Daily Card - The Hermit

Today I drew the Hermit. The character on this card is Caliban, from The Tempest, who lives an isolated life as the sole inhabitant of an island until disturbed by castaways. I hate when that happens.

But seriously, there are many times when I would just love to live on an island without anyone else around. I mean, just look at him in the card, frolicking around all by himself, without a care in the world. I think incessant socializing is overrated. While I'm not a complete misanthrope, I do thoroughly enjoy and need my time alone.

Not sure what this card means for me today, as opposed to any other day, but maybe it's just another reminder for me to continue meditating. Not to let this day go by without setting aside time to meditate in peace, silence and solitude.

Deck: Shakespeare Oracle

Three Caskets Reading

Three Caskets Spread
(From Shakespeare Oracle: Let the Bard Predict Your Future)

1. Gold: What you desire
2. Silver: What you deserve
3. Lead: What you get


When I drew the Justice card this morning, it led me to this spread in the accompanying book, based on the same story, The Merchant of Venice. I'm reading the excerpts from the book pertaining to the cards I draw this week, so I'll be noting some things that stand out for me from the text.

I decided to ask what the month of May has in store for me financially, as that's what the cards seem to be suggesting will change next month.

1. Gold: What I desire - 10 of Chalices (Cups)
This is so true. I don't wish to have money for money's sake. I don't want to live a pretentious lifestyle. That's not me. What I do want is the Ten of Cups lifestyle. I want to always have more than enough money so that I can enjoy every day with my family, not worried about making ends meet. I want to live, laugh and love in domestic bliss. I want the freedom and joy that comes with being financially secure. I want that balance that this card indicates, and balance is just what my playing cards said was on the way for me in May.

The quote written on the scroll in this card is "If music be the food of love, play on." (from Twelfth Night). When I read that, all I thought was, "Music...food...love...play...YES, please!" I do want to be more financially balanced, but not because I want more stuff...I want it because I just want to be more free to enjoy every day with my kids without the stress and struggle of making sure we always have enough.

The accompanying book has this to say about this card: "Permanent enduring success and contentment, wonder, joy, bounty, satisfaction, inner peace, balance, harmony..." I'd say this was the perfect card to appear in this position.


2. Silver: What I deserve - The Star
I was a little nervous before drawing this card. I mean, asking a deck to reveal what you deserve makes you sort of feel like a kid being called into the principal's office - that long walk down the hall spent trying to figure out what you're being summoned for... trying to remember if you did something good or bad. So it was a happy relief indeed to see The Star here.

The book calls The Star the wish-fulfillment card. So I deserve to have my wish (10 of Chalices) fulfilled. Well that's good to know! While I generally look at The Star card as intangible feelings for the future such as hope, faith and optimism, the book also emphasizes concrete aspects such as good fortune, prosperity, luck, success, and the same trio that appeared in the 10 of Chalices: peace, balance and harmony.

It's funny that the book even mentions the song, "When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true..." because that's frequently what I hear in my head when I pull the Star card.


3. Lead: What I get - Wheel of Fortune!!
Wow!!! It worked! I started this week explaining that I chose the Wheel as the featured card in my sidebar, because I wanted to draw this card to me this week. It worked like a charm! Amazing! So what I get is exactly what I asked for! I'm loving this reading.

I tend to view the Wheel as the Tower's better half. A sudden, unexpected turn of events. But the Wheel tends to bring good luck and the Tower...well, not so much.

The book even agrees that the Wheel frequently comes along when you're stuck in a rut, and spinning your wheels, which is the message I got from my Mystic Glyphs reading last week. As this card landed in the "What I get" position, it looks like The Wheel of Fortune will be turning again soon, and that's just the great news I've been waiting for! Fantastic!!

It's interesting that the Wheel card had something in common, supporting aspects, from both of the other cards in the reading. The Wheel and Star are both Majors. The Wheel and 10 of Chalices are both Tens. This is significant, because two Majors indicates this is a large issue in my life, and the two Tens support the idea of arrival, completion...no more waiting. So it shouldn't be long now.


Note: I just realized how appropriate the name of this spread is. This reading relates to the subject that has brought about all the death in the cards recently, so "caskets" seems quite fitting.

I have to include something else here, because it's just too crazy not to. I had my cards sitting on a crystal dish, and went to stick the book on top of them, to get it out of the way of the cat who just jumped on the table. As I did so, it was all too heavy, so the dish started to fall. I caught the dish, but the cards fell out onto the table. I put them all back, except the three I pulled for this reading, which were already separated from the rest. I continued typing the post. Then I went to gather the three cards to look at again, and I see that I have in my hands The Star, The Wheel of Fortune, and Death. Death!!! Come on, are you serious?!?! I looked for the 10 of Chalices and saw that it was propped up against my computer monitor.

How in the world did Death make its way out, separate itself from all the other cards in the deck, and join the cards I had set aside for this reading? This really is all too much. I get it, I get it already!!!

Deck: Shakespeare Oracle

Daily Card - Justice

Today I drew Justice, featuring Portia from The Merchant of Venice. One of the spreads in the accompanying book is based on this story. It's called the Three Caskets Spread. Since this card came up today, I think I'll do a reading using this layout. If it's any good, I'll post it here later.

Portia is an heiress, whose marriage is in the hands of a lottery which her father arranged in his will. Would-be suitors must choose between either a gold, silver or lead casket, the right one concealing a picture of Portia inside. Whoever chooses the right casket wins Portia's hand in marriage. The idea is to see who would look beyond the glitz of the fancy caskets and not be swayed by the riches.

The man Portia desires, Bassanio, chooses the lead casket and borrows money to woo her. The friend he borrowed from, Antonio, is unable to repay his loan to Shylock, and faces the penalty of allowing Shylock to take a pound of his flesh (Euww!). Portia disguises herself as a lawyer, asking Shylock to show mercy on Antonio. He refuses, and she cleverly comes up with a loophole. The agreement only allowed Shylock to remove the flesh, not blood, of Antonio. If Shylock sheds a single drop of Antonio's blood in the process, all of his worldly possessions would be confiscated. Shylock is defeated, and Portia has saved Antonio's life.

Portia goes above and beyond, going as far as to disguise herself, to ensure that justice prevailed. What am I being called to defend today? What can I do to help justice prevail? I'm being asked not to take on a victim mentality today. If something's going on that I deem unfair, I need to take matters into my own hands, and fight for justice. Now that I think about it, there is something that has been bothering me, and I think I need to be proactive about it today, which I ordinarily wouldn't do. But Portia's got me all fired up and inspired now to take action and ensure that the right thing is done.

Deck: Shakespeare Oracle

Daily Card - The Abbess (High Priestess)

Today I drew the Abbess (High Priestess), portrayed by Aemelia from The Comedy of Errors. In the accompanying book, her name is spelled Aemelia, but on the card it's spelled Aemilia. I'll stick with the book spelling, as the writer probably is a better source than the artist. (A quick search online shows it being spelled both ways, depending on where you look, and often spelled both ways even within the same text.)

The Comedy of Errors is a play about the mistaken identity of two pairs of twins, where confusion and hijinks ensue. Aemelia is an abbess, and long lost mother to one set of twins. (The other twins are the servants to the first set of twins.) After much chaos, everyone seeks refuge in the abbey, and Aemelia pieces the puzzle together, solving the mystery and saving the day.

An abbess lives a secluded spiritual life, spending much time in prayer and meditation. Whenever I draw the High Priestess, it's always at a time when I've strayed from my meditation practice. And it always benefits me to return to it. She always seems to know just when to appear for me, and today is no exception.

