Daily Draw 4/29/16 - The Sun, The Hermit, and Justice

Today I felt like pulling a card for the day/weekend. I freshened up my altar yesterday and things are looking and feeling great! I ended up pulling The Sun, which is a card I have pulled on another Friday, and always is a welcome sight, especially in the spring! I wanted a little more detail, something to give me a little more focus and so I thought I'd draw a second card and hopefully get a pip or a court card for something more specific to focus on. Well, nope! I drew The Hermit, and looking further, I drew Justice. This deck just keeps walloping me with these huge cards! I figure this is something I'll probably be reflecting on throughout the weekend, but here are some first impressions on the cards...

I've already talked a lot about The Sun in a previous daily card draw, and I am still mainly connecting with those same energies of warmth, growth, vitality, and optimism. I feel like I'm doing a good job recently of continuing to walk this path towards a healthier lifestyle physical, mentally, and spiritually, which feels like it is all connected and gathered in the light of the sun. There is a social event coming up this weekend that I've been excited about for some time, but due to some personal stuff, there is an element of anxiety as well. I feel optimistic that everything is going to go well, and I think the Sun is reminding me to be open and trusting and have faith that things are going to work out. 

I haven't talked much about The Hermit or Justice on the blog yet. The Hermit is the birth card of my best friend, so I understand a little bit about it due to that.

The Hermit is concerned with isolation (not necessarily in a bad way), spiritual knowledge, self-reliance, and often includes a connection to nature in some way. I also think that there are elements of self-inquiry and soul-searching. The Hermit can represent the student and/or the teacher, and the lesson is notably a spiritual and deeply personal one. The lantern represents inner truth and knowledge. There is an interesting component of space and distance to The Hermit as well, with the implication being that The Hermit has departed from, turned away from, or left something behind in their quest to gain insight into life's deeper mysteries. I think that this card, like the Hierophant in some ways, asks us to take a moment to consider things that are of deeper and more lasting importance than trivial issues in our daily lives. I also like that, unlike the Hierophant, the Hermit is about us trusting ourselves, trusting our own guidance and our own authority and intuition in connecting with spiritual truths. Alternatively, it could indicate that if you are looking for a mentor or authority figure you may place more of an emphasis on those who value self-guided and intuitive learning over those who insist upon rote, traditional learning. 

For me, I think that this Hermit is actually pointing to those anxieties that I mentioned above. While I was thinking about a particular social gathering, I think that it can be applicable to a lot of the relationships that I have with my friends. Mainly my anxieties stem from a fear that my friends don't really like me, or that they are angry with me in some way. I think that this fear manifests in a tendency to isolate myself and to fear being ignored, rejected, or abandoned. I think that the Hermit is reminding me that it is okay to be solitary at times, but I think being seen here with the Sun it's a reminder that this is perhaps an ungrounded fear and that I should let the light, warmth, and optimism of the Sun reign.  

Justice is concerned with fairness, balance, morality, equality, cause and effect, and honesty. It is sometimes read from a literal standpoint of the law and legal matters. Justice is often associated with the swords suit.

What I think this is saying to me, as the natural extension of the Sun and Hermit cards as detailed above, is that if I trust in the energy of the Sun and trust that I've done the right thing, been fair and honest, then I have nothing to worry about, because I will reap what I sow. I went through some hard times recently with this particular group of friends, which includes my ex-boyfriend, and it was really difficult but in the end I think that we were all completely up-front about our feelings and honest with one another, and that we've all forgiven each other, and can now move past everything. I think old fears are still nagging me that people will be holding a grudge, but I think that the Hermit with the influence of the Sun is saying, let go of those fears, because you were honest and you did the right thing, and Justice is saying that we are all on the same page and things are fair and balanced. I also think the Hermit in regards to my social anxiety is letting me know that it's okay if I find myself alone now and again at a party or a gathering, and that it's not an indication of rejection or dislike. Overall thanks to the presence of the Sun, I'm feeling really relieved of my anxieties and optimistic about the weekend's fun!

Better late than never: Photos of my altar

I did create a lovely altar recently and I thought I'd share some photos. I feel like it's getting a little dusty and needs some refreshment, so I hope to work on that no later than next weekend. 

Mind/Body/Spirit

A little while ago, I decided to do a spread that I had only a very vague understanding of, the Mind/Body/Spread. I basically pulled one card for each aspect of my life and went from there. 

Since I didn't want to overwhelm myself with too broad of a topic, I decided to focus in on one aspect of my life right now, which is that I am currently in my last few weeks of grad school. However, given the results, and the thinking that I've been doing over the past week or so, I've started to interpret the cards as pertains to my life as a whole, which I think is appropriate. Even though I initially wanted to focus just on school, I think the cards really had a strong message for me and want me to consider it in light of my life as a whole right now. The fact is that I am at a crossroads at the moment, a huge time of transition, so ending school really does define my life in general at the moment.

For Mind, I pulled the Sun. For Body, I pulled the Hierophant, and for Spirit I pulled Judgment. Oh my gosh, right off the bat, three majors, and I know that this deck heard me loud and clear and has some real shit to communicate to me right now. (Spoiler alert: I've been meditating on this spread for weeks, and I have a feeling I will continue to do so for some time.) Here are some of my initial thoughts.

