ShadowfaeTarot

Updates and apologies

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:04:00 +0000

Sorry it's been a few months since I last posted here. Life kind of got away from me for a bit. I am going to be posting the next set of lessons shortly though!

Reading Tarot - Second half of The Fool's Journey - part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Hi all! I know it's been a while since I last posted. Apologies for the wait :)

Picking up where we last left off - The Fools Journey continued....We will be looking at the remainder of the Major Arcana split in two more posts. In this post Strength thru to the Devil.

In the first half of the Fools Journey we looked at all the new potential and opportunities we face as we start off. The next half of the journey from our Mid-point - The Wheel Of Fortune - depicts the challenges we experience on our path towards fulfilment and understanding.

Some of these cards have the tendency to cause the querent alarm or a feeling of dread. As a Tarot reader, part of your ability that you will develop is the skill of communicating these somewhat frightening messages gently and with compassion. I have learned that even with bad situation there is always something good to be seen, no matter how small, or some lesson to be learned. But that will be something i will cover towards the end of our journey here :)

Ok for this next lessons I would like you to take out the cards numbered 11 (Strength) to 21 (The World) from your Major Arcana because we will be working with those now.

As you have before, we will go through each card and study it a bit. So first we will go through the meanings for Strength and try to remember as much as you can about it before moving on to the next one. Make sure you take notes of any words, images or descriptions that come to your mind when studying each card.

Strength
Number: 11
Astrological sign: Leo

Positive Meanings: strength, inner strength, courage, faith, willpower, unconditional love, patience, triumph, fortitude, power with awareness, “wild” wisdom

Negative Meanings: cowardice, fear, loss of hope, lack of courage, torment from within, inner turmoil, inertia, defeat, loss of opportunity, inability to integrate passions

The Strength card represents not just physical strength but inner and emotional/spiritual strength. It shows the ability to cope with the extreme extreme pressures of life. On this card you see two horses (black and white - total opposites) pulling in two directions. To me this always came through as trying to integrate two opposing sides of the self or an outer conflict, in order to be able to move forward. When relating to poor health Strength can indicate a rapid recovery. Or if attempting to give up an unhealthy habit such as drinking, smoking, or gambling for instance, Strength can indicate that now is a good time to start. Strength also signifies triumph over most obstacles related to human nature; challenges in your relationships or career, even defending yourself against jealousy, ignorance and oppression

Negatively this card represents insecurity, fear and giving up, or perhaps being beaten by unfair means. It asks you to take time to explore these feelings as well. Strength warns of missed opportunities and not to give up when you could be so close to your desired outcome.

The Hanged Man
Number: 12
Element: water
Planet: Neptune

Positive Meanings: gaining a new perspective, transition, flexibility, rebirth, reversal of values or attitudes, patience, surrender or sacrifice, independence, release, acceptance, peace.

Negative Meanings: inability to surrender, denying parts of the Self, lack of self-awareness or intuition, materialism, inflated ego, lack of willpower, being easily influenced, martyrdom.

The Hanged Man symbolizes self-sacrifice, whether it be material or emotional, and an ability to adapt to changing circumstances. It also represents a time of change in ones perspective. The man is hanging upside down....so his view of things is a bit "different" than it would be right side up. Often The Hanged Man is seen as a time of stagnation but in reality stagnation can come when you have become blocked in your way of thinking. So the Hanged Man can be a warning that you need to step back and review your situation. It may mean something needs to be given up for the greater good. It speaks of peace, understanding, acceptance of ones situation, and patience. The Hanged man also can depict a reversal or change of consciousness where we realize the things that mattered or where important before, may not be now. It can be a healing time. Look at the face of The Hanged Man. He looks rather peaceful doesn't he? There are times when The Hanged Man can represent ill health, stress and anxiety. It asks that you have patience and not worry. It represents a trial of passage and hence the self-sacrifice aspect of this card has spiritual overtones

Negatively The Hanged Man can symbolizes selfishness, the use of emotional blackmail by playing the martyr or victim, or acting from ulterior motives. Another negative aspect is a weak will that may lead you in the wrong direction, materially or emotionally, which can lead to missed opportunities. It can indicate that a person is trying their best but is feeling vulnerable, and is not acting with full awareness or integrity.

