78 Roads To Wisdom

I am the Wheel of Fortune.

2012-01-23T11:03:00.001-05:00

Today's Card of the Day was selected by a online test which asks you several multiple choice questions and reveals what Major Arcana card you are. I was told:

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

The Wheel of Fortune is a card of ups and downs. It represents the never ending Cycle of Life. No matter what happens in our lives - birth, death, divorce, job loss - the Wheel keeps revolving without care or concern for how it affects us.

Many look at the Wheel of Fortune as a portent of good luck. Some see it as a sign of a gamble, the wheel looking like a roulette wheel. Some see it as fate. I believe The Wheel shows us patterns. Not only the cause and effect of our choices and decisions, but universal patterns in life. The "secrets of the universe" are revealed by The Wheel.

The Wheel follows The Hermit in The Fool's Journey. We seek higher knowledge with The Hermit and find those answers in The Wheel. We learn that our actions have consequences. That, as Newton postulated, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." I believe that is not only Newton's Third Law of Motion, but encompasses all energy. All thoughts, words, feelings and actions have a cause and effect, an equal and opposite reaction.

After The Wheel we are asked to accept that simple truth by Justice. We are asked to accept that we control the vertical and we control the horizontal of our lives. There is no fate, except the fate we assign.

Today's card, in fact MY card (according to the online test) is The Wheel of Fortune. It came to remind me that no one else can make my business and myself a success but me. That luck comes to those who create it.

Review: The Wildwood Tarot

2012-01-20T14:25:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I decided to post about the vote on SOPA and PIPA that are upcoming in Congress on January 24, 2012. To all of you that read my post and took action, thank you. Take a look at the difference your emails, phone calls and petition signing did. To those who have not read my blog entry on SOPA and Tarot or have not taken action, please do so.

The blog I was going to write that day was a review of The Wildwood Tarot, so without further delay ...

The Wildwood Tarot - A Review

It's been a few weeks since I received The Wildwood Tarot as a Christmas Gift. I've been looking at it, shuffling the cards, and reading the book that came along with it. First I have to say, "Oh my God, it's gorgeous." I love the art work. Even my roommate, who is not a tarot enthusiast, commented on how stunning the art is.

The Wildwood Tarot grew out of the beloved Greenwood Tarot. I am not lucky enough to own the Greenwood and have never even seen, but from what I understand it is held in high regards. A check on Amazon sees used copies being sold for $900 or more.

I loved the book that accompanies the deck. It comes from a position of using tarot as a guidance tool, a tool of introspection instead of prediction. That aligns with my personal views on tarot and my reading style.

The deck renames the Major Arcana cards to be more inline with pagan traditions and the world the authors created. The mirror traditional RWS convention but twist a little bit. I enjoy the renaming and the additional meanings, sometimes deeper, sometimes completely different, the new names bring.

The Minors are also redone according to their world traditions. Instead of Swords we have Arrows. Bows instead of Wands. Stones instead of Pentacles. And Vessels instead of Cups. The journey from Ace to Ten also has a slightly different look. Each card is labelled with a meaning, Such as Injustice for the Two of Arrows, Empowerment for the Five of Bows, Exploitation for the Six of Stones, and Rebirth for the Eight of Vessels.

The cards are large, almost oversized. For me, they are too large and I don't like the feel of them. This is not a deal breaker for the deck to enter into my regular rotation. It just won't become one of my "go to" decks.

It is packaged in an attractive box that is slim, holds the deck and book, and fits nicely on my bookshelf. My only complaint about the packaging is in order to create the sleekness of the box the deck had to be split into two piles. This requires you to split the deck every time you return the deck to the box. I prefer to keep my deck in one pile. It's a small thing I know. This means that my deck just sits unprotected on top of my bookshelf until I buy a tarot bag for it.

I have not yet performed a reading with this deck, preferring to review it first. The first reading I perform with any new deck is an "Interview Spread" and that will be posted in the next few days.

Overall, The Wildwood Tarot is a beautifully designed deck with a well thought out system. It would be a nice addition to anyone's tarot shelf.

SOPA and The Tarot Community

2012-01-18T14:15:00.000-05:00

Today I was going to write a review on The Wildwood Tarot I received for Christmas. In order to do that I would need to use images like the ones on the left. If the SOPA and PIPA bills pass through the US Congress on January 24, 2012, my blog might need to be shutdown and blocked because of infringement issues.

And it wouldn't just be blogs that review tarot decks. If your website uses images from RWS or other decks in card of the day postings, spreads or in free classes the US Government would have the right to block access to your website.

What about Tarot organization websites like American Tarot Association, The Tarot Guild, TABI and Tarot Town? Yep, they could also be shut down or blocked if they use images they do not own on the websites.

Or retail websites like Llewellyn or US Games? They also could be shut down or blocked. As well as websites like Aeclectic Tarot. Wait you say, the retail sites have the legal right to use images for the products they sell. They wouldn't be shut down. Wrong!

The way SOPA and PIPA are written allows the US Attorney General to shut down or block any website they believe might have infringed on other's material and/or intellectual property without due process. Guilty until proven innocent.

But what about websites like TABI and others that are hosted outside of the United States? SOPA and PIPA would require separate DNS servers for foreign websites. They would require all websites that list or hyperlink to websites believed to infringe on copy written material and/or intellectual property to remove the link or banner ads. This means sites like Google, Bing! and Yahoo! would not only lose a significant part of their listings, but also would lose ad revenue.

Social Media sites like Facebook, Google+, or Twitter would be required to suspend any user thought to post or link to infringed property. You Tube would also have to suspend user accounts. If these sites do not suspend the users, they would be subject to fines and penalties up to and including shutdown.

Beneath the noise pollution being spouted by Congress, AFL-CIO and MPAA is a serious threat to freedom of speech and to innovation. Any group with a large enough wallet or loud enough megaphone could claim any site the do not agree with uses infringed material and Viola!! Disappearing website. Windows and Mac OS for years have allowed users to develop their own extensions for their operating systems. It is because of the ideas of others that we have modern operating systems with multi-threading and other features. Innovation often involves improving on an existing product or service.

What might not be so highly known is that Hollywood gave Congress $94,000,000 to draft and pass the bills. As Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian said on CNBC the other night:

“Why is it that when Republicans and Democrats need to solve the budget and the deficit, there’s deadlock, but when Hollywood lobbyists pay them $94 million dollars to write legislation, people from both sides of the aisle line up to co-sponsor it?”

Please support the anti-SOPA movement. If you live in the US contact your Congressman and tell him to vote NO on SOPA and PIPA. And visit SOPA STRIKE to find out more.

A New Tarot Home in 2012! Welcome to RBG Tarot!

2012-01-08T10:13:00.000-05:00

2012 has started strongly. It is riding the wave that started in 2011.

In June 2011, I started a internet Tarot presence for my Tarot Consultation service. Readings By Gary was designed to allow me to reach clients around the world and read their cards by email. It has been a successful trial of how social media and the internet can help us connect with people around the globe.

In September 2011, I was asked asked at a Meetup if I taught how to read tarot. Although I never thought about teaching, I took on a few students. Two or three students meeting at a Starbuck's or a diner soon grew to 12 to 15 students in a classroom. Now I am reaching hundreds of tarot students due to the power of the internet, webinars and Skype.

In 2011, I went from reading cards at psychic fairs and new age stores to reading at private parties. I still love reading at fairs and at coffee shops and bookstores and will continue to do so in 2012. At the end of 2011 I was a contributing author for an upcoming Tarot book. In 2012, I am working on my own book. I can be heard on a semi-regular basis on Tarot Today Radio with Dr. Dax Carlise, was named Assistant Director of Technology for The Tarot Guild, and am involved in tarot research with Project T.A.R.O.T. So many wonderful things have started to manifest, just a few short days into 2012.

It got me thinking. Readings By Gary no longer represents my Tarot business. I am now offering Tarot Consultations in private, at psychic fairs, bookstores, via email, Skype, and through the TG Endorsed Readers Group on Keen. I offer public Tarot classes in a classroom setting and via the internet. I also offer one on one tutoring and private group classes. I can be booked to perform at private parties and events. I needed to update my web presence.

I am pleased to announce my new Tarot home is RBGTarot.com. At RBG Tarot you will be able to order an email or Skype reading with me. You'll get updates on the exciting breakthroughs Project T.A.R.O.T will hopefully bring us in 2012. You can book me for your private party or sign up to take a class with me. And you will be able to know where I am appearing to read or simply to hang out and enjoy other Tarot Enthusiasts company.

I thank all of you for your continued support on this incredible journey. I look forward to getting to know you and making a difference in 2012.

How To Achieve 2012 Tarot Goals

2012-01-05T12:07:00.000-05:00

It's been a few days since the New Year started, and I hope 2012 brings all of us success and prosperity. Today seemed like a good day to plot the direction for my Tarot related resolutions (I prefer to call them promises). They include growing my business which right now is only readings at psychic fairs and online via email or Skype, to include a private Tarot consulting service with office hours, performing corporate gigs and private partes and publishing a tarot related book. But before laying the journey out, I wanted to get some insight and advice from the cards. I asked:

"What are the best ways to achieve my Tarot related goals in 2012?"

I pulled three cards:

The first thing that strikes me is the amount of Pentacles. Pentacles stand for money, nature and grounding. This tells me that I must focus on grass roots marketing. Word of mouth, networking and "press the flesh." I must be like a politician. If I want your vote, I must get out there and meet you. Face time is extremely important. I must use the psychic fairs and tarot meetups as an opportunity to gain clients and grow my private practice.

The two Pentacles that showed up were the Four and the Five. The fact that they showed up in order is important. The four shows a merchant or ruler sitting on his throne. Pentacles cover his head, heart and feet. It is a miserly card. I believe the energy of the four is telling me not to overly give. Do not give free readings. If I set a value level for my services, my clients will see a value in me. In addition the Four is telling me to keep my ideas (marketing and business structure) close to the vest. The old saying of "Loose Lips Sink Ships" comes to mind.

After the Four comes the energies of the Five. The miserly reactions of the Four lead to the despair seen in the Five. In the Five we see a family passing in front of a church. They are dressed in tattered rags. Looking at this card I am overwhelmed with melancholy. The family is so wrapped in their troubles they do not see the church behind them. They are unaware that assistance is there for them. All they need to do is be open to the idea.

The lesson here is to accept help. Getting my business off the road is going to be filled with challenges and the Five reminds me I do not need to go it alone. Success leaves clues. Meet and interview those who have successfully set up and run there own consultation services. Do not let ego, hubris or pride get in the way of receiving good advice.

In between the two pentacles is the Page of Swords. Our Page is that smart-alecky student. He may be verbally caustic and intellectually cocky. He is still a student and needs to grow into the maturity of the Knight. The Page deals with challenges and adversity by intellectually and emotionally removing himself from the situation.

Appearing in the middle of the journey from Four to Five the Page shows me that I must work on facing my challenges and engaging others instead of "checking out." Before I can accept the help offered in the Five I must learn to acknowledge and face the challenges and not turn and run like the Page.

What are your Tarot related promises for 2012 and how are you going to achieve them?

New Year's Spread: Elemental Spread

2012-01-02T13:37:00.001-05:00

Happy 2012!! I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have followed this blog in 2011 and took the time to share kind words and encouraging comments via email, Twitter and this page. It means a lot to me.

I have strived to make this blog educational and enjoyable, even though at it's heart it's my personal Tarot diary.

I have loved sharing my views on Tarot with all of you and will continue to do so in the year to come.

Yesterday was a recovery day from the New Year's Eve celebration. It was not booze that did me in but the long night. I spent most of January 1, 2012 sleeping. That means, this is the first blog entry for 2012.

A few days before New Year's Eve I did a spread that glanced back at 2011 before turning me eyes towards 2012. (read that blog here) Then yesterday I found a spread on my friend's website that looked really interesting, so Lisa, I hope you don't mind but I'm stealing it!! (You can see the original post for the spread here and please check out her terrific blog Tarotize.com)

This spread is a simple six card elemental spread that is laid out in a shape of a pentagon. You also should get your Personal Tarot Year Card to use as your significator for this spread and interpret each of the cards thrown in the spread through the energies of your Personal Tarot Year Card. You can find out how to determine your Personal Tarot Year Card here.

The Earth card represents what will be emphasized for you interms of your physical health and financial stability in 2012.
The Spirit card represents the main spiritual lesson to be learned in 2012.
The Fire card represents your creativity, fertility, will power and courage. This card relates to your work/calling for 2012.
The Air card highlights problem solving in the year ahead. Your main communication theme/challenge in 2012 will be seen here.
The Water cards represents the sphere of emotions. Your main relationship theme/challenge for 2012 is found here.
This is your "interface card." It represents how you can be a service to humanity in 2012.

Personal Tarot Year Card

The Star is a card of emotional calmness. We see a naked nymph pouring water out of two vessels. The pouring water represents the emotional, spiritual and creative energies freely being given to the world. She pours water into the pool of unconsciousness thereby replenishing her own soul and pours water upon the earth, giving her spirit and energies the ability to create her reality. Our Nymph kneels with one foot in the water and the other rests behind her on the ground. She lives both in the spirit and the body, the ethereal and the physical. She has achieved the balance sought by Temperance while not worry about losing any water.

1. Earth Card

In the Four of Cups we see a lad sitting cross legged and arms folded, his back against a tree. He looks past three golden cups in front of him and doesn't see the cup being offered from the heavens.

Oftentimes the Four of Cups is described as a card of apathy. It has also been described as a direct outgrowth of the preceding celebrations of the three and therefore a rest and recovery from the debauchery of the night before. Either way our lad doesn't see opportunities and blessings.

Reversed and our lad may be looking for new opportunities to stave off boredom or to add excitement. His psychic awareness may also be increased.

The influence of the energies of The Star promises an increase of my psychic abilities and intuition. It also warns of possible slip back into depression and apathy. I must remain vigilant to not rest so much that I withdraw from society.

2. Spirit Card

The Knight of Swords is The Grail Knight. Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain. All are described by our Swords Knight. Full of passion and righteousness our Knight rides fearlessly and focused into battle.

Reversed, the energies of Noble Knight becomes braggadocio. His zeal causes his passion to bubble out of control. He might become fanatical or delusional in his lust for righteousness or justice. He may tilt at windmills, or he may just run out of steam.

Under the influence of The Star our Reversed Knight tells me to keep an even keel on my spiritual journey. Not to believe I have found "the way." Nirvana is different for everyone.

Since I have never been a "my way or the highway" kind of person when it comes to spirituality, perhaps the Communication Knight warns of meeting such people along the way in 2012. I may be put in situations where I am continually forced to explain or justify my personal beliefs. Under the influence of The Star I am reminded to take the high road and don't be dragged into "morality arguments."

3. Fire Card

In the Eight of Cups we see a man in the background travelling. He is walking up a slight hill with water surrounding him. In the foreground we see eight golden chalices standing upright atop one another.

Our man has turned his back on the cups and is moving on. Things are still going okay for the man, certainly no cups have fallen or broken. Yet, as we can see from he gap between the cups on the top row something is missing. The man may feel unfulfilled.

Reverse the Eight and our man may be returning instead of leaving. He may be returning to an old relationship or being reinstated in a previously held position or may be rehired for a old job. It may signify a reversal in our man's thought pattern and he may reconsider an offer that he previously turned down.

The Star adds a calmness to these decisions and beckons to put aside past hurts for present and future growth. I may be asked to partner up with former associates to get my tarot business moving in the right direction.

4. Air Card

The Hierophant is the card of social acceptance. In it we learn how to fit in with society. We learn to hide parts of ourselves to better blend in and be accepted. In this way, The Hierophant is the anti-individuality card. It screams for us to think the same way, dress the same way, love the same way.

Reversed The Hierophant tells us to march to our own drummer, stick out like a sore thumb and Think Different. Blended with The Star's energies the Reversed Pope reminds me that, like the lesson of the Knight of Swords - Reversed, I will be talking with many people who obey, and even proselytize, societal norms. My main challenge is going to be sticking by my beliefs and not be cowed because of my unorthodoxy.

5. Water Card

Three is a Magic Number. In the Three of Pentacles we see that hard work has paid off and success finally arriving. Graduating from the constant juggling and turmoil that were in the Two, our artisan is now commissioned for his work. He also is attracting people to him. In addition to the Abbot who commissioned him to design the church he also collaborates with an architect. In order for the task to be completed each man must work in harmony with the others. In this way the Pentacle Three's energy teaches teamwork and compromise in addition to self improvement.

Add the even calmness and surety of The Star and we see the promise in gained confidence. The card promises that confidence in my craft, skills and self will attract people to hire me, which will increase my skills and confidence, which will attract people to hire me, which will increase my skills and confidence, which will attract people to hire me, which will ... well you get the idea. A beautiful circle of success will result.

6."interface card"

The Three of Wands shows a merchant standing on a hill watching his ships on the ocean. The ships sail on a calm sea of golden water. The man holds one wand while standing in front of two others that form a gate the man walked through. The energies of the three again show success starting to happen.

Unlike the hard work that lead to the success in the Three of Pentacles. Here it was our merchants good decision making that lead to his growth.

Reverse the Three and those good decisions may turn out to be bad, or indecision may mean the decision is never made and our merchant watches the ships sail past. It may mean that our merchant takes too big a risk and becomes overambitious.

