Summer Solstice Reading

A reading for Summer Solstice. I found this spread at a blog called Indigo Spirit Tarot. It seemed like a nice spread, so I thought I'd try it out here as my Summer Solstice reading. 

1

2 ............... 3

4 ..... SUN..... 5

6 ............... 7

8

1. Live with passion. Embrace the power of the Sun.

2. Upcoming possibilities. The door to success is opened by...

3. Time to play. Enjoy this gift.

4. Time to be serious.

5. Welcome advice.

6. Beware what lies in the shadows.

7. How to improve, now that you're aware. 

8. A burden lifted. Let it go.

I've chosen to read with Tarot Illuminati (Erik C Dunne, 2013) because -- what's more appropriate on Summer Solstice than a little illumination? 

1. Embrace the Sun - Princess of Swords. 'If the Princess of Swords is anything,' writes Kim Huggens in Complete Guide to Tarot Illuminati, 'she is firstly the power of invention and secondly of revolution.' 

2. Upcoming possibilities - Five of Swords. We often look at this card as indicating defeat, but there's no reason not to sometimes see ourselves as the ones having the upper hand. Kim Huggens supports this, writing, 'If the other cards around it are positive and supportive, it suggests the querent has a unique advantage in the situation and they need to make the most of it.' 

3. Enjoy this gift - Eight of Wands. This card suggests that whatever I start in the coming months will progress swiftly. I have the gift of fast movement and swift progress. 'Often this card indicates that the querent will be involved in a number of events that could be described as synchronicity, carrying them forward in a series of coincidences that they could never have expected,' Huggens writes. 

4. Time to be serious - Ace of Pentacles. Time to be serious about good hard graft, and reminds me to cultivate, process and make use of all my resources to be applied in each situation. I'm seeing it as saying don't get ahead of yourself. Be methodical. First things first. 

5. Welcome advice - The Empress. The Empress advises me to nurture myself, my life, my surroundings, my projects, and other people. She advises me to indulge my creative impulses, which, like childbirth, require sometimes painful effort to reap the rewards. 

6. Beware what lies in the shadows - 3 of Swords. Huggens makes an interesting point about this card. It is not the card of personal heartbreak, which is better reflected in 5 of Cups. Rather, this card represents the suffering of existence, 'the profound sadness felt when seeing the state of the world and the suffering of mankind,' as Huggens puts it. It represents existential angst, a feeling with which I am quite familiar. 

7. How to improve, now that you're aware - Death. I suppose few cards confront and dispel existential angst as effectively as the Death card. Acceptance. 

8. Let it go - Five of Pentacles.  'Worry is a self-destructive behaviour that perpetuates the cycle of lack and loss,' writes Huggens. 'It keeps us firmly in the past or in the future, and never in the present: we rarely worry about this moment, right now; we only ever worry about something that has happened in the past or what may or may not happen in the future. As such, worry does not allow us to take proper action in the present.' So clearly I need to let go of worry about lack, loss, deprivation, hardship, instability, etc. 

Interesting.

A personal reading: leaving a job

I have requested to go back to my regular job 6 months early. Even though my regular job has its problems, too, and has its own risks, and even though the secondment paid a bit more, I really don't want to spend a full year doing that work. I certainly know that I would not wish to ever do the job permanently. There seemed little point in prolonging the matter. And so I decided to pull some cards, now that I've taken official steps to end the thing early: 

What results to my advantage from leaving this job?

I decided to focus my question on the positive side of this move. The cards I've drawn are tremendously encouraging. 

Tarot Illuminati by Eric C Dunne, companion book by Kim Huggens Llewellyn 2012

Despite my strong Queen of Swords aspect, I became more acutely aware of some things about myself over the last few months, and these are well represented by the King of Cups. As Fire of Water, the King of Cups is the action of emotion. My first (and hopefully last) taste of life in a corporate office has brought home to me my need for work based on my strong feelings about something. I have mentioned that all my work has been in helping professions - teacher, customer service, librarian. It's true that a Queen of Swords tendency to be organised and self-controlled certainly helps in these roles, but the crux of the matter is King of Cups. Without a deep conviction that the work I'm doing matters in a meaningful way to other people, I cannot muster enthusiasm for a task. I need to help. I need to be of service. Healer, counsellor, advisor, compassion, active emotions, care, spiritual wisdom, emotional experience -- all these are associated with the King of Cups, who in his most positive aspect represents all these things (and in the company of the two following cards, he is most definitely positively aspected).

