Playing Card Reading on Mom's Health

Just wanted to post a quick update. The night I found out about my mom's tumor, I did a reading with my playing cards, asking what the outcome would look like should she opt for surgery. The cards were overwhelmingly positive, showing the surgery to be a success. They showed the tumor being successfully removed, and that her hearing would become clear again (hearing loss in one ear, along with increasing migraines, are what caused my mom to seek out an MRI in the first place.) There was success and joy and good health appearing in the cards (and geomantic aspects).

The reading was so targeted (my mom and her doctor both showed up in the reading) that it gave me a sigh of relief. Her surgery consultation is next month, so I will post another update then.

Please note that I did this reading for my own purposes, and not to diagnose or advise anyone.

Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Thank you...

I want to thank everyone who has offered me words of comfort about my mother's health. Whether leaving a comment here on my blog, or on Facebook, or via email... every single one of you who has reached out to me, has touched me with your loving words of support and encouragement. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Much love,
Kiki

Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot: Shockingly Negative News

I'm not quite sure what is happening, but it seems that all of life's sh*t is hitting the fan for me this week. Yesterday, my daughter's bike was stolen. In today's mail I received a huge financial notice with a rapidly approaching deadline that I don't know how in the world I will meet.

But the most shocking news of all came last night when my 58-years-young mom told me she has a brain tumor. They think it's benign, which if that's true, that's great, but she's still facing surgery for the removal of the tumor.

What the Hell?

I started wondering where all this was coming from. I have been in a really positive flow lately, so it doesn't make sense that this is what I'm attracting. It seems almost as if there is this huge pile of crap being dumped on my doorstep, like the last remnants of my previous attraction. I feel like maybe this is the final accumulation of the energy I was expending previously, and it's all coming to a head now. And once this is all cleared up, it will be smoother sailing. Of course that all depends on how I handle these trials. Because if I deal with it by means of worry and fear, I'm only inviting more of the same, and starting the cycle over again.

So, as tough as it is, I am deliberately trying to pay attention to the vibes I am sending out about all of this. I am sending love to the bill sitting on my dresser, and depending on a financial miracle. I am trying to get a handle on my emotions about my mother, using visualization to minimize my mother's tumor in my mind, and expecting it not to be a big deal after all. And while my daughter's stolen bike is peanuts to me now, I won't discount or minimize how important it is to her, in the mind of a child, so I will still work on expecting a wonderful outcome for her there as well.

I drew my cards today with all of this in mind. The Ace of Swords appears again today, and all I can see in it now is a scalpel, and my mom's upcoming surgery. In fact, last night when she told me the news, I immediately thought of the Ace of Swords I had drawn yesterday morning.

The Five of Pentacles is the representation of the sizable bill I received today, and the way it made me feel financially poor and helpless.

Temperance reminded me of my wonderings if all of this was the last accumulation of my previous points of attraction. I saw the angel pouring the remaining balance of one cup into the other. In the same way, I am receiving the bottom cup, the remains of the balance of my previous emotions. The angel also reminded me of the miracles I need at this time. Perhaps it's time to call on some angelic help.

Temperance also reminds me of the emotional balance I need to hold onto for dear life right now. I'm going to try my darndest to approach all that life throws my way right now with love and light and positivity, because at the very least, I know how ineffective it is to approach it in the opposite way.

I will be most grateful for any love sent my way, and healing thoughts lifted up for my dear mother. ♥

Deck: Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot (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.

Geomancy Layout Technique for the Playing Cards

I have been using Ana Cortez's method of playing card reading, which incorporates geomancy into the readings. This post is for those who are already familiar with her method, as I merely aim to share a technique I have created to make the geomancy calculation easier for me.

When I started using Ana's method, I found it cumbersome that I always had to have a pen and paper handy to jot down the geomantic figures. I wanted to be able to calculate the figures easily for readings on the fly, with nothing but my playing card deck. It finally hit me to use the cards themselves!

After laying out the "Cat Spread" of four cards, I then take the remainder of the deck and use the cards (face down) to lay out the geomantic figures. For a "1", I lay the card vertically, and for a "2", I lay the card horizontally. The cards combine to form the easily recognizable figures.

