Shadowscapes Tarot: Library Preparation

Wow. The Page of Pentacles is stalking me this week. She appeared yesterday in my daily draw and has also appeared a few other times in other readings I've done this week. She's relentless. Today's reading hit me as illustrating a very ordinary event. Tomorrow we'll be spending a few hours in the library, so today is Gathering-Up-All-Library-Items Day. The two pages represent my children who have more books than I do. (The Page of Pentacles also reminds me of studying and book reading. The Page of Cups relates directly to my son, as it is his significator card, but since this version is very much female, it reminded me of my daughters also.)

The Four of Pentacles shows a dragon, hoarding his gold. We have renewed our books twice already, keeping them for the maximum allowed time. It's time to stop hoarding our borrowed books and return them for others to enjoy.

We're all very much looking forward to tomorrow. I love that my kids all enjoy and appreciate the library as much as I do.

Deck: Shadowscapes Tarot (by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, published by Llewellyn)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Shadowscapes Tarot: Expecting an "A-Ha!" Moment

The Page of Pentacles has come up for me a lot, playing with the deck this week. I suppose it really must have a message for me. Funny that it's also the card featured on the front and back covers of the Shadowscapes Companion book. The Hermit also returns, from yesterday. And following him today is the Ace of Swords.

When I saw these cards, I saw that something that I have been studying will result in an "a-ha!" moment for me. The Page of Pentacles I always see as a student. Combining the Page with the Hermit, it reminds me of the introspective reading I have been doing lately. The Ace of Swords promises a breakthrough or sudden moment of clarity as a result of my current studying.

The Page and Ace are both cards of beginnings, so it appears this moment of clarity will create a new starting point for me. Some sort of fresh slate. My interest is definitely piqued now!

Deck: Shadowscapes Tarot (by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, published by Llewellyn)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Shadowscapes Tarot: A Leisurely Day at Home

The first thing I want to say about today's trio is that I am absolutely in love with the Hermit in this deck. The Hermit is the card I'm most interested in when I look through a new deck. And I'm racking my brain to see if I can recall a more beautiful Hermit card. I can't do it. I love, love, love this Hermit card. For some reason I'm extremely drawn to the stone with the hole in it. I love that the artist did this. It reminds me of a seeing stone... through which one can see faeries. I also love the sweeping of the Hermit's robes which manage to be raggedy and elegant at the same time. So yeah... it's probably my favorite Hermits of all time.

Today I had a day off from anything and everything. I have been doing a lot of Hermit-esque reading (books, not cards). One of the books I'm reading is even a soul-searching type, which the Hermit would approve of.

Something else I did today was take a brief nap, which is really unusual for me, and that's what I see in the Four of Swords.

The Queen of Pentacles is me fully enjoying myself physically and domestically today. My day of leisure has been very enjoyable, and I have managed to get through it without feeling one bit guilty that I "should" be doing something more productive.

I didn't even remember to draw my cards until early evening, and I only did so at that point because I didn't want to miss the waning sunlight (which facilitates better photos of the cards).

It's been a lovely day, and I look forward to a nice relaxing evening.

Deck: Shadowscapes Tarot (by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, published by Llewellyn)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Shadowscapes Synchronicity

I just had to share this. We received two boxes from my mom in the mail today. Among the loot of books were three paint kits. My son got "How to Draw & Paint Mythical Monsters" and my daughters each received a copy of "Faeries, Mermaids and Angels: Creating Magical Worlds with Watercolor". When I looked at the cover, I said, "Wow! That looks exactly like the artwork in my new tarot deck." The kids all quickly agreed. I opened the kit and saw the name on the book inside. Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. Ha! Amazing! What are the odds of that? Two of Stephanie's creations, arriving two days apart! I thought that was pretty neat.

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Shadowscapes Tarot: Wait for it... Wait for it.......

When I looked at my daily draw today, I immediately heard, "Wait for it... wait for it....... BAM!" (Hanged Man... Four of Swords....... EIGHT OF WANDS!)