'Mine is the power of active compassion,' the King of Cup declares in the companion book, 'the power to see pain and suffering and heal it, to purify the wounded and injured, and to guide the lost soul in times of trouble. I travel upon the ocean, because to swim in it would let it overcome me; I rule my emotions, not the other way around, and it is this which allows me to heal the wounded feelings and souls of others.'

It is a strong indication to me that I belong in work where I feel that I am helping other people -- directly helping other people, not doing back room work for an organisation that ostensibly helps other people. I need to be able to look in the eyes of the person I am helping, to see the connection I am making, to see that the work I do has a direct positive influence on someone's life. Dealing in abstractions about 'big work for a bigger good' is not fulfilling for me.

It's true that these things are more immediate and apparent in the jobs I will be returning to, but even more so in pursuing other goals -- and these goals are to expand on my deep interests and skills. The Alchemist, or Magician, is highly supportive of new beginnings, new projects and goals. The Alchemist has all resources at hand -- earth, water, fire and air -- and this is representative of having everything you need within you and without you to make your dreams reality. What you imagine can happen. The Alchemist tells me to direct my energy toward my goals. 'Sometimes it can indicate that something the querent is doing or working on seems to be inspired by or linked directly to a higher cause or power, as if they are channelling it and they simply are the messenger or means by which it reaches manifestation,' writes Huggens. Now is the time to pursue these goals, becoming more fully committed to helping others directly. So this would be another advantage of making this change in jobs - it provides opportunity to move in this direction. Just how it does remains to be seen...

Finally, the 2 of Wands is a card that shows possibility and forward momentum. I was struck by the words of the 2 of Wands in the companion book: 'The strong will, by necessity, must be expansive in nature, not happy to be cloistered and shut away...I know the limits of my dominion, and therefore I know what is not my dominion, and what is waiting for me. But knowing is not enough, because I also know that I have not yet expanded my will and desire far enough. I am the explorer, the entrepreneur, the leader, the conqueror. I do not seek to take from others, but my influence will be felt...' That is how I felt in a corporate office, cloistered and shut away, certainly not my dominion. And so, this card represents the expansion of will into action. The card encourages me to move in the direction of my will -- and my will is to do work that is truly and directly helpful to others. That is where my passion lies. It must said that 2 of Wands is a very auspicious card to draw in relation to business endeavours, and I so very strongly wish to do work that makes a difference in people's lives, that brings them comfort and enouragement and builds them up and makes them feel good and strong. I know that my gifts lie in that direction, and are manifested in card reading and spiritual counselling.

This is the direction I want to take. This is direction I will take.

What am I set to reap?

In the Mabon Tarot Blog Hop, Andy Boroveshengra wrote a heartfelt post touching on the predictive powers of tarot, and suggested that the readers of his post deal themselves three cards and 'see what we're set to reap.' So, here goes: What am I set to reap between now and Samhain?

Tarot Illuminati, 2013

Now, this is meant to be a purely predictive tarot reading, looking at what is going to happen to me between now and 31 October. Keeping it as cut and dried as possible, I can see two ways of reading this draw:

1. It will be a time of inaction (4 of Swords), confusion (Moon) and lack of direction (Fool). My inner fears (Moon) cause me to become very passive (4 of Swords), while also causing me to make reckless, possibly self-sabotaging choices (Fool).

2. It will be a time of reflection (4 of Swords) and introspection (Moon), a time when my 'beginner mind' will refresh my enthusiasm (Fool). I will face many of my inner fears (Moon) through journeying within (Fool) using new (Fool) meditation techniques (4 of Swords).

Actually either of these could be true. Or both of them could be true. I can see several scenarios where the first, negative reading could happen. And I can equally see how the second, positive reading could happen. It is entirely possible that in different areas of my life, both will happen.