Death
Number: 13
Astrological sign: Scorpio

Positive Meanings: endings, transformation, clearing away of the old – making way for the new, sweeping change, initiation

Negative Meanings: avoidance or fear of change, stagnation, weariness, loss of opportunity, pessimism, depression, loss of friendship.

Death is one card that can cause fear when it comes up in a reading. A lot of that has to do with how it is depicted in media - the gypsy lady turns over the Death card and gasps..the querent gasps...the ominous music is played in the background and the querent flees the building! Very dramatic. Death is a dramatic card but only because it represents great changes. It rarely symbolizes actual death though. More than anything it shows a time of absolute endings and absolute
beginnings....the Death of an aspect of yourself or a way of being.

While Death can represent shocking or unexpected events and changes, they usually clear the way for a new and better start and a new time of growth. kind of like a spring cleaning. And when you think about it, these changes really are not as "unexpected" as you think. Death usually gives us little nudges and warnings. It's when we ignore these that Death looks quite negative.

Negatively Death is not much different in its meaning other than you may have a greater sense of fear and dread. When Death appears in the negative we see stagnation, resisting change when change is essential and this can lead to lost opportunities and more blockages in your life.

Temperance
Number: 14
Astrological sign: Sagittarius

Positive Meanings: balance, creativity, harmony, integration, health, moderation, compromise, peace, self-control, new perspectives

Negative Meanings: impatience, going to extremes, lack of foresight, imbalance, conflict, quarrels, domestic strife

I often view Temperance as a kind of alchemist; taking the old and blending it with new ideas to create a situation that works best. When Temperance appears it symbolizes self-control, the ability to handle volatile factors. Ones ability to bring about balance and positive results. It can also herald a time of harmonious relationships, peace and harmony. It is a time to be enjoyed. It also reminds us of all things in moderation which again links to balance. So not going over board, not swaying too far to one side or the other. Finding a middle ground that works well. It has also been said that Temperance represents an angel or guardian spirit looking over you.

Negatively Temperance represents over indulgence, lack of foresight, impatience, conflict and quarrels causing domestic problems and strife. This card warns of making hasty decisions out of impatience that will thwart your progress and cause unnecessary blockages.

The Devil
Number: 15
Astrological sign: Capricorn

Positive Meanings: materialism, obsession or bondage, awakening of responsibility, permanence, commitment, potential for liberation

Negative Meanings: entrapment, abuse of power, lust, greed, succumbing to temptation, spiritual blindness, ignorance, anger, tyranny, obsession, breaking loose

Another scary card to some, the Devil is really only as frightening as your own fears. Once faced, those fears are not so scary...and neither is The Devil. The Devil can point to situations we feel bound either by another or by our own selves. The Devil is not entirely bad though and in some instances such as marriage or commitment to a relationship is under consideration this card can be a good omen. Regarding most other issues though this card is not a very positive one. The Devil symbolizes lust, temptation, and addictions that tend to lead to not so favourable outcomes. It can point to obsessions that one is bonded to like a relationship that has ended that you wont let go of. Concerning relationships this can warn against obsession or people that are not good for us and it prompts you to examine the situation carefully. The Devil represents a warning against the destructive consequences of your actions motivated by greed, lust and power. It can represent the abuse of ones own power. More positively, the Devil can be a sign that you are gaining control, or at least awareness, of your weaknesses or addictions. Always consider your motives when The Devil appears. It is a helpful indicator for you to change course whilst you still can.

Ok that's the first half of the second half (confused yet?) of The Fool's Journey. Next post will finish up the last five cards of the Major Arcana!

Reading Tarot - First half of The Fool's Journey - part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:26:00 +0000

Sorry about the long break in between this and the last post. Had some real life situations intrude for a bit :)

So picking up where we left off - the first section of The Fool's Journey. We will be looking at the next 6 cards The Lovers thru the Wheel Of Fortune.

