Into the Mystic

In search of a perfect chicken salad...

2010-07-03T13:40:00.003-04:00

Chicken salad is one of my favorite summer treats, but they all taste so different, and many do not appeal to me at all.

I found this recipe in the July issue of Southern Living magazine, and it is absolutely amazing! (I've altered it a bit to suit my taste - it's excellent!)

3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
1 cup green seedless grapes, quartered
1 diced red delicious apple
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup diced celery
3/4 cup mayonnaisse
1/2 cup honey mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Passions...

2010-07-03T13:26:00.002-04:00

Well, it's taken me longer than I imagined to get settled in here, and get back on track. Work and life tends to get in the way at times, and it's easy to lose sight of the things that ground and center you - the things that make you truly happy.

We've been through so many changes over the past few months! All of them are welcome, and each and every one of them have made our lives better, but it doesn't always seem that way at the time that you are going through the transitional period. I find I've left some things behind, or pushed them onto the back burner, and it's time to bring them back to the front.

I am a simple person. I do not need alot to make me happy. My family is the most important thing in the world to me, followed by my cat, and my hobbies. When life gets hectic, the hobbies always seem to get pushed aside, and they are such a huge part of who I am that it really affects me in a negative way.

So, I've decided to transform this blog to include all of my passions in life.

Cooking is right up there with tarot for me, and there isn't much that makes me any happier than spending time in the kitchen, preparing a meal for those that I love. I thought it would be nice to share a recipe here now and then.

We are also preparing to resume fish keeping, something we both have missed terribly. We are searching for decent stock at this point, and plan to start back breeding and selling African cichlids. This area is sorely lacking in aquatic pets, and it's something we both truly enjoy doing.

And, of course, there will always be my tarot cards...I recently acquired two new decks - Shadowscapes by Stephanie Pui Mun Law, and Heart of Faerie Oracle by Brian and Wendy Froud. Both are amazing, but I've barely found time to work with them.

So, right now, it's about focus and passion, grounding and centering, and getting back to basics!

Lost in Space!

2010-02-25T23:54:00.002-05:00

Well, the move has taken more out of me than I anticipated, but I'm slowly getting things back to normal!

We left southern Ontario on February 3rd and arrived in Kentucky on February 4th. It has been a busy few weeks, trying to get settled in and both of us looking for jobs at the same time.

This week has been the first opportunity I've had to get back into my regular tarot readings. I hope to return to posting them soon!

Gypsy Magic spread

2010-01-27T23:02:00.002-05:00

This spread was done for a friend of my daughter. She just requested a general spread, so I automatically chose my favourite, a 21 card Gypsy spread.

I chose the Paulina Tarot for the reading, but I somehow goofed up the pic of the actual spread.

Column A represents her emotional state of mind.

The cards in this column were the Queen of Wands, The Star, and the Six of Cups.

I truly believe the Queen of Wands represents her. She is a woman who is very passionate about everything in life - someone who is competent and career minded, and always the life of the party. The Star is a very positive card. In this reading, and focusing on her emotional state, it's pointing out that she has difficulty accepting help from others. She's had alot of trauma in the past, and it's changed her way of thinking. She tends to think she's on her own, and that's not true. She may even be a bit depressed, but this is not something to worry about. Her true nature is to be hopeful and optimistic, and that will counteract those 'down' times. She knows that things are going to be okay again. She just needs to be aware that it is okay to accept help now and then!

She tends to reminisce and can be a bit nostalgic, and there isn't anything wrong with that. But she wants to make sure she doesn't dwell in the past too much!

Column B represents her home life, or her life outside of work.

The cards in this column were The World, Nine of Pentacles, and Page of Pentacles.

She feels as if she's stuck in a rut right now. She doesn't like change, at least not the kind of changes she's been through lately. She feels like things aren't coming to a satisfactory conclusion - there are areas she needs closure in. Her home life feels kind of stagnant to her. She needs to step back and take a look at things. There are changes that need to be made, and these changes will be very good for her. She needs to realize that she can rely on herself, and not be afraid to do just that. She's stronger than she knows. If she can make the necessary changes and begin to trust in herself and believe in her self worth, she will find a happiness and contentment that she hasn't known in quite some time. (These changes all seem to involve new living arrangements and redecorating!) There is also a very strong indication that her financial situation is going to improve. I get the impression that she is considering some sort of business venture on her own or in addition to her current job. Somehow, an opportunity is going to arise to increase her income.

Column C represents her present desires, hopes and questions.

The cards were the Ten of Cups, Two of Swords, and Eight of Cups.

These cards are very strong in relation to her family and emotions. They are all about love, personal values, shared happiness, and fulfilling relationships. These things are very important to her. There are some things in her past that she's really working on leaving behind. It's going to happen! She shouldn't let these things reflect on her future choices. She needs to let the past go. Again, these cards also point to a change in residence.

She's feeling uncertain about which way to go right now - there's a choice she needs to make and she's having a hard time deciding whether to go with her head or her heart. She needs to ask herself what she really wants...Let this one choice be all about her - that's not something she usually does.

Column D represents her current expectations.

The cards were the Ace of Wands, Ten of Swords, and Four of Wands.

She wants a new life. She wants to feel optimistic again. She wants new experiences. She wants to stop being sad. She has something she really wants to let go of. She wants the worse to be over, and it is! And, once again, she wants a new home, because this is part of her new beginning.

Column E represents what she does not expect / what surprises her.

The cards were the Five of Swords, The Emperor, and the Ten of Wands.

Someone around her may begin to act in a negative or destructive manner. They cannot be trusted. I believe it is a teenager, or a very young adult. She needs to be careful not to let them pull anything over on her.

She must also be careful not to bite off more than she can chew! It's easy to take on too much at once, and the only person who can control this is her. I feel like this is work related, and may interfere with her personal life if she isn't careful.

There is a man who is very controlling and very rational. I can't tell whether this is someone she already knows, or someone she has yet to meet, but I really think she already knows him. He's very blunt and direct, and really likes to be in charge. (Maybe someone she works with, but it may be something involved in the legal system.) He will give her very good advice and be a major help to her in making important decisions.

Column F represents her immediate future.

The cards were The Fool, Five of Cups, and Queen of Cups.

She is going to start this new phase of her life out with lots of enthusiasm. She's getting a fresh start and she's going to sense alot of changes in herself. She has endured some intense emotional pain, but that's going to end as she moves forward with her life. An old friend or lover from her past may make an appearance, and this will be a very good thing for her emotionally. There is a strong female figure in her life who is going to play a significant role in the near future events. I can't say for sure, but this may be someone she's just met recently, or are about to meet. She'll be nurturing and compassionate and very in tune with her, and she will become a very dear friend.

Column G represents the outcome and long term prospects for her.

The cards were the Ace of Pentacles, Six of Pentacles, and Death.

She will see many changes - she's going through some major transformation. Financially, she's going to see significant improvements. She's also going to meet someone (she may already know them) who will be an amazing partner for her, and make her very happy. The relationship will be secure and very sensual. Her health is going to be very good!

3 card daily draw - Thursday, Jan. 28th

2010-01-27T22:58:00.004-05:00

This is my personal 3 card daily draw done with the Circle of Life Tarot. It's nice to see some different cards for a change! I am really enjoying working with these cards!

The Moon
Knight of Chalices
Two of Swords

Today, I need to be both passive and receptive, and heed my intuition, most importantly. An important event may occur today that will touch me on an emotional level. It will be easy for me to become overwhelmed today, and indecisiveness may be an issue.

5 card Trend reading

2010-01-27T22:46:00.003-05:00

This reading was requested by a friend who is trying to make a choice in her career. I chose to use the Circle of Life tarot for this reading. The spread is a simple 5 card spread. This is a follow up reading to one I did for her several months ago.

Card 1 represents what she has at this time.

Five of Pentacles

She's disappointed, and she feels as if she is missing out on something. Right now, she's feeling left out in the cold.

Card 2 represents what she is looking for.

Five of Swords

She may be having difficulty admitting her limitations and viewing things realistically at this time. She wants someone to tell her what she should do, but this is a situation that she really needs to work through on her own.

Card 3 represents what she should do career wise.

Seven of Wands

Teaching and writing are very good choices for her at this point in time. This would also be a good time for her to consider furthering her education, to allow herself more options.

Card 4 represents what she really wants.

Knave of Chalices

She'd like to cultivate some hidden talents - this is something artistic or creative, but something she hasn't really given much attention in the past. There is a project she has been considering starting, and now is a very good time to do this. I'm getting a strong sense of teaching again, or possibly writing children's books.

Card 5 represents what is important for her now.

Two of Pentacles

Right now, her priority is to relieve the financial balancing act she's having to deal with. She may need to take on two jobs in order to bring things under control, but this will be a temporary thing.

3 Card daily draw - Wednesday, January 27th

2010-01-26T19:49:00.003-05:00

This daily draw was done with the Circle of Life Tarot by Maria Distefano. This is a new tarot deck, and this was my first time using it. It's a round deck, and the art is mesmerizing. I think I'm going to like it alot!

The Devil
Eight of Cups
Three of Cups

I need to work on controlling my negativity. This is very important at this time. I know that the reason I am having problems with this is because we have had so many problems with this entire immigration ordeal, and it's very hard for me to believe that things are finally going our way. I will work on this. The Eight of Cups is making an appearance for 3 days in a row...I am leaving an unhappy unsatisfying situation and moving on to something new. It's time to allow myself to be happy about it and prepare to celebrate! Good times and good fortune are ahead!

Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis

2010-01-25T23:48:00.002-05:00

If I could only have one book on tarot meanings, this would be the one I would have.

It's a 322 page softcover book chocked full of information. The author is teacher and psychiatrist, and has a profound knowledge of all things tarot.

The book includes upright and reversed meanings, along with keywords for each card. The author has a wonderful sense of humour, and presents the meanings in a way that even a beginner can understand and relate to.

He also goes into considerable depth regarding the different suits, as well as numerology and astrological associations to the cards.

This is a perfect book for those just getting started in tarot, but it's also very well respected by adept tarot readers.

The Giant Book of Card Divination - 130 New and Traditional Techniques by Jeanne Ruland

2010-01-25T23:36:00.003-05:00

This is an excellent book for readers who are looking for a wide variety of tarot spreads, especially for those who like to incorporate more than one deck into a spread. All of the spreads Ms. Ruland provides can be done with a single deck, but she gives detailed information on using multiple decks for the spreads she provides in the book.

This is a 288 page softcover book. She provides Oracle Technique spreads, spreads for clarification and decision making, relationship and partnership spreads, career and finance spreads, health (chakra) spreads, health (Elemental) spreads, self knowledge and healing spreads, life spreads for use throughout the varying stages of your life by age / time spans, themes of life spreads (birthday, expecting parents, death, grief, etc.), Feng Shui spreads, Festivities of the year spreads (Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, etc.), Nature spirit spreads (Elemental, angels, Gods & Goddesses, etc.), Hermetic Principles, and other miscellaneous spreads. They are all very original and thought provoking.

This is definitely an excellent addition to any tarot readers' library!

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary K. Greer

2010-01-25T23:18:00.003-05:00

This book is too amazing NOT to do a review for.

Mary K. Greer brings almost 40 years of tarot experience, and has a wonderful view of intuitive reading. She is both an author and a teacher, and her tarot techniques that she provides in her books will alter the way you view tarot reading forever.

This is a 310 page book that provides exactly what the title implies...21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card!

The book is filled with activities / excercises for both the beginner and the adept reader, and the activities are thought provoking and highly beneficial for those who are interested in fine tuning their intuitive reading abilities.

All you need is the book, a journal for the activities / excercises, and your favourite tarot deck. I would strongly recommend using one that is fully illustrated / scenic, including the minor cards.

I assure you that you will not be disappointed! I am thoroughly enjoying going through the excercises with my Legacy of the Divine Deck by Ciro Marchetti. I plan on doing it with all of my favourite decks. I highly recommend it for beginning tarot readers and experienced readers alike!

Gypsy Magic Spread

2010-01-25T23:13:00.003-05:00

This is a 21 card Gypsy spread that I did as a general reading for a friend. I chose the Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza. There are 7 columns, consisting of 3 cards each. Each column is assigned a 'question', and the cards are combined to tell a story.

Column A: Your emotional state of mind

Nine of Swords
Four of Swords
Two of Pentacles

You're anxious and stressed out about something, but that's pretty normal after having a major surgery like you just had. The anesthesia can affect your nervous system, and it may take a bit for you to start to feel like yourself again. You should be focusing on resting and recharging yourself at this point.

You are juggling something, and this is adding to your stress. Are you trying too hard to make everyone else happy and making yourself miserable in the process? Try just going with the flow, and don't worry so much about everyone else. Sometimes, it's okay for it to really be 'all about you'. Now is one of those times!

Column B - Your home life

The World
Ace of Cups
Death

It's really good, isn't it? It hasn't always been that way, and for a very long time, it was tumultuous and stormy. But now, you've come full circle and luck is on your side. You feel emotionally renewed, and this is very nourishing for you on a spiritual level. You're also experiencing love on many different levels right now, and having feelings you've never had before. You are completely blessed with love and happiness. It's as if you are experiencing a rebirth of sorts, and you know that things are never going to be the same for you again.

Column c - Your present desires, hopes and questions.

Three of Cups
Justice
Page of Cups

You are really feeling overly emotional right now, aren't you? Everything is going so well. You can't believe it can possibly continue this way, but you are hoping that it will. The Three of Cups is a great indication that all will be well iwth your health and your recovery. You want to maintain the calm and balance that you have in your life right now. You're having some feelings and emotions that you really need to lay on the table - I would suggest putting a pen to paper and writing a good old fashioned love letter, straight from the heart. There is also something on your mind regarding teaching, or education of some sort, and I'm very certain this involves children. This is something you feel you have to do.

Column D - Your expectations at this time

Five of Swords
Seven of Pentacles
Six of Cups

You're concerned over someone who is behaving in a destructive manner - I cannot tell whether this is you or somoene else, but I really think they are very close to you. Don't give your trust to just anyone. Someone may be working against you, and it is out of jealousy. I believe this to be a female. You are proud of how far you've come spiritually, but you are also impatient and frustrated - you don't see the proof of your hard work yet. There is still so much to learn! Take your time. There is no rush. You'll enjoy the journey more if you don't hurry through it. The past haunts you. Have you done everything you can to work your way through it? It's going to be very important that you deal with the things that haunt you in the proper way, hon. That way, you can move forward anad have the life you want and deserve.

Column E - What you do not expect / what surprises you

The High Priestess
The Devil
King of Swords

The time is going to come when you are forced to look deep within yourself. There is something inside you - just below the surface- that needs to be brought out into the light and dealt with. It may well be something hidden even from you, something you've buried. You may not even know what it is, but you will have to unearth it and deal with it in order to move forward with your life. By doing this, you will release the invisible bondages that are holding you back. You need to confront your personal demons in order to move on. You have the strength and willpower to do this. You really are the King of Swords.

Column F - The immediate future

Strength
The Fool
Queen of Pentacles

You're going to find out just how strong you really are, and what you are capable of overcoming. Your battle will be with yourself. Physically, you are on the mend. Mentally, you have some work to do, but the good news is that you will come through it just fine. Dig deep, hon. And don't be afraid...You aren't the same person who was hurt all these years ago. Be confident, and have the courage to take it all on, once and for all. You will come out of it feeling as if you have a new lease on life. It will be as if the weight of the world is lifted off your shoulders. It will mean a fresh start for you, and it will open you up in ways you can't even begin to understand. There is a strong female presence who will help you through this. She is very sensible and emotionally in control. It could be your mother, or another female in your life who is very nurturing and protective of you. Listen to her. She knows what she's talking about! She will help you more than you can possibly imagine.