Add the emotional certainty of The Star and risk taker of the Reversed Three of Wands is balanced, perhaps too much. The emotional calmness may add to the apathy of indecision and nothing is done or resolved.

The lesson here is to just get involved. If you/I want to make a difference in this world and contribute to it's growth and healing, it doesn't matter what and where we do it just matters that we do something. Don't sit on the sidelines. Make the decision and dive into the pool!!

Overall, this spread provides a good blueprint for 2012. I was surprised by the amount of reversals showed up. I guess that means that my road will be curvy instead of straight and there will be lots of blockages to breakthrough and challenges to overcome. All four elements are represented, as are The Court Cards and The Major Arcana. There is a nice balance in these cards a nice reinforcement of lessons throughout.

The promises and lessons of 2012 will be Success through Balance.

New Year's Spread: Glancing Backwards/Looking Forward

2011-12-30T16:08:00.000-05:00

It's one day before December 31, 2011. One day before New Year's Eve. Two days before the prophetic 2012 starts. Now is a good time to reflect on 2011 and turn an eye towards 2012. The New Year's Spread I am using I found on aeclectic.net. It actually is a birthday spread, but a new year is a birth of sorts, right?

Which card represents me at this moment? - The Hermit
What knowledge did I gain from 2011? - Ace of Cups (Rx)
What am I bringing into 2012? - Two of Cups
What challenges will come in 2012? Eight of Cups (Rx)
What opportunities will come in 2012? Five of Cups
What gifts or guidance will I have/need in 2012? Four of Cups (Rx)
Which wish will come true in 2012? Ten of Swords (Rx)

Wow, that is a lot of Cups. I guess 2012 is going to be a emotional, creative and spiritual year for me.

1. Which card represents me at this moment?

The Hermit is a card of contemplation and inner searching. A seeker of self truths. In the Fool's Journey, The Hermit comes after Strength. Right after our Fool learned to deal with adversity for the first time and how to lead by gentleness rather than force. After all the lessons learned during the first triumvirate of Majors that taught separateness and success through strength of will, our Fool now turns inward to seek answers.

The Hermit's lantern is made up of a Mogen David, or Star of David. A Jewish symbol that is comprised of one upward and one downward facing triangle. In alchemy, these triangles represent fire and water (male and female energies) and are referred to as the Seal of Solomon. Therefore our fool holds out the light of integration to show him the way.

Likewise, I am still on my spiritual journey and learning to balance my desire to make Tarot and metaphysics my life's work and knowing I must return to the Rat Race, at least for a little while, to ensure a roof over my head and food on my table.

2. What knowledge did I gain in 2011?

The Ace of Cups represents the spark of new love, new creative or psychic opportunities. It harkens to a deepening of understanding and of feelings in a relationship or the excitement felt in starting a new project or in a known moment of synchronicity.

Reverse it and it stands for a blocking of the same same energies. Usually this means building of walls so one can never be hurt again. Unfortunately the same walls built to keep people out ultimately conspire to keep you in and become your de facto jail.

However the energies of the Reversed Ace do not have to be so extreme. For me it shows the lesson I learned to set limits on opening my heart too soon in relationships. I learned not to wear my heart on my sleeve but to play poker and not show my entire hand at one time

It also signals lessons learned in the psychic arena. I learned what I want out of my Tarot business and what I need in a business partner. Ultimately, the Reversed Ace shows I learned how to balance enthusiasm and hopeless romanticism with pragmatism and caution.

3. What am I bringing into 2012?

After the initial spark of Ace we come to the energy of the Two. Twos represent partnerships, unions, and decisions. In the Two of Cups we see a man and a woman holding up a golden chalice to each other. A winged lion hovering over the caduceus of Hermes is above and between them. The lion is a symbol for sexuality while the wings it wears symbolize spirit. The caduceus of Hermes is a symbol of health and wisdom.

The Two of Cups lets me know that I bring a readiness for an adult relationship with me in 2012. One that will satisfy sexually as well as spiritually. This goes nicely with the lessons learned in 2011.

The card also indicates that I bring partnerships with me that will serve me in 2012 and allow me to reach my goals.

4. What challenges will come in 2012?

In the Eight of Cups we see a man turning his back and walking away from eight golden chalices. They are stacked upright . Water surrounds the man as he makes his way for destinations unknown. The Eight is a card of movement. In this case moving on. Although the situation is still good (as seen by the upright cups) something is missing for our man (as represented by the gap between cups). Our man has become wistful, even saddened by the inaction of the Seven.

Reversed, the Eight Cups can represent walking towards instead of walking away. Being reinstated at a job or a position after a period of time. It could also signify leaving on a trip of retrieval, like a shepherd leave his flock to retrieve an errant or lost sheep.

The challenge coming in 2012 may be "staying the course." Not becoming lazy or discouraged when little or no movement on my goals is seen. I must remember the lesson of the bamboo stalk.

Plant a bamboo seed and you will see no progress for years. Then in about the fifth year you will see a little sprout emerge from the earth. About six months afterwards a tall and strong bamboo plant will stand where a nothing once was. The lesson is everything takes time and will come to fruition when given the proper love and attention.

5. What opportunities will come in 2012?

The Five of Cups is a card of loss, or mourning loss more specifically. In it we see a man or woman, dressed in black, with their head bent. They are looking at three golden chalices that have fallen and spilled their contents. Our mourner does not see the two chalices that remain upright behind him. Nor does he see the river that separates him from his home or the bridge in the background which would return him there.

So what is the challenge of 2012? I don't know, but the five shows me it will follow a disappointment or loss. The five reminds me to see the opportunity in all "losses." Not to be like the mourner and become "stuck" in my grief. Give the pain a beginning, a middle and an end. Then lift my head up and look around to find the upright cups and the bridge leading me home.

6. What guidance will I have/need in 2012?

The Four of Cups is sometimes known as "the morning after the night before" card to the Cups' Three. After the jocularity and celebration of the three, you may need some time to recover. It could indicate apathy or quiet meditation or contemplation.

In the Four of Cups we see a young lad sitting crossed legged and arms folded, his back against a tree. He stare blankly at three chalices standing before him. He is so lost in thought, or apathy, he does not notice the fourth chalice being offered to him. The image of the offered cup brings to mind the gift offered in the Ace.

Like the Five that comes before it, the four may advise not getting so wrapped up that you miss opportunities.

Reversed, the energies of the Four may increase psychic ability and the ability to "feel" or intuit message from the unseen world. It may also signify a seeking of new opportunities or a rethinking of past options formerly rejected to release boredom.

The guidance being received in 2012 may be an increase of psychic gifts and reliance on them. The reversed four also reminds me not to burn bridges. I may need people or opportunities I rejected in the past to keep moving me forward.

7. Which wish will come true in 2012?

Oh boy. The Ten of Swords. The Melodrama Card. Dun-dun-dun-dunnnn!!!!

In the Ten of Swords we see a man who is dead. Deader than dead. I mean one sword can kill you. If someone really doesn't like you, two or three can get the point across. But ten? Wow, that's overkill!!

The Ten is a card of the Drama Queen. The person that every splinter turns into a two by four. Every hang nail means finger amputation. This person is constantly crying wolf and readying Mr. DeMille for their close up.

However, the Ten can also stand for being beyond hurt and overcoming bullying. After all once you are dead, nothing can hurt you. Peace. Out.

Reverse the energies and the Ten may bring recovery and rebirth. You may feel like a disaster or near death survivor. But survive you did and now breakthroughs are around the corner. You may lose the need to explain or intellectualize everything and simply accept things as the come to you.

Overall, it looks as if 2012 is going to be very positive for me and my growth. My wish of renewal and loss of my cynicism as shown in the 10 of Swords Reversed has been on my wish list for several years and have been continually worked on.

I am looking forward to increasing my intuitive and psychic gives and growing esoterically as well. The only disappointment would be the lack of news on my financial situation and my personal projects. In fact, no Pentacles or Wands showed in this spread.

Oh well, all things in time. In the words of Roger McGuinn, borrowing from Yahweh, "For everything there's a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." I guess 2012 is a work on me kinda year.

Learn The Tarot in the New Year!!

2011-12-25T16:39:00.001-05:00

Is learning Tarot on your New Year's Resolution List? Attune Magazine's Virtual Learning Center just made it easier for you. Gary Karp, author of the Tarot Blog 78 Roads To Wisdom, Member of The American Tarot Association and an Endorsed Reader of The Tarot Guild has agreed to offer his classes online for the first time!

Usually Gary teaches to a small group of students in New York City who pay $30 or more to attend his classes, but to celebrate the New Year and have the opportunity to reach more students he has agreed to make the classes affordable for everyone. Learn the Tarot for just $15 a class!!

Classes start January 15th. Interested? Click here to reserve you spot now!!

Tarot Stand Up

2011-12-22T11:24:00.000-05:00

Any Tarot Enthusiasts who are in the New York City area for the New Year and are looking for something to do, do yourself a favor and check out the Tarot and Comedy stylings of Marcy Currier at The Magnet Theatre. The Magnet Theatre is located at 254 West 29th Street.

Marcy will be performing mini readings for a few lucky audience members as she reflects and expounds on what makes people tick.

Join Marcy as she answers questions about love, sex, money and getting the dishes done!

For more information click here.

Page of Cups: Psychic, Student, Dreamer

2011-12-21T13:32:00.001-05:00

Today's card is the Page of Cups. I must admit that for as long as I have studied, read and taught Tarot, Court Cards still are challenging. The reason for this is that they could represent a person or an idea or an event. Sometimes they represent all of the above at the same time. The trick then becomes knowing which one they are representing. In a multicard reading you can look to the other cards for clues. In a one card reading you must go with your instincts. What does this card say to you?

To me, the Page of Cups is the hopeless romantic. He/She is warm, compassionate and loving. They are nurturing, supportive and generous with their time and feelings. Giving so much of their feelings coupled with the youth of the Page might make them naive.

Pages are also the students of our Royalty. Knights are the action led protectors. They may rush in where angels fear to tread. Queens are the mothers. Kings are the rulers. Pages are studious. In this they share a commonness with the Eight of Pentacles. Unlike the Eight who is focused on the task in front of him, our Page is given to flights of fancy. Under the influence of Cups he has an active imagination and often lives in the worlds he creates.

Our Page is standing on solid ground while the waters behind him roll. He looks bemusedly at the fish that stares back from the golden chalice he holds in his hand. He is dressed in a pink shirt and pantaloons with a blue covering with pink and white tulips.

Pink is a color of universal love. It suggests softness, sweetness and innocence. Pink tulips mean affection and caring, while the white tulips stand for heaven, newness and purity and suggest psychic activity. The fish is also a symbol of psychic energy. The fish staring at our Page shows his imagination and desire to increase his psychic side.

While he stands on the firm golden platform the seas behind him are tumultuous. The platform lets our Page know that his creativity and psychic energy, when used with focus, is limitless. The rolling seas shows us the difficulty our Page has in staying focused.

The lessons shown in our Page is not only must you be studious to develop psychic abilities (or any ability), but you must remain focused on your task. If you do then the sky is the limit.

And, oh, I believe the Page of Cups is representing me.

Tarot Pairing: King of Pentacles & The Star (Rx)

2011-12-17T12:08:00.000-05:00

Today's tarot pairing features The King of Pentacles and The Star - Reversed. Upon first glance my reaction was, "Huh." I then sat back and contemplated the two cards in front of me.

The King of Pentacles can be seen as a successful business man. Unlike the other Kings who sit on their throne trying to live up to the responsibilities, our Pentacle King lounges in his. He is comfortable with his status and the responsibilities his hard work has brought. The back of the throne does not rise to the heavens as it does in the Swords and Wands King but stops comfortably behind his head. The responsibilities are not bigger than he is.

Even though our King has the creature comforts that Pentacles promises, this is not what rules him. The golden sky shows the abundance he has and the three tiered castle shows he has won the material gains of the physical world, but that castle sits in the background and is separated from our King by a stone wall. Instead, our King sits in his garden surrounded by nature. This shows he is connected to all around him and he is grounded. Success has not made him bitter or egotistical. He remains comfortable with who he is.

The Star is a card of emotional calmness. Coming after the upheaval of The Tower, the Star brings a sense of, "Whew, I survived." In it we see a nymph kneeling by a pool of water. One foot stands on the water, the other rests on the ground behind her bended knee. She pours water from one vessel into the pool, the other vessel pours water upon the earth. The card brings to mind Temperance and shares similarities with her.

Both show mythical creatures. An angel in Temperance and a nymph in The Star. Both have one foot on the ground and the other in water and both are pouring water from cups.

However, our angel is clothed and modest whereas our Star nymph is naked and free. Temperance's foot is immersed in water showing she is surrounded by emotion, while The Star's foot rests atop the water indicating mastery. Finally, the angel pours water back and forth between two chalices with precision. Careful not to waste a drop. The nymph pours water generously and without fear, knowing the wellspring is ever flowing.

Reversed, the emotional calmness and certainty vanishes. You have self doubts and fears arise. You begin to fall under the influence of The Moon.

Things are as not as scary as they are with The Moon. The certainty is not lost but blocked. The emotional calmness is hiding.

Together these cards tell me that I am worrying about my business and success too much. This is my first entrepreneurial venture and I guess there is concern. The lesson here is not to block my own peace and contentment for that will hinder my success and growth. I must trust in the upright Star and the promises of The King of Pentacles.

Rowdy Readers Debut

2011-12-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

Today I made my debut on The Rowdy Readers Show on BlogTalk Radio. I want to thank Dax Carlise, Mary Nale and ReeNee Cummins for making me feel so welcome.

I also want to thank everyone who chatted with me during the show, as wells as the many people who tweeted, private messaged, Facebooked and emailed me with kind words. Dax willing, I will be returning to the Rowdy Readers soon.

For all those who asked about the "homework" ReeNee gave me, the book is called Conscious Universe by Dean Radin. It is available for Nook and Kindle as well as good old fashioned paperback. To view the book on Amazon click here.

Break The Spell: A Music Video

2011-12-15T08:32:00.001-05:00

I came across this beautifully animated video for the song Break The Spell by Ellis. It incorporates imagery from the Rider-Waite Smith deck. How many cards can you recognize?

Master of Your Domain: Justice

2011-12-13T11:42:00.000-05:00

Today's card is Justice. It is the card that says it time to stand and be judged. To account for your actions. But judged by whom? Are you to be judged by a Higher Power? No, the judgement that Justice brings is more severe, for you are to stand in front of the soul mirror and give testament on your life choices and decisions. You are held accountable to yourself.

As part of The Fool's Journey Justice comes after the Wheel of Fortune. Our Fool has contemplated his world when meeting The Hermit and discovered the patterns of the universe in his visions of The Wheel. He now understands cause and effect and how his actions helped form his world. The celebrations and the challenges. In Justice he is called to accept this fact.

So many of us intellectually know that our actions have consequences, both good and bad. But many of us do not embrace and own that fact. We still blame others and hold on to our denial and deceit to ourselves.

In Justice we see a young ruler sitting on a throne. Dressed in a red gown he brings to mind both The Emperor and The Hierophant. The Emperor teaches lessons of authority and the punishments of disrespecting it. If you are caught speeding, you will get a ticket. The Hierophant teaches lessons of social acceptance. If you dress wrong or like the wrong music you will be ostracized. Both of these cards show early lessons in cause and effect but the realization does not happen until Justice.

Justice also is reminiscent of The King of Swords. Both rulers are sitting on thrones and both hold swords in their right hands. Whereas the sword of the King is tilted slightly to the right and shows a readiness to leap into the fray for a cause, Justice's sword is standing straight up. It is balanced. Justice has no dog in the fight.

In addition to the sword in Justice's right hand he is also holding scales in his left. The Scales of Justice are empty and balanced. Justice does not have a previous opinion on any issue and will only look and listen to the evidence presented.

The pose Justice strikes in reminiscent of The Magician with one hand pointing up and the other pointing down. Justice also harkens to The High Priestess. Justice's throne sits between two pillars and there is a veil masking what's behind the throne.

In this way Justice shows us that we must not only accept the cause and effect our choices bring but also the Yin and the Yang of Action and Reaction, Active Consciousness and Contemplation that is represented in The Magician and The High Priestess.

The lesson brought by Justice is simply to accept yourself in whole. Accept that you are, as Seinfeld said, "Master of Your Domain." You control the vertical and you control the horizontal of your life. Use the tools of creation The Magician brings you. Use the tools of meditation and contemplation The High Priestess brings you and design the life you deserve. You can only do this if you accept the lessons of Justice and accept responsibility for you life.

Ethics and Responsibility in Tarot

2011-12-04T11:36:00.001-05:00

Recently there has been some turmoil and upheaval in the tarot community. Somebody wrote a supposedly fictional story where one of the main characters murders another of the characters, a radio show host. Assumedly, these characters where based upon real people and the author played out a twisted fantasy with the characters involved.

I am new to the international tarot community and while I heard the stories of the people involved, I was not there when the bad blood between the two started and festered so I can not remark one way or another on the story.

However, it did get me thinking about morals, ethics and responsibility. Everyone has an individual set of beliefs and walks their own path. Therefore, I do not belief in concrete ethics or morals. I believe that individualism and free will means you can not legislate morality, both macrocosmically, on a Federal Government level and microcosmically, at a small organizational level.

