ORACLE CARD

The Oracle Card I want to share today is from Sonia Choquette's Ask Your Guides deck. Each of the 52 cards in this deck presents an emotion, issue, or situation; and then offers guidance from a specific source. Beneath the title of each card in the book accompanying the deck, Choquette provides four words that present concepts and energies that augment the card's meaning.


The keywords for the card Partnerships and Love are Infatuation, Romance, Connection, and Introduction. Choquette tells us that Nature Spirits, who are known as runners, are practical guides who can lead you directly toward the appropriate person to best support your soul at this time. Their message is: "Relax. We will make all the necessary introductions you seek."

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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!

FIVE OF WANDS - Astrological Associations

Once again we set the blog on fire with another set of Wands cards! This time, it's the FIVE OF WANDS.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Five of Wands represents the energy of the planet Saturn and the zodiac sign Leo. Crowley titles the card "Strife." He writes: "Leo shows the element Fire at its strongest and most balanced. Saturn tends to weight it down and to embitter it. There is no limit to the scope of this volcanic energy." Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) use keywords to describe the energy of the card: "Courage (Leo) to be responsible (Saturn) and persistent (Saturn) development (Leo)."




One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Five of Batons with the first subdivision of the sign Leo, with the Sun as the natural ruler and Saturn as the subruler. She writes: "Leo is a powerful and creative sign, usually with a 'sunny' disposition. However, with Saturn subruling, there is a tendency toward poverty and trouble, and a lack of sympathy in the nature, which is austere and proud. . . Either there will be much restriction and delays in creative endeavors and personal affairs, or one will have to work unusually hard to achieve one's aims."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens describes the Five of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Fifth house." This makes sense in that the Five is the Fifth card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Fifth house is associated with the zodiac sign Leo, ruled by the Sun. Based on this association, Thierens writes: "It is a house of Fire, and the combination of Fire and Air makes warm air, which may be used to heat rooms, in the same way as words, that contain warm feelings of the heart, will do good to other people, and on the other hand hot speech will arouse lively contradiction." (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 Five is assigned to the Firs Decan of Leo -- Sun in Leo. On the King Scale of Color, the colors linked with the Sun are orange and gold; the color linked with Leo is yellow. Mann's keywords for the Sun are "Spirit, consciousness, individuality, masculine principle, dignity, honour." 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 Five of Wands with Saturn/Leo. Included in her keywords are: "competition, drive for status and recognition, a greater demand than available supply, hot tempers, excessive pride." Keywords for the ill-dignified Five of Wands include: "unsound business practices, losing one's balance in a situation, intimidation, heated arguments, sexual abuse or degrading circumstances."

This time, Thierens is basically in step with the others with his association of the Five of Wands with the Sun (the others associate it with the sign Leo, ruled by the Sun). There is a real sense of conflict and tension in the Saturn/Leo mix. Leo is exuberant and impulsive; Saturn is sober and cautious. No wonder the RWS version of the card shows people at odds with each other.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

ORACLE CARD

Today's Oracle Card is the LION from the exquisite Animal Spirits Knowledge Cards featuring paintings by Susan Seddon Boulet. The back of each card provides symbology for the animal and other information.

The symbology for the Lion is: courage, strength, healing, protection, life energy.

In Boulet's painting, the lion is framed in a circle with four points, which forms a mandala -- a mystic circular symbol used as a meditation aid in Buddhist and Hindu traditions.


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!

Free Reading for Puppy

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.

Hello Puppy,

It's nice to meet you. I appreciate this opportunity to do a free reading for you. I see that you are wondering what you need to know in order to find the loving relationship you seek. I decided to use a 7-card spread called the Sleeping Beauty Relationship Spread, designed by ArwenNightstar. I changed the word "romance" in this spread to "love," because I feel you are looking for a relationship that is more than "romantic." I also changed the last position to "Best Possible Outcome" rather than "Final Outcome" because I do not predict the future in my readings. Also, I find it difficult to define "Final" in this context. The layout looks like this:

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

I'm using the Fantastical Creatures Tarot (illustrated by Lisa Hunt, book written by D.J. Conway) for your reading. This unusual deck draws its characters from the world of mythology and folklore, bringing them to life through captivating imagery. While shuffling the cards, I meditated on your question. Here are the cards I pulled for you (remember: the spread is called the Sleeping Beauty Relationship Spread):

(1) Why are you asleep to a new relationship?
TWO OF SWORDS: On this card we see the ancient hero Gilgamesh, disrupting the reflection in a pool of water. We get a sense of underlying tension and perhaps a stalemate in which neither party has the power to win. With respect to your situation, it seems that inner conflict or tension may be preventing you from awakening to a new relationship. Perhaps you tend to dwell on something that happened in the past, which keeps your emotions and thoughts in turmoil. You are of two minds about something, and this inner battle keeps you from moving forward.


