I arrived just after 2:30 and before the pacNW storms could get any wetter. Ember had lovingly set up a spot in her living room for our activities, complete with a red parlor theme. The tea was already stepping and cups of honey and lemon sat ready to sweeten the deal. After greeting the kitties, I set about to ploofing out my gear and setup a small nook for me to call my own. I brought The Herbal Tarot, the Shadowscapes Tarot, and the Tarot of the Divine Legacy to play and share. We love to have a “show and tell” with our new decks and I got to experience the pretties that is the Wizards Tarot and the Mona Lisa Tarot while she looked over my offerings.

Once we stopped oohing and aaahing over the decks, we set down to “serious” play. We decided to use the handbook that comes with the Wizards tarot to base our day around. We spent time looking through the book until we settled on three spreads. Our first spread was the Strength’s Familiars Spread, which was a fun and unique look at “selecting” a familiar to use. Ember drew The Lovers Card, while later on, I drew the Chariot. Surprising (or not) our readings were rather spot on and we both agreed that we’d do further investigations with our familiars.

We scanned the book again, this time selecting two more spreads. Ember decided that Transfiguration’s (aka Death) Past Life Spread looked interesting; while I wanted to play with Alchemy’s (aka Temperance) Spread. I won’t write about the Past Life experience but it was rather insightful and I can’t wait to see what insights Ember receives when she meditates on the lessons and “anvils” the cards gave her.

I chose the Alchemy Spread because this year I plan on working with the “element” of Alchemy to focus my energies and transform and manifest myself and my magical practice into the image I have inside my head. I’ll be writing more about this process and the elemental working later. I used my Shadowscapes deck with the Alchemist’s Spread and was NOT disappointed. This three card spread helped me to understand what energies I have in carrying out “creative” projects from idea to draft to completion (or publication).

The first card I drew was the Two of Wands. I see this card as the brainstorm generator card. In the Sulphur spot, this card defines and shows exactly how I work to start new projects. I don’t think I could’ve picked a better card. The figure in the card is myself, sitting with my cat (one of my kitties loves to snuggle as I write) looking off into the swirling yellow and orange “creation mists” waiting for inspiration.

The second card I drew was The Chariot. Which was funny and fitting since I received it in Strength’s Familiar Spread. This “Mercury” position shows my ability to nurture and develop new projects as they bloom in the early stages. There’s no doubt about it, when my ideas fully form, I go go go with them until they’re done. I set my mind to it and do whatever it takes to finalize it.

The third, and final, card I drew was the 3 of Cups in the “Salt” position. This card displays the ways in which I take ideas and move it from start to finish, transforming the vision into a manifested product. The 3 of cups, at first glance, seems a bit odd here but for me it makes perfect sense. I rely a lot on my editors, friends and colleagues to help me solidify my ideas, generate missing bits, and hone my writing via editing to present it to the world. The power of community helps me publish my book and as I have an extensive network of professionals, I’m at no loss for publishing my work into the world.

All in all, I was impressed by this little reading and can’t wait to find a copy of the Wizards Tarot for my own study. We finished our spreads and then headed to dinner where we had a lovely steak dinner. As Ember works really early in the morning, I collected my gear, towel, and decks; scritched the kitties; and headed home.

World Tarot Day was a success this year. I had such a great (and long) day of participating: chatting with my mentor Wald, networking with my community on Twitter, winning a copy of Tarot for Manifestation by James Wells, and sharing tarot love with one of my closest friends. As we draw World Tarot Day 2011 to a close, I want to thank everyone who’s had a reading from me, or attended my class, or spoke with me about tarot. You all inspire me and help keep the fuel for my tarot obsession burning.

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.

King of Cups- Shadowscapes Deck (copyright by Llewellyn Books)

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.

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.

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.

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.

The WTTTP kicked off around noon with hugs (meeting the hug your favorite Tarot Reader quota). We immediately loaded into the car to eat a good lunch, capped with shakes from Cold Stone. We rushed home and settled in to figure out what tarot-y things to do. We started by exchanging readings using our favorite decks. I spent the day focusing on the Shadowscapes Tarot and she used the Fantastical Tarot deck.

After taking turns reading, we spent a bit of time journalling about the reading and meanings and questions posed to each other. We then talked a bit about our decks and which, if any, we’d cull. I slid over the Shadowscapes book and my friend started leafing through it. She stopped on the section that contained some tarot spreads and said, “Huh… that one looks interesting. We should try it.” The spread in question was the A Journey and man were the results interesting and accurate. We decided to just use the meanings from the book on this one as we read the cards and pulled what grabbed our inner intuitions as we read.

I was very impressed with the A Journey Spread. We gained a lot of insight as to why we were feeling stifled and got a greater idea of where the big picture was going. A lot of psychic anvils were dropped on the both of us. There were times when we both were all, “DOY…DUH” when the cards reminded us of things that we knew but hadn’t started yet. And to honor the Wear Lilac Day, one of the cards even had pictures of gorgeous lilacs on it. In the end, we felt armed with more ideas on how we can get back on our path and refocus our energies.

All in all I had a blast with our WTTTP Day and hope to participate again next year. The official site posted a page of 40+ tarot readers and the cards they choose for the Voice of the Tarot for 2010. I highly recommend you go check it out.