Problem solving with tarot

This morning, when I woke up, I didn't feel that great. I was obsessing about, now please don’t laugh, which journal I would like to use for the coming time. This is an obsession which has been going on for as long as I write in my journals. I go back and forth between several formats and almost never really finish one. Sometimes I write everything in one book, or I use multiple journals; for each subject a different notebook. And don’t get me started about the actual journals I can choose from: ring-bound, spiral bound, hardcover, digital, A4, A5, A6, lined grid, blank…. the possibilities are endless. A typical first world problem or maybe a cover-up for an underlying issue. When I feel this anxious it is very hard to let go of. So instead of obsessing about it even further, I flipped trough my deck and picked a few cards face- up which visualize how I feel.

In short:

When too many choices are available, I get stuck, unable to move, while in my mind the quarrel is constantly going on and without a winner. The only thing I have to do is take of my blindfold get up and receive the gift of choosing one possibility, be content with it and start journaling. This will lead me through the gate towards freedom.

It is so easy. All I have to do is make one decision and release the illusion I have to solve this dilemma for eternity. Just choose for today and be happy with it.

Is it just me, or does any of you have such nagging, not at all crucial, long lasting, dilemma too?

The King of Coins and fox – Sometimes you just want to run off

Today’s card is the King of Coins from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti. This is the king who is practical and reliable, sure of himself and sometimes a bit conservative. He is a great manager and  his focus is always on the welfare of everyone he is responsible for. He yearns for sensual pleasure and is sometimes a bit self-indulgent.

When you have so much responsibility, you have to make time for the good things in life. And most of the time the king doesn't feel guilty in doing so. But he never crosses boundaries because he knows the eyes of his people are always upon him. Look at him standing there on the balcony with his Pentacle in his hands. What is he thinking? What does he want?

For some additional information I pulled one card from the Gilded Reverie Lenormand: the Fox. Oops. There is something sneaky going on here. Although the fox wants to get into the henhouse, I've got the feeling the king wants to run off and  leave his Pentacle behind for a while. I guess everybody can relate to this feeling. We all have our responsibilities but o, how wonderful it would be, if we could just play truant for a while and run off to do whatever we want and maybe even misbehave just for a tiny little bit… Or maybe we have to manipulate others to have some time to ourselves. Is it so bad to feign  a headache when you want to be on your own for a while…..

I think there a lots of ways to “sneak out” if we need to. Maybe not all totally legit but certainly very understandable. 

Review of The Inner Wizard – Message cards from your higher self

Today I want to share my thoughts and feelings about a wonderful and gentle deck of cards. “The Inner Wizard - messages from you higher- self” is a small square deck of 84 cards. Each card has one side a short message, notelet  from a part of your higher self and on the other side a conscious new choice how to approach life. And this is for the main part what this deck is all about. And I love it!! 

There are no illustrations on the cards to trigger your intuition. You have to work mostly with written language to find meaning for your personal situation. It is almost as if I have found another key to open the door to  my intuition. 

The messages are very diverse: motivating, gentle, funny and empowering. They all adhere to the notion we can consciously and actively be a participant in our own life and life in general. The parts of our higher self, the “writers” of the notelets have also wide range of characteristics: God, your wicked self, your sense of humor, your body, your fear, your inner goddess, your future self, your wild self …..  I think that the variation in these messages and messengers add a very playful and surprising element to this deck. Each time when I pull a card, mostly in the morning I wonder: who I will hear from today? Will I get a supporting pat on the back or a soft kick in the butt?

Personally I think this deck is very suitable for daily draws. Of course you can do a three card spread if you like but with oracle decks I usually only do daily draws

A few examples

Some further information:

Each of the 84 cards has been assigned to a zodiac sign which can add another layer to the meaning of the card. Since I am a complete newbie as regards to astrology, this could be a way to familiarize myself with the zodiac signs and their attributes.  And since each zodiac sign is related to one of the four elements, you can also choose to use this aspect to enhance your reading. 

