Page of Swords - First card from my new Fountain Tarot Deck

Today I received my copy of the Fountain Tarot which I had won in a giveaway in September.  It is a stunning deck. It is even more beautiful  in reality than the pictures  I’ve seen online presumed. It feels like a whole year round, multipurpose deck.

After giving  it  thorough shuffle, the first card I drew was  the Page of Swords – bold curiosity.  A card about being open-minded to new ideas and situations. This page likes to try out new things and seek out new approaches to old concepts.  A perfect guide to dive into this modern looking mesmerizing deck.  But since the Page isn’t the studious type and has a rather short attention span, I asked what could help him to take the study of this deck more seriously and I pulled the Three of Wands – focused effort. Now this guy is holding on the his rope vigorously. He is not the kind to let go that easy when things get a bit more complicated. This is the  attitude I need for my tarot studies: dedication!   The guidebook talks about how he is alternating between energy puling inwards and energy pushing outwards. I love how this is depicted by act of rope twisting. In case of studying this deck this could be about reading and practicing versus contemplating and letting new information and experiences sink in

And last but not least like every Three of wands this cards also stands  for the promise of success !

The Veil and Seven of Fire – Divination or Exploration?

From the Halloween Oracle I got The Veil – Future, which represents the” thinning of the veil” around the Festival of Samhain or Halloween. 

It is said that during this season it is the perfect time for divination and all things magical. Although I hardly ever use my cards for giving me a peek into my future, for this one time I asked a little hesitant: “What do I need to know about my future?” Because I can’t get enough of The dreams of Gaia Tarot, I pulled the Seven of Fire, from this deck.

Seeing this card made me  laugh a littly bit. This card is all about divination and using your intuition and I think it might be the Minor Arcana counterpart of ‘Intuition” from the  Influence cards of the Major Arcana. Since this is a Minor Arcana card I think this card mostly about how to put our intuition into our daily practice and how to develop this highly influential part of ourselves.  According to the guidebook listening to our intuition can be a completely internal process; you just “know” something or it can be triggered by external stimuli (like our cards). But both ways do depend on a large amount of trust in ourselves.

Today this card is encouraging me to listen to and trust in my inner voice and also to be aware of those little things which happen during the day and which give me a that tingly feeling of a meaningful coincidence.

Or maybe I got it all wrong and this card is telling I  will to get into the card reading business any time soon now.

Ten of Water – Happiness is a verb

Today’s card is Ten of Water from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot and to me it feels like I am continuing with my theme of self realization.

In this card we see a woman who is totally content with and by herself. She has found an emotional balance and a way to keep her balance when waves of disruption and turmoil clash in on her. I suppose her turtle will carry her through the ebbs and flows of her life. This lady has freed herself from limiting emotions from her past like guilt, shame and regret and now she is enjoying this present moment like it was her last. And maybe it is because this moment will never return, so we’d better make the most of it. And that is the advice of this card too. Whatever your circumstances are, there is so much to be grateful for and to enjoy if you look closely: a smile, a ray of sunlight or my beloved cup of coffee in the morning.

So today, instead of feeling sorry for myself because my neck and my arm are hurting I am going to actively seek out joy and contentment and hopefully pass it along to others. A smile is so easy to give and so wonderful to receive…

Self - Who are you right now?

Today’s card is “Self” from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot and this card is all about self realization, discovering and accepting who you are and trying to live an authentic life.

Our idea of Self is (thank God/dess) ever changing and always evolving. For me this is beautifully represented by the roses in full bloom, the butterfly and the flying doves. We aren’t the  same as we were ten, five or one year ago and even not the same as we were last month, last week or yesterday. This might give us some insecurity about not knowing who we really are today but what we can be sure of  that we are the result of our past notions of Self.  Not only of our own previous perceptions of who we were but also who others told us we were (right or wrong) I “know” I am stubborn because my mother told me so frequently when I wanted to do things my own way.  Maybe if  she’d praised me for being determined, I would have had a slightly different idea of “Self”?

So this card encourages me to sit with “who am I right now?” and find out what is still true and what is outdated or hearsay . Only when we have established and accepted who we are today, we can choose intentionally who we want to become tomorrow.  