In my Deck Interview, I found that the deck's most important aspect was represented by the Knight of Staves. I interpreted this to mean that the deck "is not afraid to make things exciting and even a bit dangerous at times. This deck is not going to hold back. It's all about diving in head first, joining the fray, in pursuit of finding the truth, in pursuit of a noble goal. This deck won't pull its punches. But its motivation is always going to be to seek the truth. This deck will be honest and passionate and will expect me to be honest with myself and to put in the passion and the creativity to get the most out of it." I think that, in light of this, what this spread is asking me is to be completely honest with myself and to take this seriously. There is an urgency and potency to this reading which I think is the deck telling me to pay attention because this is important. This matters. This is bigger than just school. This is bigger than the next month or two. Since I am ending school, and hopefully getting a new job and moving soon, a lot of things are about to change in my life, hopefully for the better. The ways in which I meet these changes will set the stage for the years to come. Now is the time to make changes in my life which will set me on the path of having a better relationship with myself. The Knight of Wands is bearing an urgent, truthful message. 

So far I have had a tricky time getting into the messages of the Sun and Judgment, and I've mainly been focused on the Hierophant. I had a negative reaction to/resistance to the Heirophant initially, sort of like I did with the Emperor, but stronger. I think that this means that this is the sort of energy I actively NEED in my life. Sort of like how they say that your least favorite yoga pose is the one you need the most/when you are uncomfortable in the pose is when the real pose begins. I need to actively face and embrace things that make me uncomfortable and challenge me. Only in this way will I grow.
Now, I have A LOT of other thoughts and feelings about the Hierophant being the "Body" card. For some reason it's difficult for me to put into them all into words, but I'm going to try in list format:

1. The Hierophant urges us to look deeper - look at the bigger picture, the deeper meaning. I think this means that I need to look more closely at how I relate to my body, to my image. I have a tendency to write off trying to be pretty as shallow or unimportant. But is "body" really about looks? Is it really about weight? No, I need to look at things more holistically. Body is about my health, my strength, and how I feel in and relate to my body. I think that the Hierophant is asking me to make that connection between my body and my mind, between my body and my spirit. Because it is a huge part of me. 
2. There's something about tradition here - I'm trying to chase down ideas in this vein.
3. There's something here to do with the fact that the other two majors I got are far more advanced in the Fool's journey - I think this indicates that I am neglecting this part of myself and it's an area where I need to put in more work. I need to find balance, I need to focus on this more.
4. I have previously thought of my relationship with my body only in regards to the way that society views women's bodies and also in terms of my own feelings of fat hatred and shame regarding my body. I am always focused on looks. But there's a lot to unpack here
1. Looks can be important, and it's okay to be interested in the way you look and in cultivating your own look and image - this is something I should take pride in and allow this to be an expression of my self and my creativity
2. Body isn't just about looks this is about my health. It's about getting enough sleep. It's about stretching. It's about being strong. And I think I will see the ways in which taking care of my body affects my mind and self very deeply. And not only accepting and taking care of my body, but getting to a point of enjoying it.
3. I need to completely overhaul the way I think about exercise and diet - the way I think that I should interact with and think about my body. This requires a huge sea change. 

At this point I don't think it's an overstatement to say that tarot has changed my life. For the better. This is precisely the tool I needed to communicate with myself, to open up truths within myself and to be honest with myself. I'm going to keep unpacking the aspects of this reading for months to come, I think, and I will post updates as my thoughts become more organized.

Ten of Wands

A little while ago, about a week ago, I drew the Ten of Staves as a daily card. It stayed on top of my deck until recently because it was just such a powerful and important card for me at that time. 

For starters, the Ten of Wands - as, I image is the case with most "ten" cards - is another card in the deck that heralds the end of a cycle, a time of being near completion, having come to close to achieving one's goal. It can me that you are shouldering a heavy burden or responsibility, but that you are in the home stretch.

Another way of looking at the card is an indication that you are maybe taking on more than you can handle. You can't say "no" to more responsibilities (be they stressful and/or fun), and you are burning out. You are you trying to do too much or you are not doing what you need to to support yourself in order to be successful. I see a figure who is exhausted and overwhelmed, and maybe who needs to just take a fucking rest for a minute before picking up all those burdens again and moving towards the destination once more.

I call this "the self-care card." That is, at least, exactly what my first impression was upon reading the LWB which came with the Tarot Mucha. When I pulled this card on April 19th, I had that same immediate read on what the card was telling me. Not only have I been really busy with school, work, internship, the community garden, and more, but I've also been undermining myself with too much beer and not enough sleep. I was coping with my stress by having a few too many beers on the weeknights, staying up late reading or listening to podcasts or knitting, because that was what was keeping me sane. But it definitely wasn't healthy.

After meditating on what this card is telling me, I've done a good job recently of cutting back on the booze and getting more sleep. This is something with which I will continue to struggle, but I think of the Ten of Wands as a card which reminds me that I can't be effective if I never rest, and that if I want to reach goals that I set for myself in my life, I need to be healthy. 

