When will my financial situation improve?

A sample reading using
The Goddess Tarot
by Kris Waldherr
(US Games Systems Inc.)

QUESTION
When will my financial situation improve?

ANSWER

Thank you for this opportunity to do a free three card reading for you through the Free Tarot Reading Network. You asked about your financial situation and when it will improve. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not a trained financial counselor. I always suggest that my clients get financial advice from someone who is trained in that field.

Before I continue with your reading, let me explain how I use the Tarot to answer questions concerning "when" something will happen. I do not believe the cards can give us the day or date or even a firm time frame in which something will take place. Instead, I ask the cards to help identify what needs to be done before the event in question (in your case, improved finances) can occur. For your 3 card reading I am using The Goddess Tarot. 

Below are the positional definitions I used, the cards I drew into those positions, and my interpretations.

Position 1. What you need to know: TEN SWORDS

It appears that the worst is over. You have an opportunity to turn a corner in the area of finances. The potential is high that your struggles will be reduced from this point forward.

Position 2. What you need to do: LOVE

There seems to be a need for you to harmonize your emotions and your mind rather than letting one dominate and control your decisions and actions where finances are concerned. I am willing to bet that emotions are the problem and need to be balanced by common sense and careful analysis. Once you have made progress in this area, financial matters are likely to improve. There is also a possibility that a new, important relationship with another person is on the horizon for you, and that the financial situation will be influenced by the development of this relationship.

Position 3. What you need to avoid: FOUR PENTACLES

Avoid spending more than you can afford to spend. Conserve and protect your resources. Be practical.

There seems to be a strong possibility that positive changes in your financial circumstances will occur when you have learned necessary lessons, increased your knowledge of financial issues, and put that knowledge into practice. You may already be well on the way to accomplishing this. 

Based on the birth information you provided, I see that when you were born the Sun (identity) and Mercury (the mind) were both in Gemini, an Air sign known for keen intellect. You seem to have the ability to work through these issues and gain better control.

It is my hope that the insight gained through this reading will help you make decisions and take action in line with your best interests. Always remember that your future lies in your hands. If you have time I would like to hear from you about your reading. Thank you for letting me read for you.

Tarot Card of the Year 2022

One interesting way to use Tarot cards is to calculate which Major Arcana card represents a particular year. As you might guess, this involves adding the individual numbers of the year to arrive at a total that matches the number of a Major Arcana card.

For background, here are my thoughts about the card for 2021:

2 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 5 = THE HIEROPHANT

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

I typically see this card as representing organized religion and/or established entities, methods, and traditions. On one hand, as an American, I might see this as encouraging because it suggests that the “traditional” operation of government is going to prevail, in spite of efforts to create a government in which the Executive Branch has more power than any other.

At the same time, I can see The Hierophant as an indication that organized religion -- particularly the “conservative Christian right” – will continue to increase pressure and build power in order to try to bring society at large in line with their beliefs.

Wow. I do see all of this in what actually happened in 2021.Now let’s move on to 2022.

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

Card for 2022

 2 + 0 + 2 + 2 = 6 = THE LOVERS

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

As anyone who has studied the Tarot will tell you, when The Lovers card appears, it may or may not be about a romantic relationship. Historically, there are other meanings. Some Lovers cards depict a man who appears to be trying to decide between two women (one of whom is usually young and beautiful, while the other is a “wifely sort,” whatever that means). That representation suggests that a choice needs to be made.

The Lovers can be about a partnership of any kind, not just romantic. However, it does suggest a sense of “yin-yang”  -- aka masculine/feminine, positive/negative, etc.  In The Lovers, we can see apparently opposing energies coming together to create a stronger, more powerful “whole.”

What energies might “come together” in 2022? Will we see more attempts at cooperation and compromise between “far right” and “far left” factions in politics? Might we see a more literal interpretation in which men and women are able to reach a common ground in some area(s)?

Overall, I think this card indicates a positive, helpful energy. Writing about the occult meaning of numbers, Paul Foster Case gives the following keywords for Six: "balance, equilibration, symmetry, beauty; harmony of opposites, reciprocity; complementary activities, polarity, love." Let’s hope for that, shall we?

For commentary on The Lovers card from Tarot of the Cat People, click HERE.  

For commentary on The Lovers astrological associations from a variety of decks, click HERE. 

As for the number SIX, I presented a detailed discussion HERE.

Amethyst for February

February 2020 is here, and I think I'll do a little "cross promotion" with my handmade jewelry shop (Jewelry by Scotti on Etsy: www.jewelrybyscotti.com)

The birthstone for the month of February is amethyst, a violet or cool purple quartz gemstone that is said to promote humility, peace, and piety. Related to the third-eye chakra, amethyst is believed to strengthen intuition and help heal past hurts.

