Week at a Glance: The High Priestess

The purpose of drawing a "Week at a Glance" card is to get a sense of the sort of energy, circumstances, or personal qualities I might need to be aware of during the upcoming week.

For the week of January 27 2013, I am using the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, illustrated by Yury Shakov (U.S. Games Systems Inc.)

My card is:   THE HIGH PRIESTESS, reversed

My first reaction is that I am apparently dealing with energy at a "higher" or "deeper" level this week. I view Major Arcana cards like The High Priestess as symbolizing significant aspects of our sojourn through life.

Secondly, to me, The High Priestess is about wisdom, perception, intuition, hidden knowledge, and spiritual awareness or enlightenment. The element I associate with this card is Water. Astrologically, in the Golden Dawn system, this card is linked with the Moon.

Reversed, The High Priestess can suggest a situation in which no clear answers are available, or indicate an inability to see and understand something at more than a superficial level. My intuition may be hindered or clouded in some way. I may fail to perceive the deeper truth or complete truth about someone or something. The reversed High Priestess might also suggest that I am having trouble keeping something a secret or having difficulty "keeping my own counsel." There is a saying where I live: "You don't have to tell everything you know." Perhaps The High Priestess reversed is reminding me of this. I will think twice when I am tempted to share knowledge that perhaps would best be kept hidden.

REVIEW: Resonance Oracle Cards

R E V I E W

  Resonance Oracle Cards
by Dara Caplan
Schiffer Publishing
Boxed Set: 40 cards, 96-page paperback guidebook
ISBN-10: 0764341383 / ISBN-13: 978-0764341380

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

I am naturally attracted to the type of dark, mysterious images that dominate this deck. I find the card titles -- such as Relocation, Sensual Being, Spellbound, Musical Movement, Mind Pieces -- intriguing. Dara Caplan tells us that she channeled these messages and art, and I find that easy to believe. The titles and images are unusual and clearly not in conformation with any sort of "oracle template."

Because the images are dark, they encourage the reader to get very close to the card, to peer into it so as not to miss anything that might be important.

I like the combination of a narrative discussion of each card with bullet points that suggest activity or behavioral options. For example, the Alternate meanings for the card titled Out of the Box are:

• Love yourself and all your beautiful facets.
• Your creativity is the key.
• Be true to you and all will work out.
• Free yourself!

This truly is a deck I can recommend for beginners as well as seasoned readers because it doesn't require previous experience or familiarity with a particular tradition or set of symbols. It encourages the use of intuition and subconscious association from the reader and/or client.

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY
Find answers for all your deepest questions including the emotional, mental, and spiritual guidance allowing you to find your own path of joy, peace, balance, and wisdom. Messages also embrace nuances of physical reality, such as technology and lines of communication. Author/artist Dara Caplan channeled the messages and art, and includes the power of intent in order to give you the best experience possible. The images and meanings do not discriminate between gender or type; the animals, magical beings, people, and plants of this world are all honored as special beings in the artwork. The 40 beautiful images reflect life's truths – there are some cards that are surreal and dream-like, and some that are romantic or dramatic. While each is different, they all are on black backgrounds, and have warmth and light to balance the shadows – the warmth of memories, or soft light of new beginnings. Through this magical oracle, find your own path that resonates deep inside you.

BASIC INFORMATION

"Dara Caplan has been channeling and doing other spiritual work for many years. As an energy worker seeking peace and balance, she knows that there are many people seeking the same, and she considers it her privilege to pass on these messages of wisdom." (from the guidebook)

Caplan tells us that these cards are designed for beginners as well as experienced users. She stresses that they work on the Law of Attraction and therefore, a card that falls out while shuffling is a deliberate message. She also advises readers to clear any previous energy from the deck before using it. "To do this," she writes, "all you need do is hold the deck (preferably in your left/receiving hand), and, making a fist with the other, gently knock or slap the deck with your intentions to clear it in your mind." Specific instructions are given for "making these cards your own."

For each card, the guidebook provides a paragraph containing the interpretation, plus Alternate meanings. Cards are illustrated in black and white in the guidebook.

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards and book are packaged in an illustrated storage box with hinged lid and magnetic closure. The cards are approximately 3 1/2″ x 5″ and oriented in landscape mode, with solid borders in coordinating colors, from navy blue to deep violet to sepia to terra cotta to dark teal green.

Card titles appear at the bottom of each card in a color that contrasts with or complements the border.

Card backs depict (as best I can tell) a feather, acorn, rosebud, and a blue, roundish item that could be a jewel. On either side is a branch with a few leaves sprouting from it.

The card stock is sturdy and glossy, and the self-bound guidebook has a sturdy, glossy cover. Two lined pages for Notes are provided at the back of the book.

ART

The images are dark with an infrequent burst of color -- for example, the red-orange glow of the "Sun" portion of the Sun & Moon card and the golden-orange flames on the Ancestral Legacy card. Green, teal, and turquoise make an occasional appearance as well. It is possible that someone who has poor vision might have trouble seeing these images well.

