Month: October 2020

#TarotCollector a (non) VR to MoonBaby

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Today’s post is inspired by Brant’s #TarotCollector challenge over on his channel, Moon Baby on YouTube. Your most expensive deck

The Fairy Tale Tarot by Lisa Hunt

Your most expensive deck: The Fairy Tale Tarot by Lisa Hunt (English Edition). I had this one a handful of years ago when it was first published and it was destroyed in an accident. I paid a hell of a lot more than the publisher’s price to replace it when I finally got around to replacing it. It’s one of the few decks that I’ve kept the box for.

Student Tarot No.5
Student Tarot Version 5

Your least expensive deck: I have a number of decks that I’ve gotten for free over the years, either as gifts, prizes, etc. But this is my least expensive deck that I actually paid money for. It cost me just a few cents under $3. I’ve had a few playing card decks I’ve payed less for over the years, but I was trying to primarily stick to tarot for this challenge (although you’ll see I did deviate on an answer later on).

The deck other collectors want to steal from your collection: See the first question above. I probably have a good number of decks that people would like to steal from my collection, but since my motivation for collecting seems a bit off from others’ I’m not sure I have a very good idea which ones they’d be. Probably a good number of my Il Meneghello decks.

Deviant Moon Tarot Borderless Edition
Deviant Moon Tarot Borderless Edition

Your strangest deck: Okay… so I confess. I have a LOT of really strange decks. I’m a big fan of really strange decks. And, I know that a lot of people don’t find the Deviant Moon Tarot to be a strange one, but I do. Definitely. And as many other strange decks as I get? This one always tops the list for me. So I’m going to say that my strangest deck is the Deviant Moon Tarot.

Hokusai Tarot and 22 Talismani in 22 Arcani Tarot
Hokusai Tarot and 22 Talismani in 22 Arcani

The deck other collectors are least likely to have in their collection: Honestly? Any of a number of my Il Meneghello decks would fit in this category probably. Not just because they are limited run decks, but because they are not really all that well known. Add to that that a number of those Il Meneghello decks are majors only decks and… well I picked two of my favorites and went with them.

Gypsy Witch Fortune Cards c.1920
Gypsy Witch Fortune Cards c. 1920

Your oldest deck: This one, I went by publication date. And it’s the only category that I strayed away from tarot. My oldest deck by publication date is my mother’s set of the Gypsy Witch Fortune Cards that was printed in 1920. Alternately, I also have my great great (great?) grandmother’s canasta set that she used to read divination with, but I have no idea what the publication is on that one so I didn’t include it here.

Sacred Circle Tarot
The Sacred Circle Tarot

The deck you’ve had the longest: For this question, I switched back to tarot only I started with tarot when I was fourteen years old. Before tarot, I was taught lenormand and playing card reading and I have had decks of both far back into my childhood. But I honestly don’t remember which was my first… or second… or fifth. I do, however, know which deck was my first tarot deck and thus, the one I’ve had the longest. That would be the Sacred Circle Tarot. As you can see from the pictures? I have modified the fuck out of this deck.

Tarot of Trees and The Revived Gassmann Tarot Marseilles
The Tarot of Trees 10th Anniversary Edition and The Revived Gassmann Tarot Marseilles

Your newest deck: In my last visit to the post office, I had a good handful of decks come in, but the two that really stuck out to me the strongest were these two. The Tarot of Trees 10th Anniversary Edition is a beautiful large-card version of the earlier deck that came out in small cards. And The Revived Gassmann Tarot Marseilles that came out this year from Patrick Valenza.

Herbal Tarot and the Hanson Roberts Tarot
The Herbal Tarot and the Hanson Roberts Tarot

The deck that made you want to collect decks in the first place: After the debacle of the Sacred Circle Tarot as my first deck, I was a bit discouraged as I couldn’t connect to the Sacred Circle at all. Then I got my hands on the Herbal Tarot and the Hanson Roberts Tarot within weeks of each other, and it made me realizes that there was a great deal of potential out there to tap into. I’d made a mistake with my first tarot deck, and ended up with something that didn’t work for me at all and thus was extremely difficult for me to read. When these two came along, it was a breath of fresh air and I’ve been collecting ever since.

