Happy New Moon in Gemini! New Moons are all about intention-setting for the lunar month ahead, coming up with ideas for what we want to start really working on bringing into reality at the Full Moon in a few weeks’ time. I created a spread focused on using Gemini’s qualities of communication, duality, and friendliness in order to best set our intentions this month.

I chose to use The Nature-Speak Oracle and Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards, which pair beautifully with my favourite deck(s) to use for “Gemini” readings: I combine my “twin” decks, Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine’s Angel Tarot Cards and Fairy Tarot Cards, into a massive super-deck! I thought it was so cute that there was a jumper, as though the decks wanted to make sure there was equal (twin!) representation 😛

Without further ado, here are the cards for the New Moon in Gemini!

Oracle cards: Borderland | Hidden realms open + Rhiannon | Sorceress

Card 1: How to best communicate your intentions this New Moon: Queen of Cups

Card 2: How to bring together the different parts of yourself in order to solidify your New Moon intentions: 5 of Swords

Card 3: What to release for maximum self-improvement: 5 of Pentacles

Card 4: How to best maintain a friendly perspective: King of Wands + 7 of Swords

Card 5: Where to direct your intention-setting: 7 of Pentacles

This New Moon will be about intending to “see the magic” in everything you do and everything around you! Finding the fun and sparkle in life will serve you well, and will open you up to all the abundance waiting to flow into your life! Your intuition is abuzz, and the best way to communicate your intentions is by realizing the positive effect your emotionally nurturing side has on the people around you. You’re able to sense not only what you need now, but also what others do, and coming together to maximize our collective potential and resolve old wounds is a definite theme this lunar cycle. In order to bring together the different sides of yourself (namely, that nurturing one and the one that doesn’t want to touch other people’s drama with a million-foot pole) is to recognize that inner separation, listen to both sides, and choose carefully which one you want to react with. You’re working on picking up the pieces of the past, deciding which ones to release for good and which ones to keep sharpening, to keep fighting with, as reconciled and welcome aspects of your Self that you’re proud to put forth and make use of. This will be a lot easier if you release your tendency to slip into the mindset that is sure everything will go wrong, that gets stuck on what you don’t have, that focuses on losses, in turn closing off opportunities to make things better. It is so, so important to trust that things will and are getting better all the time, and to recognize the small ways in which we keep ourselves rooted to the spot when it comes to our inner dialogue. Maintaining your perspective will be a matter of being honest with yourself about what you’re passionate about, and doing everything you can to maintain that as a part of your life! This means being honest with yourself and other people about what you need to feel like you’re succeeding, and recognizing that in doing so you are an inspiration to everyone else! Help yourself by directing your intention-setting towards getting those small, boring details that constantly seem to hold you back out of the way: for me, my mind instantly goes to the mountains of laundry in every corner and passageway of my house! Getting things in order so you can focus on the work you actually want to do will play a major part in finding yourself truly able to notice that “sparkle” we were talking about earlier: this New Moon, intend to make way for magic!

There are no Major Arcana cards in this reading, indicating that this month won’t be overly eventful — perfect for meeting that intention of getting the small stuff out of the way! You have the energy you need to get things moving. Work with other people, even those you don’t really get along with, and find yourself amazed at the things you overcome that once would have stopped you in your tracks. You’re ready to persevere, committed to your course and much closer to a sense of completion than it seems. You really are doing your best, and a way to maintain your inspiration is to open yourself to connecting with other people, especially ones who “challenge” you: this month there will be many hidden opportunities for what once seemed impossible to transform into exactly what you want.

The New Moon in Gemini takes place at 4:44 ADT, at 4*47′ Gemini – look at all those 4s! This is a New Moon about securing your worth, about standing tall in your truth, and about persevering against the odds to build for the future. Things aren’t changing just yet so we all need to make the best use of what we have, letting go of anything that doesn’t fit in our ultimate picture. Maintain your personal boundaries in order to get what you need to do done, and when you need a breather, recognize that and go outside: tedious work deserves lots of little breaks, and who knows what may inspire you next?

If you’re interested in a personalized reading with me, check out my Etsy shop! Feel free to use the coupon code THANKS15 for 15% off at checkout!

I also made a YouTube video on this reading!

Decks used:

Angel Tarot Cards. Doreen Virtue and Radeigh Valentine. Artwork by Steve A. Roberts. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc., 2012.

Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards. Doreen Virtue. Various artists. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc., 2004.

Fairy Tarot Cards. Doreen Virtue and Radeigh Valentine. Artwork by Howard David Johnson. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc., 2015.

The Nature-Speak Oracle. Ted Andrews. Jackson, TN: Dragonhawk Publishing, 2006.

How’s everyone feeling this Monday? If the answer is some combination of a grunt and a scowl, I’m pretty sure everyone else is right there with you! We’re entering heavy retrograde season, with Saturn having just started and Mercury going retrograde today. Venus has been in retrograde for the past month or so, and is almost direct again! What all this means is that we each need to be extra careful in the ways we approach our lives, our interactions, and our relationships, because we can expect bungles and miscommunications galore! This week we’ll be thrown some more curveballs from the Universe, and it’s up to us to decide whether to connect or let them fly.