The word amethyst is from the Greek amethus(t)os, meaning "not intoxicated" and therefore it is considered to be a stone of temperance. Amethyst is also said to promote wholesome dreams.

For the Tarot of Gemstones and Crystals (AGM AGMuller), Helmut G. Hofmann chose amethyst for the Death card. In his words, "[Amethyst] brings light into problems and so helps us in the transformation from the mental to the spiritual level. It both soothes hardened souls and supports people with gentle natures."

And now for the jewelry! The video below shows two pieces of amethyst jewelry. One is a multistrand coil bracelet with two sizes of faceted amethyst beads. In the same video you will also see a gorgeous pendant necklace that features not only amethyst and quartz gemstones but a beautiful purple carved tagua nut crescent moon.

For more information or to purchase, use the following links:

Amethyst Coil Bracelet: https://www.etsy.com/listing/573417030

Tagua Nut Moon and Amethyst Necklace: https://www.etsy.com/listing/586887303

Relationship Potential Reading using Elemental Associations

A sample reading using

The DruidCraft Tarot by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm

Illustrated by Will Worthington

(St. Martin’s Press)

QUESTION: “What is the potential for my 

relationship with a girl at work?”

LAYOUT

1....2....3

ANSWER

Using the DruidCraft Tarot, I drew three cards to provide insight into this relationship. In the system I am using, elemental associations determine the strength or weakness of the cards. In this layout, the middle card is called the "principal" card. It is the response to the question. The other two cards modify the principal card. They are read only from an elemental standpoint, not as individual cards.

In addition to the element associated with each card, I assign an element to the question itself. Your question concerns a relationship. Therefore, it has been assigned the element Water (emotions, relationships).

Position 1. THE HERMIT (Earth)

Position 2. KING OF SWORDS (Air)

Position 3. PRINCESS OF SWORDS (Air)

The first thing I do is look at the overall strength of the principal card in this spread. The KING OF SWORDS is fairly strong in this reading. As an Air card, it is compatible with and supported by the question (Water) as well as the PRINCESS OF SWORDS (Air). However, it is incompatible or antagonistic to THE HERMIT, an Earth card.

For more insight, we look at the meaning of the principal card: the King of Swords. As the suit of Air, the Swords represent logic, intellect, and reason. There is a feeling of patience and endurance with this card, a sense of high potential for success if you are willing to work at it. The King of Swords can also represent someone with a very set attitude who has trouble telling the difference between the positive trait of determination and the negative trait of stubbornness.

The cards seem to indicate that this relationship has positive potential. Success is more likely if you can avoid being overly emotional and if you are willing to put forth the effort to resolve any conflicts that may arise.

Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Reading: Part 3

The Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Tarot Spread

Excerpted from 

Tarot Awareness: Exploring the Spiritual Path

by Stephen Walter Sterling

I recently came across the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Spread by Stephen Walter Sterling on line, and I loved the way each house/sign was described in the positional definitions. This spread forms a pattern resembling the astrological birth chart, beginning with Aries and ending with Pisces.

For the purposes of this blog, I am going to do the spread in three “installments.” Part 1 included Houses 1-4. Click _HERE_ to read. Part 2 included Houses 5-8. Click _HERE_to read.

Part 3 includes Houses 9-12. I am using Tarot of the Spirit by Pamela and Joyce Eakins (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

PART 3

(9) The House of Philosophy, Sagittarius: Does life hold any particular depth of meaning for you? What are you aiming for? Where do you want to go? What is the nature of your belief system? What do you value? (Fire)

FOUR OF EARTH: Power (Sun in Capricorn) / Traditional Name: 4 of Pentacles

With the Four of Earth, we see the sort of power that protects, guards, and defends me from loss or destruction. It’s about being vigilant about keeping what is mine, what I have worked or fought for, that which is valuable to me. The danger in doing so is that if I focus on preventing loss, I risk losing a sense of what brings true satisfaction.

(10) The House of Pragmatism, Capricorn: What areas of our life do you need to apply practical methods? Where do you need grounding? (Earth)

FIVE OF WIND: Fear (Venus in Aquarius) / Traditional Name: 5 of Swords

Eakins interprets this card as being “trapped in a self-designed prison of negative energy from the past.” There is a sense of intellectual or mental energy taking control and running away with me, and if that is the case, a dose of grounding and practicality could be useful. There is a need to try to see thing as they really are, not how I imagine or fear them to be. Instead of spending so much time “in my head,” I need to become more invested in the “real world.”