Tarot of the Hidden Realm and The Stolen Child Tarot

Your favorite deck from your collection: I am unable to pick one but I can manage to whittle it down to two. My two absolute favorite decks are the Tarot of the Hidden Realm and The Stolen Child Tarot. There are a couple of runners up tho….

Hush Tarot, The Brady Tarot, The Botan Tarot
Hush Tarot, The Brady Tarot, and The Botan Tarot

The three above are my runners up to my favorites. The thing is? Interestingly enough all five of these are relatively new decks. I’ve been collecting decks for eighteen years, and other decks besides tarot for even longer, but it hasn’t been until these last few years that I’ve actually managed to find decks that I deeply connect with. I had favorites before them… absolutely. But the connection is not the same as what I have with these decks mentioned here now.

The Whispers Are Lying

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I’ve fallen behind again… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 29th or not.   So I’ll leave this empty this time around (and tomorrow too) as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.

Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot - Four of CoinsToday’s draw is Four of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of stability and security in reference to one’s finances, resources, and health.  It can also go to far at times and be a representation of greed and/or miserly behavior.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the footrest.  And honestly?  At what is only about two inches tall, I don’t really see it’s usefulness.  Thus, it feels like a wasteful expenditure, and points out my own judgements concerning money and spending.  Judgements that are almost always directed more towards myself than others.

The message here is twofold.  First, it is that I need to be less judgemental toward myself and my spending. The second part of the advice seems contradictory, but it is more a compliment.  It’s okay to spend, when you have the funds to do it. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do so wisely. Search for the best prices, find alternative sources, check around and see if you really need to have the brand name of something and not the generic.  All of these things are just smart shopping, and something to remember along the way.

DECK USED:  MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: Treat – What can I treat myself with to conclude this magickal month?

Gothic Horror Tarot

Reading Summary: Patience (Seven of Pentacles) with the ups and downs (Wheel of Fortune) and time with Gideon (The Lovers) added in to help balance things out (Two of Pentacles).

Take Away:  As October draws to a close, to treat myself, now is a good time to spend some extra time with Gideon when it’s possible so that I don’t feel too overburdened by my responsibilities.  Also, I need to make sure that I’m treating myself and my business with patience.  Things are unusually slow the last two weeks.  Don’t panic, just keep yourself focused on where you want to go and accept that it takes time to get there.

DECK USED:  GOTHIC HORROR TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: The last harvest is upon us. What needs to be discarded from my life?

Halloween Spirit TarotReading Summary: Worrying about a bunch of shit (Nine of Swords) that you just can’t know right now (Eight of Swords). And a vein of cruelty and pessimism (King of Cups Rx) over finances and running my business (King of Pentacles).

Take Away: What ifs and predictive worrying has taken over a lot of my worrying lately as a whole, and it’s something I need to let go of.  The things I don’t know… the things I can’t know right now… they need to be left alone instead of constantly worried over.  All it does is fuck up my confidence and my sense of well-being.

The other issue mentioned here is an echo of my COTD above.  It’s a reminder that just because business is slow right now doesn’t mean it will continue to be, or that the holiday rush is fucked and thus my finances through the first part of next year are as well.  This pessimistic attitude is not helping anything and needs to be discarded along with the anxiety and worry that have taken up a large footprint in my mind lately.

DECK USED:  HALLOWEEN SPIRIT TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: What is my Halloween message this year?

Tarot de Marseilles par Pole Ka

Reading Summary: Too much work (King of Wands decapitated), and too much bitchiness (Queen of Swords Rx) results in unpleasant repercussions (Justice).  Get your shit together (The Emperor’s glare).

Take Away:  Leave it to the Pole Ka to speak to me bluntly and without mercy.  Although, I think it’s something I need to hear in the tone that I need to hear it in.  I get a lot of what feels like conflicting guidance lately, and yet it’s not really all that conflicting at all, just my pessimism and cynicysm skewing it in that direction in my head.

The Emperor here in this spread is making it clear that I need to pull myself together and out of the tangled mess I’ve slid into the last week or two.  It’s time for clarity and control, not a tug of war and anxiety driven actions.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLES PAR POLE KA

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How do spiritual moments impact me?

