Chariot wisdom: part II

The Reader's Studio 2010 began on Wednesday, April 21, but the biggest part of the event starts tomorrow, with classes and activities from morning 'til night. Because I spent the entire last night in an aeroplane, I'm very tired right now. But I can't wait for tomorrow! It's my first time here and I'm sure it'll be a unique experience!

As for the Chariot wisdom, I must say it was right. First, because before I left my father hugged me and gave me exactly the same advice the card has given me! Second, because we had a problem with the aircraft and our flight was cancelled at first. They said we would only leave the next day, at 11 AM, which upset me a lot, because I should already be in New York by this time. I had plans for the day! But thankfully, they managed to fix the aircraft, and so hour flight left 4 hours late.

During the whole ordeal, I had very opposite feelings, and had to keep a tight reign on them, since I depended entirely on myself and could not afford to fall apart at the seams. I did feel very bad sometimes and called my mother, specially because I felt so lonely.

Calling mummy isn't a very Chariot action, isn't it? Hum... the Golden Dawn associated this card with Cancer, the fourth zodiac sign that is closely related not only to the emotional side (because it's a water sign), but also to the figure of the mother. 

My mother had to deal with two opposing feelings to - worry and trust. She knew I could take care of myself, she taught me that. And at the same time, she was worried. She had to balance her own emotions, in order not to make me feel incompetent by trying to decide everything for me, or abandon me while I was feeling sad. I believe mothers have to conciliate opposites many times, specially because of their children. Mothers need to become a master of themselves.

And good charioteers.

Chariot wisdom for a journey...

Today, at 5:35 PM, I'll start my long journey towards New York, to participate of the Reader's Studio 2010. It's a unique experience for me... my first in the US, my first time traveling abroad all on my own. Is it daunting? Absolutely. And exciting.

I was going to do a reading to see how the journey would be like, but I decided against it. I don't want to go with expectation ,good or bad. There's a moment in which you need to leave the cards in your bag and live. Experiment. Allow yourself not to know what is coming, not to expect what is coming.

Because the unexpected is also a part of life. And important one - it reminds us of the fickle personality of Lady Fortuna, as she turns her great Wheel. We need to respect her.

I decided to draw one card as an advice - how may I best enjoy this journey? Using the RWS Tarot, I got The Chariot.

This card always reminds me of a mastery that comes from the inside out. The perfect control of the charioteer doesn't com from his external victories only, but from all the battles against his insecurities that he has won in his spirit. This card tells me to maintain this control, even in the hours of stress.

And this card is also one of the great indicators of travel of the tarot! It's telling... above all, enjoy the trip! You are going to new places, to live new things, don't let your insecurities spoil the experience.

One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself. ~ Leonardo da Vinci

And with the Chariot's message, and da Vinci's wisdom, I bid you all adieu. For a while.

Rider Waite Smith Tarot: Centennial Edition © US Games Systems, Inc.

The RWS says... use your time & energy wisely!

Today I'm getting prepared for my trip to New York tomorrow. I barely slept last night, because I'm so nervous! So I did a reading as to know how I may best enjoy my day. I used the Daily Mission spread.

 

My blessing for today is The Magician. Now that's a card I seldom get for myself! I think he's telling me that today I have the energy and the time (both things that I haven't had much lately) to finish packing my stuff (like the Magician ought to do - how can he leave all hist tools scattered on the table like that?) and to take care of the last details before my trip. The yellow background screams "energy" to me!

My challenge is the Page of Swords. He too stands for a kind of energy, but it's a nervous one, like a crazy wind blowing in every direction but arriving nowhere. Like the birds above his head, flying chaotically. My challenge to today is to use the Magician's energy without falling into the Page of Sword's trap or confusion and anxiety. Hell, I'm nervous! I must say that this feeling is a bit petrifying...

Today's mission is the Knight of Wands. The knights' energy is always focused, so this cards is telling me that my mission is to find my focus. The Page of Swords stand on that hill, staring at nowhere and wondering "how can I possibly do it?". The Knight of Wands jumps on his horse and says "I'll do it!". I think this card is telling me to do more and think less today. Focus the Magician's energy in getting it all done, once for all.

Funny thing is that, of all Knights, the Knight of Wand is the one that really screams "travel" to me. Maybe it's because of the pyramids in the background?

Rider Waite Smith Tarot: Centennial Edition © US Games Systems, Inc.

PCO: Got hired. What should I expect from my first month in this job?

After a couple of months sending resumes and going to interviews and tests, I finally got an opportunity at a local book publisher. They'll hire me for three months as a trainee and, if they like my work, they might keep me. I start there on the 10th of May.