A Deck Interview with the Tarot Mucha

As always, this delightful Deck Interview spread comes from Beth at Little Red Tarot! Enjoy the stream of consciousness analysis... and sentence fragments.... AND the shitty iPhone photos. =D

Questions:

1. Tell me about yourself: what is your most important characteristic? Knight of Staves (Wands)

The Knight of Wands is passionate, active, reckless, and driven. This deck is not afraid to make things exciting and even a bit dangerous at times. This deck is not going to hold back. It's all about diving in head first, joining the fray, in pursuit of finding the truth, in pursuit of a noble goal. This deck won't pull its punches. But its motivation is always going to be to seek the truth. This deck will be honest and passionate and will expect me to be honest with myself and to put in the passion and the creativity to get the most out of it.

2. What are your strengths as a deck? King of Cups

The King of Cups is joyful and exuberant. He is compassionate and open-hearted. He brings harmony, love, and acceptance. He urges us to set out on a spiritual path, promising support in the form of solid emotional and spiritual guiding energies. This deck will have strong feelings about things. This deck will be very much concerned with the emotional and spiritual aspects of what it is telling me, perhaps it will not be very literal or concerned with practical aspects. It is worth pointing out that there are NO pentacles showing up anywhere in this Deck Interview Spread, which could support that theory.

3. What are you limitations as a deck? Five of Swords

Tension, conflict, and disagreement. The cards may not always play nice with one another. Maybe the deck will seem like sometimes it doesn't know what it is trying to say. The cards may fight one another. It's my job to find the compromise. And, looking ahead to the Ace of Cups and back to the King of Cups, it means I need to follow my intuition and inner guidance to find the harmony among the cards. It won't work to try to force them into submission with logic and spreadsheets (at least not only those things). 

4. What are you here to teach me? Eight of Swords

I have more control and power and agency in my life than I realize. Maybe it's telling me to be grateful for what I have in my life, and realize that I have everything I need. If I believe in myself, I can easily cast off the bonds that are holding me back and give myself more freedom. I don't deserve to feel shitty, basically. Nothing will ever come from giving up or giving in to depression. If I am honest with myself and willing to tap into my intuition, creativity, and passion, I can better my circumstances and come to a heightened place of confidence and contentment. 

5. How can I best learn from and collaborate with you? Ace of Cups

Have an open heart, don't hold back, trust your instincts, your intuition. Come with a full heart and be emotionally invested, be willing to be vulnerable. 

6. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship? The Hanged Man

Astounding realizations, enlightenment and understanding. For me, I think this means understanding myself. But also, attaining a higher level of spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction. I will be able to gain a completely new perspective on life, one that leads to greater happiness. 

Further Thoughts

I'm interested by the fact that not only did I get two Cups cards, but I got the Ace and the King, representing one completed cycle. I think it goes to the idea that the supportive, intuitive, and emotional energies of the King as the strength of the deck, and the Ace as the way in which I can best work with the deck, will be what help me with the more challenging aspects like the Knight of Staves and all that Swords energy. I also think of the fact that there are cycles within cycles, and also that when we reach the completion of the journey, we begin anew. I think it means that I will always find something new to learn in this deck.

Two Court (The King and the Knight) cards gives this deck a lot of potency and power. Those swords are troublesome for me. Maybe this indicates I've been putting too much stock in rationality/logic and need to embrace my intuition and creativity. I love the Hanged Man because that is exactly what I am seeking: a deeper understanding of my spiritual and emotional self. I think another aspect is saying that this deck will give me back what I put in. It's asking me to put in cups energy, and it will help me grow in that area. Similarly, I'm being called to tap into strong passionate energies and be willing to be uncertain and take risks sometimes by the action of the Knight of Staves. I really relate to the idea that the Knight of Staves is single-minded and even possibly reckless and ruthless in his pursuit of his goal, but in addition to this he is 100% loyal and honest. I think this deck will ask me to face difficult truths and will require me to be completely honest with myself in order to get the most out of the relationship.

Daily Draw 4/15/16 - The Sun

Happy Friday! Today I shuffled my deck, thought about my day and upcoming weekend, and I drew:

The Sun!

The sun represents warmth, light, health, vigor, and vitality. The sun is also associated with wholeness, completion, success, and attainment. Other elements are confidence, strength, self-love and acceptance, happiness, joy and optimism. So, that's some pretty great energy to be taking into the weekend! I have a very busy weekend ahead of me and I think the Sun is reminding me to approach things with a light and open heart, and find the joy in each moment. 

I'm still very much connecting to the energy of the Star, and it's interesting to me to think of the ways that the Sun and Star interact. In some ways, the Sun outshines the Star, which I think is just a gentle nudge to not get too lost within my own internal musings and reflections. I think the Sun is urging me to be a little more expansive, spread the love and the joy around a little more. I know my boyfriend is going to have a stressful and busy weekend, and I haven't spoken to my parents and my best friend in a little while, so it's a good weekend to reach out and connect with and support the people that I love in my life. Earlier, I described the Star as showing me a light at the end of the tunnel. I think that the Sun is a hint that soon, life is going to deliver on that promise.

