Daily Draw - Hanged Man and Judgment

This week I'm using the Archeon Tarot for my daily draws. I received this deck several weeks ago, and bonded instantly with it. It's the deck I use now for all my personal readings. The cards speak to me in a way that almost transcends language. When I see the cards in a spread, it's like an all-encompassing and intricate knowing I get, rather than a reading of separate cards, so it may be hard for me to articulate into words what I see in them. Should be an interesting week for blogging.

I trimmed the borders off my deck, so the images shown for my daily draws this week will reflect that. When I post my review of the deck, I will display images of the cards intact. (In the meantime, if you'd like to see the images with borders and titles, you can view the full deck here, though the cards are actually lighter in person than they appear in the scans on that site.)

So I start the week with two Majors, which accurately indicates the enormity and weight that this day holds for me. I drew The Hanged Man and Judgment. What I got from these cards was that something I've been waiting for a loooong time is finally reaching its apex. The length of time is indicated in the skeletal remains of the Hanged Man. How long has he been hanging there? I have a very important deadline to meet tonight, which has been several months in the making. It's sort of a "make it or break it" deadline. Do or die. Which is what I see in the Judgment card. See, these cards make perfect sense internally, and it's a very strong message I'm receiving, yet I can't find more words in me to describe it here. Strange. We'll see how tomorrow goes. This deck might be too personal for me to be able to use for blogging purposes.

Deck: Archeon Tarot

Deck Review: Fenestra Tarot

When I first saw images of the Fenestra Tarot online, I was very drawn to the whimsical lines and soft coloring. When I received my copy, my first impression was that it looked a bit flat and I wasn't sure that it would lend itself to deep readings. But after working with the deck for a week, I was very glad to be proven wrong.

The Fenestra Tarot was named for the Latin word for "window" and was designed with the intention to open the windows of the reader's imagination. The borders featured on the Minor cards give the feeling of looking through a window.

"Thai artist, Chatriya, has creatively fused traditional tarot symbolism with elements from her own culture and influences as far reaching as Egypt, mythology, Japanese manga and Art Deco." (Taken from the LWB.)


The Cards
The borders on the Minors are completely different from those on the Majors, though both are elaborate. Surprisingly, I didn't find this at all distracting. What did draw my attention was the bizarre inconsistency of the artwork in some of the Majors. There are quite a number of cards which feature illustrations with much softer lines, and when side by side with a Minor, they almost look like they come from two different decks. The Minors have more of a cartoon-y style with very distinct lines, while many of the Majors are are more softly blended in. So sometimes seeing one next to the other, the difference is enough to make me stop for a moment and wonder at why this was done, which is a bit distracting. However, it's a minor annoyance, and not enough of a problem to hinder a reading.

Though a completely recognizable variation of the RWS, the Fenestra does stray from tradition on many cards, which I like. When I drew the Hierophant, I was pleased and comforted by the route the artist took with the card. Usually topping my least favorite list, the Fenestra Hierophant has a gentle zen-like vibe going on, which provides a more peaceful, spiritual take on the card.

The Moon card (shown below) is another which deviates from tradition. It features two nude women, one above and one below the moon, surrounded by whimsical swirls, and it looks almost as though they are swimming around the moon. The Temperance card (below) offers an unusual version, with the angel dipping her toes into a blood-red pool of water.

The Six of Cups (shown above) was the card which initially drew me to this deck. I love the way the children are drawn... it has a very storybook-style feel to it. I also love the whimsical Aces.

The Devil is sexy as hell (no pun intended), and is really the first Devil card to give me that strong feeling of doing something you know you shouldn't, but you just can't help yourself. I'm glad I don't have to attempt to resist the temptation of this particular devil!

I'm very drawn to the style in which the Nine of Swords is illustrated, and I'm captivated by the feeling I get from the Three of Wands, as though I'm actually right there in the scene. (Cards shown below.)

My least favorite cards are probably Death and the Nine of Pentacles. The horse in the Death card is drawn in such a manner that it's difficult to tell where his head it, and it's a bit of a struggle to make out the image. The Nine of Pentacles just looks a little too modern. There's something about it I can't quite put my finger on, but it just doesn't seem to fit with the other cards.

How it Reads
The Fenestra Tarot is surprisingly blunt. The gentle and soothing coloring is deceptive, as it originally led me to imagine that the deck would deliver very soft readings. But it delivers quite a smooth punch, and doesn't beat around the bush. It tells you what you need to hear without sugar coating the message, but it does so in a way that isn't unnecessarily brutal or abrasive, which makes for an interesting and inviting blend.

While using the deck for my daily draws every day for a week, I found it to be eerily precise in describing either what I was going through that day, or depicting with amazing accuracy an event that occurred the prior evening. The meanings are very clear to understand and easy to relate to.



The LWB and Spread Sheet
The Little White Book which accompanies the Fenestra Tarot offers general meanings for the cards, and are not specific to this deck. The LWB includes the Celtic Cross spread. Three blank pages are provided for notes.

