Will she get the job?

I’m doing this Lenormand reading for a friend who is interested in a particular job for which she is highly qualified. There are always other factors involved in hiring, of course. Let’s see if the cards can give us an idea of how likely she is to get this job.

I am using the French Cartomancy deck (Lo Scarabeo). Cards from a red suit indicate a "yes"or “very likely” answer, whereas cards from a black suit indicate "no" or “not likely.”

5 ( 7 of HEARTS - Yes)
17 (Queen of HEARTS - Yes)
24 (Jack of HEARTS - Yes)

Very encouraging indeed!

The TREE is often about a trusted friend – in this case, perhaps a reference to several influential friends who are putting in a good word on my friend’s behalf. The STORK) speaks of patience, which my friend certainly has, as she has been job hunting for quite a long time now. Finally, we have the HEART, signifying family happiness and fulfilled wishes.

I like Sylvie Steinbach’s interpretation of the Tree + Stork = birth, recovery, healing; and Stork + Heart = good intentions, next step in a relationship.

Some very upbeat vibes coming from these cards, so it will be interesting to see what happens!

Ostara 2016

Yes, I’m a bit late with this, I know. Ostara annually falls on the date of the spring equinox, which was March 20 this year. Nevertheless, operating on the better-late-than-never theory, I am resurrecting (!) a spread I designed for Ostara back in 2012.

The name “Ostara” comes from Eostre, the Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Her symbols are the egg that represents rebirth and the hare that represents fertility. I designed a Tarot spread based on an Easter egg, which I colored myself in The Print Shop:

This year I am using the Chrysalis Tarot by Toney Brooks with paintings by Holly Sierra (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) with the following positional definitions for the cards:

(1) The path to physical rebirth
(2) The path to emotional rebirth
(3) The path to spiritual rebirth
(4) The path to mental rebirth
(5) The new (reborn) me

(1) The path to physical rebirth
TEN OF MIRRORS (Cups) – Keyword: Peace
The suit of Mirrors represents nourishment and love. The rainbow dove of peace leads me on the path to physical rebirth with a new cycle that includes emotional fulfillment in the present cycle. The connection between emotional and physical health is abundantly clear. It’s time to let things go, to let things be, to stop trying to control it all.

(2) The path to emotional rebirth
NINE OF SPIRALS (Wands) – Keyword: Perseverance
The suit of Spirals represents passion and personal growth. The circling ravens on this card represent energies of change as the ancient wind-blower Aeolus (Captain of the Four Winds) sends gently spiraling winds in my direction, gently nudging me along the path to emotional rebirth. By persevering, not giving up, my efforts will see success. There is a need for will power, determination, and confidence.

(3) The path to spiritual rebirth
SEVEN OF STONES (Pentacles/Coins) – Keyword: Regret
The suit of Stones is the suit of happiness and prosperity. On the Seven we see the maiden Syrinx reflecting on her choices and the rewards they may bring. Whatever regrets I may have concerning previous spiritual path(s) need to be “tossed into the river” so that I can continue on the path to spiritual rebirth. Let the healing begin.

(4) The path to mental rebirth
THREE OF SCROLLS (Swords) – Keyword: Rejection
The suit of Scrolls is the suit of intuition and clarity, two things that certainly would contribute to mental rebirth. The Three of Scrolls is about the pain of letting go. This card invites me to visualize a rainbow’s violet band of light, as this color vibration connects me to the Otherworld’s unseen purposes. My old state of mind and perspective may be based on rejection, betrayal, or broken promises, times of difficulty and sadness. I need to leave all of that behind before I can move toward mental rebirth.

(5) The new (reborn) me
GOLDEN FLOWER (Temperance, Trump 14)
I am delighted to see a Major Arcana card in this position. As I drew the cards, I was thinking that would make the most sense. Not only that, but this is Temperance, the card associated in many systems with my Sun sign, Sagittarius. In this deck Temperance is a Golden Flower representing harmony and meditation. The fish on the card portray “active restoration of balance through appreciation and acceptance, as opposed to resistance and resignation.” Butterflies join in as symbols of “energy radiation outward as evolving consciousness” (the butterfly is also a common symbol of rebirth!) By following the messages of the preceding cards in this reading, I can draw ever nearer to a “rebirth” that is based on conscious awareness, along with an ability to accept the natural ebb and flow of life’s ups and downs.

The first thing I notice about this group of cards is that it includes all four suits/elements plus the Major Arcana. The clearly show how physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are interconnected and rely on each other to create a harmonious whole person.

The fifth card was so perfect, it took my breath away. I will be referring back to this reading often!

Tarot – Lenormand Q & A (1)

I thought it might be fun to play a little “Question-and-Answer” game in which the Tarot asks a question and the Lenormand cards give an answer. Then, for the last step, I will add the Lenormand card numbers together, reduce the total numerically, and use the resulting Tarot card number as “further insight.”

Today I am using The Book of Shadows Tarot  - As Above by Barbara Moore (Lo Scarabeo) and Shaheen’s Tattered Nomad Oracle, a Lenormand style deck.

Our QUESTION is from Trump 0, The Summerlands (The Fool):

Book of Shadows Tarot (Lo Scarabeo)

“What do I need to keep in mind as I begin a journey into the unknown?”

Our ANSWER is:

Shaheen's Tattered Nomad Oracle

The Moon (32) … The Mountain (21) … The Coffin (8)

I love the way the names of these three cards roll off the tongue like the title of a novel I can’t wait to read: The Moon, The Mountain, and The Coffin.

As I begin a journey into the unknown, I need to keep in mind the way my emotions, intuition, and hidden talents (Moon) will assist me in meeting and overcoming obstacles, challenges, or opposition (Mountain) as I undergo this life change, this ending and beginning rolled into one (Coffin).

Taken together, these three (32 + 21 + 8) add up to 61, which reduces to 7: The Chariot.

Book of Shadows Tarot (Lo Scarabeo)

Further Insight: I can help myself along this journey by creating change and being change, even as I move through change, by taking conscious action that leads to transformation.

Old English Tarot: 2 of Coins

In today's blog entry, Helen Howell continues her exploration of cards from the Old English Tarot by Maggie Kneen (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

Old English Tarot

Two of Coins

by Helen Howell

Rider-Waite Tarot

The Old English depiction of the 2 of Coins does not speak as clearly to me as its more traditional brother the Rider Waite.  In the Rider Waite we see a figure balancing two coins which appear to run around a never-ending loop shaped in a figure eight. Behind him we see choppy seas upon which a sail boat rides. We are left in no doubt with this image that the message it is delivering is one of movement, and shifting energy as seen in the choppy sea. This image speaks to us of the need to handle various factors in life, remember it’s Pentacles and that relates to the tangible, in order to make a success of them.

However, in the Old English we see a ship on a calm river, sailing away, at least it looks like that to me, from a village/town. The water has hardly a ripple in it and the boat is making very little headway. This can suggest a lack of movement, some difficulty in getting something off the ground. Even though this image is very different from the Rider Waite, it does reflect the idea of the need to handle various factors in life in order to get them running smoothly. For example, the people who set sail should have first checked the wind factor. After all it is a sail boat! Maybe they needed to make sure there were some oars aboard. But I do get the feeling with this card that it speaks more of difficulties rather than of movement.

LWB: Difficulties in launching new projects, difficult situations arise, worry.
Reversed: Able to handle matters, a letter