It's also very appropriate for this time of year, as we are having a very sunny spring weekend coming up. Things are still a little chilly, but more warmth is promised soon. The Sun is connected to energy and growth, and I think I'll heed the somewhat literal call of the Sun this weekend by maybe going for a run and doing some work in the garden. Those sunflowers attest to the fact that the sun isn't just about spiritual enlightenment and lofty goals, but also about our connection to the earth and the importance of getting our hands dirty. There is no "earth" card in the tarot, so I think that the Sun is the card that brings my attention back to nature more than any other. Getting outside, enjoying the earth waking up around us, and really connecting with the world brings a joy, contentment, and connection with ourselves as much as meditation or inner analysis does. 

Daily Draw 4/14/16 - Nine of Staves

Happy Thursday! I thought we might be in for a little bit of a change after all that cups energy! Today I drew the Nine of Wands, which are called Staves in the Tarot Mucha. 

I don't recall much about this card from my initial look through the LWB. I know that Wands/Staves represent the element of fire, and that the suit generally indicates passion, action, and creativity. Before looking up the meaning of the card, I'd like to just take a moment to reflect on the image. 

I'm really loving the borders of the minor suits, each of which has its own theme. The staves have an almost autumnal look. To be honest, I'm having a hard time interpreting the image. I suppose my only feeling is that of being well-supported, she is confident in her ideas and her resources. Maybe she's not quite ready to take action yet, but she's marshaling her forces. Those are just my first impressions.

Taking a look at my notes, this card can mean that one is dealing with a heavy burden or a difficulty. I wrote down "shouldering a heavy burden in the late stages of a journey," and "a position of strength; have faith in your preparations; have faith for the final push." 

With this mind, I take another look at the card and notice that she does seem a bit fatigued, and like she has indeed come a long way. But the feeling of having prepared yourself well and feeling confident that you can deal the final blow is coming through strongly. It's sort of like hitting the wall in the last few miles of a marathon, right? You've trained for this, you are capable, now it's time to put one big final effort in and finish strong. It's a pause to collect oneself and steel oneself for the final push; you're in the homestretch, don't falter now. But I really like the idea of this card representing that deep breath and pause before taking that final step.

Well, this makes a lot of sense for me right now, as I am coming into the final month of grad school. I suppose this card is a good reminder that I can't just muddle through the last few weeks - I will get a greater reward if I push hard to finish strong and make the most of these final miles. I am right in the thick of this at the moment, as I am putting in hours at my internship every single day after work, completing coursework, and looking for jobs. 

I'm also thinking about the action of moving from all of that cups energy into wands/staves energy. I've been doing a lot of introspection and personal reflection... now it's time to tap into my willpower and strength and resolve to get some shit done in my life! I'm feeling bolstered by and energized by that time of reflection, though. Having that cups background is helping me dig deep and find the motivation for that final push.

With this in mind, I'm off to work on some job applications!

Daily Card 4/13/16 - Eight of Cups

Today I drew the Eight of Cups. That's a lot of Cups energy coming my way recently (I actually offered to draw a card for my boyfriend today as well, and he got the Seven of Cups!)

I'm struggling a little bit to get a good grip on this card's meanings. I've seen interpretations that indicate a sense of sadness or dissatisfaction with life that prompts one to set out on a pilgrimage for deeper meaning. There's an indication that physical and material pleasures are not enough to truly satisfy one's soul. Once again, I think of connection. Perhaps the figure in this card is out seeking a deeper, more meaningful connection to herself and her world. 

This is a very beautiful and peaceful image. I don't feel sadness from this card, more of a determination and desire to seek out something new. When I see a cups card, I am always looking for the water, because I find that the way in which the water is depicted and the way in which the figure in the card interacts with the water, if at all, really helps me get a feel for what the card is trying to say. In this card we see in the background a stream or river, strewn with rocks. I think that she is following the path of this river. Although she appears to be walking away from it, I imagine that it is curving around to her right and that she continues to follow its direction. This card is about pilgrimage and connecting to one's higher calling or intuition. Trusting where it leads. 

Further in the distance is a beautiful, misty mountain range, presided over by a moon. Are we looking at an eclipse here? The moon always brings me back to the High Priestess, who I think always has a connection to the cups suit. I also like that my deck is telling me that the High Priestess is very much in force in my connection with it at this time, in an almost reassuring way. My deck is encouraging me to explore the suit of cups first and foremost. I like the mountain range, the high peaks make me think of reaching spiritual heights. 

Although I don't necessarily sense sadness, there is admittedly something solitary and remote about this wandering figure. It's as if she is striking out on her own, despite the fact that her world is clearly very close to full, as evidenced by all those cups to her right. I suppose this brings us back to the feeling of not being satisfied with the things in life that represent, perhaps, shallower or temporary happiness. She's determined to follow her intuition to bring a deep emotional and spiritual connection to her world.

So I think this card is telling me, once again, keep doing what you're doing. You're on the right path with tarot. I also get a sense that maybe the deck is telling me, sure it's nice that you have your pretty altar and your pretty cards and all your nice things that make reading the tarot a pleasant sensory experience, but don't forget that it's about much more than that. It's about connecting to your journey and your intuition. Point taken! 

I wonder if we'll continue with this cups energy tomorrow?

Daily Card 4/12/16 - Ace of Cups

I'm continuing to draw energy and inspiration from The Star and I will most likely continue to hold this card dear to me over the next month or so. That being said, I'm open to doing a daily draw as a specific aspect to focus on throughout that particular day. Today's card was the Ace of Cups.