The cards seemed like a Past-Present-Future time line. It looked to me like something I've been waiting for... sacrificing for, and continue to wait peacefully for will come, and when it does, it will happen so suddenly. Like a celebrity's "overnight success" when they've been working, though unnoticed by the public, for a decade. The flowers the woman blows to the wind in the Eight of Wands reminds me of making a wish while blowing dandelion seeds away. This tells me that this is something that will be wanted, a wish come true.

Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't leave the reading ending with the cliffhanger of the Eight of Wands. I wanted to know what was going to come so suddenly, and yet not suddenly at all. I turned over a fourth card and laughed. The King of Cups. Of course. Who else?

For months I have seen the King of Cups coming into my life. Just recently, I did a playing card reading that confirmed it. Although I'm still not 100% ready for such a thing to enter my life, I am curious about it. About what he will be like... look like... and how my life will change. Like I said, I'm not ready for that change now, but I'm interested in learning what I can about it through the cards beforehand. So far, from all I have gathered (and confirmed by this reading), it will hit me out of the blue. In fact, in the playing card reading I did, I pulled a card that is very like the Eight of Wands. Something happening very quickly.

I believe when I see him, I will know it is him. I must admit I like the magical, uber-romantic feel of that.

Deck: Shadowscapes Tarot (by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, published by Llewellyn)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Happy World Tarot Day! 50% off Readings Today

Offer Now Expired.

I just realized it's World Tarot Day, and I was inspired to offer a special to my readers. Any readings booked today will be 50% off!!

Since I'm just throwing this post together really quickly, to get it out there, I didn't have time to set up a special button on my site. So if you'd like to take advantage of this offer today, you can either:

A) Order a reading through my site the normal way, and after receiving payment, I will refund you half the price...

or

B) Email me (tarotdame (at) gmail.com) with your interest and I will send you an invoice for the reduced price.


Please note: This offer is good ONLY for tarot readings, not faerie readings! You know, being World TAROT Day and all. ;)

Offer expires at midnight tonight, May 25, 2010

(Turnaround time on readings is approximately 2-3 days from date of booking.)


~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Shadowscapes Tarot: Message from the Universe

Today's mail brought me a delightful treat. A copy of the gorgeous new Shadowscapes Tarot. I'll be using it this week, and posting a review at the end of the week. Today instead of a general draw, I thought I'd try out one of the spreads in the book. This spread isn't new to me, but it does put a bit of a unique twist on it, with the "message from the universe" slant, and sounded like a good one to try this evening.

Message from the Universe Spread
(from the Shadowscapes Companion book, co-written by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore)

1. BODY: This is a message from the universe to you regarding your body - the way you care for it, the way you think about it, the way you honor or don't honor it.

2. HEART: This is a message from the universe to you regarding your heart, the way you protect or share your love, the way you feel, or the role you let emotions play in your life.

3. MIND: This is a message from the universe to you regarding your mind, the way you use (or don't use) it, the way you see and think about the world, or the way you approach problems.

4. SPIRIT: This is a message from the universe to you about your spirit. Perhaps it is something you need to do for your spiritual well-being, a way to honor your spirit, or how you can let your spirit fill your daily life.

(For the sake of the blog layout, I laid my cards out horizontally, whereas in the book the spread is laid out vertically, with card 1 at the bottom of the column, and 4 at the top.)



The first thing I noticed was that each of the four suits was represented in the reading, two of them even falling in their respective positions (Pentacles/Body and Cups/Heart). The next thing that stood out to me was that 3/4 of the spread was made up of male court cards! Not sure what that says about me right now...?

BODY: Ten of Pentacles
Wow, from this card, my first impression is treating your body like a temple, what with the castle in the background. But that is far from the truth, since I eat more chocolate than fruits and veggies, and I never exercise. The next thing I thought of was "legacy", which this card can indicate. If I look to my older relatives, I can see what might lie before me, and take care to nip any problems in the bud before they have a chance to progress.

My father has had a whole slew of medical problems, including a major heart attack. The things that run in my family, like high cholesterol, diabetes (egads, chocolate!!), heart disease, etc. are things that I should be conscious of as I get on in years. I'm only 36, but time goes by quickly, and there's no time like the present to start taking care of yourself. I do NOT want to end up like my father, sitting in front of the TV all day long, with dozens of bottles of prescription pills lining the kitchen counter. That's not the legacy I want to inherit, thankyouvery much.