I am a member of The Tarot Guild. One of the great things about the organization is for a small membership fee ($24) you get access to the entire sight, including their class archives. I was searching through them the other day and I found a class on Ethics and Responsibility. Given recent events I was curious to see what they had to say.

The class was facilitated by Christiana Gaudet. She maintained that all tarot readers hold an ethical responsibility to themselves, their gifts, their clients and their community. Community could stand for the Tarot Community at large, partners in your practice, and/or tenants in the office building you rent space in.

During the class she interspersed several one card readings to help identify what our ethics were and where we might face challenges. This exercise is not only valuable for metaphysical professionals but could help anyone interested in bringing their professional and personal ethics more in line.

Exercises:

How am I doing living my ethics and honoring my clients and the tarot community? - Wheel of Fortune.

In the Fool's Journey, Wheel of Fortune comes after The Hermit. It is the moment you see the patterns in everything and realize your part in cause and effect. The Wheel for this questions tells me I am honoring my part in the relationship. The Wheel also stands for the ups and downs along the journey. I understand that I am neither as good as everyone tells me when things go well nor am I as bad as I think I am when doubts set in. Lastly the Wheel portends good fortune this lets me know I am on the right track.

What more do I need to do to enhance my level of professionalism? What do I need to pay attention to? - The Lovers.

The Lovers represent physically intimate relationships. Does this mean I need to "get busy" with members of the tarot community and my clients? No. The Lovers also can stand for strong partnerships and teaches the lessons of compromise.

The lesson for me to learn here is to align myself with respected organizations and groups. Being part of a specialized group or becoming certified or endorsed by an organization can lead clients to become more comfortable. I have always stayed away from tarot certification because there are many organization that do it but there is no commonality between organizations or certifications. It looks like I need to research the many groups and select the that best aligns itself with my beliefs and practices.

The Lovers also shows me the need to compromise and give a little for the greater good. In order to achieve a higher level of professionalism and therefore a higher level of success I must understand that I do not have all the answers. That sometimes other people's ideas have merit and may be the better option.

Is there anything I need to add to my personal Code of Ethics? - Two of Pentacles

Twos represent unions and partnerships. They also may represent decisions. In the Two of Pentacles we see a young man juggling two pentacles while hopping on one foot. Behind him we see two ship sailing on rolling seas. The lesson here is at the beginning I may be biting off more than I can chew. I must make sure I do not overtax myself as my business starts and the early challenges mount.

If we look at the two pentacles that are being juggled a lemniscate, or infinity symbol, surrounds them. This reminds me that while I am juggling and handling the challenges, the possibilities of my business remain limitless. This reminds me to make sure my personal Code of Ethics not only will serve me now but will also support me later.

What should my attitude be towards charging for readings? - Four of Cups (Rx)

The Four of Cups shows a man with his arms folded, sitting crossed legged. He is being recalcitrant. He may be throwing a temper tantum like a little child or simply being apathetic. His refusal to be open does not allow him to see the cups sitting on the ground next to him or accept the cup that is being gifted to him from the clouds.

Reversed, our man remains open to opportunities and accepts the gifted chalice as manna.

The reversed four shows me that my attitude should be one of acceptance and gratitude when charging and accepting payment for my services.

What do I need to do to provide a good value? - Seven of Pentacles

In the Seven of Pentacles we see a farmer admiring his bush. The bush is ripe with pentacles. Our farmer just rests on his hoe and fawns at his handiwork. Some say that he is just waiting for the fruits of the pentacles to ripen so he may harvest his crop. I do not agree with this. If we look at the ground we see a pentacle that may have ripened to the point of falling of the bush. The fruits, in this case, are ready to harvest but our farmer is so enamored with admiring his work he does nor reap what he sowed.

The lesson here is clear. Do not get so wrapped up in past successes that I rest on my laurels. I must remember to keep learning to ensure that will be able to sow my harvests year after year after year.

What is my confidence level in my tarot ability?- Five of Cups

Okay, I've got to admit this card confused me when it showed itself. The Five of Cups represent loss and sorrow. I have been reading professionally for over a year and have read for ten year prior to that without charging. I am confident in my gifts, skills and abilities, so what could this mean?

When talking about the Five of Cups in "Tarot Reversals" Mary K. Greer states that that "you may regret lost opportunities." She goes on to say that "something valuable can come out of the situation" and "You are at a turning point." This allowed me to look at the five a little differently.

I do regret not diving into Tarot with full force earlier in my life. I feel that my knowledge and skills would be considerably greater had I started earlier. I played the Corporate America game for over 25 years, and find myself past my "prime earning years" and disappointed with American Dream.

I have been downsized from more jobs than I can remember and stayed the course because that was what was expected of me. I denied my more creative and intuitive self for too long and missed out on knowing my higher self early on.

Right now is a turning point for me personally and professionally. I am ready and eager to see where this part of my journey leads me. If we look at the Five of Cups we see that if our man would simply lift his head he would see a bridge over the river that leads to home.

What is my level of confidence in the Spiritual Righteousness in Professional Tarot? - Eight of Wands (Rx)

Eights represent movement. Wands represent passion and/or fire. Together the Eight of Wands is possibly the fastest moving of all of the tarot cards. Waite referred to the Eight of Wands as "arrows of love," and often times people refer to this card as the "falling in love card." Reversed the feelings of love and speed are stymied.

Anytime I see the word Righteousness, I get scared. It smacks of a holier than thou attitude and a sense of exclusion. This feeling certainly describes the tarot community. There are many wonderful organizations in the tarot world where you can learn and grow, but many of them do not play well with each other.

Many groups believe their way is the only way or is the "true" way. Their Righteousness draw battle lines. Many groups demand exclusivity from their members and will not allow them to be members of any other, or in some case one particular group. Even going so far as to forbid communications with members of other groups.

This whole belief is dangerous. It conjures images of cults and gives the public image of Tarot and all metaphysical arts an ugly face. It throws obstacles to enriching the tarot community as a whole and prevents true growth.

I do not believe in Righteousness. I believe in that my way is not the only way, my way is just another way. Anyone who tells me that others are wrong, they know the answer and can introduce me to the truth will see my back running away from them.

Moment of Loss: Five of Swords

2011-12-02T10:49:00.001-05:00

Today's card makes a lot of sense. The Five of Swords tells a story of loss. We see a man standing in the foreground. He is holding two swords in one hand while the other hand rests on the hilt of a third sword with it's tip buried in the ground. Two more swords lay on the ground. Our man is sneering at the two men in the background. Their backs are turned and the are grieving their losses battle. Choppy seas and jagged clouds physically show their turmoil.

The Five of Swords shows us the moment of loss and the toll it takes on our psyche. It came today because a very good and old friend of mine is having his leg amputated today because of cancer.

It also shows us a moment in time. The loss, any loss; whether it is a limb, a loved one or a job, will bring it's challenges. We must remember that the loss is simply a moment in our lives. Not our entire life. We are not defined by one action or inaction. We are a collection of our experiences and decisions.

Reversed the Swords' Five can show "getting stuck" in that moment of loss. Giving up or giving in and letting the black cloud of depression creep in. Replaying the loss and giving into self pity. Being on the hamster wheel of self doubt and not being able to get off.

The lesson the Five brings is it's okay to mourn in the moment of loss. Just don't stay there. Give the loss a beginning, a middle and an end. Let it take it's natural course.

Holiday Offer

2011-11-28T08:53:00.001-05:00

The Holiday Season is officially upon us. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and my followers in the US are recovering from their tryptophan comas. To welcome in the season I am offering Three Card Intuitive Tarot Readings through eBay.

Are you curious about what 2012 might hold for you? Should you make that career switch? Will you meet your Soulmate?

Ask any question you like. Three Card Intuitive Readings are on sale for $10US. Click here to see the eBay listing and take advantage of this offer.

Do you prefer a more in depth reading? Simply select Detailed Reading from the Options on the right and receive a Ten Card Celtic Cross reading for $25US.

As always, thank you for your continuing support.

Tarot Pairs - Reversed King of Swords and Two of Pentacles

2011-11-22T10:17:00.001-05:00

I want to apologize for missing last week's tarot pairing. I received many emails and tweets asking me if anything was wrong and if I was going to continue the feature. Let me thank all my followers, especially those in the United Kingdom, for their concerns. There is nothing wrong and yes, I will continue this feature that has proven so popular. This week's pairing is the King of Swords reversed and the Two of Pentacles.

The King of Swords is the King of truth, order and justice. In many ways our King is closest to The Emperor and Justice. He sits on his high backed throne. The back rises off the card and into the heavens. This reflects our King's ability to rise above emotions and use intellect only. The birds, which are the animal for the Swords, flying in the background reinforce this. His throne sits atop a hill showing he takes the high road. He holds his sword cocked to the right showing a readiness for action. The Swords' King has a responsibility to uphold the law of the land.

Reversed that intellect and wisdom to rule may become inflexible. Our King may attain power for power's sake and ignore the plight of his subjects. He may use his strength to be cruel, unkind or unsympathetic. Alternately, it may show a person who is weak-willed, lazy or unable to make a decision.

Twos represent unions and choices within the suit. Pentacles stands for money or grounding. They also represent the alchemy of creation and therefore are magical.

In the Two of Pentacles we see a young man juggling two pentacles while balancing on one leg. Behind him we see two ships sailing on rough seas. The ships are the same we see in the Three of Wands, only in the Three they seas they sail are calm. Our young merchant has many challenges in starting out. He must learn to juggle and become a Jack (or Jaqueline) on all trades until established.

Taken together these two cards reminds us that we may need to be unreasonable while starting out. Others may perceive this as cruel as you forsake all else to concentrate on your project. They also remind us not to be inflexible at the beginnings of a project. You may face challenges that require you to change direction or alter your thinking. Do not be so locked into your ways that you can not see another option.

Super Secret Project

2011-11-22T09:58:00.001-05:00

I am so excited! I just can't hide it! I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!!

I just received am email from [REDACTED], I was accepted to work on a Super Secret Tarot Project. The project, known as [REDACTED] may revolutionize the way tarot readers look at [REDACTED].

I was asked to interpret [REDACTED] as part of 78 [REDACTED]. My [REDACTED] is the [REDACTED].

It is so nice to start to be recognized in the Tarot Community. This supports my decision to read and teach tarot as an occupation. It may be slow but the acknowledgement from [REDACTED] tells me I am on the right path.

The Three of Swords: The Vulcan Card

2011-11-20T11:44:00.001-05:00

The image of today's card woud seem to say everything you need to know about the Three of Swords. Three swords pierce a heart, the blades cut straight through. Dark and heavy rains shower the injured heart. This is a card of hurt and pain. Of jealousy, heartbreak and worry. The Golden Dawn's title for the Three of Swords is "Sorrow," but is there something else going on here?

Threes represent the full expression of their element. In Swords the element is Air, which stands for intellect. So how does the the full expression of intellect equal pain and heartbreak? Did anyone ever say a person is so smart they cry?

The full expression of intellect would be a Vulcan, Mr. Spock. A totally logical creature. Someone for who emotions are less than a nuisance. They have risen above being controlled by their heart. They believe emotions and being controlled by emotions make you weak and vulnerable.

Our Swords Three is showing not that pain and sorrow is here or might be coming. Instead, it is showing us how to overcome that pain so it doesn't rule us. It tells us not to push the pain away but to let it in and accept it. Through accepting it we somehow transform it with our courage to face it and with love.

A good friend once told me that any feeling you may have is neither good nor bad. It is only true for you at the moment you are having it. Honor it. Let it run it's path. Give it a beginning, a middle, and an end. The trouble starts when you get stuck in any of the parts.

I can think of no better description for the Three of Swords.

Birthday Spread

2011-11-16T11:02:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I was asked to perform a reading for client whose birthday it was. Instead of a mini reading or the traditional Celtic Cross, I used a spread I found on Aeclectic Tarot Forum. It's called The Birthday Spread, but can be used on New Year's or for any anniversary where you wish to look back at the past year and look forward to the new one.

You may find the original discussion on the Birthday Spread over here.

- 7 -

4-6-5

2-1-3

The positions reflect the following questions:

Represents you at this moment.
Knowledge gained from past year .
What are you bringing into the new year?
Challenges in the next year.
Opportunities in the next year.
Gifts or guidance in the next year.
Wish that will come true.

Earlier this morning, I received an email from this client. Below is an excerpt from the email:

"Thank you, Gary. This was an amazing and accurate reading. I felt all of these things over the past year, and in many ways, I am ready to let go of it all."

I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to share my gift and help people. That, after all, is what it is all about.

If you would like to order a reading, please visit my website at www.readingsbygary.net. Or select the type of reading you want and click the "Buy Now" button on the right.

The Only Thing I Have To Fear Is ....

2011-11-14T11:16:00.001-05:00

This morning I was introduced to one of the creepiest, scariest memes on the web. It's called Take This Lollipop. If you have not yet seen it you can find it here. (Warning: this meme is NOT for the faint of heart.) It got me thinking about fear. What is fear? Why do we fear? What do I need to fear? With these questions in mind I grabbed my RWS deck and threw a simple three card spread.

Well this is interesting. I was expecting at least one Sword and I am surprised to see all those Cups.

The Seven of Cups shows a man in silhouette. He gazes upon seven golden chalices, each filled with it's own treasures. But which to choose? Wealth as depicted by the cup of jewels? Fame and Power as shown by the wreath? Adventure represented by the Castle? Psychic Ability and Wisdom as promised by the snake?

Our man can not choose and suffers an "paralysis of analysis." Seven's represent Victory in the Minor Arcana. In this case, victory with Cups mean giving in totally to our emotional and creative natures. Swimming in the waters of daydreaming. Unfortunately, when we do this we lose touch with reality and the brilliant visions fills all of our senses. Without the balance of Swords intellect, the Wands passion or Pentacles grounding we can not move forward and act upon our dreams.

Likewise, our Page of Cups spends all his time daydreaming. He does nothing but play on the swingset in his mind. He has no responsibilities as the King and Queen do and does not have the introspective nature of our Knight. Notice that the waters behind him are getting a bit rough, but our Page is so engaged in his fantasies he does not notice.

Together these cards sound the warning in me to not get lost in my dreams, or in the idea of being successful. I must remember to keep taking action. Do not live in my hopes and dreams (as I have a tendency to do) but to allow passion and intellect to drive the dreams to the destination.

The Empress is the Universal Mom. The is the archetypical female, full of love and compassion and generosity. But our Empress stands for much more than the uber-Soccer Mom. She represents the sensuous side of us and the natural side of us. Her nine pearled necklace and twelve starred crown represent the nine planets and twelve signs of the zodiac and reinforce the connection she has to the universe. A river flows next to her and shows her connection to the universal life force and also to emotions. The Empress is about passion and living by instincts and intuition.

Her appearance tells me that I fear letting go and giving in. I have a tendency to over intellectualize everything in attempts to distance myself from them. I do not live by my emotions and will not let my instincts and intuition guide me. The Empress shows me it's okay to let my intuition and emotions guide me.

All these cards have the common thread of telling me that I must have balance. I must balance the dreamer with the go-getter. I have to marry the emotional, passionate and creative side with the intellectual and logical side to move forward and be successful in my endeavors, both business and pleasure.

I can't be afraid to dive in the waters and take the chance. I just need to remember to take the life preserver with me.

Allow both the dreamer and the cynic to live within me.

A New Direction or Recommitment: The Ace of Swords

2011-11-12T13:37:00.001-05:00

It's interesting the Ace of Swords made an appearance today. I had just got off a video conference discussing how I can bring my classes to more students and how I can touch more lives through tarot. After the video conference and my morning coffee I grabbed my Rider deck to pull today's card. While shuffling this Ace flipped over. I turned it over and continued to shuffle the deck. Again, this Ace showed itself. This time by jumping out of the deck and landing face up on the floor.

Okay universe, you don't have to hit me over the head with a brick. Today's card is The Ace of Swords.

This Ace, like all aces, shows a hand giving us the object of the suit. A wreathed crown is pierced and sit atop the sword. The sword points rigidly upward while surrounded by the Hebrew letter Yod. The Yod is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet and is part of every other letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It could be said, therefore, that Yod appears in every word. Jewish mystics believe that God uses letters as the building blocks of creation and since Yod is a part of every letter than Yod symbolizes God's omnipresence. Indeed, one of the names for God, Adoni, is spelled with a double Yod in Hebrew, another name for God, Yahweh, starts with the letter Yod and Jesus' name in the original Aramaic is Yeshua, which also starts with the Hebrew Yod. This Ace, and all cards that show the Yod, represent being in the presence of Divine Creative Power.

The sword shooting straight up shows true perception, the ability to know the truth instantly. Under the influence of the Swords Ace your truth can not be fooled. The root of all swords is Intellect and our Ace is where this intellect starts. Whereas the remaining cards in the suit are under the illusion that life is nothing but pain and sorrow, the exception being the Four. The Ace shows untempered, raw intellect. The mountains in the background represent abstract thought and metaphorically reinforce this.

The Ace of Swords is a good card if you are putting together plans and strategies. It may also be telling you to look at things from a new, fresh perspective. You may need to cut your losses and start again. You may need to use the double edge of the sword and weigh the good and bad in a situation to take action.

