Monday Readings for Charity

It's Monday...which means I'm offering $10 readings for charity today! If you'd like a one-card reading with the Tarot Nova deck, you can contribute to a worthy cause at the same time. Read here for more details on the reading offer. If you're interested, please book your reading by midnight tonight (EST).

My children and I were discussing the various options for giving, and they decided that rather than giving to a different charity every week, they would prefer to donate once a month. This way they would have more money to offer a single organization, and they feel they'll be able to make more of an impact that way. Since I started this idea late in the month, they're going to save up until the end of April, and donate to their first charity then.

My son is going to get first choice for picking an organization, and he's currently researching different groups that help save our rain forests from annihilation. It's one of his strongest passions, as it affects the preservation of wildlife, which he is very emotional about.

If you'd like to contribute, I'll be happy to read what's in the cards for you today!

Featured deck of the week: Tarot Nova

Daily Card - Ace of Cups

This week I’m using my Tarot Nova deck. Today I drew the Ace of Cups, which I drew early last week as well. It's a nice way to start the week...with a cup full of what looks like hot chocolate!

There's a certain energy about the cup in this card. There are glowing sparks coming off the cup, and the garden life surrounding it seems magical. This gives me the feeling that this cup will never be empty. When I was little, I had a doll bottle that emptied when you turned it upside down (as the baby doll was being fed), but when you turned the bottle back upright, it filled right back up again with milk. That's what I saw when I looked at this cup. I feel I could drink all that hot cocoa, then look in the cup and watch it refill itself.

I know an area in my life that could use a refill, so I'll make sure that I make an effort to give attention where its overdue today.

Deck: Tarot Nova

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally
(Monday Mar. 24 - Sunday Mar. 30):

Majors: 2 (The Empress, The Magician)
Courts: 1 (Knight of Cups)
Minors: 4 (Ace of Cups, Ten of Cups, Four of Cups, Three of Wands)

Cups: 4
Wands: 1
Swords: 0
Pentacles: 0

Lots of Cups this week!

Deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - Three of Wands

This morning I drew the Three of Wands, which I always think of as the “waiting for your ship to come in” card. When I looked at this card, I saw an image that made me laugh. The wand in the middle took on an almost alien shape, and the two wands on the sides looked like his stretched out arms, as if he was standing there with open arms, as one would do when offering a hug, or welcoming something into his life. Then when I looked at it a few minutes later, it was that same figure, but this time the arms appeared to be raised straight up in the air in celebration, as if rejoicing in victory...something you’d do when your ship has finally arrived.

I thought I might have trouble with this deck this week because I prefer to work with illustrated Minors. And not only are the Minors of this deck non-scenic, but it’s my opinion that there was very little imagination put into the arrangement of the suit symbols. But I have surprisingly been able to glimpse intuitive images in the pips the instant I look at them. As I’m wrapping up the week working with this deck, I think this card shows my being open to working with decks I’m not initially comfortable with. It seems that every time I stretch myself outside my comfort zone, I am pleasantly surprised with positive results. At the beginning of the week, I was the "alien" stretching my arms, welcoming a new experience. And now, at the end of the week, I am the one raising my arms in celebration. So it's actually very fitting that I should see both images in the card this morning. Almost eerily so!

The Three of Wands indicates that success is just around the corner, and that past efforts will soon pay off. My business is steadily growing, and I have been feeling this vibe that something big, something outside of myself, is brewing which will aid in boosting my success in a big way. It's actually something I can feel tingling in the air. I take this Three of Wands as a good sign.

As I was writing that last paragraph, ending the post, I glanced at the card again and saw another image. Clear as day, I saw Mr. Krabs (SpongeBob's boss). I laughed out loud. I literally saw him in the card. What's interesting is that both times I saw the alien figure, it was facing away. But when I saw Mr. Krabs, he was facing me, claws outstretched. Mr. Krabs is obsessed with money, so I saw it as a sign that I would receive some unexpected money today. We'll see what happens...

Deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - Four of Cups

So many things rushed into my mind when I drew the Four of Cups today. First, I related it to the Ten of Cups I drew the other day, the four cups being me and my children. Then I saw how the cups are set up to look very inclusive, as though there was no room for any other cups to enter the group. They’re set in a strict square, like the corners of a castle or fortress, keeping others out. This led me to consider the traditional meaning of the card, being stuck in a rut and not allowing anything else good to come to you. I was then drawn to the watercolor drippings in the card, and it looked sad to me, almost as if the card were crying.