The High Priestess, like Aemelia the abbess, uses her intuitive guidance to unravel a mystery. The accompanying book states, "Like Aemelia, your life may harbor a mystery." Indeed. The whole "impending change" the cards have been alluding to has been a bit of an enigma to me, and I am receiving a message from the High Priestess today to close out all the noise of the world and search inside. Spend time meditating and listening to my intuitive inner voice if I want answers. Analyzing and rational thinking simply won't do the trick in this case.

Deck: Shakespeare Oracle

Monday Readings for Charity

Happy Monday! This week I'll be doing my charity readings with my new Shakespeare Oracle which is actually a tarot deck, not an oracle deck, despite its name.

A one-card reading is $10, all proceeds going to charity.

Read here for more details on the reading offer. If you're interested, please book your reading by midnight tonight (EST).


Featured deck of the week: Shakespeare Oracle

Shakespeare Oracle

Beginning tomorrow, I'll be using my new Shakespeare Oracle tarot deck for the week's daily draws. Unfortunately when I received the set, there was a card missing, and a duplicate of another. Although the deck is out of print, I sent an email to the publisher, with the smallest hope they might have some extra cards laying around somewhere. I received a return email very quickly (excellent customer service!) but they didn’t have any left. So I have made a small mark on one of the duplicate cards, so when I draw it, I’ll know it’s representing the missing card.

The cards are big and extremely thick, impossible to shuffle. But they are so luxurious, so smooth and matte, they feel heavenly in my hands...I really love handling them.

I’d like to preface this week’s posts by saying that I know nothing about Shakespeare’s works. I think I read Romeo and Juliet in high school, but I can’t recall for sure. I’ll be reading the book which accompanies this deck as I go along, reading the “cliff note” descriptions. So those of you who are familiar with Shakespeare, feel free to chime in and add your insight and knowledge.

I was drawn to this deck by the wonderful artwork in the Majors and Courts. It’s also one of the very few decks that features a Hierophant that I actually like the feeling of, so that’s a big plus. The Minors are pips, but on each one, there is a Shakespearean quote written on a piece of scroll. They remind me of little fortune cookie papers. I bought this deck with the hope that it would perhaps spark within me an interest in Shakespeare. We shall see…

Straight out of the box, my son requested the first reading with this deck. It was bedtime, and he wanted me to pull a card, asking what he should focus on that night. I gave him a look, and he said, “Other than sleeping.” So I mixed the cards around a bit, and pulled a card. It was the Four of Quills (Swords). I laughed when I told him it meant “rest”. He said, “Oh, come on! That was the one thing I didn’t want to hear!” I teased him, “Shakespeare knows best, now get to bed!”

I chose the Wheel of Fortune as the card to represent this deck in my sidebar this week, both because I like the look of it, and also because I really want it to appear for me this week in one of my daily draws. I haven’t had much Wheel action lately, and I’m ready for it to start showing up in my life again. So I’m giving a little heads up to the universe. Bring it on! I'm getting tired of all the cards' death threats... I'm beyond ready for something to finally start happening. (Especially since getting an inkling from my playing cards reading that it involves good financial news!) My witch cards predicted this monumental change would occur in May, which begins this week, so here's hoping the ball starts rolling...(or the Wheel starts turning)!

Deck: Shakespeare Oracle

Playing Cards Inquiry - What's With All the Death in the Cards?

I decided to ask my playing cards just what the heck all this "death" in the cards is alluding to. At the very least, I wanted clarity on the subject matter (what area of my life would be affected). The cards I drew were eerily on target, in that the first card I drew was "clarity" and the last card was "death"! Wow!! It's like the cards heard my question loud and clear, throwing it right back at me, saying, "Here's clarity, and here's death. Read the cards contained between the two for your answer."

Left Column
6 ♠ (clarity/truth)
4 ♥ (balance)
--------------------
6 ♠ + 4 ♥ = The clarity I'm looking for has to do with balance. The thing that's coming to an end is something in my life that is currently unbalanced, and will soon be more evened out.


Middle Column
5 ♥ (gift, generosity) (or good news*)
Q ♦ (female co-worker, business associate)
--------------------------------------------
5 ♥ + Q ♦ = Good news regarding a female business associate (in this case, myself as entrepreneur).

(If the Queen was laying underneath/above the 5 of Hearts, I'd read it as the Queen bestowing a gift/good news, but since the Queen was on top of it, I read it differently. Rather than this good news being from her, it's more about her, or for her.) Also, as I'm self-employed and don't have any co-workers, I have to read this Queen as being my role as an entrepreneur. So this pair of cards indicates that I can look forward to receiving some good news regarding my business.


Right Column
5 ♠ (anger) (or bad news*)
A ♠ (death, ending)
------------------------------
5 ♠ + A ♠ = The end of a bout of bad news (the bad news of the 5 ♠ being stopped dead in its tracks by the A ♠).


*Note: The 5 ♥ and the 5 ♠ appearing next to each other alters their meanings a bit. When these two are next to each other in a spread, I disregard their usual meanings of "gift" and "anger", and instead read them as "good news" and "bad news". You know the old saying, "Well, I've got some good news and some bad news...which do you want to hear first?" (It's just one of those card-combination quirks I created while working out my own meanings for the cards.) In this case, it makes perfect sense, because the "anger" meaning would be a bit out of place here, as I am so very rarely angry.

So, according to the cards, all this death in the air is going to be good news. It will be the ending of hard times, clearing the path for some good news regarding my business, indicating a healthier financial balance.

Sounds good to me! Now that I have narrowed it down quite a bit, I have something a little more concrete to look forward to!

Deck: Emily the Strange playing cards

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally

(Monday Apr. 21 - Sunday Apr. 27):

Little Czech: Thoughts, Love, Wedding
Art Deco: Malady, Lord, Ecclesiastic
Gypsy Witch: Pig, Bouquet of Flowers, Broken Glass
Answer Deck: Anxiety, Frustration, Vulnerable
Mystic Glyphs: Great Travel (Rx), Eagle Feather (R), Rabbit (R)
Good Witch, Bad Witch: Hallowe'en Witch, Green Witch, Ring Around the Moon Witch
Dream Cards: Burying, Doctors, Adolescents
(Animal Messages): Crocodile

It was fun drawing from a different deck each day this week, and working with some oracles that I don't usually make the time for. I got a lot of really good readings from them this week, and they've given me a lot to think about.

Daily Reading - Dream Cards

Today I used my Dream Cards deck for my daily reading. (Otherwise known as Dream Inspirational Cards).

Burying | Doctors | Adolescents

Burying. Here's another card relating to death. Death, death everywhere these days!! This cards shows several men burying dead birds in the ground. There's a white flying in the sky in stark contrast to the black sky behind it. A young girl is walking down stairs with a bird on her arm, ready to soar away. Death surrounds them, but this bird wants to fly, joining the bird in the sky. With all the death in the cards lately, this one is here again to say it's time to bury something in the past, and soar on into the future.

Doctors. Ugh, how I hate even hearing or reading the word. I just don't trust doctors, or have any faith in them. The only reason I would visit one is if a bone was broken, or there was some sort of catastrophic dismemberment. In this card, there's a lot going on. Really too much to write about here, as it could take hours to analyze it all. (The human body with wings and the head of a donkey holding a magazine with an odd face on it, wearing a gramophone strapped to its head?!?!)

The things that jumped out at me were the fact that the both the doctors and patient have tree trunks rather than legs. They are both rooted in their beliefs. The doctors think they know what is right, but the patient isn't going to blindly follow their advice, as she is rooted in her own strength as well. Though she looks pretty darned healthy and vibrant to me, she is allowing the doctor to examine her, but she's busy playing a record, not giving him any attention. She's humoring him, but knows she's going to do what she wants in the end.