So this card was a good reminder of that, and serves as a red flag for me. The woman in the card even cradles a peach larger than her head. More healthy food. Gotcha.

HEART: Knight of Cups
Ah! Busted! For as much as I say that I am not interested in being in a relationship, and I'm truly not just yet, I still melt at love stories and get swept away in romantic movies and novels. The truth is, I want the fairy tale. Just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I want the knight to ride up on a white horse and save me from this humdrum life and whisk me up in a life of perfect romance. But that doesn't happen in real life. Does it? It's pretty much what I'm holding out for, because there is a part of me that thinks it can come true. I'm a sucker for real romance, and not just courting that fades away once the guy's got you, dwindling down to the occasional flower delivery on special holidays. I want hand written letters and thoughtful gestures and unconditional love. As a way of life. Is that too much to ask? That's what my heart wants, and I think at this point, I'd rather be alone than settle for less than that. There has to be a guy out there who, like me, was born in the wrong century!

MIND: Knight of Wands
Another knight. This guy wants adventure and travel, and he wants it yesterday. I have always moved around a lot, so I get bored if I stay in one place too long. My mind craves the newness of undiscovered (to me) land. If it's not possible to move, I tend to do a mini version of it, by changing the furniture around, just so that things don't feel as much the same. I thrive on the thrill of change and new experiences. So this card is spot on. Since this is a message from the universe, I see that I have not changed much lately, and it's time to shake things up a bit. I was talking with a friend about that lately, the feeling of wanting more freedom and excitement out of life. Seeing this card reminded me of that, and how I need to bust loose from the status quo.

SPIRIT: King of Swords
I found this to be a bizarre card to fall in the Spirit category. Upon closer inspection, the thing that stood out for me in this card was the drawing of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. This drawing symbolizes the blend of science and art, and also emphasizes the proportionate symmetry of the human body, as well as the universe as a whole. Utilizing the King of Swords' analytical mind, I can see how this would relate to me spiritually. My spiritual life is definitely not in proportion to the other, more earthly parts of my life. I'm out of balance spiritually. For sure. It's something I advise other people to be mindful of, yet it's something I haven't gotten the hang of myself. I'm just one of many who generally leaves Spirit as a last priority, which often gets swept under the carpet when bedtime arrives and there just wasn't time to fit it in. This is something that I know needs to change. Spiritual imbalance is just as unhealthy as poor eating habits. I need to treat both my body and spirit with more reverence and respect.

Deck: Shadowscapes Tarot (by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, published by Llewellyn)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Deck Review: The "72 Names" Cards

The "72 Names" Cards is a self-published deck from Israel, created by metaphysical artist Orna Ben-Shoshan. The deck offers cosmic messages according to the secrets of the Kabbalah and the "72 Names of God". Not knowing anything whatsoever about Kabbalah, Orna assured me that knowledge of Kabbalah wasn't necessary to receive accurate messages from this deck. The deck is easy for anyone to work with, provided you approach the cards with openness, consciousness and honesty. While I assume experience with Kabbalah (or even reading Hebrew) would be an added benefit to reading with these cards, I can attest to the fact that it's not necessary.

The Cards
There are 72 cards in the deck, each measuring approximately 2 7/8" x 4 5/8". They are covered with a glossy laminate. The backs of the cards are blue, and feature muted images of Hebrew lettering, and a logo in the center, with the title of the deck. The backs are not reversible, but the cards aren't designed to be used with reversals, so it's of no consequence. I admit the backs are a bit boring compared with the vibrant artistry in the deck itself. But again, they are backs, which I don't pay much attention to anyway.

Each card is numbered in the bottom corners, and also given a Hebrew title, corresponding with one of the 72 names of God. The names are not referenced in the LWB.

The compelling artwork in the cards is colorfully surreal. Most of the cards have a fascinating fantasy element in them. People hovering in mid air, characters creating a bridge one floating plank at a time, human bodies with inanimate or inhuman heads, etc. There is a fantastic sense of the bizarre in the world these people inhabit.

