Stasis

©Alexander Daniloff

For this last day with Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012) we have another Swords card.

This one gives me a much better feeling than yesterday's Eight of Swords.  Here in the Two we have a woman, once again with a strange black binding around her face and eyes.  Her arms are crossed in front of her chest, and she holds the two swords up behind her own head.  What delights me, though, is that she appears to be exploding through a rip in the fabric of the universe.  While most of the background of the card shows a rocky seascape, she herself emerges from a scroll-like opening that gives onto a night sky, dotted with stars and a waxing crescent moon.

To me, this card speaks of being held in stasis by ideas which we don't know how to combine or choose between.  Yet it feels hopeful.  Her clothes echo the colours of the night sky beneath her, suggesting she has access to intuition, if she is just willing to tap into it.  Then, she will resolve her dilemma and move out of her self-imposed stasis.

Hopefully, seeing my therapist today will help me connect with that intuition.  One area where I'm feeling blocked is regarding how to move forward with my dissertation.  And although there's no huge rush on it, the clock is certainly ticking!

I am grateful for help in tapping into my inner knowing.

Perception

©Alexander Daniloff

Today's card from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012) is one whose perspective I can't quite get my head around.  The angles seem wrong to me, a little off.  And perhaps that says something about the interpretation of the card itself...

A woman kneels on the ground, her arms bound tightly at her sides, her breasts pushed up by her corset and binding. She also has a black ribbon that wraps around her throat, head, and eyes, almost like a horse's bridle!  The eight swords are all different shapes and sizes.  Poked into the ground around her and through her yellow dress, they seem to pin her down and bar her way far more than in traditional images.  Her location is also unclear, all we can see is a blue swirling circle, and a glimmering night sky, or perhaps a dark curtain with light specks.

Altogether, from the odd angles to the varied swords, the bridle-like blindfold and the strange location, this card makes me think of being trapped by ideas which are in fact twisted.  Not that they are necessarily untrue, but the way we are interpreting them is skewed, and that affects everything we think, say and do, or don't do.

I have to say, it's not a great card for today, when I have three different business things to get done.  It suggests delays and difficulties, which may be about how I approach things.  Forewarned is forearmed, I guess.

I am grateful for the reminder to be flexible in my thinking.

La Forza

©Alexander Daniloff

It's good to see a Major come out in one of these daily draws!  I always like when the week covers as many bases as possible in a deck: different suits, Courts, Majors, and maybe even Aces.  Seeing as I pull them at random, it doesn't always happen, but we're doing quite well so far with Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012).

Here we have La Forza (Strength), and you'll see that I've chosen the version numbered VIII.  There are two choices each for Strength and Justice, so you can go with your preferred numbering :) 

A blonde woman appears to be riding on a rather sad-looking lion.  She looks at us slyly from the corner of her eyes, while the lion gazes at her with concern.  The lion's appearance upsets me a little - is the woman tormenting him, controlling him, breaking his back and his will?  I normally see this card as representing soft control, or taming our animal instincts so that they work in harmony with our more civilised side.  Here, though, the control feels harsher, the balance more tenuous.

As for me, today I head off on another business trip.  I really didn't want to go on this one, but needs must.  Perhaps, then, this is me taming my desire to stay home, to focus on more interesting work than the paperwork and slow, dull meetings which face me tomorrow...

I am grateful I don't always have to suppress my joy.

Three Graces

©Alexander Daniloff

Another card with amazing colours greets us today from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012).

In this version of the Three of Cups, we have three women.  However, instead of dancing together and holding up cups, they stand almost in a line, and have different objects.  The one on the left holds a cornucopia of fruit, and her hair is bound up like that of a married woman (either that, or she's got a nasty head wound under there!).  The woman in the centre has an amphora balanced on her red-haired head, and a strange ribbon binding her dress up so it's all lumpy in the middle (I'm sure there's some fashion statement intended, but can't for the life of me figure it out just now).  Meanwhile, the one on the right holds a large chalice, and has flowers in her long blonde hair (San Francisco, anyone?) ;)

All the ingredients are there for a party, a celebration, or a ritual of some kind.  The varied hairstyles also remind me to celebrate the differences between myself and my friends.  To honour that we can share so much, and yet maintain our individuality.

This card makes me think of one of the cards that came up yesterday in my first reading with the Gilded Reverie Lenormand, highlighting the importance of friendship.  And the aspect of differences in approach and what brings us joy is something I was thinking about yesterday as I made a push to organise Christmas presents and cards.  That continues today, with a visit to the post office to send a parcel to a friend whose views may often be different from mine, but whom I care about deeply nonetheless :)

I am grateful for friendship, in all its guises.

Grandma's Favourite Spread

This is a spread I discovered in Elisabeth Drabeck's second volume of "Die Magischen Karten nach Mlle Lenormand" (Mlle Lenormand's Magical Cards) (Books on Demand, 2007).  I loved its simplicity, and wanted to try it out.  Then, my Gilded Reverie Lenormand (Ciro Marchetti, 2012) arrived - perfect!

Gilded Reverie Lenormand

1) What has time?  3 Ship

There's no rush to be going anywhere, planning a journey, or thinking about travel.  To me, this speaks of the fact that I had hoped to fly again in the New Year.  However, Big Boy's continuing issues make that seem less and less likely :(  Still, travel, and airplanes in particular, are not the only way to explore the world...

2) What is urgent?  18 Dog

Making time for friends matters right now.  They may not always be around (some friends are moving abroad in the New Year) or available (others are having a new baby, and we all know how much time that takes up).  So, a recommendation to enjoy friends now!  And maybe a comment on the value of loyalty, too :)

Gilded Reverie Lenormand

3) What surprises?  21 Mountain

Some unexpected obstacles on the way, it seems :(  However, with the Mountain there is always the suggestion that, though it may be a long process, we can overcome any barriers in our way.  Or else find a different route, a way around them - a bit of "out of the box" thinking may be called for!

4) What delights?  33 Key

Perhaps a clever solution to the problems from the previous card, or just a support for the idea that success will come, even if it takes longer than hoped.  Unlocking some puzzle, succeeding at something challenging, is a good feeling, that's for sure.

Gilded Reverie Lenormand

5) The next step...  38 Bridge

This is one of the extra cards which Ciro created and which I, as a non-traditionalist, was happy to leave in my deck, even for this first reading.  In the companion pdf book, Ciro talks of bridging the gap, crossing the distance between ourselves and something or someone else.  That takes me right back to the Dog card, and the suggestion to reach out to friends while I can.

