Tarot Can Help

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Sometimes things just don't go the way they are supposed to in the script, do they? You think positively, try to keep optimistic, build your energy, create your vision boards, keep focussed on your goals and then events just take over and things get chaotic and you wonder how you will ever find your way through the thorny wall in your path.

The popular New Age approach is to focus on the future not the past, don't have any regrets, don't feel guilty and don't get angry as it's a waste of energy. Phrases come to mind like "it's always darkest before the dawn," and, yes, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." (Which I have to admit, is one of my own pwrsonal favourites!) But you know what? Sometimes it's Ok to get mad, to cry, to rail against the universe, to scream "it's just not fair!" It's Ok, because you're human, and being human hurts sometimes. You're not a robot, you can't "positive think" your way through situations that are intrinsically upsetting and frustrating.

What does help, I am learning, is to roll with it, yes - a cliche - but to "go with the flow". See what unfolds, feel the pain, see what happens when you are forced to dig deep. I drew a card for this and got Temperance. I often interpret Temperance as the blending of opposites, the mediator, the link between worlds, but Temperance is also patience, not trying to push the river, not being too impatient to try and make events fit your agenda.

If you are a control freak (that would be me) and only feel comfortable when you are in charge of the situation or making things happen, finding solutions, solving problems, this will feel horrendously uncomfortable. But maybe that's the point. Maybe that's the lesson. "Step back," says Temperance, "you can't control everything. Stop fighting, let things take their course."

Often these major events in our lives are the ones, when we have the power of hindsight, that are turning points, that shape things and shake you out of your comfort zone. But while you are in the midst of it, that can be hard to fathom out and the message of Temperance is that you don't have to have it all worked out, because in the end it isn't up to you and your willpower, something bigger is at work. Trust it.

11 Things You Should Know About Number 11

As I write this today is November 11, 2011 and I managed to get a screen shot as the clock in Tuscany reached 11 minutes, 11 seconds past 11, leading to the beautiful sequence of numbers you can see here.

People have been banging on about the magical significance of this date where anything may happen from the awakening of hidden codes your DNA to entering the portals to another dimension! Bring it on, I say!

If you Google 11:11 you will come up with all manner of interesting things. It appears that more and more people are noticing weird things just as their clock reaches that time. Speaking personally, I have been surprised at how often I just happen to look up, send and email, get some news and notice the clock says 11:11. It may be that I’m more programmed now to pay attention to it, having read about it. Or perhaps there’s something more going on…

Here are 11 interesting things about number 11

1. In numerology 11 is considered a Master Number (as are 22, 33, 44 etc) and has special significance if it appears in your name or birth date analysis. Among other things, the Master Number 11 signifies balance, deep spirituality, an ability to channel, healing powers, connecting the higher dimensions with earth, leadership ability and tremendous potential. However the number is also challenging as those individuals with an 11 Master Number are all too aware of their potential for greatness and constantly fret about how to best fulfill it.

2. The first two integers after 0 in the Fibonacci series, named after Leonardo of Pisa (aka Fibonacci) are 1 and 1. The series is created by adding the previous two integers together to make a third and so on, and the series goes 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34 etc. It is closely connected to the Golden Ratio (roughly 1.6) which was used by architects and craftsmen to create aesthetically pleasing designs. The Fibonacci Series has close biological links as it is often seen in natural shapes, such as the way a tree branches, the shape of a pine cone or the spiral in a seashell.

3. Some people believe that our lives are a conscious creation, like a kind of projection based on the binary system. They link the binary integers 1, 1 to the double helix of DNA and believe that our DNA is genetically encoded to be activated in response to certain numbers. 11 is one of those numbers.

4. Apollo 11 was the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon.

5. 11 in Tarot signifies Justice, the supremely rational card of the mind, balance and fairness. It links very nicely with the rational and analytical aspect of the number 11. It also marks the end of one set of ten cards of the Major Arcana and the movement into the more metaphysical second ten, so the number 11 could be seen as a kind of gateway card.

