Our New Home!

When we think about the big things that happen in life, buying a new home is right up there with the biggest.  We did not really intend to move just now, but opportunity has knocked and we have flung the door open.  We are onward to bigger and better, and I am excited, if not a little nervous for the logistics of a move while I am nearly incapacitated.

Like anyone, I am eager to know how we will fare in our new home, and I asked my cards to tell me the deal.  My previous readings when contemplating the move were all in favor, which surprised me as I would have thought they would argue for staying put as I heal, but I saw happiness, financial growth, and an ease of energy I was not expecting.  I do not make my decisions based on the cards alone, but they sure do offer clarity in times of confusion!

Tarot by Alexander Daniloff 2012- Five of Swords, The Fool, Two of Swords

The Five of Swords is related directly to the Shadow Card, which we will look at shortly, and also my  reading of yesterday, which talked about leaving some things behind, and doing so willingly or not, it is still going to happen.  Here I see a man who has made a stand.  He has dropped some Swords but is keeping some, and he is no longer running.  He stops here, and he looks boldly at us from his solid position.  That is indicative of my husband and myself.  We have compromised.  We have done what we were "supposed" to do, and here is where we find ourselves.  It doesn't matter, because we are triumphant, and in this card, there are no retreating figures, so there is no worry about being triumphant over a particular person or integrity issues in that triumph.  We just win in the situation, against the odds.  The housing market is in the toilet.  We feared being able to sell our home for what we paid for it, but we have managed not only to do that but even better and to find another home we can afford that will suit us even better than this one has.

In my three card free form Daily Draw readings I am inclined to give the central card the most weight, and The Fool as a Major Arcana would be the most important card in this reading by its' nature of being a Major Arcana.  A new home is a new journey!  The Sun in the upper right hand corner and the Moon just below show our optimism and our emotions are riding high right now and of course our pets, like the Fool's dog, will be going along with us.  This rendition of the Fool shows him crossing a bridge that I see as made of a Wand, symbolizing spirit and passion, to another cliff.  He is not simply walking off, and neither are we.  It would be nerve wracking to cross a chasm on a small log, but if you are confident and careful it is easily done.  It is nervous right now as we prepare for this move but it is good too.  We have a plan and as long as we stick to it we are gonna be just fine.  The owl at his head equals wisdom to me, so despite the name, he is not foolish, and neither are we.  It is exciting, and we are jovial, but our eyes our wide open as we make this move.

The Two of Swords specifically indicates me to me, and that has to do with the placement of the Moon symbolism, which I see as femininity and emotions, right there at the root chakra, having to do with sex, money, and power.  When I see the strong symbols for emotions in the Moon and the water in the background, this card really does hold it all, and the woman is bursting through into that.  I see this as my home to own, to shine in, to build upon, and I see it as a place where all aspects of ourselves are safe to express.  I am blindfolded, which reinforces the energy of The Fool, especially as they look in towards each other, because we can't know everything that will happen, but just have to have faith that we have all the tools to deal spectacularly with whatever may come.

I moved into this house with my husband, but it has never felt exactly like home to me, through no fault of my handsome man.  The new home, though, already feels like just that, home.  I can see that I have a lot of high hopes for this move to push some stuck energy, but I have to be honest with myself that while the move will help, it is not the solution to all my problems.

Daniloff Tarot- The Emperor

The Shadow Card is The Emperor, and I am so happy to see him appear.  Home is sacred, home deserves protection, and he shows up here in his commanding glory to remind us to place our boundaries strong, because good fences do make for good neighbors.  He is strong, and he reminds us to be strong and protective of the things that matter most in life, which for me are my family and their sense of who they are.

He also reminds me to be disciplined, an issue I have in every aspect of my life.  A little organization and thrust will go far towards making this home a great one, and if the chuckleheads need some firm reminders of what home means, I will have to be willing to give them.

So excited!





These cards are from Tarot by Alexander Daniloff 2012, self published by the artist.

On Mojo

I am a month out of spinal fusion surgery, and the time has both flown by and dragged on.  I am nowhere near 100%, but I am bored and itching to write and work.

I got sick of paying my lawyer to tell my stalker's lawyer to tell the client that they wouldn't see anything they didn't like if they did not insist on following me all over the Internet, so I laid low for a while, but you know what?  I am responsible for what I put out into the world, NOT how other people find it or interpret it (or in this case, pervert and malign it).

What I am looking for today is advice on getting my tarot biz mojo back as I heal, as I swim through the chaotic waters of moving and waging a custody battle.