The Spread Sheet included with the Premier Edition (shown at left) displays an "Ancient 10-Card" spread, which is a version of the Celtic Cross which differs in position from the one featured in the LWB. Spread sheet measures approximately 20" x 17" and folds up for easy storage.

Final Thoughts
After going back and forth with this deck, once I actually used it, I was pleasantly surprised with how well it reads. It's a beautiful variation on the RWS, and as it seems to have a universal scope, I'd recommend it for any type of reading.

See below for 12 more images.

Suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, Pentacles
Court Titles: Page, Knight, Queen, King
Justice/Strength: Strength 8, Justice 11
Cards: 78
Card Size: 2 3/4" x 4 3/4"
Card stock: Glossy
Backs: Reversible
Border: 1/8" gray outer border plus ornate inner borders (sizing differs between Majors & Minors)
Deck-specific LWB: No
Deck-specific Spread Sheet: No
Artist: Chatriya Hemharnvibul
Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc. (2006)





To see more images, visit my daily draws with the Fenestra Tarot.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally

(Monday June 23 - Sunday June 29):

Majors: 3 (High Priestess, Hierophant, Moon)
Courts: 2 (Queen Swords, Queen Pentacles)
Minors: 9 (8 Cups, 2 & 4 Wands, 2 & 10 Swords (each twice!), 2 & 5 Pentacles)

Cups: 1
Wands: 2
Swords: 5
Pentacles: 3

I was surprised by the stunning accuracy of this deck this week. It performed much more boldly than I had expected it to. I had a very transformative week, and the cards matched my daily progress and didn't hold back. Full review forthcoming.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Draw - Two of Pentacles and The Moon

I drew these cards shortly after waking from a nightmare this morning. The Moon speaks to me of mysterious and enigmatic dreams. I had a series of dreams last night, alternating between good ones and nightmares, all twisting together in weird ways. The blue swirling in the card is matched and amplified in the Two of Pentacles in which a man is lifting and lowering two pentacles in the water. This scene is reminiscent of something that happened in my dream.

The last of the dreams this morning ended with my children and I in a lake with enormous and vicious prehistoric sea monsters. I helped my son escape the water and sent him to get help. I turned back to the water where one of my daughters was pulling her younger sister up out of the water, over and over again, as she kept sinking back down. (This is what I saw immediately in the Two of Pentacles.) I jumped back into the water. My older daughter was vigilant in trying to save my younger daughter from drowning. The bank was too steep and slippery for me to get us out of the water, and I knew it was only a matter of seconds until the fighting monsters would devour us. At that moment, I heard my youngest daughter say, "Mama?" She had woken me from my nightmare, thrilling me with the realization that she was alive and that I had been dreaming!

It was such a strange string of dreams, one sweet, one scary, another blissful, followed by the last horrific one. There were elements that carried through to each one, so they were connected, though nothing alike. This was one morning I was very glad to have been woken up early!

I've never really been interested in interpreting my dreams. (I have too many of them, and it would take most of my day if I were to analyze each one.) And if I were to interpret these cards in relation today, I'd have to incorporate the three other related dreams, and it could take days to do so. I'm satisfied enough with the idea that these cards were simply reflecting the energy that was so fresh on my mind after waking this morning. ...Not to mention pretty amazed at the striking similarity in the Two of Pentacles card!

Note: I just realized that I've drawn the Moon card three times this month. Not sure what that means, but wanted to make note of it.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Draw - The Hierophant and Ten of Swords

Today I drew the Hierophant and the Ten of Swords. Ordinarily topping my “least favorite cards” list, the Hierophant is actually a very welcome sight today. I really like the Zen-like approach the artist has taken with this card. The atmosphere and bodily poses of the men in the card resemble more of a yoga class than a typical church setting. Yoga blends mind, body and spirit, which is a much more welcoming way to view this card. I believe yoga means “to unite”, and in the LWB, “alliance” is one of the terms given for this card. It’s not usually what I think of when I see the usual Hierophant card, but it makes perfect sense with this one.

The Ten of Swords has appeared again, and this time I see it differently. Two days ago, it was all about the end of the road. Today my focus is on the movement in the card. I see how the woman is being risen off the ground by an unseen force. I look back at the Hierophant and see his raised hand, orchestrating it. His warm and comforting sense of spirituality is raising this woman up. I expect at any moment to see the swords in her back succumb to gravity and fall to the ground, relieving half of her pain in one fell swoop.

Yesterday was one of the best days I’ve had in a really long time. I hit a turning point in my life, and you couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face yesterday no matter how hard you tried. And for no reason at all. I was overwhelmingly happy because I decided to be. I decided that’s who I am. And so it was. The other day when I drew the 10 of Swords, I was feeling the pain and the despair of the swords. Today I feel the rise and the healing. Same card, completely different feeling.

Last night I was inspired by another idea which took my new outlook to another level. I did this internal practice for awhile last night, and was surprised to find myself doing it again this morning in that halfway state between sleep and waking. I just woke up doing it without intending to. After just one day of claiming my new self, I have already seen differences in my life. Things that happen effortlessly and unconsciously, like my waking up internally performing this new practice, and yesterday’s sitting straight up at the computer (which, by the way, continued all day, and I am sitting erect now!). It’s like once I made the shift in my perspective, other things have just started falling into place naturally, without any effort on my part. It’s such an exhilarating revelation!