Column G - The outcome and long term prospects

Ten of Pentacles
Seven of Wands
Page of Wands

Family will be your main focus. You may even start to consider starting a family of your own. You may also find yourself the recipient of an inheritance. If you do everything that has been told in the other cards, you'll find yourself coping with life very well, and although it won't always be easy (it never is) you're going to recognize how strong you are and what you are capable of doing when it needs to be done. Again, I'm am seeing something to do with teaching or education for you...You are going to receive some very good news, and it has something to do with a creative venture you are considering. Romantically, all will be well...Lots of passion, lots of love and an amazing sex life!

Karmic Connection Spread

2010-01-25T00:48:00.002-05:00

This is a 18 card spread taken from the book "Card Divination" by Jeanne Ruland. I chose to use the Sacred Rose tarot.

The Ten of Cups represents our relationship union. Emotional completeness, spiritual happiness, undying love - it is the perfect union.

The Moon represents my power of fate / where I come from. I am his moonlit fantasy. I am not as perfect as he believes that I am. My psychic abilities and intuition have brought me to where I am today.

The Three of Cups represents his power of fate / where he comes from. He endured a terrible marriage, filled with infidelity, lack of love, and unhappiness. His recover and healing has been long and difficult.

The Page of Wands represents from where do we know each other. We were lovers in a former life, first and foremost, and the passion between us has always existed.

The Page of Pentacles represents what connected us in an earlier life / what was our task. Our love of nature and open mindedness was a huge undeniable magnet for us, then and now.

The High Priestess represents what connects us today/ what is our task today. Spiritual forces, intuitive awareness, and the passion that always simmers just below the surface will always be our connection.

The Five of Cups represents what I mean to Pete. His emotional pain is over, and he sees me as somewhat of a saviour from his past. I give him hope, and confidence in himself.

The Magician represents what Pete means to me. He enlightens me every single day as to what a real relationship should be like. I am nourished by his skill and his presence.

The Five of Swords represents what needs to be recovered / worked on/ developed further. We just need to focus on leaving all the negativity behind us, and rid ourselves of people who bring negative energy into our lives.

The Seven of Swords represents where our union takes us. I drew another card for clarification - it was the Knight of Swords. Some sort of loss is ahead, and certainly not an easy road to travel, but we will welcome new peopled and new experiences into our lives.

The Knight of Cups represents our changes of growth within our current situation. It is very good. We will follow our dreams together. We are very good for each other emotionally and physically, and we will find out own Utopia.

The Six of Swords represents what natural force we need to particularly observe in our relationship. We need to move away from stresses and trouble. We've earned the right to be happy. We need to acknowledge what needs to be left behind and follow through with it.

The Nine of Pentacles represents what comes to aid our union from the spiritual world. A love for nature and the outdoors and having time to ourselves will always bring us back to our true selves.

The Four of Cups represents which force accompanies our union. Revitalization, renewed relationships with others and with ourselves will be our guiding force.

The Four of Wands represents under which star our union stands. Creativity, prosperity and joy will light the way for us.

The Emperor represents what cosmic power assists us in further developing / redeeming our relationship. Pete will come into his own in his new life, and this will change him considerably. It will give him confidence and allow him to feel better about himself.

The Page of Swords represents what helps us and heals our relationship. Travel
and change have been eagerly awaited by both of us, We'll need to use our heads over our hearts, but the healing will be available to both of us.

The Two of Cups represents what helps us to develop / pursue / redeem our karmic affair. We belong together. Always have...Always will

3 Card daily draw

2010-01-25T00:44:00.003-05:00

This is a daily draw done with the Celestial Tarot.

King of Swords
Nine of Pentacles
Eight of Cups

It is important to remain cool and rational and in control of my emotions at this time. It's time to reap the benefits of what we've been working so hard towards and focus on getting our finances straightened out so we can live the life we want to live. I am preparing for a journey of the heart - I'm finally going home, and leaving the past behind

3 Card Daily Draw

2010-01-23T23:51:00.003-05:00

This is a 3 card daily draw done with the Celestial Tarot.

Two of Swords
Princess of Swords
Ace of Cups

I have a choice to make and it is time to stop burying my head in the sand. Why am I being so passive? I've never been passive a day in my life, and now it's all I know to do. The Princess of Swords must be very important for today, because as soon as I laid the cards down, Jack jumped into my lap and put his little paw on this card and repeatedly pulled it closer to me, as if it were the only one that mattered. She and Jack are telling me to brace myself for upsetting news, and another possible delay. But, even so, the Ace of Cups foretells emotional renewal, and happiness to come!

3 Month Time Tree Spread for myself

2010-01-18T20:05:00.004-05:00

This spread was done for myself, to determine what the next 3 months will bring. I chose the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

1 represents the Past. The card was The Magician. We've been very focused towards achieving a goal for a very long time. We've worked very hard towards it, using everything in our power to get to where we want to be. It worked, and we are almost done.

2 & 3 represent the current - the 'now'. The cards were the Five of Swords and Knight of Pentacles. We are feeling disillusioned and defeated. The victory we achieved feels empty and void of meaning. We are in a bad place financially, with little to no hope on the horizon.

4,5 & 6 represent the next 1-4 weeks in my life. The cards were The Lovers, The Hermit, and Queen of Pentacles. We will only have each other to depend upon, and a choice will have to be made. It will require soul searching and looking within. A woman may show generosity towards us.

7 & 8 represent the following 5-8 weeks (month 2). The cards were The Moon and the Hanged Man. There will be confusion and illusion, as well as self deceit. We will be forced to adapt to changes, readjustment will be in order. We will feel as if we are back in a state of limbo again.

9 represents the following 9-12 weeks (month 3). The card was the Two of Cups. We will be happy. There will be a need for cooperation with others.

5 card daily draw

2010-01-18T19:40:00.005-05:00

I knew this was going to be a challenging day and we'd need to be well prepared. We were dealing with the family in dividing up my mother in laws possessions and cleaning out her apartment. I chose to do a 5 card daily draw to get a good synopsis of how the day would go.

I used the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

The mood of the day was represented by the Five of Wands. Considering the day, I shouldn't have expected anything other than this card. The day was a struggle and battle, filled with greed and insensitivity. Ironically, even the number '5' was representative of the ones who caused the conflict by taking no ones feelings into consideration other than their own.

The person of the day was represented by Temperance. I strongly feel this was Pete. He is the person that is most important to me on this day, He is the person who needs to come through this intact, with a new knowledge of his siblings and how they really are. The day needs to be as peaceful and harmonious as I can possibly make it for him.

The events of the day were represented by the Eight of Cups. Today will be a turning point for us, a time to move forward from here. We will say our final goodbye to Grace and her home and move on. I believe it will somewhat represent a sort of goodbye with the family, too. This is truly the last time I believe we will all come together before Pete and I leave. I don't believe they will make any effort beyond that. When we leave Grace's today, we will be walking away from what kept us here in Canada and walking towards our future. Things will never be the same again.

The Lesson of the Day is represented by the Queen of Pentacles. We will take a lesson in greed and gluttony away from this, but it won't be a surprise. We already know who the 'Queen of Pentacles' is.

The Gift of the day is represented by the Page of Wands. We will have a new perspective by the end of this day. Good news may be a factor in our new outlook.

This reading was dead on. There were no real surprises in the cards. The family behaved just as we expected them to, but Pete managed to walk away unscathed. We will never have to deal with them on this level again.

Gypsy Magic Spread

2010-01-15T14:38:00.003-05:00

This spread was done for someone I consider to be a very dear friend. She's going through a rough patch right now, and needed a reading.

I chose the standard 21 card Gypsy spread, and the Paulina Tarot by Paulina Cassidy. This deck is perfect for my friend, and I love working with it.

The question posed was what can she do to get through this situation and how will it evolve.

Out of 21 cards, 6 were Majors, but the remainder of the cards were very balanced as far as the suits go, indicating that her current situation may require more balance, and that the changes she will undergo will be very significant.

Column A represents her emotional state of mind.

Queen of Swords
Three of Wands
Nine of Pentacles

There is nothing like being slapped over the head with her strong independent will with the first card! Her rational self is squabbling with her emotional self right now. Logically, she cannot fathom why she cannot control what is going on and how she is feeling. She feels as if she is somehow lacking because she cannot. She is feeling isolated and alone, and she's tired of being so independent. She'd love to lean on someone else for awhile. There is something in the back of her mind that is nagging at her - it is something she needs to do to feel emotionally fulfilled. I believe it has to do with some sort of home business she is considering which would involve shipping. I'm also getting a strong sense that she is dealing with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and that this may be part of what is going on with her emotionally. She misses having the kids home and working in the yard/garden. It's worse this year than usual, and she's feeling cut off from the world and isolated.

Column B represents her home life.

Nine of Wands
Three of Cups
Five of Cups

She is keeping everything on track, in spite of wanting to crawl in the bed and pull the covers up over her head. She is on guard and on edge - her strong will won't let her take any other position. It is her focus and she believes it's helping her to hold it all together. No one in her household knows how she really feels right now. She has convinced herself that it is important that they do not know, and she only allows herself to succumb to her feelings when no one else is around. But she is often alone, and she may be allowing herself to wallow in it too much. The second someone else walks in the door, she has a smile on her face and is ready to be whoever it is they need her to be.

Column C represents her present desires, hopes and questions.

Seven of Pentacles
Death
Three of Swords

She is really at a crossroad right now. Financial matters are an issue, and she may be somewhat worried about her health. She just wants everything to feel normal again, and it will, as long as she doesn't give into the hopelessness. She is ready for a change - hoping for a change, and something is telling her that this has to be a major change. She is hopeful that it will happen soon. She wants the sadness to lift, and she's tired of feeling so isolated. She doesn't like being separated from her loved ones so much, and this is something she really wants to change.

Column D represents her expectations of the situation.

King of Swords
Ace of Pentacles
King of Wands

She wants to find a way to break out of the rut she feels she is in. She wants more control of the situation, and that is what she is working towards. She wants to see things improve financially. (Now would be a very good time for her to make a move in this direction.) There is a strong male influence in the column of cards with the two Kings. I'm getting a strong sense that in some manner, she believes she doesn't have enough support from her husband to make the changes that need to be made, or that she isn't actually communicating what is going on with her to him.

Column E represents what she does not expect - what will surprise her.

Strength
Ten of Wands
Four of Swords

She will be the one to seize control of this and pull herself out of the funk she is in. She has no idea how very strong she is. She also has the energy and ability to do what needs to be done, but she doesn't know that yet. She doubts herself. I believe she will surprise herself, all the way around! She will need to take it slow and easy, and take care not to bite off more than she can chew at one time. She also needs to realize that she didn't reach this point overnight - it will take time and patience to resolve it.

Column F represents her immediate future - now to 3 months.

The Devil
Queen of Cups
Justice

She will confront her limitations and begin to deal with them - this will be easier once she acknowledges that the limitations are self imposed. She should make a list of all the things in her life that she is doing because she believes she has no choice. She should ask herself if that is really the truth, because circumstances change, and you always have a choice. It is time for her to analyze her life and change what needs to be changed. She will find herself regaining control over things once again if she does this. She will become the "Queen of Cups" once again. She lost that part of herself along the way. She will regain control over her emotions and she will be pleasantly surprised at where her intuition and psychic abilities will take her. This will restore balance to her life, and that is really the root of all her current problems.

Column G represents the outcome and long term prospect - 3 - 6 months ahead.

Judgement
Ace of Cups
The Hierophant

She is going to experience and awakening that will literally blow her away. It is going to alter her life's course, truly. Emotionally, she will feel completely renewed, and this will reflect in all her relationships. It's a new beginning for her, and I can think of no one who deserves it more. She will be blessed with love and happiness. Teaching or learning in some capacity will be an important catalyst in all of this!

3 card daily draw

2010-01-15T14:31:00.004-05:00

This has been a long hard week, and I've been doing my daily draws, but not posting them. Pete's mom passed away on Sunday, so the readings have been a bit personal and sad. She will be greatly missed - she was an amazing lady and I consider myself so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know her and have her in my life for the past 10 years.

I'm going to work with the Paulina Tarot by Paulina Cassidy for awhile. This deck really speaks to me, and I can't seem to stray too far away from it without being drawn back in.

Nine of Wands
Seven of Pentacles
Death

It is time to prepare myself for possible conflict or a battle. I should be prepared to stand up for myself and those that I love. I will need to be persistent and not give up. I am not wasting my time. I am slowly reaching my goal...Time to head in a new direction. Transformation is imminent, and things will never be the same again.

Not a surprising daily draw, after the week we've experienced, and with what lies ahead.

Nate's Calendar Year spread

2010-01-09T21:13:00.003-05:00

This calendar year spread was done for my son in law, with the Sacred Rose tarot deck, by Johanna Sherman.

The Five of Swords represents the month of January. He needs to be careful and not bite off more than he can chew this month, and if he does, he needs to be willing to acknowledge it and re-evaluate the situation. Someone may be sabotaging his efforts.

The Wheel of Fortune represents the month of February. Things will really start to look up this month. He will see a change for the better in some aspect of his life. The change will happen quickly, and once it does, everything will go his way.

The King of Wands represents the month of March. He will need to take control of a situation. He may receive some very good advice from a mature male - he's probably very strong and very generous in Nate's eyes, and will have his best interest at heart.

The Sun represents the month of April. This will be a great month! Everything will go very smoothly. He will be more optimistic and happy than he has been in awhile.

The Six of Wands represents the month of May. He will receive good news this month - something that will make him feel triumphant and victorious! Problems will just disappear...

The Two of Swords represents the month of June. An important choice will need to be made this month. The decision may be difficult and emotional, and he will have to give it alot of thought, but it will be very important to deal with it and resolve it.

The Empress represents the month of July. I truly believe he will find that Tia is pregnant this month, as this really coincides with Tia's calendar year reading. Or, they may possibly conceive this month. This may be related to the choice they had to make last month!

The Queen of Pentacles represents the month of August. This month is all about the good things in life for Nate - and it also indicates pregnancy! He will be very happy where he is in life this month, all the way around.

The Magician represents the month of September. I believe he will see a change in his work situation. He will find his father is turning more responsibility for the farm over to him. He has great faith in Nate and the skills and expertise he has developed over the years. He is starting to slowly shift the power over to Nate.

The Hermit represents the month of October. He may find himself really needing a vacation this month - he will need some time to himself to just breath and catch up. It's been a hectic year. He has earned it.

The Ace of Wands represents the month of November. He's rejuvenated and ready to go again! He is excited about all the changes that are going on in his life right now, and he's feeling on top of the world.

The Hanged Man represents the month of December. He can feel the effect the changes in his life are having on him. It's time to slow down, relax, and re-evaluate everything - the changes that have already come about as well as the changes that are to come.

The Emperor was his overall card for the year. This whole year will be about personal growth and maturity for him. He is becoming his own person, and he is really coming into his own. This is yet another card that indicates impending fatherhood for him.

3 card daily draw - Saturday, Jan. 9th

2010-01-09T00:09:00.002-05:00

This week, I am drawn back to the Sacred Rose tarot, by Johanna Sherman.

I truly have a connection with this deck, which surprises me because I did not feel it initially. The more I use it, the better I like it!