The  side of  choice proclamations are done in luscious red and the side with the the notelets have a soft pastel color according to their astrological sign.

The cards are sturdy and  have a glossy finish. They come in a nice box with a lid which is perfect to storage you cards in. In the box you will also find a leaflet with some more information about the cards and the astrological and elemental attributes

This lovely deck of cards has really found its rightful place in my collection of tarot and oracle cards.

Author: Jacob Roth & Libby Ram

Artist/Designer: Orna Ben-Shoshan

More information can be found at Kabbalah Insights: Inner Wizard

(disclaimer: although this deck was kindly given to me by the artist. This hasn't in any way influenced my review)

The World – The end of our Journey?

For today I've drawn The World from the Anna K tarot. This is far out the most beautiful version of The World I have in my collection. In this depiction we see  the universe enfolding the World tree, the Yggdrasil. The sun, the moon phases, the night sky, filled with stars; all are here to celebrate the end of the Fools journey. The fool, the explorer, the wander, has traveled through the entire Major Arcana  and he has learned so much. But the most important thing he’s learned is to be who he truly is: The Fool, the most authentic part of our selves, ready to travel the next winding of the spiraling journey towards becoming one with everything, with the Universe, with God(dess)

I think this spiraling journey inwards is the greatest adventure we can have in this lifetime. It is a voyage beyond compare: climbing mountains, fighting dragons, finding our significant other, leaning about magic and deep wisdom, being guided by celestial bodies; always on our way and always home for the journey is within.

“We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.”

T.S. Eliot

Page of Cups - Playing in the mud

Today's card is the Page of cups from the Anna K Tarot. A young boy is playing with water, pouring from the rock. The source of this spring is a the vast universal well of intuition and hidden wisdom but he doesn't know that; not now, not yet. It is late at night and in the distance one star is watching over him, ready to guide him if he needs it. But not now, not yet. The young boy has as a cup and saucer to gather the water and to pour it out over the rocks, over and over again. The fun is in the repetition of the game. He is experiencing an abundance of flowing feelings, of embracing them and letting them go but he doesn't know that; not now, not yet.

Al he wants to do is play with the water and the mud for that is what this page (earth + water = mud) is all about. Shaping the mud into formless  pies is what all children love to do. Eating them (throwing them over their shoulder) and baking a new batch; over and over again. This is the message for me today from this page: Playing is not a onetime thing. Doing the same thing over and over again it what gets you in the flow. In my opinion, playing is a circular act while practicing is often more linear; working towards a goal

This afternoon I am going to paint with my watercolors some whet in whet backgrounds for later drawings. So no pressure to create something beautiful; just playing with water and paint. YAY!

What will be your “mud pies” today?

Knight of Wands – Setting my priorities straight

Today’s cards are the Knight of Wands from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot and the man card from the Gilded Reverie Lenormand. Both decks are by Ciro Marchetti. This Knight of Wands is as fiery as it is possible. Red and Yellow and every hue in between is used to create this image. Two dragons are battling one another with fire, while unaware of the damage they are causing to their surroundings. They are passionate and reckless, strong and vital. But maybe lately a bit over the top with all their plans, projects and challenges. This knight can sometimes give us  the idea of  “I can do everything if I really want it”. So we plunge in enthusiastically with passion and good intentions and only to feel afterwards the blisters on our soul. Then we have to admit we've acted like the dragons in this card: a bit over the top and somewhat impetuous.

But then I pulled the Man card. Today I read this card as being  the Knight of Wands, without his armor. He is tired of fighting his inner and outer battles. There too many options, too many battlefields. In his hand he is holding one rose and he is silently waiting until he knows for sure which challenge is worth his sole focus and all his energy.

I do relate to these cards very well. For five days now I am trying to change my behavior and routines on several fronts and I am coming to the conclusion that it might be a bit too much ad once. Because I do want this challenge to be a success, I have to set my priorities  straight. What do I want to  focus on? What is it that I want to change the most? One rose…. one priority ….

Lenormand – practice, practice, practice!