(11) The House of Originality, Aquarius: The individual searches for identity with a new approach. How do you relate to others in the process? (Air)

THE MYSTERY CARD

For this position, I have drawn “The Mystery Card,” a card that is unique to this Tarot deck. It is viewed as a card of “birth, death and karmic transitions; incredible power, magic and wonder.” Very appropriate for “The House of Originality,” I think! You can view a fascinating video by Pamela Eakins about this card _HERE_.

(12) The House of Intuition, Pisces: Where is listening to the Inner Voice of critical importance? How is your psychic development proceeding? (Water)

EARTH SISTER: Revelation (Aries, Taurus, Gemini) / Traditional Name: Page of Pentacles

I love that in this deck, Earth Sister represents “the brink of transformation,” advising me that “something new is coming” and I am “moving steadily, with stability.” Few ideas are more appealing when applied to The House of Intuition and psychic development. I like the sense of being “at the beginning” of something but also prepared/ready for that transformation to take place.

Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Reading: Part 2

The Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Tarot Spread

Excerpted from

Tarot Awareness: Exploring the Spiritual Path

by Stephen Walter Sterling 

I recently came across the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Spread by Stephen Walter Sterling on line, and I loved the way each house/sign was described in the positional definitions. This spread forms a pattern resembling the astrological birth chart, beginning with Aries and ending with Pisces.

For the purposes of this blog, I am going to do the spread in four “installments.” Part 1 included Houses 1-4. Click _HERE_ to read.

Part 2 includes Houses 5-8. I am using Tarot of the Spirit by Pamela and Joyce Eakins (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

(5) The House of Persona, Leo (Fire): What is your outer self like, the personality that you present to the world? How do you express yourself? Do you face life with courage, with flair?

SIX OF WIND: Clarity (Mercury in Aquarius) / Traditional Name: 6 of Swords
The qualities of Aquarius and Mercury (the mind) suggest that my outer self (the personality I present to the world) is, in many ways, that of an intelligent and free-spirited sort of person with the ability to detach that can cause me to come across as being “aloof” or “distant.” In my birth chart, I actually have Mars in Aquarius in the Fifth House (the house I am currently talking about in this reading). From an elemental perspective, this is a combination of Fire (Leo) and Air (Aquarius). Fire and Air are mutually supportive and both are “active” elements, representing forward motion and getting things done.

(6) The House of Detail, Virgo (Earth): Is your attention to priority reasonable and productive? Are you well organized? Are you being of service?

NINE OF WIND: The Screen (Mars in Gemini) / Traditional Name: 9 of Swords
This card typically refers to feelings of being threatened or in danger. Virgo (which happens to be my rising sign) is known for being worried or anxious about things, perhaps overly focused on details. Gemini is an Air sign ruled by Mercury (the mind, thoughts, perceptions), so these fears may or may not be based in reality. If we think about this type of energy in the Sixth House, we can see where it might be disruptive or interfere with my ability to pay attention to detail, to be organized and productive, and could even affect my willingness or ability to be “of service” to others. Mars/Gemini energy can really rock Virgo’s “down-to-earth” boat.

(7) The House of Balance, Libra (Air): Do the activities of your life add to your peace of mind? Is your distribution of energy well proportioned?

THE EMPEROR (Aries)
Linked with the Fire sign Aries, The Emperor is “swift, male, creative energy” with “clear sight and presence of mind” and “exceedingly well organized.” (from Tarot of the Spirit by Pamela Eakins, Ph.D. / Weiser). This energy suggests that the activities of my life contribute to a sense of stability and security, a sense that things are more or less “under my control” as I “oversee my kingdom.”  One would expect The Emperor’s energy to be “well proportioned.” Again we have the combination of Fire and Air, indicating forward progress and achievement.

(8) The House of Intensity, Scorpio (Water): What is it that you feel strongly about? How do you regenerate your emotions, change how you view your inner atmosphere?

FOUR OF WIND: Mastery (Jupiter in Libra) / Traditional Name: 4 of Swords
Interesting to see this somewhat “stagnant” energy appear in “The House of Intensity.” Pamela Eakins describes the Four of Wind as “a holding pattern,” “resting on your laurels.” We are dealing with the Air sign Libra here, a sign known for being indecisive (mostly because Libra craves harmony and dreads conflict, so it can be difficult to make decisions). One way of interpreting the idea of “Mastery” in “The House of Intensity,” is to consider that perhaps I am at a place “between passions,” so to speak. I have indulged in various things that regenerate my emotions and in a sense, have reached a plateau in those areas. The intensity, therefore, is bound to have faded a bit, creating a bit of a lull.

Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Reading: Part 1

The Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Tarot Spread

Excerpted from

Tarot Awareness: Exploring the Spiritual Path

by Stephen Walter Sterling

(Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.)