Several of the images bring to mind familiar references. For example, there's an image (below) of a woman on a large balcony with a man floating in the air on the outer edge of the balcony. This reminded me of the scene in Aladdin where Jasmine asks the floating Aladdin how he was doing that! Another card (also below) reminded me of a female version of The Last Supper. And interestingly enough, there is a card (see right) that looks like it came straight out of a story I wrote years ago, which was quite a surprise to me!

Aside from the images that remind me of things I already know, the majority of the cards spark intuitive messages that are new and fresh. The surreal, unrealistic scenes set a beautiful stage for metaphorical interpretations. Even if you never crack open the LWB, and never discover what the cards are "supposed" to mean, it is a great deck to let your imagination and intuition run wild.

The deck comes with a synchronously numbered 72 page LWB. The interpretations for each card are comprised of three parts:

• Perspective (an overview of the situation)
• Direction (advice for action, or the mental/spiritual attitude you need to reach a solution)
• Bottom line (possible outcome)

The LWB advises only one card be pulled for each inquiry, or at the very most two, if the first card was unclear. This system simplifies things, since no spreads are needed. Just ask a question and pull a card. The author assures the reader that the card will always be relevant to the situation, even if it doesn't seem to make perfect sense right away.

How it Reads
After working with the deck for a full week, I can say that the cards I pull for my inquiries are always interesting, and eerily on point. For example, when I inquired about clearing away clutter, I pulled a card showing people in the act of untangling things. When I asked about someone from my past, I drew a card that specifically spoke about dealing with issues and people from the past. When my interest in sewing was revived, I turned over a card showing a needle and thread. Another card showed (with minute detail) a project I did with my kids, while yet another accurately illustrated a dream I had.

Each card I drew featured artwork that spoke directly to my inquiry. Turning to the interpretations in the LWB was a different story. Sometimes the written meanings made sense, and sometimes they didn't seem to. But upon further reflection, I can see that they added a different layer to the first, more obvious, interpretations. The meanings added depth and expansion to the readings. Like the creator says, although it might not make immediate sense, the card pulled will give you the knowledge needed for the situation, even if it doesn't seem clear at the moment. So I do very much like the process of making an intuitive interpretation at first, based on the visual in the card, and then turning to the LWB for that deeper layer of meaning. It seems to give a well rounded answer to the question.

Final Thoughts
I have really enjoyed my time with these cards this week. I'm a big fan of surreal artwork in general, and the way it allows your imagination to soar. I find that the imagery in this deck allows great freedom for intuitive juices to flow, which is always a plus when doing a reading.

The LWB is also thoughtfully written and a valuable addition to the deck. Orna Ben-Shoshan has created a deck that is not only beautiful, but substantial as well, and I highly recommend it to readers of any expertise level, from beginners to life-long readers.

The deck may be purchased directly from the artist here. At the time of this review, the Limited First (collectible) Edition is available, signed by the creator.

See below for more images from The "72 Names" Cards deck.










To see more images and readings I've done with The "72 Names" Cards, visit my posts with the deck here.

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

"72 Names" Cards: Dreams of Death and Finances

Last night I had a dream that my father died. Then I woke up and went back to sleep, and had a second dream that he died. When I woke up the second time, though it was early, I stayed awake, not wanting to repeat it a third time. When I heard his voice today, I was very relieved. The dream felt so real, as dreams tend to do. I asked the cards what that dream was about... why I had dreamt of my father's death. Twice.

Before looking up the card's meaning, I looked at the imagery. I found it interesting, first, that it was another fruit-on-a-string card (like a similar card I drew earlier this week). Then I noticed how the woman was looking heavenward. She looks happy in the card, but in the dream I was crying. I was not feeling the peace that comes with death. I look at the man in the card, and I see him as representing me when I woke from the dream. While the woman looks up and releases the fruit into the heavens, he holds a cup over one of the fruit, trapping it, holding it hostage here on earth. This is what I felt like when I woke up, wanting my father to still be earthbound.