6) How it may end - 3 cards: 4 House, 29 Woman, 24 Heart

Here I see myself enjoying house and home, friends and family, over the holiday period.  Home is definitely where the heart is ;)  There is something here, too, about stability providing a space for passion to be expressed...

Where Did You Get That Hat?

©Alexander Daniloff

Today we get to explore one of the Court card's from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012).

The Knight of Pentacles stares out at us from under a very fancy hat, with huge plumes coming from the multi-hued top.  His tunic echoes the same yellow, orange, brown and black colours.  One of the interesting things about the Knights is the fact that they don't have legs - just their armour arrayed beneath them.  It reminds me of the Legacy of the Divine Tarot (Ciro Marchetti), where the Knights are just represented by their helmet.  A statement about the importance of their rank and role to their sense of self!

This Knight has a shield with a cross in the centre, a lady under a waxing crescent moon and stars on one side, and a bear on the other.  He also holds a coin with a laurel-wreathed head on it.  So, he values wealth and honour, strength and also spirit :)

All those things take some perseverance, which is one of the traditional aspects of this Knight. 

Hopefully, I will be able to draw on some of that strength and perseverance today.  With Christmas and several work deadlines looming, as well as a business trip mid-week, and a course next weekend, I have a lot on my plate.  So, better go get to it :)

I am grateful for the ability to get things done, one step at a time.

Weekly Reflective Reading

Okay, so I'm not managing these every week, but they are for the week...  This time, I decided to use the same positional meanings as before, but drawing two cards for each from the Halloween Lenormand (Hurteau & Hill, 2012).

Halloween Lenormand ©Hurteau & Hill

1) What did I do well this week?  Vampire (Snake) + Creepy Trails (Paths)

Going with traditional Lenormand keywords, Snake can be something winding and deceptive, and Paths are choices or decision.  This week, then, I made some decisions that helped me navigate some tricky situations.  Taking the Halloween theme of Vampire and Trails, I could say I made some life giving choices :)

Halloween Lenormand ©Hurteau & Hill

2) What should I carry forward to next week?  Gate (Mountain) + Stars

Stars I often see as technology, and whether a Gate or a Mountain, that first card certainly indicates a barrier.  So, what I did well was block technology.  Makes sense, I have removed Facebook from my ever-open tabs, so that I didn't get sucked into it as much, and was more able to focus on being creatively productive.  That is something I'd definitely like to carry into the future.

Halloween Lenormand ©Hurteau & Hill

3) What should I look out for next week?  Ghost Ship (Ship) + Book of Shadows (Book)

Ship as a journey and Book as secrets, I see here advice to look out for the opportunity to take a soul-journey that unlocks some mysteries.  I have been meditating daily this week, and intend to continue that.  Perhaps a particularly moving pathworking?

Up-date: just had a *doh* moment regarding this last combo.  I am actually travelling this week!  Didn't really want to, which may be why I blocked it from my mind ;)  There will be a "Book of Shadows" element to my trip as I'm using the opportunity to meet with a couple of friends I have often performed rituals with in the past, and it's on the full moon!

Plenty

©Alexander Daniloff

Today's card from Alexander Daniloff's Tarot (2012) is the Ten of Pentacles. 

Here we see a man sitting on an unseen chair or throne.  He looks a lot like a priest to me, given his haircut and clothes.  His robe has a white vestment on top, and is split between yellow and blue at the skirt.  Around him float ten pentacles, and he is also surrounded by a shape like a cat's iris.

All the Ten's have this form, the vesica piscis, on them.  On top of that, both the Ten of Pentacles and the Ten of Cups have their suit elements arranged in the form of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.  One of the touches I really like about this card is that all but the two Pentacles in his hands have different emblems or forms.  The top one shows a crown, for Kether, then there are a sun and moon, two plain disks with white rims, a small disc with the card number in roman numerals on his chest, another larger disc that is white with a golden rim, then two blue rimmed disks with variations on the celtic cross, and a final disk between his feet which, from the inside out, is white, grey, pearlescent, golden and blue.

Overall, this card doesn't give me the sense of family, prosperity or inheritance normally associated with the Ten of Pentacles.  Far more, it seems to have a strong spiritual side, speaking of balance with variety, of difference in harmony.

Being at the centre of a balanced material world sounds pretty good to me.  The right mix of exercise and rest, food and drink, leisure and work - perhaps that is also a definition of a life of plenty.  I shall try to find that equilibrium today, especially in terms of sleep now Big Boy is doing better.  And also a balance of family time and some me-time, as I hate missing a workout, and have been meditating every day for the last ten days, too.  It feels good :)

I am grateful for the chance to find a happy medium.

Look Out

©Alexander Daniloff

This week, I will be drawing from Alexander Daniloff's recently released Tarot deck (self-published, 2012).  I was lucky enough to go in on a group order organised by TABI, which made getting hold of this deck cheaper and easier than it would otherwise have been - one of my favourite perks of being a TABI member :)

It's a deck full of warm, autumnal colours, and has some amazing artwork.  One thing which struck me when first going through the deck was the borders.  The Majors have a thin orange border around the image, the pips 2 through 10 have brown borders, and the Aces and Courts have no border at all.  I mention it because, should you be of the card-trimming persuasion, it might make it a little harder... ;)

For this first draw, I pulled the Three of Wands.  What I take to be a young man stands on a promontory, looking out over the sea.  He stands on one leg, with his right foot up on his left shin, like tree pose (vrkasana) in yoga.  He holds one wand in his left hand like a walking stick, another in his right more like a crutch.  The third stands either on it's own, base in the ground, or perhaps leaning against his right forearm.  In the distance we can see a white-topped mountain, and three ships with sails waving in the wind.  The figure wears a yellow and green striped tunic and leggings, and has a satchel at his waist with a telescope. 

I see this man leaning on the support of the ideas and plans already put in motion.  Waiting somewhat precariously to see what will come of them - standing look out.  He could see farther, with the telescope, yet for the moment is happy to let things take their course.  And so, he will stand firm until more is known, only then deciding what move to make next.

That sense of waiting is certainly one that chimes with me today.  After several calls back and forth with the community nurse and a visit to the GP, Big Boy is now on antibiotics again.  Hopefully, that will settle most of the issues he's been having of late, and we can all get a bit more sleep.

I am grateful for antibiotics.

