Ator Tarot: Out with the Old!

My first thought when I saw this trio was, "three heavy hitters". Three Major Arcana for today. And they mean business. It looks like Death is coming for the Hierophant. In fact, there he is in the first card, standing before the Grim Reaper, perhaps thinking his religious title will spare him from Death's wrath. But Death is no respecter of persons, and his white horse will eventually trample on everyone equally. Metaphorically, relating this to my life, this indicates the end of doing things traditionally. The Empress has her back to the Hierophant. She wants none of what he is selling to the masses. His rules don't apply to her. She goes her own way.

Last night, we heard strange sounds in the house. My son was scared, so I went to go investigate. He didn't want me to go, but I wanted to assure him that no one was out there. Houses just make weird noises sometimes. So I left the room and came back a minute later, reassuring him that all was well. I went to bed wondering what would happen if someone had broken in. I know that I would end up offering every single thing we owned, the whole house and its entire contents, if only my children and I would be spared. In that moment, all of our belongings, even the most sentimental, seemed completely meaningless.

That train of thought eventually led me to consider the ways in which I have been contemplating creating more income, so that my kids and I could spend more time doing things we love. I don't want to work at a job I hate, just because I need money. I don't want to fall into that trap, just because the majority of the world thinks that's the way it's done (Hierophant). I started thinking of all the income ideas that simply don't work for me personally. And then I realized that what I really need to do is create a new, innovative way to make money that works for me. That I can feel great about, and that is designed just for the way I tick. Why can't I be a pioneer?

I fell asleep before getting much further than that, but I woke up glad to have new thoughts to consider today. And when I saw my cards today, they were a reminder of my idea. Death + Hierophant = Quitting the old, traditional way of doing things. As the Empress (mom to my kids), I turn my back to the methods that simply don't work for me. I focus on the future, knowing that using my creativity and love, I can create my own road to a life of beauty, joy, peace, love and freedom.

Deck: Ator Tarot (by Robin Ator, published by Glow in the Dark Pictures)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Ator Tarot: Law of Attraction Reading

Today I'm using my Law of Attraction Spread. (Status/Action/Result)

1. What am I attracting now (due to how I'm currently vibrating)?
Four of Swords.
This made me laugh. I am dozing off here. I'm not attracting anything. But I guess it's good that I'm not attracting anything bad. I'm just laying low at sea level. I need to raise my game a little, to get this stagnant life off the ground.

2. What do I need to do to raise my vibration to the next level?
The Magician
Another laugh. Yeah, well, he IS the Master of Manifestation. Who else? The cards gave me the Top Dog here, letting me know all that I am capable of. I realize I'm just being lazy, because I have created some pretty amazing things in the past. I've just been stuck in Four of Swords mode for too long, and sometimes it's hard to get out of a rut. I need to harness the power of the Magician, and get working on making some incredible things happen. There is a confidence in the Magician that I am lacking. This is the empowerment that I need to grab a hold of. I need to remember that I am capable of great things.

3. What will I attract when I raise my vibration to this level?
Page of Wands/Nine of Pentacles
I first drew the Page of Wands, and all I heard was "You will receive a message". I wanted to know what the message was about, so I pulled the next card which was the Nine of Pentacles. Jackpot! This is exactly the area in my life that I want to focus on manifesting greater abundance. My finances really need a helping hand, so if I want the security and well-being of the Nine of Pentacles, I'd better get my Magician on!

Fun update: Later in the afternoon, I dug out my Mythic Tarot, and fanned out the deck (face down, of course), closed my eyes and selected a single card. It was The Magician!!

Deck: Ator Tarot (by Robin Ator, published by Glow in the Dark Pictures)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Ator Tarot: Taking the Reins of the Tower

It's Monday, so it's time to change decks. But I wasn't ready to let go of the simple, cute, cartoony aspects of the Gummy Bear Tarot, so I selected one that feels similar to me. The Ator Tarot.

Today's cards show me what really needs to happen here soon. The guy in the Four of Pentacles is holding on tight to what little he has, lest he lose even one. The guy in the Seven of Pentacles has made progress, but is still waiting for the harvest. He's picked one pentacle off the bush, but stands there wondering when the rest will finally be ready. Neither of these guys are screaming wealth to me.

In the Tower, I see both of these guys. The one on the left (in red and blue) is the guy from the Four of Pentacles. The guy on the right (in blue and yellow) is the one from the Seven of Pentacles. (I love when the visuals come together in a reading.) The Tower represents the rigid ideas these two have held onto for so long. It's gotten them a little. But only a little. And for so long. It's time to shake things up.