The Lovers
Number: 6
Astrological sign: Gemini

Positive Meanings: choice, desire, two halves becoming a whole, new lover/love, relationships, physical attraction, sex, commitment

Negative Meanings: lust, moral lapse, temptation, indecision, separation, failed love affair, emotional loss

I always found The Lovers to be a complex card because not only can it represent choices and the coming together of two individuals, it can also represent the coming together of two sides of the Self. And while it often points to relationships, it can also look at the many aspects of love and what that means to you at this point on your journey. The Lovers can symbolize a new love or opportunity for love is about to enter your life. And often enough it can come from a surprising direction, unexpected yet wonderful. Kind of goes along with that phrase "Love comes when you are not looking". The Lovers can also symbolize an importance, emotional choice that could affect the a big part of your life. Quite often it is a choice between carnal desire and mental need – between duty versus your heart's desire. It can advise us to take a risk that could lead to greater happiness and emotional fulfilment or stay on the dutiful path and life will remain the same. Another meaning of The Lovers is that your heart rules your head and a dramatic change of attitude will lead to happier times.

Negatively the Lovers can represent an unhappy love affair or relationship where you are unsure about what decision or choice to make. It can also represent intense temptations and warns against being unfaithful to your own morals and standards.

The Chariot
Number: 7
Astrological sign: cancer

Positive Meanings: the coming together of two opposites, triumph, success, movement in affairs, change, self-beliefs, assertiveness, good news

Negative Meanings: conflict, rage, tyranny, an over inflated ego, arrogance, selfishness, delays and obstacles, frustration

I always see the Chariot as relating to conflicts, both inner and outer, regardless of whether the card falls right side up or upside down. It's how you choose to deal with these conflicts that are the base of The Chariots energy. The Chariot can symbolize a conflict ending in victory and will often advise perseverance and sustained efforts when faced with a current struggle. It can be the light at the end of the tunnel telling you that you are almost there so hang on! This card also represents the drawing together of two opposing or conflicting ideas, people, or situations and getting them to move in the same direction.

The Chariot can also herald unexpected good news and represents self reliance and belief in your own abilities to conquer fears and achieve goals. Sometimes travel and change can be indicated by The Chariot.

Negatively The Chariot can point to you or someone of influence around you that is being a bully, single minded, arrogant and selfish. It can also represent frustrations, obstacles, and delays as well as travel plans that don't go well.

Justice
Number: 8
Astrological sign: Libra

Positive Meanings: balance, justice, integrity, truth, arbitration, responsibility, fairness,

Negative Meanings: prejudice, injustice, bad judgement, bias, bad advice

I find that the most important lesson of Justice is that our own actions create our present and future and it is our responsibility to be held accountable for our past actions and choices. The Justice card can represent justice, fairness and balance in dealing with people and is often seen as a good omen concerning partnerships, business deals and legal issues. It can also signify the righting of a wrong that has been done to you in the past, or you seeking justice for another person. Justice is also a karmic card that heralds good fortune and reward for past efforts even if you are unsure why you are being awarded.

Negatively The Justice card can represent injustice, business deals that go wrong, legal decisions that don't go in your favour even if you are morally right. It can symbolize bad judgement or receiving bad advice. And it can show a lack of responsibility or "owning up" to your past actions.

The Hermit
Number: 9
Astrological sign: Virgo

Positive Meanings: looking within, solitude, guidance (both inner and outer), advice, patience, connecting to your inner truth

Negative Meanings: focusing without when you need to focus within, obstinacy, suspicion, fear, impatience, arrogance

The Hermit symbolizes a need for careful consideration of an issue and often times a strong desire for balance, peace and quiet, and solitude. He advises. at times, a need to focus withing for answers to find our inner truth rather than being persuaded by the opinions of others. He can warn against making hasty decisions and recommends taking advice from someone trustworthy or wise before making any decisions. Sometimes The Hermit can point to a wiser more experienced person who can help.

Negatively The Hermit can imply arrogance and obstinacy, a suspicious wariness or a refusal to accept advice when help could be beneficial (basically the "know it all" who thinks they have the answers and won't listen to anyone else who just may "know it all"). Focusing on the outside world and others issues rather than looking within at your own is another meaning for The Hermit as is impatience that can lead to bad decisions and sometimes self imposed loneliness.