The onlookers (other "doctors") just look like perverts to me, staring at her naked chest. Oddly enough, I had a dream last night where I had taken my top off in front of a crowd (something I would never do in real life). One of the other doctors (who looks more like a chef to me) is pointing to something in a book, possibly trying to help diagnose the patient. The doctor behind her is holding up a yardstick. (Huh??) As usual, these doctors don't seem to know what the hell they're doing. It looks as though she's perfectly healthy, and they're trying to find something wrong with her, but she knows better. Perhaps she's some sort of medical marvel who has all the doctors bewildered.

So what does the Doctors card have to do with me today? To be honest, I'm not really sure, but I think it does mean something, especially since it has a similar image to my dream last night. Perhaps I'm being reminded to stand my ground, and continue to do things my own way. I looked at the keywords (which is truly hit or miss with this deck), which offered "Charismatic figure. Self-analysis. Recovery of strength." Ah, it's interesting that it states "self-analysis", further implying that the woman in the card will make her own prognosis. Recovery of strength perhaps means that in the aftermath of the Burying card, I will find myself in a position of renewed strength and confidence. Maybe there will be people wondering and trying to figure out how I've been able to do something that they didn't believe possible.

Adolescents. It looks like the boy is welcoming the girl into his colorful mosaic tiled world. She has come from the land beyond where the skies are dark and stormy. But now she's safe within the bright walls of color. Leaving behind the dark skies of the Burying card, she's entered a safer haven.

Again, I have another set of cards saying that there will be an ending, and a bright future to look forward to. Why all the enigmatic cards saying the same thing, but leaving out details? Or am I just failing to see the details that would clue me into just what area of my life this is all leading to? I think I'll do a reading with my playing cards and see if I can pin it down a little better.

Deck: Dream Cards

Daily Card - Crocodile

This morning while I was still asleep, my son had pulled a daily card for himself, his sisters, and for me, from his Animal Messages oracle deck. He told me that when he was shuffling, my five year old daughter was saying, "Please be the Wild Horse, please be the Wild Horse...", since she loves horses. And sure enough, when he finally drew her card, it was the Wild Horse! He was pretty surprised and she was very excited!

He drew the Crocodile for himself first, then the Wild Horse for his sister, then another card for his other sister, and finally the Crocodile came up again for me. The message printed on the card says, "The alchemy of energy teaches that death will always yield new life." The description in the book says that the time has come to examine the primordial mysteries of life and prepare for rebirth and the wonders it will bring.

Another death card! And this morning when I drew my three cards for my daily reading, I got another one! I'm going to have to go back through my notes and readings and see just how many "death" cards I have been receiving over the past month or so. It's really becoming an overwhelming message for me.

Deck: Animal Messages

Daily Reading - Good Witch, Bad Witch

Today I used my Good Witch, Bad Witch oracle deck for my daily draw.

The Hallowe'en Witch | The Green Witch | The Ring Around the Moon Witch

I pulled three "Bad" witches today, though the bad witches in this deck aren't really all that bad, many of them being rather positive.

The Hallowe'en Witch was a card I miraculously drew last Halloween, and was surprised at the accuracy of it. (Not only drawing it on Halloween, but also because it speaks of loved ones who have passed on coming to visit you in dreams, and I had drawn it the morning after having a dream about my friend who had passed away.) About a week ago, I had a dream where I saw my grandfather. In my dream, I was like, "What are you doing here??" as I knew he was dead. It was really strange. But I was preoccupied with something much more urgent in the dream, so I didn't have time to spend talking with him.

The Green Witch is surrounded by faeries and it reminds me how I haven't worked with my faerie deck recently. They may be calling to me, letting me know they want to come out and play. This witch speaks of limitless potential, opportunity and good luck. It relates to the month of May, being a significant month for something new likely having something to do with living things such as people, animals, flowers, nature, etc. (A birth, wedding, new enterprise, etc.).

The Ring Around the Moon Witch immediately reminded me of a movie I watched on TV last night. 13 Going on 30. I forgot how cute that movie was. Jennifer Garner is just so incredibly adorable in it, and I love, love, love Mark Ruffalo. Anyway, Jennifer's character goes from being 13 years old to 30 overnight after some magic wishing dust gets sprinkled over her, making her greatest wish come true. Then of course, the same thing happens in reverse at the end, with the same dust. The witch in this card is sprinkling the same sparkling dust over and around the moon. The card's advice also ties into the movie's message... be careful what you wish for, because truly heartfelt wishes do come true.

The Hallowe'en Witch indicates the last day of October, leading into November. Right now it's exactly halfway around calendar...six months down the road, April turning to May (represented by the Green Witch). So these two witches are at opposite ends of the year. The Hallowe'en Witch marks Autumn, and speaks of messages from the dead, so it has a certain "Tarot Death Card" feel to it. The Green Witch marks Spring, a new beginning. Looking at the order in which they appeared for me today, I see something ending, making way for a new beginning. The Ring Around the Moon Witch warns me to be careful what I wish for at this sensitive stage. There seem to be powerful forces at work, and I need to tread gently and make sure that I know exactly what I want, because it's likely to come true.

I've seen a lot of "death" in my cards lately, so I'm receiving the message loud and clear that something will be ending. ...Any day now... I'm getting tired of waiting, and this may be why I've been restless, as shown in yesterday's cards. I'm used to things happening a bit more quickly. All this anticipation is starting to get to me. The Green Witch seems to think something's going to be going down in May, which thankfully isn't too far off now. If it's something I'm supposed to end myself, rather than waiting for it to happen to me, then I've got some thinking to do, because I have no idea what I'm supposed to end. I'm feeling a little left out of the loop here.

So today I'll spend some time making sure that my life's wish list is in order, and that I have clear desires, should the magic dust be sprinkled over me soon.

Deck: Good Witch, Bad Witch

Playing Cards Confirm a Sneaking Suspicion

I had someone recently ask me to consult my playing cards about something she was worried about. She didn't tell me the subject matter, just that she wanted insight into a feeling that she couldn't shake.

Querent's question: "There's something that's troubling me and I want to know if I have cause to be concerned, or if it's all in my head."

Left Column
K ♥ (male significant other)
Q ♦ (female co-worker or business associate)
----------------------------------------------
K ♥ + Q ♦ = The querent's spouse/partner and his female co-worker


Middle Column
6 ♦ (relationship)
7 ♥ (manifestation)
--------------------
6 ♦ + 7 ♥ = A relationship manifesting


Right Column
6 ♠ (truth/clarity)
2 ♦ (secrets, sneakiness, someone hiding something from querent)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
6 ♠ + 2 ♦ = Truth revealed about a secret being kept from querent


I asked the querent if she was suspicious of her partner's affections being focused elsewhere. Obviously, the cards were pointing to a relationship manifesting between her partner and his female co-worker. She said yes, that was exactly her concern. The last two cards revealed that the truth would come out soon, and that she would find out why the relationship was being hidden from her, and whether or not it was cause for alarm.

Note: I've adapted a playing card method to incorporate a lot of my own meanings for the cards, many of which are featured in this reading. I didn't use any positions for the layout, I just read the cards as a whole, in groups of two.

Deck: Emily the Strange playing cards

Daily Reading - Mystic Glyphs

Today I used my Mystic Glyphs cards for my daily reading. This oracle deck is based on Native American petroglyphs. The cards are square, so each one has four meanings, depending on which direction it is facing.

