Daniloff - Intuition

©Alexander Daniloff

For this last day with Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012) we have another Swords card.

This one gives me a much better feeling than yesterday's Eight of Swords.  Here in the Two we have a woman, once again with a strange black binding around her face and eyes.  Her arms are crossed in front of her chest, and she holds the two swords up behind her own head.  What delights me, though, is that she appears to be exploding through a rip in the fabric of the universe.  While most of the background of the card shows a rocky seascape, she herself emerges from a scroll-like opening that gives onto a night sky, dotted with stars and a waxing crescent moon.

To me, this card speaks of being held in stasis by ideas which we don't know how to combine or choose between.  Yet it feels hopeful.  Her clothes echo the colours of the night sky beneath her, suggesting she has access to intuition, if she is just willing to tap into it.  Then, she will resolve her dilemma and move out of her self-imposed stasis.

Which ideas have you stymied right now?  What would help you tap into your intuition about them?

Daniloff - Traps

©Alexander Daniloff

Today's card from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012) is one whose perspective I can't quite get my head around.  The angles seem wrong to me, a little off.  And perhaps that says something about the interpretation of the card itself...

A woman kneels on the ground, her arms bound tightly at her sides, her breasts pushed up by her corset and binding. She also has a black ribbon that wraps around her throat, head, and eyes, almost like a horse's bridle!  The eight swords are all different shapes and sizes.  Poked into the ground around her and through her yellow dress, they seem to pin her down and bar her way far more than in traditional images.  Her location is also unclear, all we can see is a blue swirling circle, and a glimmering night sky, or perhaps a dark curtain with light specks.

Altogether, from the odd angles to the varied swords, the bridle-like blindfold and the strange location, this card makes me think of being trapped by ideas which are in fact twisted.  Not that they are necessarily untrue, but the way we are interpreting them is skewed, and that affects everything we think, say and do, or don't do.

What ideas might be restricting you?   How can you get a different perspective on things today? 

Daniloff - Strength

©Alexander Daniloff

It's good to see a Major come out in one of these daily draws!  I always like when the week covers as many bases as possible in a deck: different suits, Courts, Majors, and maybe even Aces.  Seeing as I pull them at random, it doesn't always happen, but we're doing quite well so far with Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012).

Here we have La Forza (Strength), and you'll see that I've chosen the version numbered VIII.  There are two choices each for Strength and Justice, so you can go with your preferred numbering :) 

A blonde woman appears to be riding on a rather sad-looking lion.  She looks at us slyly from the corner of her eyes, while the lion gazes at her with concern.  The lion's appearance upsets me a little - is the woman tormenting him, controlling him, breaking his back and his will?  I normally see this card as representing soft control, or taming our animal instincts so that they work in harmony with our more civilised side.  Here, though, the control feels harsher, the balance more tenuous.

What do you feel you need to control today?  How might you achieve that while respecting all parties or aspects of the situation?

Daniloff - Friendship

©Alexander Daniloff

Another card with amazing colours greets us today from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012).

In this version of the Three of Cups, we have three women.  However, instead of dancing together and holding up cups, they stand almost in a line, and have different objects.  The one on the left holds a cornucopia of fruit, and her hair is bound up like that of a married woman (either that, or she's got a nasty head wound under there!).  The woman in the centre has an amphora balanced on her red-haired head, and a strange ribbon binding her dress up so it's all lumpy in the middle (I'm sure there's some fashion statement intended, but can't for the life of me figure it out just now).  Meanwhile, the one on the right holds a large chalice, and has flowers in her long blonde hair (San Francisco, anyone?) ;)

All the ingredients are there for a party, a celebration, or a ritual of some kind.  The varied hairstyles also remind me to celebrate the differences between myself and my friends.  To honour that we can share so much, and yet maintain our individuality.

What do you have to celebrate today?  In what ways are you different from those closest to you?  How can you honour those differences?

Daniloff - Perseverance

Today we get to explore one of the Court card's from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012).

