Card of the Day on my Facebook tarot page is Eight of Stones (Pentacles) from the ever-beautiful Chrysalis Tarot again (can't seem to keep away from this deck!) As I contemplate this card throughout my day, more insights come to me. Traditionally, RWS presents this card as apprenticeship, learning a new skill, or a new job or line of work. Toney Brooks' interpretation is a little bit different in Chrysalis' LWB - he sees this card signifying the end of a successful endeavor (not the beginning) and the need to think about moving on to the next thing or phase. I don't quite see it this way, though I do agree it is an encouraging, positive card in both perspectives. I view it much as RWS, with this addition - where readers mostly see this card as indicating work or study, I also realized today it could be about process as well. That is, something which has been going on for some time, such as the sale of property, for example (let's say the property has been on the market for awhile and is now in escrow), is finally nearing its successful conclusion. It doesn't have to be limited to learning alone - it can apply to anything into which we have put effort and perseverance, as in the above example. So, if there's anything that you have been been working towards, anything at all, the Eight of Stones could be indicating the successful end is in sight, as well as the need to keep on keeping on, just a little bit longer. Attention to detail is crucial at this time, as one may get a little less vigilante after a long period of effort. This card is encouraging, but as most card of Tarot, there is also a warning or flip side to consider. Gather up that last burst of energy and push ahead; keep in mind it was likely your passionate interest that got you started on this particular road and now is not the time to lag. The passion is still there, and as long as we heed the message, all should be well!
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Today's Card of the Day on my Facebook page is the Eight of Mirrors (Cups, from Chrysalis Tarot); another reader, one whose website I've checked out more than once and admired, pulled the same card for today. She also said much of what I posted on my page. Ok, that's no coincidence, since a card is a card and most of us learned similar meanings way back - but for both of us to pull the same card for the same day does give me pause. Maybe we're both learning from each other on some level? Or perhaps we're synched? (half joking here!) Or maybe it's a message that the message of this card is important so pay attention – especially perhaps to me, since I'm the one experiencing the synchronicity the strongest. Ok, so what's the message then? Well, taking stock, seeing what needs to end, checking values and truths, moving on. While it's about endings, it's also about beginnings, a new path. The traditional RWS version of this card shows a figure with a staff, back to the viewer, walking up a path into some hills surrounded by water, as if for a long journey. It is night and the moon looks down upon him. Behind him are 8 stacked golden cups. Clearly he has left something behind (by choice since the cups aren't overturned), but he is resolute and there's no turning back. He's got a new journey ahead. Ok, so I'm wracking my brains - yes, I've got it. Today especially, I've been considering several different tracks of further spiritual, mostly tarot-oriented studies. I'm trying to decide which is right for me, and at this time. They have different orientations and it's certainly not easy to decide, since they all are compelling. I pulled a card on this question from the Vision Quest Tarot - a very nice deck, btw, which is my latest deck acquisition. I haven't worked with it much yet, but am certainly drawn to its artwork and already love its LWB, which I find to be very spiritual and goes beyond the conventional interpretations. It's really a lovely, empowering deck I think. Well, back to the card I pulled. It is the Six of Earth (Pentacles), here subtitled Break-through. Wow, breakthrough all the mumbling in my head on this, maybe? Well, also interestingly, one of my best paintings is called Breakthrough (without the hyphen). The other interesting thing is the card in this deck shows a figure standing in front of sunflowers, arms raised - another synchronicity in that, first, sunflowers are a symbol of joy for me and I love the image from Tarot de St Croix for The Sun card, which is very similar. (I'd been thinking about getting that deck too recently). The Sun is another icon for my tarot business (after the White Rabbit) as it's all about illumination, joy, success, empowerment - all things I relate to Tarot and what I want to bring to my consultations with others. Wow, so what is it saying then? Part of the message for this card in the deck's LWB is this: "Recognize your truest wishes and act on them." Wow! So, its message then, is to identify what I really, truly deeply want...where do I want my practice to go? For what ends? What is important to me? It is close to the message of Toney Brook's Chrysalis LWB - find your truth, right now, today, this moment and embrace it. Go Within. Expand your sense of self to include the spiritual realm. Discard what no longer works or serves. Maybe it's also an inspiration for a new painting, as I've been collecting pictures of sunflowers and wanting to create something featuring them. Maybe it's telling me to shine on, but know where