Below is a sample spread using this method. Please note that I go against the grain by laying my geomantic figures out from left to right, as that's the way my brain works best. The column of cards (face up) is the original four in the reading. The following three columns are the geomantic figures.

The left column is the First Witness, the one calculated by NUMBER.
The middle column is the Second Witness, the one calculated by COLOR.
The right column is the Judge, the sum of the Number & Color columns.



I hope this technique proves helpful for some of you using the Playing Card Oracles method of reading with geomancy.

I also wanted to give a shout out to my friend Helen, of My Wings of Desire, who has created this ingenious spreadsheet which will calculate your geomantic figures for you, if you have a computer handy when doing your readings.

Deck: Bicycle 1800 Vintage Playing Cards

~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot: Blasted Christmas Pirates!

Just moments after drawing these cards, my daughter came in the house crying. Someone had stolen her bike from our side yard last night. Three days before Christmas. Who does that?

I saw myself in the Strength card, consoling her. "Petting" her face, as I did, while telling her it just meant that the universe has a better bike in store for her. The Chariot here obviously represents the bike. (And it also reminded me of a getaway car.) The Ace of Swords is what I'd like to stick to the thief. Kidding. Sorta. But it does remind me of how I told my daughter that thieves were sort of like pirates... taking what doesn't belong to them. That's what I saw in the Ace of Swords... a sword-wielding pirate plummaging his way to victory. A sad victory it is when you feel the need to steal a little girl's pink bicycle right before Christmas.

I have reached the limit of my Christmas spending, so I'm not able to replace her bike right away, but I'm trying to help my daughter feel more zen about the experience, by trusting the universe to allow the void to provide a nicer, newer bike to come into her life.

Deck: Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot (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.

Significant Changes for Tarot Dame!

I was inspired to post this notice today, and I realize now why the timing feels so right. Not only is it the Winter Solstice, but it's also a full moon and lunar eclipse. And it's the first time all three have occurred simultaneously in hundreds of years. I feel it's a great night for transformation and reflection and regeneration. So it makes perfect sense that I felt compelled to choose this evening to post the following announcement.

1/11/11 Inspiration

I hope this message finds you well and happy this holiday season! I have some changes going on that I'd like to share, as I have been going through a metamorphosis of sorts in my tarot life. I am feeling very connected to the upcoming 1/11/11 moment, as the date keeps popping up in different ways for me.

(One of the most notable was when I donated blood recently and was told that the next date I would be able to donate is 1/11/11. I was thrilled to learn that my blood type is automatically donated to the neo-natal unit, so the idea that 1/11/11 is the next date I can share my blood, a source of life, with babies in need is pretty incredible to me.)

Significant Changes for Tarot Dame!

I have been undergoing a regeneration lately in my divination life. I've been rethinking and redesigning my tarot practice. My soul is leading me in different directions, broadening my paths, including, but not limited to, tarot. It's become undeniable that it's time for me to expand my direction and approach.

I am allowing this change to evolve naturally, so I will be taking some time off from offering my regular tarot reading services. I don't know when I will be available again for readings, as I am allowing my heart to lead me in due time.

In the meantime, I am offering a limited amount of readings for 2011. If you would like to lock in reading sessions with me in 2011, I am offering a small number of 2-Reading packages for $111. This will guarantee you two Full Readings, which can be used any time throughout the year*. You can use them both for yourself, or give one (or both) as a gift to someone else.

I am limiting this offer to ONLY 40 people. Once they are booked, they are gone.

You may purchase multiple sets of readings, as long as they are available, to spread out over the year.

*Once purchased, readings can be scheduled during any month in 2011, after 1/11/11, but are subject to a 2-3 week wait time, depending on my schedule.

This offer expires on 1/11/11, after which time I will no longer be offering tarot readings, until my re-emergence, whenever that may be.

http://readings.tarotdame.com/

~*~

More 1/11/11 News from Kiki:

January-February "Me, You, Woo Hoo!" E-Course


1/11/11 will be the magical starting date of the next run of my 28-day E-Course, Me, You, Woo Hoo!