Eight of Pentacles
King of Wands
Six of Pentacles

Time to devote some attention to a potential career or money making venture. Considering our current situation, I believe the cards are telling me that it is time to start thinking more seriously about my divining, and begin to consider taking it to the next level. It is time for me to take charge of a situation, one way or the other. I believe it is time for us to begin to re-focus on winding things up here and going home. The Six of Pentacles is haunting me alot lately, but I am very homesick, so it's not surprising. I miss my friends and family, and I'm truly ready to leave this place.

3 card daily draw - Friday, Jan. 8

2010-01-09T00:03:00.003-05:00

This 3 card daily draw was done with Froud's Faeries' Oracle.

The Green Woman
Laiste, Moon's Daughter
He of the Fiery Sword

The Green Woman is back again - 2 days in a row. I believe I have the message now. She's telling me that there is nothing I can do about a specific situation. It is not my seed, not my garden to tend.

Laiste wants me to trust myself and my gut feelings about myself. She is the daughter of the Moon, so she understands (and helps me to understand) how things can be veiled rather than illuminated. She will help me light the way, and it isn't as bad as I think. She reminds me to "trust the process".

He of the Fiery Sword is telling me that it is time to take action. I have the strength and the willpower to do what needs to be done.

Full general reading

2010-01-07T00:13:00.004-05:00

This reading was requested by a friend who had a couple of questions. Because of the nature of the questions, I decided to go with a general reading, and will do other readings for question areas if needed.

I chose to do this reading with the Sacred Rose tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman.

The King of Cups reprsents what is in their heart. They are compassionate and caring, and may even be a very strong empath. They wear their heart on their sleeve, especially right now due to the circumstances. They are extremely emotional about something that is going on in their life right now.

The Hierophant represents how people view them. People look up to them, both spiritually and on a mundane level. Other expect this person to have all of the answers, but they are on a quest of their own right now, to find answers for themselves. Never the less, people are still needy and expect the querent to take charge and do everything for them.

The Hanged Man represents where the querent has been. The querent has been standing at a crossroads for quite some time. I do not believe they were as worried about which direction to take as they were in simply making the right choice for long term potential. The querent went into a sort of suspended state, and allowed their higher self to make a decision. It was somewhat of a 'testing' period, or an informative 'time out'. The querent made their choice and moved forward, leaving unnecessary baggage behind.

The Eight of Swords was the health card for the querent. I believe the querent is mentally exhausted due to stress, and may possibly be clinically depressed. The querent should be very careful, as this could quickly contribute to other health issues.

The Ace of Swords represents who the querent really is. The querent is very intelligent and strong. Logic and balance are a huge part of who they are, so they are struggling to deal with the current situation because it isn't balanced or logical. They will be able to pull through it, but it's going to be difficult for awhile longer. However, it will all work out in the end.

The Wheel of Fortune represents the querent's love. They are having lots of ups and downs in their love life right now. It's a vicious cycle, but in the end, it will all work out for the best for both of them.

The Nine of Swords represents the querent's relationships with both family and friends. The querent is so wrapped up in their own problems right now that family and friends have been put on the back burner. The querent should be careful not to neglect them for too long. They need them in their life.

The Emperor represents what the querent wants. There is a male figure in the querent's life (partner, father figure, boss, etc.) and the querent wants them to 'step up' and take control of a situation. The querent doesn't want it to all be on their shoulders. Whoever this is isn't living up to the querents expectations or needs.

The Moon represents the querent's work situation. If things continue as they are right now with work, the querent can expect problems. There will be hidden secret changes - things will not be what they appear to be. This will result in illusion and deceit/deception.

The Ten of Cups represents the outcome for the querent. I cannot imagine drawing a better card in a general reading for an outcome. A good life is in store for the querent, even if they continue the path they are currently on. This is a very positive card both emotionally and physically.

3 card daily draw - Thursday, Jan. 7th

2010-01-07T00:05:00.002-05:00

This 3 card daily draw was done with Froud's Faeries' Oracle.

Solus
The Master Maker
The Green Woman

Solus is here to remind me that something new is manifesting in my life. I am moving into the light because of my own actions and the actions of other energies and forces that I call upon. Miracles are possible!

The Master Maker is much like The Magician of tarot. He gives us the confidence to master all of our skills and creativity, and says that when we're satisfied that we've done something well, we can always push a little harder and may find that we can do it even better.

The Green Woman wants to make sure that I tend my own garden, whether it be a garden of the soil or of the soul. I must remember that everything in this world starts from a seed of some sort, but that seed must be well cared for in order to grow.

3 card daily draw - Wednesday, Jan. 6th

2010-01-05T23:45:00.004-05:00

This is a 3 card daily spread done with Froud's Faeries' Oracle.

I was a bit upset when I did this reading, over some things that are going on with my mother in law, who is very ill. The reading felt as if it were a mix - for both her and myself. It confused me somewhat, so I did another reading afterwards, but here is the reading that I did with this deck.

The Bright Mother
Lys of the Shadows
The Soul Shrinker

The Bright Mother is back, she is really trying to get my attention. Perhaps I need go pull deeper from this card. There is a need to put someone else first, and I am relatively certain this is Pete's mom. She isn't getting proper health care, and I am very afraid that we are going to lose her. It's an odd situation for me. I'm not used to the quality of healthcare here in Canada, I'm not used to not getting answers. I know that there is more that can be done for her, but she is no longer able to tell us what she wants, and I'm not sure what to do. I have a very strong feeling that she wants us to let her go, I just don't know how. This is something I need to think about.

Lys of the Shadows offers her help. Someone is in the shadows, and they are struggling - again, I believe this is Grace. Lys is telling me that I can help her, and she can help her, too. I'm just not sure which direction to take, so I will turn it over to Lys.

The Soul Shrinker is warning me to be very aware of my own thoughts and feelings, and the impact they can have on others. I have to consider that I am surrounded by family members who have never known any other kind of health care, and I need to be careful what I say, because it could be misconstrued as criticism of them. I'm frustrated, but right now, it is very easy to be frustrated with the wrong people. This is something I really need to work on.

3 card daily draw - Tuesday, January 5th

2010-01-05T23:40:00.002-05:00

This is another 3 card daily draw with the Froud Faeries' Oracle.

The Friends
She of the Cruach
Iris of the Rainbows

The Friends remind me to be receptive of support from others, and also to always be prepared to offer my support when needed.

She of the Cruach offers endless grace - we just have to be open to receiving it. She speaks of unconditional love and the giving and receiving of this love.

Iris of the Rainbows brings hope. She tends the light at the end of the tunnel. She's always hovering near during hard and dark times, just waiting for you to look up and past the storm, so she can show you the rainbow.

3 card daily draw - Monday, January 4th

2010-01-04T00:53:00.003-05:00

This is my 3 card daily draw, done with the Faeries' Oracle, by Brian Froud.

I truly love this deck, and sometimes I wonder why I use anything else for my daily draws.

The cards for today were:

The Singer of Transfiguration
Geeeeooo the Slooow
Arval Parrot

The Singer of Transfiguration has been hard at work in my life for the past few weeks. My life is changing drastically. It truly will never be the same again. My rewards are just around the corner.

Geeeeooo is one of my favourites. He usually shows up when I have too much to do or have to deal with heavy traffic situations. Today, he has appeared to remind me to slow down and take my time, stop rushing around so much. I'm missing out on things because I convince myself that I am always in a hurry. Right now, I'm in a hurry to go home, but there are things here that need tending to first. Geeeeooo reminds me that it's okay to breathe now. I have what I've been waiting for. I'm almost there. Slow and steady wins the race...

Arval cautions me to listen carefully to what others have to say, even when the words are unspoken.

Colby's Personal Year Reading

2010-01-04T00:39:00.002-05:00

This is a personal year reading for my son. I chose the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight for this reading, because of all my decks, it most reminds me of him.

The King of Swords is his card for January. It is time for him to re-evaluate some things in life with a logical and rational mind. He may be out of touch with his true feelings - now would be a good time to work on that.

The Three of Cups is his card for February. This will be a good month for him - a time to celebrate family and friends. Something good will come to pass this month, and he will be very happy.

The Five of Wands is his card for March. This month may bring a bit of a struggle or battle. He may need to try harder to see someone else's point of view.

The Five of Swords is his card for April. He should be careful not to blame others for his mistakes. Someone may be untrustworthy and working against him. He should form his own conclusions, making sure to think for himself rather than following the lead of others.

Temperance is his card for May. He will need to control his thoughts and actions this month. He shouldn't take any extreme positions or views at this time.

The Emperor is his card for June. It's time to start using his head and making good decisions about his future. A father figure in his life may give him good advice. He is becoming his own person, growing into a man.

The Magician is his card for July. He has everything he needs at his disposal to move forward with his life - but he must realize this in order to be able to do what needs to be done.

The Five of Pentacles is his card for August. This may be a rough month financially. He shouldn't take any risks with money this month.

The Two of Swords is his card for September. This is a month of indecision, and it may cause him to feel stuck. He shouldn't bury his head in the sand. It's time to make a choice. Nothing will change until he does this.

The Nine of Wands is his card for October. He should stand up for himself and what he believes in - there is an obstacle standing between him and what he wants. He needs to realize that he is right, and stop doubting himself.

The Queen of Swords is his card for November. This would be a good time for him to go out on his own and become more independent. There may be a woman of importance who plays a significant role in his life this month. She is sad, or has endured sorrow recently.

The Queen of Cups is his card for December. It is time for him to look inside himself and examine his emotions / feelings. A mother like figure may play a major part in his life this month.

The Seven of Wands was his overall year card. This is going to be a year of change for Colby. As long as he stays true to himself and sticks to his beliefs, he will come out on top.

Pete's Personal Year Reading

2010-01-03T20:34:00.003-05:00

I chose to use the Legacy of the Divine tarot deck in this spread for Pete.

This is a Personal Year reading, using 13 cards.

The Devil was the card for January. This foretells of financial struggles, and self imposed bondage. It is important to recognize that it is easy to be your own prisoner, and just as easy to break the ties.

The Two of Cups was the card for February. This is a month of committed love, and deep relationships with family.

The Queen of Wands was the card for March. He will feel empowered and expressive, very passionate. He will start to balance his family life with work interests.

The Hanging Man was the card for April. He will begin to look at things from a new perspective. This will be his choice, not something that is forced.

Temperance was the card for May. This will be a month of balance and moderation. He will begin to adjust to his new life. He may make a new friend that surprises him!

The Ace of Coins was the card for June. He will get an opportunity that has fantastic potential. He shouldn't dismiss it. It will lead to financial security and material comfort.

The Four of Wands was the card for July. This will be a month to celebrate how far he has come and all the good things he has in his life.

Strength was the card for August. He will begin to have faith in himself and see himself in a different light. He is starting to feel like he's getting back on his feet.

The King of Cups was the card for September. His fatherly instincts will be very much at the forefront this month - someone may come to him for advice because of his understanding and empathy.

The Eight of Cups was the card for October. This will be a month for change, as if he hasn't seen enough this year. He will move from one situation that isn't working towards one that will work.

The Two of Wands is the card for November. This is a month of choice and opportunity - time to take charge of his life. It may involve moving, or changing jobs.

Faith is the card for December. Some sort of ceremony or spiritual focus will highlight this month. This could indicate your first holidays with your new family.

The overall year card was the Six of Cups. This will be a good year, full of wonderful memories...You will feel nostalgic and even homesick at times, but you will embrace your new life completely.

Tia's Personal Year Spread

2010-01-03T20:18:00.002-05:00

I chose to do Tia's reading with the Paulina Tarot. This is a 13 card spread, with one card for each month of the year, and the final card is an overview of the year.

The Page of Cups was her card for January. It will be a month of good news, happy emotional events, and emotional rebirth. (This was the same card that I got for myself for the month of January!)

The Nine of Cups was her card for February. She will see her desires and wants fulfilled this month. She will feel a sense of contentment and well being...She finally has what she wants and her dreams are coming true.

The Ten of Cups was her card for March. This will be a great month for matters of love, emotions and amazing relationships.

The Moon was her card for April. This month, she should remain passive and receptive - she should trust her intuition. Something or someone may not be what they appear to be - she should beware of lies and deceit, or illusion.

The Seven of Wands was her card for May. She may have to take a stand for something that is important to her this month. It may involve some sort of conflict or something that is finally coming to a head. She has the advantage, even if she doesn't know it.

The Empress was her card for June. I truly believe she will find herself pregnant this month, or at least beginning to give serious consideration towards expanding her family. (Knowing Tia, she'll get another dog...)

The Emperor was her card for July. This really makes me believe there just might be a baby in the works. This is a card of responsibility and rationality, but it can also represent an important father figure in her life - someone preparing for the future.

The King of Swords was her card for August. A decision will be made this month that will be very important to her. She will need to be very careful and not make others feel she is ignoring their feelings.

The Three of Pentacles was her card for September. A change in residence is in store this month. This will be a step up in her life, a change in status. Decorating and nesting will be the highlight of the month.

The Queen of Wands was her card for October. This card could easily be Tia's significator. She is the Queen of Wands. This will be a good month for work and home life. She may receive good advice from another attractive and sensible female!

The Queen of Pentacles was her card for November. This is a month of prosperity, security and luxury - she can finally enjoy all her material comforts. The hard part is over.

The Hierophant was her card for December. There may be some sort of ceremony or spiritual focus this month. It is all about moral development.

The overall year card was the Eight of Wands. This year is going to be filled with good things for Tia...Understanding, harmony, important changes and journeys, and lots of good news. She is moving very quickly towards achieving all her goals. Life is good.

3 Card Daily Draw - Sunday, January 3rd

2010-01-03T20:13:00.004-05:00

This week, I'm working with the Faeries' Oracle Deck, by Brian Froud. For today, I chose to draw 3 cards.

The Bright Mother
The Piper
The Oak Men

The Bright Mother wants me to take a personal inventory of all that is right in my life. I should ask myself if there is anything that needs to be changed at this point.

The Piper urges me to lose myself in my music for awhile today - something I haven't been doing too often lately. It is good for my soul, and The Piper reminds me that it will be therapeutic and healing. I can communicate without words through my music.

The Oak Men are reminding me to look beneath the surface, and take my time. There is no need to rush or make thoughtless decisions.

3 Month Spread

2010-01-02T13:40:00.004-05:00

I did this spread to get a closer look at the upcoming 3 months for us. This is the first time I've used this particular spread, and I really enjoyed it. I believe I will be using it alot!

The deck used was Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, by Cristina Benintende.

The Knight of Wands represents the past. This card is a pretty apt summation of my life over the past few years...Change and relocation have been a major part of my life, with all the adjustments that go along with it.

The Five of Wands and The Magician represent the present, or now. We've been dealing with many struggles and challenges over the past couple of months. Neither of us are overly aggressive people, but we've had to step it up a bit and take control of the new situations that we've encountered.

The Two of Wands, Nine of Swords and Queen of Wands represent what we can expect the next 1-4 weeks, or the month of January. We are certainly enduring a restless and stressful 'waiting' period, without a doubt. We've been waiting for the Visa for so long, and now that we finally have it, it feels anticlimactic for both of us, because we cannot move as quickly as we'd like. Worry and anxiety are major parts of our lives. Our passion for each other and the things we want together will help us get through it.

The Knight of Swords and Three of Swords represent what we can expect the month of February. We will experience sudden changes and new experiences. There will be a need to allow our logical and rational thoughts to overrule our hearts at times. Stress, sadness, and emotional pain will be a part of this transitional period.