The Knight of Pentacles stares out at us from under a very fancy hat, with huge plumes coming from the multi-hued top.  His tunic echoes the same yellow, orange, brown and black colours.  One of the interesting things about the Knights is the fact that they don't have legs - just their armour arrayed beneath them.  It reminds me of the Legacy of the Divine Tarot (Ciro Marchetti), where the Knights are just represented by their helmet.  A statement about the importance of their rank and role to their sense of self!

This Knight has a shield with a cross in the centre, a lady under a waxing crescent moon and stars on one side, and a bear on the other.  He also holds a coin with a laurel-wreathed head on it.  So, he values wealth and honour, strength and also spirit :)

All those things take some perseverance, which is one of the traditional aspects of this Knight.

In what way can you combine prosperity with a spiritual approach?  Where might you need to bring some perseverance into play?

Daniloff - Harmonious Balance

©Alexander Daniloff

Today's card from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012) is the Ten of Pentacles. 

Here we see a man sitting on an unseen chair or throne.  He looks a lot like a priest to me, given his haircut and clothes.  His robe has a white vestment on top, and is split between yellow and blue at the skirt.  Around him float ten pentacles, and he is also surrounded by a shape like a cat's iris.

All the Ten's have this form, the vesica piscis, on them.  On top of that, both the Ten of Pentacles and the Ten of Cups have their suit elements arranged in the form of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.  One of the touches I really like about this card is that all but the two Pentacles in his hands have different emblems or forms.  The top one shows a crown, for Kether, then there are a sun and moon, two plain disks with white rims, a small disc with the card number in roman numerals on his chest, another larger disc that is white with a golden rim, then two blue rimmed disks with variations on the celtic cross, and a final disk between his feet which, from the inside out, is white, grey, pearlescent, golden and blue.

Overall, this card doesn't give me the sense of family, prosperity or inheritance normally associated with the Ten of Pentacles.  Far more, it seems to have a strong spiritual side, speaking of balance with variety, of difference in harmony.

What different aspects of your life form a harmonious whole?  How can you find a peaceful balance today?

Daniloff - Waiting

©Alexander Daniloff

This week, I will be drawing from Alexander Daniloff's recently released Tarot deck (self-published, 2012).  I was lucky enough to go in on a group order organised by TABI, which made getting hold of this deck cheaper and easier than it would otherwise have been - one of my favourite perks of being a TABI member :) 

It's a deck full of warm, autumnal colours, and has some amazing artwork.  One thing which struck me when first going through the deck was the borders.  The Majors have a thin orange border around the image, the pips 2 through 10 have brown borders, and the Aces and Courts have no border at all.  I mention it because, should you be of the card-trimming persuasion, it might make it a little harder... ;)

For this first draw, I pulled the Three of Wands.  What I take to be a young man stands on a promontory, looking out over the sea.  He stands on one leg, with his right foot up on his left shin, like tree pose (vrkasana) in yoga.  He holds one wand in his left hand like a walking stick, another in his right more like a crutch.  The third stands either on it's own, base in the ground, or perhaps leaning against his right forearm.  In the distance we can see a white-topped mountain, and three ships with sails waving in the wind.  The figure wears a yellow and green striped tunic and leggings, and has a satchel at his waist with a telescope. 

I see this man leaning on the support of the ideas and plans already put in motion.  Waiting somewhat precariously to see what will come of them - standing look out.  He could see farther, with the telescope, yet for the moment is happy to let things take their course.  And so, he will stand firm until more is known, only then deciding what move to make next.

How well do you deal with waiting?  What information do you need before taking the next step?  What support do you have for your projects?