Great Travel (reversed) | Eagle Feather (facing right) | Rabbit (facing right)

Great Travel reversed is a bit like running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Going, going, going, but running around in circles and not getting anywhere. Not running to something or away from something, just running to keep busy and avoid having to commit to any one thing. The card's advice is to just Stop! Stop running and let life come to me.

Eagle Feather facing right speaks of the denial and fear of the unknown. There's a situation that needs to be faced, rather than pretending it doesn't exist. Living with my nose stuck in day to day living limits my vision of grander possibilities. This card indicates there is an opportunity for growth and that there's more of life waiting to be experienced.

Rabbit facing right (on its back) is another distinct Stop sign. It speaks of scattered thoughts and wasted energy running here and there accomplishing nothing. The description likens it to a frightened rabbit surrounded by foes, not knowing which way to turn. It suggests finding a place to stop, rest, burrow and regroup.

Great Travel and Rabbit have the exact same message for me today, so it stands out quite like a flashing red light. Between my analogy of a headless chicken and the book's description of a freaked out rabbit, the images are pretty clear. The cards seem to think I'm spinning my wheels. I can see how that may be possible, but I'll have to further meditate on it today.

Eagle Feather is referring to the cause of all this running around. This card is surrounded on both sides by freaked out animals running in circles. It suggests that the cause of all this wasted energy is the fear of something greater I should be doing. Keeping myself busy by running around doing little things is keeping me "safe" from experiencing something larger and more significant.

This was a very powerful draw today, and I will definitely take the advice given. I will spend time today relaxing and meditating and searching my inner guidance for more insight into what I'm wasting time doing, and what I should really be doing instead.

Deck: Mystic Glyphs

Daily Reading - The Answer Deck

Today I'm using The Answer Deck for my reading. I love this deck. The images are all simple black and white drawings with red borders. They always get straight to the point and tell me like it is.

Anxiety | Frustration | Vulnerable

Last night, just before I surrendered to the day by going to sleep, I felt just like the guy in the middle card. Frustrated. Really frustrated. These cards are serving as a helpful warning to me today. Any anxiety and/or frustration I feel is going to lead me to the third card, leaving me vulnerable to the negative energies and effects that these emotions are further attracting into my life. The Vulnerable card also reminds me of my children, and the fact that I'm not the only one open to these vibes. If I do find myself feeling anxious or frustrated today, it's important that I deal with it in a positive way, so that I don't draw more of it into our lives.

The first two cards are showing me what I may potentially face today, and the third card is showing me what will result, saying, "Hey! Remember the Law of Attraction?! Look what you're leaving yourself open to! Think about what Anxiety and Frustration can lead to... is this really how you want to utilize your energy today?"

I will keep the image from the Vulnerable card at the front of my mind today, and make sure that I don't cause my life to be bait for predatory energies, like a baby in a carriage left alone and unattended in the park. Thankfully I have control over how I direct my energy, and I am really glad the cards reminded me of this today.

Life has a funny sense of humor, as I have already been given a little taste test in this area today... all throughout typing this post, I have tried to upload the image of the cards, and it's not letting me. It's been about seven times now that I've tried, which is a little frustrating. But I just laughed it off, thanks to these cards!

Deck: The Answer Deck

Daily Reading - Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards

Today I'm using my Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards. These are supposed to be used in large spreads, using a significator card in the center, and dealing the other cards around it. The meanings are printed directly on the cards, and many of them have more than one meaning, depending on its proximity to the significator card or other cards specified. Since I'm only doing a three card layout, I'm assuming all three cards are "near" to me.

Pig | Bouquet of Flowers | Broken Glass

Pig (3 ♠): The pig, whether near or far, is an omen of phenomenal luck and great abundance, high honors and all ambition attained.

Bouquet of Flowers (10 ♥): Bouquet of flowers, an absolute indication of long and happy life; if children are nearby, extraordinary honors and fame.

Broken Glass (8 ♦): The broken glass foretells ill luck for long years if near; but if distant, death of a friend.

While the Broken Glass card is a bit of a drag, I feel it being completely overwhelmed by the two positive cards that come before it. The Pig's "omen of phenomenal luck" and the Flowers' firm adjective ("absolute") indicate that the negativity of the Broken Glass just doesn't hold enough weight when compared with the other two. I see the pig in the first card walking over to the middle card, picking up the flowers in its mouth and carrying them into the third card, placing them on the dresser. The bouquet is so large that it would cover up most of the broken glass on the wall. These first two cards are headed straight towards the doom and gloom of the third, and will overtake it, shining their bright light into the darkness.

Gypsy Witch Interpretation: It looks like something that I've been struggling through will soon come to an end, being smothered by good luck and lasting happiness.

The "omen of phenomenal luck and great abundance" of the pig card reminds me of a dream I had last night where I hit 5 out of 6 lottery numbers. I was excited and frustrated at the same time, being only one number away from the huge jackpot. My optimism took over and I told myself that it only meant that I was that much closer to getting all six numbers next time. It's pretty funny that my inner Pollyanna can even come out in my dreams!

What's interesting is that looking at the playing card attributes, they aren't so far from the meanings I use for cartomancy. (As there are so many methods out there, it's surprising that all three should match up pretty well, which gives even more emphasis to the reading.) I had begun using the Personal Prophecy method of cartomancy, but I found that I needed to adapt the system to suit me better. So I kept some of the meanings, but changed a lot of the cards to create my own meanings.

When I use regular playing cards, the 3 ♠ means something unexpected and surprising happening out of the blue, a bit of serendipity or synchronicity. This fits in nicely with the Pig's meaning of "an omen of phenomenal luck and great abundance".

The 10 ♥ is the card I use to indicate celebrating fulfillment, victory, achievement, the feeling that you've finally made it! The Bouquet of Flowers means a long and happy life, which compliments this meaning nicely.

The 8 ♦ is my "moving on" card... leaving the past behind. The Broken Glass card indicates ill luck for long years, which is something that would be nice to leave behind.

Cartomancy Interpretation: Using the playing card attributes, it looks like something unexpected is going to happen which will give me cause to celebrate and feel complete, enabling me to move on, leaving past troubles behind.

Both my Gypsy Witch and Cartomancy interpretations of these cards are very similar to one another. Not too shabby of a fortune to receive today, that's for sure!

Deck: Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards

Daily Reading - Art Deco Fortune Telling Cards

Today I'm using my Art Deco Fortune Telling Cards. Again, there are no "instructions" or meanings given for the cards, but they're pretty self-explanatory.

Malady | Lord | Ecclesiastic

When I drew these cards, I was looking at them, wondering if they were speaking literally or metaphorically. I was deciding whether it was addressing a situation of mine, speaking in analogies, or if it was referring more literally to my father’s health. Then, from across the room, my son suddenly mentioned that for the past two nights, he's been having dreams about my father. In the first dream he was wearing a black coat, talking to my son about cheese. (???) Then last night he dreamt that we drove to visit my father at his house and he was in bed when we got there, completely covered, head to toe, under a blue blanket. No part of his body could be seen, but it was known that it was him. For my son to mention this at the exact moment I’m deciding how to interpret these cards is a pretty clear sign... not to mention that the first card, Malady, shows someone under a blanket. (And my son was nowhere near my cards when he shared his dreams with me.)

My father is now home, after spending three weeks in the hospital. His kidneys still need to heal, but he doesn’t currently need dialysis, which is good. His health is going to depend on how he takes care of himself, so that’s going to be a bit tricky. He’s pretty set in his ways and doesn’t eat very well.

The center card in my layout today, Lord, I saw immediately as the focus card (my father).

