Favorite Holiday Songs of Tarot Cards

For some reason, I felt inclined to discover the favorite holiday songs of various Tarot cards. I made a list of ten well-known songs and then drew a card for each. I am using the Cat’s Eye Tarot by Debra M. Givin, DVM (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) The songs are not necessarily my favorites or my “choices” for the best holiday songs, or anything like that. They are simply the first ten titles that came to mind.

Angels We Have Heard on High is about the birth of Jesus Christ narrated in the Gospel of Luke, specifically the scene in which shepherds outside Bethlehem encounter a multitude of angels singing and praising the newborn child.

It is the favorite holiday song of the TWO OF CUPS because it celebrates harmony and a close connection between heaven and earth.

The Holly and the Ivy is a traditional British folk Christmas carol.

It is the favorite holiday song of the KING OF CUPS because it is about the birth of the King of Heaven and has a tender quality that speaks to his heart.

Little Drummer Boy lyrics relates how a poor young boy was summoned by the Magi to the Nativity of Jesus. Without a gift for the infant the little drummer boy played his drum.

It is the favorite holiday song of the SEVEN OF WANDS because the little boy who played his drum was doing what he did well, facing his inner doubts in the face of possible disapproval or rejection.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas is sung from the point of view of a soldier stationed overseas during World War II, writing a letter to his family. In the message, he tells the family he will be coming home and to prepare the holiday for him, and requests snow, mistletoe, and presents on the tree. The song ends on a melancholy note, with the soldier saying, "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams."

It is the favorite holiday song of the NINE OF PENTACLES because she is self-confident and self-assured enough to appreciate nostalgia and dreams without losing her connection to reality.

Here Comes Santa Claus combines two veins of the Christmas tradition, the mythology of Santa Claus and the Christian origin of the holiday (most explicitly in its mention of the nativity promise of "peace on Earth").

It is the favorite holiday song of DEATH because sometimes you just need a jolly, happy song to get you through difficult times.

Jingle Bells was originally intended for the Thanksgiving season, having no connection to Christmas. It became associated with Christmas music and the holiday season in general decades after it was first performed on Washington Street in Boston in 1857.

It is the favorite holiday song of the KNIGHT OF PENTACLES because dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh sounds like the carefree, fun sort of thing he too often denies himself as he focuses on security and routines.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas originated with a poem by Emily Huntington Miller (1833-1913), published as "Lilly's Secret."

It is the favorite holiday song of the EIGHT OF WANDS because she marvels at the ability of St. Nicholas to remember and promptly provide all the different gifts requested by all those children – all in one night.

We Three Kings was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and he wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City.

It is the favorite holiday song of the NINE OF SWORDS because she appreciates that the three Kings knew exactly what to bring to Bethlehem without hesitation or apprehension about whether their gifts were appropriate, whereas she would have been beside herself with anxiety about the situation.

Blue Christmas is a tale of unrequited love during the holidays and is a longstanding staple of Christmas music, especially in the country genre.

It is the favorite holiday song of THE WORLD because the person having a Blue Christmas is going to eventually realize that all things will balance out and they won’t be “blue” forever.

Good King Wenceslas tells a story of a Bohemian king going on a journey and braving harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (December 26, the Second Day of Christmas).

It is the favorite holiday song of THE EMPEROR because, hey, it’s about a famous ruler who truly cared about his subjects and wants them to be safe and secure.

A Poetic Reading for All Hallows Eve

I decided to write some rhyming lines that, for me, evoke the spirit of Halloween:

Something that stands on the threshold

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

I am pulling a card for each line/position. The layout looks like this:

……1…….

2………..3

4………..5

6

I am using Black Cats Tarot by Maria Kurara (Lo Scarabeo).

(1) Something that stands on the threshold 

QUEEN OF SWORDS

The energy I typically pick up from this Queen is that of mental clarity, decisiveness, and intellect balanced with emotions. Her less desirable traits might include being critical (including self-critical) and harshly judgmental. If this Queen is “standing on the threshold,” she wants me to pay attention to those characteristics and ways in which I might be influenced by them (or people who exhibit them).

(2) Something that waits within

QUEEN OF PENTACLES

To say that this Queen “waits within” suggests that I already embody her characteristics, which include a desire to nurture (including self-nurture), generosity, and a down-to-earth, resourceful nature. Less desirable characteristics might include a tendency to be overly focused on the material world, overly concerned about my health, or insensitive and stubborn. These traits wait for me to enlist them as I choose.