The Wheel of Fortune
Number: 10
Planet: Jupiter

Positive Meanings: completion of an old cycle and the beginning of a new one, destiny, movement, vision, good luck, synchronicity

Negative Meanings: obstacles, temporary bad luck, unpleasant surprises

I often view the Wheel of Fortune as a reminder that all aspects of life and it's many situations flow in cycles. You will always have ups with the downs and good luck after some bad. The Wheel of Fortune can indicate that a new cycle in life is beginning that will bring more positive energy back into your life along with some good luck and fortune. Often times it reminds us how some situations are just out of our control and not our own doing. It can represent an end to current problems and rewards for past efforts.

In a negative light it is as if the Wheel of Fortune is turning in the opposite direction and this can indicate a time of misfortune and unpleasant surprises. But The Wheel also reminds us again of cycles and that this too is only temporary - as the wheel is always turning and soon will turn up again.

Ok that is all for the first half of the Fool's Journey. Make sure you take the time to go over each card separately and get a feel for each. This will help you become more and more familiar with the meanings.

Next will be the second half of the journey, broken down in two more posts!

Reading Tarot - First half of The Fool's Journey - part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:34:00 +0000

Ok this next post was meant to look at the first 11 cards in the Major Arcana. But it's a lot for one post so I will break this down a bit more. I find it easier to break things down like this because there is a lot of information to take in and it's better to do it in small doses so we don't overwhelm our heads!

Many refer to the whole of the Major Arcana as The Fools journey because it starts out with The Fool, un-moulded potential, naivety, freshly learned skills ready to put into use in the real world...and continues on through all of life's major obstacles and achievements till we reach the end - completion - the World...and we get ready to start on out next Fools Journey.

Back in the last post I briefly went over the astrological correspondences for the cards and many use this as a guide for timing of events in a reading. The dates of each astrological sign can be associated with a corresponding Major Arcana card and used like this for example:

The Lovers comes up in a spread - this may be signifying a date between 21st May and 22nd June. Below is a table you can use to help you along with this:

Number Card Title Astrological Sign Dates
4 The Emperor Aries 21st March – 20th April
5 The Hierophant Taurus 21st April – 21st May
6 The Lovers Gemini 22nd May – 21st June
7 The Chariot Cancer 22nd June – 23rd July
11 Strength Leo 24th July – 23rd August
9 The Hermit Virgo 24th August – 23rd September
8 Justice Libra 24th September – 23rd October
13 Death Scorpio 24th October – 22nd November
14 Temperance Sagittarius 23rd November – 21st December
15 The Devil Capricorn 22nd December – 20th January
17 The Star Aquarius 21st January – 19th February
18 The Moon Pisces 20th February – 20th March

I pointed out earlier how the Major Arcana falls into two groups with the Wheel of Fortune significantly in the middle of this journey. The Wheel is the turning point between one half of life’s journey and experiences and the other.

So, for this next part you are going to need part of your Tarot deck. I want you to go ahead and pull out the cards numbered 0 (The Fool) to 10 (The Wheel of Fortune) from your Major Arcana because that is what we will be focusing on for this part. Keep them in order so we can follow along on the Fool's journey.

Each card in your Tarot deck has both a positive and a reversed or negative meaning. What I am giving you below are the keywords associated with each card along with a brief positive and reversed (negative) meaning. Over time your knowledge and perception of the cards will broaden these meanings for you. I still find after all these years a new meaning or association with a card I had not thought of before.

Take your time with each card and try to remember as much as you can about the card before moving on to the next one. It may be helpful to take notes, as well, of any thoughts, feelings, images, etc... that come to you when focusing on each card. You may even want to refer to the notes you took earlier when I asked you to get acquainted with your deck!

The Fool
Number : 0
Element: air
Planet: Uranus

Positive Meanings: new beginnings, new opportunities, a new cycle, optimism, spontaneity, fearlessness, excitement, visionary, joy, inventiveness, potential

Negative Meanings: being naive, thoughtlessness, immaturity, lack of responsibility, impulsiveness, lawlessness.

