01 Sunday Sep 2019
Posted in Readings
My friend from NY drove out to visit us here in St Louis (Long story but I don’t live in NY anymore) She had this deck with her and gave me a reading that blew me away. So for the first time in years I purchased a new Oracle deck! My deck collecting days are far behind me but when a deck speaks to me I buy it. Enjoy!
30 Monday Apr 2012
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Tending My Fire
I have been meditating on the theme for this Round Robin Blog post all day. Here is what I have in my notes:
“Beltane Round Robin them is Fire Tends to all. The one who watches the fire for others. Those who keep sacred space sacred. People who focus on their work and do not look for attention nor do they deny the value of their work.”
More and more I find myself realizing how very much I admire this quality and also how I need to embody it more. Often I work for the sake of the recognition and for monetary rewards, especially in my day job but also in my Tarot and Reiki work. I did the following reading to help bring me back to what’s important. This is relevant for all I do. I want to be focused on what I am giving and spreading and not so much on making money or getting recognition. If what I do has helped improve someone’s life, day or even just their afternoon, then that is my fulfillment. The recognition is nice and indeed welcome and I acknowledge the payment for services is necessary, but it should not be what drives me.
Here is the spread and reading using my brand new Angel Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine’s.
What is my role (Tarot)?
I pulled the Knight of Air for this question. The tireless crusader who fights for what he believes. He stands for his truth and does not get sidetracked. Stick to one thing. Don’t try to fit into any Niche where I don’t feel inspired or believe. I don’t have to know everything but what I claim to know I must know well. Remain trustworthy. My clients will look to me for my honesty and readings that have integrity and truth to them.
How can I best serve others in this role?
The Moon – This confirms what I have been drawn to lately and that is developing my psychic skills. One way I have done that is to become more active and to spend more time with nature which is depicted in this card. I can also help others by removing any fears my clients may have for Tarot and psychic readings. Be real. Be myself.
What drives me?
Six of Fire – Are the cards mocking me???? The phrase on this card reads, “Victory! Good news is on it’s way. Public recognition or awards.” Isn’t this what I am trying to get away from. Or maybe this is reinforcing what I knew the problem is? It feels good when clients gush about what a great reading I give or how great my blog posts are. Would I still ride so tall and proud if I didn’t get the praise? that is what I need to make sure I do. I am victorious with or without the recognition as long as I help others.
How do I come back to keeping the sacred space sacred?
Two of Air – This card is telling me to make my decision and act. I cannot move forward if I am always second guessing what others are looking for in me. I must forget that and be my authentic self. Let my colors show and be my own unique self. Decide which direction I want to take things and do it.
I’ll be using this new deck for a while to get a feel for it. My initial impressions are good despite the rather pretentious claims made about the deck being the only ‘trustworthy’ one out there. I am putting that aside to give an unbiased opinion on the Tarot deck itself.
23 Monday Apr 2012
Tags
Deck Review, Fairy, Lo Scarabeo, Mark McElroy, Reading, Tarot
Reading with Tarot of Celtic Fairies by Mark McElroy
This past Friday I went to a New Moon Meditation/ceremony let by Pamela Cucinell to bring in the New Moon in Taurus. The question posed before the guided meditation was “what do I want to create and bring into physical form?” My first thoughts were of my home and how I have been guided to “begin at the core” which I interpret as my home and refinishing the front door and working on the kitchen. To help with this process I decided to use a “new to me” deck called Tarot of Celtic Fairies by Marc McElroy. I used his Fairy Processional Spread from the book which examines your fears and concerns, hopes and dreams and how to get through the blocks.
Cards 1&2 are fears and concerns
8 of Spears – The Fairies are flying in all different directions. So much going on and so quickly They are bound to be in a collision! There is no order. They need to focus their energy in one direction. This reminds me on how my imagination can go off in so many directions pulling me from the goal at hand. Will I be getting in my own way?
King of Spears – An offering? Pretense vs Purpose is the key phrase. Will I actually deliver? Am I taking on too much? Can I really afford to start the kitchen right now? Last thing I need is more debt. What do I really want?