Lennie Week - Mystique d'Epoque

Mystique d'Epoque Lenormand

For this last day of Lennie week, I have chosen another favourite, self-published deck.  The Mystique d'Epoque Lenormand was created by Pepi Valderrama, and is also available through The Game Crafter.  It is a light deck with simple, fun images, and with four extra cards including a cat, a monkey (which came up in my nine card houses spread on Monday), and a pretty girl-witch flying on a broom ;)

Mice, Monkey, Key

Our cards for the day are Mice, Monkey (again!) and Key.  Mice stand for loss, theft, and things being otherwise reduced, undermined or tainted.  Monkey I take as being about playfullness, flexibility and adaptability.  Key stands for success, certainty, unlocking, and skills such as problem solving.

Playful loss is the key.
Being adaptable in problem-solving reduces losses.
Nimble theft opens doors.
Successful monkey business leads to losses.
When facing losses, being adaptable is key to getting through.
Adaptable reduction is a skill.

A couple of these chime with me today.  I have been doing alternating days of normal eating and daylight fasting this week.  It strikes me as strange, but I find it easier not to eat at all during the day than to eat moderately if I do eat!  So, reducing my eating in this way has been working quite well, and I haven't been overeating on the non-fasting days, either.  Hopefully, this is something that I will get skilled at, making it a part of my lifestyle.  My Dear One has been doing 36 hour fasts once a week for a few months, now, and has noticed a general reduction in appetite.  He also now has very sexy abs and no paunch (not that he had much before, but the difference is noticeable).  I'm hoping that, in the long term, this will work for me, too.

I am grateful for being able to do different things on different days, life would be boring if it was always the same.

Lennie Week - Shabby Chicness

Shabby Chicness Lenormand

Today we have another self-published deck, also still available.  This is the Shabby Chicness Lenormand, by Lynnette Monrean (2012).  One of the delights with this deck is that there is an expanded version available with a choice of a number of alternate cards, so you can customise "your" deck :)  I chose to keep in Johnny Depp as the Man, but just a regular woman rather than Helena Bonham Carter as the woman.  I can dream of Johnny, but I recognise my own limitations! ;)

©TarotLyn

Today's cards are: House + Tower + Dog.  House can be your actual home, or about family, security, and property.  Tower is authority, institutions, hierarchy or isolation, but also protection, while Dog is a known person, a friend, someone dependable and loyal.

Lonely security is changed by a friend.
An estate agency is dependable.
Don't let your position get in the way of friends and family.
Offer a friend a secure place to stay. 
Feeling isolated?  Invite a friend to come for a visit.
Dependable stability offered by an institution.

For me, today, I think the importance of friendship is highlighted.  Working mainly from home, it's easy to get isolated.  A reminder, then, to call on a friend.

I am grateful for good friends, near and far.

Lennie Week - Under the Roses

©Hurteau & Hill

I've blogged with this deck a couple of times before, but couldn't resist putting it in to this Lennie Week.  It's the first of three self-published decks we'll look at, and I'm delighted to announce that the Under the Roses Lenormand (Hurteau & Hill, 2012) is available again, both with and without the keywords at the bottom.  The keywords are a great resource, acting as a trigger for new thoughts on ways to blend the card meanings.  While if you like your cards simple, you may prefer the version without keywords.  I'm fighting with myself over whether to get a second copy without the keywords...

Under the Roses Lenormand

So, what of today's reading?  I drew Ring + Crossroads + Gentleman.  Ring is about commitments, engagements, deals, and partnership.  Crossroads represents choices, plans and alternatives, while the Gentleman suggests a man, as well as outward-focus and consiousness.

Choiceful commitment to a man.
Choose partnership with a man.
Plan deals consciously.
Focus on external factors when deciding between two proposals.

In a relationship reading, I might think that someone had a couple of men wanting to commit to them ;)  In business, it would seem that negotiations require a rational approach...

For myself, I see here a reminder that a soul mate for life's journey is not someone to be chosen lightly, and that when we commit, we need to honour that.

I am grateful for my Dear One, who travels life's paths with me through good times and hard times.

Nine Card Houses Spread

Mystique d'Epoque Lenormand

I really liked one of Donnaleigh's ideas for using Lenormand decks.  She suggested a way to have the three dimensionality of the Houses of the Grand Tableau, without needing to spend as much time as such a large spread takes.  In the Grand Tableau, all the cards are used, and you combine each card laid with the number of the position it falls in.  So, for example, if the Heart falls in the first position, it is read as a blend with card number one, the Rider: love messages or news of a loved one.

To achieve this in a smaller spread, Donnaleigh came up with the idea of using two Lenormand decks.  You lay out cards from the first deck, and then place the second set of cards on top of them, and treat the lower card as the House.  Too cool!  So, using the Neues Neupert ( and the Mystique d'Epoque (including extra cards) (Pepi Valderrama, 2012), I gave it a go, asking again about the Celtic Lenormand and what I should be aware of:

Neues Neupert/Mystique 9 Card Houses Spread

Stars/Child         Bear/Anchor    Rider/Monkey
Cross/Mountain   Bouquet/Key      Fox/Tower
Child/Paths          Book/Book          Tower/Fish

Very interesting, in terms of patterns, that three cards were repeats in this spread - Child, Tower and Book.  And that Book landed on Book! :)

Starting with the corners, we have Stars/Child - metastising potentials, new beginnings with the capacity to spread far and wide - require Rider/Monkey - finding innovative and flexible ways to deliver a message.  Child/Paths - choices about those potentials - create the challenge of Tower/Fish - prioritising money vs. quantity. 

Then the centre cross, Bear/Anchor - work that requires fortitude and promises prosperity - faces Cross/Mountain - burdensome obstacles, or at least a long, hard, up-hill and time-consuming slog.  Yet there are Bouquet/Key - gifts to be unlocked - right at the heart of the reading.  A warning, though, with Fox/Tower that institutions may not be trustworthy - I've already been warned of one publishing house that are "sharks" according to two other authors.  Underlying it all, Book/Book speaks of an actual book project, and the fact that there are secrets being kept around it.  Some of those are being kept by me - I'm not yet disclosing all the extra cards, spreads, and ways of reading this pagan-themed deck.  Still, there may be others who are also being secretive here...