As my mind continued soaking in all this card was throwing at me, the next thing I saw was a completely different connection. I related the Four of Cups to the Ace of Cups I drew earlier this week, and saw in my mind’s eye four cups overflowing with abundance, rather than just one.

This card generally means that something good is being offered to you in the midst of your wallowing, and it's up to you whether you recognize and accept this or not. I think this is going to be a day of ups and downs, good news and bad. I think the positive and negative that comes to me today will be pretty evenly balanced.

The negative that’s playing in my life right now is that my father is in the hospital...in ICU. At this point, his future is uncertain, and there’s nothing to do but wait. The Four of Cups is likely indicating the way I'm feeling, wondering if he will recover. Being an optimist, though, I do expect him to come through. I also know that worrying about an uncertain future only makes things worse. So I will not give any negative energy to contribute to an unwanted outcome. I will openly accept any and all offerings of good cups that come my way today, and appreciate the positive energy they bring.

Deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - Knight of Cups

The first thing that came to my head when I drew the Knight of Cups this morning was “Knight in Shining Armor” (even though this knight isn’t wearing armor!). I had an immediate and distinct feeling that someone was going to step up in my life today and make a gentle yet grand gesture that would have a profound effect in my life. And less than an hour later, I received a surprise visit from someone who gifted me with something significant!

I don’t think this card is done with me today though. I have this feeling that there’s more to come. There’s still something lingering in the air.

Update: I was right! I received a second visit from someone bringing me a blessing. And I also received a pleasant surprise in the form of an email from someone who presented me with an offer that could potentially expand my client base.

Deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - Ten of Cups

To me, the Ten of Cups is the “Happily Ever After, Come What May” card. This card speaks to me about the love in one’s life that can’t be taken away. True love, unconditional love, spiritual love. The kind of love that would sustain you after your house burned down and you lost all of your earthly possessions. That moment when all you have is lost, but every bit of your heart is just so grateful that you still have your loved ones. Love that will be there come what may, through good times and bad.

An image came to mind when I saw this card. It looked like a math equation to me. There's the initial top four cups, then you add two (or subtract two) yet you're left with those same four cups. (4+2=4 or 4-2=4). The "4" reminded me of my three children and myself. There's the four of us, and whatever possessions or experiences we add or subtract from our life together, we'll still always have the four of us.

Just last night I was thinking about all the stuff I have in storage in another state, and wondering when I would be able to retrieve it all. The most important thing being our family photos. If something were to happen, and I were to lose all of our tangible memories, it would be a very emotional loss for me. But I also realized that all of our possessions, both in storage and where we live now, could all be swept away, and as long as I had my family with me, life would be beautiful. So drawing this card today is a little reminder of my thought process last night, and encouragement to be grateful for being lucky enough to have unconditional and everlasting love in my life.

Deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - The Magician

I've been waiting for the Magician to show up again. I've missed him! This was the card that initially drew me to this deck. I loved the style of his cape, and the overall romantic feel of the card. The Magician is one of my birth cards, and also one of my favorite cards in the deck. It conjures up for me that feeling that I am in complete control of my life and that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. It’s a very inspiring card and I always love when it makes an appearance for me.

Some people view The Magician in a negative light, as a trickster or manipulator. I drew this card just after responding to a comment I received regarding my charity readings. A woman had expressed an interest in doing something similar, but was concerned about people wondering whether or not the money would actually go to charity. This surprised me, as it was something that hadn't crossed my mind. I never considered the possibility of anyone doubting my integrity or intentions. I shared with her my belief that you get in life what you put out there, and as I was coming from a place of honesty and genuinely wanting to do good, I believe I would attract those who were aligned with this same energy. And those who were cynical wouldn't be drawn to me. If I were the Trickster type of Magician, and had approached this idea full of worry about whether or not people could trust me, then I would rightly attract a more pessimistic, mistrustful crowd.

This is the power of the Magician. You can create and attract anything, be it positive or negative. I guess the reason I view the Magician in such a positive light is because I know the power of creating my own reality, and I choose to use my power for good rather than evil, so I habitually expect the best. I expect the people around me to be kind, and I expect good things to happen to me. This expectation draws like energies to me. When I use my skill and effort to do something with good intentions, I fully expect to meet with positive results.