The Fool's presence in a reading shows that it is time for a new journey, a new cycle, a new chapter in ones life. It tells us to feel the fear and take that leap of faith anyway. A journey into the unknown is ahead and rather than fear the unknown, look to it as lessons that will make you stronger, more experienced, and wiser. The Fool represents the untapped potential in all of us just waiting to be shaped. It often requires that we view this new stage through the eyes of a child - full of wonder, adventure, and excitement.

Sometimes The Fool falls in the position representing the querent and can be a warning of being "fool hardy" or taking a journey for the wrong reason.

The Magician
Number : 1
Planet: Mercury

Positive Meanings: taking action, power, being in control, the flow of life, originality, thinking outside the box, confidence, individuality, willpower, new beginnings, potential

Negative Meanings: trickery, deception, lack of self-confidence, indecision, abuse of power

The Magician can represent new opportunities, a chance to shape ones future by taking control and remaining focused, the importance of new ideas. It tells you that you have the resources within needed to succeed in whatever you do. The Magician can also point towards an interest in, or discovery of, the use of the laws of magic, faith, and will-power to manifest your needs and desires.

Negatively this card represents trickery or deception and can be a warning to be careful of who you choose to place your trust in. It can also show that you may be lacking in self-confidence and being indecisive when a decision is needed.

The High Priestess
Number : 2
Planet: Moon

Positive Meanings: intuitiveness, inner mysteries, understanding, wisdom, mystery, psychic ability, the divine feminine, something hidden yet to be revealed

Negative Meanings: lack of or blocking of ones intuitiveness, emotional insecurity, secretiveness, hidden obstacles or opponents

The High Priestess is the guardian of secrets and the inner mysteries. Her appearance often tells us that a secret is yet to be revealed in a situation where we may have felt stuck. Or it can point to yourself having a secret you wish to reveal. The High Priestess is also our guide to our inner self and potential. She symbolizes our intuitiveness and the realms of our unconscious. Often ,when we see the High Priestess in a reading it is suggesting that we need to pay attention to and trust our own inner guidance and let our intuition be our guide. She can sometimes represent a person who will provide wise counsel and advice as well.

In a man's reading the High Priestess can represent the most important woman in his life.

Negatively the High Priestess can represent emotional insecurity and the danger of being tempted to use emotional blackmail. Another negative aspect is that a secret is being kept from you, or there is an unknown obstacle or opponent ahead.

In a man's reading the negative aspect of this card could represent a woman who is a bad influence on him

The Empress
Number: 3
Planet: Venus
Season: spring

Positive Meanings: fertility, birth, motherhood, prosperity, joy, love, artistic ambition, creativity, nurturing, harmony, nature

Negative Meanings: over-protectiveness, poverty, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, suppressed artistic expression, domestic upheaval, emotional blackmail

The Empress represents nurturing, love, reassurance, prosperity, abundance and birth. So you can imagine she is a very favourable card to appear in a reading. She can represent pregnancy or the actual birth of a child, however she can also represent the creation or birth of a creative project or involvement with nature. Sometimes The Empress can represent a motherly influence in one's life.

Negatively The Empress can signal that you, or a woman in your life, is being too protective (the "smother mother") may even be one to resort to emotional blackmail to get her way. She can also indicate money worries and a need to handle your finances a bit more carefully. Another negative aspect of The Empress is that she can symbolize infertility or unwanted pregnancy.

The Emperor
No: 4
Astrological sign: Aries

Positive Meanings: achievement, authority, protection, support, trustworthy, discipline, stability, provider, reason, willpower

Negative Meanings: weakness, immaturity, failed ambition, status driven, tyrannical, untrustworthy

The Emperor is a sign of achievement and honour and in many cases can represent a strong male influence such as a father figure, husband/partner or man of other significance in your life (person of authority such as a boss). I have also found that in a reading for a single woman it has referred to her being the head of household.

When the Emperor appears in a reading he can suggest that a man of authority or significance as outlined above will stand by you and support you, in personal as well as business matters. When falling in a position that represents or refers to yourself, the Emperor can suggest that you will be able to influence people and have a great sense of your own authority.

Negatively The Emperor can mean that either you or a man of influence in your life is using bullying tactics and being overbearing, abusing ones power. It can also point to failed ambitions, an unhealthy focus on status and insecurity around a man of authority.