Notice the grip on the sword is tight. This shows us that strength of will is necessary to control the energies of the Ace. You must be focused on your task.

Remember that all Aces are the Initial Spark and calls us to take action. Inaction is not an option once we have been exposed to the Ace's energy.

I think the Ace of Swords jumped at the chance to be today's card to remind me to not be afraid to change the direction I was originally thinking for my Tarot business. To remain focused on the ultimate goal of teaching and helping others.

Timmy Returns - The Page of Swords

2011-11-10T13:08:00.000-05:00

Timmy

I wasn't really in the mood to pull a daily card today. I'm in very lazy place. However, I promised myself a daily blog and I wasn't about to quit less than a month in, so I grabbed my Rider deck and pulled Timmy, The Page of Swords. Some of you may remember Timmy. He is one of my spirit guides and I was first introduced to him in January of 2009 (you may read the blog about our meeting here). Since then Timmy and I talked once (read our conversation here) but that was all the contact we've had. Until now.

What did my Page have to tell me?

In the Page of Swords we see a boy standing on hill, holding a sword like a baseball bat. To me the pose seems very romantic and Broadway, almost as if he is going to break out in song to profess his love to someone. Pages are the most sophomoric of all the Court Cards. They pine and get overly emotional about everything. The Swords influence on our Page is to outthink those emotions. Deny them. Seek higher ground. Do not engage, do not battle. Simply remove yourself from the fray. Detach from the person or the issue. When forced to do battle the Swords influence on our Page makes him outsmart his opponent. He is smarter and he knows it. Our Page knows the advantage of a well placed barb. His words, like his sword, are cutting. But our Page only jabs at his opponent and then runs away. He lacks the maturity and skills of the Knight to stay the battle.

The Page's aloofness may be welcome in an easygoing situation. He is charming, outgoing and engaging. You could do far worse than to spend dinner with the Swords Page. In a more detailed oriented situation, or if dealing with a difficult challenge our Page may be found lacking the focus, discipline and vigilance needed to go the distance.

I believe Timmy showed up today to remind me to be both vigilant in moving forward with my projects and to watch my words, for they can not be taken back.

Tarot Pairs - Reversed Four of Pentacles and Reversed Five of Swords

2011-11-09T11:53:00.000-05:00

I want to thank everyone who commented so enthusiastically about the Tarot Pair feature I introduced last week. Many of you enjoyed the feature and told me you need more practice reading combinations. I am happy to continue this feature. Today's pairing is the Four of Pentacles - Rx and the Five of Swords - Rx.

Fours are representative of structure in the Minor Arcana while Fives show conflict.

In the Four of Pentacle this structure manifests itself by closing oneself off. Becoming so structured you can not break out of your rut or your thinking. The Pentacles association with money reminds us of being miserly. But money is only one thing you can be stingy with.

In the Four we see a king sitting on his throne, his kingdom behind him. He holds one pentacle close to his chest showing a closed heart. One pentacle sits atop his crown, signifying a closed mind. The other two pentacles are under his feet letting us know he has shut himself off from the world. Rather than watching over his kingdom, he has turned his back on his subjects.

Reversed the Pentacle Four reminds us to give freely. It shows us to open minded and to grow. It reminds us not to turn our back on our individual kingdom, whether that kingdom is friends, family or business. It is our responsibility (our man is a King after all) to take care of those in our lives.

In the Five of Swords we see a man in the foreground. He has defeated all others and has the hardware to prove it. He holds two swords while leaning on a third. Two other lay carelessly at his feet. We see two of the men he defeated suffering with their loss. The sea beyond them is choppy and the clouds above them are jagged showing the violence and humiliation in the loss. Unlike the Five of Wands which shows friendly sparring and competition, the Five of Swords is definitely a serious confrontation.

Upright we see the moment of loss. Reversed the humiliation and anger of the loss lingers. It is not worked through and becomes an unhealthy part of who we are, preventing us from reaching the energy of the Six and moving on.

Taken together our reversed pair show us that we must accept all losses as painful as they may be. We can not close ourselves off because it easier to indulge in self righteous indignation and self pity. We have a responsibility to our own kingdom and must not shirk those responsibilities.

I believe this pairing showed itself today to remind me to lick my recent wounds and get back on the horse. The defeats and hurt I felt in the past weeks can not deter me from my responsibilities to myself, my household, friends, business and future.

XX Judgement - A Call To Action

2011-11-08T12:29:00.000-05:00

Rider Waite

Gilded

Today's Daily Draw is XX Judgement. There is definitely a religious context the card. In it we see the angel Gabriel blowing his trumpet. Calling all to rise and be judged. St. George's cross hangs from Gabriel's horn. Spirits rise from their tombs.

The scene depicts the Final Judgement, where we will all stand before God and see if we are worthy of heaven. But does Judgement have to be hurtful, Good vs. Bad?

In the Fool's Journey, Judgement comes after The Fool has moved through the mysteries and uncertainty of The Moon and the warmth and enlightenment of The Sun. Our Fool may feel good about himself. He is nearing the end of his journey. But there is one step remaining. He must accept all he has left behind and move forward. We never leave the past behind us. We must be strong enough to face the past and not Judge it as Good or Bad, but simply to Judge it as part of our individual journeys and accept the past as part of us.

Judgement is also a Call to Action. Similar to Justice, which calls us to make our own moral decisions and to "walk our talk" on a personal level. Judgement calls us to do so on a larger level. To honor our Higher Self and our place in the universe.

This decision is often not an easy one. Judgement being influenced by fire reflects new beginnings. People who feel the energies of Judgement may be at a crossroads (notice the cross hanging from the trumpet). They may not be able to make the decision because of fear, lack of money, or lack of time.

The irony here is the change has already happened. The rebirth has already come. Our Fool just needs to recognize this fact. He has already moved through The Moon's fear and woken to The Sun's certainty. He just needs to acknowledge this change and act upon it.

I believe Judgement came today to remind me that the changes that will enable me to move forward and be successful have already happened. I do not need to wait for them. It also reminds me that I can not cut off the people or things I do not like in my life. I must accept them and what they have brought me and accept they are part of my makeup.

Teaching Tarot: A Learning Experience for the Teacher

2011-11-07T15:40:00.000-05:00

After many people asked me, I decided to start to teach Tarot Cards. I spent many weeks researching and developing a 10 week course covering The Major Arcana, The Minor Arcana and The Court Cards that touched on reversals, dignitaries and reading intuitively using definitions as guideposts when needed.

I spent time promoting the classes on many websites and social media standards. I promoted the classes at live events and all my readings gigs. I received a modest number of people who said they were interested in attending and I started to get excited.

Yesterday was the day. As I rode the train uptown to meet my students I felt giddy. This was what I was supposed to be doing. Teaching. I was listening to my Higher Self. It was wonderful.

And then no one showed up.

I was mad and frustrated the whole subway ride back. I felt like a failure. All the time and work I put into developing classes. All the time and money I spent on promotion. I wanted to crawl up and disappear. So that's what I did. I locked myself in my room and cried. I gave into the emotional stew I had been marinating in.

Today the sun came up and it's time to try again. Time to figure out a different course of action. I am sure that teaching and reading tarot cards aligns itself with my Higher Self. With that in mind I grabbed my tarot deck and asked, "How can I better position my tarot business to encourage students and to succeed financially?"

I pulled the following:

The Six of Pentacles - Rx, The Sun -Rx, and The Eight of Cups.

The first thing that struck me was the reversed Pentacle Six. Immediately I thought stop giving it away. That confused me since I was charging for lessons. I decided to also look at the images on the Rider deck:

Both the Rider and the Gilded were very similar except in the Sun card. The Gilded shows the Sun as center of the solar system instead of the traditional child riding joyously on a horse. There was also a slight difference in The Eight of Cups. The Gilded shows some of the cups turned over and our man looking to the distance wanting new adventures. He has not yet left, as the man in the traditional Rider shows.

I delved a little deeper into the Pentacle Six and discovered that besides the obvious meaning of charity and giving there are many textured layers that may not be so obvious on first glance. It carries a bit of religious or esoteric meaning of not giving more than can be handled. The scales also show that our merchant carefully measures his coins before giving out any. He puts himself first and only gives what he does not need. Scales also are reminiscent of the Justice card. Reminding us to live our truth.

All this tells me I need to make the classes less intimidating. I packed a lot of information into each of the classes that are design for a beginner and might scare off prospective students who are just dipping the feet in the Tarot waters. It also reminds me to take some time for me. Measure my days and leave time to relax, enjoy friends and family and to explore other projects. Lastly the reversed six shows me to not to give away the classes. It reminds me that my experience, knowledge and time are valuable.

The Sun reversed is a little less head scratching. The Sun represents joy and joyous behavior. After moving through the mysteries and uncertainty of the Moon, the Sun welcomes us to a brand new day with warmth and enlightenment. And spurs us to laugh joyously at living now that we now who we are.

Reversed, no one is laughing. The good feelings and childlike wonder is still there but they are subdued, like clouds covering the Sun prevent it's rays from reaching the ground.

The Sun reversed reminds me not to lose the joy, passion and wonder I first had when discovering the Tarot. It lets me know that this joy and passion is what drew people to me to learn and that I might have become too "button down" now that I was teaching. It lets me know that people will come and learn if I am less formal.

The Rider image of the Eight of Cups shows a man leaving. He is walking by the side of a river and is heading towards the mountains. Behind him stand eight golden chalices. This man has decided to leave his current situation even though his current situation is still good. By following the river we see he is following his intuition and emotions. By walking towards the mountains we see him moving towards his Higher Self.

The Eight of Cups is reminding me I needed to walk away from my current business partner. While things are still okay and I am getting gigs, both reading and teaching, the energy of the Eight is movement and it is scary walking to the unknown this will be better for me and my emotions and spirituality in the long run.

Overall, this spread shows to simplify and enjoy the teaching process. It lets me know to not forget about my joy and happiness. It tells me through the reversed six and the reversed Sun that money is not the only reason I am being drawn this way and I can not let it become strictly about money. I must continue to honor my Higher Self and work in this field from a standpoint of sharing and teaching and not being miserly.

The rest will come naturally.

My Tarot Podcast: Creating A Tarot Diary

2011-11-04T17:52:00.001-04:00

Today I am announcing a new feature on 78 Roads To Wisdom. Podcasts!!! These podcasts will be between 5 ans 10 minutes and will cover a variety of topics relating to Tarot. It might be a review of the lastest and greatest deck, or a free class on reversals. You never know what you'll find until you listen!!

For the first podcast, I talk about the creation of a Tarot Diary. Usually this a class I charge $20 for, but to celebrate this new feature I decided to share it free. Enjoy!!

Daily Draw - King of Wands

2011-11-04T12:07:00.000-04:00

Today's draw is another wand. It seems all I get these days are Wands and Pentacles. Certainly since Samhain my Daily Draws and personal readings have been full of them. Really, it's no surprise. I have been working on establishing a Tarot business for about nine months now. On Samhain the urgency and direction of the business changed. The appearance of today's King reminds me of the social responsibility we each have in our professional lives.

The King of Wands sits on his throne. He seems to be leaning forward a bit, as if he is ready to leap off and join the fray. Salamanders adorn his robe and salamanders and lions are etched into his throne. Lions represent the "King of the Jungle." and are responsible for the safety and protection of the pride. Regardless of the King's lofty status he is still responsible for the wellbeing of the lowliest of his subjects. The lions also represent Richard the Lionhearted and the astrological sign Leo, one of the Fire signs.

Salamanders are symbolic of renewal, enlightenment and rebirth. The salamander was a mystical creature to early alchemists and were believed to renew their sight by looking into the sun. Notice that the salamanders on the robe of the Rider King of Wands is swallowing it's own tail. This is a symbol of completion, maturity, and infinity.

The King is the the completion of Wands' fire energy. The energy of passion, renewal and creation.

It should be noted that as I pulled the King of Wands from the Gilded Tarot the Three of Cups fell out. The Cups Three reminds me that it is time for joy and celebration and also lets me know that all the hard work and compromises shown in the earlier Queen will pay off and my business endeavor will be successful.

This thought is echoed by today's King. For being the conclusion of the suit shows me the eventual completion of this project and this part of my journey.

Daily Draw - Two of Pentacles

2011-11-03T11:25:00.001-04:00

Today's card is the Two of Pentacles. The images on the Gilded Tarot (top) and the Rider deck (bottom) are very similar, both show a man standing in the foreground juggling pentacles while ships sail on an open sea in the background.

The message is clear. You are going to have to learn to juggle, how to multi-task early in your journey for success. The ships are the same ships we see on the Rider image for the Three of Wands.

Watching Ships

The ships in the Three of Wands are further along and sailing across a golden sea instead of the rocky waters. Our merchant is older, stands confidently and wears finery instead of our simply dressed youth, who is dancing from one foot to another while juggling.

Ships on Rocky Waters

When you first start a project, an endeavor or a business you are going to encounter many challenges. Some you may know about and others will seemingly come out of left field. You will learn that you are going to have to wear many hats besides boss. You are writer, marketer, web-designer, salesman, secretary and receptionist. Pitchman, delivery man and janitor. Chief cook and bottle washer.

The energies of the Two of Pentacles showed itself today because I am doing a lot of work on getting my Tarot reading and teaching business off the ground. The Pentacle Two is reminding me that there is more that needs to be done and to be careful not to neglect other parts of my life. I must find that balance and harmony.

Tarot Pairs: Queen of Wands - Rx and Eight of Pentacles

2011-11-02T22:10:00.000-04:00

Today I am starting a new feature on 78 Roads To Wisdom. Tarot Pairs. The idea behind Tarot Pairs is to see how two cards relate to one another. This is not going to replace the Daily Draw. I hope to have this as a regular feature.

The initial pairing is the Queen of Wands - Rx and the Eight of Pentacles. On first glance I didn't see how these two got along. Our fiery, passionate Queen and our hard working Eight.

Queens represent the receptive, nurturing quality of their suit's element. The Queen of Wands is a loving, passionate woman who sits on her throne. Of all the Queens, she alone sits with her legs apart. She is aware of her sexuality and is not ashamed, in touch with passion. She holds a wand in one hand and a sunflower in her other. The wand is a sign of her fiery nature, her leadership ability and her ability to get what she wants. The sunflower shows her radiant, confident and warm nature. A black cat sits in front of her throne protecting her.

Reversed the fiery compassion of our Queen may become a charming schemer. She may become shrewish and be labelled a witch, bitch or ball buster. She may become jealous and vengeful of others. Her receptive nature may be blocked and her journey of self discovery and personal growth may be interrupted. Projects that she has undertaken with love may fail or be undermined.

In the Eight of Pentacles we see a young man toiling away crafting pentacles. Way in the back we see the city and a golden yellow road between them. Our young craftsmen is busy learning and practicing his craft. Only by his focus and discipline will he be able to graduate to the energy of Nine. But focus and discipline just for their own ends will not breed success. The city in the background and the connecting golden road remind us that there must be a passion in what we do. A love of the process. Concentrating on the end result will not bring satisfaction.

This pairing reminds me that I am on a personal journey and that journey will hit some bumps in the road. The tarot business, both reading and teaching, is not just a way to make ends meet and pay my bills. It is the vehicle to drive my growth and exploration.

In the past few days I felt as if my personal journey was held back and I lost my vision in why I wanted to read and teach tarot. I lost faith in myself. This pairing brought me the reminder to stay focused, stay compassionate and to remember the higher reasons I feel drawn to this.

Daily Draw - Two of Wands

2011-11-01T13:28:00.001-04:00

As opposed to yesterday, today's Daily Draw makes perfect sense. The Two of Wands indicates the beginnings of a journey. It may be a journey of the soul, a business opportunity or a sudden trip.

The image on the Gilded Tarot (left) shows a well dressed man emerging from some brush. In front of him a golden river flows through the grass and forks around two wands that shoot energy from the top, towards the mountains.

Our man is clearly starting a journey (notice the walking stick) and is faced with his first choice. Two's in Tarot signify unions, but also choices and dilemmas. Which fork to take? That decision is not between two roads but three. The man could choose to take the path between the two wands. He appears stuck in the decision.

The image on the Rider (right) is slightly different. Whereas both show a young man and two wands that form a gateway the meaning is slightly different. On the Rider, our man is standing on a balcony holding one wand while the other is anchored to the wall. He looks out, over a globe in his hand, at the bay beyond. Although he holds the world in his hands, our man is bored and listless and yearning for the adventures that abound beyond the bay. The feeling of the card reminds me of the Eight of Cups.

In the Cups Eight we see a man, that although things are good (notice all eight golden cups remain upright), knows it is time to move on. The man in the Rider Two of Wands seems to be weighing the decision that would bring the energy of the Eight of Cups to him.

Both images, however, shows us immobility. In the Gilded, that immobility comes from which decision to make. A paralysis of analysis. In the Rider the lack of action comes from boredom with maybe a hint of wistfulness.

The lesson for me is that it is time to move on in order to keep my project alive and kicking. I must make the decision of which path to follow. But move I must, otherwise nothing will get done.

It is interesting to note that the Two of Wands was pulled reversed. While I use reversals in my reading, I do not use them in my Daily Draw. The reason is simple. I use this blog as a forum to share and teach. It is easier not to stray into blocked or "negative" energy with these simple posts.