On another note, I made a little magic of my own today, taking a matter into my hands and making something cool happen with it. It was a plan already in the works for today, but the Magician gave me that added encouragement and support to follow through completely!

Note: I think this may be the first time I drew a daily card that matched the sample card I have displayed in the sidebar for the deck of the week. When I was deciding on a card to display this week, it was between the Magician and another card. I did a quick new-deck interview, and the Magician came up answering my "Who are you?" question. So as the deck itself claims to be The Magician, I thought it only fitting that I display this image in the sidebar. Funnily enough, the card that fell in the "Who am I?" position was the other card I was considering!

Deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - Ace of Cups

The Ace of Cups I drew today is a very simple image… a single golden cup. The bottom half is textured while the top half is smooth, drawing to my attention the concept of Half. I can’t see through the cup because it’s solid, so it’s up to me to determine...Is this cup half empty or half full? Obviously choosing to see the cup as full is the more empowering choice.

But what if the cup is empty? Is all lost? What use is a cup without something to fill it with? Then you see the guy next to you without a cup at all, and you realize you do in fact have a resource and that’s when the creativity kicks in. The gold can be sold for something more economical and something to put in it. Or you can find someone who has water, but no cup... and put your resources together. There’s always a way through a seemingly lost cause.

Today the Ace of Cups reminds me to be grateful for the abundance that surrounds me. And that there’s always a way through obstacles. When I think I "can't" do something, I need to get creative and look around at my resources. It made me think how incredibly lucky I am to have a computer with internet access. There is a world of possibilities open to me, that someone without a computer wouldn't have access to. I am able to work from home and be with my children, which is the greatest blessing of my life. My cup is full!

Deck: Art of Tarot

Tarot Readings for Charity!

Introducing a fun new way to donate to charity!

Every Monday, I will be offering single-card tarot readings, and donating the proceeds to a charity which will be chosen by my children each week. See this post for more details on the inspiration behind this idea, and the types of charities that will be chosen.

Reading details

• Readings for Charity will be offered every Monday.
• I will be using the deck featured on my blog that week.
• One question per reading.
• One card will be drawn for your inquiry.
• Readings will be emailed (no card images included).
• $10 per single-card reading.
• Please don’t ask a Yes/No question. Think more along the lines of…
  

“What do I need to know about _____?”
“What should I focus on this week/month?”
“What do I need to release in my life?”
“Where do I need more balance in my life?”
“What does the universe want me to know right now?”
"What can I do to better this area of my life?" ...etc.

On Tuesday mornings, I will discuss with my children how much money they have to donate, and they can decide which organization to contribute to. I will update the blog every week with the charity chosen by my children, so you know where you have helped make a difference!

If you have any questions, please comment here or email me at: TarotDame@gmail.com

You can help us make a difference by booking your reading today!

This week's featured deck: Art of Tarot

Daily Card - The Empress

This week I'll be using my new Art of Tarot deck for my daily draws. I bought this deck because it was illustrated by Emma Garner, who has illustrated several oracle decks, and I just adore her style. The two oracles I have of hers are the Good Witch, Bad Witch deck and the wonderful Celtic Messages deck. The Art of Tarot unfortunately features non-scenic pips that are rather lacking in creativity, but the Majors and Courts were too irresistible for me to pass up!

This morning I drew the Empress, and I couldn't have chosen a better card for today. Last night while I was meditating, I realized that I don’t do enough to give back to the world, and I was inspired by a way to begin doing more. Every Monday I will offer single-card tarot readings for $10, and donate the proceeds to charity. Each week my children will take turns choosing the charity of his/her choice to donate the money to.

My children’s current interests mainly revolve around environmental issues, so they will likely opt to support such efforts as protecting the rain forests and endangered/mistreated animals. It is my hope that their compassion will grow even stronger as they begin to research more organizations to give to, and see how many others we can help.

I was thinking how cool it would be if I drew the Six of Pentacles as my daily card today. But when the loving and nurturing Empress came up, it was even more fitting! This project will benefit nature, animals and children in need, as well as being a valuable life experience for my children to incorporate into their lives.

After I drew the Empress, I was about to look through the deck to find the Six of Pentacles, because I wanted to feature it in a separate post about the Monday readings. When I turned the deck over, there it was...right on the bottom of the deck! I took that as a wink and a nod from the deck that this idea is definitely something I should begin today. Even our cat seems to think it's a good idea, as she's exceptionally affectionate today, insisting on curling up on my lap every time I sit at the computer to work on the details.