Cards 3&4 are hopes and dreams
2 of Spears – Coincidence that the fairy in this card is Luchtaine, a woodworker? This reflects my hope that I can hire someone to help us with some of the work. Especially the kitchen floor. This card also means deciding what I want by choosing the materials. Time to commit.
Cards 5,6 &7 are my ideas for action
9 of Stones – Take aim and fire! Find my mark and take a shot. What am I waiting for? The keywords for this card are mastery and discipline. The snail says take your time and do it right.
6 of Swords – The image in this card depicts fairies marching along the Fairy path. Blocking this path with a building causes misfortune, however by leaving the doors open we allow the natural flow of the Fairy Path to go unimpeded. I am reminded by this card that improvements to my home will enable a natural energy flow to occur that will allow my creativity and productivity to come more easily. This is where it all starts.
Page of Swords – Key words bravery vs stupidity. This card reminds me not to take on any tasks I don’t have the skills for or are just too big for one person.
In summary, I need to put self doubt behind me and start doing something. I know what I need to do, but just need to get there. My guides have been telling me to start at the core for months. My home is my center. I need to put it first right now and make it reflective of the healing work I want to do. I believe that in doing so my creative energy and productivity will flow more easily if I change the energy of my home by giving it some love.
The Tarot of the Celtic Fairies by Mark McElroy, artwork by Eldar Minibaev is a rich and well thought out deck that brings deep and meaningful answers in a reading. There is a very attractive and helpful book with this deck that goes into the author’s thoughts while creating this deck and the important symbols used in each card. Mark keeps the book brief yet thorough which I love. I don’t find books that go into pages of detail on each card very helpful. I prefer Marks style of getting right to the pertinent information for each card. This book is not just informative but beautifully done with colored pictures, sketches from the artist that show the process of creation and lots of information about the fairies themselves. I did have to look up the cards to really get the full meaning of them since I don’t have a lot of knowledge of the Fairy realms. Some may not like this, but with such a well written book I did not feel uncomfortable with this. It would take me a fair amount of time to become familiar enough with this deck to use intuitively and without the book. I think I will save this for my more relaxed, personal readings where time is not an issue. I am extremely impressed by the beauty and depth of this deck. Very well done. Some of the best artwork I have seen in some time.
22 Sunday Apr 2012
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Free Reading Giveaway using Tarot of Sweet Twilight by Cristina Benintende.
You – Who you are right now and where you are in your life – Temperance 
– I see you here standing alone in the middle of this barren desert, yet still believing in hopes and dreams. You believe in happiness. You believe in your Soul Mate. You are like a beacon that will ultimately attract good things to you because you have the right attitude. For this alone I say you are full of good luck. You exude hope and that is what will bring your turest desires to you. I do see also that the desert you are standing in is barren and empty. You’re standing high on a rock, going no where and showing all your beautiful colors and no one is there to see them. If you want to find your soulmate, you have to put yourself out there where he can see you. You are waisting your time where you
Your dreams – Who you would like to become or where you would like to go – 3 of Swords–
No one dreams of heartache. No one wishes for it, but many of us tend to expect it based on our past experiences. This card shows a woman stabbing herself in the heart and drawing blood as she points to the past. Sometimes past disappointments condition us to expect the worse and often we end up destroying our dreams ourselves as a way of protecting our hearts. Kind of like, “I’ll end this before they do so I won’t get hurt”. This position states where you would like to go. You want to go back to the way things were before your heart was broken, yet at the same time you don’t want to repeat the events that brought you to a broken heart. The best of both worlds is to capture the happy feelings of the past without repeating the events that led down the path of heartache. This card shows that the pain is still very acute. Don’t make hasty decisions just to ease the pain. As we will get to in the other cards, this is a time of reassessment for you. To take objective stock of what you want and need and not what puts a bandaid on the pain.