The Hierophant is a very accurate description of the changes I’m going through right now. Mind, body and spirit are all coming together in beautiful harmony. And I don't expect I'll be seeing the Ten of Swords again any time real soon. I feel it's had its say, and is now dissolving from my experience.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Draw - The High Priestess and Five of Pentacles

This morning I drew the High Priestess and Five of Pentacles. Again, the cards so clearly illustrate something I discovered last night. Yesterday I read two books by Neville Goddard, and something just clicked in me. I have always believed in the power of the Law of Attraction, and have lived the principles long before I ever heard anyone talk about it. But still, there's always been something missing. There wasn't enough oomph in it, and in many cases, manifesting continued to require more effort than I thought it should. I have been able to manifest some pretty miraculous things instantaneously over the years, but I have always wanted it to just be a way of life, rather than something I had to constantly work at. Enter Neville Goddard.

The reason the material I read last night clicked with me is because I can clearly see examples of it in my own life. It wasn't just pretty theories that sound like they might be possible. It goes beyond what you normally hear about the Law of Attraction. This is the powerful stuff that has always worked for me, but I didn't realize I was doing it at the time.

In short, Neville explains that in order to have what you want, you have to become the person who has that thing, and not even remotely consider any other possibility. And in order to erase something from your life, you need to completely remove your attention from it. Deny it exists, despite what your senses tell you.

I could give countless examples of how this has worked in my life. Here's just one. When I became pregnant for the first time, I knew I would never work outside the home, leaving my child to be raised by someone else, although I had no clue how to work from home. I just became a stay at home mom, despite having no husband or support or resources to do so. How did I manage this? How do I continue to manage this eight years and two more kids later? The only answer I can give is that there has never been one cell in my body that would ever consider any other option. I have done many various things to make a living from home, and there have been many twists of fate along the way. Even at moments when it felt like it would be impossible, there has never been a moment, not one single moment, when I ever considered leaving my kids to work outside the home. I'd be just as likely to sprout horns. Even when I couldn't see the HOW, I just knew it was who I was, and therefore, there was simply no other option. It's about burning your ships at the shore, so to speak. Allowing yourself no way back, no other option but to have what you want. Never for a moment consider the possibility of not having it.

Now back to the cards. What stood out for me is that it looks like the Priestess has manifested a golden ball from the top of her head. She hasn't used her hands, or outward effort. The gold has been created just by her powerful acknowledgment that she is someone who can do such a thing. I see the golden pentacles in the Five of Pentacles as her doing. She just keeps creating them and putting them out there. The fellows in the card are walking right by them. They are determined that life is tough, and refuse to see abundance. In fact, the guy on the left is dramatically turning his head deliberately as far away from the gold pentacles as humanly possible. He is completely removing his attention from the golden circles of abundance. This wholehearted refusal to even acknowledge the reality of the safe haven behind them is exactly the way to keep it out of their lives. They could just as easily remove their attention from their poverty, denying that reality instead. But by acknowledging only their negative circumstances, they are creating more of the same.

The High Priestess knows that in order to have what you want, you must first become that person in your mind, heart and soul. You must look at life through the eyes of already being that which you want to become. It's all about perspective, and the Priestess has that power down pat. The guys in the Five of Pentacles are using this same power, but since they think of themselves as men who are poor, then that is who they are, and will continue to be.

My life changed last night, and I started to see my world through very different eyes. I see myself as already being right now, who I want to be. When I sat down this morning at my computer, after a few minutes, I realized something amazing. I was sitting up very erect. Every other day, I slouch like nobody's business. I used to have very good posture, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that I haven't sat up straight in years. But here's the thing... I didn't do this on purpose this morning! This was an unconscious, physical manifestation of my new outlook. It totally blew my mind. My inner acceptance of already being who I want to become had literally changed the way I sat at my computer. It wasn't something I even thought about, but I guess the successful woman I now see myself as just doesn't slouch at the keyboard!

I have a set of several very specific goals in mind, the grand finale being our relocation to Idaho. Last night I made it my intention that when I complete these goals, when we get to Idaho, I will write a book sharing with others how I did it. When I was in the shower this morning, I decided instead that I would start that book now. How can I start a book about accomplishing these goals when I haven't even done so yet? I will start working on the parts that I can already share from my past and current experiences. I will become the author of that book starting today, letting the rest of the book unfold as my goals are met, rather than waiting for some day in the future. I am the author of that book now, today! And so the goals have to manifest, since I am already the author of this book. And this is precisely the type of change that I am talking about.

And here I am, at the end of writing one monumental post, still sitting straight up in my chair! What an exciting day this is. (Who'd have thought having the Ten of Swords and Five of Pentacles come up one after another would be cause to celebrate!?)

Note: I have Neville's works in ebook format, so if anyone would like me to send them a copy of either or both books, I'd be more than happy to do so. Just email me at tarotdame@gmail.com .