The card on the left is Malady, indicating this is something that has already inflicted him (his kidney trouble and time in the hospital).

The card on the right, Ecclesiastic, indicates hope and faith. (There are crosses depicted in both the Malady and Ecclesiastic cards, so faith is strongly portrayed here.) The priest has his hand held up and out to the right, indicating hope for the future. Of course it also flashed in my mind that he could be performing a memorial service, his hand indicating the direction in which spirit has gone. But as my father is getting better, I have more reason to go with the first interpretation today, and read this card as having faith that he will make a full recovery. (So I'll also ignore my morbid connection with my son's dream of my father being completely covered with a blanket to a body bag, or a covered body at the morgue. Don't know how these thoughts pop into my mind...but that's the first thing I thought of when imagining someone's head covered with a blanket.)

I had set my mind to using three cards every day this week, and I'm going to stick with that. But normally, with the Art Deco deck, I use another method that I came up with which seems to work really well.

Here's my method: I'll decide on an amount of cards to draw, and set those down. If there are any open-ended cards on either end, I'll add more cards until the set is closed. For example, the man in the Ecclesiastic card is looking and pointing to the right. I would ordinarily add another card to the right of that card, to define what he's pointing toward. If that card is looking to the right, I'll add another, etc. Until I end up with a card that is either facing left or facing forward, closing the set. The Malady card on the left is a "closed" card, where the characters are facing each other. So whether this card landed on the left or right, it wouldn't need another card added to it. The same goes for the Lord card, as the characters are facing into each other.

I started doing this instinctively, guided by these cards seemingly calling for it. And so far, I've only felt the need to do it with the Art Deco deck. I had been having a bit of difficulty connecting with this deck, but when I started employing this method, my readings became much more clear and comfortable.

Deck: Art Deco Fortune Telling Cards

Daily Reading - Little Czech Oracle

This week I'm going to mix things up a bit. I'll be having a little fun with fortune telling, doing three-card draws, using a different oracle deck every day.

Today I'm using the Little Czech Oracle deck. There are no meanings given for the cards, other than the obvious keywords, so I'll be reading whatever I see in them, and how they relate to each other.

Thoughts | Love | Wedding

The first thing I saw was that the man in the Thoughts card has his back to the Love and Wedding cards. This made me think that these thoughts were in the back of his mind, rather than at the forefront. It's very rare that I personally know someone who is getting married, but just about a week ago, someone I know got married, so their wedding has indeed been in the back of my mind!

If I were the one getting married (or wanting to), then the man would likely be on the right, facing the other two cards, as the thoughts of love and marriage would obviously be on the forefront of my mind.

Silly enough, this set of cards also reminded me of the show, The Bachelor, which I am guilty of watching...and it happens to be on tonight. The Thoughts card is the bachelor, thinking of the various women he has to choose from, shown in the Love and Wedding cards. He's out spending quality time with the women, but the pressure of the choices he faces is always weighing in the back of his mind. Looks like the final two will have light-ish hair, so I'll guess from these cards that Amanda's the next to go.

I had to include an image of the backs of these cards because they're just so fabulous! (The border is a bit lighter in natural light, more like a delicious chocolate brown.)

Update: I had thought the Bachelor was narrowing it down to two girls tonight, but I was mistaken. There are three left, and Amanda's still in the running. I feel really lame even typing this out (like a 16 year old girl), but I wanted to update here as I spoke of it in this post. I'm still interested in seeing if the two blondes are the ones who make it to the final two.

Another update (one week later): Tonight was the night the Bachelor narrowed it down to two women, and Amanda was the one to leave the show. So what I saw in the cards turned out to be accurate - the final two are blondes.

Deck: Little Czech Oracle

Monday Readings for Charity

This week I'm doing something a little different, offering 3-card oracle readings (as opposed to tarot). If you'd like a reading today, you can choose from any of the oracle decks I have listed on my sidebar. The reading is still only $10 and all proceeds go to charity!

Read here for more details on the reading offer. If you're interested in participating, please book your reading by midnight tonight (EST).

Card shown from The Answer Deck.

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally

(Monday Apr. 14 - Sunday Apr. 20):

Majors: 2 (Imagination/Chariot, Experience/Justice)
Courts: 3 (Knight of Water/Cups - three times!)
Minors: 4 (Ace of Water, 5 of Water (twice!), 10 of Earth/Pentacles)

Cups: 6
Wands: 0
Swords: 0
Pentacles: 1

What a week! I am truly enamored with this deck! (And it seems the Knight of Water has quite the eye for me, returning again and again... four times total...in three of my daily draws and also in the Destiny Reading I did earlier in the week.) Nine cards this week, since I drew three cards on Sunday. What an amazing deck this is...it has such a great personality!

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Knight of Water, Five of Water and Ten of Earth

This is the last day for my daily draws with the Da Vinci Enigma Tarot, and it seems the deck wanted to go out with a big splash. This morning when I drew the Knight of Water, I just laughed. I knew somehow that he had a different message for me today than he has previously this week. This time he's not riding away from something...he's riding toward something. What is it? So I cut the deck again and drew another card to find out. I drew the Five of Water. Another laugh. It's as if the key players of this week have come forward to take a final bow at the end of the show. This deck is just too good! So yeah, this week the Knight of Water had deliberately led me to the Five of Water, getting my gears moving. So where is all this leading to? I had to cut the deck once more for the answer. I drew the Ten of Earth (Pentacles). Nice! (It simply cracks me up that the Ten of Pentacles always wants company when I draw it!)

This deck has such a persona. The dimmi questions for the Ten of Earth are, "What have you inherited? How are you enriched?" The deck is literally asking me to share how it has helped me this week. What have I inherited from Knight of Water and Five of Water? How have they enriched me? They have led me to an eye opening revelation, and given me the push I needed to step out and move forward. I have changed because of these cards.

The Ten of Earth card features a ground plan and elevation of a basilica. The card is titled "Foundation". Leonardo writes, "For stability, the depths of the foundations in...temples and other public buildings should be in proportion to the weight that will rest upon them." This makes a great deal of sense to me this week, as I have begun building a foundation on which my future can build upon. Having a foundation is imperative to the success of what is built upon it. This quote reminds me very much of some powerful reading material I have been absorbed in this week. Speaking metaphorically, I liken the foundation to the core feeling of already being/having the thing I desire to build. Without this foundation, it can't be built. But once I assume this thing is already mine (denying what my senses claim to observe), then I have the support necessary to materialize my desire. And this is precisely what I have begun to do this week.

The Ten of Earth speaks of inheritance. I have no physical inheritance to speak of. But I can easily create my own. I can claim the abundance that is my natural right. That's what these cards have been telling me this week. It's no coincidence that I came across the reading material I found, the same week that I've used this deck to uncover some new discoveries about myself. Life is such a beautifully intertwined dance.

In addition to being a really powerful deck for me, it has also made me want to learn more about Leonardo Da Vinci, so it's opened up a new avenue of interest for me. Realizing this, I decided to order the Shakespeare Oracle tarot deck. I am very drawn to the artwork, but more than that, I have the hope that it will spark within me an interest in Shakespeare's works, which I've previously not been particularly interested in reading.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Five of Water

Today I drew Five of Water (Cups). The drawing shows a mechanism designed to equalize an unwinding spring. This mechanical drawing explores impetus, movement and power. The dimmi questions for this card are, “What old patterns cause present loss? What new designs clear the way?”

This is the first time I have drawn the Five of Cups as my daily card, and is another example of how the cards will wait until the right deck can approach it appropriately. This card has a very different feel than most Five of Cups cards. This card is mechanical, scientific and technical, while in other decks the card stresses deep emotional loss, sorrow and disappointment. I don’t feel sorrow in any way, so this more practical approach to lack of movement makes much more sense.