I also realized that this is the first time I have drawn the Empress in my daily draws on the blog. It took a force of loving inspiration to get her to come out and play!

If you are interested in participating, please head on over to my website and book your reading today! And if you know anyone else who might be interested, please help me spread the word and make a difference!

Deck: Art of Tarot

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally
(Monday Mar. 17 - Sunday Mar. 23):

Majors: 3 (The Hermit, The Moon, Judgment)
Courts: 3 (Knight of Swords, Queen of Cups, Knight of Pentacles)
Minors: 2 (Nine of Swords, Seven of Cups)

Cups: 2
Wands: 0
Swords: 2
Pentacles: 1

Again this week, there was an extra daily card pulled, from the Tarot of a Moon Garden.

Prior to this week, I hadn't worked with the Whimsical Tarot all that much. I originally bought it for my kids, and when I did I also bought a set for myself. This week reminded me of how much I like this deck. It delivers messages strongly, yet in a down-to-earth manner. I really like how the cards relate to a recognizable fairy tale or story, as it gives you something immediately familiar and comfortable to relate to.

At the time I purchased our Whimsical sets, I saw that there were limited quantities available, so I scooped up two additional deck/book sets. Unfortunately, this deck is now OOP (out of print), so I'm very glad I purchased back-ups. With four copies, I now have a set for me and each of my children, should they ever want to branch out from sharing, and have one of their own.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Daily Card - Knight of Pentacles

When I drew the Knight of Pentacles today, the first thing I thought of was Easter. The card features Tom Thumb in a suit of armor, riding on a mouse. The gold coin next to him and the way he’s raising his hand in triumph reminded me of a child celebrating finding an egg during an Easter egg hunt. It looks like he’s shouting excitedly, “I found one!!” Today is Easter, which we don’t normally celebrate. It’s just one of those holidays that I never made an effort to get my kids involved in, largely because it would entail eggs and candy, neither of which we eat.

But for some unexplained reason, my 5 year old daughter woke me up this morning saying, “Happy Easter, Mama!” I was like, huh?!? I’m not quite sure how she knew today was Easter… maybe she heard it on T.V. or read it on the calendar. At any rate, she took it upon herself to get out a sheet of paper and draw some detailed, decorated eggs, colored them and cut them out. She gave one to me, and one each to her brother and sister. I asked her how she knew about Easter eggs, and she said that when we were at the bookstore a couple weeks ago, she saw a SpongeBob book and a Strawberry Shortcake book, and they both had baskets of decorated eggs on the covers. I asked her if she wanted me to hide some of her paper eggs in the backyard for her to go on a hunt. She was delighted at the idea, so then my son and younger daughter began making their own paper eggs. So I guess we’re going to have a little impromptu Easter fun today.

On another note, the Knight of Pentacles can indicate the combination of travel and finances. Tom Thumb is about to embark on a journey to visit his family, and King Arthur has given him a gold coin to take care of his needs along the way. Just the other night, I was thinking of how much I want to move. I was trying to decide exactly where I wanted to live, and how much money I would have to save up to make the move. I’d like to move by the end of the summer, so I have some financial planning to do, the sooner the better.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Daily Card - Judgment

This morning I drew Judgment as my daily card, featuring Jiminy Cricket as Pinocchio’s conscious, whispering in his ear. Yet another message this week for me to listen to that soft voice of my Higher Self which can only be heard when I get quiet and align with Spirit.

The cricket is wearing a pocket watch on a chain, indicating the time has come...the moment of truth is upon Pinocchio. Should he choose to absorb and follow the cricket’s words of wisdom, he will experience a spiritual awakening which will dramatically alter his life in a positive way. However, if he shuts himself off from this voice of reason, his life will continue on the iffy path he's been traveling. If I heed all the advice the cards have been giving me this week, I can expect my life to change for the better. If I ignore the messages I've been receiving, I won't reap the same benefits.

This is the second Major Arcana card I’ve drawn this week that features someone helping a child while he sleeps, the first one being the Sandman as the Hermit. And the other Major Arcana I drew this week was the Moon, which often points to dreams, as can the Queen of Cups, which I drew yesterday with the Moon. If I'm being called to pay attention to the messages whispered to me in my dreams, it's a rather odd week for that. While I always wake up remembering all my dreams, this week they have just been wisps that disappear shortly after I wake up. It’s an uncomfortable and frustrating feeling, since I’m so used to the comfort of remembering my dreams.

