The courage offered by The Blue Lady does not involve armor or a shield or aggressive behavior. It is gentle and delicate -- yet it stays true to who it is and what it does.

As Ms. Cavendish puts it: "Small, powerful moments of courage create a life fully lived."
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In addition to my 60 Tarot decks, I own a great many oracle decks. I love these decks, but don't use them as often as I would like. Every now and then, I am going to share a card from one of these oracle decks here on the blog. I hope people will enjoy seeing cards from various decks and will gain something from the interpretations of the cards!

SEVEN OF WANDS - Astrological Associations

Let's see what we can discover about the astrological implications of the SEVEN OF WANDS.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Seven of Wands represents the energy of the planet Mars and the zodiac sign Leo. Crowley titles the card "Valour." The planet Mars was called "The Lesser Malefic" by ancient astrologers, which suggests destructive influence. However, Mars energy is viewed these days as having constructive qualities as well. Crowley writes of the Mars/Leo combination: "Leo is still the Sun in his full strength, but the marks of decadence are already to be seen. It is as if the wavering fire summoned the brutal energy of Mars to its support." Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "Courage, decisiveness, and willingness to engage in conflict (Mars) in connection with self-confidence certain of success (Leo)."

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Seven of Batons with the third subdivision of the sign Leo, with the Sun as the natural ruler and Mars as the subruler. She writes: "Leo with subruler of Mars indicates a strong, forcible nature, desiring to rule."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens describes the Seven of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Seventh house." This makes sense in that the Seven of Wands is the Seventh card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Seventh house is associated with the zodiac sign Libra, an Air sign ruled by Venus. Based on this association, Thierens describes the energy of the card as: "that of the airy Libra, house of relationship, marriage, meeting of the Self and the Not-self, which rules contracts, books and manuscripts." Keywords include discussion, negotiation, conference, conversation, correspondence, words and language. (Note: The system devised by Thierens is radically different from that of the OGD. I will not go into detail here, but will simply provide the astrological associations for the card under discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this system, I recommend the book referenced above.)

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Like the OGD, Mann's deck associates the suit of Wands with the element Fire. Mann describes Wands Five, Six, and Seven as "The Suns of Leo." Wand Seven is assigned to the Third Decan of Leo -- Mars in Leo. On the King Scale of Color, the color linked with Mars is red; the color linked with Leo is yellow. Mann's keywords for Mars are "will, desire, energy, enthusiasm, temper, arrogance, passion." For the sign Leo, his keywords are "Ripening; summer heat; full energy; extroversion; harvest; power; self-expression; personal love; games; pleasure; ruling; vanity; proudness."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
Liz Hazel's suit of Wands is the suit of the Fire element, embodying "ambition, vigor, creativity, travel, high spirits, and energy." Her use of the colors red, yellow, and orange is a lot more subtle than what we see in the other cards in this set. Like most of the others, Hazel associates the Seven of Wands with Mars/Leo. In her excellent book Tarot Decoded, Hazel notes that in astrology, Mars ranges "from useful aggression to senseless violence, depending upon the favor or misfortune of placement in the chart." In the Seven of Wands, Mars can be "positive in taking the initiative to fulfill ambition or negative in impulsive haste and conflict. He can be defender or perpetrator."

I feel that the Mars-Leo association for the Seven of Wands (in decks based on the RWS, at least) works very well to convey a sense of dominance, courage, and determination. As often happens, the Air-Libra association presented by Thierens just doesn't resonate with me, based on my experiences with the Seven of Wands.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

ORACLE CARD

In addition to my 60 Tarot decks, I own a great many oracle decks. I love these decks, but don't use them as often as I would like. Every now and then, I am going to share a card from one of these oracle decks here on the blog. I hope people will enjoy seeing cards from various decks and will gain something from the interpretations of the cards!

Today I'm sharing a card from The Celtic Tree Oracle by Liz and Colin Murray (illustrated by Vanessa card). This deck was given to me ages ago by a friend. Based on the Ogham or Beth-Luis-Nuin alphabet -- a "tree alphabet" associated with the Druids, The Celtic Tree Oracle provides the name of the tree linked with each "letter" as well as the meaning used in divination.