Tarot by Alexander Daniloff 2012- Seven of Swords, Death, The Empress

I chuckled, which is one of my favorite reactions to a reading, when I saw these cards.  "You gotta let some shit go so you can take care of what matters most" is what echoed through my head.

(PS- How beautiful is this deck?  My anniversary present from my husband, bless his sweet heart.)

You'll hear me say this over and over and over again, but there are no bad cards.  In another circumstance, with another question (your question is sooo important as you craft a reading, either on your own or with a reader) the Seven of Swords and Death may be intimidating cards, but I am asking for advice, not predicting the future, which is always in flux anyway.

As advice, I see the Seven of Swords telling me to get the hell out of Dodge, and if I have to let some things go in order to do that, so be it.  I don't need all those Swords anyway.  Where many readers stumble is applying the imagery of the cards to practical solutions for living a life, so as a practical application I see that I have my head, since these are Swords dealing with thoughts and communications, full, and that is filling up my life in a way that making me crazy (hopefully just figuratively).  I see the figure fleeing from the circus, which for most of us may be a fun place to visit for a few hours, but would be a confusing place to live our lives.  At least it would be for me.  I thrive on order and structure, but my life recently feels very disordered and like I am reacting to instead of planning my life.  The imagery of this card calls back to the Chariot, its' Major Arcana root, in the movement and the light/dark juxtaposition.

As I move into Death, I take the energy of that Seven of Swords with me so that I can see that I need to let some of my big ideas of how things "should" be, what I "should" be accomplishing so that I can accept and make the most of the way things are.  This is a Major Arcana, and as such leaves little room to argue.  A lot of what I am doing just is not working, and I am in some unworkable situations and relationships.  With no prejudice to the people involved, they are sucking up my precious time and creating drama that distracts my focus, so they have to go.  This is not the fault of any person but myself, who allowed it to go this far.  I have no ideas to figuratively kill any of the relationships off, but rather to let the part of myself that craves them go.

Looking to The Empress, the idea of letting things go so that I have energy to focus on what matters most, my family and my work, becomes emphasized.  Like many women, I feel guilty if I cannot do it all (look back at that Seven of Swords) and I feel overwhelmed and stressed when I do try to do it all.  And, let's be honest, in my physical condition I cannot do it all.  Prioritization is a must.  I also see the need to focus on my home, my family, because The Empress is the mother, and in this house I am the mother.  She also rules over creativity and all my work is creative, but I have lost myself a bit in the day to day running, and lost a little of my spark for the rest as a result.  Maybe that is one of the things up for being eliminated- I focus on what I love to do, what I can nurture, and let the rest fall into place, because while business has to get taken care of, love and passion for what I do has to come first.

I also see in this card that a happy home, good food, love, laughter, good sex, self care, are all important to getting my mojo back.  I have been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone, but I see that digging into is probably the answer for me, for now.

Daniloff Tarot- Ace of Pentacles

The Shadow Card pushes this reading even further into the zone.  The Ace of Pentacles shows my Taurean nature, my need to have stability, the fact that throughout my life I have always made my own money and taken care of myself, and how uncomfortable I am with letting the bulk of that fall on my husband right now.  It also shows how important financial growth is to me.  We have one kid in college, one about to be, and three hitting their teenage years, which is quite expensive in terms of extracurricular and school activities.  I want to give them everything.  I want to rebuild what has had to be taken out of our nest egg.  I want to have it all.  But I am reminded we can have it all.  Just not always all at once.




These cards are from Tarot by Alexander Daniloff 2012, which is self published by the artist.

Soul Mates and Twin Flames- The Difference?

Tonight on Unearthly Encounters Live! with +Mackenzie Knight was a fascinating show with Dr. Georgina Cannon, whose website is so interesting, too!

My favorite question of the evening, because I love love, and all interactions between people fascinate me, was to explain the difference between Soul Mates and Twin Flames.  In my tarot practice, I spend a lot of time with my clients explaining how I do not believe there is only one soul mate for everyone, that if the person they think is it is not behaving as if they are, that does not mean they have used up all their chances for love, and so on.  These are important questions, and I do not mind answering them over and over, because people need love and if it is important to my clients it is important to me.

Dr. Cannon explained that in her view, a Soul Mate is any person with whom we have a karmic bond, and whom we learn lessons with.  She was clear that not all Soul Mate relationships feel good and not all interactions between soul mates are positive ones.

A Twin Flame, on the other hand, is a Soul that has been split into two and inhabits two bodies.  They are drawn to each other.

Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery- Justice

I am fascinated by this concept, and I want to know what my cards have to say on the matter.  So I asked, because what else would I do?