Lennie Week - Mystique d'Epoque

Mystique d'Epoque Lenormand

For this last day of Lennie week, I have chosen another favourite, self-published deck.  The Mystique d'Epoque Lenormand was created by Pepi Valderrama, and is also available through The Game Crafter.  It is a light deck with simple, fun images, and with four extra cards including a cat, a monkey (which came up in my nine card houses spread on Monday), and a pretty girl-witch flying on a broom ;)

Mice, Monkey, Key

Our cards for the day are Mice, Monkey (again!) and Key.  Mice stand for loss, theft, and things being otherwise reduced, undermined or tainted.  Monkey I take as being about playfullness, flexibility and adaptability.  Key stands for success, certainty, unlocking, and skills such as problem solving.

Playful loss is the key.
Being adaptable in problem-solving reduces losses.
Nimble theft opens doors.
Successful monkey business leads to losses.
When facing losses, being adaptable is key to getting through.
Adaptable reduction is a skill.

How might being more flexible in a particular area of your life be productive at this time?  What losses do you currently face, and how can you adapt to them?

Lennie Week - Shabby Chicness

Shabby Chicness Lenormand

Today we have another self-published deck, also still available.  This is the Shabby Chicness Lenormand, by Lynnette Monrean (2012).  One of the delights with this deck is that there is an expanded version available with a choice of a number of alternate cards, so you can customise "your" deck :)  I chose to keep in Johnny Depp as the Man, but just a regular woman rather than Helena Bonham Carter as the woman.  I can dream of Johnny, but I recognise my own limitations! ;)

©TarotLyn

Today's cards are: House + Tower + Dog.  House can be your actual home, or about family, security, and property.  Tower is authority, institutions, hierarchy or isolation, but also protection, while Dog is a known person, a friend, someone dependable and loyal.

Lonely security is changed by a friend.
An estate agency is dependable.
Don't let your position get in the way of friends and family.
Offer a friend a secure place to stay. 
Feeling isolated?  Invite a friend to come for a visit.
Dependable stability offered by an institution.

Do you feel isolated or lonely?  What contributes to that feeling?  Who could you call on for support or just a chat?  

Lennie Week - Under the Roses

©Hurteau & Hill

I've blogged with this deck a couple of times before on my personal blog, but couldn't resist putting it in to this Lennie Week.  It's the first of three self-published decks we'll look at, and I'm delighted to announce that the Under the Roses Lenormand (Hurteau & Hill, 2012) is available again, both with and without the keywords at the bottom.  The keywords are a great resource, acting as a trigger for new thoughts on ways to blend the card meanings.  While if you like your cards simple, you may prefer the version without keywords.  I'm fighting with myself over whether to get a second copy without the keywords...

Under the Roses Lenormand

So, what of today's reading?  I drew Ring + Crossroads + Gentleman.  Ring is about commitments, engagements, deals, and partnership.  Crossroads represents choices, plans and alternatives, while the Gentleman suggests a man, as well as outward-focus and consiousness.

Choiceful commitment to a man.
Choose partnership with a man.
Plan deals consciously.
Focus on external factors when deciding between two proposals.

In a relationship reading, I might think that someone had a couple of men wanting to commit to them ;)  In business, it would seem that negotiations require a rational approach...

How do you honour your commitments?  What factors might you need to look at rationally when considering options?

Lennie Week - Bärtschi

©Judith Bärtschi - Stars + Bear + Sun

Another modern, mass-market Lenormand deck today.  This one is the beautifully bright and colourful Judith Bärtschi Lenormand (Königsfurt-Urania, 2007), which comes with titles in German.  It still has traditional numbers, though, making it easy to check on your German translations :)

What a lovely set of cards we have today!  Stars can represent guidance, hope, and technology, or what Donnaleigh de LaRose calls metastasis: something which spreads in all directions, like the stars in the heavens.  Bear is once again prosperity, nutrition, strength, and middle-management.  As for the Sun, it indicates success and happiness, or possibly exposure - being in the spotlight.

Managing technology successfully.
Nutritional guidance brings success.
Maintaining hope leads to happiness.
Networking with middle-management leads to recognition.

How could you use networking to your advantage today?  What improvements could you make to your diet?  How can you maintain a positive attitude to life?