The Tower is a card that many people fear. But it can also represent a significant breakthrough, tearing down the walls of a life built on a foundation that is weak and holds you in, limiting your possibilities. Breaking this down gives way to freedom, opportunities and growth. Who wants to be Rapunzel stuck in a tower all her life? The Tower can be a very welcome and powerful change. It doesn't have to happen to you. You can harness The Tower's energy to empower yourself.

I know that something major has to happen soon regarding my finances. I am growing increasingly unhappy with the tower of contentedness I have lived in for so long. I want more. I want to bust loose. I'm not sure yet what that will entail, but it's definitely something that I need to figure out ASAP. I'd rather be the one holding the Tower's strings, before it has a chance to get a hold of me. (Which it will, if the Universe has had enough of your crap!)

That reminds me of a quote I heard once (I think it was Oprah who said it)... that when a brick wall falls on you, and you feel like it happened out of nowhere, you can look back with hindsight and see that Life had been throwing you warning bricks one at a time, for quite awhile. It only lets the whole wall fall down on you if you hadn't been paying attention to the singular bricks. That's what this Tower card reminds me of today. I need to pay attention to the warning signs, the falling bricks of the crumbling tower, and do something about it, so that a huge Tower moment doesn't befall me all at once.

Deck: Ator Tarot (by Robin Ator, published by Glow in the Dark Pictures)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: "Grey Skies Are Gonna Clear Up..."

Today what I saw in the cards is something changing very quickly, from bad to good. The Eight of Wands is something coming right atcha very swiftly. Definite energy that is on the move. The anxiety of the Nine of Swords quickly turns to the happiness of the Ten of Cups. The Nine of Swords sometimes indicates worrying about something that is all in your head, and nothing ever comes of it, so you worried for nothing. Followed by the Ten of Cups is confirmation of it.

To seal the deal, I peeked at the card on the bottom of the deck, and there was the Sun shining at me. Looking at all the cards, I heard the song, "Grey skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face..."

The Eight of Wands is also my "email" card, so I think these cards might be referring to good news I receive(d) via email. Both yesterday and today, I received two emails delivering good news, both alleviating worries I had. The Gummy Bears are so smart. And so cute.

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: Execution, Gummy Style

When I saw these cards, I immediately heard in my head, "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty." You have the court in Justice, the defendant in the Seven of Wands, and the guilty verdict, as the defendant is hanged.

Now what in the world does this have to do with me today? I have no idea. If I had to wager a guess, I'd say it most likely refers to a situation that will occur with my kids. One where I will be asked to play Judge. As a mom, this pretty much happens on a daily basis between my two girls. One of them wrongs another, and they come to me for sympathy and/or justice.

The Hanged Man is a little dramatic though, since my kids never give me a hard time. They never do anything that ever warrants punishment. (Let's hope this streak continues when they become teenagers!) Although the Hanged Man could be representing the punishment one of my girls would like to see happen to the other, in a moment of hurt feelings or some other such aftermath of a disagreement.

Update: Wonder if this draw predicted USA's loss to Ghana this afternoon in the World Cup?

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Tarot Solves the "Mama, I'm BORED" Whine!

My son just came up to me, in utter despair from boredom. He claimed to be dying of boredom. Nothing I suggested was of any interest to him. Suddenly, I had a thought. I asked my daughter to grab my Gummy Bear Tarot. I told them we were gonna play a game. They would each pick a card, and they'd have to do whatever the card suggested. If they weren't willing to do whatever came up, they couldn't play.

My son was reluctant. "What if it tells me to do something I don't want to do?" And I said, "Like what?" He answered as if offering the most dreadful possibility, "Like be HAPPY." Emphasis on "happy" as though it were the worst possible consequence. I laughed at that. God forbid you should be happy, I told him with a laugh. He decided he'd test his luck and play the game anyway.

He drew Death.

Ha! How funny is that? Especially since he claimed to be dying of boredom. So I told him it was a card of endings... I asked him what he had that needed finishing up. What was left hanging that needed closure, paving the way for a new beginning? He immediately said that he had three chapters left of the Harry Potter book he's currently on. And then he could start on the next one in the series. He even said that the Grim Reaper looked like Voldemort in the story, as he was wearing a cloak like that. I said it reminded me the dementors.

He went and got the book, and started reading, even though it was one of my dismissed ideas pre-game.