The Four of Swords represents what we can expect the month of March. Rest, relaxation and recuperation will be key this month.

I believe this reading is indicating we will be going home later this month, settling in our new home during the month of February and trying to adjust, and then, in the month of March, finally taking a deep breath and slowing down.

3 card daily draw

2010-01-02T13:34:00.003-05:00

This 3 card daily draw was done with the Gilded Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

Two of Swords
Two of Pentacles
Four of Swords

I'm really on the fence today. I'm a bit overwhelmed with life at the moment, and have so many things on my mind that my instinct is to shut down and ignore it all. But, that's not always possible.

I'm juggling finances and emotions at this point in time, along with worrying about my mother in law, who is in the hospital again. This is not a good combination, and although I know that I need to relax and focus on the things that are good in my life, it is easier said than done, at times.

Right now, I could really use a vacation from all my worries!

New Year Calendar Spread

2010-01-01T18:31:00.005-05:00

This is a new spread that I thought I would try, for the entire upcoming year.

I chose The Paulina Tarot for this spread, and used 22 cards.

The Page of Cups represents the month of January. It will be a month of emotional joy and developement for me. I should be going home, so this is a new chapter in my life on an emotional level.

The Two of Pentacles represents the month of February. February will be a bit of a balancing act for me, both emotionally and financially. That is definitely to be expected, as we should have completed the move by then, and for the first time, I'll be a full time mother (albeit two adult 'kids') and full time wife - all at once!

The Nine of Swords represents the month of March. Stress, worry and anxiety - but they may very well be self imposed. This is no surprise! The transitionary period we are about to go through is bound to bring a few sleepless nights!

The Eight of Swords represents the month of April. Carry over from March? I may feel trapped and overwhelmed, but once again, my limitations may be self imposed.

The Knight of Swords represents the month of May. This will be a month of change, action and decisiveness. It will be very important to use my rational mind rather than my heart in these matters.

The Devil represents the month of June. I may find myself trapped in a situation that I need to break free of. I made this prison with my own two hands - I will have to acknowledge and face my fears in order to be free of it.

The Six of Pentacles represents the month of July. Everything will start to fall into place for us this month financially. We will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as getting back on our feet.

The Tower represents the month of August. August will bring sudden and abrupt change, in a very dramatic manner. It will mean putting an old way of life behind us and embracing our new lives completely.

The Knight of Cups represents the month of September. This will be a good month for romance and emotional concerns. Ironically, this is the month of our 8 year wedding anniversary!

Strength represents the month of October. Inner strength will be required to work through problem areas this month.

The King of Cups represents the month of November. Compassion and empathy will be key this month in my life. I may receive welcome advice from a mature, father like figure. He will be caring and kind, and have only my best interest at heart. (That rules out my father.)

The Ten of Swords represents the month of December. The worse is over. A cycle of our life has ended and it is time to move on.

The Seven of Pentacles and Three of Wands represent my ambition and creativity for the year. My progress will be slow and steady. I will need to keep in mind that anything that is important to me and my life is worth pursuing. I should periodically re-evaluate my progress towards my goals. Creative opportunities will be numerous, and I should market my talents and see if I can make a go of it. Now is the time to do so!

The Ten of Cups and The Emperor represent health and money for the year. My anxiety and stress levels will decrease this year because of the healing energy of being home, with my family. Material wealth will improve as the year goes on, and a job promotion or advancement may occur.

The Ace of Swords and The High Priestess represent my relationships and emotions for the year. These two cards in this position form a perfect balance of logic and intuition, so I expect all to be well in this area of my life!

The Nine of Cups and the Three of Swords represent my mind and struggles for the year. A feeling of well being and success will prevail. My desires will be fulfilled this year! I will get what I want. The struggles I have will be about emotional adjustment, and possibly health issues or a loss.

The Empress represents recurring energies carried over from last year. Good fortune and luck will be with me, along with feminine creativity, and healthy relationships.

The Six of Cups represents new energies in my life this year. Nostalgia will be strong, and rightfully so...I'm going home. Old ties will be renewed, and happy memories will be made!

3 card daily draw

2009-12-31T15:31:00.003-05:00

Today is New Years Eve, and the night of the first Blue Moon in 19 years!

This daily draw was done with the Gilded Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti. I am really warming to this deck, although I do love his Legacy of the Divine deck more!

It looks like it may be an emotional day for me, but these days, they're all emotional! Being a Cancer, it is inescapable...

Todays cards were:

Ace of Cups
7 of Cups
4 of Cups

New year's eve and a new beginning emotionally speaking...So many changes ahead of us in the coming new year...Love and happiness belong to me, and all of the changes are going to enable me to feel both things at the same time - something that has been a rarity for the past 9 years. I am very blessed. Again, I am being warned to focus, and with good reason. My thoughts have been very scattered since we received the Visa, and I have accomplished absolutely nothing over the past week. It is time for me to focus my thoughts, and pay special attention to my intuition. It's also a wonderful time for me to reflect on all the good things in my life. I am fortunate and blessed with an amazing husband and children. I must remember to never take them for granted.

Happy New Year, everyone!

3 card daily draw

2009-12-30T17:19:00.004-05:00

This daily draw was done with the Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti.

3 of Cups
Temperance
The Magician

There is a cause for celebration, and the cards continue to remind me of this. There is still alot of work to be done, but for now, we should relax and be happy that we're finally getting closer to our goals. We will need to manage our lives wisely in order to finish what we've started. It's a good time to re-evaluate our current circumstances, in order to determine how to proceed. Moderation will be very important for us. Focus and mastering my own powers are key at this point. I can achieve my goals, I just need to reach within myself and determine how best to manipulate this situation to my advantage.

Daily Draw - 3 card spread

2009-12-29T13:59:00.003-05:00

I'm being very fickle this week with my decks. I can't seem to settle on one!

Today, I chose The Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti. My husband gave me this deck after finding one he likes better! I suppose he isn't aware that one can like alot of different decks! I'm definitely the winner in this situation!

I'm also using a different 3 card spread today!

The 6 of Wands represents the card of the day. This is the card I drew the day we found out Pete's waiver was approved, so I will always consider it a lucky card for me. The 6 of Wands is reminding me that we've won the battle...Victory is finally ours after 7 long years, and we need to allow ourselves to be excited about how far we have come, rather than spend all our time worrying about the road ahead of us. We really accomplished alot - and without legal representation, so we have a right to feel proud.

The 4 of Swords represents the present situation - what is on my mind. This is truly the 'calm before the storm'. We need to take advantage of the time we have to relax right now, because once we instigate the move, it may be a long time before we have this opportunity again.

The Knight of Pentacles represents the background for the day's events. We are almost where we want to be in life, we just need to be patient. This will all be over soon.

Daily 4 card spread

2009-12-28T00:18:00.003-05:00

This 4 card daily spread was done with the Enchanted Tarot by Amy Zerner.

These cards are very small - I'm not sure how well I will enjoy working with them long term.

The Princess of Swords represents me and my feelings for the day. (I drew this card yesterday in the 'how to deal with it' position.)

I need to think quickly and be decisive. I should 'cut to the chase' and remain logical and rational today.

The Ace of Wands represents something that I will face during the day.

Today is a perfect opportunity to start something new...This may come from a new idea or be related to something I've been considering. I believe this is a subtle hint to pick up the yarn and crochet hook and give it another try!

The 9 of Wands represents how to deal with it.

I need to stand up for myself, and never give up. It's just a little stumble / road block. All I have to do it go around it.

The 8 of Wands represents the outcome of the day.

I am moving very quickly towards my goals. Good things are about to happen! No more delays!

Daily 4 Card Spread - Sunday, 12/27/09

2009-12-26T23:00:00.004-05:00

Change of plans! I have switched decks for this week.

This is the Enchanted Tarot by Amy Zerner.

Temperance represents me / my feelings for the day.

I should be patient - definitely NOT one of my virtues. It is very important that I remain aware of my timing with certain matters.

The Prince of Swords represents something I will face during the day.

There will be a need to stand my ground and speak my mind at some point today. It's very important to think before I do so, and keep my emotions in check.

The Princess of Swords represents how to deal with this.

Clear communication is key.

The 7 of Hearts represents the outcome.

Not a great day for making important decisions. It is a good day to give myself a reality check, though!

4 Card Daily Spread - Saturday 12/26/09

2009-12-25T23:00:00.003-05:00

This is a new 4 card spread that I am using this week. The deck I will be using is my first tarot deck - Tarot of a Moon Garden by Karen Marie Sweikhardt. It's a very nice intuitive deck. She also produced a companion book to go with the deck that is decent.

Card 1 represents me and my feeling for the day ahead.

The card was the 3 of Staffs (Wands).

Today will be a good day for setting goals and putting plans in action. A possible business transaction may present itself - it will be successful. I may also receive helpful information or assistance from someone. Co-operation and teamwork will be the theme for the day.

Card 2 represents something I will face during the day.

The card was the 6 of Swords.

This card represents a release from stress and anxiety - moving forward into peace and tranquility. Once again, this card may also represent a journey or travel.

Card 3 represents how I will deal with what arises during the day.

The card was The Chariot.

I must remain in control and work my way through it. (Again, travel???) I may just need to try to relax and go with the flow for a change.

Card 4 represents the outcome.

The card was The Tower.

Unexpected events may lead to a complete and total change in our situation...This change will be sudden and dramatic.

6 Month Spread for D

2009-12-25T16:39:00.005-05:00

This spread was requested for a friend of mine who is preparing to move her family to the US, pending her husband's immigrant Visa approval.

I chose a 6 Month spread that I've used in the past just to try to get an idea of the time frame they will be dealing with. This is a 21 card spread, with 7 columns and 3 cards assigned to each aspect/question of the spread. I have had amazing results with this one in the past.

I chose to use the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy, as this seemed to be the best deck to use for my friend.

Cards 1, 2 and 3 represent "the self".

1) Page of Cups
2) The Fool
3) 7 of Cups

She is entering an emotional rebirth of sorts in her life - a period of new feelings and new attitudes, as well as emotional developement and increased sensitivity and maturity. She's feeling spontaneous and open - ready for a new adventure in her life. She's a bit unfocused and distracted, and she knows she has some unrealistic expectations at this time. She's also feeling a bit 'stuck'. Her thoughts are muddled , and it may not be a good time to make a major decision, unless she is able to clear her head and think through it slowly. She may need more information in order to make this decision.

Cards 4, 5 and 6 represent "what is closest to her/ what is affecting her the most".

4) The Hanged Man
5) 4 of Cups
6) 3 of Swords

She is suspended - in limbo - and she doesn't like it. She needs to take a deep breath, relax, and just 'hang out' for a bit. It's a good time to re-evaluate her attitude and long term goals, while things are calm and she can think straight. She's a bit discontent, maybe even bored with some aspect of her life. She feels emotionally drained. She has been hurt emotionally by someone that she loves recently, and there may even be some sort of separation involved. It is making her sad, and bothering her alot more than she lets on.

Cards 7, 8 and 9 represent "hopes and fears/ dreams and wishes".

7) 5 of Pentacles
8) The Magician
9) Knight of Cups

She is afraid of loss, hardship and disappointment. She's also concerned about a legal situation resulting in a financial loss, and this may very well happen. At the same time, she's very hopeful about the impending move, as she believes it will open up her family to endless possibilities. For once, she feels she is in control of her own destiny, and she knows that keeping that control is half the battle. She is anxious for new experiences and new opportunities. She is following her dreams. I believe that returning to the US is much more important to her (and has been for some time) than she is letting on.

Cards 10, 11 and 12 represent "what she expects".

10) 8 of Cups
11) Wheel of Fortune
12) Page of Pentacles

She is ready to say goodbye to this part of her life and move on. (A relocation or major change are highly indicated.) The change will be an emotional one for her, no matter how much it will make her happy in the long run. She is confident that this change is the best thing for her family, and they are everything to her. She's expecting a better life ahead for all of them, with luck and good fortune. She is waiting for good news. Educational opportunities are also an expectation, but I don't believe this is solely in regards to the girls. Is she considering going back to school, as well?

Cards 13, 14 and 15 represent "what she does not expect".

13) 3 of Cups
14) Temperance
15) The High Priestess

Something to celebrate is right around the corner. There will still be work ahead, but she's going to be very happy to do what is necessary. Moderation and wise management will be key to her success - she must slow down and evaluate things, but remain open to compromise. Something is going on beneath the surface. She should follow her intuition on this and she will get the answers that she needs.

Cards 16, 17 and 18 represent the next 2 - 3 months.

16) Two of Cups
17) Knight of Swords
18) The Chariot

Her close intimate relationship/ bonds / friendships will strengthen. There may even be new ones that will be very cherished to her, invaluable. She will meet new people and have new experiences - there are going to be sudden changes. It's going to be a very active and very 'on the go' 2-3 months! She will need to keep her head, and be careful and not allow her emotions to interfere with her logic and reason. The Chariot says it all in this reading. It indicates travel, and a need to stay centered and calm in order to steer a middle course through all of this in order to get to where she wants to be. It will all work out, because she has the strength and composure to pull it off.

Cards 19, 20 and 21 represent 3 - 6 months ahead in the future.

19) 9 of Pentacles
20) 7 of Wands
21) The Empress

Fulfillment and completion will be hers! She has earned it. She will be exactly where she wants to be during this time frame. She did it! It wasn't without challenge, but she got through it. She still has adjustment and change to deal with, but this is what she wanted, and she will do just fine. She will settle back into her family life quite comfortably, because it's really all been about doing what is best for her family. She will feel like a different person on all levels - as a mother and a wife. She knows she has done the best she can for her family, and it's time to reap the rewards!

Daily draw and update for Thursday - 12/24/09

2009-12-23T21:42:00.004-05:00

We received Pete's US Immigrant Visa on Wednesday, just as the cards predicted!

This 3 card daily draw for Thursday was done with the Sacred Rose tarot deck. I'm really falling in love with this deck, and that's quite a surprise!

The Knight of Cups represents important aspects of the day ahead. Holidays are always emotional times. This will be my last one to spend away from my family, and it will be a bit sad, because had things gone differently as we had anticipated earlier, we would be home for the holidays. But, instead, as the Knight of Cups predicts, we will be spending the entire day with some friends, and celebrating our last Christmas in Canada!

Judgement represents personal issues that will need my attention today. This card is telling me that it's time for a new outlook, time for a new beginning! A cycle in our life together is coming to an end - changes and improvements loom ahead. We are both preparing for an awakening of sorts.

The 10 of Pentacles represents feelings, desires and reactions that may arise today. It will be an emotional day, of course. There is no escaping that! This card tells of major life changes and transitions - matters involving money / finances. Things are going to work out for us.

Deck Interview - Legacy of the Divine Tarot

2009-12-22T20:13:00.003-05:00

This deck interview was done with one of my favourite decks - The Legacy of the Divine Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

No surprises in the interview!

The 4 of Coins represents the most important characteristic of this deck. For one split second, I was a "huh?" moment, until I realized that while it is a very generous deck, it would very much like to keep me all to itself! I consider this deck the greatest gift to my tarot journey to date.

The Queen of Cups represents the strengths of this deck. Empathy and intuition ooze from the cards, and I find the readings very 'relationship' oriented.

Faith represents the limitations of this deck. There are NO limitations. This deck is everything it needs to be, to everyone who uses it.

The 10 of Coins represents what this deck is here to teach me. It will teach me completion. It will bring me success in the manifestation of my desires.