And if you'd like to win an app by the talented Judith Bärtschi, pop over to the Inner Whispers blog and comment on this post.

Lennie Week - Titania's Fortune Cards

Key + Dog + Scythe

Titania's Fortune Cards (Quadrille Publishing, 2000) by Titania Hardie were my first introduction to Lenormand cards, back in 2007.  They are a very modern take on this old system, with photographic images on rather psychedelic backgrounds.  Here, there are no playing card inserts, no verses, not even any numbers or titles.  Still, the basic premise is the same.

Key once again suggests unlocking something, or something which is sure.  Dog represents loyalty, friendship or someone you know.  And the Scythe is a sudden ending, or something cutting.

Dependable certainty ends, you can no longer trust what you once thought certain.
A secure friendship is cut, don't like the sound of that one!
Someone you know unlocks something which causes a rupture between you.
A friend will definitely need surgery.

How do you respond to endings?  What value do you place on loyalty?   When might independence outweigh friendship?

Lennie Week - French Cartomancy

Whips + Anchor + Mice

For this second day of "Lennie Week", another readily available deck with fairly traditional imagery: the French Cartomancy deck (Lo Scarabeo, 2005).  Here, the cards also have playing card inserts, but no verses, and are a little larger than standard Lenormand cards (normally poker card size).

Whips signify arguments, violence, or repetitive actions.  Anchor is something stable, and following the German system (which I do) relates to work.  Mice signify loss, or something that is being eaten away or undermined.  So, possible interpretations:

Work arguments undermine.
Repetitive work undermines.

What to make of this?  Obviously, everyone will have their own context.  It could be that you have something to do which is very repetitive and leaves you feeling uninspired.  Or arguments at work could stop you from achieving what you want to get done, or undermine a relationship.

Another, somewhat different take, would be that combining repetition and work suggests exercise - perhaps with weights (Anchor) and high reps (Whips), which will lead to weight loss (Mice) :D

What can you do to reduce friction at work?  How can you make repetitive tasks less soul-sucking?  How can you motivate yourself to workout?

Lennie Week!

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand

This week I'll be doing something a bit different for the daily draws.  Every day I will do a three card reading with a different Lenormand deck.  As many of you will already know, Lenormand's aren't read the same way as tarot.  Instead, each card is associated with a number of keywords, and you create blends and sentences from the combination of cards.  Hence why I'll always draw three cards together.

I thought I'd start off with some very traditional decks, and then later on we'll have some more modern decks, and some lovely self-published decks :)  So, today we begin with the Jeu Lenormand (Königsfurt-Urania, 2003).  This is a traditional deck, with both playing card inserts and verses in French (the same deck is available with German verses, too).

Ring + Key + Bear

Daily Draw

The Ring generally signifies some kind of commitment - an engagement, a contract.  Coupled with the Key, it seems this is certain, or will unlock something interesting.  The Bear indicates prosperity or strength (and occasionally diet and nutrition).  So, some sentences we could take from this are:

True commitment leads to prosperity.
Commitment is the key to strength.

Taking it a step further, some contextual readings would be:

Today is a good day to make a commitment to better nutrition.
Really commit to whatever you do, and you will prosper.

Sirian Emotion

©Cori & Bartha

What a lovely card to end our week with the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012)!

A smiling old man sits cross-legged in a sandstone chamber that reminds me of ancient egyptian monuments.  He wears a white turban, a blue shirt and trousers, and has a grey scarf draped around his neck.  Light enters through a high-up window, the rays of sunshine splitting to pour down on the man, and on the cups before him.  Nine huge chalices form a V in front of the man.  Each one looks like it much be close to half a metre tall!  They have golden bases, and seem silvery, reflecting light in a pattern that starts at white and moves up to a bluish colour at the rim. 

This card makes me think of Indian gurus who are always smiling, always happy.  They have learned enough not to take life, or themselves, too seriously.  And though they have experienced a lot, they are still open to the delight of each new day.  Emotional maturity, that's what I see.