(2) What is keeping you asleep to potential love?
THREE OF WANDS: On this card we see the Middle Eastern Djinn, a being known for his high level of magickal strength and ability. Calm yet alert, the Djinn is also patient. He suggests that more patience and planning -- and perhaps assistance from another -- are needed before you can awaken to potential love. Three things he advises you to do: keep control of this "project" (to find love), stabilize your life, and accept help from other people.



(3) What do you need to know about your dreams of love?
FOUR OF WANDS: On the Four of Wands in this deck we have the Egyptian Ba, the heart-soul of every human being. In general, this card represents the gift of rebirth after a time of rest. It suggests that your dreams of love reflect your desire and need for inner harmony. In order to attract the love of another, we need to be at peace with ourselves.








(4) What or who will awaken you to love?
THREE OF SWORDS: Here a fearsome creature called Jenny Greenteeth emerges from a swamp. She is quite eager to drag you into the dark place she calls home, a place of sorrow, loss, and separation. The three swords represent the consciousness, the subconscious mind, and the higher consciousness (universal state of mind). What will help awaken you to love is to refuse to allow yourself to be dragged down by emotional losses and pain.


(5) What is needed from you for love to work?
JUSTICE (Trump 20): The Lion-Dogs of ancient China are symbols of protection from evil. What is needed is for you to realize that you are protected, and unpleasant events do not have the power to do you any real harm. Karma is being balanced in your life, and this works to your advantage.








(6) What do you need for love to work?
JUDGMENT (Trump 11): The Eastern and Western Dragons symbolize a balance of physical and emotional energies needed to create spiritual justice. This energy is available to you to protect you from negative happenings.


(7) What is the best possible outcome (if obstacles are overcome and opportunities are taken advantage of)?
TEN OF SWORDS: Here we see the Indian goddess Kali Ma, who governs both love and death. She is ready to create or destroy, whichever is necessary. The best possible outcome here is that you will keep things from getting any worse. You do this by heeding the messages of the preceding cards. Once again there is a sense that you need to make a clean break with the past, so that an old cycle can end and a new one can begin.

Puppy, the first thing I notice about this group of cards is that they are all associated with active elements (either Air or Fire). This suggests that there is activity taking place concerning this issue at some level, even if you are not aware of it. There is an indication of movement and opportunity for change, if you will seize that opportunity.

Secondly, we see a progression of numbers from two to three to four, then back to three then two (both Trump 20 and Trump 11 reduce to the number 2) and finally to one (the number 10 reduces to 1). This intrigues me. There is a sense that retracing your steps in some way will lead to the new beginning you desire. You are being advised to "leave the past behind" yet perhaps there are areas of the past that you still need to acknowledge, face, and deal with before you can start the new cycle that will attract love into your life.

Puppy, I hope this has at least given you food for thought concerning your situation and perhaps has even helped you in some way.

Bright blessings,
Zanna

FOUR 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.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Four of Wands represents the energy of the planet Venus in the zodiac sign Aries. Crowley titles the card "Completion." He writes that Venus in Aries "indicates that one cannot establish one's work without tact and gentleness." Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) use keywords to describe the energy of the card: "Charm and accommodation (Venus) in connection with a fighting spirit and desire to conquer (Aries)."




One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Four of Batons with the third subdivision of the sign Aries, with Mars as the natural ruler and Venus as the subruler. She writes: "The boldness, independence and assertiveness of Aries in the third subdivision is muted by the gentle and thoughtful influence of Venus as a subruler. . . The energy is still determined."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens describes the Four of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Fourth house." This makes sense in that the Four is the Fourth card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Fourth house is associated with the zodiac sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon. Based on this association, Thierens writes: "generally we find the idea of that which binds together by memory and common motives, thoughts, mottos common to a certain group of people, be it family or nation, clan or army." (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 Wand Two, Three, and Four as "The Lightning of Aries." Wand Four is assigned to the Third Decan of Aries -- Jupiter in Aries. On the King Scale of Color, the color linked with Jupiter is blue; the color linked with Aries is red. Mann's keywords for Jupiter are "idealism, vision, expansion, mania, success, popularity, religion." For the sign Aries, his keywords are "germinating times; unfolding energy; self-assertion; initiatory energy; adventure; daring; impatience; enterprising."