Yesterday I had the idea of meditating and doing a reading outside under the full moon. So, late last night, I took my Tarot of the Moon Garden deck and did just that. I meditated while watching the clouds dance around and over the moon. I saw messages for me in the clouds, as if I were watching a movie. I saw a kind, female face in the moon that spoke to me every time the clouds drifted away. I had a powerful realization about something last night while absorbing the beauty of the moon, which made me so very glad that I listened to the message of my daily cards yesterday and kept my date with the full moon. I also did a reading under the moonlight which turned out to be very meaningful and inspiring as well.

When something big is brewing in my life, the cards will let me know about it, hinting gradually over time. It's beginning this week, and I know if I follow the flow, I will be led to something amazing.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Daily Card - Queen of Cups and The Moon

Today I drew the Queen of Cups, which is my card, not only because she’s the queen I most relate with, but astrologically, she represents the water signs, and I’m a Scorpio. Tonight is also the full moon in Libra. And in my astrological chart, my Moon is in Libra. This seems to be my day.

According to astrowisdom.com, this is the full moon to celebrate togetherness, love and peace. Sounds like the Queen of Cups to me!

This card features Guinevere, from the King Arthur/Camelot times. When I drew this card, I had an overwhelming feeling of love. Pure, heartfelt, consuming and all-encompassing love. I thought of the love I have for my children and for my passions in life. It reminded me of who I truly am inside, and the need to bring more of that to my outer world. To extend more love and light to those around me, and to love myself unconditionally as I do my children.

Yesterday I drew the Hermit, and also did an oracle reading which pointed to a new spiritual dawning for me. Today seems to emphasize everything lining up for just that purpose. The full moon is a great time for aligning with the metaphysical world. I think I'll meditate outside tonight, under the full moon, and/or perhaps do an outdoor reading with my Tarot of a Moon Garden deck.

(The beach scene in the card also reminded me of a dream I had last night, but unfortunately I can only remember a glimpse of it, and not enough to be significant.)

Update: Just minutes after writing this post, I got out my Tarot of a Moon Garden deck. While I shuffled, I asked the deck what it wanted me to know today. And I drew The Moon! I couldn't believe it! I was actually expecting the Queen of Cups to surprise me with a repeat appearance, but The Moon was just as delightfully synchronous!

The accompanying book to the Tarot of a Moon Garden features rituals to go with each card. The ritual for the Moon card just so happens to be one to be done on the full moon.

There are two faces of the moon in this card, one on top of the other. A single tear is falling from one of the faces. This reminded me of a moment I had yesterday with my 5 year old daughter. We were just laying together in bed mid-day, snuggling, with our faces together. I was staring into her eyes, thinking of how much I loved her and I started to tear from sheer happiness. She didn't say a word, just continued looking at me with eyes of love. It was an overwhelmingly beautiful moment. When I drew the Queen of Cups earlier this morning, I also thought of this moment.

Drawing both the Queen of Cups and The Moon on the day of the full moon indicates to me a deep, emotional and spiritual force working in my life today. And this is something I predicted this morning before drawing any cards, by reading a crane in the distance beyond our yard. A mile or so away, they are doing some building. There is a gigantic crane at the work site which I can see above the trees in our yard. The top of the crane was hanging in such a way that I instinctively "read" it. I found myself doing a mental reading for no one in particular, but now it's apparent it was for myself. The reading of the crane indicated a rush of spiritual force bringing about change on the physical plane. I need to draw a picture of the crane, along with my interpretations, and see how that reading, along with my daily cards play out in my life.

Next Day Update: I did spend some time meditating and doing a reading under the light of the full moon... details posted here.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot and Tarot of a Moon Garden

Daily Card - The Hermit

This morning I drew The Hermit which features the story of the Sandman. From what I remember, the Sandman sprinkles dust on children’s eyes to help them sleep and dream, guiding them out of reality and into their unconscious minds. This card reminds me that I have detached from my spirituality and have been more focused on (and caught up in) mundane, earthly concerns lately. The Hermit is telling me to return to the practice of listening to my higher self and feeling more in tune with Spirit.