Neues Neupert/Mystique Corners Expanded

Book/Book knights with Stars/Child and Rider/Monkey - a new use of technology may be required as part of the flexible new approaches to getting the deck out there, which may challenge secrecy.  Bear/Anchor knights with Child/Paths and Tower/Fish - reinforcing the decisions necessary, the choice between higher income or greater output, self-publishing or going with an institution.  Cross/Mountain knights with Rider/Monkey and Tower/Fish - whichever route I choose will not be easy or fast: each has it's own pitfalls and problems, either developing those flexible new approaches or dealing with institutions, their budgetary restrictions and set ways of doing things.  Fox/Tower knights with Stars/Child and Child/Paths - publishing houses with their own agenda would make very different decisions around this project than those I might make on my own, which I must bear in mind when making my choices.

Finally, the diagonals.  Stars/Child+Bouquet/Key+Tower/Fish - there is a great potential to open up something beautiful if the right balance of priorities is achieved.  Rider/Monkey+Bouquet/Key+Child/Paths - flexible approaches will get things moving, unlocking the gift of new possibilities that may not yet be visible.

Overall, this feels like a positive reading - there is so much potential here.  However, definitely some tough choices, and a lot of hard work, which I may still not fully understand.  Yet, new ideas abound, and the key to unlocking any and all unknowns is definitely there.

Lennie Week - Bärtschi

©Bärtschi Stars + Bear + Sun

Another modern, mass-market Lenormand deck today.  This one is the beautifully bright and colourful Judith Bärtschi Lenormand (Königsfurt-Urania, 2007), which comes with titles in German.  It still has traditional numbers, though, making it easy to check on your German translations :)  If you like the look of these, you can see more of this deck in the video review I posted a while back.

What a lovely set of cards we have today!  Stars can represent guidance, hope, and technology, or what Donnaleigh de LaRose calls metastasis: something which spreads in all directions, like the stars in the heavens.  Bear is once again prosperity, nutrition, strength, and middle-management.  As for the Sun, it indicates success and happiness, or possibly exposure - being in the spotlight.

Managing technology successfully.
Nutritional guidance brings success.
Maintaining hope leads to happiness.
Networking with middle-management leads to recognition.
Networking leads to happiness.

It's funny, yesterday I was contacted by someone involved in creating an app for another of Judith Bärtschi's decks, her Daily Cards (app by Tiny Alp GmbH), which has now been translated into English.  She had googled Bärtschi, and came across my blog and the video review, which she said made them both smile.  I said I like apps and would take a look, and she was kind enough to send me a code to receive a free copy.  However, I had a technology fail and couldn't find the voucher redemption button (turns out, I should have gone to the app store through my computer as main registered device, rather than my phone).  So, I paid for the app (well, only £1.49!).  When I told the app person, she said they would be happy for me to give the code to someone else.

Here, then, I see networking bringing happiness to all involved!  I'm happy because of the nice comments and offer, their happy because of the positive review and grass roots advertising, and now one of you lucky people can become happy, by commenting on this post and receiving the code for the Daily Cards App :D  And to see if you think you'll like it, you can check out my video review of the app here.


I am grateful for win-win situations.

Up-date: I am so chuffed!  After trying for weeks, today I finally managed the redirect, so now the Celtic Lenormand blog is to be found on its own domain, celticlenormand.com.  Managing technology successfully ;D

Daily Cards App Review

Today I downloaded a little oracle app called Daily Cards.   These are 77 cards by the Swiss artist Judith Bärtschi, whose Lenormand I have reviewed and used in the past.  So, I decided to have a go at doing a video review of an app.  My camera isn't very good with close-ups (Santa knows I'd like one that is ;)), but I hope this still gives a good feel for this funny, cute app.

Lenormand Cross Spread

Harald Jösten, a German writer on the Lenormand deck and the person who wrote the short meanings for the Bärtschi Lenormand (Königsfurt-Urania, 2007), has a Cross Spread in his book "Die Symbolwelt der Lenormand-Karten" (Königsfurt-Urania, 2008) that I wanted to try out.  It's short and sweet: a card for what is currently hanging over you, a card for what you have control of, a card for the past that led to this situation, and a card for the future direction things are heading or could head.  He suggests using one of the people cards in the centre as a significator, but I prefer to see what falls in that position, as that provides additional information.

Kindergarten Lenormand ©Chloe McCracken

I asked about the situation with the Celtic Lenormand, as I'm juggling possibilities in my mind right now.  What I got makes a lot of sense.  The Tower at the centre shows I'm feeling quite isolated with this project at the moment.  Going it alone is quite stressful, so much responsibility, as well as work.  The Fish as what's hanging over me indicates that I'm concerned about quantities and money.  It's possible to make more money self-publishing, but marketing is harder, so you generally go for smaller print runs.  However, I feel Will's art cries out for a more mass-market approach, which I wouldn't be able to offer through self-publishing. 

What I have control of is the Letter: I have taken the initiative in writing to several publishing houses.  It also suggests that writing is what is important to me right now - focusing on the companion book, where I want to share a number of spreads, as well as the pagan aspect of reading with this deck.

The past as the Child makes sense, too.  I was perhaps a little naive jumping into this.  I hadn't worked out all the details of self-publishing, thinking I could figure it out along the way.  I also thought it would be fun to do the marketing, to share this child of my soul with others.  That didn't foresee that some people would react very negatively, which has been a painful realisation.

Finally, the Man cards tells me that whether I decide to continue on the self-publishing route or go with a publishing house, I will in any case need to get on with things.  Some people will still respond critically and aggressively, there will still be a lot of work to do.  So, I'd better "man up"!  It calls for me to draw on qualities such as rationality, organisation, and self-confidence, both to clarify my path and to do the work that's needed.  OK, best get on with it then :)

Lennie Week - Titania's Fortune Cards

Key + Dog + Scythe

Titania's Fortune Cards (Quadrille Publishing, 2000) by Titania Hardie were my first introduction to Lenormand cards, back in 2007.  They are a very modern take on this old system, with photographic images on single colour backgrounds.  Here, there are no playing card inserts, no verses, not even any numbers or titles.  Still, the basic premise is the same.

Key once again suggests unlocking something, or something which is sure.  Dog represents loyalty, friendship or someone you know.  And the Scythe is a sudden ending, or something cutting.

Dependable certainty ends, you can no longer trust what you once thought certain.
A secure friendship is cut: don't like the sound of that one!
Someone you know unlocks something which causes a rupture between you.
Someone close to you will definitely need surgery.