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Draw - Ten of Swords and Two of Swords

These cards illustrate a chat I had with a wonderful friend late last night. It's actually rather remarkable how accurately these cards describe the powerfully cathartic conversation we had. Issues were brought to light that we had been both been keeping ourselves blind to. As I mentioned two days ago when I drew the Two of Swords, the background looks bruised and bloodied. Not wanting to face that pain, the woman chooses to blindfold herself and simply deny it's there. This was the topic of discussion for us last night, and it was very eye-opening.

When I saw the Ten of Swords this morning, I thought of the phrase "rock bottom". The end of the road. It's a horrible place to be, but at the same time, there's really nowhere to go but up. So at least there's that. The worst is over. I see the Two of Swords as the woman who covers her eyes when a scary part of a movie comes on, because she can't bear to watch what's going on. When the worst is over, the blindfold can be removed, and things will begin to get better. My friend and I realized that we have been covering our eyes so we wouldn't have to see the "scary parts" of our lives.

The Ten of Swords reminds me of the quote by Winston Churchill, "If you're going through hell, keep going." At some point, you'll end up at the Ten of Swords. Smack dab in the middle of hell. But once you're in the middle of it, if you just continue on, you're already on your way out. (Inspired by the saying that you can only walk halfway into a forest, because after that you're walking out. The Ten of Swords is the middle of the forest.)

The conversation last night was really tough. A lot of it had to do with my desire to move, but it was so much more than that. My friend and I have similar soul paths, and neither of us are living up to our potential. We have both been denying this truth. Talking about it and bringing it all out into the open was very cleansing, and painful as it was, it was a necessary step in both our lives. I am glad to see the Ten of Swords today, to remind me that starting today, I am now walking out of the forest.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Draw - Two of Wands and Queen of Pentacles

This morning I drew the Two of Wands and Queen of Pentacles. This deck is taunting me. Again, in these cards I see my burning desire to move. They are both looking westward, in the direction I want to move.

For a long time, the Two of Wands was probably the most ambiguous card of the deck for me. But I have come to see it as the "checking the map" card. Using the globe in his hands as a map, he sees where he began, where he is now, and where he's headed. Just checking to be sure he's still going in the right direction as he ventures onward toward his goal.

The other night I watched the movie, Alexander, and this card reminded me of Alexander the Great today. I see him standing with the world in his hands, his unlimited vision and determined passion to go forth and conquer. (And those two wands take on a whole new meaning as well, hinting to me of his sexuality.)

The Queen of Pentacles is a card that has been coming up a lot for me lately, no matter what deck I use. (As has the Eight of Cups, which I also drew this week). The Queen is holding something that I need to acquire in order to make my move. Huge coinage. I see the Queen of Pentacles as a gentler and less rigid version of Martha Stewart. A domestic goddess who balances finances and a beautiful home life with ease. She's the queen I equate "home" with. I drew the Four of Wands "home" card yesterday, so the cards this week are really emphasizing this issue in my life.

But now, it looks like I'm not supposed to be so patient afterall? The Two of Wands is telling me to get my rear in gear! I need to find a way to get some more of what the Queen of Pentacles has, and figure out how to finance my desire to relocate. Oh how I wish there was a benefactor somewhere who paid single mothers to stay home and raise their children!

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Card - Two of Swords and Four of Wands

Today I drew the Two of Swords and Four of Wands. These cards are referring to the strong desire I have to move, and the inability to do anything about it just now. I think of the Four of Wands as home, and often a new home.

When I saw the Two of Swords, the first phrase that popped into my head was "my hands are tied". This card illustrates my immobilization and inability to make the move at this time. It's growing increasingly frustrating, as each day that passes, I want it more and more. This card shows a sky which has purple and yellow bruise-like coloring, and the sea is blood red. It looks like I feel internally right about now... battered, bruised and bloodied with frustration. Wanting something so much that you can taste it, and knowing it's currently out of your reach.

In a reading I did the other day, the Four of Wands appeared in the position of what I needed more patience about. And while that was very accurate, it's growing more difficult to follow that advice and remain patient. I've come to a point where I need to make big changes, and I don't know how to go about doing that. But I know that I'll go crazy if I have to stay here for much longer, so I must find a way to move on.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Daily Draw - Eight of Cups and Queen of Swords

This week I'll be using the lovely Fenestra Tarot for my daily draws. Today I drew the Eight of Cups and Queen of Swords.

I see the woman in the Eight of Cups leaving behind her comfort zone and normal life to take the throne and become the Queen of Swords. It's a place of power that she has long yearned for, but she has mixed emotions about leaving her world of normalcy behind. Her relationships are bound to change, and life will never be the same. But she goes onward, hoping her new position will bring more fulfillment to her life. She's a serious Queen, perhaps never being able to enjoy herself as much as she could, because she can't ever fully let go of what she had to leave behind.

These cards are telling me that it's time for me to move onto the next level in some area of my life. And that looking back at what was will only lead to unhappiness wherever I end up. I need to step out of my comfort zone without regrets. I do need to make some changes, and these cards are encouraging me to do so, but also warning me of the importance of maintaining a positive attitude along the way.