*****


My youngest daughter drew the Five of Pentacles.

Uh.

She looked at the card and said, "So I have to pretend to be all hurt and cold and poor?" She immediately flung herself on the floor and acted pitiful. She said, "Do I HAVE to do this?" I told her no, and since I couldn't think of anything else appropriate for her, I told her she could pick another card. (What was it with these cards they were drawing?!)


*****



Not to be outdone, my other daughter drew the Ten of Swords!

We all laughed. Immediately, I thought of Play-Doh. When I suggested that idea, she said, "That's what I was going to say!" So she excitedly got out her clay and made a gummy bear and stabbed it with a plastic knife and some wooden sticks.

Good times.



*****


Going back to my youngest daughter, she drew an alternate card, and also ended up with Death, the same as my son!

So funny, the doom and gloom they all chose. I guess it accurately describes their melodramatic displays of boredom. So I asked her the same question... did she have anything that needed to be completed and brought to an end? Maybe a drawing she started but didn't finish? Her face lit up. She knew the answer! She needed to finish her slot on Littlest Pet Shop Wii. (I discovered how surprisingly difficult it is to photograph a TV screen!)

And there you have it. The Tarot and the Gummy Bears save the day!

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: Enough Already, Universe!

Just when I thought the Gummy Bears weren't capable of delivering bad news to me this week... I was thinking yesterday of how cheery all my draws have been with this deck this week. And then Bam! Today I get the Five and Ten of Wands.

Here's how I see it. The World, yet another recurring card this week, is all set to give me everything I want. The World, the Universe, Life... it's giving me a heads up that what I want is within reach. The center card shows my struggle between the World and the Ten of Wands. The Ten of Wands is the burden of life as I'm experiencing it now. The Five of Wands shows the conflict between what I want and what I have.

I notice the White gummy bear in all three cards. The one in the Ten of Wands has its back to the World, walking away from it. He's also walking away from the fight in the Five of Wands. He's just holding onto his load, going about his business, not wanting to even put up a good fight for what he wants. Look at him in the Five of Wands card, and you'll see that he isn't even holding up his wand in violence. He holds it out to the side, refusing to be a part of the turmoil. He thinks any effort he makes will be futile. So he doesn't bother. He just picks up the sticks left on the side and walks away.

I can relate with this, for sure. I'm growing very weary of struggling for so long. I mean, really. I'm getting sick to death of waiting for my ship to come in. Enough already, Universe! I've paid my dues. I've walked the Ten of Wands road longer than I ever cared to. It's time for the wheel to turn and put me on top now. Okay? Okay!

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: Wheels,Tens, The World... Oh My!

These Gummy Bears are chatty little things. They have not been quite satisfied with my routine of drawing only three cards. Every day they ask me to pull more. And every day I have (whether I have posted the additional cards or not.)

This is how today's cards went down: I drew my initial three, but then the fourth card beckoned me again. As did the bottom card. But the gummies weren't satisfied with only the singular card at the bottom of the deck. They urged me to look at the bottom three, and place them beneath the first row. And then I was done. No other cards called to me. But the spread felt uneven to me, with four above three. I couldn't let it sit like that, so I decided to pull the Quint card (by adding up the numerical values of all cards, and reducing to a Major Arcana number.)

I often use Quint cards in my readings for additional information or advice. The Quint card surprised me by being the Wheel of Fortune. In fact, I double checked my addition to make sure. I found it interesting that it was the very first card I had turned over in the reading. The Wheel is cyclical by nature, so it makes sense that the reading should start and end with it, making a full cycle. And as the Quint card is one that falls in the reading already, it is given additional weight.

So we start the reading with the Wheel of Fortune, which indicates a fortuitous change of events. Since it came up twice in the reading, it looks like big, important change. The Emperor is next, so this change involves a man. I'm not a fan of the Emperor, as he's such a stickler for the rules. But we see later how this plays out in a more favorable way. The World, like the Wheel, shows a cycle coming full circle. Successful completion, perhaps even travel. And the Ten of Cups, like the World, is a Happily Ever After card.

The cards at the bottom of the deck give me additional information, rounding out the reading. The Ten of Pentacles is one that I've seen come up quite a bit lately, most recently yesterday. This indicates prosperity and family stability. It rests directly beneath the Wheel of Fortune, so it looks like the Big Change coming up for me is related to family and financial security. Perfect!