Visualizing our future self will give us some idea of who we want to become and when we are actively involved in becoming who we are meant to be, we will be able to unlock the door to our inner sanctuary called “Self” where we will find fulfillment and peace.

Four of Air – No time to waste

Today’s card is the Four of Air from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot. I didn’t have the  “sigh” reaction  I usually have when I pull the Four of Air/Swords from other decks.  This card is obviously not about taking a much needed time out.

The Four of Air in this deck is all about our need for structure and routine. Having a balanced daily routine will give us peace of mind. It is a kind of safety net which helps us to bring order into our daily life. Imagine how stressful our day would be if we had to think about everything we had to do: coffee or tea, bread or oatmeal. Where do I buy my groceries, by card or by bike  etc. Routine relieves us from numerous small decisions. But this  card is also about examining these routines: How many time wasting, slightly addictive activities have sneaked into them?

Today, it is for me a timely message to really look closely at the way I spend my days. Since about two weeks I have been plagued with a sore neck and a tingling in some fingers of my right hand. This is probable caused by a pinched nerve (again) and it prevents me from doing a lot of things I love: knitting, crochet, writing by hand, painting and drawing, and going to the gym.

Thanks to this card I am fully aware now that some of the gaps in my routine are filled with a lot less productive and creative activities which are mostly internet related. (Yesterday’s Devil?)

So now it is up to me to think of some new routines and ways to spend my time since this neck thing might last a bit longer than I would like.

Within -without -advice : Not all that glitters is gold

Today I pulled some cards from my Original Rider Waite tarot for a “Within - Without – Advice” reading and I got:

What immediately stands out is the bright yellow in the first and the last card. This tells me my reading will be about finding truth and becoming aware of something important.

Within - Nine of Cups

This guy is a very happy guy. He has all he ever wanted. Every cup is filled with something which fulfills  him and brings him joy. But I cannot help but wonder when it was the last time he has checked the content of his cups. Are they still fresh or are some of them stale or past their expiration date.  It is wise to discover what it is that really feeds your soul before you expose yourself  to….

Without - The Devil

Yes, The Devil wants you to believe everything he promises you. He deals in short time rushes and quick fixes. Often at first, they do feel good when we give in to them. And it is hard not to, when we are tempted with so much glitter and glamour. In a society which promotes consumerism, the temptations are many. The (Social)media bombards us with everything we seem to “need” and  “want”  and it is up to us to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Advice - Seven of Swords

And that is exactly what this guy is doing here. Besides being about  lies and deceit, for me this card is also about being the lone wolf who stands out from the crowd and who knows how to take care of his own needs. He chooses the swords which are right for him and leaves the rest behind. He is not easy influenced by smooth talk or advertising campaigns. He knows that short cuts are often dead ends and that not all that glitters is gold

In short, being aware of what truly fulfills us will armor us against the influences of consumerism and will help us to chose wisely from the broad range of choices we are presented with on a daily base.

Three card daily spread with the Dreams of Gaia Tarot

For today I’ve done a three card spread with my already highly appreciated  Dreams of Gaia Tarot. Even though this deck is perfect for digging deep and really exploring unknown territories of your psyche, today’s message was crisp a clear and very concise.

The cards I drew were:

1 The general energy of the day – Faith

This is the last card of the Major Arcana in this deck and it represents primarily Faith in yourself, although Faith in a higher Power can be very beneficial  for your sense of self worth too. This Faith cards is all about confidence, self worth and a sense of being good enough. When we develop this kind of believe in ourselves it will support us and carry us safely through the ups and down of life.

2 The challenge of the day – Two of Water

This card is about sharing you deepest feelings with some one else; having the courage to be open and vulnerable in communication. It is about giving and receiving; about deep and sincere intimacy.

3 The gift of today – Six of Fire

Healing, negotiation and compromise are some of the key words for this card. Being aware and accepting of of other people's opinions and preferences and still being able to find a middle ground on which both parties can meet.

What I love about this reading it that it all starts with having Faith  myself and being aware that I am enough and worthy to be heard. When I feel secure enough to share my beliefs and point a views then, yes only then, I will have the courage to meet others halfway.