This card asks me to look where lack of forward movement in my life is caused by something from my past, and explore ways to get moving again. This whole week has really been about my habit of letting life take me where it will, rather than deliberately moving where I want to go. The aspect of my past which is affecting my current movement (or lack of it), is my lifelong habit of procrastination coupled with the fact that I’ve never been terribly ambitious.

Yesterday I had a really great day, and actually did make some progress. So when I look at the image in this card, I see the gears of the mechanism starting to move. I believe this card has a similar message as my friend the Knight of Water, in that it’s reminding me of my lack of motion. But I am starting to make progress, and I can see the gears beginning to move, both in this card and in my life. The neat thing about a mechanism such as this is that when you start one gear moving, it triggers the movement of another gear, which then creates movement in another...and so on. So I can see how doing a little something every day towards my goal will actually generate more motion and activity than I had expected from that one small effort. I'm actually quite excited by this analogy!

I’m not a very mechanical gal, so I wasn’t sure how I would approach the reading of the mechanical drawings in this deck. But it wasn’t even something I had to think about today. It immediately made perfect sense to my situation.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Knight of Water (again!)

I feel like this deck is literally watching me. Here comes the Knight of Water (Cups) again, to drill his message further into my brain, which doesn't seem to be responding too well. I'm having troubles overcoming my habit of procrastination, and finding the motivation I need to carry out the plans I had set for myself earlier this week. The Knight of Water mentality remains with me, and his returning again and again in the cards is an accurate depiction of where I'm stuck.

I must do something tangible today in the direction of my goal. Anything I do, no matter how small, will be more than I did yesterday, and will bring me closer to my goal. I tend to get discouraged and unmotivated when I know things are going to take a long time. I have difficulty taking small steps, knowing I won't see the results of them for awhile. But I have to get it into my head that doing something small, getting even one inch closer to my goal will put me in a better place than staying put.

The dimmi question for this card is, "How do you feel about this?". I feel frustrated, to be honest, with my inability to tackle this step-by-step process more easily. I feel like this is going to be a hard mountain to climb. I am a lifelong procrastinator, so I'm used to waiting until the last minute and doing everything all at once. I've done things this way since I was a child. So this is a big challenge for me, and it's difficult for me to keep that motivation within me, to do a little at a time (even when reminding myself of The Big Picture - the end result.)

You know, in the time that it's taken me to write this post about not wanting to do anything, I could have done something! And it'd be over for today. I need to stop thinking about it so much, and just take action. Getting one small thing done will take less effort than all the time I waste analyzing why I put it off! That's pretty funny. Okay, so I've just talked myself into doing something towards my goal today. Besides... if I don't, I'm pretty sure the Knight of Water will be back tomorrow to tell on me. It seems he's hell bent on keeping me accountable as a way of motivating me.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Knight of Water

This morning I drew the Knight of Water (Cups), which is another card that showed up in the Destiny Spread I did the other day. So far, two of the cards from that spread have come up as my daily cards this week. The Knight of Water was the disconnected card of the spread. It was the card whose back wouldn’t match up with any part of the set. So this represented how I was sabotaging myself.

When I did the spread, this card was to the right of the set, so it looked as though the knight was running away from the other cards. The drawing of the knight is very dark and detailed, but the horse he is riding on is barely visible. Just a few lines making up a very faint outline. I saw this as running away from the situation on a horse that is barely there - going nowhere fast. When I pulled the bridge card (Ace of Air/Swords) to connect this knight with the other cards, it was the combination of these two cards that led me to the goal-setting epiphany. When reading the dimmi question for the Ace of Air, “What are your intentions?”, it was then that I realized that I didn’t really have any! These two cards together led me to the realization that I needed to connect my idealism (Knight of Water) with real life ambitions, and that I needed to be clear and precise (Ace of Air) about what I want, and create deliberate steps to achieve it.

The rest of the cards in the spread represented the situation I’m in now, what I’m trying to balance in my life, and the potential available to me. The Knight of Water represented the obstacle holding me back from reaching my potential. And the Ace of Air was the bridge of reconciliation between the two.

After the reading, when I set my goals, I imagined my most desired long term goal, then worked backwards, setting up smaller goals as steps leading toward the grand finale. Since setting my goals the other day, I haven’t been diligent in working towards the first one. The knight coming back up for me today is reminding me what role he played in my reading the other day. Because I needed that reminder of where I am and where I’m going, so that I'll be once again motivated to make the effort to take those baby steps. This knight apparently deemed it necessary to give me a repeat kick in the rear...and he was right!

I also wanted to add that the Knight of Cups often comes up for me whenever I receive an unexpected surprise, grand gesture or significant gift. And late last night, I unexpectedly received such a gift.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Experience (Justice)

This morning as I was shuffling, a card fell out of the deck. And it fell out reversed. So I took it as a sign and used it for my daily card. The Justice card is renamed Experience in this deck. Leonardo believed that “those who failed to learn from their direct observation and experience were merely living a lie.” He viewed truth and experience as being deeply connected.

The young woman in this card is pointing to an unknown object (or experience) in the distance. As she came out reversed, I feel that the direction in which she is pointing is significant today.

In the reversed card, she is pointing to my left, the past. Justice reversed, leads me to think of injustice. So this card is about injustice that I have experienced in the past. This has to do with the life situation and transformation the cards were picking up on last week. The effects of past injustices in my life still linger. Though the situation is gone, there are still pieces that need to be picked up. And I can do so with a negative attitude, dwelling on the injustice that caused it all, or I can be glad that I am still here to pick up the pieces and move on.

One of the dimmi questions for this card is, “How does experience inform your integrity?” How will I let this experience affect me? Will I be stronger for it, will I rise above, or will I wallow in the injustice? Where I go from here is my choice alone. How I let this experience color my future is up to me. How lucky we are to have the power to choose how we let life’s experiences shape us.

Despite the unfairness that I experienced, I took the high road and did not fight fire with fire. I held onto the belief that in the end, justice would prevail, because it was only right and natural, and I refused to believe that anything other than this would be the ultimate outcome.

I studied the reversed card for awhile. I saw the girl pointing to the injustice of my past. Then I turned it over, and saw her now pointing to my future. What will I take from this experience into my future? I don't want to carry the useless negativity along for the ride. Rather, what I will take with me is the strength I gained, and the gratitude that everything worked out in the end, as I believed it would. This experience, difficult as it was, served as in inspiration for me, to hold onto my truth and never give up on what I believe to be right and true.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Imagination (The Chariot)

Yesterday I did the Destiny Spread with this deck (the one I wrote about in yesterday’s post.) This spread uses an undetermined amount of cards, and no position meanings. You piece the cards together using the puzzle-like backs, then turn them over (mirror-wise) and read them in connected groups. It was THE best reading I have ever done for myself! I had a huge Aha! Moment, and when I was finished with the reading, I had a concrete, physical direction and was able to spring into action immediately.

This morning I drew Imagination (The Chariot), which was one of the cards from my reading yesterday! So it’s the aspect I will act on today.

This card shows a man holding a piece of glass which is reflecting the sun’s rays, illuminating the fantastical creatures of his imagination all around him. In the painting, there are more creatures, but the ones I can make out which fit within the boundaries of the card is a serpent-tailed dragon and a couple of other odd creatures. In his notebooks, Leonardo wrote, “Whatever exists in the universe, whether in essence, appearance or imagination, the painter first conceives it in his mind and then by his hand.” Yesterday I conceived a plan in my mind, and today I will begin the work with my hand to bring it to life.