What is the essence of a Soul Mate relationship?  Justice...  Oh you funny, ironic, cards.  Justice is inextricably bound with karma, reaping what we have sown, an equal and opposite reaction to our actions.  This certainly backs up Dr. Cannon's words, that Soul Mates are here for reapings, lessons, and to play out on a karmic stage.

The creator describes this card as "VIII.  Justice- the Cardinal Virtue- balances the Soul of Reason.  She is impartial, uses her scales to find truth, and is obligated to put truth into action.  She hands her sword to her champion, the knight, who is sworn by the code of chivalry to serve Lady Justice, defend virtue, and the honor of women.  She teaches that might does not make right but that might must serve truth and virtue."

These are qualities that can be found in romantic relationships, but they are not the primary ones most of us are seeking from our partners, on a conscious level at least, so I think the cards are supporting Dr. Cannon's theories.

Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery- Strength

What is the essence of a Twin Flames relationship?  Strength... Again, you funny, ironic cards- Robert M. Place has decided to use European numbering for his Trumps, where Justice occupies Trump VIII and Strength Trump XI.  In most decks we use in America, besides the Thoth based ones, Justice is found at Trump XI and Strength at Trump VIII.  The cards are playing with us a bit here, demonstrating that Justice and Strength are so similar, with similar virtues, and the concepts of Soul Mates and Twin Flames share that similarity.  They seem interchangeable to us at times, and sometimes the distinction is not important.

"XI.  Strength- the Cardinal Virtue- balances the Soul of Will.  She represents discipline and power.  The lion has muscular strength, yet Lady Strength guides him with the touch of her finger, as she guides the other domesticated animals.  Her power comes from self-control, love, and the lemniscate that is beyond time.  She guides the Lion because the Lion loves her.  She is the virtue of the heart."

Now, for a card we are expecting to describe romantic love, we might be looking for the Lovers, the Two of Cups, the Ace of the same suit, and Strength might seem out of place, except for that one symbol, the lemniscate, the symbol for eternity, never ending cycle, over the Lady's head.  This card demonstrates a love that is untouched by time or distance, one that is a mutually compassionate relationship, that each partner grows in and needs to be whole.  Because of the nature of the Strength card, there is no co-dependency here, no needy clingy, just pure, unadulterated love.  And the dogs.  IS there any purer love than a dog for its' master?

Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery- Temperance

What is the difference between Soul Mates and Twin Flames?  Temperance- I am not sure this card is so much explaining the difference, because really, I may have asked a dumb question, so I am getting a dumb answer, which is my fault, but explaining that we need both to function, to thrive, to grow, to become who we are truly meant to be.  Passions and emotions, love, loathing, light, dark- all of it is part of a giant cocktail and all of our lives are made up of each component.  No choices about what exactly we get, but infinite choices about how we mix those core ingredients around.

Because this reading is all Major Arcana, I believe I am working with archetypal energies, things that are certain and true about the Universe, that I may not be able to really change (not that I want to).  I think it is fully possible that Dr. Cannon's words are fresh in my head so I helped draw the cards that would support her theories, but I also think there is strong evidence that the cards are agreeing with her.  I do not know Dr. Cannon's work well, but I do know my cards, and I trust them, which is really trusting the benevolent, loving Source that powers their placement and answers, and I trust my intuition, which is really just trusting my highest self.





These cards are from The Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery, self published by Robert M. Place, available here.

Dr. Georgina Cannon on Unearthly Encounters Live!

Tonight on Unearthly Encounters Live! with +Mackenzie Knight Dr. Georgina Cannon returns to discuss past lives and interlives!  This show will be live at 8pm Eastern, and you can call in with your questions, which should be many as she is a fascinating lady with so many experiences to talk about!  You can listen in archive anytime!  Call in at (805) 285-9770, or listen right on the show page.  Hope to hear from you there!

Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery- Eight of Staffs (Wands)

I use the Eight of Wands from whatever deck I am using for the week on the blog posts I share about Unearthly Encounters Live! with Mackenzie Knight and any other radio show I am blessed to appear on because it is a card that usually means communications to me, and fast ones, like we experience with our amazing technology in this day and age.

In this deck, the creator describes the card as, "The Woodcutter- cutting down a staff, represents cutting down or back, controlling a fire, simplifying, focusing, or building a bonfire."

I find this apt for this show, for while there is no mention of communication, Internet or radio waves, we are talking about cutting through blocks so we can be who we are meant to be, through the power of hypnosis, and one of our guests', Dr. Georgina Cannon, books is in fact called Dump the Junk: A Powerful Workbook For Getting Beyond Stuck! 