The Knight of Swords represents how I can best learn from / collaborate with this deck. I must keep my mind sharp, and remain idealistic and analytical.

The Page of Cups represents what will be the outcome of our working relationships. I knew it would be a Cup for this deck! Sweetness, kindness, increased empathy and a wonderful relationship with tarot will come from working with this deck.

Deck Interview - Tarot of the Sweet Twilight

2009-12-22T19:59:00.004-05:00

This was the most interesting deck interview spread that I have done. The deck is the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight.

This deck is one that I've been on the fence about ever since I got it. I saw a few of the cards on Aeclectic Tarot and I was drawn to the deck. I ordered it from Amazon, and I just didn't click with the deck the way I thought I would once I had it in my hands.

I'm not sure what the problem is - the art is very nice, and there are many cards I absolutely love, but there are just as many that I feel no connection to, and that isn't what you want from a tarot deck. I attempted doing an intensive deck study with it, and realized (after making it through the entire Major Arcana) that I was never going to relate to this deck the way I thought I would.

The deck interview pretty much confirmed my thoughts!

The Knight of Wands represents the most important characteristics of this deck. I can easily see that this deck is all about change/adaptability and has a sense of humour. The Knight of Wands confirmed it!

The 9 of Cups represents the strengths of this deck. It is truly an uplifting and hopeful deck. Even the darker cards do not appear as dreary as they do in some decks. While this may be a strength of the deck, I prefer the realism of other decks.

The 5 of Cups represents the limits of this deck. This depicts exactly how I feel about this deck...Kind of 'middle of the road'...I like some of the cards, dislike others. It's hard to decide whether the cup is half empty or half full with this deck. It can be disappointing at times, and I find it lacking in communication skills - simply because of the lack of connection.

The Fool represents what this deck is here to teach me. That makes sense. It's telling me to be myself. I don't have to love it, I just have to do what makes me happy.

The 8 of Pentacles represents how I can best learn from / collaborate with this deck. I should use it only when I need a change - something new to work with.

The Hanged Man represents the potential outcome of our working relationship...Now how's that for an answer? Lessons learned, deck shopping/choosing re-evaluated...

Daily draw for Wednesday - 12/23/09

2009-12-22T19:51:00.004-05:00

This daily 3 card spread was done with the Sacred Rose tarot.

The Queen of Pentacles represents the important aspects of the day ahead. She is reminding me to take a sensible and practical approach to the day.

The King of Wands represents personal issues that I will need to attend to today. I need to listen carefully to Pete, and stay in tune with his thoughts and emotions. This transition is going to be harder for him than it will be for me. I am going back to familiarity. He is going into the unknown. I need to be attentive to his needs in all of this.

The 9 of Cups represents desires and reactions that may arise on this day. My dreams and desires are truly coming to fruition. Hopefully, this is an indication that Pete's Visa will arrive today! We found out on Tuesday that it was issued last Friday, so it should be here anytime!

Deck Interview - Deviant Moon Tarot

2009-12-21T21:04:00.000-05:00

This deck interview was done with the Deviant Moon tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

This is one of my all time favourite decks - I have alot of them. If anyone were to look in my basket of tarot decks who didn't know me well, they would quickly diagnose me with multiple personality disorder! But I love having all these different type decks, because I love reading for different types of people.

The Deviant Moon deck is quirky and fun. Alot of people consider it a dark deck, but I don't find it dark at all. I find it to be brutally honest, with no holds barred. I'm a blunt person, so I relate well to this deck.

The Empress represents the most important characteristics of the Deviant Moon.

This deck relates well to females, even though I consider it a very masculine deck. It nurtures creativity in everyone who touches it.

The Star represents the strengths of the Deviant Moon as a deck.

This depicts the hopeful optimism and strength that absolutely radiates from the deck.

The 10 of Wands represents the limits of the Deviant Moon as a deck.

Because this deck is so brutally open, honest and direct, I often find myself expecting too much from it. It gives me everything I need from a reading, every time I use it.

The 7 of Cups represents what this deck is here to teach me.

The Deviant Moon constantly reminds me to use my imagination and creativity, and to maintain focus and listen to my inner voice. It's like a pat on the back from an old friend who knows you inside and out.

The Ace of Swords represents how I can best learn from / collaborate with the Deviant Moon deck.

All I have to do is use my inner strength and my intellect. The cards provide the rest!

The 8 of Pentacles represents the potential outcome of our working relationship.

It will be sheer perfection...We will have a long history together. Most of all, the relationship will be very enjoyable!

Deck Interview - The Paulina Tarot

2009-12-21T20:32:00.000-05:00

I really enjoyed doing the new deck interview spread with the Sacred Rose tarot, so I thought I would do it with some of my older decks.

This one was done with the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy. (I'm anxiously awaiting her new deck - Joie de Vivre tarot!)

The Paulina is one of my favourite decks. It's very feminine, and has the feel of old New Orleans. I've gotten amazing readings so far from this deck, and the deck interview went pretty much as I expected.

The 2 of Cups represents the most important characteristic of the Paulina.

This is very interesting, because the 2 of Cups is one of my favourite cards in any deck, and almost always shows up in readings that I do for myself, or that someone else does for me - along with The Lovers and Ace of Cups! The Paulina is telling me that her most important characteristic is her emotional bonding with the reader. I agree wholeheartedly!

The Ace of Pentacles represents the Paulina's strengths as a tarot deck.

She is brimming over with common sense, and her energy is inspirational.

The Sun is the card that is supposed to represent the limits of the Paulina as a deck.

The Paulina has NO limits.

The 10 of Wands represents what the Paulina is here to teach me.

She wants me to know that I cannot do everything, and cannot be everything to everyone. I take on too much at times, and she is here to teach me to recognize my own limits.

The Fool represents how I can best learn/collaborate with the Paulina!

As long as I remain open and receptive, we shall get along just fine. I can't think of a better card to draw in this position!

The Page of Pentacles represents the potential outcome of our working relationship together.

We will learn from each other and reach success together!

This will definitely be a deck that I will be using for a very long time to come. The Paulina is one of my favourites to do my own personal readings with, but I also rely on this deck for many of my female querents that she suits!

Daily draw for Tuesday - 12/22/09

2009-12-21T20:26:00.001-05:00

This is a 3 card daily spread done with the Sacred Rose Tarot.

The 9 of Pentacles represents important aspects of the day ahead. This will be a good day to spend some time alone with my thoughts, and consider our financial situation and how to improve things in the coming year. Perhaps it will be a good day to work on getting both of our resumes ready for the move.

The 2 of Wands represents personal issues that need attention. I may need to deal with some inner conflict, but for the most part, I will have to deal with WAITING on our opportunity, as I have been for quite some time. Hopefully the wait is coming to an end.

The 6 of Swords represents feelings, desires and reactions that may arise during the day. It is time to be optimistic over the upcoming changes - brighter days are ahead, and travel will be soon.

3 card daily draw - Monday, 12/21/09

2009-12-20T23:39:00.001-05:00

This is my personal 3 card daily draw for Monday, done with the Sacred Rose Tarot.

The 6 of Pentacles represents important aspects of the day ahead. Today will be a good day for reaching out and helping others, and possibly even receiving a bit of help, myself!

The 2 of Cups represents personal issues that will require my attention. I need to make sure I am appreciative of all the wonderful relationships that I have. They are truly amazing, and I am very fortunate.

The 10 of Cups represents feelings, desires and reactions that may arise today. This is a very promising card, considering my only desire right now is to get home and be back with my family. The 10 of Cups sums up all of my hopes and dreams at this time, and represents family harmony, contentment, good relationships, and travel!

Harsh Truth Spread

2009-12-20T23:26:00.001-05:00

This is a follow up spread done for a client after a general reading that I did earlier in the week. This spread was done with the Sacred Rose tarot.

I found the spread on Aeclectic Tarot, and this is the first time I've used it. I like it very much and will most likely use it alot.

The question was"What is going to happen with the band?"

Card 1 represents what the client wants to see or believe.

The card was the King of Cups. The client wants everyone to be responsible, reliable and professional. Compassion, caring and empathy are also very important to them.

Card 2 represents what the client doesn't want to see or believe.

The card was the 7 of Cups. The client doesn't want to face emotional reality. There is a lack of focus, and alot of wishful thinking going on, as well as unrealistic expectations.

Card 3 represents what is true.

The card was The Devil. It is not a good situation with the band, but the client doesn't want to give up and move on. There is alot of negativity, and someone needs to leave the group.

Card 4 represents what the client wants to happen.

The card was the 8 of Pentacles. The client wants to be able to enjoy all of the hard work they are putting into the band. This is where their heart lies, but they would also like to see financial profit from this.

Card 5 represents what the client doesn't want to happen.

The card was The Moon. The client doesn't like change, and doesn't want bad news, but deception and illusion are very probable in this case - and the client may be deceiving or fooling themselves.

Card 6 represents what will happen.

The card was the Knight of Cups. The client will have new experiences and new opportunities regarding music. They will get to follow their dreams, but it will not be with the band as it is today.

New Deck Interview Spread

2009-12-20T23:15:00.000-05:00

This is the first time I've done a spread to interview a new deck, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I may do it with all of my other decks, even though they aren't new!

I found this spread on Aeclectic Tarot Forum.

This one was done with the Sacred Rose Tarot. I am really enjoying this deck, and I wasn't sure that I would at first!

Card 1 asks the deck what it's most important characteristic is. The card drawn was the 3 of Wands. The Sacred Rose is telling me that it's most important characteristics are teamwork and cooperation!

Card 2 asks the deck what it's strengths are as a tarot deck. The card drawn was the 4 of Wands. The strengths of the deck are commitment and positive energy.

Card 3 asks what the deck's limits are. The card drawn was the Queen of Pentacles. She is telling me that the deck is practical and sensible, no frivolity here!

Card 4 asks what the deck is here to teach me. The card was The Hermit! I can't really think of a better card to get in this position from a new deck! The Sacred Rose will teach me the truth, and show me how to find it.

Card 5 asks how I can best collaborate with the deck. The card was the 8 of Wands...No holds barred...Full speed ahead...

Card 6 asks the potential outcome of our working relationship. The card was the King of Swords. Together, we will give sound advice, learn objectivity, and build strength of character.

I foresee a long future of working with the Sacred Rose tarot, which I find very interesting considering I had mediocre feelings about it initially!

Jack is taking over...

2009-12-20T23:13:00.000-05:00

He is absolutely mesmerized by the tarot cards.

I cannot do a reading without his assistance!

Daily Draw for Sunday, 12/20/09

2009-12-19T23:04:00.001-05:00

This 3 card daily spread was done with the Sacred Rose Tarot.

The Knight of Cups is the card that represents important aspects of the day ahead. It will be a perfect day to focus on creativity and artistic endeavors, which is fitting, considering I am trying to teach myself to crochet!

The Knight of Pentacles represents personal issues that may need attention. He is telling me to remain sensible and calm - today will be a good day to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

The Page of Swords represents feelings, desires or reactions that may arise. I may find it necessary to deal with something today that I will have to handle with caution - it could regard receiving significant information, and the way I react to this information will be very important.

New wooden box for tarot deck

2009-12-18T23:41:00.001-05:00

Every week, I choose a different tarot deck to work with for the upcoming week.

All of my decks are in matching bags that I have made for them, but I wanted a wooden box to keep on the end table beside my end of the couch.

I considered making one myself, but before I could get up the nerve to do it, I stumbled upon this one at an "Exotic Import" kiosk at the mall! I thought it was beautiful, and it holds a deck and spread cloth perfectly!

Jack and Tarot

2009-12-18T23:38:00.000-05:00

Jack is a 3 year old male cat that we've had since he was a kitten. He is absolutely fascinated with tarot, and spends almost as much time looking over the spreads as I do!

3 Card Daily Draw for Saturday (12/19/09)

2009-12-18T23:30:00.000-05:00

This week, I'm using the Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman.

I will be using a 3 card daily spread, with a bit different spin on the positions. I'm also going to try doing the spreads in the evening, just before going to bed - for the day to come.

Card 1 represents important aspects of the day ahead.

The card was the 6 of Cups.

This will be a good day to deal with emotional aspects of the past...A day for reminiscing, and possibly getting in touch with friends from my past. (I NEED to call Jackie, really!)

Card 2 represents personal issues that will need attention.

The card was The World.

I need to start preparing myself to move on - in a new direction. Success and completion will soon be ours, and we need to be ready.

Card 3 represents personal issues that will need my attention.

The card was The Fool.

I love this card in a personal reading! Great expectations and childlike enthusiasm will be key for the journey we are about to embark upon.

The Lunatic Spread - general reading

2009-12-17T17:37:00.001-05:00

This spread was done for a friend who just wanted a general reading.

I chose the Deviant Moon tarot deck and the Lunatic spread, both designed by Patrick Valenza.

This deck is absolutely amazing to read with. It holds nothing back, and the answers are as clear as they can be. This deck doesn't coddle or walk on egg shells - it is blunt and to the point, just like me. I truly believe this deck gives me the best readings of all the decks I have, and I am waiting with anticipation for a 'sister deck' that Patrick is working on. He is one of the most inspiring tarot creators I've encountered, and he is a genuine sweetheart on a personal level.

This is a basic 10 card general reading.

Card 1 represents the querent now.

It was the Knight of Cups.

The querent is following their dreams - that is what they do best. In this case, I truly feel the querent IS the Knight of Cups, as the Knight of Cups is all about romance and creative/artistic talent.

Card 2 represents past influences.

It was the Ace of Wands.

This card indicates that the querent recently embarked on a new venture of some sort...Something to do with creativity, artistic impression...The querent has vested alot of energy into this project/endeavor, with hopes that it will be the beginning of something major in their life.

Card 3 represents subconscious influences.

It was the Emperor.

Either the querent's rational mind is telling them to act responsibly and proceed with caution, or someone (an authority figure - possibly father or father figure) is looking over their shoulder. They have advice and guidance to offer, but they are waiting for the querent to ask for it. Even in silence, the querent knows what they think, but may not be ready to hear it out loud.

Card 4 represents secret desires and wishes.

It was Temperance.

This card depicts harmony and moderation. The querent just wants things to go smoothly for a change. They may need to slow down and re-evaluate the situation in order for this to happen, and it's very important that they keep themselves centered and grounded, and open to compromise.

Card 5 represents hidden forces.

It was the King of Cups.

This card also indicates that there is a strong male influence who is very sympathetic to the querents circumstances, and may be waiting to offer sound advice - he's simply waiting for the querent to be ready to receive the advice the way it is intended.

Card 6 represents events yet to come.

It was the 6 of Swords.

There will be a period of transition and change, and the querent will find themselves in a better place once the journey is over. It may be a physical journey or a mental journey.

Card 7 represents the surrounding environment.

It was the Queen of Pentacles.

By being sensible and practical, the querent can have what they want. There may be a female in the querents life who works very hard for her success, and is very wise, and she may be able to help point the querent in the right direction.

Card 8 represents the influence of others.

It was the 3 of Wands.

Someone will help the querent put their plans into action. Sucess will depend on teamwork and cooperation from others, and advertising will play an important role in that success.

Card 9 represents the spiritual forces at play.

It was the Wheel of Fortune.

New doors will open, and change will occur. The querent will move from one phase of life to another, and their circumstances will improve. A decision the querent will make will influence their spirituality considerably.

Card 10 represents the final outcome.

It was the 5 of Pentacles.