What you believe – 3 of Pentacles
– When I first looked at this card I thought the woman was looking in a mirror and seeing a totally different image from her true self. I felt that what you believe to be true may be different. Looking at the card closer, I see that it is not a mirror but 2 different people, but I feel the above is worth mentioning. Threes are about being open to new things. They are about urges and experiences that give us the motivation to move forward. In this case it is your strong belief that the 2 of you are very well suited for each other and can do wonderful things together. It is your belief that you both are indeed Soul Mates. There is a pentacle hanging above both their heads and another in front of one of their hearts. This shows you believe that the 2 of you are of like minds. You both think alike. There is also an attraction of opposites here. We have night and day. One woman has the moon in her hair as a sign on night and the other’s hair is on fire and weightless. Opposites coming together. I also see the pentacle over the heart as one giving more of themselves then the other. Perhaps you felt that you gave all that you could and this is not noticed by the other person. You gave so much and invested so much time and energy because you believed in the 2 of you. Pentacles are the world of material things. So I am thinking you took a lot of time and effort to make his world as comfortable and pleasant as you could and can not understand why he would leave that environment that you worked so hard to create for him.
What you know – 7 of Chalices
– You feel lost without him and perhaps you have been left in a difficult position as well. The woman in the card is in the middle of a thick jungle. As she stares into the ripples of the water, she sees nothing but her bare bones. As if her feelings have stripped her bare. Sevens are a time of temptations and distractions that test us to see if we are truly dedicated to our task. You know the temptation is there to look at things with a distorted view due to your deep feelings for this person. You also know that you can not let your feelings for this person define who you are. It is so easy right now to get totally absorbed in them, but you have a lot of work ahead of you to find your way out of this and that won’t happen if you don’t stop seeing yourself as incomplete without him. You also know that when we look at our situations with an emotional heart it is easy to see what we want instead of what is really there. Perhaps it is time to re-examine your feelings more objectively and ask yourself who you really are and what it is you want in a relationship. Ask yourself if it is possible with this person or if it is time to let go and give your heart elsewhere. Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgement.
What you feel – 7 of Pentacles
– I immediately get the impression you are feeling overwhelmed and confused with the different views you are getting from others on this situation. Remember, the sevens are about distractions and temptations. This can be very confusing with all that is going on around you. I see you in the far off distance with the largest pentacle. You know you have the answer. What is it? You own the answer. You mentioned that there are some saying he is your Soul Mate, and some that say he isn’t. You must look to your own feelings. Ignore what is going on around you and decide for your self. This needs to be a practical decision. You may be feeling like you can’t live without him now, but that is the illusion of the sevens talking. You may feel small and left out and even an overwhelming financial burden now that he is gone, but you can get through this even if it means changing the plans that you had for your future.
What do you think – 2 of Cup
– Well, I will say right up front that you will indeed come to your Soul Mate and honestly right now, I don’t think it is this man. I will also mention that I believe that a Soul Mate is not strictly the perfect person to share your life with. A Soul Mate can also be someone that affects our lives deeply. The man you are in love with now has left a big footprint on your life and affected who you are in a big way. I believe that this does make him a Soul Mate, but I also know that you are looking for the man that will complete you and be by your side forever. He is out there. You think you know what you want now, but the sevens in this reading are saying that you may not be seeing things objectively. What this card tells me is that you need to think about what you want and need from your partner. Someone that will see your inner beauty, that will love to do the same things as you. Someone who hangs on your every word and adores you. One that can give you a wonderful sense of peace and fulfillment. Most important one that will stay by your side all the way. The caduceus, a sign of healing and the union of opposites floats above his hand along with a red rose indicating his passion for you. His delight is in watching the beautiful bouquets that come from you. It is everything you could want. I think that you will be truly awakened when this perfect partner comes into your life. You will then be able to look back and see this time and this relationship as it really is.
To sum it up, there are two 7’s in this reading which indicate that things may not be what they seem and it is a time to test if you are indeed meant to be with this person. Adjustments may very well be necessary. To answer your questions directly I do not feel this man will be back as indicated in the Temperance card by the barren desert. Any attempts or efforts by you to woo him back will go unnoticed. Your energies need to be focused on getting yourself out of this emotional jungle (7 of cups) and feelings of being alone and overwhelmed (7 of Pents) and spent on imagining the most perfect relationship and what you really want and deserve. Fact is you can’t love someone who is not there, but if you show your true colors and be your true self to the right audience, you will draw the right person to you in no time. You are a magnet for this! You are just waisting it on the wrong audience!