The Empress is me. Mama to my kids. She is sitting right underneath the Emperor, which made me connect them. Seeing him paired with the Empress, he lost the rigidity about him that repels me, as the duo simply became The Emperor and The Empress... mates. Which brings to mind all the love in the cards that is beginning to crop up again for me. The Ten of Cups and Ten of Pentacles in this spread also hint at this, not very subtly.

Lastly, I have the Six of Swords. It lays directly beneath The World, and both being "travel" cards, I'd say this is a pretty significant sign of upcoming travel.

I'm very interested in the fact that the Wheel came up twice, and there are two 1o's in the spread as well. That makes FOUR 10's in this 7-card spread. Add that to the completion of the World card, and I'd say there is something definitely reaching a culmination soon.

I wish I could see how this would all play out in my life, because I don't feel like I'm anywhere close to this type of successful completion of any part of my life, quite frankly. But it is a wonderful set of cards to contemplate and it's definitely provided me with a great deal of positive energy to focus on in the meantime, while waiting to see what happens!

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: My King of Cups

Today, after drawing my usual three, a fourth card was beckoning me. The King of Cups has become the significator for my future beau. My Mr. Mystery Man. The Fool has been coming up in a lot of my readings lately. (I'm getting quite a few repeating cards recently). The Fool indicates a new start with this guy. Either that, or he's gonna be a fool. I'm gonna go with the “new journey” interpretation here. The Ten of Pentacles... dude's got money. Nice. Laugh. This card shows me that finally finding Mr. Right will make my life more financially stable, which makes sense. Either he'll have financial security, or is perhaps in line for an inheritance of some sort. Either way, money shouldn't be an issue. We won't be in the poor house.

The fourth card that was calling out to me to flip over is the Four of Wands, which I pulled in a reading yesterday regarding this same situation. This card indicates marriage to me. Or at least the closest thing to it. Quite honestly, I'm not interested in ever becoming legally married. I don't like the idea of the government becoming involved in a relationship, and making decisions for you if that relationship doesn't work out. But I am not opposed to committing myself to someone for the rest of my life.

It's funny that the Ten of Pentacles came up today because I was talking to my girls today about passing on a legacy (as I was teaching them a rare talent of mine). A legacy is one of the meanings of this card. And when I was talking to my girls about it, the Ten of Pentacles actually popped into my mind.

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: Happy Happy Joy Joy

The Six of Cups has been coming up for me a lot lately. It appeared in my daily draw yesterday, and in several other readings I've done for myself recently. (The Hierophant has also been popping up left and right, though not in this reading today.) Intuitively, I've been feeling that the Six of Cups relates to someone from my past, rather than referring to my kids, which is what I most often see in the card.

The Sun is always a good card to see in a tarot layout. In fact, this entire reading is all sunshine and roses. And rainbows. All the happy, happy, joy, joy good stuff. The Nine of Cups is all about having what you want, and feeling satisfied. The Six of Cups makes me think of good times.

So what does this all mean? I don't know. Maybe the Six of Cups today is about my kids after all, and we're gonna have a super happy sunshiny day. Or maybe someone from my past is going to come around and I will enjoy some sort of sublime personal joy from it. I guess the Six of Cups could still be referring to my ex, who I am now back in contact (and very friendly) with, as he's the only one I can think of that I have recently been reunited with. But I don't see how he warrants the Sun and Nine of Cups, as that seems a tad overenthusiastic.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how the cards play out. Whatever it is, it's good stuff, so I'll take it!

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Latest eZine Issue: Happy Summer!

Happy Summer Solstice everyone!

I just sent out a new issue of my eZine, which includes an original spread to celebrate the Summer Solstice today ("Sunny and Hot" Summer Spread).

I invite you to sign up for my eZine, if you're not already a subscriber. It's free, and you get all sorts of goodies, like special discounted readings, automatic entry in my FREE reading drawings each month, original spreads and messages from the faeries, and more... in every issue!

Read the latest issue here! And let me know how you like my "Sunny and Hot" Spread!

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Gummy Bear Tarot: Friends with the Ex

This week I'm in the mood for some Gummy Bear Tarot. Today I drew my usual three cards, but then felt the urge to look at the bottom of the deck as well, so I added that card, and then wanted to flank that card on either side to make it more even, so I ended up with a six-card daily draw.

I initially drew the Hierophant, Three of Swords and Six of Cups, and knew immediately that the cards were referring to my ex-fiance who I have been emailing with lately. (The Six of Cups being a relationship from the past, The Hierophant representing a marriage that was to take place, and the Three of Swords being the split that occurred, calling off the wedding.) Interestingly enough, I left my fiance for another guy, and the classic love triangle is something that is sometimes seen in the Three of Swords.