So, I did a playing cards reading asking what should I expect of my first months there. I removed the first three cards from the top of the deck (as they represent the three weeks from here to the day I start working) and read the four following cards, according to Ana Cortez's method.

Head (♦/Fire): 5♦

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Throat (♣/Air): 9♣

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Torso (♥/Water): 2♠

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Feet (♠/Earth): 7♥

Well, the reading is very balanced... all suits present, and the same amount of red and black cards. I think the experience will be complete... it'll touch me in all aspects, emotional, mental, physical etc. Each card represents not only an area of our lives, but also a week in a month. In this reading I'm considering each position both things.

PCO: 3 of Diamonds - A wish? A luck charm? Or things that are still being created?

Traditionally, the 9 of Hearts is the card known as "the wish card". But in the Playing Card Oracles, the 9 of Hearts (Gilles de Rais) is a kinda creepy character, showing the excess of emotions - good and bad ones. So I was wondering... if I had to pick one card to be the "wish card" of the deck, which would it be? The first that came to my mind was the 3 of Diamonds (The Necklace). 

Curiously, this is one of the most confusing cards for me... I never know exactly what is it supposed to mean, but then I decided to think more about it... and it began to show in the readings. Forcing me to think about it even when I didn't want to. Oh well - cards can be demanding sometimes, "decipher me or I will devour you"... In Ana Cortez's book she says: 

"The 3 of Diamonds suggests an alignment of energies that creates something new, something vibrant and transformational. People possessing "The Necklace" have a calling, so to speak. They are messengers of light." (page 39) 

That's the first thing that lead me to think that this could be the wish card of the deck. This alignment of energies, this calling... these are actually the sort of thing that help our desires to come true. To be ready at the right moment. This card is about the right moment knocking on your door - answer it now or miss it.

I don't really buy that notion of wish card that means your desires are coming true without you moving a finger. Bullshit. Even Cinderella had shed some tears to get her Fairy Godmother to show her face. And in real life, not always crying will do it... you have to keep working and stay alert until the right opportunity shows. The 3 of Diamonds is this opportunity.

But this card has a whole plethora of interesting meanings, that until now didn't make much sense to me. Ana Cortez also says that this three can be "a string of events"... facts that are connected. I always liked this meanings, but truth be told, I don't think I understood how it worked... until yesterday.

So, I turned on the television and they were showing "The Other Boleyn Girl" in one of those special movies-only channels. I like the Tudor saga, though my favorite version of it is the Showtime series "The Tudors". I had with me a couple of decks, because I enjoy shuffling them while watching television in order to "break" them and make them more comfortable to handle. And, of course, to do some readings about the characters and stories now and then.

The RWS says... show them your smile!

And I said... what the hell is that Devil doing there?

I got lucky today. I have one job interview and one test for a job! I'm kinda nervous, so I decided to do a reading for the interview... I made up a 3-card for it.

The first position is 'what should I expect from this interview?'. The card here is Eight of Pentacles, a good card for this position. I believe the employers want to know if I can learn what is needed for this position and if I have what it takes to work with them. They want to see not only if I have the skills, but also if I can just sit down and do what I'm told.

The second position is 'how can I improve my chances at the interview?'. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the Ten of Cups was 'optimism' - "be cheerful", the card was saying. The small group of people under the cups told me that I should let them know about my ability to work in groups. The 10 of Cups always strikes me as one of the most stable cards in the Cups universe, though not as magical as the 9 of Cups. The cards mean I must control my emotions without looking grumpy.

The third position is 'what is the most likely outcome of this interview? '. Here I got The Devil. I'm not sure if I like this... I'm not even sure if I understand it, in the first place. The people chained at the devil's feet make me think that the result is favorable - I may become 'chained' to them, which means they'll hire me. But the overall look of the card gives me the impression that things will not go as planned. I get the feeling that the employers may not like me much, even if I show them my brightest smile. Uh-oh.

Of course, I may be wrong here. I'll have to see how it goes and possibly this situation will teach me more about The Devil card! Wish me luck!

Rider Waite Smith Tarot: Centennial Edition © US Games Systems, Inc.

The RWS says... life is made of parties and fights.

I've been feeling sorta uninspired to write lately. Sorry! Lets see if a daily reading will put me back onto the blogging wagon!

First card is the blessing for today... Three of Cups is an interesting blessing. I see here reunion and moments of sharing with friends. I'll have the opportunity to have a bit of fun, which is welcome. It makes sense, because I have plans to meet one of my best friend today :). It's also interesting to see that the card depicts women celebrating outside, or in a garden... this friend and I always meet in parks!

Second card is the daily challenge... Nine of Wands. I'll have to defend something, to fight to keep something. I believe this is related to one of the companies to which I've sent my resume. I just got the message that they have tried to get in touch with me, but I never received anything... thus, they might have thought I'm not truly interested (which is not true, I desperately need a job). I've been urged to contact them immediately, to still be able to get the job. I already did it... funny how this card already showed it's purpose so early in the day.