Another thing I saw in this card was connection. The fruit is all strung together. Some in the sky, some still on ground. But no matter where their position, they are all connected by the string. This made me think that even when he dies, we will still be connected by memories. Also, the fruit is not lumped together on the string, they are placed at a distance apart. So no matter how far apart, that connection is still there.

I pulled out the LWB to see what the card's meaning was, and was surprised:

Perspective: Fortunate adjustments in your financial transactions, increase in income, gain and abundance, wipeout of debts. Whatever was blocking you financially has been removed. You shall have success and benison.

Direction: You will be grateful for the assistance you receive, and happy with your financial progress. Always look at the bigger picture and appreciate the wonderful chain of events that led you to your success. Be grateful for the generous divine influence, and watch your ego.

Bottom line: A very fortunate time for you. All the barriers have been removed.

At first glance this card seems to have nothing to do with my dream. However, going deeper, maybe it does. Part of my dream had to do with dealing with finances after my father's death. I was left his house, but a heavy mortgage was due, and I was unable to cover it. If a stranger were doing this reading for me, perhaps they would pair the financial good news of the card with the dream of my father's death, and tell me that I would be receiving an inheritance. While my father isn't in great health, and I wouldn't be surprised if he died at any point, he would most certainly not be leaving me money. He can't leave what he doesn't have. So that assessment would not be accurate.

Perhaps the dreams of my father's death were acting as metaphors. My father has always experienced financial hardship, so he could be representing my own financial struggles. And then maybe his death was representing the end (death) of financial challenges for me. This would fit in with the message of the card.

It will be interesting to see if I become aware of any further signs of this financial relief that has been appearing so much in my cards lately.

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

"72 Cards": Unraveling Ties to the Past

This was a post I had started writing a few days ago, but never finished. I thought I'd finish adding my thoughts and share it, better late than never:

This afternoon I asked the cards to give me advice on attracting more money. I wanted to know what I was doing right, and what I could be doing to improve on the situation. When I drew my card, two cards actually lifted up into my fingers. So I looked at them both. I was pretty surprised, at both of them. The first card that came up was one that I drew at the beginning of the week, concerning simplifying my bedroom to clear the energy, in the hopes that it would bring a better flow in other areas of my life as well.

The second card I drew (the one that flung itself into my fingers to be drawn as well) was a card that I already drew today! This morning I did a reading with another deck, and it led me to seek an answer about someone from my past. I questioned this deck about it, and this card came up (#69). What was amazing was that the card specifically addresses the past, and relationships from the past that didn't go (or end) well. Now it appears for me for a second time today. I guess it really has an important message for me.

The combination of these cards tells me that I need to courageously untangle some mess I have left in my past. Honestly, there are many things in life that I have abandoned while still tangled. Some are best left alone, rather than pulling up the old weeds and starting a whole new mess. So the key is to decipher which things to leave alone, and which to dredge up in order to create a cleaner slate. I'll have to give some serious thought to this. I feel that within this advice is a path to a clearer future, I just need to have a greater level of certainty about which tangles to unravel before I begin the process.

The question I asked of the cards related to money. In the LWB, the deck creator says that the card(s) you draw will always be relevant, even if it doesn't seem like it. So, if this is true, then this entanglement with my past is somehow related to my financial situation, and ironing things out will help lead me to more prosperity. Interesting.

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

"72 Names" Cards: Collecting Rain Water

This morning I drew the same card as I did yesterday. Today it actually reminds me of something my kids and I did yesterday. We collected rain water in a glass jar, using a funnel. Then we drained it using a coffee filter. I put the water in the fridge for some future science project... or maybe I'll look up a spell using rain water.

So that's what this card reminded me of, what with the blue stuff being drained from the sky into funnels on the ground. I wonder if there's a spell or ritual using rain water that can increase or enhance one's psychic abilities, which would tie in with this card's meaning. I'll have to look into it.

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

"72 Names" Cards: Psychic Receiving

Today as I was shuffling, I asked the cards about an old friend of mine. I've been thinking about him a lot lately, though our contact is very sporadic. I've had dreams about him, and have seen him in my cards recently. I have wondered if his father is okay, as I get this intuitive feeling that he's not doing so great. I sent him an email today asking about his father. I asked the cards today why I have this guy on my mind so much lately.