The card at the bottom of the deck was the Ace of Swords, which I placed bottom center. Then I flanked it with the next two cards from the top of the deck, Death and the Eight of Wands.

When I put the Ace of Swords in the center, under the Three of Swords, I saw the single sword pushing up into the heart, dislodging the three swords puncturing it. In this, I saw the relief and recovery from the heartache of the past.

Death indicates that this is a relationship that has ended in one aspect (romantic), and is born again in another manner (platonic). We are now friends, after not having contact for many years. This, I realized just now, is a first for me. I have never remained friends with any of my ex's. So this new friendship is groundbreaking for me, though I hadn't even realized it. It's so... grown up!

The Eight of Wands often comes up for me to indicate email, as it's a fast method of communication. This simply confirms that the relationship in question is email based at this point. (We live 3,000 miles apart, and I don't have a phone, so email is our only way of keeping in contact with each other.)

Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot (by Dietmar Bittrich, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Tarot & Oracle Purge Sale

I'm aiming to kill two birds with one stone with this sale.

First, it's time to do some deck-decluttering and purge any duplicates and also find new homes for some of the decks I don't use regularly. Too many decks, too little time!

Second, I need to raise some money to help pay my daughter's ER bills.

So, if any of the following decks strike your fancy, hop on over to my Deck Sale page.



Note:
* Decks will go on a first-come, first-served basis. Please don't ask me to hold a deck for you.
* Decks are in like-new condition, unless otherwise noted.
* All decks come from a smoke-free home.
* I'll accept payment via Paypal only.
* Shipping only within USA at this time.
* Go here to purchase any of the decks or sets listed below.

• 72 Names Cards - Limited Signed Edition SOLD!


• Home Sweet Home Tarot - Limited Edition of only 20 copies!


• Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot
  


• Sacred Art Tarot


• Undersea Tarot SOLD!
  


• Animal Messages


• Success Cards - OOP SOLD!


• Magical Mermaids & Dolphins


• Mystic Glyphs


• Tea Leaf Fortune Cards - OOP (This set has a cool history, as it was previously owned by Serena Powers.)


• Celtic Tarot (Davis) - OOP

To purchase any of these decks from me, please visit: http://decksale.tarotdame.com/ . If you have any questions, feel free to email me at TarotDame (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks!

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Deck Review: Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot

The Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot was designed to be a companion deck to the book, The Sacred Tarot, by C.C. Zain, which explores the relationships between the Tarot, the kabbala, astrology, and numerology. The deck was originally designed by Gloria Beresford and published in 1936 as a black and white deck. It has recently been redesigned by Vicki Brewer as a full-color deck.

The Cards
The cards measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" and feature reversible backs. There are symbols in each corner of the card, including the card number, astrological/zodiac/planetary symbols, suit symbols, and some other symbols that I don't recognize (and don't see mentioned in the LWB) along with what looks like Hebrew letters/characters. The cards are also meaningfully color coded.

The system used for this deck corresponds the twelve zodiac signs and thirty-six ultra zodiacal decante constellations to the Major and Minor Arcana. Constellations are woven into the cards themselves. The Majors feature Egyptian scenes, while the Minors are pips, meaning that they are not scenic illustrations. Normally I'm turned off by this, because I prefer to read cards that have scenes on them, but the Minors in this deck have meanings that differ greatly from the RWS meanings I'm used to, so I had to look up the meanings anyway.

The Majors hold the same basic meanings as the RWS interpretations (albeit it with additional musings), but the Minors are very different. For example, the Five of Coins, which in RWS style illustrates a couple of people down on their luck, both health-wise and financially, the same card in this deck augurs abundant wealth! In fact, all the Fives are covered by the planet Jupiter, so they all depict good fortune of some sort. It was neat for me to actually smile when Fives would appear in a reading!

One of the things I really love about the method used with this deck is how the Horsemen are portrayed. The Horsemen are placed in the deck where we usually see Knights. However, they play an interesting role in the deck:

"The Horsemen do not represent people, but denote thoughts or unseen intelligences. In divination they are read as thoughts or intelligences that have an influence upon the life of the client. The one who thinks the thoughts is indicated by the Court Card nearest to the Horseman in the spread."

How cool is that? I'm considering the possibility of incorporating this method into my other deck readings.