However, one of the reversed meanings that Waite gave for the Reversed Two of Wands was to leave behind a safe situation and venture out into the unknown. Another definition looks at the Reversed Two as the "Cinderella Card" for it may presage astonishing or even miraculous changes in a "dead end" situation.

This definitely fits me today, as I have stepped into the unknown and removed the safe but draining contacts from my project. And I am most certainly am looking for a miracle to help get me off the ground.

Daily Draw - 9 of Pentacles

2011-10-31T13:09:00.000-04:00

I'll admit when I first saw today's card I was a bit confused. Okay, I was more than a bit confused. The Nine of Pentacles shows successful endeavors and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of your labor. After this weekend, successful is the least of what I am feeling. Both personally and professionally.

In the Gilded image (left), our lady (who reminds me of Annie Lennox) stands in front of a gazebo. She is surrounded by fluttering butterflies. Pentacles hang of a flowered vine and a hooded falcon sits perched on her arm. Immediately, I am reminded of the image of Snow White and the forest animals happily cleaning while singing, "Whistle While You Work."

The image on the Rider deck (right) has similar elements. Again. we see our lady with pentacles growing off a vine. Only the vines are growing grapes not flowers, and the vines surround her instead of being off to the right. The falcon still sits hooded on her hand and we see a snail crawling in front of her.

Yes, this card shows the enjoyment of success, but there are also elements that requires deeper reflection. Nines represent compromises and struggles that are needed to go through before the completion of the Tens. We see images of falcons on both cards. Symbolically falcons represent intelligence and soaring imagination. But our falcon is hooded. While loyal to our lady and her protection, that loyalty came at the cost of our hunter's natural instincts.

The hooded falcon also shows a decision to be subservient to his mistress. He has subdued his natural instincts which takes great devotion, will power and discipline.

Our woman, especially in Pentacles, is grounded and very much aware of nature. This is reminiscent of both the Pentacle Queen and the Empress. Both cards represent sensuality and sexuality. Yet our woman stands alone in the garden. She has had to sacrifice part of her nature for this success.

The snail crawling slowly in front represent patience. It takes time for success to come to fruition. The first steps are planting seeds. It takes time for those seeds to blossom to flowers or grapes.

The success represented in the Nine of Pentacles is gotten by compromise, but our lady is very much aware of the decisions she has made. The messages here a clear. Success comes when you not only are clear and focused about what you want, but you are willing to deal with compromises, and have the patience and discipline necessary to achieve it.

The card is no longer confusing to me. In fact, it makes perfect sense. I am at the beginnings od a business adventure. The Nine is showing me that I will be successful, but I must have patience. I must keep my "eyes on the prize" and be willing to bend and compromise to make it work.

Card of the Day: VIII Strength

2011-10-27T19:02:00.001-04:00

I went 21st Century for today's Daily Draw. Instead of grabbing any of the decks that sit in boxes and bags on my shelves, I grabbed my iPhone and launched my tarot app. Today's card is Strength. No, that does not mean you can go and kick some ass. Chuck Norris is not on this card. Or on any card in a Tarot deck. If he was it would be The Chuck Norris Tarot and Chuck would be on all 78 cards. But I digress ...

The first thought that came to mind when I saw this card was Compassion. To me, compassion is the most prized trait in a human being. The ability to empathize with someone is more important than love and part of love at the same time.

In the imagery we see a woman stroking the head and muzzle of a lion, who in return licks her wrist in approval. The woman dresses in white robes with a wreath of flowers surrounding her head and one sashing her robe at her waist. The wreaths tie her to the The Empress and her connection to nature. An infinity symbol floats above her head, which reminds us of The Magician. Unlike the Magician who must channel energy and bend it to his will she use kindness to harness strength.

I believe Strength showed up today to remind me that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. That in order to lead, you must show understanding to other's challenges and help guide them through it.

I'm Back!!

2011-10-26T10:02:00.001-04:00

Hello. Yeah, it's been awhile. Not much, how 'bout you?

I've moved back to Blogger from TypePad to publish my blog. The reason? Money. As in I didn't have enough to keep my TypePad account active. So my thoughts, feelings and readings will again appear here. I look forward to getting to know all of you again.

Namaste.

Blog moved

2011-06-02T21:12:00.002-04:00

Hi folks,

I just realized that this blog is still active and has followers. I started a new blog (really it's the same blog at a different location). If you are interested in following my thoughts and explorations of Tarot, please head over to http://www.78roads.com

Thank you and I hope to see you soon -

Gary

Blog Moving

2010-07-15T00:26:00.002-04:00

Hello there, been awhile. Not much, how 'bout you?

Just a note to let you know that I have a new tarot blog. It is just starting, but will be similar to this one. It will have articles, reviews of tarot decks, books and all things tarot. Daily Draws, spreads, reflections on cards, etc.

The new blog is named 78 Roads. I hope you will continue to join me on this journey.

I also have a general blog where you will find just about anything. It's called Once More Into The Void. Please stop by and hang out for awhile.

Mysteries & Dreamscapes

2009-02-23T14:35:00.004-05:00

The woman's back is arched in dance or perhaps sensuous ecstasy. Either way she cares not if we watch. Our lady is floating above the water in front of two pillars. A crescent moon hangs bright in a starry sky. Stars also adorn our dancer's head and diaphanous garment.

This card is filled with the promise of the unknown. The Mysteries of the Universe. Our lady seems to have conquered the unknown as she floats above the water. While the naked form repreents truth and purity. She wears a transparent gown filled with stars. The truth is there for all to see but remains behind a veil. The pillars represent the duality of life. Spiritual and Material.

The High Priestess, along with The Magician, are the two people The Fool first meets and form the Gateway of his trip. The Magician, our alchemist, with his arcane knowledge must use his power. The High Priestess simply knows. She is the Secret personified. She shows us that we simply need to be aware and accept our divine selves. To not work so hard at being special because we already are. We simply need to re-member that.

I do not think it is a coincidence that The High Priestess visited today. Yesterday at our monthly Tarot get together I received a one card reading from one of our participants. I pulled the Wheel of Fortune. I look at the Wheel as cyclical rather than random. It portends that I am at the top of the Wheel and to prepare myself for "good" occurences, experiences and events. I believe this mean I am open to feeling the vibrations and energies during this time in my cycle. Which brings us right back to our lady dancer.

She is telling my to just let it happen. To not force the secrets from the universe. Accept that I will me made aware of the secrets when I am ready.

With the Wheel showing me I am open to receiving messages at this moment and The High Priestess promising me I will be made aware it seems the time is coming soon.

Keep Chugging

2009-02-21T14:26:00.003-05:00

The first thought that came to mind when I saw today's card was, "Keep Chugging."

In the Ten of Wands we see a man, perhaps a laborer, straining under the weight of his burden. The man is walking in a lush green field and is being watched by two bucks in the distance. The clear night sky becomes a light twilight as it stretches down to the earth.

While the man is clearly straining under the weight of his wands, he is taking slow and deliberate steps to ensure that he does not fall or drop any of his parcel. His head is also held high and his eyes are focused straight ahead on his goal. Our man knows the end is in sight. He knows he will not lose focus and will complete his task.

The lesson of the Ten is to keep my "Eyes on the Prize." It reminds me that when I get tired or weighed down by minutia or other bits bits of irrelevancy, or simply fed up to keep focus - the finish is closer than I think.

I can't help but think of The Little Engine That Could with this card. And the call of that engine should me my mantra.

"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can ..."

Timmy Talks

2009-02-20T21:14:00.019-05:00

A number of weeks ago I did a spread to meet my spirit guides. I discovered one of my guides, the one who is with me now, is a little boy named Timmy. In the reading Timmy let me know he was here to help me move on. Since then I was aware of Timmy but understood he was in the background.

Then I started to pull the Page of Swords everywhere. I never made the connection until today that Timmy was the Page of Swords!! Perhaps the reason I was pulling the Page so often was Timmy needed to speak with me. I grabbed my Gilded deck, removed the Page of Swords to use as significator, cleared and shuffled the deck and started to talk with Timmy.

The following is a transcript of the conversation.

This is Timmy.

Timmy, what do you need to tell me?

You need to take time to meditate. To relax and recharge. Only in this way will you be able to free yourself from the prison you created for yourself.

How can I best do this?

You need to commit to going back to dating. This is the only way you can meet someone who will be capable, nurturing and active.

Is there anything else you need to tell me?

You need to accept responsibility for your role in creating the happiness you seek in your family life. Accept responsibility for the actions in your past that created your present and for your actions now that are creating your future.

Timmy, who are you?

I am a young man who suffered from anxiety and emotional issues.

Can you please be a little more specific?

Because of my inner strength and leadership skills I was in a position of running a business.

Timmy I always thought you were young but with these descriptions I feel you are older. How old are you?

I am 17.

How did you die?

I lost my balance with the world.

I wasn't too clear on that answer but at this point was feeling a little drained. I thanked Timmy for being here to guide me and for speaking with me to let me learn more about him. I assured him that I will acknowledge him more often and speak him to gain from his wisdom. I then asked if he had one last thing to let me know before I turned in for the evening.

I am rushing towards joy and happiness.

Learn To Give Freely

2009-02-20T14:18:00.006-05:00

Today's card was the Four of Pentacles Reversed. In the Four we see a well to do merchant dressed regally in purple. He is clutching four pentacles to his chest. His hands clasped tightly together.

The Four shows a miserly demeanor. One who does not share easily. I believe that this miserly way extends beyond monetary matters to include a person's time, thoughts and feelings. A person described as the Four of Pentacles may be a clock watcher or emotionally unreachable. You may never know what is on their minds since the are communicatively closed.

Reversed the card is a reminder to give freely and openly. I believe this card reflects and relates back to my daily draw of the last few days and to my Birthday Spread yesterday. It is reminder to open my heart up and give. I can not be afraid of getting hurt. The only way to heal my pain is to let it go. Holding on to it does not protect me, but instead jails me. The four shows me I need to let people back in and take the risk.

Birthday Spread

2009-02-19T11:39:00.011-05:00

Today I turn 43. Instead of the usual Daily Card spread, I decided to throw a spread that looked back on the last year and looked ahead at my 43rd. I asked five questions and received the following cards for each:

1. What lessons did I learn last year? The Star
2. How can apply these lessons moving forward this year? Strength
3. What successes will I have this year? Page of Swords again!
4. What challenges will I face this year? The Sun Reversed
5. Overall, what kind of year will it be? Justice

In the Star we see a beautiful woman kneeling in water, pouring water from two Golden carafes. The woman is naked except for a golden headband. In the background we see the Star Machine against a purple sky filled with stars. Simply put, this is a card of hope and optimism. Our nymph is naked symbolizing truth. The carafes stand for the conscious world, the water emotions. She is pouring freely unafraid of running out. A star burst on her headband tells us she has not given up intellect. She has learned to blend it.

This card tells me I learned to hope again. To put my trust in the "unknowable." I am healing from the issues that have clouded my body, mind and soul. I think this speaks directly to my readiness to put my past with my ex behind me and look towards new relationships.

A woman walks with her head held high and proud. Her hair blows casually behind her. She leads a lion by a loose fitting chain. She has nothing to fear from the King of Beasts, for her strength and beauty and compassion has tamed him. Her dress it fitted with stars again showing mastery of the unknown. The card shows how the feminine side of our nature can overcome and control the more aggressive male side.

This shows me I must trust and nurture my more feminine qualities. That I have an inner strength that will see me through life's challenges. It also tells me I must be patient for things to happen. Things happen in their own time for their own reason. I am able to make those reasons blend with my own once they happen, but I must wait for them to show themselves.

Again this student stares back at me with cautious eyes. Standing in all his finery he poses for a picture but remains unsure in his own truths. He is not confident enough to take action, like his brother Knight, instead he sits back and watches. Analyzes. Interprets.

My friendly Page tells me I am going to continue to grow and learn. He tells me in his very nature that one of the lessons will be patience. By not rushing in our lad is able to better grasp the situation and find solutions not based on rashness. This supports and validates the Strength card and her lesson of applying patience in all matters. Being an air card and the studious Page, I also see a return to formal education. I never thought college would be in my future but our Page seems tp say differently.

As the Beatles sang, "Here comes the Sun and I say, it's alright."

This card shows the fiery Sun and the Universe of planets hovering around it. The signs of the Zodiac circle Mars and Saturn showing the Sun's reach into all aspects of life. The Sun, being the largest star in our Solar System, amplifies the lessons of the Star. To trust in "unknowable" and the continuing of my healing.

The card shows all good things. Warmth, goodness, life and love. Reversed it shows that while these things will still be there (truly these things can never leave), I will be hard pressed to see them. This directly relates to my inability to move beyond how my marriage ended. While the Star says I am healing, and Strength shows my strength to overcome these challenges. The Sun reversed advises me that I still will hold on to the pain.

A woman dressed in white stands blindfolded in front of a golden scale. Her hands, mimicking the scales hold two sun like orbs that focus rays of energy down to a golden sun symbol. She is blindfolded. A warm summer sky at orange twilight surrounds the image.

Well, this says it all and ties everything up in a nice little package. Balance. Plain and simple. The lessons of my frequent Page and of Strength and the Star are all reflected in this card. Allowing the feminine some control as shown in the Strength. Trusting the secrets poured by the nymph. Learning to sit back and watch like the Page instead of rushing in.

Yes, this year will be a study in Balance.

Page of Swords

2009-02-18T09:54:00.007-05:00

Look at this fellow. He is posing like he's being painted by Rembrandt. The very picture of aloof royalty. But there is a distrust behind his eyes. Facing front, his eyes slide to the right always alert for dangers or perceived dangers.

Our page knows his truth but rather than rushing into the fray like his brother Knight he puts himself above the issues. The distraction is beneath him. He remains apart and aloof. His secretive analytical nature can make him paranoid.

Like his mother Queen yesterday, I do not know why he is visiting. After the days of wands that spoke to my business ideas, I now receive two swords whose message seems to be not speak of this endeavor. To go ahead and work on getting the biz up and running.

For more clarity on both these cards I took Lisa's suggestion and pulled two clarifier cards. I asked, "What is the reason I pulled the Queen and Page of Swords for the past two days?"

My answer was the Two of Cups and Temperance.

The Two of Cups is a cup of relationships and true friendship. We see the profiles of a man and woman sitting above two golden cups. Above the profiles is the Earth. A star burst fills the space between the couple, arcing into an encompassing light that touches the cups.

The images here are of unified opposites. The man and the woman. Blonde and Brunette. And while the two gaze at each other there does not seem to be love in the looks. Instead we find determination in the woman and a bit of suspicion, like our Page, from the man.

Temperance is Balance. Not the balancing of the Scales of Justice, but the balancing of the forces in ourselves. Nature and Society. Religion and Magic. The Known and The Unknown. We see a beautiful redheaded woman in profile dressed in orange. Clouds of the mysterious night are below her, clear skies and fiery Mars above her. She is mixing two cups at an impossible angle. Fire flowing from the Golden Cup turns into Water when landing the Silver one.

Again, the images speak to unifying opposites. These two cards are telling me I must marry the opposites inside myself. My spiritual side with my worldly side. I have always hard a difficulty with charging for my talents. Whether it is reading cards, acting or fixing computers I have always felt that if I can do it I should and not make a big deal about money. The Queen yesterday was telling me to be approachable as a business and that means accepting payments.

The Page being a secretive analytical fellow tells me I must learn to be more open and trusting in the universe. Understand that I can not control all aspects of everything.

Queen for a Day

2009-02-17T08:50:00.010-05:00

Today we have The Queen of Wands. This Uber-Soccer Mom can run with the best of them. PTA, Bake Sales and Home Businesses are all child's play to her.

In the Gilded deck we see her standing on a patio next to the eternal flame that is shown us in the Ace. She is looking right at us in a proud and confident manner and is dressed in oranges and yellows. Her red-violet cape is clasped at her neck with an orange orb. Her dress is is adorned with a simple pattern and it's hood covers her head. She holds a wand in front of her as if it was an electric guitar ripe for playing. The skies behind her are a combination of fiery and passionate reds, oranges and wines, and while clouds gather they do not threaten.

The Queen is the yin to the King's yang. In the fire cards The King's enthusiasm rushes out into action. With the Queen, the enthusiasm manifests itself in approachability. Voted most popular, our Queen is always there to befriend another and listen. But she is no wall-flower, no. If active action is dictated she will be in the forefront with ideas and support.

I am unsure why I received a message from our fiery Queen today. It could relate to my last few readings/blogs and the business endeavor. A message to use my thoughts and my feelings when taking action. She might be telling me to sit back and let the pretty redhead on the bus come to me.

I really don't know.

Forks in the Road

2009-02-15T09:40:00.008-05:00

Today my Daily Draw was the Two of Wands. Choices ahead. Unlike the Seven of Cups which shows choices brought about by dreams and wants, the choices here are more concrete. They stem from actions already taken towards a goal. This shows me I am on the right track.

This two shows a man emerging from a forest. He has been following a Golden River. Ahead of him the river forks right and left around two wands planted firmly in the ground. The wands form a gateway that shows a third option that does not follow the flowing golden streams. Energy in the form of lightning streak from the tops of the wands towards the sky beyond into a valley formed by the mountain ranges in the background.

