Queen of Wands Bracelet

Continuing my “Inspired by the Tarot” series, today I am sharing a bracelet I made that was inspired by the Queen of Wands from The Gendron Tarot by Melanie Gendron (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) This deck is extra-special for me because it was gifted to me as a gently used and loved deck by my blog partner and long-time friend, Helen Howell. Helen and I recently met face to face when I visited Australia, and she gave me several decks that she is no longer using.

I remember the Gendron deck fondly from a forum I participated in years ago in which one of the members always used the Gendron for her readings. I liked what I saw of it, but just never acquired it for myself.

Anyway, here is the Queen of Wands card:

The Gendron Tarot (U.S. Games)

I wanted to capture the rich shades of copper, gold, orange, red, and cream in this card. I had a few beads on hand that seemed ideal: carnelian, dyed jade, bright gold tone heishi beads, copper bead caps, large vintage cream-colored silk-wrapped beads, and tiny vintage glass pearls.

For that perfect extra touch, I turned to a favorite supplier of mine, _Auntie’s Beads_.  I love the name of the shop but also the variety and quality of what they sell. This time I selected shiny copper curved tube beads with rope ends to add variety of texture and shape to the finished bracelet. These tube beads are curved, so they are an excellent choice for this coil bracelet made with memory wire. (Memory wire "remembers" its shape and retains its coil form, allowing the bracelet to fit most wrists.)

Below you see the finished piece, with a few of the copper tube beads alongside it. Auntie’s Beads comes through again!

The Queen of Wands bracelet is available from my

Jewelry by Scotti shops at both

 _Etsy_ and _ArtFire_. 

Animal Dreaming Oracle Cards

Whew! I have been back home for almost a week now after a busy two-week trip to Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), and I am still going through the 1500 photographs I took, organizing and labeling them to share with friends and relatives. One of the highlights of my trip was meeting my friend and co-blogger Helen Howell, who gifted me several Tarot decks that she no longer uses. I will be sharing those on the blog soon!

Today I am introducing you to my newest oracle deck. As part of my stay in Australia, I had hoped to find a shop where I could buy an Australian animal-themed deck and sure enough, I found one in Melbourne: Spellbox in the Royal Arcade. My request for an Australian animal deck prompted the woman in charge to immediately select for me Scott Alexander King’s Animal Dreaming Oracle Cards with illustrations by Karen Branchflower (Blue Angel Publishing).

To share this deck with you, I am doing the simple Clarity Spread presented in the guidebook that accompanies the deck. The layout is a basic 1-2-3 format:

1…..2….3

Positional definitions appear below, along with the cards that came forward for me.

me with a koala

(1) Past – opportunities my experiences are offering me to grow and prosper
KOALA
The Koala card – “Inner Journeys” -- is charged with the energies of the West and the element of Water. I was not privileged to see any koalas in the wild, but the ones I did see exhibited one of two behaviors described by King in this deck’s guidebook: “awake, feeding and tending to its young” or “dozing in a foetal position, its rump securely wedged into the fork of a tree.” Koalas are said to enter an altered state of awareness after eating eucalyptus leaves (the mainstay of a koala’s diet). Representing the Past in this reading, the Koala reminds me that my situation today stems from past decisions to start my own journey on my own path instead of looking to others for confirmation. This has been (and continues to be) a healing journey. I am aware of the continued potential for growth and transformation represented by the Koala card.

(2) Present – the beauty that surrounds me at this time
OYSTERCATCHER
This card asks me to take a look at my life and ask if a part of myself is being repressed for reasons that no longer serve me. Perhaps I am concealing a side of myself – intentionally or not. More importantly, I think, I am being asked to consider what aspects I might be attempting to hide even from myself? What facet of my life would I truly like to reveal and see honored? Can I turn a hidden “grit of sand” into a precious pearl?

(3) Future – a prospective abundant future and the energies best suited to help you realize it

COCKATOO
This card tells me that if I contemplate and wait patiently, without consciously seeking answers, the mysteries of my life will make themselves known to me. If I am open and ready to receive illumination, it will soon come, bringing mental clarity, clear vision, enhanced intuition, and stability.

Tarot Notes on Vacation

Welcome to Tarot Notes!

I and the blog are taking a vacation for a couple of weeks. 

Please feel free to look around and check out older posts.

Blessings,

Zanna Starr

Interview with Tarot of the Hidden Realm

The newest member of my Tarot deck family is the mystically magical Tarot of the Hidden Realm by Barbara Moore, with art by Julia Jeffrey (Llewellyn Publications).

Tarot of the Hidden Realm

For this deck interview, I went to a clearing in the woods near my house, where I waited and watched, wondering which card the deck would choose as its representative.

The forest was filled with the sounds of insects humming, birds trilling, and creatures scurrying. Sunlight filtered through the branches overhead and as I watched, the light shifted and curled, forming the shape of a young girl with a sword. She seemed unaware of my presence, as she was focused on slashing and twisting her weapon up and down and around. She was obviously still getting used to the sword. It seemed heavy for her, but I could tell she was determined to keep practicing until she mastered it.

I wasn’t quite sure what to do, so I cleared my throat. The girl stopped suddenly and turned toward me.

“I’m here… for the interview?” I said meekly.

“Make it quick,” she said, her tone as sharp as the edge of her sword. “I am very busy.”

“No problem,” I said. “Um… Here are my questions for the deck.”

Tarot of the Hidden Realm

1. What would you like me to understand about you?
KING OF PENTACLES
I feel the gentle yet powerful spirit of this King through my entire being. He speaks softly, yet with authority: “My child, you need to understand that, first of all, I care. And secondly, I share. What is mine is yours. I will never turn you away, but my first choice would be for you to hear my messages and follow my guidance. My vast experience, knowledge, and common sense are at your disposal.”

Tarot of the Hidden Realm

2. What would you like me to understand about myself?
TEN OF SWORDS
A loud scream pierces the quiet of the clearing. The Page of Swords smiles, as if recognizing a friend. A harsh voice declares: “You are like The Great Goddess Morrigan, the giver of war and death. Do you frighten yourself? Are you afraid to look yourself in the eye? In the heart? Only you can decide when suffering will come to an end. Only you can end it. Here, use my sword. I stand beside you. This ends now.”

Tarot of the Hidden Realm

3. What strengths and/or weaknesses do we have as a team?
SIX OF CUPS
Suddenly I feel as if I am chest deep in calm waters, trailing my fingers through flower petals that float on the surface. A gentle woman’s voice tells me: “Together we have the ability to delve into memories, to analyze and review them, to explore them and place them in context. You may try to do this on your own and you may succeed. But I can offer you an objective point of view and insight into how and why you may have manipulated your memories or recast them in a false light. Our weakness as a team may be that we dwell too long on the past, searching for answers and solutions.”

The water flows away from me and I stand once again in the forest clearing. The Page of Swords eyes me with impatience. “If you are finished,” she says, “I will return to my task.” She slashes the air with her sword. I nod respectfully at her and walk away, along the path, out of the woods.