I recently came across the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac Spread by Stephen Walter Sterling on line, and I loved the way each house/sign was described in the positional definitions. This spread forms a pattern resembling the astrological birth chart, beginning with Aries and ending with Pisces.

For the purposes of this blog, I am going to do the spread in four “installments.” Part 1 will include Houses 1-4. I am using Tarot of the Spirit by Pamela and Joyce Eakins (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

(1) The House of Aspirations, Aries (Fire): Attitude toward reaching a goal, what you intend to accomplish, and the level of your enthusiasm. 

FIRE BROTHER: Sun Warrior (Cancer-Leo) / Traditional Name: Knight of Wands
Certainly apropos for this First House (Aries) position, Fire Brother exhibits strength, swiftness, brilliance, and agility. Clever and spontaneous, he can also be irrational and impulsive. With my Sun in the Fire sign Sagittarius, I relate well to this energy as I enthusiastically pursue my goals. I need to guard against impulsive behavior based on sudden bursts of optimism and enthusiasm.

(2) The House of Security, Taurus (Earth): Attitude toward material gain. Are you at peace with your resources?

FIVE OF WATER: Spilling (Mars in Scorpio) / Traditional Name: 5 of Cups
Known as a card of disappointment, regret, and frustration, the Five of Water often admonishes us not to “cry over spilt milk.” If we focus on what we have lost or perhaps never had (three spilled, empty cups), we cannot see that there are still avenues and opportunities and resources available to us. A deeper level of understanding is needed so that we can see above and beyond our disappointments, perceived failures, and deficits.

It is interesting to note that the planet Mars is the traditional ruler of the sign Scorpio. Scorpio and its modern ruling planet, Pluto, both represent death and decay (8th house).This tells us that even when expectations are not met, there is still strength available and an opportunity to “power through” and rise above.

(3) The House of Thought, Gemini (Air): How well you communicate your ideas, your needs, and your creative self. Learning and speaking abilities.

TWO OF WIND: The Crossing (Moon in Libra) / Traditional Name: 2 of Swords
Here we have a second instance of “matching elemental attributions,” with the positional definition being Gemini (an Air sign) and the card representing Libra (another Air sign). Libra represents a desire for peace and harmony as well as indecision. The Moon represents emotions and the subconscious.

Although my Sun sign, Sagittarius, is known for being brutally frank, the appearance of this card in the house of communication suggests that deep down, I have a strong desire for my communication and expressions of creativity to be peaceful and harmonious – in other words, I really would rather not ruffle feathers, offend, or start arguments. At times, this can make it hard for me to make a choice or decision, since I want everything to remain harmonious.

(4) The House of Emotion, Cancer (Water): The nature of your home environment. What are the areas of your life that need nurturing? Do you have a reasonable understanding of your feelings? (Water)

THE UNIVERSE (Saturn) / Traditional Name: The World
As the final card of the Major Arcana, The Universe typically represents closing a circle, completing a lesson or a journey. With The Universe card, we have finished what we started; we have seen our purpose through to the end.

In my birth chart, the 4th House is where the Sun resides, an indication that my “home” plays a significant role in who and what I am as an individual. Another interesting connection with my birth chart is the fact that in that chart, Saturn is in my First House (House of Self).

The planet Saturn, sometimes called the planet of “lessons and limitations,” is known as a stern taskmaster who constantly turns our attention to reality, duties, and obligations. Position 4 in this spread mentions home environment, nurturing, and understanding one’s feelings. These are things I may not think I need to take responsibility for, but Saturn holds a different view.

In some ways, I have come full circle. As a child growing up, I was fortunate to have a stable home life. I wanted for nothing, and I had a lot of time to pursue creative activities such as writing and music. Then came marriage, motherhood, and a long period when I worked in an office setting 8 hours a day, doing work that was not very fulfilling. Now, I am again in a stable, pleasant home environment, free to express my creativity and imagination in satisfying “work.”

What actions should I take?

A sample reading using 

The Animals Divine Tarot by Lisa Hunt

(Llewellyn Publications)

QUESTION: “What actions should I take 

to develop my relationship with a loved one?” 

LAYOUT

1....2....3

ANSWER

Animals Divine Tarot

Position 1. This is what you need to know. 

THE HANGED WOMAN (Water)

On this card, Spider Woman weaves her web. As creator and goddess of many Native American traditions, she has the ability to expose truth despite our possible resistance to acknowledging it. The spider is viewed as a teacher, guide, and weaver of destiny. What you need to know is that life is continuous and ever-evolving. Changes are inevitable. Look at your current situation. Make sure you do not lose sight of your journey’s purpose or get caught in a web of illusion that will hinder progress.

Animals Divine Tarot

Position 2. This is what you need to do.