I have been lightly researching starting a website dedicated to giving Tarot readings by email. Eventually I envision the website to be a full e-commerce site selling all things Tarot, metaphysical and New Age-y. Tarot decks, Tarot sets, Tarot books. Tarot bags and boxes, table coverings. Incense, candles and crystals. It is a huge challenge. The Wands Two show me it is attainable.

The lightning stretching into the unknown beyond the mountains provide me with the direction. Into the unknown. This tells me if I follow my current path I am going where I never tread before. I will be outside my comfort zone. As such it is also a warning. The proper course of handling these unknown challenges were told to me yesterday with my drawing of the Reversed Four of Swords. In 78 Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack advises the Reversed Four, "... refers to caution, as if the knight emerges carefully from his sanctuary."

This tells me I need to proceed slowly in this endeavor and make sure I cross my T's and dot my i's. To have all my eggs in one basket.

The Twos refers to unions and the LWB that came with my Gilded deck states, "the Two may also indicate a partnership; collaborations and negotiations with others might be important to your project, so these are worthy of consideration." This advises me to be open to others assistance and ideas, not be married to just my own.

Overall the two is a positive card. Energies have progressed to get the project off the ground.

Now comes the heavy lifting.

Valentine's Day Daily Draw - The Four of Swords Reversed

2009-02-14T17:16:00.005-05:00

Well this is a great Valentine's Day gift for myself!! The Four of Swords reversed!

The Four of Swords shows a Knight laying on a table, his hands tented in prayer. He may be meditating, sleeping or praying. A stained glass window showing Christ healing a woman suggests he is in a church. Churches traditionally are known as houses of refuge. Three swords hang on the wall above the Knight ready to be taken in battle if needed. The fourth lies on the floor by his side. The image of the resting Knight on the table brings to mind Sleeping Beauty, who remained asleep until awakened by the prince. This reminds us to take the time we need to heal and recharge ourselves. To remain withdrawn until the outside forces, like Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Charming, let us know we are strong enough to face the world again. Turn it upside down and we have received the kiss from our aforementioned Prince. It is time to wake and face the world again. We are strong enough in mind and soul to live again.

For me this is an indication to start my social life again. Not only to start dating after a three year self imposed sabbatical but to get together with old friends, meet new friends and enjoy life!

Rachel Pollack in 78 Degrees of Wisdom states, "Reversed this card shows a return to the world."

I couldn't agree more.

Paraskavedekatriaphobia, or What Me, Worry?

2009-02-13T08:42:00.016-05:00

Ahhh Alfred E Newman what a smart cad you are. Today's Daily Draw is the Ten of Wands Reversed. This tells me that yesterday's challenging Seven is dead and gone and I feel lighter.

For many Friday the Thirteenth is a traumatic day. The Ten shows us a man who's back is breaking under the burden of carrying ten wands. His legs struggle to put one in front of the other as he climbs a slight incline. Twilight skies turns into a starry blackness with a shadowed moon in the background. The man's passion, his dreams have turned to a burden. There is no joy any longer. The fire that drove him is now a dying ember and he is being crushed under the weight.

Reverse the card and all the wands fall from our man's back. He is free! Unburdened and carefree. Once again a creative force.

Like our friend in the reversed Ten my depression lifted last night and I practically bolted out of bed to face the promises of a new day this morning. Already I have found $15 on the ground and talked to a very pretty lady on the bus this morning. (She asked for a reading)

The lessons of yesterday's Seven have come to fruition. I dug in and remained vigilant in the face of self affected turmoil and did not let it beat me. Today, those burdens are gone.

Victory has come, just as the Seven of Wands promised.

Sometimes You're the Windshield ...

2009-02-12T08:44:00.014-05:00

Not me. Not today. Today is a bug day. That's why it's appropriate to draw the Seven of Wands today.

In 78 Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack says this about the suit of Wands, "Fire symbolizes the very energy of existence. Because it rises, constantly leaping upwards, fire stands for optimism, confidence, hope." I could certainly use some of that today. Regarding the seven she writes, "Through active conflict the figure in the card rises above any depression into the clear intoxicating air."

In the card we see a man defending his home against six enemies. While it looks like a losing cause the man stands ready. Secure in his knowledge of victory. This victory is further seen in the light that reflects off of only his wand. The others remain dull.

Notice that the man is inside his house guarding the foyer and the way out to the starry night beyond. Unlike the Five of Swords which shows conflict and competition among others, the Seven shows the energies we fight are within our own homes, within ourselves.

This card also reminds me of the Eight of Swords, but while the woman in the Eight is bound by her fears, the man in the Seven of Wands knows he must take action and fight. He must remain vigilant or surrender like the bound woman.

As a person afflicted with depression this speaks to me. I must remain alert and aware of the darkness within. Even when things are going fine I need to be on my toes.

This has been trying day. I had to pull myself out of bed to face the day and every little thing is grating on my nerves (not exactly a great day to be in customer service!).

The Seven of Wands tells me to dig in and stay strong. That victory is soon at hand.

Wrestling with a Question

2009-02-07T11:10:00.009-05:00

Here's something you don't know about me, I am involved with professional independent wrestling here in Jacksonville. It started around three years ago when a buddy of mine asked me to play a part of a hotshot big city lawyer in a story line he was putting together. Since then I have been having a blast playing the part of a bad guy manager.

A few days ago my friend Anne called me from New Hampshire. In the middle of the conversation she asked me if I had a gig coming up. "What do you mean gig?" I asked.
"A wrestling show," Anne answered.
"Yeah," I said. "We have a charity show this Saturday. Why?"
"I have a feeling," she stammered. "Just be careful and watch yourself. Be alert."

Okay, this was interesting. Anne has always been intuitive. She read Tarot and tea leaves when she was younger, only stopping after foreseeing her niece's death. She still gets momentary flashes and can still feel the energies. It is her who suggested that I might have a psychic gift and to develop it. When this woman tells me something I listen!

I grabbed my deck and asked, "What will happen at the wrestling event?"

I threw three cards and received the Knight of Cups, the Two of Wands and The Emperor.

The Knight represents our feelings and intuitions. He also is a messenger that brings opportunity either of creativity or of romance. He sits upon a spirited horse who is rearing up before the charge. Our knight lifts his golden chalice high over his head. He is righteous in his purpose, filled with emotion and creativity. He is ready to dive into the pool before checking to see if there is water in order to follow his dreams.

The Two of Wands represents a decision that needs to be made. We see a man who is following a golden river of possibilities out of the forest. In front of him he sees two giant wands standing straight up. The River of Possibilities fork left and right around the wands. Lush grounds are behind the wands with mountains rising just beyond the lushness. Two bucks stare back at the man as he contemplates his choices. Left or right? The man does not realize there is a third choice as the wands form a gateway to walk through if he continues straight. All of these paths however; lead to the same lush fields and mountains behind them. Sometimes in our passion and fire we focus only on the choices presented to us. This two reminds us that there is always a third choice if we only can see it.

The Emperor is the law. Societal law. He is the ultimate Father Figure to be reckoned with. We see him standing regally in robes of rich red and blues embroidered with stars and suns. A golden wreath crowns his head. The signs of the zodiac surround him and we can see the stars of the universe beyond them. Like the Magician in the RWS, our Caesar holds a wand in one hand while pointing to the ground with the other. Unlike the RWS Magician, The Emperor's wand is topped with a little sun that is being circled by planets. Our Ruler is more concerned with society then nature. Where the Magician strove to unlock the mysteries of natural law, the Emperor concerns himself with enforcing societal laws.

Taking all of three cards into consideration. I would say that an opportunity will present itself at the event and a choice will be made that will alter the current organization. I believe the Emperor is telling me that this opportunity will do with running an organization. It is possible that the group as I know it know will splinter into two other organizations.

I hate Court Cards!!

2009-02-06T17:23:00.006-05:00

I've been invited to go to Synagogue for Shabbat services tonight. This will be the first time I am attending Shabbat in over 10 years. I wanted to know what I could expect from and take from the experience, so I asked my Gilded.

I pulled the King of Swords, the Page of Swords and the Knight of Swords reversed. I think it means something that I pulled not only all Court Cards, but all Court Cards in the same suit. I think it shows some growth as the Page is youngest and we move through all the males courts to the Wisdom and Social Responsibility of the King.

Swords stand for intellect and thought. All three of these gentleman know their truth. Their own truth. Without the blending of understanding from Cups or passion from Wands and grounding found in Pentacles their may be a tendency to shut myself to the messages being given by the Rabbi because of my own distrust of organized religion.

The first card was His Majesty. Our King sits comfortably on his throne, assured in his own knowledge. The next is the young lad. He is standings as if posing for a portrait of royalty and knowledge, however there is an uncertainty behind the eyes. Our Page is trying to convince everyone, including himself that he has the answers. Finally is our messenger falling off his horse.

Our Knight raises his sword high ready for battle, sure in his certainty. His Golden Sword glows with virtue and righteousness. Reversed our knight is a wild braggadocio.

These cards are telling me to that I need to "forget" my knowledge and approach tonight as the student Page. I need to not look unkindly on tonight's service and turn it to a social event or an opportunity to show my vast knowledge. I just need to be quiet and aware and learn.

Past, Present & Future with the RWS

2009-02-04T10:19:00.025-05:00

Last week my Gilded Tarot took an extended vacation at my friend William's house. We were sitting around watching television and the deck was digging into my thigh, so I took it out of my pocket and placed it on the end table. At the end of the evening I left with the remaining pizza, buffalo wings and 12 pack of Pepsi. Everything but my dear Gilded.

I wasn't too worried about my deck since I knew I was going back over to William for the Super Bowl. It did, however; bring up a conundrum later in the week when I wanted to read.

I really wasn't drawn to the Rider Waite Smith deck. I bought it because it is the "standard" and most books and websites that teach Tarot refer to the RWS. I found I couldn't get into the washed out images and the watercolor-like art work. It left me flat so it was with some trepidation I grabbed for the box.

I also wanted to remain true to the spirit of the PDR and didn't want to "learn" another deck. But any port in a storm ...

After my traditional interview of the deck (which I will post as soon as I can remember where I laid it down) I decided to throw a simple Past, Present, Future spread for myself. I drew three cards:

Past - Temperance
Present - The World
Future - Eight of Swords

PAST
In Temperance we find the merging of seemingly opposites. The angel is clearly female yet wears the point up triangle that signifies masculine energy. Her feet are planted one in the river and one on the rocks, showing she lives in both the spiritual and physical world. She is pouring water from one cup to another at an impossible angle. The rays of the sun coming over the mountains mimic the rays surrounding the angel's head showing an awareness that is beginning to rise. A path leads from the river through the land and up into the mountains symbolizing a journey from the unconscious and unknown mysteries of life through the physical world ending at the higher state of being.

By splitting the Major Arcana into three groups of seven cards, leaving the fool alone as the traveller, we can look at the three parts of the whole journey. The first part shows the path of finding your place in society and conquering the physical world. The second path, lead by Temperance, is the journey of inner awareness. The third leg is the search for a higher awareness.

This is telling me that my path to inner awareness was started years ago. I started the merging of my spiritual and physical selves when I was 22 years old and I have been learning and growing ever since.

PRESENT
The World is the culmination of the journey. The place we all aspire to be. The awareness that we are glorious spirit and not restrictive flesh. In the card we see a figure dancing, she holds a wand in each hand but rather than using the wand to hold a satchel as The Fool, to wield power as The Magician or to lean weary bones on as The Hermit our dancer seems to be twirling them like batons. She is surrounded in wreathes that are tied with ribbons of infinity. This represents the constant evolving state of the universe. The cycle of life on a grand scale. There is no death as we think of it. Life does not stop but is continual.

The lesson of The World for me is that I have reached the end of the journey started years ago and represented by Temperance. Since life is an infinite, never ending process it is time to start my next journey which will bring me to Higher Awareness.

FUTURE
The Eight of Swords is a card of bondage. Of imprisonment. Here we see a woman surrounded by eight swords. She is dressed in a red gown bound and blindfolded. The swords are thrust into the muddy ground that still shows puddles were water once ran. Water is symbolic of psychic ability and intuition, this shows us the woman's own abilities are drying up but still remain. Her feet stand one foot on muddy earth and one in a puddle, mimicking the angel in Temperance. Whereas the angel in Temperance is aware of living in both worlds our damsel does not realize the gifts she possesses. Although her mouth is not gagged she does not open it to call for help. Likewise, the cloths that bind her seem loose enough to fall to the ground with a good shake. In fact our subject does not look distressed. It is possible she has placed herself in this position of non movement.

Swords represent intellect and the spirit. The breath of life. When we live too much in our head, we close ourselves off to receiving the benefits of other energy. The card shows the merging of Swords with energy of Cup and Pentacle (water and earth) can assist Swords (air) or hinder them.

Flowing freely the emotion and openness of Cups irrigates the earth and allows the ideas of the swords to take root and flourish. However, if Swords exerts too much influence they can dry up the Cup's offering leaving only mud. Mud will bind you where you are.

This card is telling me that I am keeping myself from starting the journey to higher awareness. Over the last few months clues have been dropping, some a subtle as a sledgehammer, to get me started. As of yet, I have not made the commitment to myself.

Yet another clue to get Gary to move his arse. I guess I will leave fear behind (since that is what is keeping me from taking the plunge) and journey down The Road Less Travelled.

More Journies

2009-01-30T12:31:00.002-05:00

The journey through the Major Arcana also reminded me of a poem I write a few months ago. The poem dealt with my own journey of realization and rediscovery, but I now understand there are deeper levels to my poem I never realized or meant to put in there. Weird when that happens, huh?.

Enjoy!

Armor

The Soul does not change
The innocence of Birth remains
Covered in the costumes of years

Dreamer, Artist, Architect
The Soul does not Change
We are as We were as Children
Laughing in Joy and Inspiration

Endless Loves we knew in Younger Days
Connections do not sever
Instead are buried 'neath the coverings of Life
Protections from Misdeeds of Betrayal and Lust

Chisel away the Leaden Armor of Lifetimes
To find our
True Self

A Journey Through The Majors

2009-01-30T10:10:00.010-05:00

I just finished the section of Rachel Pollack's 78 Degrees of Wisdom that deals with the Major Arcana. Coupled with Thirteen's explanation on AT I can see the spiritual journey much better now.

I envision this journey starting at the Hermit, the grizzled man who has been so beaten down by life he wants to escape it all and retreats to the caves only to emerge wizened by his solitude with a new perspective of life thanks to timeless truths he never knew until they were remembered.

He glimpses the infinite majesty in the Wheel and understands with Justice, he is the creator of the path he is walking, has walk and will walk. He knows that in forgiving himself, he will forgive the others who previously "wronged" him. This readies him for meditation on the mysteries and truth he first pondered with High Priestess and glimpsed with the Wheel.

Our Hanged Man climbs down from the tree a changed man and recognizes that a part of himself has died. A new birth has begun. With this Death he realizes he must balance both sides of his person, the material and the spiritual, since both live within himself.

He continues on his journey learning he must find Temperance in all. He wonders how to blend good and bad, material and spiritual. How to reconcile love and sex. He shouts at the Devil and blames him for his own inability to marry these opposites.

The man is shown that only we can imprison ourselves. Only we can choose Enlightenment over Darkness. That our vices of money, drink and sex make obedient servants but are harsh masters.

Everything the man has known and held true about good or bad, right and wrong is shattered. The Tower of Society he helped construct and lived in for so long before coming to the caves, violently crashes to the ground around him. He no longer knows who he is. What is right? What is wrong?

Walking in his dispair one night the man looks up and gazes at a twinkling Star. It's glow shines down upon a rippling lake. The calmness soothes the man. The Star's illumination heartens him. He feels recharged. He knows his journey must continue.

The next night sky is cloudless and a Full Moon gazes down upon the sleeping man. Rather than peaceful rest he is turning fitfully. Images come unbidden. Nightmares. Dreams never realized. Disappointments intrude upon his rest. He realizes these images are parts of himself.

He wakes to a bright Sun and understands last night's dreamscapes were just an illusion. The images of him as son, as husband, as father, as hermit are all labels. They are not who he really is. He is strong in spirit. He has made it to the end of his journey. Or has he?

The man stops to gather his belongings, readying to leave when thoughts once again descend upon him. Unlike the images that attacked him yesterday; however, he does not fear these. He watches the movie in his mind recall his life. The good and the bad. The innocence and the guilt. The victories and the losses.

Instinctually the man knows he is supposed to pass Judgement on his life. On his and others. Instead the man smiles and accepts all he sees. In his mind's eye and with his own eyes everything he sees is part of the Great World. They are perfect and they are one ... just as he is.

The man smiles.

First Meeting of The Jacksonville Social Club

2009-01-29T11:09:00.010-05:00

Sunday was the first meeting of the Jacksonville Social Tarot Club. I woke up with a nervous energy, eager to see how things would go. There are currently 25 registered members on our Meetup Group and more than half of them RSVP'ed YES.

Having been in and run groups before I know the standard rule of thumb is if 50% of the people who say they will attend show up it is a great turn out. I was expecting between 5 and 7 people people, to my shock and suprise everyone who said they would be there showed up!!

This was fantastic since it meant we had enthusiastic members!! And it was horrible because it meant I under planned.