Affirmation : I am enough

Intuition – All will be well

Today’s word to draw a card with is “Message” and I wondered if my Inner Wise Woman would have a message for me. I shuffled my Dreams of Gaia Tarot and before I pulled  a card, I noticed my hag stone sitting on the window sill. I picked it up and drew my card: Intuition.  

If I had it in me to pay more attention to that inner voice, My Inner Wise Lady would have had genuine conversations with me  instead of sending me a (post)card once in a while. But since I am A Queen of Swords at heart, my mind has always been my go-to tool to tackle any situation. Considering every possible option before I make a move, gives me a (false) sense of control. I have to admit, I do slightly envy the “Intuitives” among us; the ones that “feel”  and  “know”  always the right thing to do and never give it another thought.  Maybe I could seek out a balance between those two ways of dealing with big issues and day to day challenges.

The hag stone I picked up reminds me of the physical world with a magical doorway to another realm: the intricate web behind more corporeal layers of life. It is there where threads are pulled and where miracles are born.  When we are open to this other world, we realize that everything is connected and we become aware of the fact that by pulling one thread, thousands of other will begin to vibrate as well.  But when we decide to pull that one thread, we also trust that everything will work out for the best and that all will be well  in the end.

So how do I recognize this inner voice? I suppose she is friendly and soft spoken. Not afraid to tell me to truth but always in a gentle way. She is non judgmental and she never spreads fear. Instead, she is caring,  loving and compassionate towards me as well as towards others. When I write this down, I wish I had realized all of this sooner. We could have been best friends forever.

Eight of Earth – Gratitude will protect us from evil spirits

Today's word to draw a card with is Jack O’Lantern. I’ve picked the card with the same name from the Halloween Oracle and its keyword is protection, So I wondered what energy will protect me from evil spirits or maybe rather from self-defeating attitudes and thoughts  and I pulled the Eight of Earth from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot.

In this deck the Eight of Earth stands for enjoying what you have accomplished so far and contemplating where to go from here.  Since you were able to  reach this luscious garden, this card also wants you to remember you have the ability to unlock doors to maybe even more greater successes and abundance. This is highlighted by the keys dangling from the lady’s staff. She is also holding a crystal ball in her hand with which she can seek out new possibilities and manifest her future.

Don’t sell yourself short. We are often capable of much more than we give ourselves credit for. Feeling grateful for the abundance in our life as it is right now and feeling thankful for and proud of what we have achieved so far will fend off insecurity, fear of failure and other shortcomings (or evil spirits)

Today I am grateful for: S has helped me doing the groceries,  fresh apple pie and coffee, this blogpost, my Dreams of Gaia Tarot, Jofee is feeling better, the sun is shining,  my home, watching “Turn” with M, I won the Fountain tarot give away, my health, whole wheat bread with cheese and a glass of milk, clean sheets sprayed with lavender…… and so much more

Six of Swords – Running away doesn’t solve anything

Today's word to draw a card with is “Scarecrow” and it made me think about  how some birds keep coming back to feed on the crops even though there is a scarecrow defending the fields. So what is an obnoxious ever returning thought (bird) which undermines my physical and emotional well being (fields) and I drew the Six of Swords from the Original Rider Waite Tarot. 

This card often tempts me to mentally pick up my stuff and run: to ignore what has to be done, procrastinate and try to look the other way. Is this working for me? Of course not but flight is of my main reactions to stress. Yet, after I’ve sailed away from my problems, my worries or anxiety, I notice that I took my swords with me in the form of guilt, shame and regret. So there is no real escape from our own mind.

I wondered what stuffing my scarecrow would need to become a bigger threat  to this persistent bird and I drew the Two of Pentacles. Instead of running away this card advises me to accept the stormy waters; the emotional upheaval. In order not to drown in it the Two of Pentacles asks us to focus on our tasks at hand. Tasks that require a certain balance and attention, so our mind is free from worrying for a while. When you are busy in the here and now it is more than likely you will receive a fresh look on whatever is bothering you.

Bye bye birdy !

The Woodward and Queen of Vessels - There is no easy way out

Today’s word to draw a card with is "Crossroads" and I got The Woodward and Queen of vessels-Salmon from the Wildwood Tarot.