Deck: Fenestra Tarot

Deck Review: Sacred Art Tarot

The Sacred Art Tarot is comprised of manipulated classical art masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Pre-Raphaelites. Many of the images are spiritually oriented, though you don't need to be religious to work with this deck. As someone who knows virtually nothing about art history and little about organized religion, I was able to read with the deck very well. The images are beautiful and do indeed invoke a gentle spiritual vibe.

Andre St. Dryden writes in the LWB, "The images were created from the works of many great artists. Although the images in this particular deck are predominattely of Christian orientation, they are not limited to a single belief. So view them as spiritual doorways rather than dogmatic religious images."



The Cards
The first thing I noticed were the ornate gold frame borders. I usually don't care for borders, so I was surprised to find that I actually liked these. The frames give the feeling of being in an art museum. And I can just see myself walking through a museum reading the artwork. Shuffling the deck and laying out the cards becomes an instant rearranging of the paintings on the wall. I was also reminded of the paintings in the Harry Potter series, and how the painted characters would interact with each other, even moving from one painting to the next.

The Aces in this deck each feature a person, rather than just the singular suit symbol, my favorite being the Ace of Swords (shown at right) which appears to be a disembodied head. Here's where the art history would have come in handy, or an accompanying book, because I have no idea who this painting depicts.

The suit symbols (cups, wands, swords and coins) are all added to the paintings, some more obviously than others. While most of the images are well incorporated, there are a few that miss the mark. It's really just the Wands suit with the troublesome cards. The Eight and Ten of Wands, in particular are the two which stand out the most. The stark black lines which serve as wands look like simple computer generated straight lines, and are unnaturally placed in the scenes so that they stand out like sore thumbs in otherwise beautiful and natural looking paintings. They are lined up parallel to each other in ways that they just wouldn't fall if someone were really holding onto them. They are too obviously foreign to blend in.

Some images have been changed in other ways, but I wouldn't recognize the changes if I wasn't familiar with the original painting. For example, the Princess of Swords (shown below) is "Judith with the Head of Holofernes" by Lucas Cranach the Elder. In the original painting, Judith is holding the head of Holofernes, whom she has beheaded. In the manipulated Princess of Swords card, we see her hand resting on a gold box instead. This transformation looks seamless, which makes me even more curious about the sloppiness of the Wands cards.


My Thoughts
This is a deck which would greatly benefit from an accompanying book. There is no mention anywhere of the artists featured or who is depicted in the paintings. I recognized "The Crystal Ball" in the Six of Cups (shown above) only because I love John William Waterhouse. However, I found I was able to read the images intuitively without any knowledge of the paintings' origins or background stories. Though a book would have been a nice addition, it isn't necessary to successfully read with the deck.

I find it easy to be swept away in the images of these cards, as they transport me out of modern day life, and back into the very different world of the past. Emotions will always translate through the ages, so it is very easy to transfer the feelings you get by looking at these cards and apply them to the situation you are reading for today.

There are so many beautiful cards, it is hard to choose a single favorite. From what I can see, it looks like the woman in the Ten of Cups (shown below) is breasteeding her toddler. I love this, and it is one of my favorite cards. Some of the others which top my list are the Six of Cups (above), the Star, Two of Cups and Nine of Coins (all shown below).

My least favorite card would have to be either the Eight or Ten of Wands, due to the unnatural placement of the wands.


How it Reads
I have found these cards to deliver readings with a very serious tone. Gentle yet firm. While there are other decks which are comfortable cracking jokes and poking fun, this is not one of them. It would be a good choice to consult for serious or spiritual matters or those close to your heart. The cards have a romantic feel to them, in a slightly somber and controlled, old world way.

The readings I have done with the Sacred Art Tarot have been very accurate and easy to understand. The paintings work very well together, and allow for well integrated stories to emerge. The cards have a beautiful and natural flow to them when spread out side by side.



The LWB and Spread Sheet
The Little White Book which accompanies the Sacred Art Tarot offers general meanings for the cards, and are not specific to this deck. Andre St. Dryden has included a brief commentary which mostly addresses tarot in general. There is also a foreward written by Jeannette K. Roth (President of The Tarot Garden). The LWB features two 10-card spreads, the Celtic Cross and the Qabalistic Cross. Two blank pages are provided for notes.

The Spread Sheet included with the Premier Edition (shown at left) is custom designed for the Sacred Art Tarot, and displays a layout which differs from both of the spreads included in the LWB. Spread sheet measures approximately 17" x 21" and folds up for easy storage.

Final Thoughts
I would recommend this deck for anyone who appreciates the beauty of classical art. It's a gorgeous set of cards that lends a beautiful atmosphere to a reading. And for those who aren't well versed in religion or art history, don't let that be a hindrance. If you connect with the images, that's all you will need to be able to read successfully with this deck.

See below for 12 more images.

Suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, Coins
Court Titles: Princess, Prince, Queen, King
Justice/Strength: Strength 8, Justice 11
Cards: 78
Card Size: 2 3/4" x 4 3/4"
Card stock: Glossy (heavily laminated)
Backs: Reversible
Border: 1/8" outer white border, 5/16" inner frame border
Deck-specific LWB: No
Deck-specific Spread Sheet: Yes
Artist: Andre St. Dryden
Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc. (2007)



To see more images, visit my daily draws with the Sacred Art Tarot.

To purchase this deck, visit US Games Systems, Inc. or your favorite tarot retailer.

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Week in Review

Previous Week's Tally

(Monday June 16 - Sunday June 22):

Majors: 6 (Universe, Fool, Devil, Emperor, Hierophant, Chariot)
Courts: 3 (Knight/Prince Cups, King Wands, King Coins)
Minors: 6 (5 Wands (twice), 10 Wands, 6 Swords, 7 Swords, 6 Coins)

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

After working with the Sacred Art Tarot this week, I have found it to be a very beautiful deck that delivers readings with quite a serious tone. I'll be posting a full review soon.

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Daily Draw - Seven of Swords and The Chariot

This morning I drew the Seven of Swords and the Chariot. As it turns out, the cards were very literal today. The first thing I noticed was that they are both lucky sevens. I set the cards aside to read later because we were headed out for a walk to the store.

On the way to the store, I had the idea to test out a little experiment with the kids. I gave them each two pennies and told them to put each one in a place where someone would be likely to find it. I told them about a quote I had read recently, "You can't out-give the Universe", and that by giving happily and freely, they were sure to enjoy an abundant return. The key to the whole thing was to give with joy in order for it to work. They had a blast, figuring out where to place their pennies so that it would be a surprise to the person who found it. They left them on doorsteps, on the ground in front of car doors, next to newspapers in driveways, and even in mailboxes (this was my bright idea, though I think it may be illegal.) I took the last of my change to distribute myself, which was two nickels.

Less than five minutes after the last coin was placed, my daughter found a penny on the ground! She was so excited that she had already manifested money so quickly! When we got to the store, she gave the checkout lady her penny because she wanted to manifest even more! So in total, they gave out seven pennies (reminding me of the sevens in my cards today). And I gave away two nickels.

I was delighted to find that the cereal I wanted to buy was both on sale, and Buy-One-Get-One Free! So I received the grocery equivalent of $4.00... Forty times the amount I released into the world less than half an hour earlier with my two nickels!

On the way home, when we were about two blocks from our house, I saw something that someone had left out for trash pickup. It was a huge battery operated toy truck, about 3 feet long. The kind that costs about $100. There it was, on the side of the curb, waiting to be thrown away. I looked at it, inspected it, and it was in perfect condition. I asked the kids if they wanted it, and they excitedly said yes. My son carried it home, as I pointed out the amazing manifestation they had attracted with their seven pennies!

The Seven of Swords card I see as my daughter. There are six swords floating in midair, representing the six pennies they had originally released. The figure in the card surrenders the seventh sword (the additional penny my daughter had found and given away). The result? The Chariot! Literally, a chariot-like toy in the form of a truck!

I normally don't even look at the LWB of decks, but I'm getting ready to write a review of this deck, so I wanted to read through it. One of the meanings given for the Seven of Swords is "efforts paying off", which they did quite literally today in spades! (No pun intended ... "spades/swords".)

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Summer Solstice Reading

To celebrate the first day of Summer, I wanted to do a reading using a special spread. I found a great one on the Aeclectic Tarot forums, created by bodhran.

Bodhran's Summer Solstice Spread

~~~~~1~~~~~~
4~~The Sun~~2
~~~~~3~~~~~~

Pull "The Sun" from the deck and place it face up in the center.

1. During the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, more light is available to us. What in my life has been in shadow, that I need to shine a bright light on so I can see it clearly for what it is?

2. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin "sol" (meaning sun) and "sistere" (meaning to cause to stand still). What in my life am I trying to force into happening when instead I need to be still and patient?

3. The Summer Solstice is often called "Midsummer" because it is roughly in the middle of the growing season. What in my life is fertile and productive now? Where are my opportunities for growth?

4. After Summer Solstice, the days gradually become shorter, and the sun's strength wanes as winter approaches. What is waning in my life? What do I need to release?

(Click on the image above for a larger view of the cards laid out in the spread.)


1. During the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, more light is available to us.

What in my life has been in shadow, that I need to shine a bright light on so I can see it clearly for what it is?

Ten of Wands
This was one of the cards in my daily draw this morning, and I had just finished writing about it when I did this spread. I was focused on the negative aspects of the card, as the wands really bothered me.

What I need to see more clearly is where in my life I am focusing on the negative rather than the positive. In any situation, I have the choice to look at what's good about it, or what's bad about it. I am being called to contemplate what part of my life I am allowing the negative to overshadow the positive. I should also think about how this may be holding me back from manifesting the outcome I desire, and keeping me downtrodden like the woman in the card.



2. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin "sol" (meaning sun) and "sistere" (meaning to cause to stand still).

What in my life am I trying to force into happening when instead I need to be still and patient?