What emotions would you like to keep close to you?  How can you make the most of every moment today?

Sirian Surrender

©Cori & Bartha

What a lot of Orb cards I'm getting this week!  Today's card from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012) is the Ten of Orbs (Swords).

A male figure in a white dressing gown lies face down, hands under his head.  The environment around him is mainly blue and aqua, a strange sort of bubbling cave, almost fluid.  Ten perlescent white orbs seem to be descending towards him, casting a shadow all the way down his spine.

Have his thoughts defeated him, or are these new ideas coming to enliven him.  This card reminds me of images where the swords seem like acupuncture needles rather than weapons.  All may seem bleak, but this card suggests that new inspiration will come to lift us from our gloom - after we've touched bottom, we can push off and reach for the stars again.

When you feel defeated, how do you recharge your batteries?  How can you surrender to inspiration? 

Sirian Thinker

©Cori & Bartha

Today's card, the Adept of Orbs (Knight of Swords) from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012), gives us an interesting twist, a card within a card. 

A young man with long blond hair sits on a rather square rock formation, with a green-leafed tree behind him. He wears a dark blue, starry cloak and There is a bright but cloudy sky behind him, while between his hands floats a silver orb.  And in the orb we see a more traditional depiction of the Knight of Swords: a fully armoured Knight, sword held high as he rides a white charger.

This card really speaks to me of our thoughts and perceptions, and how much trouble these can get us into.  We think of ourselves as brave, and jump into a fight we can't win; we think of ourselves as independent, and refuse much needed help.  The Adept of Orbs has this lovely idea of himself, and part of that is tied up with his values and beliefs.  Still, I have to ask whether he isn't just buying trouble!  Visualising a desired outcome can be very productive, however, we also have to be aware of why we want whatever it is, and what the consequences may be.  And there's also the fact that when we are so focused on future possibilites we often forget to stay present with ourself - right then and there - so busy thinking about "might-be's".

How can you use your thoughts productively today?  What would help you stay present with your actual circumstances?  How can you express your values?

Sirian Sage

©Cori & Bartha

What an interesting and different card we find today from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012).

Here we see what seems to be a Roman-style mosaic of a woman - the Sage of Orbs (Queen of Swords).  She sits between two pale pillars, holding a very long sword lightly in her left hand, almost more like a sceptre than a sword.  In her right she holds what appears to be a palm leaf, and she wears a white toga with a green top and a blue drape across her lap.  Her head is haloed by an orb that starts out pale green, transitions to a deep blue at the outside edge, and seems to have a lilac and pale blue aura. Her feet are bare on the blue mosaic floor, and her gaze seems firm and intent on something above her to the left.

Although it is very different from the other images in the deck, which are mainly photographic, I really like this picture.  The Sage of Orbs radiates an air of calm, kind determination.  She is a woman who knows how to take control, even in difficult situations.  She is firm and has clear opinions, yet she is also willing to listen and consider what others say.

Another thing which strikes me is the fact that she is a mosaic, made of many little tiles, yet which come together to create the whole.  These are like the multitude of experiences that make up all the Sage of Orbs has lived, everything that has brought her to where she is now.  She may seem a little cold, because she analyses everything, breaking it down into its constituent parts.  Yet she does also create a cohesive whole, using all that past experience to colour and form her approach to what she now faces.

Which situations might require this kind of approach from you today?  How can you stay with yourself and respect others at the same time? 

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Sirian Binding

©Cori & Bartha

On this Monday morning we face a rather challenging card in the Sirian Starseed Tarot's Eight of Orbs (North Atlantic Books, 2012).

A blonde woman stands by the side of a gently flowing stream, with eight dull green orbs floating around her on all sides.  She appears naked under a black cloak, though she also wears a blindfold.  Tree roots from the large tree beside her seem to grow up around her, binding her tightly. 