I also find it interesting how the man is the card seems to be staring suspiciously at the ladies in the Three of Cups... as if thinking "what is all that celebration about, bitches?". It shows my inner conflict - between the moments of pleasure and the moments of stress. You can have both in less than 24 hours, and you gotta handle them well.

Third and last card is the daily mission... The Fool tells me what I should try to accomplish today. I think this card is telling me to not take anything too seriously... just follow the impulse of the moment. The Fool walks towards the two other cards, but doesn't look at them... he looks beyond. This too shall pass. Enjoy the good things, try to fix what's wrong, but don't take either things too seriously...

Rider Waite Smith Tarot: Centennial Edition © US Games Systems, Inc.

The Grail Tarot says... pas a pas, se va luènh!

I was going to do just a daily reading, but I decided that I actually have something specific to ask today. During this whole week I've been feeling slightly panicked, as though something bad is about to happen. Some would say trust your intuition, but this isn't the case... it has psychological roots that I've been exploring through therapy. Even so, I wanted to know which is the origin of this fear I'm feeling and what can I do about it. So I did a 3-card reading with the Grail Tarot. 

The first card is the root of this fear, its origin. The card is 19 - Bors (The Sun), which is a strange card to show in a fear reading, as the Sun symbolically stands for courage. In the image, we see the round table knight Bors inviting the Grail Seeker to a friendly wrestling as to remind him that even though he's in a spiritual search, the physical part must not be forgotten - it must be enjoyed too. As the root of my fear, I see the Sun as exposure... as though I was wrestling against someone and they thought it was friendly, but I don't see it this way. Under that clear sky and the shining sun, I feel like my lack of abilities is exposed. I don't have what it takes for this fight, even though it isn't meant to be serious.

The second card tells me how can I manage this fear. The card is 8 - The Commanderie (Justice), and it's one of the many Templar fortress that were built through Europe and the Holy Land, to be religious and administrative centers and provide a safe haven to the knights and their allies. This card is all about protection... but it does not mean isolation. Nor does it mean curling in a corner and crying. This card speaks of actively creating this sanctuary, overcoming obstacles and becoming stronger. This fear can only be surpassed if I find it in me the will to go on despite the problems and in doing so, I'll strengthen my inner fortress. Thus creating a place within myself in which I can be strong, without being isolated. I need to find a way to feel secure.

The third card is the lesson to be learnt from this fear. Here is have the Nine of Stones (Pentacles), in which the Novice, after learning his lesson from an hermit professor, is prepared to follow his path again, this time with a bit more of wisdom and understanding. The journey is never easy, this card says, and there are many things to be learnt, sometimes in painful ways. But we must not only overcome the difficulties, but also enjoy the good things we have achieved. The Novice isn't a Master yet, and he will make many mistakes, but he's better than he was when he started. I fear because I cannot see how much I have grown... It's time to give myself some credit, and some comfort.

The Grail Tarot © REDFeather, John Matthews & Giovanni Caselli

The Horoscope Spread

This is a very nice, and rather popular spread. Many readers dislike it because it is big, and appears to be rather mind-boggling, but I have seen many readers using it to answer direct and objective questions with great success.

This spread requires 12 (or 13, if you want an Outcome card) cards, and it is based on the Zodiac wheel and the 12 Sun Signs. So if you know a bit of astrology and the 12 Houses, that should add even more depth to your interpretations.

The good side of this spread is that it can answer many questions using only one spread. It helps you to see a certain issue form the point of view of more than one person. Each house is related to one area of the sitter's life (finances, love, self-esteem, family, career etc.), so you can see all possible factors that can support or hinder the querent and how they connect.

Below I give short descriptions of what each position means. If you like this spread, it is advised that you study a bit about the Twelve Houses and what they symbolize, because this will help you to understand the dynamics of the layout better. And it'll help you to find where the answer to your question is.

1st House: the Self, identity, physical characteristics, attitude, something that is beginning. It also gives you the general "feeling"of the reading.

2nd House: wealth, belongings, properties money, resources.

3rd House: communication, siblings, neighbours, short-term studies, short/local travels.

4th House: family, parents, house, heritage, foundations, the maternal parental figure.

5th House: creation, self-expression, fun, children, pleasure, sex, games.

6th House: health, well-being, routine, duties, jobs (less long-term than a career), care-taking, services you do.

7th House: partnership, marriage, close relationships, agreements and contracts, open enemies and rivals.

8th House: sexuality, taboo matters, occultism, hidden resources, joint funds, gifts, death & rebirth, fight between the ego and the soul, transformation.