Four of Wands
In this image, I see the story of baby Moses in his basket, being rescued from the Nile and given a new foster mother. I see movement and a new home in this card.

I've started to get a little impatient about moving lately. I really want to move to another state. In fact, I'd like to be there yesterday, so this card speaks loudly and clearly to me that I can't force the matter. I need to relax and let it come naturally. Be patient and know that when the time is right, we'll be able to move. ...Easier said than done!





3. The Summer Solstice is often called "Midsummer" because it is roughly in the middle of the growing season.

What in my life is fertile and productive now? Where are my opportunities for growth?

Nine of Cups
Well now, this was a beautiful card to pull for this position. The Dream Come True card! It seems that now is prime time for me to achieve my desires and manifest my dreams!

I just received an email this morning from my mother who hit the $26,000 jackpot on a $2.00 penny slot machine! Maybe some of her good luck will rub off on me by association. It did make me feel giddy learning about her huge win, as I was excited for her. And feeling giddy and excited is sure to attract good things my way if I can keep it up!





4. After Summer Solstice, the days gradually become shorter, and the sun's strength wanes as winter approaches.

What is waning in my life? What do I need to release?

Three of Cups
Hmmm... When I first turned this card over, I was like "What?! The time has come for me to to stop celebrating?!" Obviously that couldn't be the advice meant here. So I looked deeper. The woman in the yellow dress has a cup in one hand, and with her other hand she is reaching up for the other woman's cup. She's being greedy and isn't grateful for what she has. What I need to release is comparing myself to anyone else, and being too busy wanting more that I don't realize the blessing in my own cup.

I also see the woman in white, holding her cup way up high, out of the other woman's reach. She's saying, "You can't have that." Just the other day while I was meditating, I made a mental note to myself to see how many times in a day I say "can't" or "no". I caught myself all day long, and revised my sentences before they came out of my mouth. It was a very enlightening experiment. So this card also reminds me of the need to release the limiting thoughts and words I allow to creep through my head and escape out of my mouth.

The messages I got from this card pose a tricky balance that I need to maintain. I need to think in more unlimited ways, while at the same time be happy and grateful for where I am and what I have now.


The Sun

This is a cute Sun card. It's a nice representation of the beginning of summer. Summer is actually my least favorite season because I despise the heat. I'll just have to remember to be grateful on a daily basis for air conditioning! Normally the Sun card shows a single baby on a horse. This card features two babies and a horse in the background. The babies have multiplied in this card, indicating to me that my blessings will multiply this summer!

All the cards I drew for this reading were very feminine. Not a prominent male in the bunch! I take that as a sign that this season will be a very fertile, spiritual and abundant time for me.

Happy Summer!

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Daily Draw - Ten of Wands and The Hierophant

The Ten of Wands is one of my two least favorite cards in this deck, which is such a shame because the painting is so beautiful. It's the wands that ruin it. They are so obviously fake and not a part of the picture. They are just stark, straight black lines, all perfectly lined up parallel to each other in the most unnatural way. (The Eight of Wands in this deck has the same problem.) It ruins the card for me because it stands out like a sore thumb. (It actually doesn't look so bad in the image here, but in person, the black lines are much more distinct.)

When I saw the Hierophant, the first phrase that popped into my head was "by the book". It looks to me like the young woman in the Ten of Wands has come to the Hierophant for help and he is consulting the rules of the Word. He has nothing original or heartfelt to say to help ease her burden. Instead, he allows tradition to do his talking for him. This way, he can't be held responsible for poor guidance. I don't get the feeling that that's what this woman needs. But maybe it is. Maybe firm structure is just the thing she needs. After all, she's riding naked through town on horseback, carrying these ridiculously computer generated wands. She's dejected and mortified enough to accept any help she can get at this point.

The Hierophant is probably my least favorite card of the tarot. On the rare occasion that he's portrayed as a kind, gentle and generous teacher, mentor or guide, then I can hop on board. But when he's shown as the traditional, religious priest or pope, it repels me. I don't like rules that are imposed on me which don't make sense for me personally. I don't believe there is a set of regulations that are right for everyone, covering all the diverse spiritual paths and needs of humankind. If it works for you, great. If not, you shouldn't have it forced down your throat, and need to conform. I refuse to do something because there's a book somewhere that says I should, no questions asked. That simply doesn't work for me.

The horse in the Ten of Wands stands even with the doorway of the church. Will he make a left and drop the woman off? Or will he keep going, knowing that she won't find the guidance she needs there? Do they stop and accept help, no matter how uncomfortable it makes the woman, or do they continue on their journey, hoping to find the answers she needs elsewhere? I suppose it depends on how bad her situation really is, and how close she is to her breaking point.

These cards remind me how important it is to be your own person and keep your head above water, so that you don't allow yourself to get into a situation where you might have to compromise your values just to survive. I believe that would ultimately put the woman in the card in an even worse position than she was to start off with. Her burden may be lifted physically, but spiritually and emotionally she'd be at the mercy of another's doctrine, and she might feel that she owed a certain amount of compliance to her benefactor. At least now she has her freedom. I'd tell her to wrap the horse's blanket around her for clothing, sell those god-awful wands for food and carry on until she reaches her desired destination. The Hierophant tells her she'll go to Hell if she listens to the likes of me. I wonder what she'll decide...