The Hierophant
Number: 5
Astrological sign: Taurus

Positive Meanings: advice, wise counsel, spiritual consolation, knowledge, identification, faith, conformity, tradition, religious groups

Negative Meanings: misinformation, lack of faith, deviousness, bad advice, confusion, disorderly conduct

The Hierophant is a symbol of moral law, a wise and capable advisor, a practical instructor and spiritual guide. He also represents the more conventional, tried and tested traditional values, therefore advising on more conventional thinking rather than new approaches to situations. At times the Hierophant can actually represent a teacher, priest or advisor. And this card can, at times, be an indicator of marriage or a desire for marriage, as well as point to legal responsibilities and official documents.

Negatively The Hierophant can symbolize feeling trapped by others people wanting you to conform to their expectations (traditions or family values steeped in past traditions that hold no value or meaning) rather than being yourself, and not wanting to take a more traditional approach. An upside to this, however, is that it can represent making your own rules. It can also show when you are being too inflexible in a situation.

Another negative aspect of this card can represent confusion, having a crisis of faith or self belief that results in disorderly conduct

Ok I am going to leave off here for now and the next post will continue with the lovers thru to The Wheel Of Fortune! Also if you have any comments on other possible meanings, what these cards mean to you, etc...please feel free to post here or e-mail me!

A short break

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:19:00 +0000

Sorry about the gap between posts on the Reading Tarot blog. Was in the hospital for a few days this week and got a bit "side tracked". Will continue the lessons on Monday!

Reading Tarot - An Overview Of The 78 Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:11:00 +0000

Hopefully you have done the last exercise and started connecting with your cards. A lot of people ask me why this step is so important. It not only familiarizes you with the cards themselves. It also gets you more used to listening to your own intuition. So often people learn the meanings of these cards from a book and that is as far as it gets. Reading tarot is a creative tool though and it is so important to be able to expand on those basic meanings given in books. It makes you more aware of the images on the cards as well. You could be reading for someone and suddenly one particular image on a card stands out to you. So it's important to understand what these images mean to you. it's your subconsciousness' way speaking to you in a way you will understand.

Back to that last exercise. Did any cards really stand out to you? Did you have any "blank" cards? Make sure you made a note of those and take time to go over what those cards may mean to you on this part of your life's journey. The blank cards can be areas in your life you are subconsciously trying to block out and need attention. The cards you were drawn to can be how you feel about where you are now, or they may represent wishes and goals.

Ok, now it's time to have a look at some of the basics of your Tarot cards. A classic Tarot Deck has 78 cards with 2 main parts. There is the Major Arcana which consists of 22 cards and the Minor Arcana which consists of 56 cards, broken down into four suits. You will find that some decks had variations on the names of each suit and the placement of some of the Major Arcana cards.

Let's look at the Major Arcana for a moment. The Major Arcana is like a story and represents the major events in our life as we travel along it's path. It begins with The Fool's journey and ends with The World - coming full circle. And then it starts over again. It represents all of the important life lessons we must learn and integrate before we can reach that point of true potential and fulfillment. The Minor Arcana focuses more on the mundane aspects of life.

Some like to break the Major Arcana down into 3 sets of seven when looking at their meaning. The first seven cards begins the journey of unmoulded potential, developing awareness of life around us, and the process we start towards building character. You then have the next seven cards which begin with Strength and end with Temperance. These focus on an inner journey as we get to know the powers of the subconscious. The last set of seven cards, beginning with The Devil and ending with The World, takes us on a journey towards self illumination. Personally, I split the Major Arcana in two with the Wheel Of Fortune in the middle. This is a significant card because it represents a turning point in some area of our lives.

In the list below you will see that each card of the Major Arcana is linked with planet, element, or sign of the zodiac.