There is more of a sense of real entrapment here than in traditional images where the woman seems able to break her bonds and walk between the swords around her.  And yet, she is bound by roots, suggesting growth that has gone awry.  It reminds me of Carl Rogers' comparison of the human being with potatoes in a shed that always strive for growth and life, even in a way that may seem pathetic or twisted if we don't understand the circumstances behind it.  Those murky green orbs are her own negative thoughts, which may seem to her to be the only option or her best defence.  Yet actually they restrict her unbearably.

What thoughts block you from greater fulfilment?  How can you cut through that which is no longer growthful for you?

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Sirian Adept

©Cori & Bartha

As I mentioned yesterday, pretty much everything in the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012) has been renamed.  Today's card acts as a good introduction to the Courts.  Here we find Seekers, Adepts, Sages and Masters, instead of the more traditional Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings.

Meet the Adept of Crystals, or Knight of Pentacles.  An Asian-looking man stands in the forefront, holding a glowing crystal.  He wears an aqua overshirt which appears an almost indigo blue where it reflects the crystal's light.  Both his overshirt and black undershirt have gold trim at neck and sleeves, and he wears a ring on his right middle finger.  To me, he suggests an enjoyment of the material, yet also a connection to spirit.

Behind him is Schloss Neuschwannstein, the Bavarian castle on which the Disney logo was based.  It was an amazing feat of engineering and perseverance to build it on the side of a mountain in the south of Germany in the 1800's.  There is an aspect of folly to it which I associate more with the headstrong Wands suit, but it's true that King Ludwig did get it built, so I can see the link to the hardworking, determined Knight/Adept of Crystals/Pentacles.

What in your day might take a bit of gumption to achieve?  How can you honour the spiritual in a physical way today?

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Sirian Dolphin

©Cori & Bartha

This week I will be drawing from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012).  This deck largely follows traditional RWS notions, though with a rather New Age feel and symbolism.  All the suits have been renamed, as have the Majors and Courts, but more of that another day.  It is a digital, photo composite deck, with extremely large cards and beautiful imagery.

For this first card, I drew the Ace of Orbs.  This equates to the Ace of Swords, while Wands are Flames, Cups are Chalices, and Pentacles are Crystals.  This was the only suit in the deck which confused me at first glance.  I wondered whether the Orbs were Pentacles, but in most cards the Orbs float around in the air.  Here, though, we have a dolphin swimming through beautiful blue waters, seemingly playing with an iridescent, rainbow-hued orb.  Rather strange, at first glance, for a card associated with the element of Air!

The LWB explains that dolphins are associated with higher consciousness, and that this one, chasing the beautiful orb, is about to come up for air.  This is likened to bringing our subconscious fears into the light of day.  As for the rainbow orb, Patricia Cori says: "rainbow refractions depict the entire range of vibratory rays through which we can manifest an enlightening new concept, still in its potential state of becoming, with our exquisite intellect."

So, the dolphin represents intelligence in a form that is both truthful and playful - the higher level of mind.  And the orb is potential, a potential for light, something that can shine in many colours to express its energy.

For me, this card will take a bit of getting used to as the Ace of Swords equivalent.  Still, I appreciate the new perspective, which is ofcourse what the Ace of Orbs is all about :)

What new idea is bringing potential opportunities to you?  How can you find the truth of what you need?

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Rainbow Choices

©Carmen Waterman

And so we come to the very end of our week with the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012).  I've really enjoyed this uplifting, playful deck :)

The last card I've drawn is the Two of Pentacles.  Here, a woman stands with her back to us, a torch raised in her right hand.  In front of her are two pentacle-etched doors, a brown one to the left and a blue one to the right.  She seems to be tending more to the right-hand door, but there's a way yet to go before she has to make her final choice.  Above her, two birds fly, and the sky shows a crescent moon as well as bright stars sparkling.

It's interesting, because I normally see the Two of Pentacles as being more about balance and different aspects of life than about choices.  Still, it's true that when we try to find an equilibrium between home and work, family and friends, food and exercise, or whatever else it might be, we are having to prioritise and make decisions. 