The book which accompanies this deck provides a question or two to ask yourself about each card. The phrase “Dimmi” is used, which means “tell me”. This is what Leonardo would write in the margins of his notebooks whenever he tried out a new pen, asking for something new to come forth from the pen. The author states that answering these questions honestly in regards to your situation will be far more helpful than reading the book meaning of the card.

One of the dimmi questions for this card asks, “Where are you bound?” Yesterday when doing my reading, I realized that I don't really know where I'm bound. I have a lot of dreams, but no clear goals defined. I don’t have a plan for getting where I want to be. So last night, I took some time to write out some of the most pressing goals I’d like to achieve. I made definitive and detailed plans, along with a timeline, so I now have direction. And today it’s time to move past the imagining and planning, and begin making it happen.

Imagination (as the Chariot) is the vehicle by which dreams transition into reality. But if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re just as likely to end up anywhere else. This reminds me of the wise words of the Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:

(Alice): “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where-” Alice began.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“Just so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

It doesn't matter which way you go, if you don't care where you end up. I have been on a road to somewhere, by default, but nowhere in particular. I usually let the wind take me where it will, but I now realize I don’t just want to be any-old-where. The reading I did last night knocked my socks off and kicked my rear into action. It gave me a clear focus and a sure path to follow, which isn't something I'm used to, but it feels refreshing!

I knew there was a reason I was inexplicably drawn to this deck. I just had no idea it would lead me to such an illuminating awakening. And speaking of awakening, another card in my reading last night just happened to be Renewal (Judgment)!


Note: Another cool feature of the advanced Destiny Spread is if you have a card that doesn't match up with any others, it's "disconnected", and represents self-sabotage. Every card comes with a "Disconnected" meaning to turn to in this event. Then you are to draw another card from the deck to serve as a bridge, connecting your disconnected card with one of the sets of cards that you feel most needs it.

Also, if you complete a geometric pattern with the backs, depending on which one it is, it tells you how to approach your situation (pragmatically, intelligently, passionately, etc.). Another interesting aspect is that when puzzling the pieces together, you can use the cards upside down or right side up, whichever leads to the most connections. This may leave you with reversals, once you flip the cards over, which I don't normally use, but I'm very open to them in this manner. This is a really amazing spread.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Daily Card - Ace of Water

This week I’ll be using my Da Vinci Enigma Tarot for my daily draws. I know practically nothing about Leonardo Da Vinci, but when I saw the images of this deck online, they captivated me into purchasing the deck. The images are taken from Da Vinci's notebooks. Many of the cards are difficult to decipher, even when looking at them really closely. So after scanning and reducing their size to post here, it makes them all the more difficult to see online, such as the one I drew today.

The suits in this deck are arranged by elements (Water for Cups, Fire for Wands, Air for Swords and Earth for Pentacles). King and Queen have been changed to Lord and Lady, as the Italian city-states of Leonardo's time were republics, not kingdoms and therefore there were no kings or queens.

I drew the Ace of Water (Cups) this morning. On the top of the card, there are two images of what appears to be a book riding in the waves of a sea. In the bottom image, water is rushing through an open doorway, creating a feisty pool below. It looks as though the door has completely separated from the doorway and is being swept away in the whirlpool of water. So looking back at the top images, it’s interesting to view the floating objects as doors now, rather than books. It’s a very engaging set of illustrations, and I find myself returning to stare at it again and again.

Since I am completely unfamiliar with Da Vinci’s artwork, I wish the book went into greater detail of the images. It does, however, have this fascinating quote found in Leonardo’s notes: “The water that you touch in a river is the last of what has passed by and the first of whatever comes.” This is true of every moment in life. Every moment is both a touch of the last of the past and the first of the future. When you look at it that way, there really is no such thing as past and future, there is only now.

I woke up this morning wondering how in the world my son got to be eight years old. We snuggled up together this morning, and as I held him, I made a silent wish that the next eight years would pass more slowly. I want to savor, as much as possible, every day that I have with my children, cherishing every now moment.

Going back to the images in the card… The closed doors sailing along the waves are waiting to open. Waiting for some time to come, the right time. But there is only now. Now is always the right time to let love flow. There is a sweet feeling of release when letting the water flow through the door. I am reminded that there’s nothing to wait for. Everything I need, everything important in life is already right here in my life. And I don’t want those closed doors of time to pass me by unopened, unappreciated, unlived.

These ramblings of mine probably make very little sense to those reading it. It was hard for me to put into words the feelings I’m getting from this card today, but it's pretty powerful.

Note: The backs of these cards fit together to make a huge geometric pattern. There is a very interesting spread in the book that utilizes these puzzle pieces. You draw cards face down, then puzzle together the backs, trying to match images. Then you turn them over as connected and read your cards according to where they lay together. There is special meaning given to each set of possible matches you have made. I have yet to do this spread, but I would like to find the time to do so this week.

Deck: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Monday Readings for Charity

Happy Monday! If you'd like a one-card reading today with the Da Vinci Enigma Tarot deck, you can contribute to a worthy cause at the same time, for only $10. Read here for more details on the reading offer. If you're interested, please book your reading by midnight tonight (EST).

I want to thank those of you who have participated in my Monday readings for charity... your valuable contribution is greatly appreciated and means the world to me!

Play a Game, Save a Life...
While watching Idol Gives Back last week, we discovered that every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies from malaria. My kids counted how many children likely died during the span of a commercial break, and we were all in tears. It only costs $10 to buy a mosquito net that will literally save a child's life. I have even found a website, NothingButNets.net that offers an online game you can play, delivering virtual nets to people. At the end of the short game, a sponsor will donate a net to a child on your behalf. Saving a child's life is as simple as playing a video game! Please, please, please go play now. All you have to to is play the quick game, then confirm your email address with the link they send you. That's all! (It's a great way to get your children involved as well... my kids all took turns playing.)

Featured deck of the week: Da Vinci Enigma Tarot

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally

(Monday Apr. 7 - Sunday Apr. 13):

Majors: 5 (The Fool (twice!), The Hermit, Death, Strength)
Courts: 0
Minors: 3 (4 of Pentacles, 4 of Swords, 6 of Cups)

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

Yet again, I have an extra card this week, as I drew two cards on Saturday. This has been an interesting week with the cards. Five Majors!! The Fool appearing twice. No courts. Two 4's. Three cards appearing for the first time. It's also interesting how my dreams came into play with the tarot twice this week as well.

All the Majors signify that this has been a heavy and important week for me, which it has. The Death card appeared on the perfect day, as did the Fool following it the next day, and the Six of Cups the day after that. Again, I'm impressed with a deck that I didn't think I'd work too well with. Or, more accurately, it has greatly solidified my comfort with the idea that it doesn't matter what tools I use...the right message will always appear for me when I seek it.

Deck: Cagliostro Tarot

Daily Card - Six of Hearts (Cups)

Today I drew the Six of Hearts (Cups). As I began a new start yesterday, this card is telling me not to look back. I have found myself thinking about the past, and that is not conducive to beginning anew.

When I look at this card, I see two rows of cups that form a path that leads either up and ahead to the future, or back down towards the past. The flower on the bottom (towards the past) is sitting on its leaves in such a way as to imply a dead end. A stop sign. Don’t go there. The flower on top, leading the way to the future, is flowering and opening up, showing the unlimited possibilities.

This is very helpful advice for me today, and I’m quite happy to have drawn this card today.