Some of my initial thoughts where: if anybody could make the right decisions to find his way out of the dark forest it is The Woodward. But even the strong and experienced Woodward needs some quiet time to collect his thoughts and weigh his options before his can make the right choice, not only for himself but also for his environment. I wonder if his cup is also filled with coffee just like mine is, when I am trying the make up my mind about what to do next and where to go from here.

Next I got the Queen of Vessels to add some  intuitive wisdom to this post. She is the living example that the best way is most often not the easiest way. It takes a whole lot of courage and determination to swim upstream but she knows without an doubt, this is the best choice for her and her future offspring.

She advises us to not only to make our decision based on our strength but also on our intuition because together these two aspects of ourselves can show us the way out of any forest.

“You can always take the easy way out and give up, but real strength comes, when you decide to keep pushing forward, no matter what the circumstances are”

Joy, an infinite power source

Today’s word  to draw is card with is Power: “The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way or to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.” So I was wondering  what would increase this ability for me and I drew: “Joy, Rejoice the Present” from the Halloween Oracle. The mere sight of this card gave me a jolt of energy. A  feeling of bliss and physical alertness. It is for everybody more than obvious how experiencing Joy can give a boost to our energy levels. Why then is it so hard to remember to be aware of those little things in the present moment that will bring us joy or even more difficult, to seek out joy as a conscious act of  self care?

When you look closely to the girl in this card you will notice that she doesn't smile, yet... She is opening herself up though to the warmth of the Autumn sun, the bright oranges and yellows nature has painted this day with and the rustling sound of the falling leaves. It is as if she is consciously invoking her power from the beauty all around her. I am sure when she puts down her hands there will be  a smile on her face.

Today I will carry my Sun stone with me as a reminder to actively seek Joy in the here and now

Trick or Treat - Take your child out to play

Today’s word to draw a card with is "Wind" and the card I got is “Trick or treat” from the Halloween Oracle. When is saw the two kids in this card, I had to laugh because when you combine them with storm and wind, lots of things could happen: the cloak of our little ghost could fly away, the candles could be blown out etc. but does it prevent the kids from having their Trick or Treat?  No, I suppose not but I am sure many moms would rather have them watch TV that night than let them go out on their own. Who knows what might happen, and whom they may encounter…Some moms will scurry a few meters behind them to be sure nothing bad will happen. It is so very hard to let our children go and let them do their own thing, leaving room for failure and mistakes and even accidents. Most of us were raised this way too and because of this, our inner child is still afraid to play and make a mess and wants to check under the bed and in the closet for the boogieman (not that we let her of course).Being kept too tightly under the parental wing can be suffocating and when we do get out, our need to play can be hard to discover and not to mention to embrace. Our child needs to be guided and persuaded to experiment and to do things just for the fun of it. It is a long process but believe me it is so worth it to take your child by the hand an lead it trough the world of wind and wonder. Let the wind mess up your hair, your dress and your perfectly crafted Jack-O-lantern and laugh about it and don’t  let it spoil your fun. Life isn’t perfect but joy is!

Wheel of Fortune - Never lose your sense of wonder

Back from a pleasant visit to my mother, I am more than ready to jump into the wonderful month of October. This month I am planning to participate in two Instagram challenges; Yes Two! I don’t know if I will finish them, but for now I am excited to take part in both of them.

The first one is #shadowworkoctober themed "Cycles of Self" by @mnomquah and the second is #embracethemagical by Kelly from @thetruthinstory. I will be sharing bits and pieces from these challenges on my blog especially when they are not overly private. I guess the shadow work challenge will be the most personal one. 

Today’s word from #embracethemagical to draw a card with is: Wonder and I drew the Wheel of Fortune from the Deviant Moon Tarot. According to the dictionary wonder means: something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration or a miraculous deed or event.

The Wheel of Fortune is all about the ups and downs in life. Call it fate or destiny but the core of the matter is that life is in a constant state of flux. Whenever we are caught in a downward spiral, we know things will change for the better and whenever things are going swell, we feel in our gut this cannot last. But besides looking at the wheel and hoping or fearing what the next spin will bring we can also try to focus ourselves on the wonders our life is showing us moment by moment.  By looking through the eyes of a child to whatever comes our way, we can add so much wonder to our day to day life. It can be such a relief to zoom in to the magical tiny details of life and let the grand scheme of things be for a while.

"Whatever happens, always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder" - E.B. White