This morning I figured it was about time I picked up my Lenormand cards again to practice my reading skills so when my copy of the Celtic Lenormand would arrive, I would be able to work with it. For this line of five I have chosen the Gilded Reverie by Ciro Marchetti. The question is: what advice can you give me on how to pursue my challenge of “Making room in 40 days”?

After shuffling the cards I searched for the ring as a symbol of my commitment to this challenge and picked the two cards on either side of the ring. Together they form a line of five with:

whip + cross + ring + heart + sun

Cross+ ring+  heart : it is important to devote yourself spiritually and emotionally to this commitment.

Whip + cross : establishing some repetitive spiritual practices can be very helpful

Sun +heart:  Give yourself permission to bask yourself in the light of self love

Whip + sun : although there will be difficulties, maybe self-doubt and other  and inner  struggles, this challenge will  strengthen your confidence and will give you  a lot of insight in yourself

These cards gave me lots of practical advice. Especially about  creating some daily rhythm, so there will be some flow during the day and I won’t be constantly aware of the things I cannot do but more focusing on what I can and want to do. Honestly it feels a bit like when I quit smoking but with the heart and the sun in view I am on my way again!

New Moon in February

For this New Moon reading  I've used the Angel dreams Oracle by Doreen Virtue. Although I've bought this deck about a year ago, I've never worked with it. Yesterday evening I was sitting in my room looking at my decks, wondering which on I would chose for my New Moon reading and this deck seemed to call : “Pick me Pick me!”  Who am I not to react to such an explicit desire. So I picked  it up, gave the deck thorough shuffle and drew two cards:

Release: Nettle – Boundaries, Caution

This cards urges me to let go of too rigid boundaries. They will prevent me from being flexible and  adaptable. People who want to come closer might get hurt by irritated remarks or cranky moods. The Nettle grows everywhere and excludes other plants from its colonies. And this is something I don’t want. Although I need being alone as much as I need to breath, I do have to be careful not to isolate myself and shut everyone out like the little Nettle fairy in the background.

Embrace:  Lucid dreams – Awareness , Opportunities

This is a bright and optimistic card to pull for the Embrace position. With her arms open wide, she is ready to receive. She knows she can create her own path by following her intuition and making the right choices along the way. She is open to the possibilities, presented to her. During a lucid dream you are able to change and/or create situations in and the surroundings of you dreamscape.

Some philosophies state this earthly life is  but a dream. If it this is true I sure wish  to be able to dream lucid.

(After the reading I suddenly made the connection between the starry borders and The Star as my guide for my 40 Day Challenge start and I smiled...)

Six of Wands – Beginning is winning

Today’s card is the Six of Wands from the Morgan Greer Tarot. This is the card of success, victory and accomplishments. At first I thought it to be more a card for after my 40 Day Challenge. How could I be sure if I would stick to it to the end. But then I realized that beginning this challenge is a victory in itself. I had overcome my fear of failure and I've set out on this journey with confidence  and good intentions. Yesterday I wrote that I wanted to take it day by day, step by step. No use aiming for the finish line while forgetting to enjoy yourself along the way. And that is what I am about to focus on: joy. I want to find joy and fulfillment in the present moment and I want to be proud of every little thing I achieve

In other versions of this card, you see the crowd cheering him on, holding the other wands up high. I suppose in this card they are standing behind him, knowing the main focus should be on the victor. In these five wands I see my supportive tribe like family and friends all over the world. 

Chloe commented the following this morning on yesterday’s post:” If you want to do it, I'm sure you'll get a lot out of it. And if you don't, then that will also be a learning for you :)

So whatever happens there is always a reason to bake a cake!

The Moon – Follow the yellow brick road

Today’s card is The Moon from the Morgan Greer Tarot.  Coincidentally the next card in the Major Arcana after the Star. This tells me that after the cleansing and rejuvenating pause from The Star, there are still some challenges ahead of us. When I pulled The Moon card this morning;“follow the yellow brick road” was the first thing that came to mind. As of tomorrow I am going on a “journey” myself, not knowing what my destination will be. To be honest, the commitment to a challenge of  40 days scares me a lot and at the same time I am so excited about it (the dog and the wolf in me).  I am also curious about the wisdom, hidden in my subconscious, the purple lobster will bring me. It must be something quite important because purple isn't  used frequently in this deck.