9th House: higher education, long travels, religion, knowledge, learning, expansion, goals.

10th House: career, ambitions, motivation, social status, authority, the dominant parental figure.

11th House: friends, acquaintances, groups, clubs, social connections, benefits generated by the career, hopes & wishes.

12th House: the unconscious, hidden influences, hidden enemies, difficulties, addictions, mysticism, places of seclusion, regret, dissolution of the ego.

13th Card - the Central Card: I consider this card to be "optional"in this spread. Some people use it for the card the represents the sitter, other consider it an advice card, and others use it to see the most likely outcome of the situation being analysed. It is not a part of the real zodiac wheel, so you should only use if you feel comfortable, and if you believe that the extra information is important.

Divination à la Samuel Hart & Co.

Chocolate eggs were not the best gift I received this Easter. Nope. In fact, I daresay they were pretty much forgotten after I got a historical reproduction of a 1840 playing cards deck by Samuel Hart & Co. The replica was made by Fournier.

I have been looking for a plain playing card deck to read with. I use the Playing Card Oracles deck, and as much as I love it, I wanted to challenge myself by using a deck without any illustrations whatsoever. Just the pips. The problem is that I failed to find a deck that spoke to me... until now. I'm surprised at how this old-looking reproduction is... talkative. I had lots of fun with it over the weekend.

The deck is small (8.8 cm x 6.2 cm), and has very simple images. The pip cards don't have numbers, but it doesn't make much difference in the end. The background color of the deck is not that stark white, but a lovely beige that makes it even more old-fashioned. And the corners are not rounded, which I love. The deck has only four colors: yellow, red, dark blue and the light beige of the background. The back of the cards is light blue filled with tiny stars... no, it has absolutely nothing to do with the deck, but it does look cute and mystical!

It comes with the 52 playing cards plus 2 Jokers that don't look like they belong in this deck, because they are rather modern-looking. So I just leave them out, since I don't use them for divination anyway. The court cards are amazing... they are not the usual reversible court cards. The Kings and the Jacks have feet, and the Queens, long exquisite dresses. They all are staring somewhere with the corner of their eyes, as if searching for something... I just love this!

To get more acquainted with the cards, I made up a little game. I'd draw two cards from the top of the deck and read them as a pair... It was meant to help to read g without the helpful imagery of the Playing Card Oracles, and also to practise card combinations. Below are three examples:

Deck Review: Voices of Saints by Isa Donelli

It's actually surprising that two decks with catholic motifs have been already translated and published here in Brazil - the Voices of Saints and the Tarot of the Saints by Robert M. Place - whereas many more popular decks with Celtic and other pagan themes have been ignored so far. Even as neo-pagan movements such as the Wicca become more and more popular.

Maybe the reason behind it is that Brazil is the largest Catholic country in the world and saints are, in a way, part of the local "pantheon". To attract these people to the Divination Side of the Force, you need to finds something they are already used to. Hence the amount of angel, saints and Orishas decks we have here.

But I digress. What attracted me in the deck Voices of Saints in the first place was the art - the cards look like those prayer cards, with a very beautiful artwork. As a lover of religious iconography, I knew immediately that the deck had to come home with me.

The deck is comprised of 78 cards but it's not a tarot deck. It's an oracle. Don't look for a a major arcana or four suits, 'cause you ain't gonna find them. Many people bought this deck by mistake believing it was a tarot deck because of the number of cards. It's just a coincidence. Or a marketing strategy.

Each of the cards depicts one saint, in very traditional imagery. Interestingly enough, there aren't cards for Christ or His mother, although their entire family is here: grandpa (S. Joachim), grandma (S. Anna), daddy (S. Joseph) and cousin (S. John the Baptist). But no Virgin Mary or Jesus of Nazareth. Strange, uh?

Another card that I missed in this deck is S. Gabriel. Come on! I mean, they include S. Raphael and S. Michael, but forget the most diligent archangel of the Judeo-Christian tradition? Tsk tsk. Poor Gabriel, all hard-working announcing sacred births and dictating holy books, only to be left out.

Despite these small problems, the deck still manages to be very nice. It has variety saint-wise and the pictures more or less follow the traditional depiction of the saints and their personal attributes. "Why is that important?", you ask me, and I tell you it IS important. Because careless changes of the attributes may lead to a confusion regarding which saint is in the picture.

And here I arrive at the what many people said is the greatest problem about this deck - it isn't intuitive. The images look like prayer cards, with saints praying, helping the poor, writing books, pilgrimaging and being martyrs. And I have to agree - if you know absolutely nothing about the saints and their stories, this deck ain't gonna tell you much. Specially because the booklet that comes with it is mostly a waste of paper (but that was expected...).