AND... there is now an optional Tarot Version of the course, which includes daily tarot exercises, in addition to the original course schedule, at no extra cost! All you need is a tarot deck! The cost of the course? Why, $111, of course!

I am limiting the registration to 30 participants. Registration will be open until January 7, 2011 OR until 30 people have registered... whichever comes first.

If you want to start your new year off with a bang, I hope you'll join me in bringing more self-love, kindess and fun into our daily lives!

http://ecourses.tarotdame.com/

~*~

I wish everyone a magically delicious 2011!


~ Kiki
Tarot Dame

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

Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot: Balancing the Checkbook

I don't think I've ever had a busier holiday season. Like, ever. It's incredible. Today I am carrying around a small piece of tumbled petrified wood in my pocket to continually remind me to breathe, and slow down. There will be time enough for everything, even without rushing around like mad. It seems to be helping.

I was looking at my checklist for the day and I added "balance checkbook" to the list. I discovered yesterday that I *think* I have less in my account than I thought I did. With all the holiday buying, in stores, online, and returns, and keeping track of my three kids' individual Christmas money balances (all in my single account), it's all become a big blur. So that's definitely something I need to sort out today before I spend another dime.

When I added "balance checkbook" to my list, the tarot Temperance card came to mind. Which then reminded me that I haven't blogged for a week. So I made myself sit down for a few minutes to relax with my cards. I drew my daily three and smiled when the first two cards clearly spelled out "balance checkbook" to me (Temperance + Six of Pentacles).

The third card told me that when I was done with that chore, I needed to walk away from it. If indeed I do have less in my account that I relied upon, then there's nothing that can be done about it now. The Eight of Cups reminds me that what's done is done, and I need to just move forward from here, adjusting what needs to be adjusted, rather than dwelling on my miscalculations and feeling worrisome about that missing money (which I see in the missing cup on the top row in the card).

So this was good. It was a nice little pat on the back from the cards. All is fine. And all will be fine. Just take care of business and go from there.

Deck: Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot (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.

Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot: In Every Moment, We Have a Choice

The Lovers can sometimes indicate a choice, rather than an interpretation regarding love. I don't usually see the "choice" interpretation in my readings, but today it was clear this was what it meant for me. The Lovers stands in the middle of two very different feeling cards, illustrating two choices I can make. Do I spend the day focusing on happiness and joy found with my family (Ten of Cups), or do I give in to worry that sometimes tries to creep in (Nine of Swords)? Last night I had a few bad dreams, which doesn't happen very often. That's another thing I saw in the Nine of Swords. A warning not to dwell on the negative, instead choosing to be happy no matter what today.

It was a good day. There were a few hiccups in the form of negative energy offered by surrounding people, but thanks to the cards' warning this morning, I was conscious enough to keep the negativity from affecting me and changing my mood to match. I didn't let it penetrate my happiness bubble. I chose to remain happy.

I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I took that thought to heart today, and it certainly did me good!

Deck: Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot (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.

Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot: An Amazing Sign from the Cards

Today I got out my brand-new-to-me Radiant Rider deck. I can't promise that the cards will retain their borders all week. I wanted to trim it before I even recevied the deck. But it's a very busy week, so other priorities might delay me from the trimming process just now.

This deck's coloring is like the polar opposite of the deck I've been working with the past couple of weeks (Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot). I have scanned side-by-side comparisons to share here later, because I found them fascinating.

So the first thing I did with this deck today was this: I was curious about a spread that I've been doing lately, and wondered how it would be if I rearranged the order in which I laid out the cards. The middle section of the spread would now be a mirror image of its usual placement. I wanted to know which way would work better for me. So I shuffled and mindlessly laid out the normal spread, but in the opposite direction as I normally do. I didn't focus on anything, nor did I have a subject in mind. It was more of a test to see how it felt to lay the cards out differently than normal.