This (like almost every single card in the Tarot Mucha deck) is a really beautiful card.

Today I pulled the Ace of Cups

I'm trying not to think of the aces as being somehow diluted or weaker than the other cards in the suits. I'm sort of stuck in the mind-frame of Kings being the strongest example of the suit, with aces being the weakest, but I think it's more accurate and more helpful to think of Aces as being in some way the purest form or the simplest, fullest form of what the suit represents. It's the introduction to the suit so it's telling you what to expect from the suit, and when you pull an Ace I think it's telling you that you are getting the true essence of what the suit represents, whereas with higher numbers and with the court cards, other factors are coming into play to alter the meaning of the suit itself. Basically I'm super intrigued by aces in general, so I'm glad I drew this card.

Cups is the suit of emotion, intuition, and spiritual energy. Water generally represents emotions and emotional connection, and I take my cue as to the meaning of the card from the way the water is portrayed. Now, there's a lot going on in this card. All of the aces in this deck have this hand poking out, almost like God's hand or a god's hand, and with cups this especially strikes me as having a spiritual or religious message. Though, perhaps I shouldn't read too much into this as it is a traditional way of illustration the aces. 

This card just makes me take a deep, calming breath. I think this card may be telling me today might be a good day to fit in 15 minutes or so of stretching/yoga to calm my mind and connect with my body. I can almost hear the gentle rushing of the fountain falling into the pool.

So, here we have a lake or a pond strewn with lily pads and lotus blossoms. Lotuses generally represent spiritual awakening and attainment, and you will find this lotus motif echoed in the borders and imagery throughout all of the cups cards in this deck. Here we have a large, still body of water. There's something very peaceful and serene about this card. So, one thing I think of is quiet reflection, serenity, and calm. The emotions here are soothing, but still powerful and deep. We have the cup up above, continuously refilling and feeding the pool, and I immediately think of a fountain. The waters from this eternal spring of emotion and intuition continually replenish our spiritual selves. It's a very hopeful and peaceful card.

An interesting element is the bird, which appears to be a dove, and I am immediately thinking of the dove of peace. The bird appears to be bringing something to the fountain, perhaps an essential ingredient. I'm definitely getting strong hints of Christianity here but I certainly wouldn't interpret it exclusively in this way. Instead, I think that what the bird is showing us is that even though we have this eternal wellspring of hope and serenity and spiritual and emotional depth within us, sometimes our spiritual experiences can be heightened and complemented by outside influences which can serve to inspire us and spark the outpouring of intuition and connection.

To me the cups are as much about connection as they are about inner spirituality and intuition. Whether it is connection to others, to our inner selves, to our work or our communities or whatever it may be, I think that the cups are about fostering deep, meaningful connections that sustain and replenish us. It's interesting to me that I think of the ace as being about connection, as that usually comes in with the next card, the two of cups. But I think this bird in the image is really pointing to the existence of forces outside of the self that are just as important to emotional and spiritual well being.

So I think that in terms of how the Ace of Cups is asking me to think about my day... well, it's a continuation of the energy of the Star in some ways. It's supporting that hope and replenishment and optimism. I think it's a little bit of encouragement letting me know that I'm on the right path. This journey into tarot has really taught me a lot about myself already and it has given me a lot of joy and excitement. The Ace of Cups may have a calmer energy, but this pool is infinite, this fountain is overflowing with emotion and intuition and spiritual energy. I think it's a sign that I should continue to be open to these forces which are currently acting in my life and I should continue to embrace the deep feelings that are springing up out of my self-investigation. On a more specific level, I think that the Ace of Cups is reminding me of the importance of community and connection as a means of spiritual renewal, as evidenced by the bird. Finally, I like how in this image the emotions are bubbling up out of the chalice exuberantly and freely, and I think it's a gentle reminder that I could do a better job of communicating my feelings, and that I shouldn't keep my emotions bottled up and contained all the time. I've been feeling a lot of stress recently and I think it's just a reminder that I can reach out to those I love and trust to express how I'm feeling, and that doing so may give me a little more serenity and calm and will replenish my energies.

On a final note, I think that this card points to where I am in my journey with tarot. As I mentioned previously, I feel like I am moving on from the Magician phase into the High Priestess phase. As I try to connect more with the mystical and intuitive side of myself to access the secrets of the tarot, I'm encountering the High Priestess. The Ace of Cups is highlighting this intuition, this spiritual side, seeking a connection to something higher and deeper.

I also want to say that I'm feeling very optimistic and energized today. I'm just generally feeling happier and more excited about engaging in the things that feed my soul. Reading, knitting, yoga, etc. I've been feeling the promptings lately to get back into yoga and this card seems to be an extension of that. Maybe when I start my yoga practice again, I'll use a tarot card to focus my intention in each session.

Daily Card 4/11/16 - The Star

I forgot to pull myself a card this morning before I left for work. I suppose that's not too surprising considering this will be the first day of this practice for me, and I'm still not sure if it's something that I'll do every day, every week, or just intermittently. Right now I am eager to play with my cards so pulling a card every morning intrigues me. On the other hand, if I am digging the energy or direction that a particular card is giving me, I might let it continue for a few days in a row. We'll just have to wait and see what happens!