The system used in this deck make reading the Court Cards precise. For example: "The Queen of Cups signifies a person ruled by the sign of Scorpio: active, selfish, proud, resentful, reserved and thoughtful. Right way up, it denotes a Scorpio woman; reversed it indicates a Scorpio man. The dominant idea is I DESIRE." And likewise, a King can be viewed as a woman, if reversed. Reversals with the other cards in the deck are akin to a planet receiving a bad aspect, which, depending on the card, may be more or less unfortunate than right side up.

How it Reads
Surprisingly, even though the Minors required me to refer to the LWB, the readings were accurate. One day I drew the Ace of Cups (a letter from a loved one) and the Eight of Scepters (a political appointment) and I had just received an email from a dear friend referring to who will win the Congress seats in November! It's probably the only email I've ever received regarding politics, and the cards nailed it, which was quite amazing to me.

I didn't expect the deck to read as well as it does, considering I have to look up the meanings for most cards. So even if one is not yet familiar with the method used for the Minors, it doesn't mean accurate readings can't be given, provided you aren't too inconvenienced or proud to refer to the LWB.

The LWB
The Little White Book is 48 pages. It begins with an introduction to the deck and information about the cards' back design. The Major Arcana are each given a keyword or two, along with interpretations for the Spiritual, Intellectual and Physical meanings. This is followed by a sort of old world, sometimes enigmatic, message. Example:

Arcanum VI: The Two Paths

In Divination, Arcanum VI may briefly be interpreted as Temptation.

• Arcanum VI expresses in the spiritual world, the knowledge of good and evil.
• In the intellectual world, the balance between liberty and necessity.
• In the physical world, the antagonism of natural forces, the linking of cause and effect.

Remember, then, son of earth, that for the common man, the allurement of vice has a greater fascination than the austere beauty of virtue. If The Two Paths should appear in the prophetic signs of thy horoscope, take care of thy resolutions. Obstacles bar before thee the path thou wouldst pursue, contrary chances hover over thee, and thy will wavers between two resolutions. Indecision is, above all else, worse than a bad choice. Advance or recede, but do not hesitate; and know that a chain of flowers is more difficult to break than a chain of iron.

(We, the readers, are always referred to in these interpretations as "son of earth", by the way.)

The Minors are arranged in the book by numbers: all Twos together, all Threes together, etc. There is a paragraph describing the celestial correspondence with each number, along with the various areas of influence the number covers. Then each card is given a simple divinatory and inner interpretation. Example:

THE FIVES

Jupiter, in astrology, is the general significator of good fortune. Therefore the Fives in their more common divinatory significance must relate to good luck in the particular department of life signified by the suit. But in their application to higher planes, they reveal the influence of, and can be interpreted by, the fifth decante of each zodiacal triplicity, starting with the movable signs.

The divinatory significance of the Five of Scepters is good fortune in business; its inner interpretation is REFORMATION.

The divinatory significance of the Five of Swords is escape from a danger; its inner interpretation is STRUGGLE.

The divinatory significance of the Five of Coins is abundant wealth; its inner interpretation is INSPIRATION.

The divinatory significance of the Five of Cups is good fortune in love; its inner interpretation is RESPONSIBILITY.

The LWB ends with several pages of instructions on interpreting the cards, a paragraph on reversed cards, and two spreads (a 5-card "Yes or No" spread, and a 7-card "Magic Seven" spread).

Final Thoughts
I was honestly surprised that I received good readings out of this deck, simply because I had dismissed it at first as "another Egyptian deck" that I (personally) wouldn't relate with or understand. Not being interested in Egyptian decks, I didn't think I would get anything useful out of this deck, and I'm glad to say I was wrong.

I will probably not use the deck much at the moment, not because it's not a good reading deck, but because I don't have the time to learn a new method of reading, and memorizing the alternative meanings for the Minors. And I'm not too keen on having to refer to the LWB for every reading. I'm not that patient. But I can definitely see the benefit of learning this interesting system sometime in the future when I have more time to devote to it.

Overall, I was unexpectedly impressed with this deck, and that's saying a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed the surprises I would get when I'd flip to the book and read such accurate descriptions of what I had asked the cards about. And I absolutely love the role the Horsemen play in the deck.

I would definitely recommend this deck to anyone who isn't afraid to learn a new system, or refer to the LWB for readings. If you do have the time and interest in learning the method, I assume the book (The Sacred Tarot) would be a wise accompanying investment (though I haven't read it, so I can't comment on its contents).

See below for more images.