What do you base your choices on and how do you balance different aspects of your life?  What matters most to you, and how do you express that?

Rainbow Defences

©Carmen Waterman

As the end of this week with the colourful and fresh Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012) approaches, we meet a very confident-looking woman in the Nine of Wands.

This lady looks like she knows her defences, both material and spiritual, are solid.  Not only does she have strong stone at her back, she also has a little altar to represent what she has faith in.  She holds a flaming wand, and looks forward and up, willing to face all comers.

I see her saying that it's time to face any challenges with bravery and with confidence.  Time to take on our fears, and shine a light on them!

What are you feeling defensive about?  How can you clear away the shadows?  What might support you to take action?

Rainbow Wheel

©Carmen Waterman

On this Wednesday morning in November, the card to add a bit of colour to the day is the Wheel from the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012).

I see the woman pulling back on what look to be the hands of a clock, and wonder if she is trying to turn back time!  That would seem like a pointless battle against the nature of life, which is change and movement.  As it did on Sunday, when this card appeared in my weekly reflective reading, this card brings up Cher's song "Turn Back Time". 

The two elements together remind me of the agency we have in the meanderings of destiny.  We can't control everything, and we can't go back to change things.  Nor should we regret what has been.  However, we can use what has happened to remind us to live mindfully, in the present.  To go with the flow of life, but also to do our best to help that flow run smoothly. 

What effect is the turning of the wheels of time having on you today?  How can you stay present with what is?

Rainbow Healer

©Carmen Waterman

Ooh, two Healers/Queens in a row from the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012)!  Hmm, seems like a lot of healing going on...

Today's offering is the Healer of Cups.  She has a bit of an Angelina Jolie look going on, from pouty lips to thick, glossy brown hair, and an amazing figure shown off by a skimpy, midriff top and what look like harem pants.  She also has an amazing blue headdress over her forehead, some flower clips in her braided hair, and fishnet armlets.  She holds a cup in her left hand, while her right hand is raised to touch the top of her chest where an elaborate necklace rests, as though saying, "I mean it from my heart."  Behind her is an ornate, pillared gazebo, or maybe something like a confessional, as it seems to be indoors.

She radiates beauty and grace, yet seems very much focused on someone else out of the view the card gives us.  She offers them her cup with heartfelt generosity, sharing her gift of emotional healing.

What emotions need healing today, your own or those of others?  How can you contribute to that process? 

Rainbow Dancer

©Carmen Waterman

How funny, this card came up in my reflective reading as what to look out for this week, then it appears as the daily card the very next day!  This is the equivalent of the Queen of Swords in traditional decks, as the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (Carmen Waterman, 2012) renames the Courts: Muse, Protector, Healer and Mentor.

A woman stands in a starlit landscape.  Her golden dress swirls around her, and she clasps a double-bladed sword in both hands.  Her hair is a dark silver, suggesting wisdom gathered over time.  Above her hangs a moon that combines a silver waning with a full moon.  She uses both intellect and intuition to cut through the issues that come her way, while the wisdom she has gained allows her to dance lightly, even through hard times.

How can you use lessons from the past to heal current troubles?  What do you need to cut through to see clearly?  How can you speak gently and yet clearly?

Rainbow Sadness

©Carmen Waterman

For this second day with the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (Carmen Waterman, 2012), we get one of the cards I like less in this deck: the Eight of Cups.

Something strikes me as being not quite right here.  Perhaps its the drama-queeny mascara running down her face (I haven't worn mascara in decades!)  I just can't seem to "feel" her :(

A woman with short, spiky hair stands with her body facing right, turning her head to look out at us.  Her make-up is dramatic, as is her black jewellry and lilac bustier.  She stands inside what feels like a walled courtyard, with candles burning in the background, despite the fact that it seems like sunlight is streaming across her. There is a tree out of the frame, a single branch reaching into our view.  Cups stand on the floor behind her, but she looks away from them.

