Tag: tarot

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What-Can-I-Expect Career Tarot Spread

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I was so confused yesterday after meeting with a friend who is helping me update my crochet website. I had so many questions afterwards in terms of what I can do to manifest more cash flow. She thinks I would be great on Twitch or Tik Tok, but I’m a friggin’ introvert and a highly sensitive empath. That kind of exposure feels like looking directly at the sun without sun glasses!

So I came up with this “what can I expect” career tarot spread to see what I could learn about three pursuits I COULD engage in to generate cash flow and be happy doing it.

The Question and the Spread

What can I expect in terms of financial success and emotional satisfaction if I pursue –

1 – Teaching mindfulness meditation – Queen of Swords

2 – Writing short, non-fiction eBooks – 8 of Pentacles reversed

3 – Having a Twitch livestream of some kind – King of Wands

4 – Something I’m not aware of (card pulled from the bottom of the deck) – 10 of Cups

I probably could have done two cards for each pursuit – one representing financial success, the other emotional satisfaction. Oh well, maybe next time.

I used the Light Seer’s Tarot, my all-time favorite deck to use when I’m reading for myself.

What to expect career tarot spread using my Light Seer’s Tarot deck

It’s always intriguing when cards from a previous spread show up in subsequent spreads. It’s almost like their meaning becomes clearer by appearing in different positions over multiple spreads. The King of Wands, both upright and reversed, has shown up in several recent readings I’ve done for myself. So I probably need to pay attention to it.

1 – Teaching Mindfulness Meditation

The figure in the Queen of Swords, representing teaching mindfulness meditation is so serene sitting on her cushion in the open air. The word “equanimity” comes to mind when I see her. Perhaps learning how to teach mindfulness meditation is more about helping ME achieve more peace and equanimity so that I can focus on my writing.

After all, the Queen is looking directly at the figure in the 8 of Pentacles reversed. I watched an Eckhart Tolle video this morning on YouTube that clarified for me what present-moment awareness is and how it helps you achieve peace of mind, a quality I definitely need in order to move forward, regardless of the path I eventually choose.

2 – Writing short, nonfiction eBooks

The 8 of Pentacles reversed could be saying that I have eight! short, nonfiction eBooks that I could write and that would result in financial success (Pentacles = dollars!). It’s just that I have to friggin’ write them, and I haven’t been, hence the reversal. I have a detailed outline for the first one and notes on a few others. I just have to write it. I’ve already published one tarot and one crochet eBook, but I could definitely write a few more.

Looking at the card upright, the woman at the desk is ME! She has a laptop computer in front of her; you just can’t see it. And she looks so comfortable and at home at her desk. Doing this would definitely provide the emotional satisfaction I’m looking for.

But I have to market those books (ugh, I need help here) if I’m going to see any royalty income from them. The books could also lead to other enjoyable and emotionally satisfying ways to generate cash flow that I’m not aware of at the moment.

3 – Having a Twitch livestream of some kind

The friend mentioned above has been encouraging me to start livestreaming my crochet skills on Twitch. This is something I would never have thought of, although I’m somewhat familiar with the platform because of m daughter who watches Grand Theft Auto Online (like all the time!).

But in order to crochet on Twitch, I have to be comfortable in front of the camera and as confident and out there as the King of Wands. Like I said earlier, I’m an introvert! And my understanding is that you have to stream for hours on end and have a big following in order to make money. I don’t know if I can be emotionally satisfied doing that.

4 – Something I’m not aware of (card pulled from the bottom of the deck

If I were to take the 10 of Cups literally, I would be cuddling with my man, blissfully watching our kids play. That is not happening at this late stage in my life. Nope, not grandkids either ( wait, maybe they’re his!). I’m really not sure what specific activity the card represents, other than the need to remain positive in everything I do and to be more childlike and playful in my life in general.

Sometimes I can be way too serious, and if I chilled a little and counted my blessings more often, I’d certainly be a lot less stressed. I’d also be a lot more clear-minded and composed as I make decisions about which path to take.

It could be a reminder that happiness and emotional satisfaction are inside jobs. You have to be happy and content NOW, as best you can, whatever circumstances you find yourself in. You really can’t rely on things in external reality to make and keep you happy because external reality is impermanent. But inner happiness is always there, just waiting for us to discover it.

My decision

For now, I’m going to continue the mindfulness meditation training (because it de-stresses me) and also continue writing those eBooks, as well as other freelance writing projects that may come my way.