The first interpretation chimes for me today: my life feels like it's in a fair bit of flux at the moment.  For one thing, I am considering my options with the Celtic Lenormand, and have approached a number of publishers to see if they are interested in it.  Although I have made a pledge to see this deck created, I am no longer sure I want to go the route of self-publishing.  It feels like my focus needs to be on the creative process, rather than worrying about marketing and logistics.

If the deck is taken on by a publishing house, I may not be able to continue with the Celtic Lenormand blog, either, which feels both sad and liberating.  I see the blog as a way to build up a feeling of familiarity with the deck, so that when it comes out people will greet it as though meeting an old friend again.  However, I see in this draw that this idea may be one I need to let go...

I am grateful that endings and beginnings are intimately connected.

Lennie Week - French Cartomancy

©Tuan & Whips + Anchor + Mice

For this second day of "Lennie Week", another readily available deck with fairly traditional imagery: the French Cartomancy deck (Lo Scarabeo, 2005).  Here, the cards also have playing card inserts, but no verses, and are a little larger than standard Lenormand cards (normally poker card size).

Whips signify arguments, violence, or repetitive actions.  Anchor is something stable, and following the German system (which I do) relates to work.  Mice signify loss, or something that is being eaten away or undermined.  So, possible interpretations:

Work arguments undermine.
Repetitive work undermines.

What to make of this?  Obviously, everyone will have their own context.  It could be that you have something to do which is very repetitive and leaves you feeling uninspired.  Or arguments at work could stop you from achieving what you want to get done, or undermine a relationship.

Another, somewhat different take, would be that combining repetition and work suggests exercise - perhaps with weights (Anchor) and high reps (Whips), which will lead to weight loss (Mice) :D 

It's Sunday today, but that doesn't mean there are no boring jobs to be done.  A lot of the tasks around keeping a home running and a child cleanly clothed and fed certainly count!  Perhaps, though, this draw serves as a reminder that these things only become soul-sucking if we let them, if we treat them as boring rather than staying present with everything that is going on... 

I am grateful for the reminder to stay in the moment, wherever it may take me.

Lennie Week!

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand

This week I'll be doing something a bit different for the daily draws.  Every day I will do a three card reading with a different Lenormand deck.  As many of you will already know, Lenormand's aren't read the same way as tarot.  Instead, each card is associated with a number of keywords, and you create blends and sentences from the combination of cards.  Hence why I'll always draw three cards together.

I thought I'd start off with some very traditional decks, and then later on we'll have some more modern decks, and some lovely self-published decks :)  So, today we begin with the Jeu Lenormand (Königsfurt-Urania, 2003).  This is a traditional deck, with both playing card inserts and verses in French (the same deck is available with German verses, too).

Ring + Key + Bear

 

Daily Draw

The Ring generally signifies some kind of commitment - an engagement, a contract.  Coupled with the Key, it seems this is certain, or will unlock something interesting.  The Bear indicates prosperity or strength (and occasionally diet and nutrition).  So, some sentences we could take from this are:

"True commitment leads to prosperity."  Or "Commitment is the key to strength."

Taking it a step further, some contextual readings would be:

Today is a good day to make a commitment to better nutrition.
Really commit to whatever you do, and you will prosper.

As for me, I've been wanting to get one project done for several weeks now.  I take this reading as saying I need to commit to that today, and just get it done.  Once I truly commit, I'll find the strength to achieve what I need, and I might eat a bit better, too, as I won't feel so stressed :)

I am grateful for the reminder that commitment lends us strength.

Emotional Maturity

©Cori & Bartha

What a lovely card to end our week with the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012)!

A smiling old man sits cross-legged in a sandstone chamber that reminds me of ancient egyptian monuments.  He wears a white turban, a blue shirt and trousers, and has a grey scarf draped around his neck.  Light enters through a high-up window, the rays of sunshine splitting to pour down on the man, and on the cups before him.  Nine huge chalices form a V in front of the man.  Each one looks like it much be close to half a metre tall!  They have golden bases, and seem silvery, reflecting light in a pattern that starts at white and moves up to a bluish colour at the rim. 

This card makes me think of Indian gurus who are always smiling, always happy.  They have learned enough not to take life, or themselves, too seriously.  And though they have experienced a lot, they are still open to the delight of each new day.  Emotional maturity, that's what I see.

Today I head home, so I see the joy of reunion with my loved ones here.  Although I've only been gone a couple of days, I always miss them.  Although a lot of our home life is pretty routine, that doesn't mean it can't be emotionally fulfilling.

I am grateful for homecomings.

Time For A Massage

©Cori & Bartha

What a lot of Orb cards I'm getting this week!  Today's card from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012) is the Ten of Orbs (Swords).

A male figure in a white dressing gown lies face down, hands under his head.  The environment around him is mainly blue and aqua, a strange sort of bubbling cave, almost fluid.  Ten perlescent white orbs seem to be descending towards him, casting a shadow all the way down his spine.

Have his thoughts defeated him, or are these new ideas coming to enliven him.  This card reminds me of images where the swords seem like acupuncture needles rather than weapons.  All may seem bleak, but this card suggests that new inspiration will come to lift us from our gloom - after we've touched bottom, we can push off and reach for the stars again.

I have to say, I expect to feel rather like this chap by the end of the day.  Monotonous meetings in stuffy offices face me today :(  Still, hopefully some new inspiration will come from this...

I am grateful for the hope of a massage when I get home.

Self-Image

©Cori & Bartha

Today's card, the Adept of Orbs (Knight of Swords) from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012), gives us an interesting twist, a card within a card. 

A young man with long blond hair sits on a rather square rock formation, with a green-leafed tree behind him. He wears a dark blue, starry cloak and There is a bright but cloudy sky behind him, while between his hands floats a silver orb.  And in the orb we see a more traditional depiction of the Knight of Swords: a fully armoured Knight, sword held high as he rides a white charger.

This card really speaks to me of our thoughts and perceptions, and how much trouble these can get us into.  We think of ourselves as brave, and jump into a fight we can't win; we think of ourselves as independent, and refuse much needed help.  The Adept of Orbs has this lovely idea of himself, and part of that is tied up with his values and beliefs.  Still, I have to ask whether he isn't just buying trouble!  Visualising a desired outcome can be very productive, however, we also have to be aware of why we want whatever it is, and what the consequences may be.  And there's also the fact that when we are so focused on future possibilites we often forget to stay present with ourself - right then and there - so busy thinking about "might-be's".