31 Tuesday Jan 2012
Tags
Candle, Chakra, Meditation, Reading, Round Robin, Tarot, The Star Tarot
Hi and welcome! I am very excited to be a part of this Tarot Round Robin!
If you haven’t already, please make sure to check Tarot Witchery for their post on How to be a better candle.
What is a Tarot Round Robin? It is a group of Tarot Bloggers all posting simultaneously on the same question. The only rule is it be somehow related to Tarot. It should be fascinating to find out the creative ways others have chose to answer the question, “How can I be a better candle?”
I had plenty of time to ponder this and it led me to ask myself what is it symbolically that the candle does? Most obviously it sheds light on things but really when we ponder more on the question it becomes more obvious how important a candle is. How we rely on it to find our way.
As a Tarot reader it is my desire to shed light on other people lives and specific issues so that my client can understand and find direction in their lives and areas where they need more clarity.
So, to be a better candle is to shine bright and where it does the most good. It means being strong enough not to be snuffed out by the winds of doubt. Doubts are the enemy to my skills as a reader and would cause my flame to flutter out. There is more to being a good reader than just knowing the cards and practicing using them. I also work hard to keep my confidence up. There are many practices that are important as a reader that help to keep us in touch with our inner voice. Here are some I recommend
Before any event where I will be doing readings I make sure I have time to quiet my mind and do a Chakra alignment and clearing. This keeps my third eye open and clear and keeps me in touch with Spirit.
Fresh air and walks in nature do much to dispel doubts and keep us healthy and our minds clear.
I do Reiki on myself as often as possible to keep my energy flowing and my Spirit in a calm place.
Also very important is daily meditation.
Before each reading I say a prayer that my reading will be for the person’s highest good and that I hear their message very clear. Also before each reading and after Water is very important.
When it is time to read the cards, I don’t think about it, I feel it. I speak what I feel and don’t allow my brain to over think things. If doubts or fears creep in during a reading I send them to the light. Good bye!
To see what I could do right now to be a better candle I laid the following spread using The Star Tarot by Cathy McClelland
1. What can I practice to remove doubt from my heart? I drew the Emperor
The Emperor brings order to chaos. He is surrounded by creatures we would normally fear, yet they rest at his feet. The card speaks 2 things to me. Instead of conquering fear I must forgive it. It is a normal feeling and if I forgive and let it go it is no longer a threat just as the Dragon and Lion are no longer a threat. A more practical message for me is to be better prepared in all things. I need to have a plan and a schedule. I will start blocking out time to make sure I remained focused on whatever the task is that needs to be done. It could be blogging, marketing, or the exercises I mention above, but whatever it is will be better time spent if I stick to a plan. Being prepared means less worry and less worry means less doubts!
2. How can I be a better Candle? I drew the Fool
Again the strong message I get is to not be afraid. The light in his chest tells me this is where my light and my communication needs to come from. This is where I “feel” my messages when giving a reading. The Fool is innocent and pure and has not yet been corrupted by life. Likewise, I must not let the “mind” interfere. The “mind” has no place in a reading. I must move ahead without a though of being wrong. There is no wrong, just following my heart. The Fool does not care what other’s think.
3. How do I spread my light further? I drew The Moon
It is hard to see the light of a candle in full daylight, but one candle in the darkness of night will shine very brightly and show people The Moon tells me that my light will shine further when I use it to help those that are lost. It is easy and comfortable to share and serve amongst those of the same mind and beliefs, but to step out to where you are not understood and shine is where I can do the most good.
Thanks for being a part of this Tarot Round Robin! Please see how others are answering this question by visiting Andrew at The Hermit’s Lamp
07 Wednesday Dec 2011
Posted in Readings
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So, I’m checking things out on FB and I come across a link to some Youtube videos with the creators of the Wildwood Tarot. I love the artist of this deck and the theme so I checked it out. What followed were amazing syncronicities and clear messages! I’ll try to keep it short but a little background is necessary.