6. The First World War ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918.

7. 11x11 = 121. 111 x 111 = 12321. 1111 x 1111 = 1234321

8. The 11th sign of the zodiac is Aquarius. Some people think that our world, currently in the Age of Pisces is on the brink of entering the Age of Aquarius which could bring us anything from freedom, philanthropy and peace to chaos and rebellion, depending on who you believe.

9. In the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack, there are some curious links to the number 11. 9 + 1 + 1 =11. September 11th is the 254th day of the year. 2 +5 +4 =11.The State of New York was the 11th state of the Union. The World Trade Centers could be seen as a physical representation of the numbers 1 + 1 as they stood side by side. The first flight to hit the towers was American Airlines Flight 11. Each tower had 110 storeys.

10. There is quite a significant movement of people who have noticed an increase in the number of times they see the time 11:11. They say this is beyond coincidence and is a “wake-up call” to lightworkers. The general consensus is that you notice 11:11 more around a time of personal positive change and that it is a good sign.

11. On November 11th, 2011, at 48 minutes and 47 8/9 seconds before Noon the time was: 11/11/11 11:11:11.1111111111111... (source: Bob Morris)

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Psycards - an Alternative to Tarot

I have owned my deck of Psycards for about 20 years and remember getting them at a psychic fair in Bournemouth.

They are not really like tarot cards at all.  Created by Nick Hobson after abeing thrown out of his house by his wife and spending a night in a friend's spare room, the idea and images for the cards came to him after a vivid dream. Nick saw the elements of his life streched out before him as he viewed the different components from his high-up vantage point. When he awoke he decided that his vision was sufficiently compelling for others to benefit from.

Nick found a talented young illustrator called Maggie Kneen and they worked together to make his vision a reality. He wanted the cards to be accessible to everyone and immediately comprehensible, through the use of symbols and imagery. The result was the Psycards deck. Not tarot, not tarot at all and yet capable of delivering powerfully accurate readings.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE

At the Psychic fair I was the first to volunteer when the presenters of a workshop on the cards asked for two people to come up to the front. They explained that one of us would read for the other, despite having never used the cards before. I said I would read and then shuffled the deck and drew some cards. I can't remember what the situation was now, but I know that what I said was so accurate that the lady volunteering to be read for gasped. The two presenters looked at each other and one said to the other: 'These cards always work, don't they?" Of course I bought a deck.

Since then I have worked regularly with Psycards. They don't let me down. They are beautiful to look at and to hold and you can go very deep with them, working on many aspects from myth and imagery to colours, numbers and Jungian psychology. They are totally non-scary and very wise.

I do many email readings and on occasion have used Psycards instead of tarot. The results have been as accurate, if not more so. These are great cards.

If you are interested in having a Psycards reading then contact me now.

 

 

Can the Tarot Help With Computer Problems? Oh Yes!

So here I am with no ADSL line for the second time in a week. The first time it was out for four days, courtesy of a big storm last Sunday. I phoned my Italian service provider and after some daily and  increasingly frustrated calls from me, it was back.

And then it disappeared again.

I called the service provider once more and they told me the problem was with my router, but I didn't believe them. They told me to test it, but I didn't know how as the nearest computer shop is fifteen miles away. I couldn't go online (duh!) I was lost and fed up. I NEED the Internet, not only because I am a little bit addicted, but for work, both tarot and writing.

I decided to do what I always do in times of crisis and pulled out my tarot deck. What should I do to solve this? I asked. I got the Queen of Swords, the King of Swords reversed and the Ace of Coins reversed. This told me I was to be the one to get it sorted (I always think of Swords as the Internet suit and took upon myself the mantle of Queen of the Internet - yeay!) The reversed king told me that an expert would not help (or may even be UNhelpful) and the Ace of Coins reversed meant it would cost me money.

I decided to make one last call to the Italian service provider and instead of the usual helpful and patient operators (I'm having to explain these problems in Italian, so you can see how they need to be patient!) I got Mr Operator from Hell. As I started into my belief that it wasn't my router he shouted (yes, shouted) at me "Signora, you are wasting my time! I have told you it is the router. Who is the expert, you or me?" Ouch. Very reversed King of Swords.

