'Mystic Bastard' Day Five

Mystic Faerie Tarot 2007,  Deck of the Bastard 2013

It's the last day of 'Mystic Bastard', a combination of two very different decks. Today it's Knave of Cups and 8 of Coins. The Knave of Cups (or Page of Cups) is a 'water sprite,' according to the Mystic Faerie Tarot; all the Cups creatures are these mer-fae with wings. I've never seen anything quite like them. They're an oddity to me. Winged mer-folk. Anyway, this Knave of Cups expresses the open guilelessness of the Page of Cups well enough, with the innocent face, androgynous appearance, and friendly demeanor. Meanwhile in the background, the apprentice in 8 of Coins has his sleeves rolled up while getting on with the somewhat thankless task of cranking out loads of 'product', over and over and over. I have a feeling this combination refers to today at work...the BT lines are being replaced and there will be disruption to computers, phones, WiFi and our management system. So there will be a lot of tiresome churning out of the same explanation and apologies to customers, delivered via a pasted-on sweet smile mixed with a bit of 'it's not my fault' in the sub-text. Much fluttering of eyelashes and deflection of poo-poo will happen. Over and over. Yay.

Of course, these cards may not be addressing that situation entirely. Perhaps it's saying that a positive attitude is a skill, a habit, which is learned through repetition. Like affirmations, where you keep saying it even if you don't yet quite believe it. Seems contradictory to think that a gentle, sweet attitude could be learned, but it's possible that cynicism is a habit, and that it's opposite could be achieved through determined practice. 

I'll get plenty of chances to practice today! 

'Mystic Bastard' Day Four

Mystic Faerie 2007, Deck of the Bastard 2013

I really like the pentacles suit in the Mystic Faerie Tarot. In each suit of this deck, a story is told through the progression of the cards. This works and doesn't work--it's a fun idea, but some cards are bit off the mark as far as traditional interpretation goes. In the pentacles suit, a faerie gets lost from her family and decides to live in an area where she finds herself--there's plenty to eat there, and she can make baskets and a shelter. But she soon finds it lonely without company, and after having her little home ransacked by some rats, she is befriended by mice, who take her into their community. The Six of Pentacles shows the faerie and the mice sharing their bounty with one another, in the spirit of charity and generosity often associated with this card. It's a really cute card. I love those little mice!

'Mystic Bastard' Day Three

Mystic Faerie 2007, Deck of the Bastard 2013

Wow, two majors today, which is pretty impressive for a morning when I've woken up with a slight sore throat and runny nose, and a decidedly grey sky out the window. Today we have Strength from Mystic Faerie Tarot, and the Sun from Deck of the Bastard. It is a very encouraging combination, telling me that I have fortitude and vitality.

'Mystic Bastard' Day Two

Deck of the Bastard 2013, Mystic Faerie 2007

Today's draw from Mystic Faerie and Deck of the Bastard has produced The Star and Queen of Wands. This morning I woke up with a distinct feeling that today is a good day for fresh starts, and this combination of cards suggests I can reach my highest aspirations if I take determined action. I didn't think about the configuration of the cards when I threw them on the scanner, but I like the way the Queen of Wands has ended up pointing to The Star. It's like she's saying, 'You can have this if you want it.' (With a subtext of: 'But if you want it, you have to stop talking and grab a big stick and start beating your life into the shape you want it to take.') That might sound violent, but the Queen of Wands isn't known for subtlety. It's actually interesting to me to see The Star, which I always feel is a subtle, gentle card, combined with the Queen of Wands, who always seems to me quite showy and brash in her approach to things. She doesn't always have to be, but she  is certainly a take-no-prisoners type.

I woke up this morning with the idea to do visualizations during my meditation sessions, to visualize my life the way I want it to be. Then I remembered I have a CD I bought years ago of a kind of guided meditation for weight loss and healthy living. So I dug that out and dug around and found my earphones, and then I came to the PC to find that I'd drawn The Star + Queen of Wands for today, which reinforced my thoughts and actions of the morning.

Well, if I'm going to have time to listen to that CD, I've got to cut this short. Working 8.30-6.15 today!

'Mystic Bastard' Day One

I'm combining two decks this week, Mystic Faerie and Deck of the Bastard (so-called because it is made up of cards from several different decks, all mixed up together and made to look aged). I drew one card for each day of the week using the Mystic Faerie, then drew cards for each day of the week using Deck of the Bastard, to see how they work together. Today's cards are:

Mystic Faerie 2007, Deck of the Bastard 2013

The cards suggest that though today may be a day of trouble, I should keep things in perspective.

Mystic Faerie Tarot - the Sidhe they ain't

Mystic Faerie, 2007

I just received this deck the other day. I bought it used on a whim. Published in 2007, art by Lynda Ravenscroft, book by Barbara Moore, it's the Mystic Faerie Tarot. My first reaction to it is -- wow, is it tame in comparison to the fearsome and otherworldly Sidhe. This deck is gentle beyond gentle in comparison. I won't know for a while if it is a 'keeper'. Some decks come in and go out of this house so fast I barely remember having them (like Crystal Visions, for example). I can say that I find the majors very appealing, beautiful even. The minors are a bit twee, and already I am finding annoyances with them, because the deck both attempts to be RWS, but is also squeamish about the more negative cards. The courts are a bit on the insipid side as well. Still, it is early days with this deck - I only just opened it yesterday! So I don't want to reach any snap judgments. Perhaps this deck will help me see the fae with a softer edge, experience a lighter, softer side. I tend to be attracted to sharp edges, mostly, and dismiss this type of deck (not for nothing am I Queen of Swords), though I do keep buying them and giving them a shot. So there must be the potential there, if I ever find the right one.