Suits: Cups, Scepters, Swords, Coins
Court Titles: Youth (Jack), Horseman, Queen, King
Justice/Strength: Justice 8, Strength 11
Cards: 78
Card Size: 2 1/2" x 4 1/4"
Backs: Reversible
Deck-specific LWB: Yes
Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.









To see more images, visit my daily draws with the Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot.

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

Deck: Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot (by The Church of Light, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot: Prosperity and Love Resurrected!

Today there is more money (and now also love) in my cards. Yesterday's reading promised good financial luck. And today, it's more of the same, but with different cards. Yesterday I drew two lucky 5's and today I drew two Horsemen. Lots of Horsemen for me this week!

Remembering that Horsemen in this deck refer to thoughts or unseen intelligences, I look to see what each of these Horsemen relate to, though it's probably pretty obvious.

The Horseman of Coins denotes thoughts relating to health or money. Right way up, they tend to the prosperity of the client.

The Horseman of Cups denotes thoughts of love or affection. Right way up, they are sincere and to the client's advantage.

Like yesterday, there are no other court cards in this spread, so these Horsemen relate to my own thoughts. (Unless you count one of the Horsemen to be "the other court card" but then which is which? That's too confusing, so I'll keep it as is.)

The Horsemen are followed by The Sarcophagus. The title of this card is a bit more literal than the usual Judgment card. It's still read as an "awakening" or "resurrection" though. Spiritually, the card expresses the immortality of the soul. Intellectually, the judgment of conscious. And physically, unexpected elevation.

...all fortune is changeable, even that which appears most stable. The
ascension of the soul is the fruit that it should draw from its successive
trials...

Well, that's a good sign. All fortune is changeable, even that which appears most stable. The cards today talk about the financial and romantic aspects of my life, both of which have been pretty evenly, stably barren for the past few years. The Sarcophagus tells me this can change. The ascension of the soul is the fruit that it should draw from its successive trials. So after much hardship in the arenas of money and love, there will be a new dawning for me, in both areas. The Horsemen remind me to keep my eye on the prize(s).

It's interesting to me that both Horsemen are riding to the right, both toward the resurrection of The Sarcophagus. My love life will be resurrected yet! Ha! And prosperity is on its way also. Good, good, good.

Deck: Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot (by The Church of Light, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot: Good Fortune Permeating My Mind

I'm finding this deck's meanings interesting, and how at times they are quite the opposite of the RWS meanings I'm used to. For example, the Five of Coins in this deck means "abundant wealth", which is quite different from the destitution I'm used to seeing in this card. In fact, all the fives are considered good fortune, which is very different from the Fives in RWS.

The Horsemen in the deck fall where we are used to seeing Knights. "The Horsemen do not represent people, but denote thoughts or unseen intelligences...that have an influence upon the life of the client. The one who thinks the thoughts is indicated by the Court Card nearest to the Horseman in the spread." I really like this idea. Since there is no other court card in this spread, I know the Horseman's thoughts signify my own here.

The Horseman of Scepters denotes thoughts concerning business. Right side up, it signifies this is advantageous to me. I don't use reversals, but seeing that it falls next to the positivity of the Five of Coins, I will assume it was intended to be read right side up. This same Horseman appeared for me in yesterday's draw, which I didn't have time to post. So he is back again to remind me of the importance of his message.

The Five of Scepters is another repeat, from two days ago (see here). This card indicates good fortune in business.

The Fives in general augur good luck and fortune, as Jupiter is their significator. Having two Five's appear together emphasizes this message greatly. So here I have a very strong message of good fortune in finance and business. The Horseman tells me to keep this in mind. The Horsemen remind me quite a bit of the Law of Attraction. Combining their own meaning with the cards that surround it, they serve as either an encouragement or warning, letting you know what you are thinking about, what you should be thinking about, and whether or not this is serving you.

Yesterday, something very lucky happened to me. It took me by surprise, and I was greatly relieved and grateful. I immediately thought of the Wheel I drew the day before (again, here). I took the Horseman's advice yesterday and kept lucky thoughts in my head all day and all night long. I will continue to do so today, seeing the repeat of the Horseman, followed by the two auspicious Fives. (There's something oddly liberating about saying "auspicious Fives", as it's not something I've probably ever said before!)

