A Poetic Reading for All Hallows Eve 2021

 A few years ago, I shared “A Poetic Reading for All Hallows Eve” based on some rhyming lines that I wrote. I thought it would be fun to do this reading for 2021 using The Forgotten Tarot by Siri Soderblom.

Here are the rhyming lines (positional definitions):

Something that stands on the threshhold

Something that waits within

Something I need to banish

Something I need to let in

Something I need not fear

Something I need to begin

The layout looks like this:

……1…….

2………..3

4………..5

…….6

(1) Something that stands on the threshhold: THREE OF CUPS

I love seeing this card here, as it typically signifies camaraderie, celebration, and joy shared. The photo reminds me of myself and my two closest friends from elementary school on through high school. We are still in touch, interacting on Facebook. I feel this card may also be alerting me to avoid a falling out or miscommunication between close friends and myself.

(2) Something that waits within: KNIGHT OF CUPS

With Cups being the suit of emotions and intuition, it makes sense that a Cups card would be “something that waits within.” This could refer to the most desirable qualities of this Knight, such as intuitiveness, imagination, charisma, and kindness, or it could be a caution that perhaps some of his less-appealing qualities “wait within,” such as immaturity, moodiness, jealousy, or a disconnection from reality.

(3) Something I need to banish: QUEEN OF SWORDS

I love that the suit of “Swords” (Air) in this deck is represented by a fountain pen (“the pen is mightier than the sword”). This Queen will not take kindly to the idea that she should be “banished” – but it is really her most unhelpful or negative qualities that need to be discarded, such as a tendency to be cutting or cruel, to suppress or bottle emotions, and being too wrapped up in other people’s emotions. There is a feeling of deep sorrow associated with this Queen, and I may need to explore how that applies to me. (I don’t know about you, but this image reminds me a bit of “Miss Gulch” in The Wizard of Oz…)

(4) Something I need to let in: PAGE OF SWORDS

In contrast with the Queen of Swords, the Page reaches for the sky, awash in new thoughts and ideas. He is optimistic and exhilerated, ready to expect the best of everyone and everything. This fresh, new way of looking at things or approaching things is something I need to “let in.”

(5) Something I need not fear: THE WORLD

“I need not fear The World.” That’s one heck of a sentence, with some pretty profound implications. In any case, The World represents a major turning point in life, the end of one phase or stage and the beginning of a new phase or stage. The World can also represent a sense that “all things are possible” or the end of a period of difficulty.

(6) Something I need to begin: THE MOON

As a Major Arcana card (like The World), The Moon indicates something significant or far-reaching in my life that I need to begin. To me, The Moon suggests that I need to begin to see things more clearly than I have before, to illuminate deep areas of myself so that I can perhaps see something in a new way. The Moon is always one of my favorite cards in any deck, so I tend to get a positive vibe from the card, even though it can represent illusions, ignorance, or fear of the unknown. 

REVIEW: The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot

R E V I E W

The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot

Deck and Guidebook

For Fierce Women

by Ashawnee DuBarry

Illustrated by Coni Curi

Publisher:‎ Red Wheel (October 15, 2021)

Paperback:‎ 80 pages; 7-3/4 x 5-3/4 in.

Card Dimensions: 4-3/4 x 2-3/4 in.

ISBN-10:‎ 1590035259

ISBN-13:‎ 978-1590035252

_About My Reviews_

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: “The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot is an invitation for all to tap into the energy of the Divine Feminine and reclaim the tarot as a tool for self-care, spiritual growth, and self-actualization. Tarot was created during a time when the patriarchy maintained tight control over the roles that women were allowed to assume, and as a result most decks overlook the rich religious and spiritual status women have held throughout history. The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot is a complete reimagining—it’s what happens when we open up every card in the deck to feminine energy. True sisterhood is about coming together in a sacred space to support one another—no matter how you identify. Through the imagery, keywords, card meanings, and an exploration of female symbolism, readers will be instilled with confidence not only in their own feminine power but in a deeper understanding of a centuries-old craft.”

MY THOUGHTS

First of all, I really like how DuBarry approaches the idea of female symbolism and representation in the tarot. She makes it clear from the outset that this is not a deck “for women only.” Rather, it celebrates feminine energy while stressing inclusivity, unlike the original tarot, which centered its images and descriptions around the old gender roles. DuBarry references the “Divine Feminine” as a source of energy we can all tap into, with traits such as empathy, receptivity, creativity, fluidity, and intuition. 

Following sections titled The Tarot Deck Explained, Meet Your Deck, and Ways to Use Your Deck, DuBarry provides an excellent summary of “Female Symbolism in the Tarot.” She discusses The High Priestess, The Empress, Strength, Justice, Temperance, The Star, The Moon, and The World, along with how Divine Feminine wisdom is expressed in each of the four suits. 

I like the way DuBarry presents “The Spreads” section by including 1-card, 2-card, 3-card, and 6-card spreads as well as the Horseshoe Spread and (of course) the Celtic Cross.

Moving into the card-by-card discussions, we are given one page per Major Arcana card, arranged by Keywords (Upright), Keywords (Reversed), Yes/No/Maybe (I LOVE this), Upright Meaning, and Reversed Meaning. The guidebook can therefore be used as a quick reference/reminder or a source for more in-depth study. Pages covering the Minor Arcana cards offer a similar format, with two cards per page. 

The cards themselves, printed on sturdy stock, have rounded corners and attractively ornate gold borders against a black background. They were created to resemble vintage posters with a modern edge, in shades of green, brown, and gold with other colors added from time to time (such as a purple chalice on the Ace of Cups). The cards feature the original French name for each of the Major Arcana, such as La Papesse for the High Priestess and Le Diable for the Devil. The number system and minor Arcana follows the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith convention.

I find it refreshing to browse through the artwork on these cards, as it incorporates various racial backgrounds and skin colors. 

I will be posting a Deck Interview with this deck here on the blog before long, and also plan to share a reading or two using this marvelous deck.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ashawnee DuBarry is an intuitive tarot reader and astrologer based in New Jersey. She offers tarot and birth chart readings and works with women to help them connect with their inner goddesses. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and is passionate about helping her clients to use tarot as self-care, to heal, and to understand themselves more deeply. Learn more about Ashawnee and join her 35.5k followers on Instagram at @ElysianSpiritTarotLLC, where she posts daily messages.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Coni Curi is an Argentine artist and illustrator based in Buenos Aires. She gets her inspiration from folklore, astronomy, mythology, and the occult. Learn more at conicuri.com or join her 55.9k Instagram followers at @conicuri.

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.