The predominant mood in these images is deep and dreamy, surreal, and dramatic -- with a sense of mystery and hidden meanings.

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.

Week at a Glance: The Lovers

The purpose of drawing a "Week at a Glance" card is to get a sense of the sort of energy, circumstances, or personal qualities I might need to be aware of during the upcoming week.

For the week of January 20, 2013, I am using the Tarot of Reincarnation by Massimiliano Filadoro (Lo Scarabeo).

My card is:
The Lovers (Trump VI)

Reincarnation Tarot (Lo Scarabeo)

This is another unconventional Tarot deck, as you can obviously see. The image on Trump VI is a butterfly and the words "The Lovers" are nowhere in sight -- except they do appear in the Little White Book (LWB) that accompanies the deck.

When I look at this image, I notice the wings: two identical (or seemingly identical) halves, each contributing to the butterfly's ability to do what it does. Filadoro writes: "The bridge between one's inner essence and the collective psyche is the feeling of love." It's as if one wing represents my inner essence and the other represents the collective psyche -- with the butterfly's body as the bridge in between.

Traditionally the butterfly symbolizes spiritual rebirth, and Filadoro mentions this in the LWB. (And notice the use of the color green in this image, commonly representing growth or fertility.)

In the traditional Lovers card, we often see a man trying to choose between two women: one representing virtue and the other, vice. As with many Tarot cards, this can be seen as an inner struggle or dilemma, a need to find unity between two polarities within oneself .

During the upcoming week, I may be faced with a choice or choices that go deeper than whether to have coffee or tea with breakfast. I may be more aware than usual of the importance of connecting my "inner essence" with the "collective psyche." If I succeed, the result may well be a type of "spiritual rebirth."

This is Trump Six, a number that I view as indicating reconciliation, integration, reciprocity, communication, resolution of tensions, an understanding of what is real and what is illusion, morality, and social responsibilities. Lots of possibilities there!

Excuse me while I go check out that butterfly bush in my front yard!

Helen's Quarterly Forecast Spread

I'm very pleased once again to turn the blog over to Helen Howell as she takes my Quarterly Forecast spread for a spin using the Wonderland Tarot (Christopher Abbey, Morgana Abbey, John Tenniel / U.S. Games Systems).


 

Helen's Cards from The Wonderland Tarot

The 1st Quarter - Jan-March - Queen of Flamingos - (Swords)

It does seem to me that this first quarter of the year will, it appears, see me sorting the wheat from the chaff and being in more control to make the right decisions for myself. This Queen’s energy will help me build the stable foundation I need in order to progress further. This card is a no. 13 and breaks down to 4 the number of stability, structure and material completion. I guess what I will be doing in the first quarter is using my reason and logic based on past experience to build myself a better future.

The 2nd Quarter - April-June - Two of Peppermills (Wands)

This does look like I’ll be thinking about my next move, what I’ve achieved and what next I want to achieve. I think this could apply to my creative side. It indicates a time of visualisation and striking a balance or compromise between that creativity and my spiritual side. What will work the best for me? How do I approach it to achieve the best possible result? A no. 2 card shows the duality that exists, maybe thoughts/feelings, but also suggests unity in the form of co-operation, balance and choice.

The 3rd Quarter - July-Sep - Five of Flamingos (Swords)

There could be in this quarter some difficulty in translating my ideas into a reality. Perhaps this is a time where I will need to consider and acknowledge my own limitations and try to work with them so that they don’t block my way. I also think that if I am not careful in these three months I could find myself somewhat isolated. I need to understand my thinking process in order to avoid this happening. This is a no. 5 card, a number that often symbolises conflict, struggles and challenges. But I have also found that it offers one the opportunity to change or shift direction. It really is a case of knowing the limitations of one’s situation and working within them.

The 4th Quarter - Oct.-Dec - The Chariot

Interesting as this is my _Lessons for the Year_ card also. It is a different image of the Chariot from most. I get the feeling that in order to keep progressing forward, this quarter needs me to pay attention to the small details so that I do not overlook any opportunity that may exist. This last three months cautions me to move forward carefully so that I don’t rush off in one direction without being able to see where it will end up. This is a no.7 card, the number of insight, wisdom and personal growth -- again a number that asks us to reflect and accept those limitations that exists for us individually. I think this last quarter will see me more confident, having gained a better understanding of myself and how to express that.

The Quintessence card*, representing the overall influence, energy or message for the year is the Hermit. It seems this will be a year of contemplation and reflection for me, in order to understand what is really important and what is not.

An interesting year ahead that seems to reflect my Year Card and the lessons that need to be mastered in my personal journey.

* The Quintessence card is derived by adding the numerical value of the other four cards, then reducing that value until you get the number of a Major Arcana card. The Quintessence card represents the overall influence, energy, or message for the year.