This reminds me of something I know I've mentioned on this blog before. The right cards will come up, no matter what deck you're using. Good Luck would not have appeared in the cards represented by the Five of Coins and Five of Wands in most any other deck. But that's what they mean in this deck, and they appropriately appeared. Had I decided to forgo the unusual meanings this deck provides, and simply read them according to the method I was used to, I am certain these cards would not have appeared, as they would mean something different to me. It's one of the reasons I like to switch decks. It's neat for me to see how different cards mean different things, depending on what deck I'm using. Even two decks with the same meanings will bring up different cards, depending on the illustrations, and what they mean to me personally. I thoroughly enjoy the magic involved in this phenomenon. And for this reason, I am enjoying this deck much more than I had expected to.

Deck: Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot (by The Church of Light, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot: Back to Writing

I'm giving the new Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot a whirl. This is a new reprint by US Games. The deck was previously published in black and white (in 1936), and it is now redesigned in full color. The deck uses a multitude of angles in interpreting the cards, and was created as a companion to the book, "The Sacred Tarot" which explores the relationships between the Tarot and Kabala, astrology, alchemy, magic and numerology.

The meanings for the Minor Arcana are not RWS related. So when using the deck, I suppose one could either use the meanings you have already related to the tarot, or use the system meant for this particular deck. Since the minors are pips, I decided to go with the meanings designed for the deck, since there aren't illustrated scenes to bring RWS meanings to mind.

Today I asked the cards if I should pursue my writing. If this was the right time to do so. I have been feeling a strong calling to return to writing, but the timing isn't the greatest. I have a lot of financial pressure right now, and if I start writing, I feel I will feel guilty about that time spent, when I could be doing something more productive. This guilty pressure will not be conducive to allowing the creativity to flow, as it must when one writes. On the other hand, I know that the timing is never going to be perfect. So I might as well carve out just a little bit of time each day to follow my calling. So... I asked the cards if pursuing my writing is something I should do right now.

I drew the Five of Scepters, Seven of Cups and The Wheel. Since I am completely unfamiliar with the way the Minors are depicted in this deck, I headed for the LWB to translate for me. I'm going to share the excerpts here, to give you an idea of what the system is like.

Five of Scepters
The Fives are represented in this deck by Jupiter: "Jupiter, in astrology, is the general significator of good fortune. Therefore the Fives in their more common divinatory significance must relate to good luck in the particular department of life signified by the suit. But in their application to higher planes, they reveal the influence of, and can be interpreted by, the fifth decante of each zodiacal triplicity, starting with the movable signs."

(For what it's worth, I have no idea what "the fifth decante of each zodiacal triplicity" means.)

The divinatory significance of the Five of Scepters is good fortune in business; its inner interpretation is REFORMATION.


Seven of Cups
The sign Sagittarius is the general significator of philosophy, long journeys, publishing, teaching and outdoor sports. Therefore the Sevens, corresponding numerically to Sagittarius, in their more common divinatory significance must relate to these things as applied to the area of life indicated by the suit. But in their higher application they reveal the influence of, and can be interpreted by, the seventh decante of each zodiacal triplicity, starting with the movable signs.

The divinatory significance of the Seven of Cups is a successful change of home; its inner interpretation is VERITY.


The Wheel
In divination, Arcanum X may be read as Change of Fortune.

Arcanum X expresses in the spiritual world, the active principle which vivifies all being.

In the intellectual world, the governing authority.

In the physical world, good and evil fortune.

Remember then, son of earth, that for power thou must will, that is, will strongly; thou must dare, and to dare with success thou shouldst know how to be silent until the moment of action. If the Wheel should appear in the prophetic signs of thy horoscope, know that to possess the Key of Power you must learn to will persistently only for what is good and true. And in order to maintain thyself upon the heights of life, shouldst thou rach them, thou must have learned how to sound with a look, and without dizziness, the vastest depths.

Ooookay....

To be honest, the thing that stuck out to me, more than anything, was the mention of "publishing" in the description of the Sevens. The change of fortune in the Wheel can't be a bad sign either, as my fortune can only get better at this point, as I'm pretty much at the bottom of the fortune wheel right about now. The Five of Scepters also talks about good fortune, strengthening the message of The Wheel. And the Seven of Cups indicates a successful change. Add that to the Wheel and you get a Successful Change of Fortune.

So I'd say the cards are favorable to my making time to write. Even though the time doesn't seem right, I should follow the urges I have and set aside some time to write on a regular basis. Perhaps by being true to myself (hinted at in the Seven of Cups and Wheel), by following my calling, I will receive good fortune as a result of walking the path that's right for me... trusting in that even when it doesn't seem that everything is aligned to accommodate my dream.

Deck: Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot (by The Church of Light, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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