THREE WANDS (Fire)

On this card, a Toad proudly displays three crystal-topped Wands, representing the components of creative energy. What you need to do is use your creative energy to integrate old and new ideas, past influences and fresh perspectives. The Toad is an adaptive creature, in harmony with its environment. Your ability or inability to adapt to the changes revealed in Position 1 may promote or hinder the development of a relationship.

Animals Divine Tarot

Position 3. This is what you need to avoid.

TEN CUPS (Water)

You need to avoid letting your imagination prematurely create a “happy ever after” scenario. Your feelings for this person seem to be very strong, but trying to leap too far too fast is likely to prove counterproductive. The Whales shown on this card are masters of the sea, which represents levels of consciousness as well as emotion, intuition, and spirituality. They are ancient creatures whose powerful, rhythmic movements remind us that the achievement of goals and dreams takes time and dedication.

3 Reasons Not to Get a Tarot Reading

There is a lot of advice out there to help us determine when it might be a good idea to get a Tarot reading and when the type of insight and advice that Tarot provides might be beneficial to our lives. There is less discussion out there about when a Tarot reading may not be the right decision.

This is because usually when your intuition leads you to believe that you should have a Tarot reading it is a good idea, it is an appropriate time for a reading. But there are times when our intuition is clouded, or our experience with Tarot makes us think that we need a reading, when in fact it should be avoided. Let’s have a look at three times when you should avoid having a Tarot reading.

1. You aren’t in the right state of mind

Tarot readings help us take a closer and clearer look at what is happening inside our lives and inside ourselves to help us better understand what is happening in the here and now, empowering us to make better decisions for the future.

Gaining this insight relies on pulling on the intuition of the reader and your own intuition in order to better understand what is happening. If your intuition has been compromised for some reason, this can interfere with your Tarot reading, sometimes leading to further confusion rather the clarity.

If something is clouding your mind, this can be a bad time to have a Tarot reading. The most common reason you might not be in the right state of mind for a reading is that you are very emotional or depressed. For example, in the wake of a heated argument with a loved one or colleague, if you are particularly hot tempered you might be seeing red, and this will interfere with your intuition. It is best to wait until the dust has settled before having a reading. If you are suffering from serious depression, which is clearly dust that just won’t settle, it is best to seek professional help to deal with this before consulting the Tarot.

For similar reasons it is best to avoid a reading when you are drunk or otherwise intoxicated. This similarly clouds your mind, and also limits your access to your intuition. While they say that your true feelings come out when you are drunk, you also just don’t have access to all your facilities. Without clear access to your intuition you are probably just wasting your time and money, not to mention damaging your relationship with your reader.

2. When you have already made up your mind

Tarot is about getting a new, deeper understanding of a situation to develop a new perspective. If you have already decided what a situation means, a Tarot reading will be of little help. Like being overly emotional, your certainty about what is happening or what an outcome will be will influence the accuracy of the reading. According to Numerology Sign, even if you can get an accurate reading, your stubbornness will limit your benefit from the reading.

To get the most of a Tarot reading you need to approach it with an open mind, letting yourself see new possibilities and opportunities. We aren’t talking about simply desiring a certain outcome, many of us have this desire a lot of the time, it is more a refusal to believe that a current situation may be different than what we assume, and that the outcomes of particular actions may be different that you desire.

You may not be happy with the information that you get in a reading, but you do need to take that information on board. It is with this information that you can make better decisions that make your desired outcome more likely.

3. When Tarot has become a crutch

While Tarot is there to help us make better decisions, and while it can help us when we are stuck to make a difficult decision, if you find that you have reached the point where you can’t make any decision without the assistance of Tarot, it is time to take a break.

Tarot helps us gain clearer access to our intuition, but our intuition is with us always and we should have a level of access to it at all times, helping us in the moment as needed. When you start to second guess the decisions that you make and need to double check them with the Tarot, you have become too dependent.

The philosophy of the Tarot is that you are the master of your destiny and take control of your world with the decisions that you made. If you sacrifice your personal power to the Tarot deck, it is no longer serving you.

A sign that you have become overly dependent on Tarot is when you think that Tarot is the best first response to situations like illness or threat, when your first call should be to a doctor or the police. You may want to get a reading later to better understand the situation, but a Tarot reading should never come before dealing with the practicalities of an emergency situation.

Conclusion

The other time you should consider at least delaying a reading is when you don’t get a good feeling from the Tarot reader. Not getting a good vibe from a reader does not mean that they are a bad person, or a bad reader, but that your energy is not compatible, at least not at this moment, which means that your reading will be less fruitful. This can mean that perhaps you should return at another time, or that you should find a different reader whose energy is more compatible with your own.