I watched the 3 parts and in the second part Mark Ryan talks about the Suit of Bows and the Bow spread that makes so much sense to me. To paraphrase it, Mark describes the bow as representing you and all you can achieve in your life. When you put an arrow in it you pull back you are harnessing this energy. The arrow is your intent, your dream, your idea. Please go check out the videos and try this deck. I have a new appreciation for it now.
I also have been working with material by Sonia Choquette called The Answer is Simple which talks about the very simple process of connecting with Spirt. Sonia talks about how we are spiritual beings and like a light and life just spins around us but can never touch us. This relates to card 2.
http://www.TheAnswerIsSimpleBySoniaChoquette.com/
So here is the reading slightly summarized because it is long:
I focused my question on what to do next with my career. I have a great job now and work with great people, but am ready for a change. I wondered should I get my resume out there and see what happens. I also had this fleeting thought about wouldn’t it be cool if I could make a living doing the 3 things I love which are Tarot, Reiki and designing knitting patterns. I quickly dismissed this as unpractical and thought maybe when I retire I will have more time for that sort of thing.
I laid out the cards face down even though I don’t normally. I am also unfamiliar with the deck. Never really looked at it before now.
Holy $hit!!!
I flip over the first card and it is the 7 of Arrows. The position is the person asking the question and the issue itself. This is me with all my thoughts, ideas, dreams and goals killing me. I am being choked by prickly vines and the roots behind me tell me that I have lost my hold. I have toppled over. The Green Woman is clearly suffering. My thoughts like above about my dreams not being practical are killing me! I am no longer able to grow.
The card in position 2 was a mind blower. While I was shuffling I also asked for a clear message from my Higher self. This is that message. The position is “What is the focus of my issue? The point at which my skills can be FOCUSED to CONNECT with the heart of the situation”
This is where 17 The Pole Star fell. My Pole Star is my Spirit and that is what will guide me on my path! This is what Sonia teaches. To do the things we love as food for our Spirit. The forest is thick and dark, and full of unknowns but the light illuminates me and lets me see where my next step will be. The message here is simple. Don’t worry about what is afraid, but follow where Spirit leads you. My Spirit will illuminate my steps along the way. My focus then is clearly not to worry about where I’ll end up but just on one step at a time.
Position 3 is the conscious limb – My analytical process at work – I drew 3 of Arrows. Again, my arrows are piercing me! This is where I recall that when I was shuffling I shunned the idea of making a living doing what I love. I figured it to be unpractical. I am DESTROYING my hearts desire! Holy $hit! I need to make more time for the things I love. Stop listening to my conscious mind and listen to my heart.
4 The Spiritual Limb – Emotional and Spiritual Elements present in the reading. I drew the Wanderer
I AM ON THE PRECIPICE!!!
DO I take that next step? Do I trust where my Spirit leads me? Will the path be there under the clouds when I do take that step? The Fool is fearless. You can not fear what you do knot yet know. The rainbow is my sign of hope. I have nothing but my self to take with me.
5. Momentum of the situation – the string – I drew the Queen of vessels – Salmon – There is no turning back for me. I left the pool of saftey. Death is eh inevidable end, but I must go there! Nothing will stop me. I am driven.
6. The point of balance – enabling my energy – what guides my situation – 4 of Stones – Protection. In working with Sonia’s course she asks us to consider what kind of spirit we have. What do we love. What are we like. This card represents the type of spirit I have. The first thing that came to me was that I like to feel safe and surrounded. I like to be home, a bit of a Hermit. I knit and love for my home to be welcoming and comfortable. Even when on wonderful vacations a part of me misses home. I am also a person that likes to be alone in the woods. I remembered as a child how I would walk to the river and sit there for hours letting the sound of the water comfort me. I am an Earthy spirit and this is why I would want a career that allows me to work from home or be closer to home. I want to give others comfort through my Tarot, Reiki and knitting.