(3) Something I need to banish

STRENGTH

I need to banish any effort to use cruelty or force to “tame” or control the “lion” – the instinctual aspects of my nature, the passion or “life-force” that some might feel the need to repress or suppress in order to appear “civilized.” Instead, I need to seek balance and integration between instinct-passion and intellect, and to do so with quiet courage and inner fortitude.

(4) Something I need to let in

THE HANGED MAN

I need to “let in” a completely different perspective or way of looking at things, to give myself time to pause and reflect, to be still and wait and watch. I need to “let in” the spirit that encourages me to question and challenge preconceived ideas or beliefs and perceptions foisted upon me by others. I need to “let in and let go.”

(5) Something I need not fear

TEN OF SWORDS

In the Black Cats Tarot, this card does not depict the typical character with ten swords sticking out of his back. Instead, we see a cat considering whether to go through a door. He is on the brink of attaining what he has always desired, but is overwhelmed by fear. I need not fear taking the next step, moving forward through the door to embrace whatever awaits. From outside, it appears that the door opens on a stone-brick wall barricaded with swords – but that image is the product of fear. In order to find out what is actually on the other side of the door, I must go through.

(6) Something I need to begin

FIVE OF SWORDS

I need to begin a battle or fight – probably within myself – between conflicting ideas, thoughts, or perspectives. For too long, perhaps, I have been complacent, allowing the “strongest” of the competitors to be in charge without challenge. It is time to push back.

A Few of My Favorite Things Spread

Copy Cat! Copy Cat! Okay, I will own that I am being a “Copy Cat.” I am copying this spread from Ellen at greyladyshearth.blogspot.com. Ellen got it from _Magpietarot_.

Since I’m being a Copy Cat, I will use one of my cat Tarot decks – Cat’s Eye Tarot by Debra M. Givin, DVM (US Games Systems, Inc.) – for my reading.

(c) Givins / US Games Inc.

From the Wands: Where does my confidence shine?

FOUR OF WANDS

Celebration; Freedom; Excitement

My confidence shines when I am free to follow the dreams and paths that excite my interest and give me cause for celebration.

(c) Givins / US Games Inc.

From the Cups: What brings me joy?

EIGHT OF CUPS

Deeper Meaning; Moving On; Weariness

For me, joy comes with the discovery of deeper meaning in life, moving on from that which brings weariness or disappointment.

(c) Givins / US Games Inc.

From the Swords: Where do I feel wise?

TWO OF SWORDS

Stalemate; Blocked Emotions; Avoidance

I feel wise when I can overcome a stalemate, unblock emotions, and avoid situations or people that tend to create negative conditions.

(c) Givins / US Games Inc.

From the Pentacles: What makes me feel safe & secure?

THREE OF PENTACLES

Teamwork; Planning; Competence

I feel safe and secure when I am a member of a team or close-knit group, able to plan and execute events and efforts competently.

(c) Givins / US Games Inc.

From the Majors: Which underlying energy will make it all possible? 

TEMPERANCE

Temperance; Balance; Health; Combination

As a Sun-sign Sagittarius, this is my Tarot card, one that represents to me not only temperance in its traditional interpretation (moderation, restraint) but the ability to combine, blend, and balance opposing energies in a healthy, helpful manner.

Death and Grief Reading for Helen and Mr. White

Today I am sharing a spread I adapted from one that was posted by Barbaras Ahajusts on Aeclectic Tarot Forum back in 2006. I am doing the reading for my dear friend Helen, whose cat Mr. White recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. White when I traveled to Helen’s home in Australia a couple of years ago.

Mr. White

Here is the layout, with positional definitions.

.........9........
.....7......8....
.....5......6....
.........4.........
.........3.........
.....1......2.....

1. Mr. White
2. Helen
3. What united them?
4. Under which sign did their union stand?
5. What is now gone?
6. What remains for Helen as the gift of their union?
7. Which force is protecting and accompanying her during this period?
8. Which force accompanies Mr. White?
9. Which force helps Helen to let go and to keep going, gives her new courage, and benefits her?

I am using the Cat’s Eye Tarot by Debra M. Givin, DVM (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

1. Mr. White

NINE OF SWORDS (Worry, Guilt, Anguish)

This card does seem to relate to Mr. White’s life for some time before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge, as he was in poor health and it had been decided that there was nothing else that could be done for him. We can’t know what he experienced for certain, but it is not hard to imagine a state of worry or anxiety might have accompanied his illness and approaching death. An animal knows when things are not right in his physical body. Cats are quite stoic. Their instinct is to maintain a strong appearance to keep a possible predator from seeing any weakness. We would not necessarily see any obvious indication of worry or anguish.