This morning I forgot to pull a card but I'm going with the Star. After hours spent playing with my cards and reading meanings and doing readings, I dreamed about tarot cards and meanings and spreads all night. One card that kept coming to me was the Star, and I was thinking of it when I awoke. I'm not super familiar with this card yet, so let's see what the meanings are...

Beth from Little Red Tarot says that the Star often means hope or optimism, and that more specifically she interprets it to represent one's true inner self, soul, or essence. "When everything else is changing, it’s important to remember who we are." In a separate post, she describes it as "a light at the end of the tunnel."

I get the sense that this card is also about getting to know oneself better, personal exploration and growth, and perhaps a growing faith in one's own abilities. The Star is urging me to have faith that I am on the right path. It is saying that there is an opportunity to learn more about myself, and that I should appreciate my radiance and my positive qualities.

Personally this speaks to me on a couple of levels. First, I am feeling comforted and energized by the Star showing me that light at the end of the tunnel, as I am coming to the last month of my time as a graduate student, and also as I am still clawing my way out of a winter that was really hard on me physically and mentally. The Star is saying that I am on the right path for healing and that I can trust myself. Also, it's letting me know that I am worth all this hard work and in the end I am going to be so happy. I like how she's holding the star. This is the star come to earth, this isn't something unattainable or remote or cold, it's a soft illumination that is present and immediate. There's a serenity to this image, and I'm feeling a sense of curiosity and innocence. I also think about where this card fits into the Fool's Journey, as one is approaching close to the completion of the cycle. You are closer than you think to the end of the journey.

In regards to my journey with the tarot, I'm feeling like the Star is encouraging me to continue to dig deeper, to learn more about myself, and to let the tarot help me grow my spiritual and mystic side. These are aspects of myself that I have been taught are silly, worthless, childish, undesirable. I need to persevere in the connections that I am making and the journey I am taking.

This card speaks to me of radiance, beauty, truth, light, and hope. A very encouraging card and I can certainly see why it is calling out to me now. I can certainly use the encouragement and the reminder that I am strong and that I am worth it!

First Tarot Spread

As soon as I got my cards I took some time simply to look through each one in order and I sat down with my trusty spreadsheet to record some key words and ideas about each card, especially the minor suits with which I am not very familiar. I used the LWB that came with the deck and I found it quite useful!

First Tarot Spread

After writing down some meanings, looking through the cards, and shuffling the deck around for a while, I decided to pull a really simple spread to see how it went. I decided to keep it really simple, since I don't have a great lock on what a lot of the cards mean, so I did a two card spread.

I'm grappling with how I'm doing so far on this journey and so the spread was:
1. What am I doing well so far?
2. What can I improve upon?

The first card was The World. I had to look up in the LWB what this card meant. It said that it represents the four elements, a completed cycle, and rebirth. It means one cycle coming to an end and another beginning. Step forward courageously into your new life. So, I'm doing a good job at being fearless and committing to this journey with the tarot. I'm also thinking about how I'm ending the cycle of a really bad winter and heading into a really positive and motivated spring, and also how I'm completing the cycle of my grad school years and I'm doing a good job at being ready to move forward into my career. So, in terms of my tarot journey, I think it means I'm doing a good job of letting go of my uncertainty and my previous aversion to my spiritual and intuitive side and I'm embracing my intuition and spirituality and being fearless and having an open heart.

The second card was the 2 of wands. And immediately I could sense exactly what this meant. I'm struggling with my confidence and my belief in my own ability and powers. The two of wands represents being confident in one's abilities and plans and powers and authority, and feeling ready to take on whatever challenge is coming. I think I need to let go of self-doubt.

The Fool's Journey & Tarot

On my journey through the tarot, I started out as the Fool, as I mentioned here. I really felt this past weekend like I was the Magician. I was gathering all of my tools and implements around me, I felt called to create an altar with a representation of each of the four elements, and I got ready to make my ideas a reality. As I go forward, does this mean I am going to encounter the High Priestess? I feel like I am already getting a glimpse of her, as I struggle to retain all of the information about the cards and find a sense of ease and intuition and connection with the cards. I think that she is there, enticing me closer, but at the same time she isn't going to make it easy on me.

Moving Forward

Going forward, I plan on doing a Deck Interview (care of Little Red Tarot). I don't feel quite confident enough yet to do so, and I'd like to be able to set aside a chunk of time for this. Maybe Friday night. In any event you can most likely expect a post on that within a week or so. The other night I played around with some readings for myself and my boyfriend, just to start getting a feel for things. I don't want to doubt myself too much or hold back, I feel like the best way to learn is by doing. 

Another thing I'd like to do is draw a daily card for myself and examine what it can tell me about my day. I can't promise I'll always post every day about these drawings, but I think it'll be a fun way for me to incorporate tarot into my daily life, increase my comfort level with interpreting the cards, and help me learn the meanings one card at a time. 

Cards & An Altar!

I'm very excited to report that I received my new tarot deck this afternoon and I created my altar!

We were successful this weekend in executing that big spring cleaning I mentioned previously. We worked our BUTTS off this weekend sorting, decluttering, scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, washing, and more. We have a whole bunch of clothing, books, and other goods set aside to be donated, and we have so much more space and organization now! I'm not really a neat-freak, but my boyfriend and I live in a rather small 3-bedroom apartment with two other roommates and two cats, so things can get a bit out of hand if they aren't kept clean and tidy regularly. It feels so good to have everything fresh, clean, and sorted. 