I did a Spring reading for myself today using my Celtic Messages oracle deck, and the entire reading confirmed this message, pointing quite adamantly to Spring being a time of spiritual growth for me. Five of the seven cards were directly related to spirituality. And I drew two of the three cards in the deck that take precedence over any other cards. These two cards appearing together intensifies the message of the reading. The first card in the reading was in the position of “A pleasant, unexpected surprise” and I drew a card which symbolizes sanctuary, solitude and spirituality. Taking time alone to look inward in exploration. The same message as the Hermit card I drew today! This reading packed such a punch that I have no choice but to listen and heed its advice.

This is also my Hermit year, so today being the first day of Spring is the perfect time to begin reuniting with that part of myself. I've been feeling itchy and restless lately and now it makes sense why.

After drawing the Sandman, I did a quick search online. I found and downloaded a piano piece titled Sandman by George Winston today, which I will listen to later while meditating. Winston is a favorite of mine, but I don't think I've heard this song yet.

Update: Looking back, I see that I drew this card last month as well, and also on the 20th! Bizarre.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Daily Card - Seven of Cups

Today I drew the Seven of Cups. There is a signpost in the card with arrows pointing in seven different directions, following separate paths. The sign which leads to the Emerald City points to a road lined with yellow bricks. There's also To Market To Market, Rabbit Hole, Castle, Gingerbread Lane, Old MacDonald’s Farm, and Rapunzel’s Tower. Drawing the Rapunzel card (Nine of Swords) the other day, I know I don’t want to go down that path!

I am, in fact, faced today with needing to choose a direction in a personal matter, and I’m not sure where to head. So I am standing here at this signpost trying to figure it out. I know where I want to go, but I’m not sure which road will take me there. If only life were as easy as looking up and choosing a sign to follow!

Perhaps this card itself is a sign for me to look for signs in my life today which will point me in the right direction! A little heads up to be aware of subtle hints that life will throw my way today. I like the sound of that. I'll be sure to consciously look for those signs today, as I'm happy to say that I'm no stranger to the wonder of synchronicity.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Daily Card - Knight of Swords

This morning I drew the Knight of Swords, which portrays the story of Brer Fox and the Tar Baby. What struck me about this card is the light bulb of an idea above the fox’s head. Usually when a light bulb appears, you see someone standing there, perhaps with a finger in the air, delighting in the “A ha!” moment. Brer Fox wasted no time with this, but went straight to work on the idea. He didn’t stand around, satisfied with the mere idea, he sprung into action.

On the other hand, notice the bucket of tar beside him. While he did run with his idea right away, he didn’t put the cart before the horse. He didn’t jump from the idea to its immediate manifestation, meaning that he didn’t have that light bulb moment, then dive his paws straight into the tar. He took his idea to paper and created that middle step of mindful planning.

This card is just what I needed today, as I actually woke up with a Knight of Swords mindset, determined to get some big things accomplished with gusto! But before drawing this card, I had intended to just jump into them, full steam ahead. See how dangerously close that light bulb is to the bucket of tar? They're practically touching. It's very tempting for me to take an idea and jump into it whole hog, forgoing the planning stage.

Now I am feeling guided not to just leap across the cliff hoping to make it to the other side, but to take it one step at a time, using the rocks across the stream below. I will take some time today to plan my actions more carefully, to help make my manifestation more successful. Usually when I take the time to do this, I lose my initial excitement, and I frequently end up not following through, as my energy fizzles by then. So I have to be careful not to spend too much time planning. It's a delicate balance that I need to work on, so that I actually get things done in an efficient manner, and don't end up just spinning my wheels.

After his careful planning, Brer Fox followed through completely, and successfully created the Tar Baby, so I have to remember that as important as the planning stage is, action must follow. It's not one or the other.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Daily Card - Nine of Swords

This week I’ll be using the Whimsical Tarot, which is a deck based on children’s fairy tales. This morning I drew the Nine of Swords, featuring Rapunzel.

Last night I had a nightmare, and this morning I received some unwanted news. Then I pulled the Nine of Swords and nodded my head, yep, this is my day.

Rapunzel is upset because her hair has been cut off, thus cutting off her communication with her beloved prince. She is striking a “woe is me” pose. In the card, her hair hangs down from the wall like a rope, making it a clear exit out of the tower. Consumed with despair, she doesn't notice that she can easily leave her problems behind her and escape to a better future.

However, in the real story, her options are less promising. (I took out my Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales after drawing this card and re-read the story.) The witch who raised Rapunzel cuts her hair, and then banishes her to a barren desert to prevent her from being with her true love. All the time Rapunzel was trapped in the tower, she could have cut her own hair off and fashioned it into a rope to climb to her freedom, but she was too busy wallowing in negativity to think creatively.