2. Helen

THE SUN (Enlightenment, Greatness, Vitality, Assurance)

Even though she mourns the loss of Mr. White, Helen embraces and expresses the Sun’s positive qualities. She feels sorrow and loss, but is not devastated beyond repair. The core of her bright personality and warm nature are still strong. She knows that the sun will shine again even after the darkest, stormiest night.

3. What united them?

EIGHT OF WANDS (Quick Action, Conclusion, News)

What we see in this card is not simply “quick action” but a mother cat saving her kittens from a fire. It is Helen’s nurturing, “mothering” quality towards Mr. White that united them, along with her desire and willingness to help him with his health issues as much as she could, for as long as she could.

4. Under which sign did their union stand?

TEN OF SWORDS (Bottoming Out, Victim Mentality, Martyrdom)

I wonder if perhaps this points to a situation or circumstances that Mr. White was in before coming to live with Helen? Perhaps he was a stray or neglected in some way. Another possibility is that the card refers to ways in which Helen lifted Mr. White out of a bad state or what would have been a hard life had she not been involved.

5. What is now gone?

THE STAR (Hope, Inspiration, Generosity, Serenity)

It is true that with Mr. White’s passing, we do see an end to hopes and wishes for his recovery. This would have been especially keen as his passing drew nearer and became unavoidable. It is also true that whatever inspiration or serenity that Mr. White brought to Helen while he was alive is now gone or, at the very least, changed to a different form.

6. What remains for Helen as the gift of their union?

TEN OF CUPS (Joy, Peace, Family)

This is where we see that the loss of “The Star” is temporary, as Helen retains a beautiful gift of her union with Mr. White – fond memories of experiences and perhaps even an otherwordly connection that transcends physical existence.

7. Which force is protecting and accompanying her during this period?

SEVEN OF PENTACLES (Affluence, Permanence, Convention)

This card conveys a sense of security, stability, and well-being, the fact that Helen continues to live her life much as she did before Mr. White departed. She still has much in her life that brings her joy and contentment.

8. Which force accompanies Mr. White?

FIVE OF CUPS (Loss, Bereavement, Regret)

I think this is about the separation of Mr. White from Helen, a loss that they both felt (and still feel) keenly. We cannot know what Mr. White feels or experiences on the other side, but I don’t find it impossible to believe that there is a remnant of sorrow or regret that remains with the spirit of one who passes on. I have no trouble believing that Mr. White misses Helen, just as she misses him.

9. Which force helps Helen to let go and to keep going, gives her new courage, and benefits her?

QUEEN OF SWORDS (Honest, Astute, Forthright, Witty, Experienced)

Well, it is very interesting to me that the Queen of Swords is often interpreted as a woman who has experienced loss and grief but remains strong, allowing her experience to further strengthen her. If we pair this with The Sun (position 2, above), we get a picture of someone who can weather loss and disappointment and emerge with dignity and grace intact, and wisdom gained.

------------------------------------

HELEN'S RESPONSE TO THE READING

Thank you for this reading Zanna, all the cards express my relationship with my lovely boy. The Ten of Swords is spot on, Mr. White was abandoned and not in a very good state when I took him in. Of his 16 years he has spent 10 of those with me. The pain of losing him is great as he spent a lot of time by my side, but I know that as your cards express, in time the pain will dull and the memories will make me smile again. 
~ Helen

REVIEW: Mystical Cats Tarot

R E V I E W

Mystical Cats Tarot

by _Lunaea Weatherstone_ & _Mickie Mueller_

_Llewellyn Publications_ (May 8, 2014)

ISBN-10: 0738733881 / ISBN-13: 978-0738733883

Book: 8.5 x 5.4 x 2.4 inches; 216 pages

Cards: 2-3/4 x 4-5/8 inches

_About My Reviews_

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

Yeah, yeah, I know. The cat lady has acquired another cat-themed deck and what do you know? She likes it! What do I like about it? Well, for starters, even though this is not what anyone would call a Rider-Waite-Smith clone, the situations and activities shown on each card do call to mind the comparable RWS card.

On the Nine of Sky (Swords), instead of someone in bed with nine swords hanging over her head, we have a sleeping cat tossing and turning, clearly distressed, as visions of a vicious dog, angry cat, sharp-taloned bird of prey, and firecracker do a frightening “dance” in its head. On the Four of Sea (Cups), an obviously bored or depressed cat totally ignores four capering lobsters in the background. On the Three of Fire (Wands), a cat gazes upward in a manner similar to that of the man on the RWS Three of Wands, who gazes out at the sea.