I can see the challenge in that today.  I'll be spending a good chunk of the day travelling, as I have a business trip to go on.  Still, as well as planning what to wear, reviewing all the material, and thinking about possible scenarios in the various meetings, I also need to stay present to make sure I get where I'm going ;)

I am grateful for imagination, and for reality.

Mosaic

©Cori & Bartha

What an interesting and different card we find today from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012).

Here we see what seems to be a Roman-style mosaic of a woman - the Sage of Orbs (Queen of Swords).  She sits between two pale pillars, holding a very long sword lightly in her left hand, almost more like a sceptre than a sword.  In her right she holds what appears to be a palm leaf, and she wears a white toga with a green top and a blue drape across her lap.  Her head is haloed by an orb that starts out pale green, transitions to a deep blue at the outside edge, and seems to have a lilac and pale blue aura. Her feet are bare on the blue mosaic floor, and her gaze seems firm and intent on something above her to the left.

Although it is very different from the other images in the deck, which are mainly photographic, I really like this picture.  The Sage of Orbs radiates an air of calm, kind determination.  She is a woman who knows how to take control, even in difficult situations.  She is firm and has clear opinions, yet she is also willing to listen and consider what others say.

Another thing which strikes me is the fact that she is a mosaic, made of many little tiles, yet which come together to create the whole.  These are like the multitude of experiences that make up all the Sage of Orbs has lived, everything that has brought her to where she is now.  She may seem a little cold, because she analyses everything, breaking it down into its constituent parts.  Yet she does also create a cohesive whole, using all that past experience to colour and form her approach to what she now faces.

I need to do some editing and a bit of writing for the Celtic Lenormand today, drawing on past experience and knowledge to help me craft something for the future.  I am planning to approach a few publishers, just to see what my options are.  Best get all my ducks in a row, first :)

I am grateful for clarity of purpose.

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Bound

©Cori & Bartha

On this Monday morning we face a rather challenging card in the Sirian Starseed Tarot's Eight of Orbs (North Atlantic Books, 2012).

A blonde woman stands by the side of a gently flowing stream, with eight dull green orbs floating around her on all sides.  She appears naked under a black cloak, though she also wears a blindfold.  Tree roots from the large tree beside her seem to grow up around her, binding her tightly. 

There is more of a sense of real entrapment here than in traditional images where the woman seems able to break her bonds and walk between the swords around her.  And yet, she is bound by roots, suggesting growth that has gone awry.  It reminds me of Carl Rogers' comparison of the human being with potatoes in a shed that always strive for growth and life, even in a way that may seem pathetic or twisted if we don't understand the circumstances behind it.  Those murky green orbs are her own negative thoughts, which may seem to her to be the only option or her best defence.  Yet actually they restrict her unbearably.

I've definitely been doing this to myself of late, tying myself up in knots because I'm trying to fit in with my preconceived ideas of what I should do.  Enough, today I shall try to break free of this binding!

I am grateful for free-thinking.

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Lenormand Kick-In-The-Pants

This is a fun meme going round, started by Melissa, the Sassy Sibyl.  The idea is to do a quick-fire run through of your Lenormand cards, shooting out keywords.  I was a bit surprised by a few things I said ;)  Why not come take a look, and maybe do your own?

Adept?

©Cori & Bartha

As I mentioned yesterday, pretty much everything in the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012) has been renamed.  Today's card acts as a good introduction to the Courts.  Here we find Seekers, Adepts, Sages and Masters, instead of the more traditional Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings.

Meet the Adept of Crystals, or Knight of Pentacles.  An Asian-looking man stands in the forefront, holding a glowing crystal.  He wears an aqua overshirt which appears an almost indigo blue where it reflects the crystal's light.  Both his overshirt and black undershirt have gold trim at neck and sleeves, and he wears a ring on his right middle finger.  To me, he suggests an enjoyment of the material, yet also a connection to spirit.

Behind him is Schloss Neuschwannstein, the Bavarian castle on which the Disney logo was based.  It was an amazing feat of engineering and perseverance to build it on the side of a mountain in the south of Germany in the 1800's.  There is an aspect of folly to it which I associate more with the headstrong Wands suit, but it's true that King Ludwig did get it built, so I can see the link to the hardworking, determined Knight/Adept of Crystals/Pentacles.

Today, I'd like to call on the Adept of Crystals' perseverance.  I have a couple of tasks that really need doing, but which are rather repetitive and dull.  Still, they have to be done, so I'd better get to it.  This particular Adept of Crystals reminds me, too, to stay present with what I'm doing, and maybe take a break to go for a walk outside, blow the cobwebs away, so I can stay clear and focused :)

I am grateful for work I find uplifting.

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Lenormand Corner 10

Couldn't resist posting this one, it just seems so perfect.  As I mentioned in my morning card, we're going to see a bunch of friends I've known for over 20 years today.  So, I did a quick Lenormand draw asking what I could expect of today:

Gypsy Lenormand Oracle (AGMüller, 1994)

Tree+Dog+Anchor - long-lasting friendships bring stability :)

I think it's important to touch base with old friends, especially when you still have a lot in common - when it's a friendship that grows rather than stagnates.  It leads to a sense of continuity, as well as forming a solid network of support and caring, a firm basis for your emotional life.  That's what I see in this draw!

Dolphin

©Cori & Bartha

This week I will be drawing from the Sirian Starseed Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2012).  This deck largely follows traditional RWS notions, though with a rather New Age feel and symbolism.  All the suits have been renamed, as have the Majors and Courts, but more of that another day.  It is a digital, photo composite deck, with extremely large cards and beautiful imagery.

For this first card, I drew the Ace of Orbs.  This equates to the Ace of Swords, while Wands are Flames, Cups are Chalices, and Pentacles are Crystals.  This was the only suit in the deck which confused me at first glance.  I wondered whether the Orbs were Pentacles, but in most cards the Orbs float around in the air.  Here, though, we have a dolphin swimming through beautiful blue waters, seemingly playing with an iridescent, rainbow-hued orb.  Rather strange, at first glance, for a card associated with the element of Air!

The LWB explains that dolphins are associated with higher consciousness, and that this one, chasing the beautiful orb, is about to come up for air.  This is likened to bringing our subconscious fears into the light of day.  As for the rainbow orb, Patricia Cori says: "rainbow refractions depict the entire range of vibratory rays through which we can manifest an enlightening new concept, still in its potential state of becoming, with our exquisite intellect."