As Tarot is all about intuition, trust your intuition when it comes to when you should or shouldn’t have a reading.

Today I welcome guest blogger Christine Hirlehey to Tarot Notes. A tarot reader with many years of experience, Christine is co-owner of the spirituality website _Numerology Sign_.  Read on to learn about a number of tarot myths that are ripe for debunking!

Tarot Myths Debunked!

by Christine Hirlehey

While knowledge and understanding of Tarot is increasingly moving into mainstream culture, many myths about Tarot are also taking root. In the early 19^th century Tarot took on many esoteric characteristics, which have left the practice clouded in mystery. This is part of what makes Tarot interesting and draws people to it, but it can also be a barrier to engagement and understanding.

Let’s have a look at some of the most common, and most damaging, myths about Tarot.

Tarot reads the future

Tarot is often associated with the work of psychics, and Tarot cards are one of the tools that a clairvoyant may choose to use in order to help focus their psychic abilities, but this is not the main purpose of the Tarot deck, and you do not need to have particular psychic or clairvoyant skills to read Tarot.

Tarot is about better understanding what is happening in the here and how, both in the world around us and in our heads and hearts, by accessing our intuition. While it is certainly not the case that anyone can pick up a Tarot deck and pull out something meaningful on their first attempt, reading the Tarot is something anyone can do with practice and dedication. Everyone has intuition and the ability to access that intuition. Tarot is a tool to help focus that ability.

Your deck must be a gift

Many people believe that at least your first Tarot deck, if not all your decks, must be a gift. This reflects the idea that in some way the universe must invite you to read the Tarot. This myth is exactly that! If you have a strong feeling that Tarot is for you, or your gut tells you that you are drawn to Tarot, what other kind of invitation does the universe need to send?

Many of the occult aspects associated with Tarot were developed by the esoteric group known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn that was active in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. They may have said that your deck needed to be a gift in order to reinforce the idea that you needed to join the order, and pay the costs that were surely involved, in order to read Tarot. In other words, a recruitment drive!

In fact, picking your own Tarot deck can be an important part of starting a Tarot practice. There are many different decks out there, designed to appeal to the sensibilities and intuitions of many different people. If you purchase your own deck you have the luxury of exploring the different possibilities and finding the right fit for you.

You need to memorise all the cards before you use them

A standard tarot deck has 78 cards, each with multiple layers of meaning, which can transform depending on whether it is drawn with positive or negative (otherwise known as upright or reversed) connotations. Memorising the meanings for all the cards that are written in the guide book that comes with them is a daunting task! A great place to learn all the Tarot card meanings is Numerology Sign: https://numerologysign.com/tarot/card-meanings/

But it is not true that you need to know the meaning of all the cards off the top of your head before you start using them. While stopping to consult your book while doing a reading for a paying client might seem unprofessional, there is nothing stopping you from doing this when you are doing a reading for yourself or a friend.

Moreover, just memorising the information about the cards that comes in your guide isn’t enough to be a truly good Tarot reader.

The information in the guide that comes with your cards has been carefully put together by experienced Tarot readers based on collective experience gathered over a long period of time. It is useful information and should be respected. But, reading the Tarot is about accessing your intuition, and understanding what the card is telling you personally.

When starting out it is recommended to spend time with the cards individually. Draw one from the deck, read its meaning in the book, but then spend time looking at the card, see what it makes you think and feel. See which meanings in the guide book come through strongest for you and think about anything else the card tells you that isn’t in the book. These are the most important aspects of the cards for you and will probably come to mind most easily when you see the card again.

Beware the card of Death

The Death card in the Tarot deck has a bad reputation, mostly thanks to modern pop culture. However, the Death card is hardly ever an omen of physical death. The Death card is an indicator of change, often a change that a person needs and will leave them better off, but change rarely comes without some pain, and the Death card acknowledges that. As a symbol of transformation and renewal, the Death card can be highly reassuring.

Similarly, The Lovers card is not usually a sign of romantic love. The Lovers card is more attuned to ideas of finding balance, and practicing self-love, being complete within yourself without the need for another person.

The scariest card in the Tarot deck is the more subtly named Tower card. The appearance of the Tower in a reading usually means that we need to expect the unexpected, and that chaos, upheaval and destruction are on the horizon. This can be a symbol of death, divorce or financial ruin. It often heralds something that will shake you to your core, impacting on you mentally, physically and spiritually.

Tarot readers give a positive spin to keep their clients happy

While it is true that if you visit a professional Tarot reader, they will probably focus on the positive aspects of your reading, they aren’t doing this just to keep you happy and coming back.