Anyhow guided by the light of the full moon (and my Star) I am going to follow this path day by day, trying not to look ahead too much but staying in the present moment and enjoying the journey.

(It is funny because there will be a New Moon tomorrow. I am very happy with it, because its energy might reinforce the change which I hope to achieve.

The Star - Hope and Renewal

My daily draw for  today is The Star from the Morgan Greer tarot. Just two days away from the beginning of my new challenge: "Making room in 40 days", this is a great card to receive. The Star is all about vulnerability, hope, inspiration, healing, clarity and starting over (after The Tower) following your hearts desire and feeling balanced.  Notice how she is pouring water out of her jugs. She feels no apprehension to empty both of them at the same time. There is more than enough water in the world. The star teaches us to let go of what we don’t need at this point in our life; to let go of the idea we can control everything. She has been through the experience of The Tower which has taught her what really matters in life.

She will be my guide on this journey and show me how to let go of time consuming activities  and how to focus on that which fulfills my soul.

She can also be my inspiration, my muse for the writing prompts and other  assignments I might get.

The first thing we were asked to do was to find a picture or an object which would represent this journey for us. I couldn't think of anything at the time but this card is definitely it! 

"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst."

William Penn

Creating a Tarot Mandala around the Seven of Cups

This morning, when I was driving home after visiting my husband, I was thinking about this reoccurring theme in my daily draws: “Dream, dream,  dream….”

I thought it might be a good idea to play around with this theme and see what would come up. First I started to write down everything I wanted in life. And I wrote quickly without censoring. Next I grouped similar wants and needs together, making small clusters. For  the more abstract dreams I added some practical implementations:  For instance living a creative life will require some practice and dedication on my side.

Then the fun part came: Creating the mandala. I used the Morgan Greer Tarot for its beautiful simplicity, bright colors and up close imagery. (You can imagine what this mandala would have looked like if I had used the Joie de Vivre tarot  J)

I flipped through the deck several times, pulled out a few cards out, put others back again and so on. And all this while putting them in some kind of layout. I deliberately choose the Four Queens  with their Aces for the corners of my Mandela as an indication of my strive to become a more balanced woman. The rest of the cards are my hopes, my dreams and my challenges.... 

Two of Wands – Feeling a bit off

Today’s card is the Two of Wands from the Original Rider Waite tarot. Although this card has a lot of many meanings, varying from personal power to loneliness, today for me it is all about not feeling quite right.  At first glance there is nothing wrong with this guy but since tarot is a mirror of the soul, I feel he is not happy with everything he has accomplished so far and he doesn't fully appreciate everything he has. Somehow I get the feeling he takes it all for granted. Of course he knows very well  how to reverse this feeling: practicing gratitude, meditating, exercising etc.  But he is just not into it. So what to do when I feel like this? I pulled the Seven of Cups and this card put a smile on my face. Of course it is so  easy: just let my mind roam free like and be in awe of all the dreams I encounter. One by one they are ready  to be manifested. (This is definitely a reoccurring theme in my daily draws.)

And admiring  all these gorgeous cups, suddenly I feel so happy, and grateful for the abundance I already have received. And for everything what life has still in store for me.

Yes, feeling not quite right is often a state of mind which can be turned around and it is almost always a matter of choice

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are."

Three card spread with the Anna K Tarot – Keep smiling

What a downhearted, sorrow full  bunch of cards this is.  I've pulled them from my Anna K tarot without any specific question. The Nine of Rods was my first card and it set the theme for this spread. This card is all about taking the time to regroup yourself after some serious battles. The man is obviously hurt, dead tired and on guard for the next attack.

I can relate to this card since we have a lot of things to work out around new social security rules for M and what the officials expect from her and if she able to meet those expectations. Since this isn't the first and certainly won't be the last time we have to deal with this kind of trouble, we are a bit inclined to expect the worst. So I asked the cards if there was a better way to approach such a situation and I got The Emperor and the Three of Swords.