My example from this deck is card number 2, Luis, Rowan. According to the Murrays, the name "Rowan" is linked with the Norse "runa," a charm, and the Sanskrit "runa," meaning a magician. The Rowan played a central role in Druid ceremonies and was said to protect against enchantment. When the Luis card is drawn, you will receive assistance in retaining control of your senses, so you can distinguish bad from good and harm from help.

The Rowan berry bears a tiny five-pointed star (or pentagram) opposite its stalk, which we see represented on the card. Note the Ogham symbol on the left and right sides of the card. This represents the letter "L" for Luis. As the second card in the deck, Rowan/Luis is associated with the second month in the Celtic Lunar calendar: December.

SIX OF WANDS - Astrological Associations

Fire up! It's time for a look at the astrological implications of the SIX OF WANDS.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Six of Wands represents the energy of the planet Jupiter and the zodiac sign Leo. Crowley titles the card "Victory." The planet Jupiter was called "The Greater Benefic" by ancient astrologers. Crowley writes that the Jupiter/Leo combination seems to imply a benediction, harmony, and beauty. Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) describe the energy of the card as: "Abundance, wealth, success (Jupiter) in connection with self-assurance, self-fulfillment, strength, triumph (Leo)."

One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Six of Batons with the second subdivision of the sign Leo, with the Sun as the natural ruler and Jupiter as the subruler. She writes: "The beneficent influence of the Sun is given great good fortune by the subrulership of the benevolent Jupiter."




A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens describes the Six of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Sixth house." This makes sense in that the Six of Wands is the Sixth card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Sixth house is associated with the zodiac sign Virgo, ruled by Mercury. Based on this association, Thierens writes: "The element of thought (Air) on the earthy house of Virgo must naturally bring forth knowledge of every detail and reveal mistakes or shortcomings; it promotes efficiency, and the latter is one of the principal meanings of the card." (Note: The system devised by Thierens is radically different from that of the OGD. I will not go into detail here, but will simply provide the astrological associations for the card under discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this system, I recommend the book referenced above.)

The Mandala Astrological Tarot by A.T. Mann
Like the OGD, Mann's deck associates the suit of Wands with the element Fire. Mann describes Wands Five, Six, and Seven as "The Suns of Leo." Wand Six is assigned to the Second Decan of Leo -- Jupiter in Leo. On the King Scale of Color, the color linked with Jupiter is blue; the color linked with Leo is yellow. Mann's keywords for Jupiter are "idealism, vision, expansion, mania, success, popularity, religion." For the sign Leo, his keywords are "Ripening; summer heat; full energy; extroversion; harvest; power; self-expression; personal love; games; pleasure; ruling; vanity; proudness."

The Whispering Tarot by Liz Hazel
Liz Hazel's suit of Wands is the suit of the Fire element, embodying "ambition, vigor, creativity, travel, high spirits, and energy." Her use of the colors red, yellow, and orange is a lot more subtle than what we see in the other cards in this set. Like most of the others, Hazel associates the Six of Wands with Jupiter/Leo. In her excellent book Tarot Decoded, Hazel discusses the Jupiter connection: "Jupiter rules change, expansion, growth, and development -- ready or not. Jupiter prefers to be connected with benevolence, mercy, generosity, good humor, and big-heartedness."

I feel that the Jupiter-Leo association for the Six of Wands (in decks based on the RWS, at least) works very well to convey the elation, success, and good fortune suggested by the typical image on the card. The Air-Virgo association presented by Thierens just doesn't resonate with me, based on my experiences with the Six of Wands.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

ORACLE CARD

Today I am sharing a card from the Beasts of Albion deck by Miranda Gray. This is one of my oldest decks and one of my favorites as well. As Gray tells us, the animals chosen for this deck are -- or once were -- native to Britain. She groups them into three Kingdoms: Strength, Knowledge, and Purity. For each Kingdom, she has a Spirit Animal: Lion, Dragon, and Unicorn, respectively.

Within each Kingdom, the beasts are grouped into sets of three, or Trines. Finally, each animal has a Teaching assigned to it.

Representing the Beasts of Albion deck today is The Raven. In Gray's system, the Raven belongs to the Kingdom of Strength amd the Trine of Challenge. His Teaching is "Challenge of Darkness."