I also like the way Lunaea Weatherstone sets the stage for each card interpretation by bringing us into the situation depicted on the card – in other words, the cat situation – before moving on to explain how the card might reflect our situation and advise us on approaches we might take. Reversed meanings are right on target, offering useful and realistic suggestions.

The sketches and comments at the back of the book are truly a welcome addition, giving us insight into the thought processes of the artist and the rest of the team working on the deck.

Mickie Mueller’s art automatically goes in the “plus” column for me, and I love the way she captures the expressiveness of a cat’s face, eyes, and body language. I like that she incorporates many different breeds and colors of cats.

To see a reading I did with this deck, click HERE. I look forward to doing more!

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

"Anyone who has ever owned—or been owned by—a cat knows its wild and mystical nature. Open the door to a magical world of feline enchantment that offers eternal and ancient wisdom with the Mystical Cats Tarot.

Discover amazing artwork of various domestic breeds that look and behave like normal cats, but face many challenges, relationships, and life lessons that reveal the answers to our most important questions. Organized by elemental suits—Earth, Sea, Fire, and Sky—and cat-based court cards, this deck presents the descendants of the Cat Goddess in all their furry glory." 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Lunaea Weatherstone is a priestess, writer, teacher, and tarot counselor who has been serving the Pagan community for more than twenty-five years, since her days as owner/editor of SageWoman magazine. As Grove Mother for the Sisterhood of the Silver Branch, she offers year-long programs in goddess spirituality. Lunaea has been working with the tarot for more than forty years.

Mickie Mueller is an award-winning and critically acclaimed artist of fantasy, fairy, and myth. She is an ordained Pagan minister and has studied Natural Magic, Fairy Magic and Celtic tradition. She is also a Reiki healing master/teacher in the Usui Shiki Royoho Tradition. Mickie enjoys creating magical art full of fairies, goddesses, and beings of folklore. She works primarily in a mix of colored pencil and watercolor infused with magical herbs corresponding to her subject matter.

BASIC INFORMATION

This deck follows the traditional Tarot structure, with Major Arcana cards, Court cards, and Pips.

Majors: Some of the Majors have undergone a “name change” in this deck. For example:

• The Fool … The Cat
• The Magician … Cat Magic 
• Justice … Consequences
• The Hanged Man … The Floating Cat
• Temperance … Grace
• The Devil … Demon Cat
• Judgment … Good Kitty

Mystical Cats Tarot

Other Majors have traditional titles (for example, The Empress, The Lovers, The Tower).

Minors: The Minor Arcana cards have the traditional four suits but they are given the names Fire Clan (Wands), Sea Clan (Cups), Sky Clan (Swords), and Earth Clan (Pentacles). Court Cards are titled Kitten (Page), Tom (Knight), Queen, and King.

Sections in the introductory pages of Tales of the Mystical Cats (the 201-page book that accompanies this deck) address Mixing the Cards, Reading the Cards, About Reversals, Care and Feeding of Your Deck, in which we are told: “The ‘proper’ way to care for a tarot deck is whatever feels right for you. . . The important thing is always to treat your cards with respect.”

Each card receives a two-page spread, with a black-and-white version of the card on the left and a discussion of the card on the right. The material on the right includes a description of the card, The Cat’s Advice, and “If the card is reversed…”

In the section for each suit, we have a black-and-white illustration and a one-page description of the qualities of the suit and the cats that belong to that element.

Four spreads are included at the end of the book, each accompanied by a drawing that incorporates the layout. These spreads are titled At the Threshold (3 cards with the Two of Fire as the center card), Shield of Sekhmet (3 cards), Council of the Five Tigers (5 cards), and Nine Lives Spread (9 cards).

Following the spreads we have an Appendix containing “Sketches from Mickie Mueller’s Old Wooden Art Table.” This behind-the-scenes glimpse of some of the images in the deck are accompanied by annotated captions from Mueller herself.

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards are printed on typical Tarot card stock with what I would call a semi-glossy finish. They fit comfortably in my hands and are the right size for shuffling. The packaging includes a white cardboard box that is clearly meant to hold the cards, but it is really too big for them (4 x 5-1/4 inches). It’s better than nothing, but I would rather not use it.

Cards are borderless. Card backs are reversible.

Each card has the title of the card at the bottom in black ink printed on a dark gold banner. I found the titles a bit difficult to read, but that could be due to the age of my eyes.

Mystical Cats Tarot

ART

Mickie Mueller’s art is superb, as expected (I have long been a fan of her work!) As someone who has been owned by cats for most of my life, I recognize the feline expressions, body language, and activities that Mueller has been so successful in capturing. The colors are rich and vibrant. The coloring on the Minors expresses the nature of each suit’s element beautifully.

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.