This card is a card of the future, and indicates that if the querent continues on the path they are on, the outcome is not the best. The 5 of Pentacles foretells of being down and out, possibly impoverished and unhappy. Perhaps the querent isn't using their talents wisely, or they may not be listening to their rational and practical mind to guide them to success. Or, it is possible that seeking the advice of someone who is more than willing to help might be the best recourse at this time.

The Lemniscate Spread

2009-12-17T17:07:00.001-05:00

This spread was done for a dear friend of mine who was contemplating a career change.

I used the Paulina Tarot by Paulina Cassidy, because it fit her personality perfectly, and I used a spread called the Lemniscate Spread - it is an 8 card spread examining two choices. It is shaped like the lemniscate, or symbol of infinity.

The two choices were defined as staying with her current job, or taking an offer of a different job.

Cards 1 through 4 reflect the situation if she stays with her current job.

1) Represents staying with her current job from an emotional perspective.

It was the 2 of Pentacles.

Her current job is somewhat of a juggling act, all the way around. She's pulled in too many directions at once, and it is causing stress for her. The financial aspect of it adds more stress to her life, and she really wonders if it is time for a change. She is torn.

2) Represents staying with her current job from a spiritual perspective.

It was the Two of Cups.

This card is all about relationships, and I feel that she has a bond with someone (maybe even a spiritual connection) that she fears losing if she changes jobs at this point in time. This relationship is very important to her, and she does not want to affect it in a negative manner.

3) Represents staying with her current job from a practical perspective.

It was the 10 of Pentacles.

She actually feels her current job is more stable, and that staying with it is the logical choice, as it represents financial stability and security. She will also be able to advance and better herself in this position, but this is unknown to her at this point. This is something that will happen in the future.

4) Represents staying with her current job - the synthesis / outcome.

It was the Page of Wands.

By staying where she is, she will receive the opportunity for new growth. New opportunities will arise, very possibly a career change or advancement. Whatever happens, it will be good for her, and will be something that fires her passion and makes her happy.

5) Represents taking the new job from an emotional perspective.

It was the Magician.

She feels she has the ability to finally achieve her goal with the new job prospect. It would allow her to use her cumulative training in a broader sense. But her self confidence is standing in her way - she isn't sure she can handle the change and she isn't sure she will be happy with the new job. She shouldn't doubt herself or her potential - she's very capable of doing this, but she does.

6) Represents taking the new job from a spiritual perspective.

It was the Eight of Swords.

She is afraid of feeling overwhelmed, restricted, trapped and limited by this new job offer, and she fears the effect this would have on her life on so many levels.

7) Represents taking the new job from a practical perspective.

It was the 5 of Cups.

Combined with the 8 of Swords, I believe this is very negative as far as the new job goes. She will be disappointed and regretful if she takes it. She can work her way through it, but she is happy where she is, so it's a hard choice to make.

8) Represents taking the new job - the synthesis / outcome.

It was the 3 of Cups.

This is a card of celebration. She would celebrate a new life style and good fortune and abundance, but at what cost to herself? Financially, this may be the best choice for long term success, but she may have to compromise and forfeit doing what she loves in order to achieve it. It may just be a means to an end for her, but at what cost?

Bohemian Spread - general reading

2009-12-17T16:33:00.001-05:00

This was a general reading done for someone by request. I used the Bohemian General Spread (from Aeclectic Tarot) and the Revelations Tarot by Zach Wong.

This was my first time using this deck, and I'm not quite certain how I feel about it yet. The cards are designed so that you see an upright image in either a reversed or upright position, which is why I purchased the deck initially. The reading went well, but I do not care for the artwork on this deck as I had hoped that I would. The characters are very robotic in appearance, and not in the least easy to relate to.

This was also my first time using this particular spread. I like it, but it is very much a reading for the present, and has no real outcome positions. It consists of 21 cards, and 3 cards apply to each 'position'.

Cards 4, 11 & 18 represent love and desire for the querent.

4) The High Priestess Rx

11) Death Rx

18) Knight of Wands

The querent is feeling emotionally sensitive at this time, possibly ignoring her own needs and feelings. She feels as if she has a chance at a new beginning right now - but this new beginning will be built on an old and familiar foundation. She may be resisting some change that is necessary in order to move forward. I believe this change has to do with her career, and is of significant importance in her life. Her romantic relationship is being affected by her enthusiasm and energy at this point in time. It's all good...

Cards 5, 12, and 19 represent the unexpected.

5) Queen of Pentacles

12) King of Pentacles

19) 4 of Swords Rx

I believe the Queen and King of Pentacles represent the querent and her partner and the material / business / career successes they are consumed with right now. More than that, I believe the two of them compliment each other very well in achieving their goals. She may be pushing too hard, too far, too fast, and the cost may be high if she takes on more than she can handle. It's going to be important to stay centered and grounded, and take her time, and she must also reward herself with rest and relaxation now and then.

Cards 6, 13 and 20 represent present influences.

6) 7 of Cups Rx

13) 8 of Cups Rx

20) Judgement

She's been feeling rather scattered with her energies, her focus is off kilter. Teh confusion is clearing somewhat now, and she's anxious to get back on track. She is trying to be realistic, but she will have to be clear and specific with her goals in order to not run into obstacles in reaching them.

I believe there is something she is having difficulty letting go of, and that she has an important decision to make regarding this. It may be that she does not need to let go of it.

Cards 7, 14 and 21 represent luck and good fortune.

7) 3 of Swords

14) 5 of Swords Rx

21) Knight of Swords

These cards are not indicating luck or good fortune in the near future, as long as she continues on the course she is on. I believe there will be some loss, and I believe it will be career related - possibly back stabbing from coworkers, or conflict in the work place. It will hit fast and pass just as quickly, and she must use her head and not her heart to get through it.

Cards 1, 8 and 15 represent domestic matters and family influences.

1) 2 of Pentacles Rx

8) 4 of Wands

15) Page of Pentacles

She needs to be careful not to take on more than she can handle - if she does this, it will affect her family life and home life in a negative way. She needs to know her limits, and say "no" when need be. If she is able to do this and remain unfrazzled in the big scheme of things, her home life will blossom.

Cards 2, 9 and 16 represent work (career) and activities.

2) The World

9) The Hermit Rx

16) 9 of Cups Rx

She has just completed a cycle in her life and is starting out on a new journey. She's feeling fulfilled career wise, balanced and happy. Again, there is a strong indication that there is something she wants to run away from or refuse to deal with...She should not be complacent about her future. She still has work to do to get where she wants to be.

Cards 3, 10 and 17 represent friendship and romance.

3) Seven of Pentacles

10) 10 of Cups Rx

17) Lovers Rx

She should be patient with friendships and romance. They will grow and expand slowly, and there may be complications, but the end result will be worth the wait and perserverance. There may be conflict in the near future with family or close friends. The Lovers reversed indicates that there may be hurt feelings on the horizon, or that she is possibly questioning some choices she had made regarding relationships. She may be faced with an impossible choice regarding a relationship.

Daily draw

2009-12-14T13:03:00.001-05:00

This week, I am using the Crystal Tarot by Elisabetta Trevisan for my daily draws.

This is an amazing deck, vaguely reminiscent of stained glass, which is why I was drawn to it initially. The major and court cards are breathtaking, and even though the pips are not 'scenic', they are beautiful.

This is not a deck that I would recommend for a beginner, but I would strongly recommend it for someone who wishes to read with unillustrated pips!

Once again, I have drawn the King of Swords! I cannot help but believe that I keep drawing this card because of the situation we are in, waiting for immigration to issue my husband's Visa. This card indicates and fair and impartial decision will be made.

I just wish they would hurry up and make it!

3 card daily draw

2009-12-12T13:08:00.000-05:00

This 3 card daily spread was done with the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, by Cristina Benintende.

The card for the day was the 9 of Wands. This card indicates that I may need to stand up for myself, my beliefs or someone that I love today...Just one more thing to do before the battle is over...

The card that represents the things I need to attend to today was the Queen of Swords. She is warning me to be careful of hardening myself too much in order to deal with the circumstances we are dealing with. I should never mask my emotional reactions completely - they are part of who I am.

The 4 of Wands represents what I need to watch out for today. This indicates that I may run up against an obstacle or hindrance, and that I should rest and gather my strength while I can - soon things will be full speed ahead and there will be no time for rest.

3 card daily draw

2009-12-11T10:59:00.000-05:00

This draw was done with the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight by Cristina Benintende.

The card for the day was the King of Swords. This indicates a fair and impartial decision being made in our favour - not a bad card at all to get knowing that my husband's immigrant Visa is being processed at this time. It's also a reminder to me to do a bit of soul searching...Am I being overly rational and not trusting my emotions and intuition as I should at this point in time? Am I completely in touch with my feelings?

The 'attend to this' card was the 9 of Chalices. Another wonderful card for the day...My desires and wishes will be fulfilled, and I will be satisfied and content.

The 'what to look out for' card was the Knave of Wands! Good news or a chance for something new and exciting is on the way!

I feel this is a very strong reading pertaining to complex events that have been going on in our lives. It gives me hope and optimism at this point in time.

3 card daily draw

2009-12-10T11:43:00.001-05:00

This daily draw is with the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, by Cristina Benintende.

The 'card of the day' is the Knave of Swords. The message the knave brings is that I need to use caution in decision making today. I should make sure I know what I am committing myself to in advance. This card also indicates that a delay or unexpected news may be on the horizon.

The 'attend to this' card is the 6 of Chalices. This indicates that today is a good day to take a walk down memory lane. There may be things from my past that I need to deal with before returning home.

The 'what to look out for' card is the 10 of Wands. This is the second time this week this card has appeared in a daily reading for me. This card warns me to be careful in taking on more than I can handle, or biting off more than I can chew. I need to acknowledge that I cannot do everything, no matter how much I want to try.

3 card daily draw

2009-12-09T17:52:00.001-05:00

This 3 card daily draw was done with the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight by Cristina Benintende.

The card of the day was the Ace of Chalices. Today is a new beginning on an emotional level. I need to focus on emotional renewal in my relationships. I will soon be back with my family and be blessed with love and happiness.

The 'attend to this' card was the 8 of Wands. This card indicates that something very important may happen today in regards to travel. It will be an end to a delay, and things will be going our way for a change. (Must remember to call the Dept. of State tomorrow and see if anything was accomplished today!)

The 'what to look out for' card was the Queen of Wands. The power of positive thinking will be important today. My passion for my family and my love of home and family life will be at the front.

3 card daily draw

2009-12-08T17:26:00.001-05:00

Another 3 card daily draw from Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, by Cristina Benintende!

The Card of the day was the 10 of Wands. This card encourages me to reflect on self imposed burdens and expand my awareness as far as they are concerned. I have a tendency to make things harder on myself than they have to be. The 10 of Wands reminds me that I am in the final stretch of my journey - it's time to acknowledge this and take better care of myself and my health.

The card in the "attend to this" position was the 4 of Pentacles. This card is telling me that structure, organization and realistic planning are very important in my life at this time. I need to get myself back on track! This is something I've lost sight of over the past few months.

Today, the card that warns me of what I need to look out for was The Empress. She is telling me that I need to pay attention to my instinct as well as my rational thoughts...It is important that I don't allow one to override the other. And, as always, she is reminding me to share my feelings with those that I love!

3 card daily draw

2009-12-07T12:04:00.001-05:00

This week, I decided to go to a 3 card daily draw for myself. Since I'm doing an IDS with the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, I thought this would be the best deck choice for this week. This deck was designed by Cristina Benintende. After working with it in the IDS, I'm beginning to like the deck more. I do not believe it will ever be one of my favourites, but at least we're making friends!

The reason I chose to do a 3 card daily draw rather than drawing a single card is because I need more to work with at this time in my life. I need to know more than a single card draw is giving me. The majority of the single cards that I have been drawing have been major cards, signifying major events and changes in my life. I believe that drawing 3 cards for each day will allow me a better perspective on these changes.

Position 1 (upper middle) is the 'card for the day'. This card reflects important aspects of the day ahead. The Queen of Chalices was in this position.

Since I've been working very hard at keeping my emotions under control, this card is a very good overall card for me today. The Queen of Chalices is a card about compassion and emotional understanding...She is telling me to look within myself and analyze my feelings and emotions. She also reminds me to pay attention to my intuition. It cannot be ignored.

Position 2 (lower left) is the card that tells me what I must attend to today, or what is going to require attention in my life today. Judgement was the card thrown in this position.

I believe this card is telling me to develop new insight on handling my relationships with the people I am close to. Things like this can be hard to remember in times of stress. I believe this card is also urging me to contemplate the life that we will be leaving behind here, once we move forward.

Position 3 (lower right) is the card that tells me what to look out for today - feelings, desires, or reactions that may arise...The card was Temperance. (I am still on a roll with the Major Arcana, obviously!)

Temperance is telling me to work on my mental and emotional balance. I know that I need to throw a bit of rationality into the mix, and I've really been trying. I need to work on NOT over-reacting to everything, and achieve an inner balance that will allow me to remain calm and patient.

The High Priestess - daily draw

2009-12-06T16:37:00.000-05:00

This is The High Priestess from the Legacy of the Divine tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

By far, this is one of my favourite Major arcana cards in any deck, and is often one of the cards I want to see before choosing a deck for myself.

This card represents sacred truth and hidden knowledge. She urges you to follow your intuition, and always remain receptive and aware. She also warns of secrets, and silent potential. Look deeper than usual...The truth and knowledge are there, but you have to open yourself to them.

Now, to pick a deck for this week! I may go to a three card daily reading, as opposed to single card.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-12-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

This is the 9 of Wands from the Legacy of the Divine tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

Quite a 'sensible' daily draw to follow The Hermit!

This card indicates that it is time for me to regroup and build my strength in order to move on. I have to acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses, and be very careful not to fall into the same traps again.

Emotionally, the past month has been very difficult. It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride for both of us. We've had more than our share of obstacles and challenges, and I haven't related well at all to the way I've been dealing with things. I've had alot of stress in my life, but I've never succumbed to it the way I have in the past couple of weeks.

This card reminds me that I can handle anything that comes my way, but I have to call on my inner reserves to do it.

I needed this card today.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-12-03T12:05:00.001-05:00

This is The Hermit from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti. This is one of my favourite renderings of the entire deck.

It is a beautifully moving card, and if someone has difficulty reading intuitively with this image, they probably shouldn't be trying to read intuitively at all!

The Hermit is a very apt card for me today, as I am trying to work on the way I feel and react to different situations. I bring alot of stress upon myself because of my emotional reactions, so The Hermit is reminding me to step back, and spend some time alone in quiet contemplation. I need to get in touch with my own inner guidance, and search for hidden truths and a deeper understanding of my reactions to the mundane world.

Today's daily draw

2009-12-02T14:04:00.001-05:00

This is The World, from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

It has been 8 days since I drew this same card from a different deck.

Honestly, I feel as if I should be drawing the Hanged Man daily. We are truly in limbo, and unable to get information on what is happening with our immigration. The Hanged Man would be very appropriate!

But, I continue to draw daily cards that are encouraging...Cards that tell me that something is happening...Something is changing. My hopes and expectations have been quite the roller coaster ride for me over the past month.

The World represents completion, a natural ending for something.

Yesterday, we finally received a response to the last email we had sent to the Montreal Consulate, but only after filing a complaint with the NVC about their refusal to answer emails. They informed us that our case had not been touched yet...They were still working on mail received the last of October. Our packet was not received in their office until November 4th.