And learn more about Twitch. And I know just the “handle” I want to go by (stay tuned). There could very well be a way for me to crochet on Twitch without feeling overly exposed and vulnerable, and instead, feeling as cool, confident, and comfortable as the King of Wands, with his bad self, looks.

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Yes, I’m Still Writing About Tarot

Hello! Wonderful to see you again! I know I haven’t published any blog posts about tarot in a long while. The pandemic and the craziness of 2020-2021 kind of threw me for a loop, and my writing became very sporadic.

However, my goal for 2022 is to write more consistently.. I had thought that I would move my writing to Medium but have since had a change of heart. So without further ado …

Shalini’s New Year Tarot Spread

My tarot buddy, Shalini, and I got together a week ago for our annual, holiday hookup. We originally met at the Washington DC Tarot Society (now known as the Capitol Tarot Society) when I was still in DC. We now meet during the holidays when she comes home for a visit. She shared a cool spread with me that’s designed to provide a taste of what’s coming in the year ahead.

My Lightseer’s Tarot Deck

While we used this spread to read for each other, I decided to do one for myself a few days later with the deck I love to use use when I’m reading for myself. Carrie-Anne’s Lightseer’s Tarot always gives me deeply meaningful guidance. And I love the colorful, modern imagery and the diversity she brings to the cards.

The Spread

I like that this spread divides the year into quarters instead of months. I get a flavor for the most dominant energy that will be present during the three months of each quarter, based on where I am right now. The information from seven cards instead of 12 will be a lot easier to manage and keep in mind as each quarter unfolds.

Shalini’s New Year Tarot Spread

As I shuffled the cards, I quieted my mind by focusing on my breath and then asked the cards for insight into what I can expect to be the predominant theme of each quarter of 2022, as well as the main lessons learned and to be learned in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

In the spread below, the card at the top, far right fell out of the deck as I was shuffling, so I included it with the other seven.

The Reading

What the new year holds for me

Honestly, when I saw those reversals come up for the four quarters, I wanted to trash the spread and start over. In numerology, this is a “1” year for me, one of births and new beginnings, not obstacles and delays.

But I knew I needed to keep the spread because, with this deck, I usually get significant guidance that I didn’t expect when first viewing the cards. In addition, reversals aren’t necessarily “bad.” They can point to energy that is latent, present but not fully expressed, either because it needs more time to develop or something is blocking or interfering with its smooth expression.

First Quarter — The Fool reversed

This is the “new me” who is coming into being since I lost 30 pounds over the last two years. I’m trying to figure out who this new person is and what adventures she wants to undertake. Perhaps, I’m still holding back a bit on fully embracing this “1” year that will officially begin in May, my birth month.

There are lots of unknowns before me, so I’ll need to sustain as much as possible a positive attitude and belief that this year will unfold “perfectly,” however that turns out, and the that the “new me” will begin to blossom in earnest.

Second Quarter -The Hierophant reversed

April is when I’m supposed to begin “practice teaching” as part of my Mindfulness Meditation Teacher certification training that I began last July. One of the roles of the Hierophant is to dispense wisdom as a teacher or mentor. The reversal tells me that I still have some work to do before I can teach mindfulness meditation (I’m only half way through the certification program).

There may also be some lingering “old me” doubt that I’ll actually be able to do this. I can use the second quarter as an opportunity to let go of the doubt and replace it with a sense of confidence and “can do.”

Third Quarter — The Lovers reversed

Oooh, boy! Looks like there’s a possibility for an important romantic relationship developing. I know I’m being cautious in that department, given that I’ve been single for a while now. But I’ve been thinking recently about dipping my toe back into the relationship waters and trying to imagine the kind of relationship and man I would be happy with at this stage of my life.

I’ll either be working on figuring that out in the third quarter, or I might be given the opportunity to “cautiously” ease my little toe into the shallow end of the dating pool. We shall see.

Fourth Quarter — 10 of Swords reversed

I may experience some difficulty, or even reluctance, in letting go of some aspect(s) of the “old me” as the year winds to a close. At least I don’t have swords sticking out of my back in this version of the 10 of Swords!

And the figure in this card is the only one in the spread looking at the center card, the Empress, representing me now, pregnant with possibility (will have more to say about Her in a minute).