The card I pulled was number 71. I really do enjoy the surreal artwork in these cards. The card shows four people sitting with funnels on their heads, absorbing the thoughts or spirits or essences of ghostly looking people. I wondered if this image is alluding to psychic knowing. I opened the book and sure enough, it is!

Here's what the LWB says:

Perspective: Divine abundance is being projected in your direction and its glorious beams enrich your life. Even though you cannot visualize the invisible vibrations that fill the empty space around you, you can sense their influences in our life.

Direction: An increase in your psychic abilities allows you to forecast the future. The murkiness of harsh experiences from the past has fertilized the ground and sprouted new buds of prosperity. Litter was transformed into gold through an alchemic reaction.

Bottom line: You are approaching a period of positive changes in your career and finances, a surge of creativity and an improved ability to make your ideas materialize.

So maybe the reason I have my friend in mind so much lately is because he is being utilized as psychic practice for me. Maybe what I intuit about his father is soon to become true, and it's not my friend that is the main focus, but rather his relationship with his father, and my ability to see beyond what my eyes and ears can sense.

The "Bottom line" passage made me think again of my reignited passion in my creative hobbies. I wonder if this creativity I've been re-exploring is going to help my ability to manifest/create other things in my life.

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

"72 Names" Cards: Regaining Passion for a Hobby

My question for the cards today was how to make my life more exciting or interesting. There's a spark of wonder or fascination missing and I think I need to get that back. Life has become routine and mundane.

The card I pulled was number 46. It looks like I need to be stringing pears together with a needle and thread. But seriously, it struck me as quite interesting that there is a needle and thread in this card, as I have just become reunited with my sewing machine. It was broken for years and a few weeks ago I spent an afternoon taking it apart and fixing it. Now I am teaching my kids how to sew, and making projects myself as well. I didn't realize how much I missed sewing. It's such a gratifying hobby. That's what I thought of when I saw this card... my reignited passion for sewing. The boy in the card is even sporting some pants that look handmade.

The LWB indicates that stress and/or family obligations have drained me of energy, and that I have guilt about not being able to solve these problems efficiently. The advice is to keep my faith, despite current limitations, and that there's nothing for me to feel guilty about. I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, and soon I will regain my energy. The passage ends with this: "You will receive clear evidence that tremendous forces are acting on your behalf at the moment." Sounds good to me.

I can relate to the passage, and how it relates to my feeling less than enthused about life. I do have family obligations, but I take solace in hearing that it's how it's meant to be for right now, and that the heaviness of it will soon be lifted. For now, I'll look for things I love to do, even little things like sewing, that brighten my day and give me a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. I am running out of fabric though, and fear I will soon begin scouring the house for old sheets!

On that note, if anyone has any fabric they'd like to donate, I'd be thrilled to give it a new home. Even scraps that I can use for quilting projects. If you have a hefty amount of fabric you'd like to pass along, maybe we can work out a trade... fabric for a tarot reading, as I know shipping can be expensive. Send me an email (tarotdame@gmail.com) if you have fabric (or other sewing materials) that you'd like to donate. (Yarn/crochet/knitting materials welcome also.)

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

"72 Names" Cards: Detangling Life

Today I received a lovely package in the mail from Israel. The "72 Names" Cards, a self-published deck by Orna Ben-Shoshan, metaphysical artist and author. The deck offers cosmic messages according to the secrets of the Kabbalah and the "72 Names of God". When Orna approached me to review her deck, I admitted my ignorance of Kabbalah, and she assured me that the cards are easy to work with, without any knowledge of the Kabbalah. All one needs is openness, consciousness and honesty. I think I can manage that! (I will post a full review on the deck at the end of the week.)

The deck is designed to provide one-card answers. So instead of my usual three-card draws, this week I will be pulling a single card each day.