We met up at Starbuck's which was overcrowded and noisy so it was a challenge for all of us to sit together. I prefer things to manifest themselves organically in a small group environment so I didn't have an agenda. This was a mistake. The people who showed up were looking for more than a social time, they were looking for direction. Some were even looking for a class room environment. It became clear to me that a loose order needed to be imposed.

After pushing two or three tables together on the Starbuck's patio everyone hunkered down. Little conversation's sprouted up around the table between group members. Some were about Tarot, some were not. This was fine with me since I felt it was all part of the bonding process. Others were not of the same mind.

Soon a woman at the far end of the table wanted to know when we were going to start. I thought we had and was just waiting for the natural lull to happen. Instead I raised my voice to get the attention of everyone and introduced myself. I suggested we go around the table, introduce ourselves and tell a little of how we came to Tarot.

A person would introduce themselves and then a tangential conversation sprouted from what that member said. It could be on metaphysics, psychic abilities or forming S-Corps as opposed to LLCs. We never steered back to the introductions and a few at the table were left out.

In short, there were good points to the first meeting and definitely things I could learn from.

Good points: There was a high energy to the group. There was a diverse background to the members, everyone brought decks and books.

Challenges: There was a lack of respect given to some members as conversations were monopolized and steered away from introduction. There was no direction to the meeting. There were no readings (group or otherwise). There was no cohesiveness. There was no definite start and end times.

I have been involved in event promotion in the past and know the taskmaster mentality needed to create a successful conference, weekend or concert. I did not view this gathering as an event which was why I was so underprepared.

I have switched my focus and have come up with a loose structure and activities for the next meeting. We have also decided to change the venue to a local library meeting room.

In order to keep focus the following will be a loose agenda of our next meeting:

2:00p - Start of Meeting
2:00p-2:15p - Every arrives
2:15p-2:30p - Introductions. Going around the the table everyone will introduce themselves and give a brief expectation of what the hope to get out of this group.
2:30p-3:30p - Group Deck Reading. Everyone will throw no more than three questions into a hat. A reader picked at random will reach in a select a question. They will then perform a reading based on the question. Only the reader and the querent may speak at this time. After the initial reading we will go clockwise from the reader and the other members may chirp in with their interpretations of the spread. Once everyone has contributed, if there are still depths to plumb a round table discussion will take place. The rules of ther game "Yes and ..." will be strongly enforced. Time permitting we will do a second group reading.
3:30p-4:30p - Group decided activity. This may be based on the previous readings. A study of a specific card or deck or a game designed to incease our comfort levels with Tarot. Some examples of games include:

Tarot Stories: Three or four cards are drawn at random and placed on the table. The group will come up with a story (characters, plot, etc.) based upon the cards and write it up.
Divination Sentences: a simple three card spread is thrown. In one sentence the group will describe what they see
Songs: A card is drawn at random from the deck. The group wil try to come up with as many songs that can fit the meaning of the card

4:30p-5:00p - Brainstorming for next month's meeting
5:00p - End of Meeting

A Little Anxious

2009-01-28T13:23:00.010-05:00

I started doing a Daily Card draw yesterday. I was not able to post a blog on yesterday's card (Knight of Swords - Reversed) because of a freak power outage that left me in the dark with no internet access.

Today's card was the King of Cups (Rx). In Ciro's deck a King sits comfortably on his throne of Sliver and Gold. Although this would suggest he has mastered both the unconscious and conscious worlds we see the throne is way bigger than our King. Or maybe, he is way smaller. Perhaps he acutely feels the weight of the world on his shoulders? He holds a Golden Scepter in his right hand while he gazes contentedly into the gilded cup in his left. His throne sits upon the waters below and no part of him touches it. Both images show he has recognized his creative impulses but does not let them interfere with his social responsibilities.

The LWB states this king is relaxed, easy going and artistic. He has his focus on family matters and may be found employed in the health professions or social sciences. Anywhere empathy is valued. Rachel Pollack in 78 Degrees of Wisdom states this King "has directed his creative powers into socially responsible acheivements."

Reversed she warns our king may "slide towards dishonesty." She points out that "swindlers also use creativity to further their careers." The LWB says if our King falls off his throne he may be "childish" or "manipulative."

This may about the people who are currently moving in my life and a warning to not be trusting of "half-baked schemes" that sound plausible just because the person who is presenting them is wearing the clothes of a confidant.

It may also say that my emotions are going to be off kilter today. The King representing the height of his suit has complete control of the ebb and flow of feelings and moves in rhythm with the river. Topsy-turvy the card may show a struggle to master the currents of the river.

Since my anxiety has been buzzing like annoying mosquitoes for the past few days. I'll take the latter message. It hasn't manifested as a full blown panic attack, but those darn bugs bothering me has left a general feeling of unease all day.

I think a glass of wine and a good book to relax with are on the evenings agenda.

Awareness

2009-01-27T17:06:00.003-05:00

This came to me this morning by way of Neale Donald Walsh's Thought for the Day list. I just read Karl's post on the Three of Cups and the Prince of Cups and something clicked. I thought I'd share it with all of you. Enjoy.

... awareness is everything. Not just part of it. Not some aspect of it. Awareness is everything.

Look, therefore, to your awareness, not to your thoughts. Your thoughts about things can betray you -- and often do -- because they can be colored by emotions. Your awareness cannot.

Just observe what is so. Then observe what you think about what is so. Then ask yourself, "Why am I thinking that?" And, more important, "What would happen if I thought something else?"

The Eight of Swords: Reflections & Dreams

2009-01-23T08:44:00.018-05:00

Last night I had a dream. It was an almost conscious, or lucid dream. I was aware of the dream I was having and I was aware of another part of my mind, my conscious, my ... whatever ... trying to analyze the dream as I was having it. Since the dream involved the Eight of Swords I thought we would take a look at the card.

The Eight of Swords in the Gilded Tarot has always been strangely alluring to me. A card of self imposed bondage, it shows an inability to move (either forward or back) brought on by our own insecurities, worries and fears.

On it we see a woman surrounded by eight shining swords. Each of the swords radiate energy as they circle, but do not touch her. The woman is dressed in white and kneeling. Her ears and eyes are covered and her hands are bound by a golden chain. Her feet are bare. Her head is positioned downward. However, she does not look distressed. Instead she seems resigned to the fact that she is in this position.

But look a little closer, this is not as desperate a situation as first it seems. As we said before, the swords are not threatening her and the golden chain hangs loosely from her wrists. In fact, if she chose to she could probably free herself from the chains and remove the blindfold covering her ears and eyes. She could then see the energy and wisdom that is emanating from the swords.

The lesson of the Eight of Swords is that we are the creator of our own jails and of our own bondage. When thoughts are racing through the mind telling us we can't ask that person out because they are too beautiful, or we can't start that business because we are not smart enough, or even; we can't take the time to better ourselves by reading a self help book, meditating or going back to school to earn a degree because we don't have the time we feel the influence of the Eight.

Now is the time to step back and take a deep breath. Put our emotions to the side and let our logic show us the way. We need to break the chains and rip off the blindfold so we can see clearly, and we can realize the worries were just illusions constructed by our own minds. As easily as we built them up we can tear them down.

What does this have to do with my dream? Good question. Let's find out.

The dream was more of a thought and sound dream than a visual dream as I don't remember any images. In fact, I don't think there were any. I remember a grandfather. I felt, more than saw an image of the kindly old, smiling grandfather of Hallmark Cards or Norman Rockwell paintings. I don't think it could be my grandfather because all my grandparents passed before I turned one. I don't think it was my ex-wife's grandfather because I never met him before he passed and when he did make his presence known to me it was always through the smell of garlic.

Add to the image or feeling of this grandfather figure the image or feeling of the Eight of Swords. I could not see the card or even recall it's meaning. It's at this point I remember the "other" part of my mind mentally running through the deck to put definitions to the card.

I kept thinking Nine of Swords? No that's a prison built of worry. Eight of Wands? No, that's swift movement. Nine of Wands? No, that's a pleasure becoming a burden. Seven of Swords? No, that's a thief in the night. Seven of Wands? No, that's sticking up for your beliefs. It wasn't until I woke up and checked my Tarot Journal that I remembered the look and meaning of the Eight.

While these two image-feelings where playing around in my head I heard the chorus to "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones. You know:

"Right here, right now
There is no other place I want to be
Right here, right now
Watching the world wake up from history."

Over and over and over again. Even when the images of the grandfather and the Eight of Swords faded the chorus kept on loud and clear.

So what does it mean?

The Eight of Swords coupled with the chorus of "Right Here, Right Now" tells me that the illusions created by my worry and fear need to stop. Right Here. Right Now. This would also validate the reading I did with my spirit guide.

It's funny, I am currently reading Rachel Pollack's 78 Degrees of Wisdom (yes, I ripped off the title for my blog) and this morning I just finished reading about Justice. The basic theme of which is, we have to learn to accept the past if we are to have any chance of moving forward. We created the present by our actions in the past even as we are creating the future by our actions Right Here, Right Now.

It seems my guides are persistent little buggers!

The only thing I don't don't is who the grandfather figure is.

Ideas? Thoughts?

Seeking My Spirit Guides

2009-01-20T12:46:00.015-05:00

My spiritual journey began when I was 22 after I was seriously injured in a car accident. With three years of recovery and physical therapy I had plenty of time to wax philosophical.

A lot of soul searching and reading went on during those three years. I read the Old Testament, the New Testament, The Quran. I meditated with the Eastern Philosophies of Zen and Tao. I studied the works of Freud and Jung, of Bandler and Grindler (father's of NLP). I even ordered a tape program off of a late night infomercial from one of NLP's most famous student's/practioner's - Anthony Robbins.

I read about past lives, behaviourism and Conversations With God. By the time I turned 30 I thought my belief system was in place. I was accepting of myself and accepting of other's beliefs. If something did not make sense to me I didn't call it wrong, I simply did not incorporate it in my personal ideological set.

Then, three months ago, I re-discovered Tarot. I say re-discovered because I had bought my first deck when I was 26 or 27. I wanted to impress a girl and so bought The Merlin Tarot because of my fascination with the Druid Mage. I really didn't study the deck as much as I played at it. With the re-emergence of Tarot in my life my inuition, or psychic abilities have been pushing against my conscious mind.

A few weeks ago the subject of spirit guides entered my thought stream. At first I thought, "I don't have a spirit guide." As the days went by that little kernel of thought jiffy-popped to, "Hmmm ... I wonder who they are?"

I started searching the AT forums for a spirit guide spread. I found one but did not try it because I told myself I needed to finish my card by card deck study so I wouldn't be rote reliant on the LWB.

Yesterday something told me to throw the Spirit Guide spread. Even though I was exhausted from work and just wanted to collapse on the couch and decompress before bed, I was compelled to through this spread.

I threw the following cards:

1. Representing the spirit - Who are they? - Ace of Swords
2. Why are they with me right now? - Page of Swords (Rx)
3. What do they want me to know? - The Lovers (Rx)
4. How can I help them?/What actions can I take? - Ten of Pentacles (Rx)
5. Summary of reading - Four of Cups (Rx)

I sat there dumbfounded at what I was looking at. My brain would not engage. "What does this mean," I urged internally. A psychic shrug was the response. I pushed on. Here's what I got:

This reading is a warning to me. The fact the every spot except the one that describes my guide came up reversed is a giant neon sign to me. My spirit guide, a little blonde haired boy I call Timmy, always tells the truth and can cut through the bullshit (Ace of Swords & Page of Swords).

He is around me to let me know I need to let go of the past. Past loves (The Lovers), past business and monetary failures (Ten of Pentacles). I must let myself heal from my previous marriage and not let one woman's (harlot's?) action taint me from the love I deserve. I can not let the grass grow long between my toes. (Four of Cups). I need not to become complacent and comfortable with my situation but continue to always to look for growth. In this case, the growth is in my intimate relationships.

This makes sense to me. The only card that I have no clue how to interpret is the 10 of Pentacles (Rx). In the spread position, how can I help?, I could interpret it as work harder to save money, but I can't see how that would help my growth in personal relationships.

I know this spread is about me and the pain I still hold because of my ex-wife's deceit and betrayal. I can not see how to fold the Ten of Pentacles (Earth Card) into that definition.

Any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

The Skeptic Returns

2009-01-18T20:34:00.013-05:00

He showed up at my door with a Pepsi and a Pepperoni Pizza.

I was sitting on the couch watching the Eagles/Cardinals playoff game when the doorbell rang. I knew William was going to stop by to pick up his vacuum. I didn't know he was going to bring food. Never one to turn down food I invited him in.

The pizza was good. Not great, good. I thought it was a bit skimpy on the pepperoni, had too much cheese and not enough sauce. But it was a passable pie. I'm a pizza snob originally from New York City. After we were done eating, William pointed to my ever present Gilded Tarot sitting on the corner of the kitchen table and asked for another reading. I smiled and agreed.

He wanted to know when he would get another dog. William's last dog, Beau, lost his battle with cancer almost six months ago. Although William has another dog and a cat he has not bonded with then the way he bonded with Beau.

I threw a Three Rays four card spread. The first card, laid on top of the triangle, represents the true nature of the question. The second, laid on the right base of the triangle, is the Positive Energies surrounding the issue. The third, placed on the left base, is the Negative Energies and the fourth, laid in between the second and third, represents the probable outcome based on the merging energies.

The cards I threw were:

True Nature of Question - Eight of Swords (Rx)
Positive Energies - Six of Swords (Rx)
Negative Energies - Page of Pentacles
Most Likely Outcome - Eight of Cups (Rx)

I started by advising my friend that the Eight of Swords represents inaction by your own decisions. The woman in the picture is bound, blindfolded and on her knees, but the bindings are not tight and we do not see who bound her. This is because her own indecision and uncertainty is what restrains her. I told him what he was really asking was when he could move past the death of Beau and open his heart to a new animal. The fact that it was reversed I said represented his desire to not really want to move past the pain. That somehow he was wearing it as a badge of honor for Beau.

The Six of Swords shows us a woman crossing a body of water in the middle of night. Her head is covered by a cowl against the chill and the elements. This card, I told William, shows us a moving away from troubles and sailing to new shores. Getting new ideas, moving away from painful memories and "getting on with our lives." I also let him know it represents finding new information on a subject or researching a subject. This may be a person he meets or more likely a book that will help him make his decisions. Being reversed, I warned him against not being willing to accept or see the help when it was offered.

The card in the Negative Energy position was the Page of Pentacles. It totally represented William as he is a pragmatic (down to earth) person who works with his hands (he's a cable guy). It also shows that there is a money issue involved. I let him know that he is not as mature as he needs to be with his money. He is a child or adolescent (as represented by the Page) and needs to gain more wisdom for financial independence.

The Most Probable Outcome card fell as the Eight of Cups, the Eternal Dreamer. However, this dreamer was standing on his head, that is the card was reversed. The Eight shows a man with his back turned to eight gilded cup that are strewn around the ground as if the pyrimad the were stacked in just fell. The man does not see, or care; as he is searching the horizon for the next thing. I explained that this card represented a restlessness or feeling of "never good enough." Never satisfied. A person who really doesn't know what they want. Being reversed, I advised him that he was not going to move away (a reference to the earlier reading and validated by the reversed six of swords in the negative positive energy position)until he has a new dog and that is not going to happen until he could come to terms and accept Beau's passing.

I then said that most people who ask time frame questions really don't want esoteric gibberish as much as they want a date. I told him that I could not give him an exact date but based on the fact that Cups showed up in the outcome position, and Cups represent water I estimated sometime between mid February to mid March.

William looked at me ashen. "That's freaky, dude."
"Why?" I asked.
"You had no idea about the email I just got. The breeder I'm working with has a litter that just reached age for adoption. They want $1500 for the pups and I don't have that money right now. I have $750 of it. With the overtime I hope to work I should have enough in two to three weeks."
"Which would be mid February."
"Yeah. Freaky."

He is now a believer. :)

Reading For A Skeptic

2009-01-17T23:15:00.017-05:00

Today I was hanging out with my friend William. We ran some errands together and later he brought over his super-duper Kirby vacuum so I can shampoo my carpets. We were sitting around the kitchen table when he asked me to do a reading for him. He said he was a skeptic and wanted to understand the art form of Tarot reading. I agreed to read for him.

I asked if he had a specific question. He said no and asked if I couldn't just throw some cards and do a reading. I told him I could do a simple Past, Present & Future spread.

I cleared the energies from the deck and threw three cards:

Past - The Moon
Present - Justice
Future - Emperor

Position - PAST
Card - XVIII The Moon
Description of Card - Two dogs bay at the moon from the base a "lunar machine." The moon sits in a globe like clear sphere atop the machines gears, that have a ying yang quality about them. The moon gazes to the east night sky as two podiums flame on either side. A hermit crab snaps his way up from the depths.
Interpretation - I advised my friend that in his past he often flew off the handle. Relying on gut reactions rather than logic. I also told him I saw a betrayal, or what he defined as a betrayal or disappointment and he blames or judges the person or people to harshly because of it.