Theme of the Week: King of Wands

No matter what comes our way this week, we must keep in mind that this is a challenge, testing how far we’ve come in our individual quests to discover and achieve our passion. This week, as we’re tested with situations that usually cause us to blow up, we’ll also be provided with opportunities to stand strong and be unaffected! On the other hand, if you just can’t seem to slam the door shut on your old ways, know that the support you need is waiting, ready and willing to guide you back onto your path through the wilderness.

Jumper Card:  I – The Magician

As I was shuffling this card leaped out of the deck, reminding us to keep in mind that we overcame an issue last week, allowing us new confidence in our ability to persevere and handle things in an innovative way. This very much has to do with the “struggle” that last week became near the end of the week, and knowing that we can choose to approach that same issue (when it comes up again) in a new and seemingly magical way! Trust in your own personal power to carry you through, and know that you have everything you need to succeed at this.

Monday: 2 of Cups

If you look at this card and think “mm, yes, that’s me today!” then hooray! Enjoy it, and keep doing what you’re doing! If you see those lovers all cuddled up and getting along and feel like laugh-scoffing, well, that’s probably closer to the norm. This card comes to us today to remind us to maintain perspective, especially in our personal relationships, and to strive to make sure all of our responses come from a place of love. Didn’t get the reaction to your news you were hoping for? Why do you think that is? Instead of storming out of the house to stew and vent, instead try just going upstairs to breathe for a while. Stay close by. We’re all feeling extra insecure and need to be reminded that we matter, and whose turn it is to do the reassuring is constantly changing! If you’re the one who has to do the mending today, dig deep and give yourself a big internal hug first. Affection really does heal!

Tuesday: 6 of Cups

Today finds us feeling very nostalgic, reflecting on recent events and remembering the way things were before with particular fondness. It’s easy to remember the good times and forget that we’ve always had difficult moments too! When you start wishing for a time machine to take you back, whether it’s to feel like you did then or to correct a mistake that would make “now” seem easier, stop! Instead bring forward your happy child-mind, and try to see the present as something good and malleable, like play-dough. Give it a few pinches and twists and see if you like it better! And, as always, keep in mind just how very far you’ve come. Things may not be exactly how you pictured back then, but aren’t there parts that match up with or even exceed what you once hoped to have?

Wednesday: 10 of Pentacles reversed
If you’re still feeling tender and closed-off after yesterday, that’s okay. You’re getting to a place where you can truly feel proud of all that you’ve worked so hard for, even if others haven’t started recognizing you for it yet! Today self-care is a big theme: if you can, take time alone to ground yourself by doing things you like to do in a place where you feel safe and secure. It’s up to you whether to invite other people to your you-party! You may start to feel frustrated that something hasn’t been resolved even though it’s been in the works forever – patience is key now. Find comfort where you can and know that you’re doing a good job! Hang in there and keep on keepin’ on ❤

Thursday: 4 of Swords

…”Hang in there and keep on keepin’ on!” This point in the week may find you utterly exhausted: that’s your cue to rest. You’ve been through so much lately, sometimes all that can be done is to come to a full stop, choose to let things be for now, and sleeeeep. If you can’t actually afford a nap, focus on quieting your mind when more painful reflections take centre stage mentally – consciously choose not to do “that” to yourself today, and breathe yourself through letting that stressor melt away with the rest of the winter snow (keep hoping!).

Friday: 8 of Wands

A sudden change blazes through today, causing an upsurge for – well, everything! We start to change the way we’re looking at things, noticing new opportunities and also recognizing factors that had been holding us back that we’d been trying to ignore. We’re feeling reinvigorated and ready to follow this new current, although it’s still unclear which direction it’s taking us! Whatever news or new information zips into your life, be sure to consider the direction acting on it will take you, because timing is everything now. Remember to think things through and control your impulses for the good of everyone involved!

Saturday: Ace of Swords reversed

It’s so hard when we get all energized and then find that we actually can’t act on our new ideas just yet. Today we may feel a bit stuck, as we have a clear vision of where we want to be, we just haven’t figured out the best way to get there yet! This is why we need to take the time to plan our next best action – jumping the gun will only find us further behind than ever. For now we need to maintain and polish our vision, trusting the clouds to part exactly when they need to in order for us to charge and really get things moving, better and more quickly than they could have if we’d forced it before everything was actually ready to fall into place!

Sunday: King of Pentacles

Sunday finds us remembering all that we have, holding up what’s good to the sunlight and admiring it for how rich it makes us feel. We learned some important lessons this week, most importantly the value to be found in a strong sense of self and the foundation that provides for any challenges that come our way. This week found us faced with just about every type of obstacle, and as always, we made it through! Trust in your strength and what you’ve built for yourself, and feel proud for standing tall and allowing the lessons you’ve been trying to learn to solidify. You are growing, and it is paying off!

What to look forward to: Ace of Pentacles

Above all, know that this week represents the work of “planting the seed.” Last week we were all making new starts left, right, and centre, making way for this week’s implementing it, even if that was done in “unseen” ways. This week is all about working our way out of the hedge-maze, and recognizing that that’s exactly what we’re doing when we seem to come across more than our share of dead ends, twists, and turns! When looking forward doesn’t inspire, look up, and let yourself be warmed by the sunny promise of all the good things to come once we reevaluate our personal puzzles and dedicate ourselves to solving them. The real clouds are behind us for now, so shine your brightest and know that you’re growing!