I maintain, though, that even though this is a predictive reading, these outcomes are still dependent upon my choices. I can choose not to allow the negative reading to happen, and I can equally back off and prevent the positive outcome from happening. I admit, though, and can see how if I remain on my current trajectory, these things will manifest. It would take a conscious effort on my part to change this. If nothing else, it has been useful for me to look upon the cards in a wholly predictive manner, because it forces me to see the negative and positive, rather than trying to wring a 100% 'empowering' meaning from the cards. The truth is empowering. The truth is, either or both of these outcomes could happen. And the important thing is to watch out in my life and make sure I really get the outcome I want.

Keep on truckin

How appropriate to draw The Chariot on this, the last day of our week with Tarot Illuminati (Dunne & Huggens, LoScarabeo 2013).  I am travelling today for a weekend away with a friend. Sometimes our daily draws can be interpreted on a very mundane level indeed.  (I recall once a reading I did in preparation for a job interview, asking for advice, and I drew the Ace of Cups. I thought it meant I needed to try to be open. Nope. On the day, my mouth was so dry I actually slurred my speech. It was awful. Only afterward did I remember the card and realize I was probably being urged to stay hydrated and take a bottle of water!! Tarot can have a mean sense of humour. Happens a lot.)

I am thoroughly enamoured of Tarot Illuminati. It is a fascinating deck to look at, has an entertaining (if at times overwrought) companion book, and a lovely, sturdy magnetized box that closes with a satisfying clunk. There's a lot to be said for sturdy packaging in the tarot world. Do consider getting yourself a copy.

Tomorrow brings us a completely different deck, and quite an odd little duck it is...

Mind the gap

'You were born together,
and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings
of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between
the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other's shadow.'

~ The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

Burnin' down the house

I've drawn the Tower today from Tarot Illuminati (Dunne and Huggens, LoScarabeo 2013). Jumpin jiminy, I wonder what the heck is on the horizon today, then. Kim Huggens' book is pretty dang dramatic:

'All knowledge up until now is false; the more you cling to it, the harder it will be to let go and move on. It is time for illumination, and since you have made it so hard for revelation to come to you, you must now face the lightning strike. It will destroy everything you have surrounded yourself with to get to you, and when it does, you shall fall. You will be liberated from that Tower, and as you fall you shall be able once again to see the stars that you have missed for so long.'

Hey, way to sell it, Kim! When you put it like that, how can I say no? Tch.

I have problems with the Tower card and its usual dramatic interpretations. In all honesty, most people only have a few true Tower moments in their lives. The rest of the time, there's usually just bumps, blips, niggles, and inconveniences, to varying degrees of annoyance. I doubt very seriously that a Wednesday is going to bring me a shattering transformational experience, particularly as in many interpretations, the Tower is seen as one being the victim of something outside one's control. Of course something absolutely dreadful could happen to a loved one today, and that's the worst possible thing I can think of to happen, but the likelihood of that is quite low.

Personally, I think in a daily draw the Tower is usually an annoyance. And in many cases, it can be a change in paradigm, or even just in habits, and often changes that you instigate yourself. You start tearing down your own 'tower' of established thought grooves or behaviours. That's what I'm hoping to do today. I have a few modest goals for today to try to change some habits and behaviours. So we'll see if I'm able to burn down that house, or at least get my Zippo to light.

ETA: My Tower moment came when I received a postcard saying Customs wants £17.95 for a parcel I'd ordered from the US. And £8 was 'handling charges'. WHAT!! PO'ed. Ha ha. Tower moment? Well.

Avoidance

The Tarot Illuminati (Dunne and Huggens, LoScarabeo 2013) offers us 2 of Swords today. The first thing I think when I see this card this morning is 'No'. This woman is saying No to everything. No, I will not see, No, I will not feel, No I refuse to even hear. No, no, no to all of it. She turns her back to the sea, like someone who backs themselves into a corner for protection. Then she raises her swords over her heart and allows the roar of the sea to deafen her while the blindfold shuts out everything else.

I wonder what she thinks she's accomplishing. She is not accomplishing anything. She's not protecting anything, except whatever illusions and self-deceptions she's concocted in her own mind. Still, she would clearly rather be in there than out here, where life is real and has to be dealt with.

Of course, she can't maintain this stasis forever. A storm could blow up and wash her away, marauders could rob her or carry her off, or at the very least she's going to get tired, pass out and fall out of her chair. She could drown. How stupid she's being. How ridiculous to think she can protect herself by withdrawing in this way.