We also are part of a community garden in our area, and today was our first work day in the garden. It was actually a bit chilly, only in the high 30's, but it was sunny and the mood was very hopeful and positive and excited. We do have an individual plot in the garden, but everything comes together for a few hours each month to spend time working on the shared parts of the garden, which include perennial patches of herbs, rhubarb, berry bushes, flowers, shrubs, and other plants. We rake, we weed, we repair. We all did such a great job and my boyfriend did a great job helping remove this massive stump that was such an eyesore. We also found out exactly which plot will be ours, which is very exciting!

With all of that great energy I moved on to cleaning and setting up my altar space. First, I removed everything that was previously there, found a new home for some things, and determined which items were going to stay on or be added to the altar. I wiped down the whole area and placed a beautiful knitted shawl over the surface. I cleaned everything that was going to be placed on the alter, including all of my sooty candle holders. Then, everything that was going to go on the altar was washed with chamomile tea. Once things dried, I set up the altar.

I used a rock for the element of earth, shells for water, candles and incense for fire, and a rather beautiful illustration of a bird for air. I didn't find anything more concrete I liked for air, so the illustration will do for now. I also added flowers and various figurines and statues that have meaning for me. 

In terms of my "portable" altar for my bed, I washed the tray using the same methods and I will use it while sitting on my bed and playing with the cards. I probably won't put anything else on it but I will light my candles and incense on my main altar. In this way, the tray feels like an extension of the altar for me to lay my cards on. 

I'll update the post with pictures soon, and I'll be back with some photos and first impressions on my lovely deck!

Thoughts on an Altar

I'm getting excited about the prospect of creating a small altar or other sacred space to enhance my journey and my practice with tarot. I don't have a lot of space in my home, and I will want to confine the altar to my bedroom specifically since I live with roommates. In the future, I'm hoping that my boyfriend and I will find a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment where we can set aside a room to serve as a space for yoga, reading, listening to music, etc. and I think that future place would be a great place to have a larger altar. But, for now, I will happily work with what I have.

I realized that I already have a space in my room that serves this purpose. On top of my bookcase I usually have candles, incense, flowers, and figurines. This space could be tidied up a bit, unnecessary items such as my knitting needles and other items could be removed, and I'd like to add some things like representatives of the four elements (fire, water, air, and earth). I'd also like to knit a sacred cloth. I have a beautiful variegated green/gray sock yarn that would be perfect for the purpose. It's machine washable and I can create a beautiful lace stole to drape over the bookcase. Done and done.

However, since the space is small and I would have to stand in front of the altar in order to use it, I don't think it would be a good space for reading the tarot. I will most likely sit on my bed and spread the cards in front of me when I do this. I think that what I will do is create a small portable altar on this beautiful tray I was given by a friend, and then I can put the tray on the bed with a few chosen items and perhaps a tea candle, and then lay the cards on the bed in front of me.

I took a lot of my ideas and inspiration on how to create an altar from this post on Rabbit Moon Tarot. I'll post pictures as soon as I set something up!

I'm feeling a strong urge for change in my life and I think I'll dedicate some time this weekend to doing a major spring cleaning. I think it'll just feel great to get rid of a lot of old things that are no longer serving me, that are just weighing things down a bit. What better way to start on this journey than by wiping the slate clean? I want to be ruthless about getting rid of stuff I don't need. For whatever reason I have a hard time getting rid of things but I think it'll be very beneficial to me to be strict about it. Tap into that Emperor energy! And incorporate the lightness of the Fool, yes? All creating a safe, sacred space to be explored and filled with new energy.

Since my new knitted cloth most likely won't be completed this weekend, I have another knitted shawl in mind that means a lot to me that would look beautiful in the meantime. 

I'll be receiving my book and cards next week. I want to be ready for them.

The Emperor and The Fool

Well, a few days ago, I finally broke down and ordered my first deck, the Tarot Mucha! I also ordered the book Holistic Tarot which I’m excited to read. I should get both next week sometime. I chose to get a deck that follows the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith format to learn on, and in the future I’m open to trying out different decks that are a little less traditional. I can’t wait to get my cards!

Originally I had planned to wait until the end of May to order a deck and really jump in, because I’m pretty busy right now finishing up school and my internship and working everyday on job applications. I didn’t feel like the time was right or that I had enough time, and in a weird way I felt like I would be rewarding myself for finishing school. That’s a nice thought, and I’ll probably still treat myself to some sort of graduation present, but I just couldn’t wait.

I have been listening to the Archetypal Tarot podcasts and they are doing a great job of introducing me to aspects of each of the cards of the Major Arcana. I just finished the episode on the Hierophant. I've also been reading a lot of other Tarot blogs, such as Down Home Tarot, Little Red Tarot, Two Sides Tarot, and Rabbit Moon Tarot. So far, this has given me a good jump start on understanding the meanings of the cards, and I'm also starting to get a feel for how to intuitively react to and interpret the images and energies that the cards present.