Trionfi della Luna

Reading Summary: Spiritual moments provide succor (The Lioness) and peace (The Bluebirds) to help calm the chaos (The Tower).

Take Away: Due primarily to my own inner dialogue and the self directed cruel streak that lives in my head, it can be really hard for me to find and accept nurturing comfort and peace in my life.  It’s not that I don’t want the good feelings, but more that somewhere inside I feel that I do not deserve them.  

When shit hits the fan, therefore, I’m left wanting to fold into myself and my wounds because I don’t feel deserving of the comfort or the peace and good emotions that others can provide me.  I think it is also why during those times my intuition can sometimes become muffled, and thus I need to work on allowing myself not just my spiritual moments but a connection to them and my intuition…. especially during “tower moments” when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

DECK USED:  TRIONFI DELLA LUNA

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_0703The Carousel

Christmas cuteness
comes early
this year
with shimmering
glass balls
and lights
that sparkle
on fake fir trees.
Tinkling music
draws the eye
to delicate artistry
as Santa’s sleigh
slides by.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Last Harvest 2020 – Samhain

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Coming up on October 31st is the third and Last Harvest of the 2020 autumn season.  Although this holiday (which is also known by most as Halloween and by many as Samhain) is celebrated around the world by those that embrace the rich history of many traditions that originated in Paganism, most don’t realize that is what they are doing… or that this holiday carries special significance not just as the day before the Day of the Dead when the veil is at its thinnest between our world and those that have passed.

In my path, the last harvest is not just a time to remember our loved ones that have passed on, and reach out to them more easily… it is also a day that marks the end of the harvest season as well as the year’s cycle as a whole. The earth has gifted us with her abundance throughout the spring, summer, and fall and now settles in to rest through the colder months ahead.

Samhain Tarot Reading - The Last Harvest

Like with new moons and full moons, I usually do a spread to check in with myself and give myself some direction for the next couple of months for each solstice, equinox, and other Sabbats. This spread is an adaptation of my Self Care Saturday spread, so there are sure to be  some similarities in how it is read. The focus of this spread, though, is not about Self Care, but rather about progress and my path. The time period is also longer, reaching through the next handful of weeks until the celebration of the upcoming Winter Solstice (aka. Yule) in December.

Theme of the Season – Samhain, Owl, Singing Moon – Samhain is a time when the veil is at its thinnest. It is a time to reconnect with and honor the earth and her stories. As the land gives up the last of her bounty and prepares to rest in the cold months ahead, it is important to honor all that has been offered.

The Owl is a warning of struggles to come and a reminder to keep our eye on the prize.  It’s with the owl’s keen hunter’s instinct and sharp precision that the owl leads you forward through chaos, and is there to keep you on track along the way.

The Singing Moon is a reminder to examine your path and your goals, and evaluate if they are still what you want or if there is a better opportunity you’ve been neglecting for goals that no longer suit you. You can stay the path if that’s what works, but don’t be afraid to roll the dice if it isn’t.  Just keep in mind that small changes in the present can have far reaching repercussions.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that is seen here is one of chaos and focus on one’s values and goals.  Don’t allow the chaos to steer you off track, but at the same time, make sure that you are on the path that is right for you and not an empty echo of some past goal that no longer applies.

Earth – The Empress – You’ve done pretty well over the past few months at taking care of yourself, but in the months ahead you’re going to have to make a more focused effort at providing yourself with what you need.  That means making sure you’re getting out for walks in the woods and feeding yourself healthier food so that you can physically withstand what’s coming.

Air – Six of Pentacles – Share and share alike applies to more than just the spoils, but also the work load. Make sure you are mapping out and planning what needs done and who is going to do it so that you don’t end up shouldering too much on your own shoulders. Good planning will help you better distribute the weight of responsibility you feel.

Water – Knight of Cups atop High Priestess – You’ve done really well at going after what you want concerning the new emotional growth you’ve been fostering over the past few months.  To keep that alive on the path forward through the next couple of months, make sure that you are allowing you intuition to lead.  Don’t tuck it away and let it get rusty, but instead actively participate in keeping it in the loop, and your emotions as well.