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Daily Draw - King of Wands and The Emperor

When I drew these two cards today, I literally said out loud, "Oh, good grief." These men are not my kinda guys. What am I supposed to do with them today? As I wrote in the comment section of an earlier post this week, I sometimes think of the Emperor as my biological father. So that made the cards suddenly much easier to translate. (He's the one with the recent medical problems.)

The thing that stood out to me was the similarities between both cards. The King and Emperor are both seated, with two scepters each, and both of their right hands are held up high, holding the top of their scepter, with their left hands resting lower around the other. There is emphasis on both of their left legs being more exposed than their right legs which are hidden under their robes. Their left legs are the ones on the right of the cards, indicating the future, so it makes me think that he is ready to take a step forward. (I have just heard that my father's now returned to work.) At each of their feet is an animal. A salamander under the King's feet and a ram under the Emperor's. The ram represents Aries, which is my father's astrological sign. The salamander reminds me of the snakes that my father has.

The King of Wands represents his new energy and returning back to the workforce. He is seated in both cards, so it does mean that he needs to take it easy and not overdo things, but his job requires him to be seated all day, so that shouldn't be much of a problem. The scepters can be illustrating that he will be keeping his hands busy, since computer work is half of his job. I also see it as taking his life back into his own hands. I do hope he will begin to value the importance of taking better care of himself.

The women that he works with like to take care of him, always bringing in home cooked food for him, which I see in the Emperor card, in the doting woman draped on his lap. It looks like my father just might enjoy a little bit of extra attention that they're sure to give him as he returns back to work.

I'm also thinking that the similarities between these two cards today were the deck's way of assigning a King to my father, which I hadn't really done yet. The King of Wands is astrologically linked with fire signs, so it would fit with his being an Aries. Though my stepfather is also an Aries, I usually think of him as more of the King of Pentacles type. Looks like my biodad now has a King card, at least tentatively. I'll have to see if and how it comes into play in my future readings.

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Daily Draw - Six of Coins and The Devil

Today I drew the Six of Coins and The Devil. The first thing that came to mind was, "Be responsible and generous with your finances or there'll be the devil to pay." Okay then!

I really like the Devil card in this deck! It's really creepy. I have no idea how this connection leaped into my head, but this card reminded me of the evil guy from the movie Time Bandits that I watched a million times as a kid. Something about the Devil and the menacing ball of fire reminded me of the end of that movie. And then I laughed because I suddenly saw another correlation with the film... the Devil in the card is so much bigger than the humans, which reminds me of the Little People who starred in the movie.

I'm not sure why I'm to be reminded of this movie which I haven't seen in many, many years but there has to be a reason. It's too random not to have meaning! Time Bandits... maybe I'm not supposed to let time steal away from me in regard to the financial advice in the Six of Coins. Oooh, that's good, I like that! I'd better take it to heart today... I don't want to have to face this guy --->

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot

Tarot Decks for Sale!

I have hit the tarot/oracle jackpot, receiving 13 new decks this month! I desperately need to clear some space which means releasing some decks that I've either been neglecting or duplicates that I don't need two sets of. I'm listing three here today, hoping that they can find new homes. The decks all come from a non-smoking home and the pricing includes shipping within the USA.

If you're interested, please email me at: tarotdame@gmail.com. Paypal only, please (you don't need to have a Paypal account to send payment through them.)



Cagliostro *OOP* $40 SOLD!
Cards & LWB. This deck is out of print, and is selling for over $100 on Amazon. The box is old but completely intact. The cards are like new, with a matte finish.
More info here.
View all the cards here.






Fairy Tarot $15 SOLD!
Cards & LWB -Like New!
More info here.
View all the cards here.






Osho Zen $12 SOLD!
Cards only. In excellent condition.
More info here.
View all the cards here.




Let me know if you have any questions about the decks!

Update: All decks have been sold!

Daily Draw - Six of Swords and Five of Wands

Today I drew the Six of Swords and the Five of Wands. The Six of Swords looks to me like Mary and Jesus traveling on donkey, with Joseph at their side.

The Five of Wands has made another appearance already, and this time I had to laugh because I couldn't help but see something different in it today, due to a movie I watched last night. Looking at this image, I immediately thought of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the end of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, when the two of them stopped trying to kill each other and, realizing they loved each other, united and teamed up to fight against their predators.



Both of these cards today speak to me of teamwork, togetherness, family and bonding for a common cause. One family goes about resolving their problems in a peaceful way, leaving the turmoil behind, while the other pair goes full throttle, facing it head on. Either way, they're in it together.

These cards remind me of how grateful I am to have family by my side, come what may. Looking at the cards together as a unit, I see a family leaving the fight behind (the family in the Six of Swords moving away from the Five of Wands struggle). Many years ago, I decidedly walked away from a life of negativity and drama, trading it in for a more peaceful life. I'm reminded by these cards today that it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Deck: Sacred Art Tarot