Boy was I surprised when the center cards fell like this:



Instantly I recognized them as the mirror opposite of the order in which these three cards fell for me this week. A few days ago, the Hermit was directly behind (to the right of) the Queen of Cups here, then the next day the King of Wands was directly behind (to the right of) the Queen of Cups here. (First the Hermit followed the Queen, then the King of Wands followed.) As I was using a different deck for this exercise, I thought this was so spectacular.

When I flip these three cards so that they reflect the way they would normally fall, the way I usually lay out this spread, I would get this:



This shows the precise order in which the cards previously fell for me in my daily draws this past week.

So my thoughts here were that this was a pretty damn clear sign that I should keep the spread as it is, as it's clearly showing me the proper order of things.

If only ALL of life's signs were this easy to interpret!

Deck: Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot (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.

Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot: B-O-R-E-D

Today's cards are about my son. He's always the Page of Cups to me. The Hanged Man shows him laying around, unable to do much of anything due to his injuries. The most extensive wounds run down the length of his right leg, which is illustrated here so perfectly, as it's the leg the Hanged Man has stretched out, which is pretty much how my son has to sit/lay most of the time, so it doesn't bang into anything. The Four of Cups was him telling me yesterday, "I'm bored." He can't go outside to play with friends, and is growing bored inside the house. Last night I told him I'd play some games with him today, so he can be a bit more entertained. Gonna try to make the day a bit less 4-of-Cups-y for him while he's healing.

Deck: Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot (by Pamela Colman-Smith, 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.

Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot: Sit Back Down, Mr. Wands!

Wow. Well this was pretty amazing. My cards from yesterday were still out this morning (Ten of Wands, Queen of Cups and The Hermit). I put each of them back into the deck, in separate places, then shuffled for my daily draw today. To have the first two cards rejoin together in the same order was pretty extraordinary.

Today, instead of the Hermit at my back, I have the King of Wands. I suppose this is my father, as we saw him today, and I usually think of him as the King of Wands, since he's an Aries. It looks here like he's watching me. He's not a talkative guy, but he's definitely got strong opinions. He doesn't always like the way I do things. From these cards, it looks like he's overseeing something that I'm overseeing, which makes me think that he's about to put in his cantankerous two cents about some aspect of my parenting. And he looks about ready to stand up, or at the very least speak up.

I'm going to take this warning as an opportunity to nip this in the bud before it happens, by envisioning the next few weeks going swimmingly and smoothly and peacefully. Steering these cards in a more favorable direction while I still have time to alter their course by expecting more positive interactions with my father over the holidays.

I'm quite appreciative for the advance warning given to me by the cards today.

Deck: Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot (by Pamela Colman-Smith, 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.

Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot: An Accident Invites Gratitude

This afternoon my kids were riding around the block, as passengers, in a golf cart driven by one of my neighbors. What I didn't know was that later on, the neighbor's young teenage daughter had a turn driving it. Fast. I would not have allowed my kids to be driven by her, had I known she was behind the wheel. Around the block, because she was going so fast, the cart overturned. On my son's leg. Trapping him. The teenage driver had to pull it off of him. I'm not sure how she had the strength to do that, but luckily she did. Since they were around the block, I had no idea this happened until they came home, crying. My son (10 years old) had had the sense to put his younger sisters on the inside of the cart, when they got in, while he sat on the outer part of the seat. When the cart overturned, it landed on him, and not my 6 or 8 year old daughters.

The entire left side of his body (arm, side, leg, ankle) is scratched, bruised, bloodied and bumped to hell. By some miracle, he was able to walk away from the accident without any broken bones. Though horrified to see his body torn up like it was, I couldn't help but be overwhelmingly grateful that it wasn't worse. That he didn't require a hospital trip. That the girls were safe. I don't even want to think about what could have happened if it had been my tiny 6 year old stuck under the cart instead.

This evening, still in the grateful frame of mind, I asked the cards to show me more of what I have to be grateful for. The cards made an interesting set up.