Hearing this forced me to change the way I am thinking. I had to force myself to step back from the edge, and realize that we will not make it home for the holidays. I have to tell myself that we are almost there, and this will happen soon, it's just not going to happen as soon as I want it to happen. Having hope was causing my stress level to increase, so I had to release that. I believe this is the completion or the natural ending that The World is indicating today in my life.

I let go of the stress and anxiety for my own health. I am prepared to wait.

On a side note, I had a deck that I did not care for because of the deck quality (Liz Dean's Golden Tarot) and today, I was reading about doing timing readings with a deck you don't normally use for readings. I decided that the Golden would be a good deck to use for that, since I would not be using it for anything else.

I'm sitting there shuffling, itching to try the timing theory that I had read about, and of course, the only question that comes to mind is When will we get the Visa?

I shuffled and cut, and the 2 of Wands was the card that I got. 2 days??? That could totally change the meaning for The World and me today!

But I will NOT let this stress me out!

General reading for a friend

2009-12-01T17:47:00.001-05:00

After doing a personal reading for myself failed to calm me, I decided to move on to a reading that a friend of mine requested a couple of weeks ago.

She wanted a general reading. I'm not sure how serious she is about tarot, I honestly believe it was just the novelty of it that spurred her to ask for a reading, but I told her I would do one for her.

I used the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy, and a 21 card Gypsy Magic spread. This spread is based on 7 columns, with 3 cards in each column. Each column is assigned a question, and the 3 cards tell a 'story' in answer to the question.

Column A : Her emotional state of mind...

Cards: 10 of Pentacles, Page of Wands, 2 of Cups

She has strong family ties and support. She is happy. She may be concerned about a parent or in law at this time. She is optimistic, and has high hopes. She may even be considering a career change at this time. She is experiencing emotional change with either a new relationshp of intensified feelings in an old relationship.

Column B: Her home life...

Cards: The World, 9 of Cups, 3 of Wands

She has reached a long time goal and is feeling a sense of completion in this area of her life. Her desires are fulfilled on the home front - she is satisfied with the material happiness and financial well being that she has achieved. Even though she is happy with where she is in life, she continues to set more goals for the future. She is ambitious, and there is much more that she wants.

Column C: Her present desires, hopes and questions...

Cards: The Star, Queen of Swords, High Priestess

She is seeking spiritual happiness and inspiration. She would like to tap into her hidden potential and psychological depths, if she could only find the time and the focus. She sometimes wonders what it would feel like to have some time to herself - to get back to who she really is beyond being a wife, mother and teacher.

Column D: Her expectations...

Cards: 6 of Pentacles, The Sun, Justice

She wants what she feels she deserves from life. There is a strong indication from these cards that she desires a promotion or change in her career. She wants to continue to help others, but she also wants success and self fulfillment. She wants recognition.

Column E: What she does not expect / surprises...

Cards: 6 of Wands, 10 of Cups, King of Wands

She will receive the recognition she deserves - again, these cards point towards a promotion or career change. She will be rewarded in all matters of love/emotion/family relationships and spiritual growth. She will become exactly who she wanted to be when she 'grew up'. She will receive sound advice from a mature male in her life - someone she doesn't expect to receive advice from. She will take this advice to heart, and it will help her achieve what she wants.

Column F: Her immediate future...

Cards: Ace of Wands, The Hermit, Ace of Swords

Lots of important things will happen fairly quickly. These cards indicate the start of a new venture or intellectual enterprise and new experiences - most likely something positive and rewarding will come out of something painful or bad. She will seek the advice of someone who is very important to her future...She will need their assistance to make an important decision. It may be a spiritual advisor, or a teacher - someone she will learn from.

Column G: Her outcome and long term prospects...

Cards: Queen of Wands, 7 of Swords, 8 of Swords

Again, career is at the top of the reading. A promotion or career change is imminent, and she will be very successful at this. She should beware of someone doing something underhanded or deceitful, or of being pushed into a corner where she has to do something underhanded or deceitful herself. She may feel trapped or stuck in a difficult situation, but she needs to keep in mind that her limitations may be self imposed, and if they are, she can extricate herself.

General personal reading

2009-12-01T16:38:00.000-05:00

Since I'm doing an IDS with the Tarot of the Sweet Twilight (by Cristina Benidente), and I was trying to have a nice, low key, relaxed day because of problems with my blood pressure, I thought it would be a good afternoon to do a non specific reading for myself.

I am using Tarot of the Sweet Twilight for all personal readings while doing the IDS. This is a deck that I am really on the fence about, but since I know that something attracted me to this deck initially, I am trying to give it a fighting chance before I pass it on to someone else.

I must admit that the two personal readings I have done with this deck have been amazingly accurate, but I believe this is due to my own tarot knowledge and intuition, rather than my intuitive reading with the imagery in the deck!

Under normal circumstances, working with tarot calms me, so with the health problems I've been having, I chose to do a reading. I can't say that it calmed me, but it certainly was accurate for where I am today.

The spread was a 10 card spread, called the "Star Maiden Wheel". I am unsure of where I got this spread, but I believe it came from Aeclectic Tarot's spread folder.

Card 1: What is in my heart?

The card was the Knave of Wands.

I am consumed by receiving news regarding Pete's immigration/Visa. This is affecting me on so many different levels right now, including my racing hard and elevated blood pressure. This card represents the message I need to hear right now. It is all I can think of.

Card 2: How others view me...

The card was the King of Wands.

People see me as being in charge of myself and my life. I used to be that person, and no one really realizes how much I have changed, and how much the circumstances I have been in have caused me to change. Nothing is in my control anymore. I no longer feel strong.

Card 3: Where I have been...

The card was the 3 of Wands.

I drew another card for clarification, it was the Knight of Wands. (Funny, I rarely have wands in my own personal readings - this shows how much my life has transformed over the past few days/weeks.)

I have been in limbo, yet my circumstances have been constantly changing. I feel as if I've been spinning my wheels for the past 7 years, going nowhere and everywhere, all at the same time.

Card 4: My health...

The card was The Tower.

Not exactly a stress reliever, under any circumstances...But it is a true indication of my health at this time. I'm going to have to take care of myself and get my thoughts and emotions under control, before I crumble completely.

Card 5: Who I really am right now...

The card was the 10 of Swords.

I'm in such a dark place that I am not myself at all. I have hit rock bottom physically and mentally, and I'm on the verge of being seriously ill. I am very depressed, and my current situation is very depressing.

Card 6: My love...

The card was the Ace of Pentacles.

I need a chance to improve our situation and our life together as a family. I need to see a light at the end of the tunnel for us. We have a wonderful relationship - the kids and Pete and I...We just need the opportunity to stand on firm ground for once in our life as a family.

Card 7: My relationship with family and friends...

The card was The Chariot.

I've been balancing it all with my relationships for so long, and it's been completely out of my control. It's as if I chose one path and everyone else chose another. I just want to make that journey home and get back to my life, a life that includes my husband. I want to get back on course and regain control. Everything else will fall into place if I can do this. My friends and family are waiting for me.

Card 8: What I want...

The card was the 5 of Cups.

I want to feel hope and optimism. I want the pain and misery that we've all been through to end.

Card 9: Work situation...(I should have changed this one before starting the reading!)

The card was the 8 of Wands.

I want to go back to work. I want to go home. I want to do both quickly.

Card 10: Outcome...

The card was the Knave of Chalices.

I will soon receive happy emotional news that will enable me a sort of rebirth - a reprieve from the feelings I am having right now. My children will play a huge part in this.

Today's daily draw

2009-12-01T11:52:00.001-05:00

This is the 4 of Swords from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

Drawing this card for the day reminds me that it is time for rest and relaxation. I need to take a 'time out' from the stress I have been under for the past few weeks.

This is a very fitting card for me today. I've been having problems with my blood pressure, and with all the chaos and confusion we've had recently, it's not surprising. This card tells me that I must look after myself, and get this under control. If I cannot do this, I may wind up having to seek medical help, and that is the last thing I want to do here.

So, today will be a quiet one, focused on calming my mind and slowing my heart rate.

There is nothing quite like being slapped upside the head with a tarot card to know what needs to be done!

Blanket Tarot Bags

2009-11-30T14:51:00.001-05:00

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-30T10:32:00.000-05:00

This is the 10 of Coins from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti.

This is one of the most amazing decks I have ever seen, and I will be using it this week for my daily draws. I highly recommend this deck for any tarot enthusiast - beginner and experienced alike. It's a wonderful deck for reading intuitively.

This is a wonderful card for a daily draw. The 10 of Coins represents family ties and support, and comfort on a material plane. It may even indicate an inheritance or financial assistance in some way. This card can also indicate government work, and I am very hopeful that this is indicative of the immigration proceedings for us.

I have an amazing support system in my family, small as it is. If it weren't for them, I don't know how I would have gotten through these last few years dealing with immigration and everything else. My children are my life, and the entire reason we have been struggling to return to the US to live.

We have a very small family, but we are very close. I have two fantastic adult children, and both of them are my best friends. I sometimes believe that both of them are stronger than I could ever be. I have a son in law whom I love dearly, and an elderly grandmother who is a constant source of entertainment.

One of the most exciting things about going home will be merging my family together once and for all, and allowing my children to get to know my husband better. It's something I've only fantasized about for years.

It is something to truly look forward to!

Lunatic Spread with Deviant Moon Tarot

2009-11-29T17:29:00.000-05:00

This spread was done for a querent considering a career change - one that will be risky but less demanding so that she can pursue her artistic talents on the side. She is concerned about leaving the more demanding job to seek other employment that will allow more time for her art, and rightfully so in the economic situation we are in these days.

I chose the Lunatic Spread and the Deviant Moon Tarot, by produced by Patrick Valenza.

The question was phrased as: "What will happen if nothing changes for the querent career wise?"

Card 1 represents the querent now.

The card was the King of Wands.

Her passion and creativity are telling her to do one thing, but her rational mind tells her otherwise. She is torn between following her heart and following her head.

Card 2 represents past influences regarding her current situation.

The card was the 5 of Wands.

She has had a struggle or conflict of some sort, and I strongly feel this was in the work place. This has made her uncomfortable with her current situation.

Card 3 represents her subconscious influences.

The card was the Page of Pentacles.

Money and success are your main concerns at this time. She would really like to continue her education as far as her art goes, but that's not even a consideration right now. Security is her main worry.

Card 4 represents her secret desires and wishes.

The card was the 3 of Pentacles.

She just wants to pursue her artistic side, and there isn't a card that would say it any plainer than that. She would love to be able to generate enough income through her skills, and she is talented enough to do so. She will eventually turn those dreams into reality!

Card 5 represents hidden forces, or obstacles.

The card was The Chariot.

She's worried about how much control she will actually have over her life if she follows her heart right now. She isn't sure she wants to give up the security that she has right now. She is at a crossroad, and has to make a choice now.

Card 6 represents events yet to come.

The card was the Wheel of Fortune

Things are going to change very soon, and they will change for the better. The change may happen very rapidly, and she may not have to do a thing. She will be entering a cycle of luck and good fortune, and her circumstances are going to improve.

Card 7 represents the surrounding environment.

This card was The Lovers.

Again, she has a choice to make, and this choice will play a very important role in her life. She's going to have to choose a direction to take, but this card in this position seems a bit more important than the job situation. So the choice may be regarding a relationship or family situation...

Card 8 represents the influence of others.

This card was the Ace of Wands.

I believe she has an excellent support system for whatever she chooses to do. Alot of people care for her deeply, and want nothing more than her happiness.

Card 9 represents the spiritual forces.

The card was the King of Swords.

There is an overwhelming amount of strong, controlling male influences showing up in this reading, and at this point, they are getting very hard to ignore. I feel as if there is an authority figure that is influencing her decision more than anything else, and he may be unaware of her spirituality.

Card 10 represents the outcome.

The card was The Emperor

I believe she will receive a job promotion, or find a better job soon. She will become exactly who she wants to be, and she will be well respected in the art world. She must act responsibly in order to obtain this.

This reading was very heavy on masculine energy. The Major Arcana cards and the court cards indicate that this matter must be handled very carefully, and the choices that she makes should be well thought out, because the effects of those choices will be profound. I got an overall impression of a controlling male influence that I was unable to shake throughout the reading. I'm not sure whether it was a father figure or not.

Today's daily draw

2009-11-29T12:49:00.000-05:00

This is the Knight of Pentacles from the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

This card is my 'reality check' card. I've drawn it twice over the past couple of weeks, so it's time to sit up and take notice.

The Knight of Pentacles in an upright position indicates slow and steady progress, new people and experiences, and prosperity in financial matters in general.

As a reversed card, it indicates financial instability, delays, and dire circumstances.

I don't generally read with reverses. I try to utilize both the positive and negative aspects of each card, and allow my intuition to choose the proper meaning according to the situation. This method has never failed me.

I've been trying overly hard to be optimistic for the past few weeks, as we wait patiently for the Visa to arrive. I'm beginning to lose hope of being home for the holidays, and depression is setting in. Our financial situation is not good at this time - both of us are unemployed and jobs are hard to come by, especially when you know that you aren't going to even be in the area for very much longer.

So, I think it's time to allow myself to wander into the darker meanings behind the cards that I draw, instead of trying to maintain the optimism.

The negative aspects of this card today certainly fit our current situation, but we are still achieving slow and steady progress towards our ultimate goal.

I will merge the darkness into the light.

Today's daily draw

2009-11-28T12:06:00.001-05:00

This is the Queen of Cups from the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

If I ever feel the need to use a significator in a personal reading, this is the card I choose for myself.

She is the queen of emotions - and being an empath, there isn't a card in the deck that relates to me more appropriately.

This card is about sensitivity, intuition, dreams, and psychic abilities. The Queen of Cups represents the special love we have for friends and family, and how much our intuition guides us through our lives in these areas.

I will spend some time today nurturing the Queen of Cups within me. I will listen to my inner voice, and try to keep my emotions under control. I will look a bit deeper to determine where they are coming from, and what I can do to make things better.

Today's daily draw

2009-11-27T17:31:00.000-05:00

No picture today! I can't get a decent one this late in the evening without using the flash, and if I use the flash, you can't see the image!

Today, I used the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy. The card I drew was Justice.

I seem to be on a roll with the Major Arcana and court cards lately. And it's not surprising...Important things are happening in my life, while I sit on the sidelines and wait...And wait...

The Justice card signfies being judged. In an upright position, it usually points towards a fair outcome, a restoration of balance. This card also warns me to be careful and fair and weigh all decisions that I have to make.

Right now, our lives are in the governments hands, waiting for my husband's Visa to arrive. It's been a long hard road, and all of the cards I've drawn recently seem to revolve around our current situation being resolved fairly.

I just wish something would happen...I'm so tired of waiting, and after 7 years, I believe I've been more than patient.

Yesterday's daily draw

2009-11-27T17:02:00.001-05:00

This is The Moon from the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

It's actually one of my favourite cards from this deck.

The Moon warns of deceit and illusion. This card tells me to pay attention to my dreams and intuition. I need to give special thought to my psychic awareness. If I am deceiving myself in any manner, I need to consider this, and try to get to the bottom of the reason I am deceiving myself to start with. It may also be that I'm being deceived by someone else, but in this case, I truly believe I am deceiving myself on a specific matter.

It also encourages me to pursue creative avenues.

More tarot bags

2009-11-27T17:01:00.001-05:00

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-25T15:56:00.001-05:00

This is the Queen of Swords from the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

I seem to draw alot of swords when reading for myself these days!