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." She associates the Four of Wands with Venus/Aries. Included in her keywords are: happy celebration, reaching a solid agreement with another, surrounded by the support of family and friends in a venture, invitations to weddings, showers, birthday parties." Keywords associated with an ill-dignified Four of Wands include: "troubles in a marriage or business partnership, lack of protection from outside influences, difficulties with arranging an event. . . scheduling conflicts."

Mann's choice of Jupiter (rather than Venus) in Aries is interesting. Astrologers refer to Jupiter as "the greater benefic" and to Venus as "the lesser benefic." Both planets are considered beneficial and generally helpful in nature. As always, Thierens seems to come out of left field with his Fourth House/Cancer/Moon attribution for the card. However, Liz Hazel's keywords resemble those put forth by Thierens -- even though Hazel uses the Venus/Aries attribution.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

Yes-No Oracle Spread

Although I tend to discourage Yes-No questions, I am intrigued by this spread! I decided to give it a try. My question was: Should I try to write a children's book about spiders?

I decided that the Animal-Wise Tarot would be a good choice for this reading. I removed the Wheel of Fortune card and placed it face up. I shuffled the rest of the deck and pulled seven cards at random. I then mixed the eight cards together and dealt them into the appropriate positions:

YES...................................SOON
(1).......(5) --------------- (2).......(6)

DELAY..............................NO
(3).......(7) --------------- (4).......(8)

While I was shuffling and laying out the cards, I thought "Wouldn't it be funny if the Spider card came up?"

I am not going to show all of the cards from this reading. What struck me (and illustrated what I love about Tarot) is the card that was paired with the Wheel of Fortune in the "SOON" position:

Now, if I can just figure out what "SOON" means with respect to my question (Should I try to write a book about spiders?) Perhaps something will happen "soon" that will tip the scales more toward writing the book. At present, I am doubtful that I can write something on this subject that would be appealing and marketable (E.B. White did it with Charlotte's Web, but I am not E.B. White and don't want to "copy" the idea.)

ORACLE CARD

Today's card is the OWL from the ANIMAL POWERS deck by Monte Farber and Amy Zerner.



The renderings of the twelve animals in this deck were done by Amy Zerner's mother, Jessie, a pen and ink artist. The cards are quite large (6-1/2" x 6-1/2"). I do not attempt to shuffle or deal them into "spreads" but simply use them as inspiration and to supplement my other animal decks.

As you can see from the image of the card, the Owl's keyword is Wisdom. On the back of each card, Farber and Zerner have placed an Invocation. The Owl Invocation for Wisdom reads:

"Owl spirit, please come to me.
Your eyes see the truth in the darkness.
You are old and wise and can teach me,
To discover hidden signs and omens,
Messages all around me, near and far.
You are powerful in your silence.
Show me how to see beyond my beliefs."

~

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! ~ Zanna

ORACLE CARDS

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!

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Today's card is the FROG
from the ANIMAL MESSAGES deck by Susie Green.

"Adapt and survive by accepting the
inevitable and seizing potential."

I love animals of all kinds, but I'm more comfortable around some than others. To be honest, I have to say I don't feel all that attracted to frogs! If I were in a fairy tale, I guess I'd never get to meet the handsome prince because I probably would never kiss the frog (LOL). That said, frogs are truly fascinating creatures. They adapt to water or land as needed. They come in all sorts of pretty colors (as I understand it, the prettier they are, the more likely they are to be poisonous).

Today's message from Susie Green: "Frog counsels that for now it is wise to accept the inevitable while maximizing even the tiniest of possible advantages. That way you grow strong in the face of adversity and may influence events when opportunity arises."

THREE 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.

THREE OF WANDS

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
For Crowley (and the OGD), the Three of Wands represents the energy of the Sun in the zodiac sign Aries. The Sun is exalted in Aries, meaning that it is comfortable and tends to function well in that sign. Crowley titles the card "Virtue." He writes that it represents "the establishment of primeval Energy." Hajo Banzhaf and Brigitte Theler (in Keywords for the Crowley Tarot) use keywords to describe the energy of the card: "Self-confidence, being centered, vitality (Sun) in connection with a pioneering spirit and an urge to move forward (Aries)."



One World Tarot by Crystal Love
Crystal Love associates the Three of Batons with the second subdivision of the sign Aries, with Mars as the natural ruler and the Sun as the subruler. She views this energy as exhibiting "strong qualities of organization, visualization, leadership, and excellence in creative projects and ventures."