As I was shuffling, I was going to do a general, open-ended draw. But then I was looking around, feeling uncomfortable at the clutter that has accumulated in my bedroom. I have a lot of tidying up to do, and organizing. I asked the cards if the state of my clutter has an effect on other things happening in my life. If I simplified and made the room more zen-like, would that produce a similar outcome in other areas of my life?

I drew card number 36. The cards are untitled, or rather they are titled by the names of God, which I am unable to read. It struck me as rather relevant that the image on the card shows a couple pulling weeds (or encouraging healthy growth). In each hole, there are tangled stems which need tending to, so that the flowers can grow strong and tall. If left alone, the stems would gather around each other, creating a mess, preventing them from growing up out of the holes. I thought this imagery alone was a brilliant answer to my question. Yes, I need to tend to the tangled mess of clutter in my room so that my life can better "flower", grow and thrive.

Now I turn to the booklet and see what the passage has to offer:

Perspective: This task requires a lot of courage and getting over your bashfulness. Once you transcend yourself and overcome fear, you shall cross the dark tunnel of doubt, and find a blooming garden at the other end.

Direction: Sticking to your safety zone will not get you anywhere this time; it will just reinforce your fears. Only when we are no longer afraid, do we begin to live. This is a great opportunity to utilize your daringness and bypass obstacles. Boldness shall bring light to the darkness of your fears.

Bottom line: Do not let anything intimidate you, you ought to have what you are asking for.

Sounds like an affirmative to me! I think that will be my goal this week, to simplify my bedroom and declutter, clearing the energy field around me. I suppose it does take a certain type of courage, because it's not something I'm even remotely interested in tackling, though I never looked at it from the perspective of being intimidated by it. But I will work on it this week and see how it transforms the vibe around me.

Deck: The "72 Names" Cards (self-published by Orna Ben-Shoshan)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Deviant Moon Tarot: Teamwork with the High Priestess and Hierophant

Another Pentacle court today. This time it's the King. The top dog. He's looking at me, telling me that this pentacle could be mine. How? I look to the other two cards and see the High Priestess and Hierophant, facing each other. I see these two cards very differently, but today they are working together.

The High Priestess is all about inner knowing. She is the one who guides me to meditate, and seek my answers within. The Hierophant wants things done according to tradition, and what religious doctrine dictates. He likes things done by The Book, regardless of whether or not I agree with everything I'm reading.

Suffice it to say, I'll choose the High Priestess' advice over conforming to the Hierophant's any day. However, today they seem to be on the same page, telling me to use both of their messages to benefit my situation. What I got from them was that I was to take whatever method of seeking insight that I feel is best suited for me (High Priestess), and stick with it "religiously" (Hierophant).

I read a lot of books on manifestation and visualization and the law of attraction and quantum physics theories, etc. I read so much, that my focus is on the reading, and learning and expanding my mind. But the problem with so much reading on different theories is that I never stick with any one method long enough to see results in my life. And what's the point of reading so many works on bettering my life if I'm not going to use the information? Silly.

So the advice here today is stellar. The King of Pentacles says that I too can be king of my financial domain. I just need to find a method that I click with the most, and be faithful to that method. Now why didn't I think of that?

Deck: Deviant Moon Tarot (by Patrick Valenza, published by US Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Deviant Moon Tarot: A Gift from the Queen

Again today, I have another repeater. This time it's the Page of Pentacles with his financial message (referenced here earlier this week). For awhile now, I have seen in my cards that I would be receiving some sort of financial help, most likely from the Queen of Pentacles. I honestly cannot fathom who this could be. I usually see this card as my mother, but she is not in a position to drop a load of money in my lap. I can't for the life of me figure out who this could be. The Page of Pentacles is holding a wrench, while screws and bolts are at his feet. This made me think that the message he holds is something that will help me "fix" things. It could be that I am the Queen, receiving this pentacle from the Page, which will help me and my kids.

The Knight of Cups is my personal "gift" card. When he shows up, I always receive an unexpected gift. Paired with the two Pentacle courts, it looks like it will definitely be a financial gift. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I've been seeing this message in my readings for several weeks now, yet it remains a mystery to me. I look forward to seeing what comes of it.