The story does have a happy ending, however. The King’s son who loved Rapunzel ended up wandering into the same desert, and they were reunited and lived happily ever after.

I can take this day and dwell on the negative, thereby creating more of the same with a snowball effect. Or I can think of creative ways to make my day better and turn my luck around by seeking happier options which I may have been overlooking. It's time to step back and look at the big picture, reclaiming control of the direction my life will take today.

Deck: Whimsical Tarot

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally
(Monday Mar. 10 - Sunday Mar. 16):

Majors: 1 (The World)
Courts: 5 (King of Cups, Knight of Wands, King of Wands (twice!), Page of Cups)
Minors: 2 (4 of Wands, 10 of Pentacles)

Cups: 2
Wands: 4
Swords: 0
Pentacles: 1

Another extra card this week, as the Ten of Pentacles snuck in yet again!

Deck: Tarot of the Magical Forest

Daily Card - King of Wands and Ten of Pentacles

It's happened yet again! The Ten of Pentacles hitches a ride on the Daily Card train. This morning it happened exactly as it did last week, with the first cut shifting and drawing attention to itself, in addition to my normal second-cut. And again, it was the Ten of Pentacles sneaking its way into the draw. No matter what deck I use, the Ten of Pentacles always seems to enjoy collaborating with the other cards. What a team player!

The second cut I made (the one I always use as my daily card) revealed the King of Wands. It’s the second time I’ve drawn him this week. If I weren’t still so exhausted from my trip, I’d probably enjoy spending some time trying to figure out what the repeats in the last couple of weeks are trying to tell me.

I spent all day yesterday just relaxing and vegging out on the computer. The week had been non-stop go, go, go, that I needed a day to just Stop. Today drawing the King of Wands tells me that I need to muster up some energy and get going again. Though he is seated, so I don’t need to overdo it. I just need to get back into the swing of things again and get a little more fired up than I was yesterday.

The Ten of Pentacles... I’m assuming since it has appeared three times already this month, I can expect good financial news. Having it coupled with the King of Wands is a good sign for my entrepreneurial pursuits.

Deck: Tarot of the Magical Forest

Daily Card - Four of Wands

Today the cards delivered a short, sweet and simple message for me:

It's good to be home!

For me, today, the Four of Wands is celebrating being home after our wonderful vacation. I'm totally exhausted...I'm not used to walking for 12 hours a day! We had a really great time, but it's a nice feeling to also celebrate being back home.


Deck: Tarot of the Magical Forest

Daily Cards For Past 5 Days

Monday: King of Cups
Tuesday: Knight of Wands
Wednesday: The World
Thursday: King of Wands
Friday: Page of Cups

I pulled cards this week in the 30 free seconds I had every morning somewhere between waking up and rushing out. I didn’t have any time to read the cards, I just drew them and wrote them down. I’m going to read them as a group now, rather than individually, as they appear in a very interesting fashion.

The outer cards, Friday and Monday, are Cups cards. The water indicates flowing movement, and we spent those days traveling to and from Disney World, which is many hours from where we live. Both days were spent entirely in the car.

Going inward one card on each end, I have two Wands cards (Tuesday and Thursday), with the World in the center (Wednesday). These were the three days spent at the various Disney parks. Obviously, Disney World inspires very high energy like the Wands. And it's also a place that is very celebratory of all different nationalities and countries, hence the World card.

My son’s birthday was on Thursday, and the Disney staff had given him a special birthday pin, so that every Disney worker he encountered throughout the day wished him a happy birthday. So he was indeed treated like a King all day. The World card appearing the day before indicated the completion of his previous age, and the beginning of his being a year older. The Page of Cups appearing on Friday sums up the week, as I always think of my son as the Page of Cups, and while the whole family enjoyed the festivities, this was his special week.

Note: I drew the King of Cups for my daily card three times in a four-day period, and also once the week before that.

Deck: Tarot of the Magical Forest

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally
(Monday Mar. 3 - Sunday Mar. 9):

Majors: 0
Courts: 3 (Knight of Pentacles, King of Cups (twice!)
Minors: 5 (7 of Swords, 10 of Pentacles (twice!), 10 of Wands, 3 of Cups)

Cups: 3
Wands: 1
Swords: 1
Pentacles: 3

Second week in a row with no Majors! This was a very interesting week with the cards, with so many repeats. Had one extra card this week, since I drew two on Tuesday.