So, the dolphin represents intelligence in a form that is both truthful and playful - the higher level of mind.  And the orb is potential, a potential for light, something that can shine in many colours to express its energy.

For me, this card will take a bit of getting used to as the Ace of Swords equivalent.  Still, I appreciate the new perspective, which is ofcourse what the Ace of Orbs is all about :)

Today we're going to lunch with some of my friends from university, and all their various kids.  We'll be 8 adults and 7 kids in total.  Amongst all that hustle and bustle, what new idea might come into view?  I guess I'll have to wait and see ;)

I am grateful for the potential in life.

From Sirian Starseed Tarot by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Patricia Cori and Alysa Bartha. Reposted by permission of publisher.

Balanced Choices

©Carmen Waterman

And so we come to the very end of our week with the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012).  I've really enjoyed this uplifting, playful deck :)

The last card I've drawn is the Two of Pentacles.  Here, a woman stands with her back to us, a torch raised in her right hand.  In front of her are two pentacle-etched doors, a brown one to the left and a blue one to the right.  She seems to be tending more to the right-hand door, but there's a way yet to go before she has to make her final choice.  Above her, two birds fly, and the sky shows a crescent moon as well as bright stars sparkling.

It's interesting, because I normally see the Two of Pentacles as being more about balance and different aspects of life than about choices.  Still, it's true that when we try to find an equilibrium between home and work, family and friends, food and exercise, or whatever else it might be, we are having to prioritise and make decisions. 

Today, the balance I need to find is between friends and work.  Things have been quite stressful this week with the issue around Big Boy's travel to school.  That now seems to finally be resolved, but I've spent quite a lot of time on it that I needed to be working.  So today I'm faced with the fact that I'm supposed to meet up with a friend, but I also have rather a lot of work pending... Choices, choices :/

I am grateful that balance is an ever-changing flow.

Defences

©Carmen Waterman

As the end of this week with the colourful and fresh Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012) approaches, we meet a very confident-looking woman in the Nine of Wands.

This lady looks like she knows her defences, both material and spiritual, are solid.  Not only does she have strong stone at her back, she also has a little altar to represent what she has faith in.  She holds a flaming wand, and looks forward and up, willing to face all comers.

I see her saying that it's time to face any challenges with bravery and with confidence.  Time to take on our fears, and shine a light on them!

I've been feeling a bit defensive again, and have been trying to talk myself through it to accept that if someone has a problem with me, it's their problem.  Easier said than done, though, as that's often just a mental exercise - I don't actually feel it.  So, I've also been meditating everyday on loving kindness - on sending loving thoughts to those who seem to attack me.  That seems to really help :)

I am grateful for loving kindness.

And So The Wheel Turns

©Carmen Waterman

On this Wednesday morning in November, the card to add a bit of colour to the day is the Wheel from the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012).

I see the woman pulling back on what look to be the hands of a clock, and wonder if she is trying to turn back time!  That would seem like a pointless battle against the nature of life, which is change and movement.  As it did on Sunday, when this card appeared in my weekly reflective reading, this card brings up Cher's song "Turn Back Time". 

The two elements together remind me of the agency we have in the meanderings of destiny.  We can't control everything, and we can't go back to change things.  Nor should we regret what has been.  However, we can use what has happened to remind us to live mindfully, in the present.  To go with the flow of life, but also to do our best to help that flow run smoothly. 

I shall be trying to help the flow by making more calls to our local borough about the problems with Big Boy! :(  Still, I also have the delight of attending Caitlín Matthews' webinar on the Petit Lenormand - if you miss this one, you can still buy the recording later, and there's a second part next week!  That right there is good fortune :)

I am grateful for both the exciting and stressful nature of life.  The stressful, if not overwhelming, helps me appreciate the exciting more!

Pixie's Lenormand/Tarot Comparison 1

On Saturday I reviewed Edmund Zebrowski's lovely "Pixie's Astounding Mlle Lenormand Cards" (2nd Edition, 2012).  It made me wonder, what could I learn about the card meanings by finding where the images came from?  So, I went through the deck side by side with the original Rider Waite, and decided to share some of my findings.

I've put together cards that have common elements, and will start in Lenormand numerical order.  So, this first selection shows 2) Clover, 5) Tree, and 17) Storks.

Both Clover and Storks have the rainbow from the RWS Ten of Cups.  In Clover it is front and centre, and big, just as in the Ten of Cups.  Traditional interpretations of Clover are small luck or everyday happiness.  I guess this says that everyday happiness is being with people we love, the family we choose for ourselves.  It reminds us, then, that luck isn't just about money!

In the Storks card, a tree, which echoes the tree in the Four of Cups, is in the foreground.  However, the storks are flying off towards the distant house and rainbow from the Ten of Cups.  So, leaving behind emotional stagnation, and moving towards happier times.  The Storks are mostly associated with (positive) change, migration, and sometimes are read as an addition to the family, all of which fit with this idea of moving towards the Ten of Cups - home and family and joy :)

Finally, at the top of this selection, we have the Tree.  This once again echoes the tree in the Four of Cups.  However, it is next to a pool.  The Tree signifies growth, our health and well-being, our connection to place, and to our ancestors.  For us to be able to grow, and feel well, we need calm, nourishing emotions around us, not a lack, and not stagnation.

I like the insights we get from seeing the aspects of the Rider Waite Tarot within Pixie's Lenormand Cards.  While these aren't the only meanings of the cards, they may be helpful suggestions, especially if using a spread which combines tarot and Lenormand cards.

Emotional Healing

©Carmen Waterman

Ooh, two Healers/Queens in a row from the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012)!  Hmm, seems like a lot of healing going on...

Today's offering is the Healer of Cups.  She has a bit of an Angelina Jolie look going on, from pouty lips to thick, glossy brown hair, and an amazing figure shown off by a skimpy, midriff top and what look like harem pants.  She also has an amazing blue headdress over her forehead, some flower clips in her braided hair, and fishnet armlets.  She holds a cup in her left hand, while her right hand is raised to touch the top of her chest where an elaborate necklace rests, as though saying, "I mean it from my heart."  Behind her is an ornate, pillared gazebo, or maybe something like a confessional, as it seems to be indoors.

She radiates beauty and grace, yet seems very much focused on someone else out of the view the card gives us.  She offers them her cup with heartfelt generosity, sharing her gift of emotional healing.