A.E. Thierens, PhD. (Astrology & the Tarot)
Thierens described the Three of Wands as having the energy of "Air on the Third house." This makes sense in that the THREE is the THIRD card in the suit of Wands. In astrology, the Third house is associated with the zodiac sign Gemini. Based on this association, Thierens associates the card with "communication, instruction, reflexion, message, writing, postage and letters, superficial knowledge, airiness, passing impressions, discontinuance, interruption, change, perhaps a certain amount of geniality, imprudence also; neglect or want of proper attention." (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 Wand Two, Three, and Four as "The Lightning of Aries." Wand Three is assigned to the Second Decan of Aries -- Sun in Aries. On the King Scale of Color, the colors linked with the Sun are orange and gold; the color linked with Aries is red. Mann's keywords for the Sun are "Spirit, consciousness, individuality, masculine principle, dignity, honour." For the sign Aries, his keywords are "germinating times; unfolding energy; self-assertion; initiatory energy; adventure; daring; impatience; enterprising."

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." She associates the Three of Wands with Sun/Aries. Included in her keywords are: commerce, good business sense, travel for business purposes, honored guest or visitor that brings news or information, honoring one's promises. Keywords associated with an ill-dignified Three of Wands include: underhanded business practices, delayed expectations and outcomes, bad debts, struggling to repair a damaged reputation, a person whose bad reputation precedes them.

In a birth chart, the placement of the Sun is a general indication of our character. It is our basic identity, ego, and conscious will. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries confers leadership ability. It is also characterized as being impulsive and quick-tempered. People born with the Sun in Aries are often characterized as courageous, self-confident, energetic, excitable, optimistic, open to new experiences, and willing to take risks.

I welcome your comments!

Zanna

Free Reading for Mum's the Word

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.

Hello Mum's the Word,

It's good to meet you! Thank you for this opportunity to do a free reading for you. Your question is: How can I best support my two children' development in terms of finding the right services for them?

Spirit has led me to use The Enchanted Tarot for this reading. I am using a spread from my vast collection of spreads. Unfortunately, I do not know the origin of this spread, or I would give credit to the person who designed it.

I will post the images of the cards first, followed by the positional definitions and my interpretation with respect to your situation.


























(1) Where you are now, the current situation:
THE EMPRESS (Trump 3)
Mum's the Word, this card clearly seems to represent you as your children's mother and caregiver. You understand your role and its importance in their lives, and you are concerned about how best to nurture their development.

(2) What lies on the other side (the outcome):
THE WORLD (Trump 21)
The message here is simple: The World can be yours in this situation. Hard work is required and it is important that you view your life in the context of the whole of life itself -- rather than focusing on tiny details or temporary setbacks. If you heed the messages of these cards, you can achieve real success and gain a better understanding of the "big picture."

(3) and (5) Issues you need to consider or actions you need to take:

NINE OF PENTACLES
Mum's the Word, the woman on this card is often seen as being related to The Empress. She encourages you to follow your heart and trust the universe to provide for your needs. At the same time, she is practical and self-reliant. Even as she looks for assistance from unexpected sources, she trusts her own judgment and common sense in making decisions.

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE (Trump 10)
Here we see a message that you need to think ahead and consider the impact today's choices and actions will have on tomorrow. Trusting the universe (as mentioned under the Nine of Pentacles) does not mean sitting back and letting Fate rule your life. Take responsibility and, if it seems necessary, take risks. Be open to new or unexpected opportunities.

(4) Influence that impacts the steps being taken:
THE DEVIL (Trump 15)
The influence suggested by this card comes from the material, physical realm. Financial concerns and health concerns have a major impact. The Devil also suggests that our own limited beliefs about the world might be keeping us down or binding us. By changing our emphasis from the physical or material to the spiritual, we open the door to all that the universe can provide. The key here is to challenge any belief you have that something can't be done or that you have no power to accomplish something. Believe that you have within you the strength, power, and ability to see through and beyond any illusion of restriction and limitation.

What strikes me first of all, Mum's the Word, is the abundance of Major Arcana cards in this reading. Four of the five cards are Trumps. This indicates that this issue is of major importance in your life, perhaps at a high spiritual level. While finding the right services for your children may seem like a mundane, practical matter -- the cards suggest that your overall spiritual state plays a significant role.

The sense I get is that while you are being encouraged to actively seek help for your children, you are also being advised that you have support from a higher power and that if you are open to assistance from this power, you will receive what you need.

It is easy for someone in your position to feel that the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Yet truly, it is not. Being anxious or fearful about your children is not likely to help you support their development. You can think more clearly and take more effective action if you are centered and confident within yourself, believing that the universe is ready to support you.

Mum's the Word, my purpose is 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. 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 and brightest blessings,
Zanna