This week, remember that you do have the skills you need to succeed. You are poised to come into your own, especially from a career/work vantage point, so do your best to stay standing in the face of any obstacles that come up! But also be kind to yourself and others, and know when to “tap out” if you feel yourself losing control. Rest, reflect, repeat! If teamwork feels like a challenge, do what you can on your end and wait patiently – even contentedly – for the rest to follow. You’ll become more aware than ever of decisions that need to be made, although now is not necessarily the time to act on them: remember, seeds are being planted. Hang tight and cultivate your vision for the future! You may feel like the “odd one out” at times, but that’s just because what you’re doing is starting to work so well for you that others kind of can’t believe it and have yet to get onboard. We’re in the new, new, new stages of something amazing, give it the time and space to grow!

Deck used:

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

 

 

Can everybody feel that something BIG is happening? It’s like April started and we all got inspired to make the changes we’ve been thinking about all winter as we hunkered down and waited for the sun, the warmth, and the fresh new energy that comes with Spring. The theme of the week is IV – THE EMPEROR reversed, indicating that we are getting back in touch with our “inner” selves, reimagining what works for us, and taking down the structures that we know no longer serve. We’re allowing ourselves to feel again, and embracing the creativity and newfound compassion that come with unburdening ourselves from impossible expectations and desperate situations!

Monday: Page of Pentacles

Yes indeed, we’re making new starts all over the place! This week we’re focusing on getting back on track, be it in the realm of finance and material wealth, or even of healthy, wellness, and the body. Whatever we have started, we can know that we are well-prepared and serious about what we are doing! All we really need to fuel us now is our own ambition, and faith that we have what it takes to reach our goals.

Tuesday: 0 – THE FOOL

Step lightly today! Lower your expectations – making a new start is not easy, although early in the game it can feel that way. Baby steps still get you on your way, and if things have started to feel like they’re lagging, remember that real change takes time and fresh thinking! You are being supported in this new journey, and know that the Universe is there to catch you if you stumble ❤

Wednesday: VIII – STRENGTH

Today progress will be made in overcoming your more “basic” instincts: where once you would have turned-tail and run from a problem, today you feel like facing it head-on, thus learning a new way of handling things. The greatest breakthroughs come in striving to understand another’s perspective on the matter. When people make positive changes, others around them can sometimes feel threatened or judged when they don’t do the same: remember that we are all on different paths, no matter how closely they seem to align, and we are stronger when we find creative ways to see through each other’s eyes.

Thursday: I – THE MAGICIAN reversed

If yesterday felt bumpy, today throws us a huge curveball, one that finds us questioning our ability to do what we’ve set out to. We may feel we don’t have the resources we need, or that we’re not receiving the support we wish we had — today our challenge is to apply what we learned on Tuesday, maintaining that spring in our step and remembering that this is a process where we are learning just how truly skilled we are, and just how much we can do if we hang in there and fully trust in our personal strength! We always have everything we need, and the best support we can give ourselves comes from within. External recognition will come, for now keep your head up and know that you CAN do it!

Friday: Knight of Wands

After a slump yesterday, you may be feeling…well, mad! Remember, remember, remember that real change takes time, so don’t let your frustration bubble up into impulsive, reckless behaviour. Stay grounded and, if you feel like you messed up yesterday, do not take it out on yourself or others! If you can, channel your fire into something productive (even better if it contributes to the new goal you’re working towards)! You could turn back now, but you’ve already come so far! It will get harder before it gets easy, and it’s up to you not to explode. No pressure? ;D

Saturday: XV – THE DEVIL

Yep, today “harder before it gets easier” will be ringing in your ears. How did you handle yesterday’s challenges? Well, today they really do explode, and you may feel like your efforts have gone up in flames. Nope! This is a test from the Universe, testing your mettle and trying to coax you back with the sweet song of your old patterns, the ones that you know aren’t working for you but still look easier and more comfortable than the more stoic, far less fun road to effecting true change in your life. It’s your choice how you respond to this test, and here, you are accountable to no-one but yourself! Truly, only you can hold yourself captive. You are the master of your own life!

Sunday: X – THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE reversed

Well, today may have you feeling like things haven’t changed at all. This was a difficult week filled with big lessons, one of which is that we can’t control the speed – or the circumstances! – by which change happens. Take some time today to turn inward and reflect on how far you’ve come, and do your best to put out of your mind how far you still have to go. You’ve overcome so much this week, even if you may have made some decisions that you’re less than proud of. You’re learning, you’re growing, and things are changing, slowly but surely!

Focus for the Week: II – THE HIGH PRIESTESS

I love this card because for me, it’s reassurance that my “spirit guides” are present and ready to help. When challenges arise this week, remember to listen to that quietest inner voice: it’s working with you and providing all the answers you need to push through whatever obstacles throw themselves in your path! “Ego” messages will be everywhere this week, trying to pull you off-course and back into the patterns that you’ve decided no longer work for you and what you want for your life. Trust that you are in the perfect moment between your past and your present, and that you know what you need to do! When the going gets tough, listen: the answers you need will be provided, in one way or another! Synchronicity is real, and it’s the Universe’s way of telling you you’re on the right track. Look into repeating numbers, find meaning in song lyrics, watch for signs in nature: the Universe is cheering you on and wants you to succeed, no matter how long it takes!

Yes, this week we’re looking at the structures in our lives in a BIG way, coming up with creative new ideas for doing things differently, in ways that feel more aligned with our true selves. Focus on what you want to create for yourself and your life. Nothing about this week will be small-scale, and you’ll be dealing with some big opinions and personalities — including your own! Hold true to your beliefs and stand strong in your decisions, even when perseverance feels like the hardest thing. Take extra-good care of yourself as this week hurls itself at you – it’s going to be a challenge, and it’s one that you’re more ready than ever to take on!!