Already, I’ve learned a lot about myself and I haven’t even held a deck of cards yet. Coming to understand the hero’s journey or cycle that is represented by the Major Arcana and understanding that The Fool is the one undertaking this journey, has already given me insight. I used a cute little method from Beth at Little Red Tarot on how to find your “birth card.” It’s a numerology technique where you find your “life path number” and then whichever number card of the Major Arcana corresponds to that number, that is your birth card.

You calculate your life path number by adding up the digits in your birth date. My birthday is August 8, 1986. So I add 8+8+1+9+8+6=40. Then, you want to get the number down to a single digit, so you would do this, in this case, by adding 4+0=4. My life path number is 4, which means that my birth card is The Emperor.

Instantly, I felt disappointment. The Emperor? Really? It just didn’t resonate with me. Couldn’t I be something cool like the High Priestess or the Hermit or something? I feel much more drawn to the Empress card than the Emperor. I didn’t think about it much more and as the day moved on I sort of forgot about it. On the way to my internship I was contemplating listening to some more Archetypal Tarot podcasts, but I was hesitant because I had set up a process where I would write down notes and impressions on the card as I listened to the episode. I even have a spreadsheet. And I was reluctant to break this rule, to step outside of this structure. And it just hit me. I am the fucking Emperor. Rigidity. Structure. Organization. Following the rules. Protective. Trustworthy. A leader. Rational. I feel like all of these positive traits of the Emperor really speak to a part of me. Unfortunately, so do many of the shadow aspects: impatient, demanding, unforgiving, harsh, cold, bottling up emotions, harmfully competitive, stubborn. These are things that do plague me in various situations, and I would do well to remember that is the tyrannical Emperor in me! There are other great qualities of the Emperor that I don’t feel I currently possess, but I think it gives me insight into what my natural strengths might be if I gave them the energy to help them flourish. Things like confidence. Being disciplined, focused, and motivated. I struggle with this a lot. Having faith in myself and having pride in myself instead of dealing with a feeling of guilt, or of never being good enough. Having the Emperor as my birth card feels like a reminder that I have the potential to embrace more of these positive qualities if I put in the work and have faith in myself.

In any event, it only took a few hours and I realized just how perfectly the Emperor describes me. Another interesting aspect was the feeling that I had when I felt like I would have preferred the Empress card. Of course I would have, because I believe the Emperor and Empress really complement and balance one another. To me this indicates that I have a yearning for and a lack of the Empress energy in my life and it’s something I should seek out and cultivate in myself. Just think how unstoppable I would be if I tapped into the energies and positive forces of the Emperor while increasing the self-love and support and joy and bounty and freedom that is the Empress!

So. Yes, I am the Emperor with my rules and my organized spreadsheets. But, let’s get a little of that Empress sense of play and spontaneity into my life. It’s OKAY to up and order those cards right now. I’m passionate! I want to jump into this endeavor head first, damn the risks! Oh! Who do I sound like now?

Yep, The Fool!! And I think I am The Fool on this journey. This is my journey into tarot. What better way to start things than as The Fool? Energetic, optimistic, free-wheeling, sunshiny, trusting fool! Can’t wait to continue exploring. And I absolutely LOVE the Tarot Mucha version of this card:

Something in me right now is saying, maybe hold off on the card meanings and the podcasts research for a few days. Immerse myself in what I’m feeling about the process, get excited. I am so so eager to do all this research and learn everything by the book and memorize the meanings and have everything linear and organized for better memory retention (Emperor)! But I think I need to allow a little bit of relaxed energy, creativity, and play into this process (Empress) to get the most out of it. So I think over the next few days I’m going to just wander around the online community, do a little writing and reflect on the cards I’ve already studied, and then go through my deck as soon as it arrives. I’ll do an entry with my initial impressions of the cards, which will be interesting for the ones I haven’t technically researched yet.

Thanks for reading!

Introduction

Hello all!

Thanks for visiting my blog about my journey with learning and exploring Tarot cards! I am very new to this practice but I already feel as if it has made a huge impact on my life. I found I needed a place to organize my thoughts and express everything that I was feeling as I make my way. This blog is starting out as mostly just for me, but it will be posted publicly and I certainly welcome anyone who is interested in reading, commenting, or otherwise participating or sharing their thoughts!

Just for a little background info about me: I'm a part-time grad student living in the Northeastern United States. I live in a city now, but I'm hoping soon to move to a more rural area. I identify as a woman and my pronouns are she/her/hers, and I'm bisexual. I love animals, running, yoga, knitting, reading, camping, and cooking. I'm studying to be a librarian =]

Thanks for reading!

-Allison

Glossary of Card Meanings

This area is a work in progress, but the idea is that I will collect my own personal glossary of card meanings in this space. This will most likely contain short descriptions as well as keywords, and will be a dynamic artifact which shifts and grows as my understanding of tarot continues to grow

Helpful References and Sources

Blogs:

Little Red Tarot
Down Home Tarot
Two Sides Tarot
Rabbit Moon Tarot
Moody Moons (not necessarily specific to tarot, but many posts here have enhanced and informed my practice)

Books:
I have also been reading my way through The Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen. It is fantastic and I can't recommend it enough. Wen's blog is also a great resource

Other:
The Archetypal Tarot Podcast


That's all for now, but this section will be updated occasionally as I find new blogs, books, and other great resources.