At first glance it seemed like a dreary set of cards filled with grumpy characters and sadness and lots of greyish colors. But when I looked closer I could see some sound advise here. The Emperor will guide us through the maze of rules and regulations. He urges us to learn about them so we will be sufficiently prepared once we have to meet with the officials. Also he advises us to detach ourselves emotionally which is highlighted by the Three of Swords. There is no reason to get all sad and broken hearted yet. Most likely the officials aren't; set out to hurt us and we don’t always have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Maybe everything will work out fine just as usual. 

So although these cards look all sad and grey I am very pleased with them today and they’ve put a smile on my face

Manifestation – Let your dreams roam free

After having been solely working with tarot for a long time, I've pulled “Manifestation” from the Magical Times Empowerment Cards by Jodie Bergsma.

The message on the cards says: “Your dreams have untold energy. Open the door and let them live. Desire and belief are you power”

This card reminds me of The Magician’s energy: Everything is possible when you set your mind to it; you have the power within to manifest your dreams.

Most of my dreams are tucked away safely beneath a heavy blanket of forgetfulness and suppression. They are keeping quiet for now but I know they are still there and fully alive. It is almost if they are in some kind of hibernation. But now Spring is coming, life is stirring and dreams want to bud just eagerly as bulb flowers beneath the snow. Dreams can be awakened and come to life by the power of desire and belief, symbolized by the Dragon and the Unicorn.

Getting to know my dreams and giving them room to live is one of my main life challenges. In a few days I am starting with a 40 day Dutch journaling challenge with the theme: “Making room in 40 days”.  This is a more contemporary way of fasting.  With all kinds of prompts we are going to figure out what we really need in life; what is nourishing and what is a distraction and temptation from Ego. This way we can create room for more fulfilling things like writing, dreaming, meditation, tarot, art or just doing nothing….

I am really looking forward to it and I am sure making room for my dreams will be one of the subjects I want to write about.

Seven of Air – Mapping out our journey

In today’s card from the Gaian Tarot we see a hiker on his journey taking a moment to look at his map. He needs to make up his mind where he wants to go from here. Also he can track back where he came from.

So for now, he needs to decide if he should go straight for the mountain or follow the river and stay in the valley. When you set out for your life’s journey it is good to make a map and plan out your major goals so you won’t get lost along the way. But is also wise to make room for the unexpected; for adventure. It isn't possible to plan out your life to the last detail. Nothing in life is sure and every certainty is in my opinion an illusion, made up by our controlling ego.  I like this version for the Seven of Swords so much more than the Rider Waite version. Here the hiker is gathering his thoughts, his options (his Swords). Discarding some of them and holding on to the rest. No treachery or sneakiness is depicted here, just a lot of common sense.

After having mapped out the best way to reach his destination, the hiker puts away his map and continues his journey.  How exiting making plans might seem, nothing can compete with the actual travel.

Affirmation: I am determined to keep following my own path and trusting each step will bring me closer to who I am supposed to be.

A three card daily spread with the Gaian tarot

For today I want do a three card daily spread with The Gaian Tarot. I only have this deck for almost two weeks now and I must say I absolutely love it. I suspected it to be to my liking but already  I truly feel deeply connected to this deck. The images in the cards are so captivating and easy to relate to. As soon as I see one or more cards a story unfolds and the characters come to life.

For my spread the positions are as follows:

1 The general energy of the day

2 The challenge of the day

3 The gift of today

The general energy of the day: The Two of Earth

Like a mother with two toddlers most of us juggle our daily chores and responsibilities; trying to give attention at the most pressing things first. Sometimes life can be so demanding we go on autopilot to make the best of it.

The challenge of the day: The Magician

The challenge is to try to be like The Magician. No not to conjure up a magic wand but to be totally engaged in what we are doing in the present moment: poring our love an devotion into our task and experience how much more fluid and easy we can do things.