Are you withdrawing from something that you know you're going to have to face at some point? When will you take your blindfold off and drop your swords? Will you wait until the waves wash you out to sea and just drown? Or will you get up and confront what needs confronting?

A surprise from the deep

It's the Princess of Cups today from the Tarot Illuminati (Dunne & Huggens, LoScarabeo 2013). Clearly modelled on the RWS Page of Cups, the image includes the curious sight of a fish emerging from the cup, which the human figure understandably seems to be quite amazed by. There's an interesting bit about fish in the Cups suit at Tarot Teachings. In particular, I like the ideas that fish represent emotion/intuition because they 'move and react according to intuitive instinct', and 'abide by the flow, move with the current, accepting the yawning void in which they live.'

The Cups suit in the Tarot Illuminati features faery-like folk with silver hair and pale skin, as opposed to the other courts(Wands - Persia, Swords - Elizabethan England, Pentacles - Asia). I think this is probably because the Cups suit concerns itself with the intuition and that part of the self that is more fanciful and nebulous.

Overall I'd say the card is suggesting to me that I be sensitive to things today, both to my own emotions and those of others. I need to pay particular attention to the ebb flow of my own inner world. Perhaps some new insight will pop up, like a fish emerging from a cup.

A Courtly Tarot Celebration

'It is a joy to set a strong foundation beneath your desire and see it grow in strength and beauty...yet when you have built a grand empire from the results of your labours you must give thanks and make merry.' ~ Kim Huggens, Tarot Illuminati

This card turned up in my earlier Authentic Life Spread using the Tarot Illuminati (Dunne and Huggens, LoScarabeo 2013). Notice I've drawn another Wands card today, after yesterday's King of Wands! Here we have a Persian-looking building in the background, a male figure is wearing the turban, the baggy trousers, the sash around the waist and the pointy-toed shoes that I associate with episodes of  'I Dream of Jeannie'. The female figure looks more European to me, like a fairy tale medieval damsel, sort of like 14th century French court. The card is very reminiscent of its RWS counterpart, having four wands festooned with garlands of flowers, and a stately building or castle in the background, with people celebrating.

The Four of Wands usually signifies having a stable foundation and/or a celebration of recent accomplishments. Things are going well and you can treat yourself. The card could also predict a special event, party or celebration.

Today I celebrate the firm foundation of daily posting here at this blog, and I give thanks for the opportunities it has given me to help people through tarot readings. I thank all those who have allowed me to read for them, offering them fresh perspectives to help them see their path more clearly. And I celebrate the tarot, such an important part of my life and practice. I would love to read for you! If you would like a reading, click the button above marked 'Order a Tarot Reading' and let's chat about it.

Another King of Wands

This week's tarot is Tarot Illuminati, by Eric C Dunne and Kim Huggens, Lo Scarabeo 2013. I love this deck, and am really looking forward to sharing it on the blog. I will write a more thorough review of it at the end of the week.

Today's card is King of Wands, and what a King of Wands he is! Everything about him, from his flamboyant dress to his confident posture, speaks of forthright boldness.

The Wands suit in the Tarot Illuminati is based on Persia, and so we have lots of turbans and feathers, pointy-toed shoes, and well, Persian-looking stuff. :)

I've been drawing King of Wands a lot lately, have you noticed? And Knight of Wands haunted me for weeks and weeks a while back. Something out there is trying to tell me something. Assert myself! Take charge! WAKE UP!

Authentic Life Spread

James Wells of Circle Ways has created a tarot spread based on the book 'Top Five Regrets of the Dying,' which aims to help us 'live a life that is less regret-filled and more fulfilling and authentic.' That sounds like a very good aim, and so I am going to try out the spread here using my newly arrived Tarot Illuminati by Erik C Dunne, with companion book by Kim Huggens (Lo Scarabeo, 2013). 

1     2     3     4     5

1. How can I remain true to myself?
2. How can I remember to set work aside for other important things?
3. How can I develop and maintain the courage to express my feelings?
4. How can I remember to stay in touch with people whom I love and value?
5. How can I demonstrate my choice to be happy?