Perhaps keeping at the forefront of my mind the abundant future the pregnant Empress symbolizes will imbue me with a sense of excitement that allows the “new me” to unfold and makes it easier to let go of old energy and beliefs that no longer serve me.

The Previous Year’s Lesson (2021) — 9 of Cups

This depiction of the 9 of Cups is pretty accurate. I received monthly pandemic unemployment benefits as a self-employed person from March 2020 to September 2021, in addition to the two big checks everybody got.

It was also at the beginning of 2020, before the pandemic hit, that I made the decision to consciously and deliberately focus more on abundance and prosperity instead of lack and limitation. The pandemic aid, I believe, was a manifestation of that intense focus. It has given me a sense of freedom from the stress of worrying about finances.

Indeed, it felt like I had received a treasure chest full of jewels and gold, shouting hallelujah from the rooftops! And if I can manifest abundance like that once, I can do it again.

This Year’s Lesson (2022) — The Empress

The Empress is the other factor that helped me have a less worrisome view of the four reversed cards. As I said, she’s pregnant with possibility, and each quarter of the year represents one of those possibilities (she’s having quadruplets!). In fact, it looks like she’s about ready to give birth. In which case the reversals could symbolize the baby’s head, correctly positioned to move down and through the birth canal.

I therefore see 2022 as a transition year during which I have the opportunity to fully let go of the “old me” and embrace the “new me” who is just about ready to be born.

Next Year’s Lesson (2023) — King of Wands

Hmmm … looks like the work I do in the third quarter to turn the reversed Lovers upright may very well bear fruit in 2023. See the gray in his beard? He’s even around my age!

OR, this card could refer to me stepping into my power and becoming a confident leader in some capacity. And yes, I AM a cat person.

The Card That Fell Out of the Deck — 4 of Pentacles reversed

Even with the generous amount of money I received in pandemic aid, I try to be frugal in how I spend it. Doesn’t always work, but for the most part, I’ve done a good job. But the “old me” worried a lot about money, with a rather persistent focus on lack. Perhaps the reversal symbolizes the loosening of the tight grip around my purse, allowing more “9 of cups” energy and opportunities into my life.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, I don’t need to make exact predictions about the new year (e.g. the man of your dreams will show up on February 14, 2023 at 1:45 pm) to get a solid feel for the main issues I need to pay attention to in the coming months.

It will be interesting to see what unfolds. Maybe I’ll do an update six months from now to report how the first two quarters turned out.

In the meantime, try the spread yourself to see what the year holds for you.

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Death and the Current News Cycle

Death tarot card
Death from the Radiant Tarot

The current news cycle had me thinking about the Death card today, one of the 22 major arcana cards in the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tarot deck. It had me asking myself, what does it mean when it appears that democracy or at least the country as we’ve known it heretofore is dying?

I know I said in a previous post that I’m not a “political” tarot card reader. Although I admit, I am a bit of a news junkie. Next thing I know, this card’s image pops up on my inner movie screen as I am reading today’s headlines. Then, all of these thoughts started bubbling up, and I had to capture them in writing. I’m calling this piece, a “tarot op-ed.”

Despite the fact that this is one of the so-called “scary cards” that the media love to include in tarot card reading scenes as a portent of doom and gloom, it’s one of my favorites. Well, what do you expect with Scorpio rising, Pluto conjunct the midheaven, and an 8th house Moon?

The Death card is said to capture, in pictorial terms, what happened to the Knights Templar back in the day when the King of France had them wiped out on Friday the 13th. So now we have a Templar, in the form of Death riding a pale horse, coming for EVERYONE, from babies and their families to the King and the Pope!

And in the background, we see a sun, rising behind two pillars. Some may see the sun as setting, but that would suggest that nothing new emerges from the ashes. A quick look at all the Nature that surrounds us clearly demonstrates that this isn’t true. Life is cyclical. A new beginning always follows death. Even scientists know that energy can’t be created or destroyed; it can only change form.

This is why I haven’t given up hope on this country. I know that a new dawn will follow the death and transformation that we are currently undergoing. Which means — we are at a critical choice point. Do we give up hope and allow the current administration and the Republicans to destroy what we fought so hard to create in the days of the American Revolution? Or do we vote their asses out in November so that we can rise from the ashes and create something even better?