Experienced Tarot readers have learned that just like with most things in life, mindset matters. For example, if you go into a job interview believing that you are unqualified and that the interviewers will see that and not give you the job, that is probably what will happen. However, what if you go into that job interview believing that you have what it takes to do the job well, even if you don’t have every piece of experience they asked for. What if you think that if you are the right fit for the job you will get it, and if not, you won’t get the job but will probably be better off and find something more suitable later. Whether you get the job or not, in a month or so, you are more likely to be in a good place than if you went in with the first mindset.

Tarot readers bring this same mindset to a reading. This is why when speaking to you they will suggest that you don’t ask questions like, will this new business venture succeed or fail, but rather questions like, what should I be doing at the moment to bring success into my life. In this way the reader focuses on helping you find ways to grow and reach your goals.

Circle of Life Tarot Reading

I recently gifted myself the beautiful and perfectly round Circle of Life Tarot, with artwork by Maria Distefano (Lo Scarabeo). I am taking it for a spin (round deck… spin… get it?) using an 8-card spread I found in The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot by Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger (Llewellyn Publications). The spread is called “Living with Uncertainty.”

The cards are laid out in a circle (of course!). Below are the positional definitions and the cards I drew into those positions:

(1) this is possible: QUEEN OF WANDS

With my Sagittarius Sun, I consider this card to be one of my significators, and in this deck, the appearance of a satyr evokes the idea of the centaur that represents the sign. This card is about creative focus and creative talents. The spirit of Fire is passionate, optimistic, and “active” or outward-directed. It is possible to be this Queen and to manifest her active energy.

(2) this is important: NINE OF SWORDS

Nightmares, anxiety, stress – these are important in the sense that they can distract or interfere with our lives, even when they are not based on real or serious threats.

(3) this is courageous: THE WHEEL (X)

It is courageous to understand, accept, and adapt to the cycles of our life, the ups and downs, ins and outs, times of plenty and times of want. Most courageous of all is to remain steady at the center of the wheel instead of letting fortunes or failures dictate how we feel and how we act.

(4) this is trivial: THE MAGICIAN (I)

Perhaps this is meant to suggest that feeling powerful, in control of every area of life, is not the most important thing. In fact, it may be the least important thing.

(5) this is necessary: NINE OF CHALICES

It is necessary to believe that wishes can come true and that we can accomplish great things of which we can be proud.

(6) this is lighthearted: SEVEN OF PENTACLES

I love that the instruction booklet (written by Bepi Vigna) describes the person on this card as “mischievous.” The card represents a bountiful harvest, gathering resources, and satisfaction from a job well done. A lighthearted celebration is in order!

(7) this is witty: ACE OF WANDS

A human baby forms a yin-yang shape with a baby bird within the womb of a single egg. The human baby holds a seedling. This is indeed a “witty” look at creation from an unusual perspective. The Ace, of course, is about beginnings – in this case, human, bird, and plant. All ready to be born. All ready to grow.

(8) this takes you farther: ACE OF CHALICES

The woman on this card seems to have no reservations or qualms about diving down into a shell that rises from the ocean. She trusts that she will be taken care of, that all will be well for her. Since this is the suit of emotions, we might say that she trusts her feelings or her “heart” to take her farther and deeper, without fear.

With three “ones,” a “ten,” and two “nines,” I get a strong impression of ending and beginning, a turning point, the end of one cycle or stage and the beginning of a new cycle of stage. Led by the Queen of Wands, the cards turn and spin in a dance of fire, air, earth, and water.

Ultimate Happiness with the Shadowscapes Tarot

It’s been awhile since I visited with my Shadowscapes Tarot deck created by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and published by Llewellyn Publications. To read my interview with this gorgeous deck, click HERE.

I am using a spread called “Ultimate Happiness” from the Complete Book of Tarot Spreads by Evelin Burger and Johannes Fiebig (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.)

(1) This is what you will get rid of

EIGHT OF CUPS

Like the “Seeker of the Seas” shown on this card, I will get rid of the weariness and demands and weight of the material world, turning away and disengaging, swimming serenely down, deeper into the sea of spirituality. The woman on the card holds onto one chalice, allowing the others to float away, which tells me I will get rid of emotional ties to many things, keeping only what is important and necessary.

(2) This is what you will accomplish

QUEEN OF WANDS

I will accomplish a reunion with my true identity and nature, the skills and abilities and personality of the Queen of Wands. I will experience the calm assurance of this fiery Queen, her exuberance in life.

(3) This goes with it

THE HANGED MAN

What goes with this is surrender and emotional release, giving up control in order to gain a new perspective or perception of the world. Willingly, I give up the part of my Self that is bound to the material world and the narrow view I have held of life.