The gift of today: Three of Water

Look at these three otters; life is full of pleasure for them. They are  so carefree and playful by nature. At the end of the day we can, just like the otters, relax with our loved ones. Share how our day has been and just be happy and have fun together.

The overall message is to find balance in the magic of the present moment and chose joy!

Nine of Earth – Relax and Enjoy

After the four of Air, the Nine of Earth from the Gaian Tarot is a very welcome card. It is one of my “sigh cards” Which means by seeing it I seem to relax instantly. 
It feels like this woman, after she has been resting in a quiet place, setting some time apart for herself  and sorting out what is really important to her, she opened the door and walked outside for a breath of fresh air filled with the lovely fragrance of Lavender. This herb is so soothing and relaxing for body, mind and soul. Nothing has to be done but enjoying the surroundings and the leisure time she has. 
In the distance we see a large deep lake and although on the surface all seems calm, sometimes the undercurrent can be unpredictable and turbulent.

There is still so much to learn about these emotional flows; but not just yet. Now it is time for relaxation and being happy with all the things she has learned and accomplished so far.

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

Four of Air – Quieting the mind

Four Robins eggs are safely  tucked away in a nest made of twigs, leaves moss, and grasses. The nest is hidden for everyone who would want to take a peek or who might want to disturb it.

This card is the equivalent of the Four of Swords and is all about making a safe haven for yourself where your mind and soul can come to rest. This can be through meditation, prayer, making art or by just sitting quietly and doing nothing.

Be aware of predators who want to invade your little sacred nest. They are not always the needy people in your life but also the inner ones;  the Ego voices who want to distract you from taking a time out and trying to listen to the little soft voice of your intuition, which is often merely a whisper. Try to be aware of the distractions your Ego is setting up for you.

Lately I find myself again being very susceptible for the temptation and compelling pull of the internet. Many things I haven’t thought of myself I seem to need and sometimes obsessively WANT. It is hard for me to let go of these alluring objects and but when I do succeed, most of the time it feels like I am set free. This is a strong indication I didn't really needed/ wanted it anyway.

This morning I've read something very inspiring  in “Simple Abundance” by Sarah Ban Breathnach. In her essay for today she wrote:

“Today, deliberately turn away from the world. Don’t read the newspapers or watch the nightly news for a week—longer if you can stand it. Shun the glossy magazines featuring expensive suits designed for success. Wean yourself away from the opinions of others—however talented, creative, and celebrated they may be—as you continue to journey within. Absorb the shock of becoming aware that many of your preferences and opinions are not truly your own. Begin, instead, to listen for the whisper of your authentic self telling you which way to go.”

I suppose it is all about balance. I wouldn't want to be without internet as a whole but some clear boundaries would be very healthy....

Four of Earth - Yearning for my neglected decks

Only two days to go before the solitary Tarot challenge by Reacine from Owlmoon513 has ended. Today I pulled the Four of Earth from the Gaian Tarot, and this card describes very well how I am feeling at the end of the challenge. This is a card of gathering supplies, taking stock of what is yours, saving for leaner times and being grateful for everything you have, not only for the material things but also for health, safety and friendships etc.

I see myself as this squirrel at the end of my challenge. Look how he is carefully holding and admiring his acorn. I am longing to work with my other decks. It almost feels like I have abandoned them. They are sitting idle on the shelf gathering dust. This morning I have been fumbling through them, rearranging  them on their shelves  and in their drawer. .Just the act of touching them felt reassuring everything would get back to “normal” very soon. The stack of stones in the front symbolizes things you are grateful for. There are a lot of things I am grateful for regarding this challenge. This stack represent four of them:

1. The fact I was able to read four weeks (yes not the entire challenge ) with one deck
2. I’ve learned a lot of new ways of reading a daily draw
3. It was not an issue for me to change decks during this challenge (bending rules is not always so easy for me J)
4. For the first time in my life I did some shadow work and I felt no fear

Affirmation: “I am a wise steward of my resources and I give thanks for the blessings in my life” J.Colbert