0 - The Fool - Air, Uranus
1 - The Magician - Mercury
2 - The High Priestess - Moon
3 - The Empress - Venus
4 - The Emperor - Aries
5 - The Hierophant - Taurus
6 - The Lovers - Gemini
7 - The Chariot - Cancer
8 - Strength - Leo (In some decks the number 8 card is Justice)
9 - The Hermit - Virgo
10 - The Wheel of Fortune - Jupiter
11 - Justice - Libra (In some decks the 11 card is Strength
12 - The Hanged Man - Water, Neptune
13 - Death - Scorpio
14 - Temperance - Sagittarius
15 - The Devil - Capricorn
16 - The Tower - Mars
17 - The Star - Aquarius
18 – The Moon - Pisces
19 – The Sun - Sun
20 – Judgement – fire, Pluto
21 – The World – Saturn

I'll cover the Major Arcana more in the next few blog posts though. Let's have a look at those all important Minor Arcana cards. The Minor Arcana is broken down into four suits:

Cups (also called Chalices in some decks)
Wands (also called Rods, Staffs,or Batons in some decks)
Swords (also called Staves or Spears in some decks)
Pentacles ( also called Coins or Discs in some decks)

And each suit has 14 cards - 4 court cards cards - Pages (sometimes called Princess, Knights (sometimes called Prince), Queens and Kings. and cards numbered 1-10 which also follow a bit of a story of their own, showing a progression through a path or situation in life.

The Minor Arcana suits also are linked with elements and astrological signs:

Cups - Water - Cancer, Scorpio,Pisces
Wands - Fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Swords - Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Pentacles - Earth - Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus

And each suit is associated with different areas of life:

Cups are associated with emotions, intuition,and matters of the heart
Wands are associated with career, creativity, and work
Swords are associated with our thought process, the intellect, and conflicts in our lives
Pentacles are associated with material matters, hearth and home, and finances

Next post will look at the first half of the Major Arcana - The Fool through The Wheel Of Fortune!

Reading Tarot - Getting to know your deck

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Getting to know your Tarot deck (or any oracle deck for that matter) is very important in beginning Tarot. This exercise can take a few hours so you may want to break it down in groups: Work with the Major Arcana First for example. Then work with the suit of Pentacles, etc..

It's always good to create a relaxed atmosphere too. Burn some incense, play a bit of soothing music, do what makes you feel calm, grounded, and centered. Make sure you have your cards, journal, and something to write with.

Ready?

Ok! What I want you to do is spend a bit of time with each card. Now you can do the whole deck at once, or as I suggested, break it down in smaller bits. This is especially good if you are strapped for time.

Choose one card from your deck and place it in front of you. I want you to really look at the card. get a feel of the mood. What images do you see? What feelings do you get when you look at this card? Does anything in particular stand out for you? And then I want you to ask yourself what this card means to you. What is YOUR interpretation? I don't want you looking at any of the meanings given in your books now! It defeats the whole purpose of this exercise.

After you have spent a bit of time with that card I want you to write down which card it is and then start taking notes. Write down whatever comes to you as you study this card. Meanings, words, feelings, what you associate with the images on the card. What does it mean to YOU. There is no right or wrong here!

Once you feel you have finished working with that card, draw the next one and do the same thing. Continue to do this with every card in your tarot deck. If you get stuck on any particular card, nothing really comes to you, then put it aside for now and you can come back to it later. there may be a reason for it! I have found that sometimes, when we draw a blank with a particular card, it can often point to some area in our own life we are not facing or finding hard to move forward in.

The next Blog post will go over the basics of the 78 cards so make sure you have taken time to connect with your!

Reading Tarot - The Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:16:00 +0000

So, you bought yourself that new Tarot deck. Or perhaps you have been inspired by others who read and want to learn. But your thinking "How the heck do I start?? There is so much to remember!"

First lesson - it takes time and patience. It also takes a bit of your own creativity and intuition...and yes we all have intuition. Some of us just tend to block out or ignore that wise little voice inside.

What I am going to do throughout these blogs is break it all down into small steps. You will need a Tarot deck to work with, at least one Tarot reference book (usually your Tarot deck comes with one, some more basic than others) and a journal to keeps notes...this is important!

Ok, a bit of history and I will keep this brief because if you really want to delve deeper into Tarots history there is an abundance of info out there. This blog is focusing on developing your relationship with your cards and learning the basics.