7 Arrowhead – My Personal intents aimed at the problem. The means with which I can come to terms with the question. I drew the Shaman.. again, a very personal message. Years ago I took a Shamanistic journey in to a tarot card. The pack was provided by the Shaman and it was the Greenwood Tarot. I know what I need to do. I need to enter into the card because this Shaman has a message for me. On that note…..I will light the candle and start meditating on him!
24 Thursday Nov 2011
Posted in Readings
I decided to post something on a lighter note today. Since I am transferring all my blog entries from my iWeb software many of the posts you will see are quite old. The following is a reading I did back in Jan of 2007 using one of my favorite decks the Fey Tarot. Enjoy!
This reading is part of an exercise I am doing on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum in the Fey Study forum. We will be doing 3 card readings every week and discussing them afterwards. So, without further ado, here is my past, present, future spread for the up coming week.
Well, first I must note that the 3 of pentacles fell out of the deck and slid across the floor while I was shuffling. This talks about my job. I see a Fey completely absorbed in his craft. This fey is painstakingly tending to the details of his work. He looks at it with a scrutinizing eye. The fey is dressed in pink and green both colors of the heart. His work is his passion and he puts his heart into it. The lizard on his shoulder represents his heart and passion leading him along. It too observes the work that has been done. He has all the tools he needs. This along with his passion and drive will lead him to complete his task with the utmost quality.
In the background stands a hooded fey who partially hides their face. It stands with it’s arms crossed as if it is impatiently waiting for the other fey to finish something. This fey holds a key around it’s waist which indicates it may have the answers the other fey needs or perhaps holds the key to the other fey’s future growth.
This card that fell out pretty much describes my work situation right now. I love the work I am doing and have been putting everything into this very important project I am working on. There is tons of work to do and really no time to worry about the details. There is also a hard deadline which is represented by the impatient looking fey in the back.
I have to begin by saying that I drew 3 swords. This is a sure indication that the week ahead is going to really fry my brain. It will be a big challenge because there is so much to do and so little time. On top of this, I have a new person to train.
The Past – 2 of Swords – this card shows a fey with a look and stance as if it is charging at something. As it charges forward, the fey holds a dagger in front of it’s eyes blocking it’s site. It does not even see where it is going because it is so hell bent on getting there! The moon in the background indicates a rather hazy and unclear view of the situation at best. The past has been all go, go, go with no time to think things through or asses the situation. The very accurately describes my situation at work. I am all geared up and my intentions were honorable, but perhaps I was not getting the best picture of the situation.
The Present – 9 of Swords – This defeated looking fey is on her knees, hugging herself. It looks like she is waiting for the sword to come down and take her life. The fey is shades of red and orange, both colors representing action and passion. It is interesting that the knife is tied to a rope and is not touching her. Does she realize that she is not in immediate danger? there is a star of hope in the sky outside her doorway if she would only look up and see it. The stairs going up are the only way out of her predicament emphasizing that the only way to go is up. I hope this is wrong, I really do. I have this feeling that I am going to go to work tomorrow and find my manager ready to pile on the work since the person replacing me has started today. I am quite sure that I am going to be feeling quite overwhelmed until this person is adequately trained. Perhaps I might feel that because I am behind, I am failing. I most look forward, not wallow in self torment.
The Future – 5 of Swords – A larger than life dagger is wedged into the desert sands. There is no life visible from where this sits. On the handle of the dagger sits a fey of orange color wearing a flowing orange wrap. From the palm of her hand she blows away star dust. above her head her spirit essence flows towards the sky. I know exactly what this card means. It means I take my laptop and my piles of work and I find an empty office or meeting room and hide from everyone that interrupts me or needs my time. Sometimes this is the only way to get it done. The dagger is larger than life now, but rather than let it overcome her like it almost did in the 9 of Swords, she has now gotten a ‘handle’ on it. It is still huge, but she is on top of it. She blows her stardust because she can not help anyone else with anything other than that knowledge she has left them with in the past. I keep my Reiki Principles on the wall by my desk reading them when things are crazy keeps me in touch with the Divine and helps keep things in perspective. a lot like what is represented by the connection between the fey’s head and the universe.
Hudson Valley Tarot 
Thankyou for your wonderful and accurate insights in this eye opening spread
!