If you’re interested in a personal reading, please visit my Etsy shop! I look forward to working with you!

Deck used:

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

“The Tower!?!! Aieeeee!!” That used to be my immediate response upon seeing this card, even to the point that it would affect the rest of my day, wondering what was coming to throw me off! It’s not hard to see why: the card image shows two people being thrown from a tower, the roof of which has been blown off by a strike of lightning, and everything is up in flames. The truth in this card’s message, though, lies in the fact that this is a necessary blast: when we become too comfortable in our patterns, especially in the ones where we’ve created comfort where there is none to be had, we close ourselves off from new possibilities and opportunities to expand and grow as people! When we’re forced to admit that parts of our lives are in ruin, then we can really look at what is not working and begin the work of finding ways to rebuild and reconfigure those realities, recreating them in ways that are much better for us and truly comfortable.

I find it interesting that my deck has thrown me two “difficult” cards in a row – the 7 of Swords yesterday and The Tower today! And both numerological 7s, a number I’ve been noticing a lot lately. For me, 7 represents perseverance, examining a situation in such a way that you fully understand your place in it and thus are able to stand your ground, holding true to your own beliefs even and especially when it’s a struggle! This is no easy feat, and one that I’m sure is lifelong. But if The Tower has taught me anything, it’s that humongous change is good! After the debris has settled, you’re able to see what’s left, and more importantly, what is truly valuable to you, allowing you to move forward unburdened but that much richer for realizing what is real to you, and what you can count on to remain stable in your life even when everything else seems to be in total disaster mode.

The Tower is actually one of my Birth Cards – a reoccurring theme in my life that leads me to understanding my life path. Yay? Finding that out helped me a lot in coming to terms with this card’s message, which is finding inspiration in the lowest and most difficult times, and learning to trust that the Universe is doing positive work when the structures we rely on appear to be destroyed. I see this card now as a sort of “roller-coaster” ride: something huge is coming up, and your best bet is to hang on tight and just ride it out! There’s no use trying to stop it, and ultimately, things will settle down and be fine again. If I’ve learned anything from my study of tarot, life is a big cycle with constant reoccurring themes! Each time they come up, we get a better handle on how to regain our grip the next time we feel like we’re losing control of our circumstances. Being able to stay grounded doesn’t keep the difficult things from happening, but it does make it easier to realize when to let yourself be swept away, trusting that you’ll come out okay on the other side!

Today’s Shadow and Higher Self cards (the cards at the bottom and top of the deck, respectively) are the 6 of Cups and The Sun, which indicate that today’s “Tower” message may have something to do with our personal sense of nostalgia – memories from the past will come up, reminding us how we used to feel and also how we expected to be feeling now! Don’t let these feelings get you down, and instead draw inspiration from them, even tweaking your circumstances to better fit that youthful vision, if you can! The Sun as the Higher Self card assures that whatever excitement flares up today, it’s ultimately contributing to your greatest happiness: know that you’re still on the right track even if you seem to have gone off-course, and know that today a divine opportunity will come in an unexpected form to shake things up in a positive way!

Deck used:

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

 

Ah, the 7 of Swords. This is a card that I often struggle with – it’s long been one of my least favourite in the deck! Through my practice, though, I’ve come to learn that the messages we least want to receive are the ones we most need to hear. The 7 of Swords came up as my “theme” card for 2017, and here it is again today, asking me (and you!): where can I be more honest with myself today, and in my life in general?

In this card’s image, we see someone apparently sneaking away from an enemy camp, carrying five swords in his arms. He has one sword that’s actually his, and – oops! – in his haste to get away unnoticed, he’s dropped another one. While his intentions are good – he’s taking the swords so the enemy can’t fight – really, his actions are putting everyone involved at a disadvantage: the “enemy” can no longer take any action at all towards a solution, and in stealing the swords (and dropping one) our protagonist has been deceitful and will certainly be found out. While the conflict that started it all was unpleasant, the choice to be dishonest creates a new level of struggle, and one that can only be resolved through admitting the wrongdoing and returning agency to everyone involved – each needs their own sword. It is so important to consider every perspective when deciding on a course of action!

As you go through your day, do you ever notice yourself going against the little voice in your head, then wish you hadn’t? At that point, do you even wonder *why* you didn’t listen? That was the 7 of Swords voice speaking: that bit of ego that assures you everything will be fine if you take matters into your own hands. The truth is, we’re never acting alone, either in terms of the other people in our lives whom our decisions directly affect, or in terms of our Higher Selves where that initial little voice comes from. The lesson in the 7 of Swords is to listen to that voice, learning to be honest with yourself and your world from the inside out! You always know the right thing to do, it’s a matter of choosing which little voce to listen to. The trick is hearing the softer voice, the whisper of truth, over the much louder and easier to follow ego-voice. The 7 of Swords is the decision between taking time to think and communicate, or acting now and dealing with the repercussions. Either way, you must be honest with yourself about the outcome you chose in that decision-making moment!