I set off to buy a new router. Leaving the store 77 Euros lighter and clutching my new purchase I thought of the reversed Ace of Coins. I would not be caling in the computer people to install it like last time. I would do it myself if it killed me.

Four and a half frustrating hours later, and having sworn multiple times at the writer of the 'very simple one step' instruction leaflet, I managed to get the internet installed on three computers, cheered on by the Queen of Swords who kept me going as I threw various things across the office.

So there we have it. The tarot can help with any kind of problem if you give it a chance. If not in actually magically getting the thing fixed, at least encouraging you and pointing you in the right direction. Perhaps I ought to send a deck to the service providers!

 

Can Tarot Help in Business? Of Course it Can!

You know, one of my favourite ways to use Tarot, both for myself and other people, is for business advice. At first glance this may seem a kind of crazy thing to say, after all the two subjects seem poles apart, but from my experience the answers you get are extremely useful, practical and relevant. Because deep down, you know the advice you need to hear. The cards help you see that.

Let's do an example right now. I want with more great clients for my tarot consultancy, so let me ask for advice about that. I need to think carefully about the question, because we must remember "GIGO" right? (garbage in garbage out!) How about:  What is one practical way I can find more great clients for my Tarot business? Nice and specific. 

I'm going to shuffle and draw one card while thinking about my question "lightly" - no intense "please, please, please"! Here goes, ready?:

I've drawn the Two of Swords from the Robin Wood deck. Interesting! This card is a classic 'dilemma card' even if the dilemma is of her own making. Why hold those swords in that awkward position with a blindfold on anyway?

Let's assume the lady with the swords is me. (Duh!)I have my back to the ocean - to the exciting, swirling, scary sea as I sit perched on my safe little piece of rock. It may be a ruin and have huge holes in it - but hey - it's mine and I'm not leaving it, especially not with these bloody great big swords on my shoulders. I might fall off!

Hmmm what does that tell me? That  am being a touch conservative with my marketing and promotion and keeping to the safe, tried and tested methods? That I don't want to test the waters in that great big challenging ocean out there? That I am sticking to my guns (or rather my swords) by insisting on this awkward, uncomfortable but familiar situation, even though I am clearly not moving forward by doing this. (Very static our lady on the rock!) In terms of marketing and promotion it means I am doing the "same old, same old" and getting the same results. I think that's a definition of madness, isn't it? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting  to have different results?

So it's pretty obvious that my marketing as it stands isn't as good as it might be and that if I don't change it I'm going to get no further forward. But I asked for practical advice, so what could that be? 

I'm now going to do a bit of visualisaton, try and zoom into the card,  imagine myself in that position, sitting on the rock with the swords, and see what happens if I put them down, take the blindfold off and turn round. Don't go away, I'll be back - if I don't fall off the bloody thing!

OK, well I opened my eyes once I'd got those things off my shoulders and I was facing a brick wall! I turned round, was on the shore and there was a boat. How cool is that? I got in the boat, rowed it myself to a cove and was met by a peacock!  Then I ended up running across a grassy hill like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music! Apart from the thought that men in white coats should be coming to take me away, what nuggets of wisdom can I draw from this?

I'm 'up against a brick wall' if I keep on marketing the way I am. (True - there are a lot of tarot readers out there!) I need to set off in a  different direction, "row my own canoe" so to speak and 'show off' a bit more (peacock). There's a whole world out there and I need to "sing out" to them,

I know what this means, deep down I do. The "showing off", the "whole world out there" .Video. I have been avoiding this - a bit scary isn't it, video, but I feel that is what the message of this card is.  Ditch the old fashioned marketing and dive right in! Make a few videos.

Watch this space...(perhaps literally!)

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Forget to Play!

I just love Ted Talks, I don't now if you know them? Great great lectures on video on all manner of topics. Endlessly inspirational and motivating talks from the world's top thinkers.

This one from Stuart Brown is on PLAY and is very thought provoking. All too often we can get too serious and intense about the study of any subject - including tarot - and this is a reminder to loosen up and enjoy just playing for its own sake.

Applying this to tarot, try asking the cards how you can best incorporate play into your life!

 

 

Don't Forget to Play!