Deck: Druidcraft Tarot

Daily Card - Three of Cups

The Three of Cups in this deck shows three men raising their glasses in a toast. This card usually features women, so this one has a different vibe to it. It seems a less emotional, more matter-of-fact celebration. There's bread and apples on the table, and beverages in hand. The phrase, "Eat, drink and be merry" comes to mind. And I shall do just that today (minus the alcohol).

Tomorrow we're off to Disney World. I'll toast to that...Cheers! I'll be back to blogging when we return next weekend.

Deck: Druidcraft Tarot

Daily Card - King of Cups (again!)

I drew the King of Cups again today. Earlier this week I drew the Ten of Pentacles two days in a row and two of the same faery cards in a row, and now the King of Cups has appeared side by side. It's been a crazy busy day. My parents flew in this morning. I suppose today the King of Cups is my dad. My kids and I haven't seen him for two years, so it was really nice to see him again. Oh hey...two years...two King of Cups cards...two repeating faery cards...two Ten of Pentacles cards... Okay I'm just loopy with fatigue, and am only barely conscious of what I'm writing right now. But what's with the twos this week?

My kids woke me up at an ungodly hour this morning, excited about seeing the grandparents. I tried to explain to them that people should not be awake when the sky is still black, but they weren't hearing it. So I am completely exhausted and incapable of attempting to interpret the significance of the plethora of repeating pairs of cards this week. I'll have to think on it another day.

Next day update: I had another faery card appear two days in a row! This time the card flew out of the deck onto the floor as I was shuffling. So four different cards each popped up twice this week for my daily draws. Having it happen twice in a week is pretty amazing, but having it happen twice with tarot, and twice with faery cards...I just don't know what to call that! I haven't had time to update my faery blog, but will try to catch up when I get back from vacation.

Deck: Druidcraft Tarot

Daily Card - King of Cups

The past couple of days have been really hard for me. I woke up this morning feeling the need to maintain a sense of calm throughout whatever comes my way today. Drawing the King of Cups confirms this to me. He's the kind of guy who maintains his cool under pressure, the guy you turn to when your world is falling apart and you need wise, comforting words and a cathartic hug. This is who I must be for myself today.

Yesterday my faerie card reminded me of a quote, and it comes to mind again today: "Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work; it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

I need to embrace the essence of this quote in my life today.

Deck: Druidcraft Tarot

Daily Card - Ten of Wands

My third Ten this week. To me, this means completion is upon me, hovering in the air, promising to touch down at any moment. The Ten of Wands represents exactly how I felt at the end of the day yesterday. In fact, I even did a quick reading last night, and this card appeared. I spent the entire day yesterday working non-stop. At the end of the day, I was overworked and burned out.

When I look at this card, my first instinct is to reach through the card and give this guy a helping hand up. His stance looks precarious as if he is so tired from carrying the weight of his load for so long that he might just lose his footing and fall back. He's come so far, if he could just...make it...up...these last few steps, he'll be able to finally set his load down and take a breather.

Since yesterday was my long and heavy trek up the hill, I'm hoping today will bring the release of completion. I received an offer yesterday that I am considering, which will take some negotiation. It comes at a bad time, as I will be gone all next week, and I'd love to wrap it up sooner rather than later. I don't know what will come of it, but it has the potential to help lighten my load.

I do not wish to spend another day overworking myself, so I'm hoping some relief will come shining through for me today.

Deck: Druidcraft Tarot

Daily Card - Ten of Pentacles (again!)

Yes!! The Ten of Pentacles again! I was in the zone this morning when I was shuffling. I shuffled for much longer than usual, in sort of a trance, staring off into space. When I finally cut the cards, I drew the Ten of Pentacles, which appeared for me yesterday (both in my mind and then with the actual card.) I always get a kick out of drawing the same card two days in a row. I'm hoping for a third one soon, as three Ten of Pentacles appearing for me last time seemed to bring me much luck!

It's also likely picking up on the energies surrounding me this week, as I prepare for my parent's arrival. They're flying in this weekend, and next week we're off to Disney World! I'm really excited!

Note: This morning I drew two faery cards, and one of them was the one I drew yesterday. Very interesting drawing both the same tarot and faery cards two days in a row!

Deck: Druidcraft Tarot