I don't get much of a sense of movement from this card.  The character seems to have an attitude, and maybe a lot of sadness.  Yet, I don't have the sense that she's doing anything about it.  This card reminds me more of the Five of Cups, a crying over spilt milk feel to it.

Turning to the companion book, Carmen says the card "signals that the status quo is no longer enough."  That fits with my sense of this person being unhappy despite their pleasant circumstances.  Maybe she's just stopping to decide what to pack before heading off :)

What do you need to leave behind today?  What would help you make a start?

Rainbow Magician

©Carmen Waterman

This week I will be drawing from the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (Carmen Waterman, 2012).  This is a self-published, digital deck that has only been out a short while.  Not all of the cards are strictly traditional, but it does generally follow RWS ideas.

For this first draw we meet the Magician.  He sits in a high-ceilinged stone room, behind a large wooden table.  He wears a deep blue robe with red and pale blue trim and a red jewelled medal.  The red is also echoed in the curtains which frame the window behind him, looking out onto a beautiful landscape and dramatic sky.  The tools of the four elements are by him - a cup, candle and sword on the table, along with what seems like an incense burner.  There are other elemental objects around him, too: a glowing wand just behind him, books on a shelf on the wall, and also an inverted pentacle.

What first strikes me, though, is the fact that he is indoors, in what seems like a small study.  The energy channelling he does is very controlled, well thought-out.  He isn't one for grand gestures, just the calm application of his will and knowledge.  The inverted pentacle, though, suggests that he may sometimes act from a place of selfishness, directing energy rather than being guided by spirit.

What resources do you have at your disposal?  How clear are you about your plans?  How might you check whether these are in line with your life's purpose?

Halloween Moon

©Kipling West

Wow, another week over, and Halloween celebrated and done for another year.  Happy New Year, if that's the way you count time :)  Anyhow, what it also means is that today is our last day with the Halloween Tarot (U.S. Games, 1997). 

A werewolf howls at the moon, a huge golden orb that dominates the sky.  The werewolf's clothes are ripped from his transformation, and he has grasped the spiked metal railing so hard it has bent.  A skull on the next post along looks up in concern, while the pumpkin behind him looks rather shocked.  A dog down by his feet, though, looks on with curiosity and perhaps a bit of longing, while the ever-present black cat seems more distrustful, defensive even.  In the tree beyond there is a sign for crayfish, with an arrow pointing in the direction of the distant castle on the hill.

I love tales of werewolves!  There is something so primal in them, the call of the wild, a oneness with nature, but also the lack of control: abandoning civilised behaviour despite yourself.  The cat is a very civilised creature, and thoroughly disapproves of all this.  Yet, our tame dog self is awed at the idea of just going with the moon's pull.  This card, as well as talking of connecting with our primal selves, of dreams and nightmares and the shadow, also talks of the cyclic nature of these things.  This lunacy will not last, though it may be very intense.

What part of yourself do you fear?  How might you express your darkness safely?  What cycles do you notice in your life?

Halloween Emotions

©Kipling West

On this chilly Thursday morning in November, the card to greet us from the Halloween Tarot (U.S. Games, 1997) is the Knight of Ghosts (Cups).

Once again, there are a lot of interesting little twists in this Knight.  For one thing, in his hand is a scroll, rather than a cup, and the ghost in front of him seems to emerge from the scroll.  For another, his horse looks rather more demonic than I'd normally expect.  Thirdly, his helmet has bat wings and a scary faceplate, though the Knight's face looks rather sad.  And of course, there's the black cat looking on curiously.  There is also a river running through the countryside, but I think that's true of the RWS Knight of Cups, too...

So, a Knight made sad by emotions from the past evoked by a message or journal, perhaps.  Although he is driven by his emotion (the fiery horse), he is quite practical about it (pumpkins on the bridle).

To me, this card says, "Speak or act on your emotions, or you might regret it."

What is making you sad?  Would talking about it help?  What do you need to say, and who do you need to say it to?