(4) This will bring you luck

PAGE OF SWORDS

What will bring me luck is heeding the message of the Page of Swords to rid my eyes of “the clouded haze of too much daylight, and to see the path that the nocturnal guidance of the sky offers.” I can look to the stars for guidance as I fly through the skies in the company of swans, freed from the restraints of an earth-bound life.

(5) You will still be confronted with this

THE EMPEROR

Even with all of the deep-sea diving and flying through the air, I will still be confronted with the need for order and control at some level in certain situations. I cannot completely reject the need for structure and stability. I will need to work with or deal with power and authority, whether given to me or to others.

(6) This solution as a blessing

TEMPERANCE

The solution and blessing comes in the form of moderation of extremes and the balance of opposing forces to create unity, harmony, and healing. The blending and balance of the elements – Earth, Fire, Water, Air – creates power that is much stronger than the strength of any one element alone. Physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental energies are wielded to a single purpose.

The Queen of Wands and Temperance are cards that I and others associate with my Sun sign, the Fire sign Sagittarius.

Temperance appears in my interview with this deck in the position “What are your strengths as a deck?” I wrote the following lines to represent that card:

In a single, simple circle

Are both Yin and Yang

Swirling, curling, giving and taking from each other.

I share with you the power of opposites perfectly balanced,

Of dragons blue and yellow,

Mixed and mingled,

Flowing into a lavender sky.

New Year's Spread

I really love the spread Helen Howell designed for a New Year’s reading, so I am going to use it with my newest deck, a Christmas gift: Spirit Within Tarot by Steven Bright (REDFeather).

I did make one change to the spread, using just one card in positions 3, 4, and 5 instead of three cards for each of those positions.

_NEW YEAR’S SPREAD _

Designed by Helen Howell

Card 1: What appears to be the overall energy that surrounds you in the New Year?

Card 2: How can you make this year successful for you?

***

How can you make the best of your:

Cards 3: Health?

Cards 4: Career/work/job

Cards 5: Romantic Relationships? (or Relationships in general?)

Card 6: What one thing this year do you really need to change in your life?

Card 7: Based on the above cards, what is the overall outlook for the New Year?

* * * * *

Card 1: What appears to be the overall energy that surrounds you in the New Year?

NINE OF PENTACLES – “Personal achievement, satisfaction, independence, solitude”

I like this card very much as an indication of overall energy surrounding me in the New Year. I look forward to having a sense of security and awareness of my accomplishments to date.

Card 2: How can you make this year successful for you?

SEVEN OF PENTACLES – “Assessment, disappointment, evaluation, new options.”

It seems clear that I can make this year successful by continually assessing and evaluating what I am doing, facing and coping with disappointments when they arise, and actively considering new options. Even though the overall energy is that of satisfaction and achievement, I will still need to keep up with what is happening and how things are going.

How can you make the best of your:

Card 3: Health?

TEN OF WANDS – “Burdens, feeling overwhelmed or tired, duties.”

This rings so true for me, as I do find that I feel tired or fatigued on a regular basis. I know that I have always had a tendency to carry burdens that I don’t have to carry. I take my duties seriously, even when they are self-imposed (Virgo rising, Taurus Moon), and I need to be more careful about how I let this affect me.

Card 4: Career/work/job

SIX OF WANDS – “Success, recognition, awards, fame.”

Well, I have to like this, especially when combined with the Nine of Pentacles as overall energy for the year. I have more than one “career” and it will be fun to discover which one(s) will “take off” in 2018.

Card 5: Romantic Relationships? (or Relationships in general?)

FOUR OF WANDS – “Formal celebration, security, achievements, parties.”

Celebrating my relationships and the sense of security they bring sounds like a great idea to me. I don’t go to many (if any) parties, but just getting together now and then with friends or family can be a party of sorts.

Card 6: What one thing this year do you really need to change in your life?

FIVE OF WANDS – “Struggle, competition, different opinions, conflicting ideas.”

I think the message here is that I need to struggle less, compete less, and not take different opinions or conflicting ideas so much to heart. I need to ask myself, “Does this really matter?” when I feel that tendency to get upset or stressed out.

Card 7: Based on the above cards, what is the overall outlook for the New Year?

SEVEN OF WANDS – “Opposition, defense, courage, standing up for yourself.”

Well, in spite of all the success and accomplishment energy shown in previous cards, it does seem that I may come up against someone or something that requires me to defend myself and to stand my ground. I feel this “opposition” could come from outside or from within, as shown by the Five of Wands above. The Seven of Wands indicates that I am at an advantage, and I need to remember that. If I do have to fight, I am in a good position to do so successfully.

All Pentacles and Wands for 2018! I don’t see anything here that seems out of character or “outlandish” for me. It all makes a lot of sense.