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