Deck: Deviant Moon Tarot (by Patrick Valenza, published by US Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Deviant Moon Tarot: Breaking Down the Wall

This is yesterday's draw. I didn't have time to write it up because it was my daughter's birthday, so it was a busy day. But I wanted to post it now, simply because of the two cards that repeated from my reading two days before (The Sun and Nine of Swords). It always stands out to me when two cards make their way back together after so much shuffling.

The scene I saw in this trio was this: The wall of wands in the center card was separating the joy of the Sun from the anxiety of the Nine of Swords. I saw the red-cloaked figure in the Wands and Swords cards as the same person. The way I saw it originally was that she looked bitter and didn't want the creatures in the Sun card to be having so much fun. So she wanted to swiftly cut down the wall, to let the anxiety seep through and ruin their good time. But there is a bird flying down, carrying a message, just in time to stop (or at least stall) her. The message written on that note was that it was my daughter's birthday, and I wasn't about to let anything negative concern me on such a celebratory day. So the action was halted, I put the cards away, and enjoyed my daughter's special day.

Looking back on the cards today, I see something different. I wonder if maybe the pitiful creature had had enough of the fretting, and is trying to chop down the wall to let the sun in! Quite a different angle on the cards. And one that I rather like better. Bringing fears to the light of day often causes them to crumble. Fear thrives in dark shadowy places, and when you take them out, shining light on the truth, they tend to lose their power over you and dissipate.

So maybe the message the bird was bringing was meant to stall her just long enough so that when she tore down the wall, it was for the right reason.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this brilliant deck?

Deck: Deviant Moon Tarot (by Patrick Valenza, published by US Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.

Deviant Moon Tarot: Automaton Divination

The Deviant Moon sometimes inspires strange imagery in my head from which I am to interpret the cards. Today's cards are a perfect example, though I don't know if I will be able to put it into words clearly enough for others to understand. You know those contraptions (I wish I knew the name for them, if they have one) where you start at one end, and one motion starts a chain of events? If you have ever seen Pee Wee's Big Adventure, it's the contraption he used to make his breakfast for him. Drawing a blank at more examples, I asked my kids, and they said a similar invention was also used for breakfast in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (And also on an episode of iCarly.) And now I'm remembering the old board game, "Mouse Trap". Do you get my drift by now? Basically you pull a lever, or push a button, and a marble (or whatever) falls down, which pulls another lever, which sets gears in motion, which... etc. until it results in something cool at the end. (Ironically something it would have been much easier just to do yourself.)

Aaaaanyway... that's the sort of contraption I saw in today's cards. I saw the fish emerge from the water, and then the three celebrating figures emerging from the fish, which tripped a wire or something, somehow setting off the balloon in the Six of Swords, sending it on its automatic way toward the Six of Pentacles. Once it gets there, one of the automated hands of the figure in the Six of Pentacles pops out, ready to drop a pentacle coin into the recipient's eager hands.

The skies in the first and last card are similarly colored, with crescent moons. The moon in the middle card is full, indicating that it may have taken a full moon cycle to get from Point A to Point C. And once the coin drops, and the next recipient steps up, it will somehow spark the fish to emerge once more, setting the balloon into motion again...

If I'm to look at this draw with a divinatory eye, and I am prone to today, just because of the strange visuals I'm getting, it looks like if I get super happy about something right now (using the Three of Cups energy for Law of Attraction purposes), I can expect to see results in a month (full lunar cycle). The results will be financial, as the Six of Pentacles is often a card of receiving money. And the Six of Swords is a card of moving deliberately toward greener pastures, telling me to keep the end in sight, and feel my way to a better future. Even while I can't yet see the other side of the ocean, I have to know that I'm on my way and getting closer every day.

This was a very fascinating read for me today. I really love the imagery I received with these cards.

(Oh, and please, if anyone knows the name of the automaton-type contraption I was referring to in this post, please let me know!) Thanks to Hannah for answering me on Facebook... the contraption is called a Rube Goldberg machine!

Deck: Deviant Moon Tarot (by Patrick Valenza, published by US Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

If you'd like to book a tarot reading with me, please visit my website for details.