I like to read the “Shadow” and “Higher Self” cards after shuffling for a reading, as they tend to provide some deeper insight into the message being read. With today’s 7 of Swords we have the 2 of Swords reversed and the 2 of Pentacles: today, being honest with ourselves and others will help us loosen the grip we’ve had on our “alone time” lately, that feeling of being closed off and not even wanting to connect outwardly. This was important at the time because we were all going through some deep and dark mental currents, but now everyone is feeling better and ready to reconnect. Indeed, while we felt like we were losing our footing really we were learning to regain our balance in unfamiliar surroundings. Being honest about our needs, especially in terms of support in the physical/material realm, will help us find that balance and begin working towards feeling a little less burdened, like we can manage even when our hands are full! Today we are asked to look at what is occupying us, whether we can delegate any tasks and responsibilities, and most importantly, what needs to be admitted in order to truly move forward to a place where communication lines are open and everyone is feeling “heard.”

It’s time to come back out into the light of day! Admitting where you’ve been wrong will allow you to make a new start, one which finds you standing tall once more and receiving the help you needed all along. We have to address the things we don’t like before we can truly enjoy the things we do! It won’t be easy, but after the initial pain of “getting out of your own way,” you’ll find everything falls into place far more easily than trying to manage everything on your own!

Deck used:

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

Ah, the Page of Wands! A card for fresh energy and renewed passion, I often think of this little guy as the “student” card. When it comes up, that means we’re learning in such a way that we’re drawing ever-closer to something that will really allow us to fly, or will allow our sparks of inspiration to transform into a strong, steady, and illuminating flame!

The card’s actual meaning aside, for me, whenever this card comes up I immediately think of my daughter Iris. She’s technically a Page of Cups as she’s a Scorpio Sun, but she’s also an Aries rising and Leo Moon (both Fire signs) and in classical astrology, Scorpio is ruled by Mars, another fiery contribution! When I saw the Page of Wands today I thought of Iris, because I’ve been trying so hard since Ori was born not to be too hard on her, not to get angry at her as easily as I do, and to maintain perspective on my sweet girl who seems like a big destructive monster next to my tiny boy!

Of course she’s not a monster even if she is a fireball, and this weekend I was struck by an inspiring experience that very much embodies the Page of Wands’ message for me today. This weekend we went to a birthday party, and I was doing my usual hold-it-together-about-Iris-in-public thing. There was another young mom at the party, there with her 2-year-old and pregnant with her second baby. I noticed her primarily for her somewhat sour demeanour, which I mentally related to as being pregnant with a toddler is HARD! I didn’t speak to her at the party, but now I wish I could thank her, because she showed me what it really means to do your best as a mom.

I turned around after struggling to get Iris to tell me where she’d put her treat bag because I wanted to go soon. I heard little shrieks and looked over to see the 2-year-old jumping around on the couch, her mama sitting on the floor in front of her. I watched as the little girl booted her mom in the back of the head, laughing and shouting “mommy! Mommy!!” over and over, then cranking her mom’s head around to look her in the face and shout “MOMMY!!!” one more time, just for the joy of saying it! And I watched in awe as the tired woman smiled into her little girl’s face and just let her be little. She just let her be little.

That’s something I struggle with constantly: letting Iris get her ya-yas out in whatever way her little body tells her to at the time. I get so mad and frustrated, when all she’s doing is learning, growing, and sharing with me, her mom! Seeing that other mama patiently just allow normal toddler behaviour was so inspiring to me, and exactly what I needed to see in that moment. Even though she was tired and grumpy, she still had a smile for her energetic baby.

And so, today my Page of Wands lesson is letting Iris be herself, and in turn letting my own self off the hook as we move forward: I can only do better from here, using this new spark from that blessed other mama to guide my way towards choosing to understand, grow, and fly with my own fiery little Page!

Here’s my YouTube video  for today as well!

Deck used:

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

 

Pillar of Light + King of Cups

It’s been quite a week so far, and today you’re called to remember the spiritual practices that you’ve been trying out! They are working for you, and you’re finally starting to feel like your emotions are stabilizing and the storm clouds have cleared. You know that nothing can get to you when you consciously engage your form of emotional protection, and remembering that is more than important now than ever: it’s time to get to work towards something that will continue to ensure your happiness, so do what you have to do to find the space you need to sort out your ideas and keep growing!

Today I was drawn to use the Isis Oracle and Mystical Cats Tarot because I’m more aware than ever of my huge pregnant belly, and remembered that early in the pregnancy this deck kept presenting me with “Divine Sun Child!” Speaking of sun children, this summer my big golden cat Ra has been a major outside boy, roaming around for over a week before making an appearance at home again! He came back last night and slept in bed with me, which was such a great feeling. When he first started going out (and not coming back) I had to get over a lot of loss-related anxiety, fearing the worst would come to him! But he’s so happy being allowed to do his own thing, and I’ve learned a lot from my “first baby” about letting go and trusting in the universe to watch out for him.

These cards are super-relevant to me today, as this whole month has been a topsy-turvy roller-coaster between feeling like everything is falling into place and like everything is falling apart! I’ve kind of gotten away from my daily meditative practices (sitting with crystals in the morning, drawing cards for the day, etc), but today I decided it’s time to get back on the horse! I did a breathing meditation with my selenite wand and desert rose, and it felt so good that I gained some cool perspective in the process. I’ve managed to get a bunch of computer work done since, much needed as the baby is due in 7 weeks and I have 5 essays and a bunch of business work to catch up on before then! Engaging my “Pillar of Light” by meditating every day will definitely help me maintain good King of Cups energy to stay balanced and compassionate to get it all done!