As I was shuffling, I knew the Ten of Wands would show up for some reason, though I didn't really know why*. The Queen of Cups is me. The Hermit is one of the archetypes in the tarot that I most relate with. I see the Queen looking at the Ten of Wands. As I was tending to my son's wounds, I thought how heartwrenching it is sometimes to be a mother. To worry so much about these little people... their health, safety and well-being. How scary it is when something goes wrong, and one of them is hurt. This unconditional and all-consuming love is heavy. The Ten of Wands shows the strength needed to be a mother, carrying all these emotions and vulnerabilities around, 24/7.

The Hermit stands behind the Queen... behind the scenes. He is a part of her. His guiding light is what fills her cup. His wisdom and inner strength keep her together. The ancient knowing that everything will always be all right in the end is the support she needs when all she has is herself and her emotions to lean on.

While I was patching up my son's huge, bloody and numerous wounds, I told him that angels must have been looking out for him... that although he was injured and in pain, he was incredibly lucky because it could have been far worse. Just this morning, I had gotten out his long pants. He always wears shorts, but it's starting to get a little chilly. So, miraculously, he was wearing long pants for the first time this year today. When he came in, his pants were all torn up. Huge rips everywhere. If he had been wearing shorts, those tears would have been his skin, not his pants. The wounds would have been far deeper. Looking at the Hermit, I saw him as an angel looking over the shoulder of the Queen and the Ten of Wands... protecting me and the ones I care about and carry with me in my heart. (Note the the three mermaid cherubs on the Queen's throne.)

These cards made me grateful that I have the strength to keep it together when one of my kids gets injured. That although I am paining inside, I am able to be a comfort to my children, and a strong, safe, calming presence for them.

*Looking at the Ten of Wands again, I also see the physical strength used by the teengage girl to lift the golf cart off my son's leg.

Deck: Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot (by Pamela Colman-Smith, 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.

Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot: What's Missing?

I haven't had time to blog lately, as the past couple of weeks have been crazy busy, getting ready for the holidays. Lots of running around and planning and creating. I haven't even had time to work with my cards at all. Tonight, I finally sat down with my deck, taking a break from the whirlwind. I asked what I might be missing from life, or failing to notice properly, while being swept away in all the busyness this month. I was a bit surprised by the answer I got. I expected to be enlightened by what I was missing out on, but instead I received the opposite confirmation in that my chaotic life is actually doing me good right now.

The World looked immediately to me as a token of the Christmas season. All I saw was the green wreath with red bows! And there I am in the center, juggling more than one thing at a time. The wands in her hand reminded me of knitting needles, which is appropriate, as I am crafting/sewing a lot of gifts this year.

The Tower and Four of Cups show that I have suddenly exploded out of my boredom. As this month started, I hit the ground running and I haven't slowed down. This is very different from the more laid back lifestyle I am used to. But it feels good. I feel a bit more alive. The Tower knocking me from my humdrum life is actually a good thing. If the Four of Cups is what I'm missing out on, I'm not missing much.

The holidays are doing me good. It feels refreshing and rejuvenating to mix things up a bit, and I'm really enjoying the month, chaos and all!

Deck: Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot (by Pamela Colman-Smith, 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.

Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot: Moving On

This evening I pulled a few cards, asking "What's next for me?" Earlier this week, I overcame a huge hurdle in my life, and now I'm sort of in the in-between stage between what I conquered and what's next. I'm taking a breather. But I don't want to rest too long. I want to make forward progress and move onto bigger and better things.

I pulled the Eight of Cups, The Chariot and the Three of Swords. The Chariot is just busting right through the two flanking cards. They are in the past, and the charioteer is powerfully moving past them into the future. The Eight of Cups and Three of Swords are related. There was a painful leaving-behind that happened in the past, but that is so far behind me now, as I move forward with my life.

I wanted clarification on the heartache, as the Three of Swords isn't a card that comes up for me often. So I pulled the next card, which was the High Priestess. Whenever she appears as a clarification card, it always means to me, "You already know the answer". And she's always right. This case is no exception. I do know. And I'm so glad to be in the driver's seat... in the Chariot... thankfully letting go and happily moving on.

Deck: Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot (by Pamela Colman-Smith, 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.