I'm going....not just any road...like George Harrison wrote: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." You can be The Fool, which isn't all bad, or you can be The Sun, shining your own way down the road. Anyone have any insights into this you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them here! Card of the Day on Facebook today is Sorceress (High Priestess) from Chrysalis Tarot. A fitting card, as using this deck definitely taps into the magic the Sorceress brings us. Today is a day to especially look for intuition, synchronicity, and messengers from the natural world; what is hidden may be revealed in the most unexpected ways. The more I work with Chrysalis, the more I love it and the more I'm getting out of it. My infatuation with this deck began immediately; I was awed by Holly Sierra's brightly colored artwork, and inspired by Tonie Brooks explanations in the LWB that came with the deck. When I began to read Tonie's weekly blog posts featuring various Chrysalis cards in more depth, that's when my excitement really took off. I love Tonie's spiritual/esoteric knowledge and its application to Chrysalis card meanings, making my experience of the deck much deeper and richer. Normally, I'm reluctant to take on a deck which diverts much from the more traditional RWS system. After all, it took a long time and lots of work to learn it (and I'm always learning more), so why complicate things with yet a new set of meanings? So, I have to admit, after the initial glow of my newly acquired Chrysalis honeymoon began to fade, I retreated just a bit - balking at having to learn new and/or extended meanings of the cards in order to fully be able to use the deck for readings. No longer was it sufficient to pull up my mental keywords/meanings lists and weave a progressive story of prediction and trends. No, Chrysalis was something else and demanded attention in its own right. Well, here's the good news -- its magic is beginning to work. Tonie insists that Chrysalis is a healing and gentle deck, designed to transform its users. And it is, and does. One problem I've always had is being too much in my reasoning head, even with Tarot. It's a constant dance to allow myself to push through my mental barriers into the creative, intuitive, magical place from which all inspiration and spiritual insights emerge. I cannot easily stay in my left-brain place when using Chrysalis. At the beginning, I resisted its call to deeper spiritual insight by sticking to my RWS mental lists and labels, and the results I got were difficult to grasp and frustrating to apply. However, my perseverance is paying off now in richer readings that tap into a deeper place and lead me down interesting pathways. Rather than merely reflecting daily life issues, Chrysalis reveals the currents that run beneath. I don't think I'll go back to using RWS (or clones) as much as I used to now that I've tasted Chrysalis magic! An interesting week ahead! For this week's draw I used the Chrysalis Tarot (love this deck!) and a 3-card spread.
Early week - Ten of Stones (Pentacles): Usually viewed as a very positive card in RWS, here in Chrysalis, Toney Brooks LWB addresses the negative aspect of attachment, or as his card keyword - Possessive. So the questions are - Are you holding on to material aspects of your life too tightly? Are you feeling owned by them, rather than the reverse? Have you lost sight of your inner, and/or spiritual needs? This card asks us to take stock in our current mindset and lifestyle. Maybe it's time to unclutter your living space and gift some unused/unwanted items to friends or charity; if you've been working too hard, maybe it's time to weigh the benefits and ease off if possible; if you've been on a buying spree lately, or focused on attaining some item or items, maybe it's time to look within and see if there are other needs underneath the acquisitive urge. Mid-week - The Artiste (Queen of Pentacles): From the reminder of the Ten of Stones to turn to our spiritual inner life, we move to The Artiste, described by Toney Brooks in the LWB as spiritual and magnetic with her role as part of the Chrysalis "Troop" (court cards) as "Muse." She inspires us to tap into our own innate creativity and experience life through the vision of inspiration. She is here to remind us to look around, watch and listen and express in creative ways what we experience - through visual arts, dance, music, drama - whatever form comes to us. She is also present in every artistic expression and urges us to open ourselves to the magic of art, and hence, the magic of existence. End of week - Six of Spiral (Wands): If we follow along this weeks trail of advice, we come to the Success of the Six of Spirals. Whatever you have been aspiring towards or creating is nearing success as your persistence has paid off. It's always a matter of balance, however, as the Ten of Stones reminds us. If we are able to loosen our grip and attachments just a little, spirit can flow in, bringing a brighter and more balanced success to our endeavors. Once we let go, we allow the energy to flow. Getting rid of what no longer serves us (Ten of Stones), opening up to the beauty and magic of the universe (The Artiste), can lead us to the achievement and success of our creative plans and goals in a balanced and harmonious way (Six of Wands). So this week's reading lays out a plan and advice for harmony and achievement. Focus on each step and the end of the week should