 


This card is from The Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery, self published by Robert M. Place and available at his website.

Monday Luna's Day

Mondays are Moon days for me, as you probably know if you have read for long at all.  I draw The Moon every Monday, and I almost think it is a cosmic joke, or something I am unconsciously doing because I just expect to now.  There are worse things that can happen, so for now I just take it that the Moon has some powerful messages for me that I am sifting through, and that is just all right with me.

Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery- Luna (The Moon)

This is a Moon card that gives me something to hold onto, unlike most Moon cards which are all silvery light, slinking shadows, and ethereal hopes that can be glimpsed, but never really held.

I want to share creator Robert M. Place's thoughts on this card because he is such a good writer, why should I try to explain it better?  "Luna- the Moon- attempts to connect the depths of the sea with the sky.  The sea is the unconscious mind, and the sky is the superconscious mind.  Luna is a mermaid, a figure at home in both water and air.  She is Venus, Diana, and the Soul of Reason.  The lower souls have become her merhounds and she brings them with her.  This card represents the night, rest, retreat, preparation, and dreams."

I think it is staggeringly important to realize that the Soul of Reason, the connection between conscious and unconscious, has brought the lower souls of Appetite and Will with her.  She has not drowned them.  She has taught them to exist in her element, under her rule.  In my mind, this is such an important idea because I believe so strongly that those shadow parts of ourselves, what we want to pretend isn't there, what we are not proud of, are things that need to be loved, integrated, skeletons in the closet that should be taught to dance.

In this rendition, she is both Water and Air, deep emotions and deep clarity about those emotions.  So many times we want to put ourselves into a box- "I'm a thinker" "I'm a feeler" when really we are everything at every moment and our job is to ride the waves wherever they take us and let our expressions flow freely.





This card is from The Tarot of The Sevenfold Mystery self published by Robert M. Place and available here.

Free Tarot Readings on Unearthly Encounters Live!

Today, at 4pm Eastern, my gracious, beautiful, and knowledgeable co-host at Unearthly Encounters Live! +Mackenzie Knight has invited me to offer free tarot readings for you all!  Call in at (805) 285-9770 for your free mini reading, or listen via Skype or on the show page.  You have to be live to get a reading, but you can listen anytime in archive!

Rainbow Travellers Tarot- Eight of Wands

Was your Valentine's Day everything you were hoping for?  My specialty is relationship readings of all kinds, and I can help you make sure your next holidays are exactly the way you want them to be!  Kids giving you fits?  I can relate, and I can read about that, too.  Most of us are worried about money, our jobs, possible school and training.  The cards can offer great insight to all these issues, and I love being able to help people this way!

Please tune in for your reading, or listen later to find out if we might be a good fit to work together in creating the exact future you want to have!

This card is from Rainbow Travellers Tarot, self published by Carmen Waterman and available here.

Sunday Showcase- Rainbow Travellers Tarot

It's been a while since I have done a Showcase post, which is meant to show you a beautiful or unique deck that I love, but may not have time to use for a whole week soon enough for my tastes.  Lately, this has been because my back is giving me more and more issues, and I am facing a spinal fusion surgery soon.  I hope to be blogging regularly again soon, but for now my whole life is a day by day kind of thing.

Today I have chosen the Rainbow Travellers Tarot, self published by +Carmen Waterman, a beautiful deck of fantastical images that is sure to appeal to all lovers of fantasy, beautiful women and men, medieval influences, and tarot collectors and readers who love the whimsy!  My husband and both my 17 year old sons both think the deck is pretty darn cool, and it is making the rounds with me through our gaming nights as well as in my personal readings.

Carmen herself is a very knowledgeable tarotista, and the accompanying booklet offers wonderful insights into each card.  She lives in Canada, I in the US,and this particular deck was a Christmas gift from my handsome, kind, but sometimes procrastinating husband.  Carmen was an absolute doll to deal with, and she made sure the deck arrived quickly, in perfect condition, and in a lovely tie dyed bag that perfectly suits the vibe of the deck.

Here are some images for you to peruse, and I hope you will take a gander at Carmen's website, where she offers the deck, readings, and a fascinating blog of her own!

Rainbow Travellers Tarot- The High Priestess, The Hierophant, Death/Rebirth

Rainbow Travellers Tarot- The Shadows (Devil), The Star, The Sun

Rainbow Travellers Tarot- Nine of Wands, Five of Cups, Ace of Swords

Rainbow Travellers Tarot- Seven of Swords, Five of Pentacles, Mentor of Pentacles

These cards are from Rainbow Travellers Tarot, self published by Carmen Waterman, and available here.