For those who wonder about such things, the Raven was commonly interchangeable in early stories with other members of the crow family (the crow, chough, rook, and jackdaw). Although Ravens are generally associated with dark forces and death, they are also seen to symbolize cunning, intelligence, and prophecy.

In the Beasts of Albion deck, the Raven's characteristics are: Foreknowledge; Prophecy; Cunning; Intelligence; Change; Battle; Opportunism; Selfishness; Scavenging; Protection.

Elaborating on the "Challenge of Darkness" Teaching assigned to the Raven, Gray writes: "The Raven offers the challenge of the unknown. With its prophetic cry muted, it teaches the ability to overcome the dark forces of uncertainty, ignorance and death."

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In addition to my 60 Tarot decks, I own a great many oracle decks. I love these decks, but don't use them as often as I would like. Several times a week, I am going to share a card from one of these oracle decks here on the blog. I hope people will enjoy seeing cards from various decks and will gain something from the interpretations of the cards!

Reading for Manuela

The following reading was done as part of a special, limited free reading offer in 2009. If you would like a free reading, I suggest the American Tarot Association's Free Reading Network or Free Tarot Network web sites.


Manuela, your question concerns a huge disappointment that lead to the end of a relationship. You are wondering how you should proceed in this situation.

For your reading I am using a 7-card spread designed to help people cope with the breakup of a relationship. The layout for this spread is:

1.................2
3........4.......5
6.................7

While shuffling the cards, I meditated on your question. Using the Sharman Caselli deck, I pulled the following cards for you (please note -- although some of the cards were drawn reversed, I am showing them upright here so that it will be easier for you to understand what is on the card):

1: The main issue that broke up this relationship.
SIX OF PENTACLES -- To me, this card suggests that the main reason for the break-up could have been an unwillingness or inability to give (and receive) in a manner that fosters a strong relationship. Perhaps one person gave much more than the other. The number Six can refer to an adjustment in thoughts, attitudes, or conditions. An unwillingness or inability to make such an adjustment could also have contributed to the break-up.

2: The part you may have played in bringing this about.
SIX OF WANDS -- This card indicates that you may have contributed to the break-up because you tried to forge ahead, to take the relationship "onward and upward." The timing wasn't right, and your efforts were not appreciated.

3: What you need to let go of right now.

TWO OF CUPS -- This card typically represents a cooperative, harmonious, mutually beneficial relationship. It seems that you are being advised to let go of idealized expectations concerning the relationship that ended. You imagined or hoped for a special bond with this person, and you experienced great disappointment. You need to stop dwelling on how things should have been or could have been with this person.

4: How you feel about this.
EIGHT OF WANDS -- The Eight of Wands suggests that you truly believed that you and this person were on a common path headed toward a common goal. It may be difficult to step back and take a more detached or objective view. Your emotions are still strong and focused on where you hoped the relationship would go.

5: How you can begin to move past this.
FIVE OF PENTACLES (reversed) -- You can begin to move past this by refusing to see yourself as abandoned or undervalued. What this other person thinks is not as important as your own self-image and level of self-confidence.

6: What you need to be aware of as you move on.
TEN OF WANDS (reversed) -- What you need to be aware of as you move on is that it's time for you to release the burden that has weighed heavily on you concerning this relationship. You have carried it long enough. The number Ten signifies coming to terms with the past and making a new beginning.7: The way forward.
TEN OF CUPS (reversed) -- Again we have the number Ten, reinforcing the idea of a new beginning. The relationship did not live up to your hopes and expectations. It was a huge disappointment. But your chances of experiencing the kind of relationship you want, need, and deserve can only improve after you turn the corner and put the failed relationship behind you.

Manuela, I notice that nearly all of these cards are even-numbered cards (six, eight, two, ten). While even numbers do suggest stability, they can also indicate being stuck in one place. The only odd number is the Five of Pentacles in Position Five: "How you can begin to move past this." Odd numbers represent change. It seems that it is time for you to move beyond the pain of your disappointment and start a fresh chapter in your life.

My purpose in doing this reading to help you gain awareness and clarity about your situation by offering options, possibilities, and perspectives for you to consider. I hope I have succeeded in doing that. Always remember that you are in charge of your destiny and only you can decide the best way to act in your situation.

Thank you for letting me read for you. I wish you the very best. I am very interested in your thoughts about the reading, or how the situation progresses.

Best wishes,
Zanna