I just love Ted Talks, I don't now if you know them? Great great lectures on video on all manner of topics. Endlessly inspirational and motivating talks from the world's top thinkers.

This one from Stuart Brown is on PLAY and is very thought provoking. All too often we can get too serious and intense about the study of any subject - including tarot - and this is a reminder to loosen up and enjoy just playing for its own sake.

Applying this to tarot, try asking the cards how you can best incorporate play into your life!

 

 

Getting Confused with Tarot?

There are an awful lot of Tarot books out there as well as videos, audios, courses - you name it. Like it or not, Tarot is big business and many people wish to add to the ever expanding ocean of information  by coming up with yet another theory or way to interpret the cards.

But you know what? Sometimes it helps just to get back to basics. To just look at the cards in front of you and say what you see. I remember  when I used to teach English and someone would say "but it's wrong to say X, doesn't the grammar book say...?" I would agree that the grammar book does indeed say that but that the grammar book was written AFTER the language was developed, not before. There is a balance between following prescriptive rules and allowing the language to change and develop, because that's what language does.

You could say the same about Tarot. The cards came first - in the form of a game - and then people began using them for insight and guidance. Although we can't know for sure, I'm fairly confident that people back then just described what they saw  and didn't refer to a million reference books. Of course there were also well educated readers versed in esoteric lore who would give very complex meanings, but there were just as many who focussed on the pictures, particularly as reading was not a widespread skill. Bottom line - the cards are primarily a visual medium and so it pays to use your eyes first and engage your brain later.

If you are suffering from Tarot book information overload - and it happens to everyone - then step back, take a deep breath and try to forget the "book" meanings and "expert" interpretations. Go back to basics and say what you see. Because the cards won't let you down.

 

 

 

 

The Tarot as Oracle or Life Enhancing Tool?

One of the biggest differences in the way professional readers use theTarot these days is as a tool for growth and transformation as opposed to a predictive oracle.

Oracles have their place, I like them actually! I've got two types of Angel cards, Runes, Colour Oracle cards, a Russian Fortune Teller deck and  Animal Oracle cards. I enjoy consulting them and love the variety of methods to get to basically the same answer. I approach them in a light hearted spirit of enquiry and see what happens!

Although it is possible to use the Tarot as an oracle too, I  think it's doing it a disservice to use it primarily in that way. I always encourage peope who come to me for readings to rephrase 'yes/no' questions to make the reading more empowering.  I really don't think it's helpful to ask "Will I win the lottery?" or "Will my boyfriend come back?" It's taking all impetus and energy out of the reading, like you have no say in your own life.

Although  I do think that major events  in our lives may be mapped out in some kind of cosmic blueprint (and to be honest, I'm not even entirely sure about that) we have so many possible paths ahead of us in the future that to think everything we do is decided by to Fate is not a way to live, in my opinion. Actions we take right now affect which paths are more likely to open up and which of our many possible futures we focus on.

Our own attitude has a profound effect on what we draw into our lives too. And the Tarot can help shed some light on our motives, fears and beliefs, helping plan the way ahead with more optimism and energy. That's the best way to use it I think. As a tool for insight and development rather than a fortune telling device.

 

 

Card of the Day Magic

Drawing a Tarot card at the beginning of the day is not a new idea. It is a gentle way of introducing you to the cards and stamping your own meaning onto them. Pulling a card at random, seeing what thoughts and ideas it brings to mind and then getting on with your day is a fascinating exercise. The power of this simple technique is only really evident in the evening or the next day when you review how the events of the last 24 hours have panned out and see how they relate to the card.

But the card of the day can also be an excellent source of wisdom and advice. Instead of just using it to predict the shape of the day to come, you can also ask it how to approach the day in order to get the best out of it.  For example, when drawing the card you could ask: 'How can I get the best from today?' or 'What could I do today to help me move my project forward?' In this way the exercise changes from passive to active.

Why not try it today? Think of an issue that you would like to focus on and then shuffle and draw a card. Consider what advice you're getting and how to use it in your day. Keep the card propped up on your desk or stuck to the fridge door as a reminder. Then  see what happens!