Decks used:

Isis Oracle. Alana Fairchild. Illustrated by Jimmy Manton. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2013.

Mystical Cats Tarot. Lunaea Weatherstone. Illustrated by Mickie Mueller. Llewellyn Publications, 2014.

Since it’s been almost a year since I started my blog, I feel like it’s time everybody met my decks, so here goes!

Ah, Tarot Mucha. This deck was my first real tarot “child,” the one that kickstarted my passion for tarot! I had another “first” deck way back when (I seem to remember it having a really ugly sort of gingham-chicken-theme), but no deck has ever resonated with me as deeply as Tarot Mucha does, at least not yet. When I decided to start really studying tarot again after drawing up my natal chart and finding all sorts of points that indicate a level of psychic power, I thought to myself, “what would be my absolute ideal tarot deck?” Well, if there was one based on Alphonse Mucha’s art, that would be perfect. Lo and behold, the perfect deck was just waiting for me! And since we connected there has been an incredible bond between us, to the point that I even had a “vision” during one of my first readings with the deck. Using Tarot Mucha and it’s Little White Book, I gave myself a crash course in tarot and managed to learn all of the cards meanings off the top of my head in a matter of weeks, basically by reading for myself every day, writing pages and pages of card and spread interpretations, and re-sorting the deck after every use while drilling myself on the meanings. It was fantastic!

 

Deck type: RWS-based

I have the Rider-Waite-Smith now, but I avoided it for a long time because it felt so “mainstream” (ew, stop trying to be cool). However I really think using a RWS-based deck to learn was helpful because the imagery agrees closely with most of the interpretations in books and on the internet, with just enough difference to allow educational mind-bending.

Cards:

Tarot Mucha is a standard deck with roman-numeral’d Major Arcana cards and regular numbered, illustrated pip cards. Strength is VIII and Justice is XI, and the suits are Cups, Discs, Staves, and Swords (although from the beginning I switched them in my head to Cups, Pentacles, Wands, and Swords). The court cards are Knave, Knight, Queen, and King. The cards have no words on them, which I love!

Male/Female representation:

This is a very feminine deck, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that male-female representation is totally equal! 32 cards feature women, 32 feature men, 10 depict both and 4 are neutral (the Aces, which just show hands).

Little White Book:

Tarot Mucha’s LWB is written in 6 different languages, and it’s really great! I love Lunaea Weatherstone’s card interpretations. They don’t include reversals, although I do use reversals with this deck. The LWB includes three to-the-point 4-card spreads that I use more often than any other spreads! The book is full-colour and bound and is an absolute gem.

Box:

Tarot Mucha spoiled me as my first deck, because not only is the LWB fantastic, so is the box! It’s thick and sturdy and has a lift-off top, decorated with images from the deck. It’s so, so beautiful! Even after a year of daily use and being carried around everywhere in my purse the corners are just starting to dog-ear. This is one satisfying deck to use!

Cardstock:

Good, now that I have many decks I’d say they’re a bit thick and rigid, but I’ve never had a problem shuffling them. Actually I’d say they’re super-durable, as they have made it through many Iris-shufflings! The Page of Pentacles is the only one with real battle scars (bent right in half in one of its first Iris encounters), although the 10 of Swords survived a pee-puddle with only slight water damage.

Borders:

The Major Arcana and each suit have different stylized borders that are very beautiful and enhancing to the cards.

 

Likes/Dislikes:

It’s hard to think of anything I “dislike” about this deck! The only thing that stands out to me is the Queen of Wands, she looks really intense and depressed. She’s slumped over her wand, staring off into a space with kind of a crazy look in her eyes! Now that I think of it that’s probably appropriate for one brooding about how to bring her passion to life, but anyway. What I love about this deck is how it feels for me to work with it – like, well, magic! Because it’s my all-day everyday deck, we have a close dialogue and I often picture Tarot Mucha’s cards in my head even when interpreting other decks.

 

I do deck interviews with all my decks, and Tarot Mucha’s confirmed that it’s a grounded deck that likes straightforward, no-nonsense answers. Its favourite themes are Love, emotions and relationships, and finding personal grounding.

 

Ultimately I’d give this deck a 10/10 for its beautiful art, impeccable presentation and general awesomeness. Every time I see a post asking “what’s a great deck for beginners?” I’m tempted to write “TAROT MUCHA!!” I’m biased because nothing makes me happier than Art Nouveau style, but this deck is also really well-received at the Farmer’s Market, so…can’t go wrong! 😉

Do you have this deck? I’d love to hear what you think of it! It can be ordered here.

xo Miriam

Deck used:

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

At long last, my blog post on The Lovers! I can’t believe how long this post has taken me to write!

 

So, who are The Lovers? At first glance this card appears to be about romantic love, especially looking at the heated embrace being shared between Tarot Mucha’s two! However, there is much more to it: Corinne Kenner describes the relationship depicted in this card as being more one of “twin souls,” or “kindred spirits” (48). This card is about soulmates, the people we need to meet in order to feel fulfilled in life, although these are not necessarily the ones we spend our entire lives with. These are the people who help us expand our minds, take the focus off our individual selves, and realize our place in the World. The astrological association is Gemini, the Twins, which is the sign that rules communication and relation to others (Kenner 49).