I don't feel particularly in need of emotional healing today.  What I do notice is the need to stay calm and speak from my heart, with empathy.  There was trouble with Big Boy's school bus yesterday, and I need to call and make sure the same problem doesn't happen again, without being rude about it.  My Dear One was fuming, and is definitely not the one to make the call.  Writing that, I realise part of my task is to help him deal with his emotions.  He gets so upset and angry when people don't acknowledge Big Boy's needs appropriately, afraid for him, I guess...

I am grateful to be able to offer loving understanding to my Dear One.

Video on how to pronounce "Lenormand"

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand (1772–1843)

I don't know if this is something that anyone else has been wondering about, but I thought just maybe... ;)  Here's a quick video on the different possible pronunciations of "Lenormand", and their justifications, so you can choose for yourself :)

Healer of Swords

©Carmen Waterman

How funny, this card came up in my reflective reading as what to look out for this week, then it appears as the daily card the very next day!  This is the equivalent of the Queen of Swords in traditional decks, as the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (Carmen Waterman, 2012) renames the Courts: Muse, Protector, Healer and Mentor.

A woman stands in a starlit landscape.  Her golden dress swirls around her, and she clasps a double-bladed sword in both hands.  Her hair is a dark silver, suggesting wisdom gathered over time.  Above her hangs a moon that combines a silver waning with a full moon.  She uses both intellect and intuition to cut through the issues that come her way, while the wisdom she has gained allows her to dance lightly, even through hard times.

My experiences last week showed me that rising above certain disputes, not allowing my energy to be sucked into them, was far more helpful than jumping in with two feet.  I think this is one of the lessons the Healer of Swords has learned (as opposed to the Knight/Protector who has a tendency to charge into things). 

This card suggests I may have need of this again today.  It certainly doesn't feel like something that I've got down pat, yet.  I read something on-line, and feel instantly criticised even if it isn't directly addressed to me.  Part of the lesson, then, is being less quick to rush in, another part is healing my own sense of being judged, of not being good enough.  The Healer of Swords cuts through to what is essential and ignores what is not.  Self-criticism is definitely part of what isn't essential!  Although she doesn't take BS, she's also empathetic, both towards herself and others, and those are another two characteristics I may need to emulate today.

I am grateful for the reminder to think before I speak, and to be as gentle with myself as I would be with a friend.

Weekly Reflective Reading with the Rainbow Travellers

I haven't done one of these for a few weeks, and wanted to do so as there's been a lot going on for me over the last little while.  Drawing from Carmen Waterman's delightful Rainbow Travellers Tarot (2012), here's what I got:

©Carmen Waterman

What did I do well last week? - 10 Cups

 

This is a fairly non-traditional card from this deck, showing two women in a sparkling, rainbow-lit hall with ornate plastering and a magical chalice in a niche.  As a deck from a lesbian artist, the interpretation of a happy family is possible here, though there are no children or pets to make this obviously more than a couple.  Visually, too, it has more of the feel of a party - those are not the kinds of clothes I'd wear to just hang with my honey at home ;)

Last week I spent quality time with my family.  That was particularly true of Big Boy - I crawled into bed with him most nights to try and help him sleep a bit longer, adjusting his position and calming him as he roused.  Although not very restful, I felt that I was being a good mother, and it was nice to cuddle up to him :)

I also took some time to appreciate the world around me, with a lovely walk on the local Heath with my Dear One: seeing and feeling the magical in the everyday experience of the turning of the seasons.  I felt myself a part of a community, taking part in the Tarot Blog Hop, and celebrated some of my successes, too, no matter how small, which is definitely a way to be more joyful!

©Carmen Waterman

What do I need to carry forward into this week? - X - The Wheel

 

At an intellectual level, what I get is a need to carry forward the ability to stay centred, yet to also go with the flow - to be true to myself while staying atuned to others and the flow of energies around me.

It's funny, though, looking at this image I hear "If I could turn back time" by Cher.  At first glance, that seems to be a backward-looking focus, rather than something to carry forward.  Still, the song is about regretting things we say.  So, maybe the message is that I need to continue being careful of what I say, of thinking before I speak.  It's something I did much better last week than I generally do, and to good effect.  So, I can see how carrying that forward would be positive :)

©Carmen Waterman

 

And what should I be on the lookout for this week? - Healer of Swords

I'm often a fan of the Queen of Swords (the Courts in this deck are renamed Muse, Protector, Healer, and Mentor), and this version is certainly no exception!  I like the moon above her, and the silver-grey of her hair that seems to blend and tone with it.  To me, it speaks of her empathy: she is intelligent, but also moved by her emotions and experiences.  She has gained much wisdom from them, as shown by her golden dress.  And she faces the future with bravery, ready to take on whatever comes.

So, I should be on the lookout for more challenges, perhaps, but know that they can be overcome by using wisdom garnered from past experience...

Walking Away?

©Carmen Waterman

For this second day with the Rainbow Travellers Tarot (Carmen Waterman, 2012), we get one of the cards I like less in this deck: the Eight of Cups.

Something strikes me as being not quite right here.  Perhaps its the drama-queeny mascara running down her face (I haven't worn mascara in decades!)  I just can't seem to "feel" her :(

A woman with short, spiky hair stands with her body facing right, turning her head to look out at us.  Her make-up is dramatic, as is her black jewellry and lilac bustier.  She stands inside what feels like a walled courtyard, with candles burning in the background, despite the fact that it seems like sunlight is streaming across her. There is a tree out of the frame, a single branch reaching into our view.  Cups stand on the floor behind her, but she looks away from them.

I don't get much of a sense of movement from this card.  The character seems to have an attitude, and maybe a lot of sadness.  Yet, I don't have the sense that she's doing anything about it.  This card reminds me more of the Five of Cups, a crying over spilt milk feel to it.

Turning to the companion book, Carmen says the card "signals that the status quo is no longer enough."  That fits with my sense of this person being unhappy despite their pleasant circumstances.  Maybe she's just stopping to decide what to pack before heading off :)

What do I need to let go of today, or leave behind me?  Well, I'd love to leave behind sickness, not mine but Big Boy's.  He's been on half-term, and I'd love him to be well enough to go back to school tomorrow!  I think he will be...  Perhaps, for me, today this card is less about what I leave behind, and more about what I want to move towards.  My sights are set on getting lots done.  I guess, one thing that would need is for me to leave behind my incessant checking of Facebook, or TimeSuck as my Dear One calls it ;)

I am grateful for emotionally inspiring projects which draw me forward.