As part of my rekindling with Tarot exercises, over the past few days I explored how to set up goals for this new year using the cards. As explored in my previous post, I decided to write this time about my exploration of Midheaven’s suggestion on combining astrology and tarot, and this approach which led to a number of options and areas to focus on throughout the year. I also drill down on what I consider to be my main objective for the year – linking with my spiritual community! Read on to find out.
Rekindling the tarot flame
Today, on this quiet evening, I’m back here wondering how to reconnect with Tarot again and rekindle what seems a feeble flame. I asked the web and found some responses here, but the suggestions were were far from satisfactory. This short post outlines the steps I took today to find my way back, to my tarot self, my decks, and of course you, my readers. I’d be keen to hear what you do to reconnect with your spirituality (or Tarot) after a long hiatus.
What to do to rekindle the tarot flame?
Tarot in my universe… (in more or less 400 words)
Benebell, a gifted lawyer and certified Tarot Master (!), challenged me a few months ago to write a post on the intersecting point between tarot and [my] personal metaphysical understanding of our world… in 400 words. So here is my response.
A recent acquisition connecting tarot and psychology. The book can be purchased here.
Going face to face
A quick update of my first time conducting face to face readings, this time in a Buddhist fair. How it was, what I learned, and whether I would do it again.
A full moon day
My full moon ritual – burning a bunch of papers connected to my old job, letting go of all the misaligned expectations and dark moments of the past few years. Feeling grateful as well for the good people I met, how strong I became, how much we traveled and learned, and the short- and long-term professional and personal opportunities this meant for me. Nothing ever has been so damaging, yet so novel and full of learning. I cried, but the release was powerful, and I’m very much looking forward to the future.
Perfect ending to a magickal day full of readings, befriending other readers, cleansing my crystals and decks.
On (tarot) journaling – where do you stand?
Sample of my first readings journal
After having a journal in some way or other most of my life, I thought tarot journaling would be an easy and engaging way to learn – how wrong I was! Join me in this long-form blog post (over 1,200 words!) where I share my thoughts on my own journaling experience, as well as expert and personal views on the topic.
I am reaching out to those tarot learners and readers out there so you can share your opinions, tips, and views. I am keen to read your thoughts on whether you consider tarot journaling a useful tool, how you do it (do you do it for every reading, every deck, every card?), the physical tools you use (is it an electronic app/programme or physical note pad, binder?) and what have you learned or not learned from the experience.
If you want to share stills of your tarot journal (s), send them to thetarotinitiate [at] gmail.com.
Non-romantic relationship spreads
Why is that relationship spreads always veer to the romantic? I have talked to professional readers and they tell me that by far, romantic questions are the most common in the repertoire. When using Tarot as an instrument of reflection and self-discovery, however, relationships of any kind (not only romantic) may require clarification and support.
In the past couple of months a couple of relationships (one professional and one in my family) have been strained, leaving me with lots of questions and wondering what can be done to heal and improve things. Unlike the case in romantic relationship, professional and family relationships are there to stay, so one must find a way to make them work.
I set out to find a few spreads that could be used for this purpose and found some very interesting options, ranging from the simple (here) to the more complex (here). I finally settled for the 15-card double cross spread. I have seen it at work in the past and I really enjoyed the parallelisms across the two crosses. It seemed to me that unlike other relationship spreads, it could be easily applied to non-romantic relationships.
So, thinking deeply about my co-worker, and how I feel about this relationship, here is what I found. I won’t bore you with the details but I’ll just draw a few highlights, perhaps you’d like to comment on what you see.
My day in three cards and four hundred words
As part of my intention Let’s start again.
I hardly ever have time for myself in the evenings, but today hubby is away, and so I can spend some time writing. As you know, I’m part of the Blogging University Class of June 2014 and today the assignment is free-writing. No editing, no going back ,just free flow of that comes from the mind. I had been able to draft my cards of the day. I usually do it in the morning, but today didn’t quite have the time so here I am. Looking back at my day in three cards and four hundred unedited words. This is also part of my Tarot 101 exercises connecting with my new deck, the Druid Craft Tarot. A bit of a multi-tasker, you may say!
My cards of the day that just passed, from the Druid Craft Tarot
Una carta abierta a mis Arcanos Mayores del día
Queridos Arcanos
Escribo esta carta porque creo que necesitamos una charla.
Como es de su conocimiento, siguiendo el ejercicio 2.4 del Libro Tarot101 de Kim Huggens he buscado conectarme con mi nuevo mazo, sacando no una, sino tres cartas cada día, anotando mentalmente mis impresiones, relacionándolas con planes y pensamientos para el día de hoy. Hoy, mientras barajaba, saltó (XVI) La Torre. La tirada sacó otro Arcano Mayor, (XVII) la Estrella, además del seis de oros.
Mis cartas del día del DruidCraft Tarot
Dos Arcanos Mayores en un día merecen atención, y aún más curioso si son dos consecutivos. Y para rematar, mi ejercicio de escritura creativa de Writing101 sugiere que abra un libro en la página 29 y sorpresa, en el libro de Kim esta página es justamente el principio del capítulo sobre los Arcanos Mayores.
Así que aquí me tienen, señora Torre y señora Estrella. Como no estoy de ánimo de un tratado tarotístico y la idea no es hablar de su significado, voy a guiarme hoy puramente por los dibujitos y mis sentimientos en tratar de acercarme a ustedes… ojalá no se tomen nada de lo que diga muy a pecho!
Señora Torre, quiero informarle que salió en el día equivocado pues hoy, solsticio de verano, el clima está soleado y claro. No hay una sola nube en el cielo y no se esperan lluvias. Para rematar, no pienso ir a ninguna torre. Y no me venga a revirar de que vivo en una torre de edificios, pues estoy tan cerca al piso que así saltara de una ventana no pasaría nada. Claramente no lo haré de cabeza ni mucho menos.
Y señora Estrella. Quiero informarle que es para mí uno de los arcanos más difíciles de interpretar. En parte por la sencilla y obvia razón de que las estrellas NO SON el punto focal de la composición. Es la mujer y como vierte el agua entre las piedras y el río. ¿Qué tiene que ver eso con la esperanza? Y si bien puedo entender que para consagrarse a un proceso aparentemente inútil es necesario tener serenidad, ¿Qué tiene que ver una estrella en todo ello?
Por favor no malinterpreten mi frustración, quiero conocerlas en detalle y sé que hacerlo tomará tiempo. Sólo quería mostrar que el proceso no es fácil o necesariamente intuitivo.
Un cordial saludo,
La iniciada en el Tarot.
Food and Tarot
Tarot is for me much more than a divination tool. It is a vast compilation of human emotions and situations, which makes it ideal for meditation and self-discovery. However, when prompted to think about food and the joys it brings, I had to admit I felt Tarot (or at least my quite limited tarot deck collection) was sadly silent on the matter. With so many emotions and situations which are enhanced through food, I found surprising that Tarot artists have not sought to reflect this on the cards.
The Tarot Initiate 