 

That’s not to say this card doesn’t deal with love! The choice of a partner is one of the biggest we make in our lives. The Tarot de Marseilles “shows a young man struck by Cupid’s arrow and forced to choose between two women” (Pollack 58). The Feng Shui Tarot shows a couple being wed, having already made their choice, while the Rider-Waite-Smith shows two Edenic Lovers being watched over by a guardian angel. These depictions really got me thinking about what kind of “choice” a committed relationship is: it’s agreeing to set aside your ego in favour of blending lives with another person, and continually “choosing” them, even when you both stink, when the space you’ve chosen to share looks like a pigsty, and nobody wants to choose (heh heh) what to make for supper or when to make it – that’s when the choice really comes in to play, and that’s when you decide to see your own reflection in the next decision to be made. The Lovers’ choice is most powerful when the going is tough and you choose to keep going – together!

 

Yes, as Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin describe, The Lovers’ motto is “Every Moment a Decision” (189). While it’s lovely to think that some higher force can save us from making the “wrong” decisions, it’s just not so! Many Lovers cards depict an angel protecting The Lovers’ union, and yet “[the angel] cannot protect them from making choices – both wise and foolish – that contribute to their souls’ growth, both as indivduals and as a pair” (Weatherstone 17). The trick is realizing that there are no wrong choices, just different ones, and only the realization that “our choices mirror back to us the person we wish to become” (Sharman-Burke and Greene 37). Thus we can see that The Lovers is ultimately “a moral choice, about choosing the right path” (Wen 82). What pressure! How can we possibly choose? Some people choose not to choose, out of fear of being “ready:” well, if there’s one thing that can help our choices along, it’s that “life forces…challenges upon all of us before we feel ready” (Sharman-Burke and Greene 38). We need to make choices so that we can learn from them, and these continually bring us closer to that “loving” feeling of knowing you’ve gotten to the point where you want to be. And even then there will be more choices to be made, always and forever!

 

 

The Mythic Tarot shows Paris being made to choose between Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena in a beauty contest. Talk about a difficult choice, and one that leads to zany subsequent decisions – Paris chooses Aphrodite, goddess of Love, and is rewarded with the love of his life – unfortunately Helen already has a husband, and Athena gets her revenge as Paris and Helen’s union causes the Trojan War. As Benebell Wen offers, “we face an existential choice between two life paths, either one willfully hedonistic or one grounded in our sense of ethical duty. The Lovers card suggests a primordial responsibility to choose ethically” (Wen 83). Indeed, “all choices have consequences for which we are ultimately responsible. Without passing through this initiation by fire, we cannot understand how we create our own futures, but instead blame the results on fate, chance, or someone else’s fault, rather than our own lack of reflection” (Sharman-Burke and Greene 38).

 

 Image via Mai Manó Ház ‘s Pinterest

All choices have consequences, for better or for worse, but it’s much easier when we keep focused on the ones to come, rather than the ones that have passed us by. The Lovers reversed can indicate such dwelling on the past, or of allowing deep-set concepts of “how things should be” to interfere with your current trajectory. It can suggest meddling from someone outside the relationship as well (Wen 84). Upright, all can be trusted to be well, knowing that your bond is strong and your choices are being made from the right ethical place – reversed means something has you questioning your standards of morality and feeling like you’ve veered off course.

My interpretation of The Lovers finds a young couple walking past a bridal shop. The man points at a dress in the window, looking to his love to absorb every bit of her reaction. She looks back and smiles, fully feeling the warmth of their combined embrace. A mirror in the shop window allows the back of the beautiful black-and-white dress to be seen, but it also reflects the backs of the lovers, showing them entwined from every angle. The shop is called “Angel~” and represents the traditional institution that officiates the union of two people in a committed relationship. The fiery window motif represents the sometimes hot, sometimes scary, and always changing nature of a love-relationship. The snake and apple represent the biblical version of the choice made by Adam and Eve to leave their comfort zone and take a leap of faith into the unknown, together, leaving behind their innocence and committing to a grittier journey with each other as the only tangible fallback. My Lovers are still in the phase of innocence, of playing with ideas together. While the dress is enticing, for now they choose to stroll on, pulled ever-closer by the butterflies of future possibility!

 

Astrological Oracle Cards. LWB: Lunea Weatherstone. Artwork: Antonella Castelli. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2012. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

 

Feng Shui Tarot. Eileen Connolly and Peter Paul Connolly. Published by U.S. Game Systems. Scan via Tarot.com, November 5, 2015. Illustrations from Feng Shui Tarot used with permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 2001 by U.S. Games Systems.  All rights reserved.

 

Katz, Marcus and Tali Goodwin. Around the Tarot in 78 Days. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2012.

 

Kenner, Corrine. Tarot and Astrology. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2011.

 

Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot. San Fransisco, CA: Weiser Books, 1997.

 

Sharman-Burke, Juliet and Liz Greene. The Mythic Tarot: A New Approach to the Tarot Cards. Cards illustrated by Tricia Newell. Toronto, ON: Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd, 1988.

 

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

 

Wen, Benebell. Holistic Tarot. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2015.