The Queen of Swords reminds me to use my intellect and my will wisely...I must listen to my head rather than my heart. She may even represent me, as myself, as I'm very analytical, and very dependent on my insightfulness to get me through the day. She also represents sarcasm and wit - and those who know me well will vouch that I can be quite heavy on both!

This is a card that represents solitary efforts. I have a tendency to want to 'go it alone', but I must be able to realize when this is possible and when it is not. She tells me to make my wants and needs clear - no beating around the bush with this lady.

She also reminds me that while it is sometimes necessary to allow my rational to rule over my emotions, trying to always be rational and logical can suppress my emotional expression too much.

This was a very good card for me today...A bit of a 'wake up' call - one I didn't really realize that I needed!

Career spread for clarification

2009-11-24T15:44:00.001-05:00

This spread was done with the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

It was done as a clarification spread for someone, after an initial spread regarding career choices was done a week ago. In my opinion, the initial spread told her what she needed to know, but she wanted to pursue the matter further. She recently lost her job, and is trying to determine whether to venture out on her own with a business, or seek employment with someone else. The initial spread encouraged her to seek a job working for someone else, while attempting to get her own business off the ground. I expected much the same from this spread.

I used a 9 card career spread posted on Aeclectic tarot by member Netzach. I really like this spread and will most likely use it again.

Out of 9 cards, 5 were Major Arcana cards, so this is a very significant answer for the querent.

Card 1 represents the querent, now.

The card was The Tower.

She recently lost her job, so at this point, she is feeling as if everything has tumbled around her. She suffered loss and a reversal in finances, and things have changed drastically.

Card 2 represents how the querent is feeling about the future now.

The card was The Empress.

She is concerned about her family and making the right choices in order to provide for them. She is feeling blocked right now because of emotional stress and financial worries.

Card 3 represents the direction she needs to go in.

The card was The Fool.

She wants to take a leap into the unknown, but deep down, she knows that this is not her best bet for security and success. Once again, I believe this card is cautioning the querent to be cautious about her choices. She shouldn't go with her heart at this point, she needs to be logical and rational and go with what her head is telling her. She stands to lose alot by making a poor decision right now based on poor judgement. She needs to act responsibly, and choose the most secure path at this point, which I believe is seeking employment elsewhere while working to build up her own business on the side.

Card 4 represents the obstacles she will face.

The card was the Queen of Cups.

Her emotions are interfering with her ability to make the right choice. She will need to pay special attention to her hunches and intuition at this time, and she should beware of the possibility that someone is trying to deceive her in some way - it may be simply by telling her what she wants to hear rather than what they truly believe.

Card 5 represents who she should accept advice from.

The card was the Ace of Swords.

As a person, this card represents someone in her life who is very logical and authoritative, and possibly very controlling. It may be someone who is affiliated with the legal system, or the medical profession in some way.

Card 6 represents who she should NOT accept advice from.

The card was The Hierophant.

With these two cards opposing each other, I get a very strong sense that this is a decision she should make alone, without any input from outside forces. As a person, The Hierophant could be a minister or a teacher, BUT, it could also be someone in a legal profession or medical profession, which is contradictory to the last card reflecting who she SHOULD take advice from. For this reason, I believe she should rely on herself alone to make this decision.

She knows deep down what needs to be done.

Cards 7, 8 and 9 represent a general assessment of what she should do.

The cards were The Sun, the Knight of Pentacles, and the Four of Wands.

These cards are telling her to do what is important to her, and what she finds rewarding, but she also needs to do what is realistic and will offer her hope and optimism for long term. This may mean delaying something that she really wants in order to achieve it. If she takes the best path (two jobs - working for someone else and for herself) she will be making slow and steady progress towards her ultimate goal of having her own business. It will all pay off in the end, even though it may not be what she wants right now. She will be insuring her long term success with the actions she takes today. It will be a stage of growth and development for her own business, which will eventually become a reality.

Personal spread for near future

2009-11-24T13:52:00.000-05:00

I am currently doing an IDS with Tarot of the Sweet Twilight, by Cristina Benintende, so all of my personal spreads will be done with this deck until I've finished the IDS.

This spread was done because of all the daily cards I've been throwing for myself. They all indicate that change is occuring, but I cannot see it happening.

We are currently awaiting my husband's Visa from the US Consulate in Montreal, and the wait is excrutiating. The immigration process has been very long and very drawn out, and knowing that we are at the end of it has made our stress level much more intense than it was before. I'm very eager to go home and get my life back in order. The passport and necessary paperwork have been in Montreal for over 2 weeks, and we are unable to contact them for the status, so we're living every day, anxiously awaiting news.

Since all my daily draws were indicating that 'something' was happening, I decided to take a more thorough look at matters with this spread.

I used 8 cards, with assigned positions. This spread came from member rcb30872 on Aeclectic Tarot.

Card 1 asked: What challenges are we facing?

The card in this position was The Sun.

The Sun is an optimistic card, it's very difficult to find a negative aspect to it. But, in this case, I believe the delayed success we are experiencing at this point in time is the only challenge we face. This card indicates this, but also tells me that it will all work out in the end.

Card 2 asked: How do we face these challenges?

The card in this position was the Knight of Wands.

This card is all about change, journeys / traveling, and matters of importance - a very accurate portrayal of the things we are facing at this point in time. The Knight of Wands tells us that we need to have energy, enthusiasm and optimism to get through this. Someone from far away may lend their assistance.

Card 3 asked: What will be the outcome of facing these challenges?

The card in this position was the 5 of Wands.

The 5 of Wands tells us that success will come, but we will have to be assertive and aggressive to achieve what we want. Once this is all resolved, we will feel immense relief that the struggle is over.

Card 4 asked: What love opportunities will we have?

The card in this position was the 4 of Pentacles.

I believe this card may represent two different aspects. The kids and Pete are going to have to go through an adjustment period. They have never 'shared' me on a full time basis, and I believe this will be a transition for all of them, as well as myself. I also believe that this card indicates the growth that will occur in all of our relationships because of the changing circumstances. We will all be together, and my time will not be divided between them.

Card 5 asked: What career opportunities will I have?

The card in this position was the 6 of Chalices.

This could indicate that I may find work through an old friend or acquaintance, or simply that I will be returning to my old line of work in healthcare, which I have missed very much.

Card 6 asked: What financial opportunities will we have?

The card in this position was the Knave of Swords - this confused me a bit, so I threw another card for clarification...It was Temperance.

We will need to use moderation and wise money management in order to get back on our feet, and it may take some time. We will have to use our heads and proceed with caution.

Card 7 asked: What will our luck be like?

The card in this position is the 6 of Pentacles.

We will be rewarded by all our efforts - we will finally get what we've been striving for all this time, and it will be enough to make us very happy. We will get what we deserve, and we will be able to help others.

Card 8 asked: What will our overall near future be like as a result of the above?

The card in this position is the 9 of Wands.

We will still have hurdles to clear, but we will be on firm ground and able to do so. Life won't be simple for awhile, but with what we are facing, that's no surprise.

This was the first time I have used this spread, and overall, I like it. I would probably change up some of the questions for the next time I use it, but I am content with the answers I got.

I just have to be patient, and continue the wait.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-24T12:37:00.001-05:00

This is the Ace of Swords from the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

Considering this card and the cards I've thrown daily for the past week, I believe it's time to do an 'in depth' reading for the near future. My expectations are high, but I feel as if I'm spinning my wheels.

The Ace of Swords depicts strength in adversity. We've certainly had our share of adversity of late, but I'm not feeling overly strong. I ask the question "What do I need to know today" before my draws, and I believe the Ace of Swords is trying to remind me that better days are very close, I just have to keep my sanity and remain strong and mentally alert to get there!

This card denotes the beginning of something promising, and this will come out of the struggles we've been going through. I just have to remember that the hurdles must be cleared...But most of all, she is reminding me that I have the power to clear them!

Another tarot bag design

2009-11-23T11:58:00.001-05:00

This bag was made with my Paulina Tarot deck in mind. I wanted something soft and pretty to match the deck.

I used 3 layers of fabric gift wrap, with the top two layers being gossamer white, and the bottom layer being red. This produced a very pale red effect, almost pink.

The bag is a little stiff, so I will probably refrain from using 3 layers in the future.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-23T11:49:00.001-05:00

This week, I will be working with the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy.

This is one of my favourite tarot decks! I love the renderings the artist chose. It's a 'soft' deck, and I find it very feminine.

The card for today is The World. When doing my daily draws, I simply ask the cards what I need to know, and draw a card for the day.

The World card for today tells me that something in my life is reaching a natural conclusion. I am at the end of one phase of my life, and preparing to move on to another. This card also symbolizes success, freedom and peace, and may even represent enlightenment and spiritual well being. Traveling or journey-ing is often indicated with this card.

This is a wonderful card for me at this point in my life. We are anxiously awaiting my husband's Visa from the US Consulate, and preparing to begin a new life together in the area that I grew up in. I am very hopeful that drawing this card today indicates that this will be something we can do in the immediate future.

Come on, Visa!!!

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-22T12:31:00.001-05:00

This is the 3 of Pentacles from the Deviant Moon Tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

Another card regarding work and creative abilities! That's three pentacles in a row for daily draws, so I really need to sit up and take notice.

This card reflects the early stages of something - something with potential that is just beginning. It tells me that I am off to a good start, and that I need to pursue avenues that will make my talents known, and cultivate this.

I have been very busy the past few days designing tarot bags and doing readings. I believe these last 3 cards are telling me to look deeper into what I'm doing - it's something I enjoy, but it's also something I may be able to profit from financially.

More tarot bag designs

2009-11-21T13:54:00.000-05:00

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-21T13:50:00.001-05:00

This is the Knight of Pentacles from the Deviant Moon Tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

The Knight of Pentacles suggests that we are making slow and steady progress towards a goal, most likely related to material concerns. Hopefully, this is an indication that our immigration finalization is on someone's desk, and they are almost ready to stamp that Visa in his passport!

This card also indicates new people and new experiences in life, as well as financial improvements. Right now, we could use a little of both!

Tarot bags from fabric gift wrap

2009-11-20T19:39:00.001-05:00

Tarot bag for my husband

2009-11-20T12:11:00.001-05:00

This is another bag made out of that old faded pair of jeans that I could not bear to throw away!

I made this one for my husband, and the Eye of Horus is hand sewn in sequins.

If I do another like this, I believe I will alternate the sequin colours rather than do solid 'lines' of single colours.

This one is smaller than the one I made for my Deviant Moon deck - but it fits his Gilded Tarot perfectly!

Tarot bag for Tarot of a Moon Garden

2009-11-20T12:09:00.001-05:00

This was my first tarot deck, so I thought it deserved a good home.

This bag is made from fabric gift wrap, and is lined with the same. The sequins were sewn by hand in the shape of a pentacle.

Tarot Bag for Faeries' Oracle

2009-11-20T12:06:00.001-05:00

This bag was made for my Faeries' Oracle deck.

The faeries were insistent that they be able to 'see' out of the bag!

I purchased this material around Halloween, and liked it so much that I also made a large spread cloth out of it, bejeweled with multi-coloured sequins all around the edge.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-20T11:58:00.001-05:00

This is the 8 of Pentacles from the Deviant Moon Tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

A very appropriate card for my daily draw today!

I've recently started making tarot bags, and have had several requests for them, so today is going to be spent working creatively and designing bags for various decks and by request.

The 8 of Pentacles focused on talent and craftsmanship, but it also has to do with doing something that you love...Something you can put your heart into! Since tarot is somewhat of an obsession for me, what could possibly be more enjoyable than designing beautiful tarot bags and spread cloths for the cards?

Denim Tarot Bag

2009-11-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

I was quite bored yesterday, and decided to drag out the sewing machine and work on some tarot bags for myself.

I had an old worn out pair of blue jeans that should have been discarded long ago, but you know how that is...The old ones are the most comfortable ones, and it is difficult to part with them.

Normally, I prefer having my tarot decks in silk or satin bags, but it dawned on me that for my favourite deck, what could possibly be more appropriate than to wrap them in my favourite pair of worn out jeans!

This is the end result. I did the sequins by hand, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. My Deviant Moon Tarot is nestled snuggle-y inside!

I plan to make another one today for my husband, but will sew the Eye of Horus on his in sequins.

Anything to fill my days!

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

This is the King of Swords from the Deviant Moon Tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

The Swords must really be trying to tell me something this week!

The King of Swords represents authority, rationality and control. He is also very fair in all of his decisions, and extremely analytical.

Today, in my life, I believe this card is telling me that a decision that I have been waiting for will be made. This thought is compounded by yesterday's card, the Page of Swords.

My deepest hope is that this has something to do with my husband's Visa being issued, as we are awaiting this in hopes that we can return home for the holidays.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-18T11:22:00.000-05:00

This is the Page of Swords from the Deviant Moon Tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

This card represents a need for quick thinking and decisiveness today. The Page urges me to remain logical and fair in every decision that I make.

Since Pages often represent messengers, and swords are the suit of thought, this card could indicate unexpected news.

When I draw a card like this, it seems I always anticipate the worse. We are currently awaiting news on two different issues in our lives, so drawing this card for the day can really make me second guess myself if I allow it to happen.

In reality, unexpected news isn't always bad news, it's just unexpected! And it never hurts to be reminded to use your head rather than your heart in certain matters!

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-17T12:53:00.000-05:00

This is the 9 of Pentacles from the Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza.

The rendering depicts an affluent lady, out for a leisurely walk with her favourite pet.

This is a card about self and independence. We should always be able to rely on ourselves and be self sufficient.

In this card, she is comfortable being alone, and enjoying her status in life. She is in control of herself, but this doesn't mean she didn't work hard to get to this point. It's nice to be able to relax and enjoy the rewards that you've worked so hard for.

I believe she is content in her own skin, with her own thoughts, and this is very important. While she may not relish being alone, she is capable of going solo without any ill effects on her psyche.

I believe the message this card brings to me today is that I've allowed others to take care of me and my needs long enough. I need to stand on my own two feet and regain my independence. I used to be this woman, and I can be her once again.

Today's Daily Draw

2009-11-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

This week, I will be working with the Deviant Moon Tarot, by Patrick Valenza.

I absolutely love this tarot deck. I find it to be humorous and quirky, and I get amazing readings by using this deck. However, I only use it for certain people - mainly those who can relate to it on the level that it was intended. It is a very blunt deck, and if you don't want the truth, you should never consult it. But Patrick designed it so that it can also make you see the humour in places you wouldn't normally expect to find it.

The card for today is The Sun!

I love it when this card comes up in readings! It brightens my day, much like the actual sun in the sky.

And this card truly represents a ray of sunlight coming into your life... Today is full of hope and optimism. I've not had too many days like this recently, so I welcome it with open arms.

I am a sun worshiper - always have been, and I have the skin to prove it! This card makes me think of good fortune and happy times spent with loved ones. There is nothing any more relaxing and rejuvenating to me than spending a day at the beach, basking in the sun's glow. It is funny that I should draw this card for today...We've had very unusual warm weather over the past couple of weeks, and today is the first day the impending winter has shown itself. This card makes me feel warm, and happy to be alive, even if the inclement weather is winding up outside.

This card also represents illumination on a mental and spiritual level.

I am optimistic that this day will be a good one!

My tarot assistant...

2009-11-15T20:44:00.001-05:00

Jack, our 3 year old male cat, insists on helping me with my tarot readings.

As soon as he hears me shuffling the cards, he appears from nowhere, and plants himself between me and the spread. He seems to be drawn to it, and he doesn't interfere. In fact, the readings done with him seem to be more intense, and they flow very well.