find you smiling! Here is the link to my White Rabbit Tarot Facebook page for today's wonderful Card of The Day! The High Priestess is, not surprisingly, one of my most favorite cards in Tarot. She is all about magic, intuition, hidden realms - and being a Tarot consultant! it is to her, or our inner depths, that we turn when viewing and interpreting readings. She urges us to go deep within and listen and allow whatever is there to speak. This image is from Baba Studios (see below) Victorian Romantic Tarot - a gorgeous, lavish deck composed from Victorian paintings and backgrounds. The entire deck evokes mystery and encourages flights of fancy - the gateway to intuition and the magical, psychic realms. She is not about reason, but about those sometimes vague feelings we get about something or someone, those gut feelings. She's there when we just "know" something without explanation. Today, don't rationalize too much, just "go with the flow" and see where it takes you! I absolutely can't wait to get my itchy hands on the upcoming Alice Tarot by Baba Studios! I've been watching the development of this deck over the last few years (total time in production was 5 years!) through their Facebook postings, and am breathlessly excited as it nears completion. This deck is a true feast for the eyes and an incredible work of art. Now it's true that all of their decks are gorgeous working art pieces (Victorian Romantic, Bohemian Gothic, Tarot of Prague, Bohemian Cats' Tarot), but I think they've actually outdone themselves with this one. The colors splash out at you, the feeling is fun, fun, fun, as you meld into each image! They're at the final stage of production right now, so soon, maybe by summer's end, my preordered copy will arrive in the mail, along with a special edition (Caterpillar) drawstring bag! Keep your eyes on my deck/book reviews page for my in-depth report! You can be sure that Alice Tarot will be #1 of my reading decks and available for clients to choose for their own readings. In the meantime, here is a link to the Alice Tarot/Baba Studios Facebook page with lots of images of the deck for you to feast on! Oh, and if you haven't visited my Unusual Tarot Cards Pinterest board, take a look - I've got almost 1000 pins of incredible tarot cards there. I do love tarot art! If there are decks you like that aren't represented there, drop me a line and I'll take a look! Always interested in discovering decks.
Today I pulled Ariadne (Death in RW) for the Card of the Day (from Chrysalis Tarot) for my Facebook page. The Chrysalis version of Death, like most of its other imagery, is a lot lighter in spirit than the traditional less welcoming images of skeletons and scythes. While Death rarely indicates actual death, it's not a card that many people want to see in a reading because at the very least, it indicates change in some area or areas of one's life. That area can be deduced by noting Death's position in the spread (past, present, future, etc.) and the cards surrounding it. Change can be a welcome development and seems even more welcome if we call it transformation. To transform has a positive spin to me - a changing into something more, or better. Though the word seems to have a strong resonance and Death is a Major card in the tarot (vs a minor card), change or transformation can be on any level and about anything. Death can indicate a major life change - the end of a cycle, relationship, career, job, etc; but it can also refer to outmoded attitudes, beliefs, negative habits, old resentments, unhelpful behaviors, and even material objects that have outlived their usefulness and are taking up space - all things that need to be let go of. Holding on to what no longer serves us creates heavy anchors in our lives, not allowing us to grow and move forward. I applied the card's advice to myself today and considered what I'd like to change or transform in my life. Interestingly, the first thing I thought of was literally physical clutter - stuff I have sitting on shelves or in closets that I don't use or want anymore. While I periodically do go through some areas or things (clothes for example), I realized there are the "no man's land" areas where I feared to tread because I wasn't sure what I'd find and how big the clearing job might be. Would there be lots of dust, loads of items to sort through and organize, things I wouldn't know what to do with, and so on? I was tired before I even moved towards the first area needing attention (my kitchen cabinets)! I'm sure I"m not the only one to react this way when it comes to cleaning/clearing house. So what about clearing the deeper stuff, the inner blocks, the outmoded thinking, etc? I think many of us will do whatever we can to avoid facing our issues - the Minotaur in Ariadne's labyrinth in the above Chrysalis card. We will find justifications, distractions - anything besides facing our baggage and moving it out. The Death card is a reminder to look around, look within and see what we need to let go of. A good place to start is the clutter in our closet, then take it from there! |
AuthorI am an intuitive counselor and visionary artist who has studied and worked with Tarot for over 20 years. I am an avid collector of tarot art, as well as a creator. I am the creator of four oracle decks. I also have an extensive collection of tarot art images on Pinterest.com which you can enjoy. Archives
February 2016
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