The next card in our journey through the Major Arcana is The Hierophant! The Hierophant is often represented in the form of a Pope or other religious-leader figure, with Tarot Mucha’s stern, red-clad image serving as no exception. The Hierophant card usually depicts three figures: the larger Hierophant presiding over two smaller figures, as representation of human “attempts to mediate between the opposing poles of life and find some way, not to resolve them, but simply to hold them in balance. A religious doctrine, with its moral codes and explanations for life’s most basic questions, does just that. If we surrender ourselves to a Church the contradictions of life all become answered; but not resolved” (Pollack 57). Corinne Kenner describes The Hierophant as “the card of time-honored values and beliefs” (45), and its appearance in a spread often indicates a need for examining your spiritual values in some way. I love Lunea Weatherstone’s offer that this card represents “comfort through confession and absolution” (Weatherstone 16). I read in this that spiritual healing can occur on any interrelational level through honest communication and forgiveness!

The Mythic Tarot represents The Hierophant as Chiron, the Wounded Healer. Chiron was the healer of the gods, and after being granted immortality was pricked by one of Hercules’ poisoned spears. While the wound would kill any mortal, Chiron lived, and gained new levels of understanding towards the plight of those who are injured or in pain. Sharman-Burke and Greene describe Chiron as “the one who through his own pain can understand and appreciate the pain of others and can therefore see further and higher than those who are merely blindly content” (Sharman-Burke and Greene 34-35). Kenner beautifully describes the way that “the role of the hierophant lives on in every spiritual teacher and guide who leads followers through seasons of hope and experience” (Kenner 45). This is echoed by Weatherstone, who offers that “[a] true spiritual teacher will inspire self-forgiveness and a fresh start, free of the guilt and shame of the past” (Weatherstone 16). While the Hierophant can represent dogmatic control and authority, at root this is a figure of teaching and spiritual healing.

The Feng Shui Tarot’s Hierophant is a solitary monk, sitting on a mountain peak, eyes open to the present. Rachel Pollack notes that “[o]ur democratic age rejects the notions of an intermediary between the individual and God” (54). The Feng Shui Tarot’s monk represents the individual ability to meditate and find the correct answers deep within – almost a direct representation of Pollack’s interpretation of The Hierophant reversed: “forming original ideas” (57). In the Little White Book accompanying the FST deck, Eileen Connolly writes for The Hierophant’s Core Aspect Reversed: “[y]our sense of freedom and expression should not be limited” (10). I always smile when I see The Hierophant reversed, because it makes me think of having the divine personal power to start marching to the beat of your own drum!

This the a card about Spirituality, Religion, and Tradition, as well as societal institutions and group support. Religion, or spiritual practice, provides “a firm tradition in which [a person can] root his or her personal development…[t]hus we see religion as an experience” (Pollack 56). Religion as experience allows personal perceptions to be valid universal insights, when combined with meditation and assessment of personal values. The Hierophant represents meeting that part of the Self “which can begin to formulate and express a personal philosophy, an individual vision of the spirit, which guides” (Sharman-Burke and Greene 35).

The Hierophant’s astrological correspondence is Taurus. The two share the same type of energy: “practical and reliable, patient and persevering. It’s feminine and receptive: it provides fertile soil for growth and development” (Kenner 46). Having a solid foundation for your code of values and ethics is a springboard for productive personal development, and this can be found through religion, self-help, education, or whatever makes the individual feel they are being fed spiritually!

The card of higher guidance and direction, The Hierophant is about making choices based on education and deepest values, with the biggest choice being whether to act alone or to ask for help. The Hierophant suggests “actively seek[ing] answers of a philosophical kind” (Sharman-Burke and Greene 35), and can represent turning to education for answers. My own educational background is a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, making the connections I have been researching in Tarot endlessly fascinating building bricks on foundations of world understandings of the metaphysical! 8)

The past few weeks have been nuts for me, and whenever I’m down, naturally I start perusing Amazon to look at new decks, books, etc! I was having a hard time getting down to writing this post, but when I came across The Housewives Tarot’s version of The Hierophant as a Television, I knew I had the final piece of my post’s puzzle! On the one hand, the TV (or the Screen in its many contemporary forms) can be seen to represent the aspect of The Hierophant embodying “conformity…surrender of responsibility…[and] our own inner sense of obedience” (Pollack 57). However, with the rise of Google and the endless founts of information to be found on the information, much of it now incredibly relevant and helpful when searched through the right filters, Screens can be sources of higher wisdom indeed, especially in times of spiritual need.

My personal image of The Hierophant ties in to my Unitarian Universalist upbringing, as I was picturing the stained glass in the Halifax UU Church when I was sketching! I added the classic symbol of the Hierophant: the silver and gold keys. A minister sits on the same level as her two congregants, whose heads are bowed. The rest of the seats are empty, perhaps because ethics is a spiritual counseling sessions, or perhaps because the effects of secularism and the search for individual spirituality has emptied the physical churches in our society. At any rate, The Hierophant is happy to provide light and guidance to those who need help finding peace!

Astrological Oracle Cards. LWB: Lunea Weatherstone. Artwork: Antonella Castelli. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2012. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

Feng Shui Tarot. Eileen Connolly and Peter Paul Connolly. Published by U.S. Game Systems. Scan via Tarot.com, November 5, 2015. Illustrations from Feng Shui Tarot used with permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 2001 by U.S. Games Systems.  All rights reserved.

Kenner, Corrine. Tarot and Astrology. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2011.

Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot. San Fransisco, CA: Weiser Books, 1997.

Sharman-Burke, Juliet and Liz Greene. The Mythic Tarot: A New Approach to the Tarot Cards.Cards illustrated by Tricia Newell. Toronto, ON: Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd, 1988.

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.