This morning seemed like just any ordinary day: first day of a new month, a new moon AND a solar eclipse. I couldn’t have asked for an more auspicious energetic setting to send me off on a new magical journey. Today I dedicated myself to the element of alchemy and I am in a year long service to both this element and my deity exemplar, Kelsier, a character from Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novel, Mistborn.

In this essay I go into as much depth as I can about this elemental working as I learned it from Taylor Ellwood and what I hope to accomplish.
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I’m excited to announce that on Wednesday I’ll be interviewed by Taylor Ellwood of Magical Experiments. We’ll be talking tarot and I’ll share stories of how I got into tarot, what I use the cards for, and my new year-long elemental journey with the element alchemy. This process combines using the cards and creative visualization to help promote a deep and long lasting transformation within one self.

Check out the Magical Experiments page at Blog Talk Radio here and I look forward to everyone tuning in.

Every now and then a new product comes out on the tarot radar that makes all us enthusiasts go “ooh” and wonder how it revolutionizes, and challenges, current tarot structures. A few years ago, Emily Carding did this with her Transparent Tarot deck. Well, now Jude Alexander has done it with her fun and insightful, Tarot Game. Read on to find out how much fun I had playing my first game with the creator Jude Alexander and what The Tarot Game can do for you as a tool for transformational change.

I purchased The Tarot Game right before going to The Readers Studio and since returning home, I haven’t had much time to read the rules or play. Much to my surprise, Jude was offering two person games via Skpye. So I jumped on the chance to play and learn from the creator herself.
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I just got home from the 2nd Annual World Tarot & Towel Tea Party at my friend Ember’s. We had a lovely 4 hour party sipping tea, drooling over our new tarot decks and books, and co-reading spreads for one another. Read more to find out what we did and what I learned this afternoon!
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A few moments ago I pulled out my trusty Shadowscapes tarot and asked the cards: What is the spirit of Tarot for the next year? In return, I received the King of Cups.

As a Court Card, the King of Cups represents a very passionate thinker. He is old and wise and contains much knowledge. A slow thinker, he likes to choose his words carefully. He takes time to make sure things are phrased exactly as he wants it to be said.

As an answer to the question for this year, the King of Cups suggests that we combine both knowledge and heart (passion) together to form a solid and long lasting formation with Tarot. This year will be the year that, if you study hard, and really take the time to integrate the cards’ wisdom, that you go deep and learn to become the mirror that Tarot is.

And on a personal note, the King of Cups is one of the cards that is focused on in the current Lesson (number 6—almost halfway there!) that I’m working on for my Tarot School Correspondence Degree study.

What card did you draw today? How does that perspective reflect the upcoming year’s worth of Tarot spirit for you and the rest of the world? Have more insight into the King of Cups? Please post a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

As you have probably noticed, I’m finally getting around to writing the “novels” about my adventures at the Readers Studio. One of the things I briefly discussed was the spread that me and Theresa Reed crafted during Barbara Moore’s talk. I decided that I wanted to post it up here on the website as a freebie and I linked it there. I’m bringing it up again today because I wanted to discuss the spread a bit more in depth here.

Go download and print it out. Then look at it as you read through the process we used to create it. Please leave your thoughts or comments if you need clarification.

Happy Earth Day everyone. In honor of Mama Gaia, I pulled my deck out and did a reading on how we could best honor our planet and heal her. I’m using my trusty Shadowscapes Deck, which blends nature and myth in dazzling play of symbolism and artistic beauty.

1. If you could tell us how you feel, what would you say?
The Hierophant— I am the teacher, rooted in the soil, the air, and the water. I tell stories to those who listen and provide a perch to the weary. Come to me and I will teach you about the world. I am older than anything and am feeling it in my bones.

2. What can we do to honor you?
The Sun— Enjoy my gifts and bounty. Revel in the warmth of the sun, the force that sustains us and brings us life. Dance on the soil that grounds you and keeps you connected to me. Celebrate me by treating me how you would want others to treat your self.

3. Which ways can we best help to heal the damage we’ve done?
Six of Pentacles— Bring back the balance. Use the talents of creativity and intellect to promote new growth to the parts that are dying. Take civilization to the next level by promoting a sense of interdependence and sharing of the wealth, rather than keeping it to yourself.

4. If we follow your advice, what is the likely outcome?
Queen of Pentacles— Ah, the Earth Mother card itself. The Queen of Pentacles is the living spirit of Earth. She gives voice to the things that have no voice. She is nurturing, loving and generous with her gifts. If we can bring balance back to the Earth, then we, too, can bind ourselves back down to the ground. Our eyes will awaken and we’ll really see the world we live in and the gifts of plants, trees, animals and live that we have been given. The Earth is home; and as such, we are bound by duty to care for it as we would treat the dwellings we make on her surface.

I find it both comforting and odd, that the only suits represented in this spread were the Major Arcana and the Pentacles, which connects to the element of Earth/ground and deals with “earthly matters”.

In addition to this spread, readers of my Tarot Tidbits eNewsletter received some crafty advice on how to repurpose damaged tarot decks. If you’re not on the list yet, read the issue in the archives. If you enjoyed what I said, please feel free to subscribe to it. Until next time, may the tarot provide you inspiration.

Yesterday I found out that Mantra, a place where I’ve been doing wine tasting readings for over a year now, closed. This saddens me because Mantra was such a great place to learn about wine; sit and sip local varieties; and meet new people.

They gave me a great opportunity to read for others at a great location. I enjoyed being able to give something back to the area that I called home.

With Mantra closed, I am now seeking new venues and opportunities to do tarot readings at places in Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon. If you have a bar, club, or gallery and would love to try something new… please give me a buzz. I’d love to show you what tarot and I can do for you.

Tuesday was World Tarot Day and apparently, Towel Day, and Wear Lilac Day as well. So, armed with that information I decided that it was only fitting that I did any, and all readings, on a towel. (The lilac part comes in later *gryn*.) I invited my tarot enthusiast friend over for a Tarot Party and boy did we have fun.

As part of the official World Tarot Day fun, I participated in the one-card draw that answered the question, “What is the message of Tarot to us worldwide at this time?” I drew the Eight of Swords from the Shadowscapes Tarot. I interpreted this card as, “The Spirit of Tarot says that we should stop relying on one sense (our eyes) and use the rest of our senses when dealing with the world around us. In doing so, we shall be free from the prison that we’ve made for ourselves.” To continue reading about my adventures in the World Tarot Towel Tea Party, click the read more link.

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