Position - PRESENT
Card - XI Justice
Description of Card - A woman dressed in white stands blindfolded in front of a golden scale. Her hands, mimicking the scales hold two sun like orbs that focus rays of energy down to a golden sun symbol. A warm summer sky at orange twilight surrounds the image.
Interpretation - I told my friend that right now in his life he is seeking balance. That he is trying to use a little more logic in his life rather than relying solely on his gut, instinct and emotion. I explained that this emergence of logic seems like a natural progression based upon the Moon in the Past position. I also saw that he was looking to balance his life with a female. I saw the energies coming forth from the hands of the woman and focusing into the emblem of the sun formed a V. This made me think of a vessel or a womb or a vagina. I told him that I though he was looking for a mother figure.

Position - FUTURE
Card - IV The Emperor
Description of Card - A bearded man stands regally in three quarter view wrapped in blue and red silk garments embroidered with sun signals. He wears a golden wreath on his hand. He holds a scepter at the top of which the planetary system revolve. The signs of the zodiac circle him. The scepter in his right hand his left points to the ground. This card reminds me a lot of the Magician in the RWS deck.
Interpretation - My friend was going to be successful in his attempts to find balance between logic and emotion and this was going to help him be successful financially.

Since the Emperor was the only card in the reading to talk about money, I wanted clarification on this and drew three more cards.

Clarifier Cards - Knight of Pentacles, Five of Pentacles (Rx) and Knight of Wands
Interpretation - Seeing these cards come up, I explained to my friend that Knights represented messengers, true believers and/or warriors. To me it felt as if he was going to get a job offer that was not in his profession right now and it was going to take him out of state. This job would be different from what he was currently doing. I explained that the Five of Pentacles represented people who were so consumed with worry they could not see the solution was near them. Since this was reversed I saw that his new job was going to helping people with their challenges or least helping them see that a solution was closer than they thought. This is how he was going to make his money.

My friend and I then discussed how I "got" these meanings. I explained it was intuition, instinct. I looked at the cards and based upon what I knew of the definition of the card, the imagery on the card, the energy I felt around us and my knowledge of him is what formed my reading. He challenged that my friendship with him was more of what I was reading rather than intuiting from the cards and "mystical" abilities. He asked for a second reading to validate the first. Glad for the practice I obliged.

I again cleared the deck and three another PPF spread. The cards I got this time were:

Past - Three of Pentacles (Rx)
Present - Nine of Cups (Rx)
Future - XII The Hanging Man

Position - PAST
Card - Three of Pentacles (Rx)
Description of Card - A worker holds a pentacle he just removed from the kiln high. There is a definite look of pride and satisfaction on his face. Two other pentacles hang, possibly bolted, above the kiln. The kiln is still hot with fire showing there is still work to be done and the pentacle being held is still alight with heat from the kiln it was recently removed from.
Interpretation - I told my friend that in his past he felt there was something he felt was not finished. The Three of Pentacles shows pride in work and also that that work was not finished. Reversed shows me that he feels that there was something he could have done better. Some opportunity that he feels was taken from him prematurely.

Position - PRESENT
Card - Nine of Cups (Rx)
Description of Card - A man welcomes you warmly into his establishment. He raises a cup in your honour while eight other golden chalices sit awaiting to be filled with your desires
Interpretation - I explained that the Nine of Pentacles is the ultimate wish card. It represented whatever you wanted was in your grasp. Reversed, not so much. I told my friend that it seems he has given up on his dreams or that he has been denied what he wanted. That something was taken away from him.

Position - FUTURE
Card - XII The Hanging Man (Rx)
Description of Card - A man hangs upside down in chains. He is dressed in an almost circus like garb. While he may look as if he is caught in the chains. They are in fact very loose and the man can escape anytime he chooses and right himself
Interpretation - I advised my friend that Hanging Man was a card of self discovery and exploration. That he purposely hangs upside so he can gain some new enlightenment from viewing things from a different perspective. I told him that if he wanted to reclaim this dream he was going to have to "think outside the box." To put aside all previous pre-cognitions and think different. I married this back to the first reading with the need for balance between logic and emotion, instead of the poles he tended to swing back and forth from. Reversed I explained meant that I saw him not doing this and missing the opportunity.

When the second reading was through. My friend told me he now understood the art form better and there was some validity to both Tarot in general and what I told him specifically. He then told me he wanted to run a help and rescue shelter for dogs and he actually was starting to train seeing eyes dogs in his mid twenties but stopped at 28 when he moved. He told me he was thinking about moving to Georgia, getting some land and starting to train dogs again.

As we were talking, I casually cut the deck and pulled the Four of Pentacles. I smiled as I explained to my friend that Four of Pentacles represents a man who has achieved success in business but must be careful of holding to tightly to that success lest it comes to define him and he misses out on other parts of life. At this point my friend started bugging out and yelling, "That's just like my dream! That's just like my dream!"

William explained to me that a few nights ago he had a dream that he was successful in business but lost his family because of his single minded focus.

I guess he's not a skeptic anymore ;)

Of Hard Drive Crashes and AT Addiction

2009-01-13T12:06:00.002-05:00

Yesterday the Aeclectic Tarot Forum boards went down due to a hard drive crash. I never realized in the short time I have been an active member how much AT seeped into my daily rituals and routines.

After I get out of the shower and dress in the morning the first thing I do is check my email and then head over to AT to catch up on the threads I am watching. At work, when it is slow, I will go to AT and see what's going on in the reading forums or the spreads forum. When I get home, I relax with the Talking Tarot and Fun and Games forums. Yesterday I was suffering a bit of the Tarot withdrawal. I had the ATDT's. ;)

I am glad to find I am not alone in my addiction. Several posts this morning were simple acknowledgements of the void left by the pc/server issues. Many expressed feelings of detachment from not having their extended family.

That is how I feel about AT. It has very quickly become an extended family. I don't know everyone and recognize even fewer by screen name. I haven't talked (chatted, emailed or PM'ed) with very many residents but something about AT sets it apart from other forums (or in day of yore; BBSes) I have been a part of. It's a sense of community. Of family.

The last time I was a member of a community like this one was in the mid to late nineties with rmac, or the Rec.Music.A-Cappella usenet group. Through that board I met some wonderful people. Some became friends I still have today. One became my wife (for a period of time). Through rmac I acheived goals I previously never thought of and ended up walking a path I couldn't anticipate.

I hope that AT fosters the same kind of relationships I found with rmac and takes me on some unexpected journies. I have already started to forge friendships with some of my fellow Tarot Enthusiasts and hope those relationships continue to blossom and grow.

I seems I have truly found a virtual home.

Cross Pollination and SSP

2009-01-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks!

I just wanted to take a moment to share with you that I also have another blog not dedicated to Tarot. Here you will find poetry, short stories and whatever ramblings come from the flotsam and jetsam of my mind.

Please check it out if you want.

Once More Into The Void

How is Abbey feeling?

2009-01-10T10:36:00.003-05:00

I know I said I was going to continue my deck study with the help of the How To book. Using the LWB as a springboard, I was going to concentrate on what the cards and images mean to me. But that was before I ran across KK's Sick Pet spread on AT.

For the last several weeks Abbey has been nursing her left front paw. At first I thought it was a simple twist from turning to fast when chasing the cats. Now, I'm not sure. It has gotten steadily worse. She will not put any pressure on the paw choosing to walk and run on three legs. She is constantly licking and gnawing at it and whimpers as she does so. When the pain gets so bad she cries and looks at me with those big brown eyes as if imploring me to make it stop.

I am giving her two to four Tylenol a day to ease her pain and am planning to take her to the vet, but need to wait until next week due to money and transportation issues. I did want to know what was going on her thoughts so when I ran across KK's spread I thought it was a good enough reason to break my "no readings until initial deck study was done" rule. So here goes:

How does my sick dog feel?

Question 1 - What does my dog believe?
Card - Three of Pentacles
Description of Card - A worker holds a pentacle he just removed from the kiln high. There is a definite look of pride and satisfaction on his face. Two other pentacles hang, possibly bolted, above the kiln. The kiln is still hot with fire showing there is still work to be done and the pentacle being held is still alight with heat from the kiln it was recently removed from.
Interpretation - Abbey believes that what daddy (me) is doing right now is making her feel better and he will continue to help her feel better.

Question 2 - What is keeping her grounded?
Card - Ten of Swords
Description of Card - A man lies dead (or unconscious) in a field of tall grass. A deer moves in carefully to investigate the health of the man. Ten glowing swords hover just above the man on the downward descent. The sky is dark but growing lighter as we move left to right.
Interpretation - Abbey feels that as bad as the pain is, it can't get any worse and is in fact getting better because of the medicine daddy is giving her. (Personal note: She also is being a little drama queen, milking all the attention she can get out of the issue with her paw)

Question 3 - How is she feeling?
Card - Three of Swords
Description of Card - A heart is being pierced by three swords. The heart is floating in the air and has the glow of the sun behind it. Dark clouds build underneath the heart, but turn white, light and fluffy as we move from bottom to top. A Sun emblem sits in the middle of the pierced heart almost as an insignia or crest.
Interpretation - Because of the pain she is feeling (as represented by the swords piercing the heart) Abbey is feeling detached and separate from me. Usually we an in sync but the pain in the paw is not making her feel much like playing.

Question 4 - What is that sparkle in her eyes?
Card - Ten of Cups (I smiled warmly when I saw this card)
Description of Card - Two ladies sit on a bench in a yard filled with lush grass. Behind them sits a cottage with the door open and no glass in the windows. The ladies are knitting (crocheting?) what I imagine is a Home Sweet Home sign. A cat plays with the yarn as bees buzz around the house. A rainbow of ten cups cover the entire scene.
Interpretation - Abbey loves her home and feels very safe and comfortable within it. She gets excited whenever daddy returns and looks forward to greeting him at the door.

Question 5 - What is she thinking?
Card - Three of Cups (Another card that made me happy!)
Description of Card - Three young ladies dance with streamers in their hands. The are dressed in colors that represent the other three elements (fire, air and earth). Below them two cups pour water into a third cup which is overflowing and creating a body of water below it which the third cup sits on top of.
Interpretation - Abbey feels as if she has it all. She is feeling very loved.

Overall Feelings
It is clear that Abbey is hurting (I didn't need the cards to tell me that!). What is also very clear is that she places a lot of trust in me. She knows that I will do everything I can to make her feel better. She feels loved in this home.

Primary Deck Reflections Card of the Day - Four of Wands

2009-01-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a study of the Gilded Tarot with the help of the Easy Tarot companion book for a few days now. The author takes you card by card through the Minor Arcana (Ace through Ten), then the Court Cards of each suit and finally the Major Arcana. Since I am currently knee deep in Wands my card selection today is the Four of Wands. While I dreamed the other day of the Three of Wands (Read the post in The Aeclectic Tarot Forum) and I enjoy the dark imagery of the Five. The Four is my favorite card because it says family to me.

In it we see a man, his wife and child standing under four wands which are wrapped in wreaths and flowers. They are surrounded by lush, green fields and bunnies graze contentedly in front of them. I always think of a home when I think of this image. It reminds me that family is the most important thing and to take the time to build a good family support system. Spending time with loved ones is paramount to living an enjoyable life filled with passion, love and laughter. I don't know anyone who on their deathbed said, "I wish I spent more time at the office!"

This card reminds me to slow down and take the time to re-charge my batteries.

Jacksonville Social Tarot Club

2009-01-02T17:22:00.002-05:00

Ever since my separation and divorce I've become a bit of a Hermit. That would be the Major Arcana card that would best represent me. I know I need to come out of my shell and socialize again. To that end I started a Tarot Meetup Group in Jacksonville. The group went public this morning and our first get together is scheduled for January 25th.

If you are anywhere near Jacksonville, FL in the afternoon that day, join us. Grab a cup of java and join the fun.

The Jacksonville Social Tarot Club

Interview With My New Gilded Tarot - PDR #1

2009-01-01T16:08:00.003-05:00

I received some Tarot decks and books as gifts for Channukah this year. One deck was the Original RWS I wanted because it the standard. Wherever I go on the web to get knowledge or to learn, the sites always refer to the RWS or RWS "style" decks so I figured I needed to get one. The other deck was The Gilded Tarot. I felt an attachment for this deck when I first spied it on AT. I was drawn to the art work. When I opened the deck I was not disappointed. The artwork took my breath away. It is simply gorgeous. It doesn't just speak to me it sings!!

The deck was a part of a set with a Learn To Read Tarot book called, "Easy Tarot." I have been reading Tarot on and off for 10 years with my Merlin Deck, so after cracking open the deck and drooling I decided to do a reading. I threw a Interview Spread to see what kind of personality my new Gilded had. Only after the reading did I open the companion book and found Rule #1:

Rule #1
Do not rush right in and do a reading by throwing a spread and looking up the meanings of the cards.

OOPS!

Oh well. I decided that I wanted to learn Tarot properly and so I now approach the deck as a total newbie. One of the learning techniques the author shares is to keep a journal (this site) and to write down your thoughts of each card in your journal. Not the book definition but your own thoughts and feelings on the card. I will share this information, as well as any readings I do on a weekly basis (sometimes more often, sometimes less).

So to start 2009 off right we will start with the Interview with my Gilded Tarot:

Interview With The Gilded Tarot - January 1, 2009

Question 1 - Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?
Card - Judgement
Description of Card - A helmeted female messenger is about to sound a Golden Horn. Judgement day has arrived. Around the horn are beautifully drawn humans that seem to be dancing (at least in ballet/dance poses). The woman gazes down on the horn and/or the humans.
Interpretation - You will reap what you sow. Whatever you put into getting to know me I will give you back. We are partners in this journey so do not expect me to do all the work.

Question 2 - What are your strengths as a deck?
Card - Six of Wands
Description of Card - A gentleman sits atop a horse parading through an adoring crowd. He sits proudly with a wreathed wand in one of his hands. Banners wave behind him as he is honored for his accomplishments.
Interpretations - I will reward your hard work to get to know me.

Question 3 - What are your limits as a deck?
Card - Three of Cups
Description of Card - Three young ladies dance with streamers in their hands. The are dressed in colors that represent the other three elements (fire, air and earth). Below them two cups pour water into a third cup which is overflowing and creating a body of water below it which the third cup sits on top of.
Interpretations - I am a pragmatic tool that can help you increase your understandings. I will not help celebrate your successes. I am not your friend. I really do not care about affairs of the heart.

Question 4 - What do you bring to the table? What are you here to teach me?
Card - Seven of Swords
Description of Card - A man holding five swords is exiting a dwelling. Two more swords lay on the floor. The man is looking back, as if making sure he is not spotted. Clearly this man is up to no good and is stealing the swords. A cat watches the thief with apathy as he leaves.
Interpretations - I will teach you how to deal with disappoint and loss. All is not rosy and you will need how to learn to deal with these situations if you are to find peace and contentment.

Question 5 - How can I best learn from and collaborate with you?
Card - Four of Pentacles
Description of Card - A well dressed merchant stands in a room, possibly a balcony, clutching four pentacles to his chest. He is garbed in a lush purple gown with rings on his fingers. His hands are clasped around the pentacles.
Interpretations - The best way you can learn from me is hard work. Nose to the grindstone, shoulder to boulder. Be serious in your studies and your desires to learn and grow and I will reward you. Paradoxically, let go of a results oriented goal system. For that is not me and not the nature of Tarot.

Question 6 - What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Card - Page of Wands
Description of Card - A page strolls confidently across a checkered floor of the balcony. He holds a wand in front as a trophy he is entitled to. Orange trees grow in the background. My but he is full of himself!!
Interpretation - You will be able to receive messages and understand the vibrations around you. You will grow to feel comfortable with your gifts that have been developed with my help. You will find new directions to apply your skills.

Overall Feelings
Wow!! I think my deck is a haughty, confident little bugger!! It is a no nonsense, pragmatic partner that will very often "coach me up." It is more likely to kick me in my ass than console and commiserate with me when things take a down turn. It is very full of itself. I don't know if that is arrogance or confidence. The presence of the Page would leave me to say arrogance.

If my deck was a person I don't think we would be good friends. In fact, from this reading, I get the very distinct feeling that we will not. It will be a successful relationship but my deck will never let me forget it is above me. It will always remain aloof.

Haughty is the perfect word.

As far as the deck. The artwork is full. The deck sits comfortably in the hand and shuffles well. Despite my decks full opinion of itself, I still look forward to working with it.

New Decks!!!

2008-12-30T15:53:00.002-05:00

Yesterday my Channukah present arrived. I received The Original RWS Tarot and three books to aid me in my journey - Learning Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners, 78 Degrees of Wisdom and Easy Tarot: Learn To Read The Tarot Once And For All. The most pleasant surprise was seeing that Easy Tarot came with a Gilded Tarot deck!! This is a beautiful deck that I fell in love with instantly.

It is also a deck I spent $30 to purchase from another vendor!! So as soon as it arrives I will have two(!) copies of the Gilded Tarot.

I am working my way through the study guide that came with the deck and while I have found it very useful, I disagree with a few of the author's suggestions. These mostly have to do with wrapping the tarot in cloth or sleeping with it under your pillow. It's not that I believe these rituals are poppycock, I believe them to be rituals based upon personal beliefs and I don't think you need to perform any juju to better our relationship with the decks.

We just need to study and use the decks. There is no magic. Or perhaps more correctly, all there is is magic.

I look forward to getting to know this deck and working with it closely. I will keep you informed.