Deck: Cagliostro Tarot

Daily Card - The Madman (Fool) and Strength

Wow. Today I drew two Major Arcana cards, confirming the great significance of the transition happening in my life today. The Strength card comes with a background story, so I’ll start with the Madman (Fool). This is the second time I’ve drawn this card this week, and it makes perfect sense for me today, following yesterday’s Death card. Death represented the ending of something big in my life, and today I start anew with the Fool. There’s a sense of freedom and joy I feel and see in this card today.

Now here’s the story with the Strength card. Yesterday, I was thinking of this card, and I really wish I could remember what train of thoughts led me to contemplate the card, but I can’t recall. I thought about how I hadn’t drawn it for my daily card for about five months now, and how it never appears in any of my readings.

Then last night I had a dream.

I was walking into a lion enclosure at a park that was closed. There were two lions laying together, and I walked up to the enormous one closest to me. It was larger than life. I put my hand on top of its nose and ran my hand up its face, toward the top of its head. There was just the tiniest wisp of the unknown, but not exactly fear.

(During the entire dream, I wasn’t sure if the lion was going to suddenly snap and attack me, but that possibility didn’t make me want to leave. It was more of a hope that it wouldn't than a fear that it would.)

The lion got up and walked next to me as I led it out into a larger gated area, my hand resting on its head. I then turned my attention to a young man who worked at the place. We were discussing something about how long the park would be closed, or something. He and I were the only ones there. When I turned back around, the lion was gone. The gate had been left open, and it had escaped into the park. I was upset, wondering how in the world we were going to find the lion in such a huge place. The young man went out to search the grounds, while I stayed behind in the enclosure. I thought maybe the lion was just being playful with me, and hiding somewhere nearby, still within the confines of the gated area.

I had a feeling the lion was hiding in this dark area under this huge trailer (a shed-like building). So I looked under it, expecting to find it. The next thing I know, the lion was next to me again. I wasn’t sure if it had really been hiding under there, or if it had escaped and returned. Either way, I closed the gate, and started petting the lion all over its face, and tickling it under the chin, like I do with my cat.

There was more to the dream, but I can’t remember...it gets hazy for me from that point on.

When I woke up, the first thing I did was get my deck out and shuffle for my daily draw. After thinking about the Strength card yesterday, and having this Strength-themed dream, I thought for sure I’d draw this card. But I drew the Madman. And it made perfect sense for my day, so I couldn't complain. But I was a little disappointed that my draw wasn’t more magical. Then I wondered if maybe, just maybe, the Strength card could be sitting there on the bottom of the deck. So I turned the deck over to look at the bottom card, and there it was!! I laughed out loud with sheer delight!

The woman in the Strength card is wearing a cape of the same color as the cloak the skeleton wore in yesterday's Death card, tying it all together quite nicely.

I have weathered many storms in this chapter of my life which have required of me a great deal of strength and courage. Throughout this span of time, I have been holding onto this hope that things would work out, rather than focusing on the fear that they wouldn't (just as I approached the potential danger of the lion in my dream). I believe this momentous transition is going to give me a new sense of innate strength that I won't have to work as hard for. I feel a sense of finality, of having paid my dues, and almost as though I've officially "earned my stripes".

Thinking back on the dream, I see two versions of strength. The first was my facing the beast with gentle determination, not knowing what my fate would be. Then there was a break when the lion was gone, transitioning into the second version. When the lion returned, I was much more playful with it, as my new sense of strength took on a different meaning. The first representing the strength of courage required to endure a trial, and the second being the strength of confidence I gain as my reward. This interpretation explains beautifully the present moment in my life.

As the universe likes to sprinkle signs of synchronicity throughout my days, I’ve already seen an image of a lion today in an unexpected place, and I'll likely see more of them throughout my day.

Note: I also wanted to add that today is my father's birthday, and while he is still in the hospital, his numbers are getting better, and they are likely going to do another surgery to remove the dialysis tubes early next week! I thought the Strength card was fitting for this reason today too.

Deck: Cagliostro Tarot

Daily Card - Death

Another Friday, another Death card. Only, unlike last Friday, this time the Ten of Swords is nowhere in sight… Whew! This is a pretty fashionable skeleton we have here. She’s wearing a hot pink cloak like she’s about to walk the runway, with a scythe as a prop. Even her toes are pointed in a fancy way.

I’d say this skeleton is dealing with death quite well! This card actually has huge significance in my life today which I won’t get into here, but there couldn't be a better card in the deck to describe this day for me. This is the last day of something huge in my life, as a new beginning is arriving tomorrow. It’s a little surreal, but it’s a good thing, and if this card is any indication, it looks like I’ll be releasing the old and embracing the new in style!

Deck: Cagliostro Tarot

Daily Card - Four of Spades (Swords)

This deck is bringing out all sorts of cards that I haven’t drawn yet on the blog. This is the third one this week! When I first looked at this card, I saw a burger. That’s what the flower looked like to me. Then the longer I looked at it, it started to resemble a Venus Flytrap. (The lines in the card are more distinct and menacing than in the scans.). And the three berry-like growths sprouting from the top of the flower reminded me of the story Gertrude McFuzz by Dr. Seuss.

For the past week or so, my kids and I have been taking really long walks. This morning when I woke up, I thought it would be a great day to give my body some rest. That’s the advice I will take from the Four of Swords.

The burger I saw in the image reminded me of being mindful to eat well and healthy today. And the Venus Flytrap? Well, it’s a plant that eats animals, which is pretty out of the ordinary. I’ll take that as a message to dare to do something different today...though what that is I’m not sure yet. But I’ll think of something. And I'll re-read Gertrude McFuzz today for the fun of it. It's a story about being grateful for what you have, and this is a message I also received loud and clear last night after my kids and I watched Idol Gives Back on TV. I have blessings aplenty...I'm a lucky, lucky woman.

Deck: Cagliostro Tarot

Daily Card - Four of Diamonds (Pentacles)

I drew the Four of Diamonds (Pentacles) today. This card usually reminds me of Ebenezer Scrooge, or the more comedic Mr. Krabs (from SpongeBob). I'm not a miser with my money, but this card can also indicate experiencing trouble letting go of something you have an unhealthy attachment to. When I first looked at the imagery on this card, it reminded me of a dream I had last night, which featured someone from my past. It took me a long time to let go of this complicated relationship, despite it being obviously long overdue. I was reminded of my dream simply by the imagery of this card, then when considering the meaning of the card, it fit together perfectly.

Although I have absolutely released my emotional attachment to this person, the relationship did have a dramatic effect on my life, and there are still remnants of these changes that remain in my life today. I think this card is reminding me that it's okay to let go of these things that I've been allowing to hold me back.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how the decks I choose and the cards that come up just seem perfectly matched for me at just the right time. This is the first time I have drawn the Four of Pentacles for this blog. And today, the particular imagery sparked a memory of a dream I had last night which coincided with the actual meaning of the card. I don't know if I would have made that connection with the dream if this card had come up while using another deck. It's pretty amazing how that seems to work out.

On another note, the Four of Pentacles can also indicate financial stability and security. I received a playful little nod from the universe in this area today. While taking a walk with my kids this morning, and I found four pennies in the street, which made me immediately remember I had drawn this card today. (I first found a Canadian penny, then further down the road I found three U.S. pennies on the ground together.) It's kinda funny how I found four coins on the ground, after drawing the card that is sometimes known as the Four of Coins. The Canadian coin was also significant because this morning I decided to have a French breakfast, making some makeshift crepes while we listened to French music. Then on our walk, I taught my daughter some French words. So finding the Canadian coin gave me the chance to share with her the fact that French is spoken throughout parts of Canada as well. It was a fun and serendipitous morning!

Deck: Cagliostro Tarot