Yeah, I hear some of you saying that the election itself is under threat and they’ll subvert it and do anything to keep this administration in office. But if we sit back in defeat, throw up our hands, and decide that voting won’t do any good, that nothing will — then that outcome is a distinct possibility. The other possibility is that people — you and me — take to the streets and vote in numbers so great, the outcome of the election is obvious.

And keep in mind, more information is going to come out about how criminal this administration has been and continues to be. Whoever the Democratic nominee is, she can use this negative publicity against 45 and, at the same time, put forth a platform that the majority of Americans are hungering for.

ANYTHING is possible. What eventually happens is based entirely, both individually and collectively, on what we give our attention to.

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The Spacious Present Spread Using the Osho Zen Tarot

My Osho Zen tarot deck

THE DECK

I bought the Osho Zen tarot deck back in 1997 when I was in a deck-collecting frenzy. I even used this one for a while, unlike many of the other decks I’ve collected over the years. At the time, I was very active in the American Tarot Association, attended many conferences, and, like many others, was always on the lookout for the “next great deck” to collect.

It was also during this time that I did a lot of tarot readings for myself, so much so that I finally had to stop. I was asking too many questions and not really listening to the answers. Or I was getting answers that I didn’t want to hear.

Fast forward 20  years later, and I have picked up the cards again (well, I never really put them down completely). Not only am I doing readings for myself AGAIN (not too often though), I’m also reading for others and writing about tarot.

The Osho Zen tarot is a 78-card deck (+1 – The Master, unnumbered) based on Zen Buddhist philosophy. According to the guide that comes with the deck, this philosophy is all about awakening the inner Buddha or higher self wisdom and focuses on building awareness of and attention to the present moment in order to allow that wisdom to come through.

So while it uses the Rider-Waite-Smith structure of major and minor arcana, the card images (which are absolutely stunning!) and delineations are more reflective of the teachings of the Indian sage, Osho, as interpreted for the deck by one of his disciples, Ma Deva Padma.

THE SPREAD

A reading for myself

The “spacious present” is a concept used in nondualistic philosophies like Buddhism and Vedanta and the science of quantum physics in which past, present, and future occur simultaneously.

So even though the reading appears to move in a straight line from past, through the present, and into future, it actually reflects what’s going on in the querant’s (the person getting the reading) life right now.

It can be used to answer just about any question you might have about yourself and what’s currently going on in your life. For my reading, the focus was on how to unblock the flow of money coming into my life.

In the above pictured spread, the cards read past, present, and future from left to right like a typical “PPF” spread. However, this isn’t a predictive spread. As I said, its focus is on what’s going on in your life RIGHT NOW, what recent past influence has lead you to where you are in the present, and what’s the most likely outcome you’ll experience in the near future.

The central card of the spread is the “Present” card (although the two majors are pretty powerful influences), with the Past and Future cards providing more information on what brought me to where I am and where I’m headed respectively.

I typically draw an additional card from the bottom of the deck for insights based on subconscious knowledge that I’m not aware of (card on the right below the main spread).

And thanks to a suggestion from @seedsofshakti on Instagram, I added the card on the bottom left, chosen from the middle of the deck. I interpret it as subconscious knowledge moving towards the surface of consciousness. It’s what I’m slowly becoming aware of or what I already know but perhaps haven’t been paying enough attention to.

THE READING

The message for me is that I need to pay more attention to my inner guidance which I haven’t trusted enough in the past.

I also need to stop living my life burdened by the guilt of past mistakes and failures. I also need to stop basing what I do on other people’s “shoulds,” “shouldn’ts,” and expectations. That only brings exhaustion and stress which can lead to illness (I had a flu-like cold in July along with weird neuromuscular pain and muscle cramps in my legs and feet).

Even though the card symbolizing my letting go of others’ expectations is in the future position, I’ve already started doing this (hence the reversal – those suckers are falling off my back!). But clearly, there’s more I need to release because I am starting to recognize how damaging stress is to my immune system.

This letting go will be therapeutic, enabling me to regain clarity via intuitive guidance, strengthen my immune system, and allow my creativity to flow, all of which will lead to more financial security.

READING SPECIAL

I’m currently offering email readings based on my Spacious Present spread, using the Osho Zen tarot deck. My 5-card spread readings are usually priced at $67.

But I’m offering this spread (and all other 5-card spreads) for the special price of $49. I’ll even throw in some astrological insights based on your natal chart and current transits (I’ll need your birth data for this).

You can order your reading HERE. Click the “What’s Going On?” 5-card spread option on the Services page.