Researchers have tried for years to pinpoint the true origin of the Tarot and how it all began. There are still debates about when the first deck was created and there are some links back to Italy in the early 1300's. One of the my favourite point of reference though goes back to the late 1700's with a Catholic priest named Eliphas Levi. Levi was a writer and teacher and created the foundation for one of the most popular Tarot decks today - the Rider-Waite. Levi may have been a catholic priest but he also studied other religions as well as astronomy, astrology, and metaphysics. And he incorporated his vast knowledge into a set of cards that he used as a tool to aid his students in the path to spiritual enlightenment, self awareness, and self improvement.

It was in the late 1800's that A.E. Waite recognized the potential to use these cards in predicting possible future events. And so Waite created the Rider-Waite deck based on the works of Eliphas Levi, and published the cards in 1896. To this day the Rider-Waite Tarot deck is the most widely used version currently in existence. (It was the very first deck I picked up when I started reading at 13.)

Tarot wasn't introduced into the Western culture until the early 1900's, and they became extremely popular during World War I. over the past 20 or so years more and more people have opened up to the concept and idea of Tarot readers, mediums, Astrologers, and Psychics. But there are still many who believe that the Tarot cards are evil or bring ill luck to those who use them or have a reading by one who uses them. Well I can tell you first hand this is not true. Tarot cards do not possess mysterious powers, nor can they harm anyone if they are used and read in the proper perspective. They are not meant as a means of fortune telling but as a means to guide and enlighten oneself and others when the road ahead seems a bit murky and confused. When used in a positive manner with positive intent the tarot cards can be a wonderful and enlightening tool. However, and this goes for anything else, if used with negative or malicious intent (for example to frighten someone into doing what you wish) the energy of the Tarot is warped by the user, not the cards themselves, and I will come back to bite the one who misused them in the end. And it's not the Tarot cards that cause this. It's the simple law of cause and effect. You get back what you put out there!

Ok, History lesson over!

The first thing I want you to do is ask yourself why you wish to read Tarot cards and what they mean to you. For me I wanted guidance and saw them as a means to help those subconscious thoughts come out in a way I could understand and relate. They helped me gain a different perspective when I needed one.

The next thing, and most importantly, is to handle, use, and meditate with your cards often because it helps you build up a connection with your deck.

A few other things I have been asked, about storing and handling cards:

How do I store my cards?

Ok, this varies and there is no set rule here for storing your cards aside from one: Treat your cards with respect!

Many readers like to wrap their cards in a cloth, or keep them in a special pouch when they are not using them. I have, over the years, had some people insist that it has to be a black cloth in either silk or velvet. Not necessary! It is all down to beliefs and preference. to some, black is a colour linked with magic. For a person who doesn't practice magic this has no bearing. DO keep your cards wrapped in a piece of cloth of any colour that feels right to you, in a pouch, or in a box of their own.

Is it true that others should not touch your cards?

I do caution new readers against letting other people handle their cards (as in using them to read with, not necessarily cutting the deck so you can read for them). In my years of reading for others, I allow my clients to shuffle the deck because I feel it gives a temporary link to their own energy that can help. I also recommend that, after doing this, you cleanse your cards! I generally cleanse my once a week by burning some sage and passing them through the smoke to cleanse them. If you have another cleansing method for clearing negative vibrations that may have become attached to your cards, then you are welcome to use that as well. Some use smoky quartz crystals, for example, which are known to help absorb and disperse negative vibrations. Laying the cards out overnight with a quartz crystal on it is another way. I also know some to leave their cards out on a full moon where the moonlight can reach them, to charge them. Again it is all a matter of preference and beliefs.

My next post will be about getting started and getting acquainted with your tarot deck!

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Boogirl) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:22:00 +0000

I wanted to start this blog because I have a lot of people ask me questions about my beliefs, how I got started with Tarot reading, oracle reading, the differences between the the divinatory tools I use, how to learn to read Tarot cards, etc...

So I made a list of the most popular questions I get and will start writing about them here. Some of this will be my views on each subject and my own experiences. It doesn't mean my way id the only way but I do hope it can be a guide or starting point for others.

Some of the topics I will cover include:
Tarot Reading - A basic overview and guide
My interpretation of the cards
Sacred Geometry
Divination Tools
Reiki
Paganism
Mediumship/Clairvoyancy

And if anyone has any other area of interest as I go along, just e-mail me!