Fire – Ace of Wands – Vroom Vroom baby. Pick up that torch and set fire to the world.  The girls need your inspiration and fiery spark to set their own enthusiasm ablaze.  Show them just how infectious your enthusiasm can be using creative ideas to get them involved more.

Waning – Nightingale Spirit atop Badger Spirit – Don’t be so damned pushy right now. It’s good to involve the girls and to find ways for them to take their share, but you need to do it from a place of love and light, not through stress and demands.  A little more honey, a lot less vinegar.

Waxing – Flamingo Spirit – Creativity is rising and opportunities are on the way.  The Flamingo is here to remind you to be fully in the present.  Learning from the past and planning for the future is all well and good, but it’s the present that needs your full attention right now. Trust that the future will be there for you to deal with later on. This includes needing to get your ass back into daily meditation, as that meditation helps you to more easily stay grounded in the present.

Take Away – There’s a hint of kudos in how I’ve done at accomplishing my newfound goals this year.  The key here is that chaos is coming and in order to move through it smoothly I’m going to need to make sure I keep my gaze unerringly on the prize.   Not by looking forward into the future, but by bearing down on the present and taking everything one day at a time, one hour at a time.  There is also a reminder that I’m the one in the lead between the three of us, and in order to make sure things go smoothly concerning distribution of the responsibilities, I need to make sure I lead with kindness and inspired enthusiasm.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

Morning Bonus Read – Scorpio Season Tarot Spread

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Scorpio Season Spread - Terrestrial Tarot

Ways in which my life will be profoundly transformed.
Earth (Ace of Pentacles)

This season is filled with manifestation and abundance for me, which is not surprising since the holiday rush starts in just another week or so.   The Ace of Pentacles in this position indicates that even though I’ve been feeling like sales have been slow and dismal, that there is opportunity coming and I just need to be ready for it.

Deep soul desires that may resurface for attention.
Queen of Cups

Again, we see the influence of the holiday rush in this card.  With that time nearly in my lap now, I’m going to be feeling the need for some emotional reassurances coming up as my emotional growth is delegated to the back seat (but, carefully not buried).

Shadow aspect that may emerge from the depths.
The Founded Power (Ten of Wands)

My habit of allowing myself to be overburdened and overwhelmed is also nipping right on my heels and trying to reassert itself. This is an unhealthy habit that I’m doing my best to break, but during the holiday rush a good deal of overwhelm comes with the territory no matter how much balance I try to instill into the process.

Major cycle(s) that are coming to a close.
Unity (The World)

My feelings of unity with the universe are coming to a close. I have, over the end of the summer and the lions share of the fall, slowly been starting to feel new connections happening.  New connections to my emotions, to my ancestors and guides, and to my spirituality as well.  I had been stumbling about lost for a bit, then found my footing and with it that connection.  Now, with the rush and all that coming, that feeling of connected completion is sadly out the window and will have to be found again once the holiday rush is over.

Soul-aligned beginnings / opportunities that will open up.
Authority (Four of Swords) atop Three Forked Road (Three of Swords)

The cards here indicate that I’m going to have the opportunity this Scorpio season to see just how taking control and incorporating rest and recovery into my work can help me from falling into that big black pit of depression.

DECK USED: TERRESTRIAL TAROT

Not All “New” Ideas Are Good Ideas

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was a quiet non-guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches. I really just needed a little peace, and I felt that the guided meditation, or even a bit of music, would feel like a bit too much over-stimulation.

Tarot of Haunted House - Ace of SwordsToday’s draw is the Ace of Swords, which traditionally is a representation of new ideas, the beginning of educational pursuits, and ambition.

What stands out to me in this card is the position of the hand that is holding the knife. In this position, it is poised to press down and slice which indicates to me that this is a prime position for suicide.

Not all new ideas are good ideas.

When I was younger I had a whole lot of suicidal ideation. In fact… I had a whole lot of suicidal urges. It wasn’t just ideas and it wasn’t just daydreams and it wasn’t just thoughts. It was an overwhelming urge that visited me again and again, whether I was in the middle of a clinical depression or not. It was something my brain would just not let go of, a longing I couldn’t seem to release.

I’d like to say that love was the answer to this issue, but it wasn’t. Things really changed for me when Prozac came into my life in my 20s, and slowly but surely, the urges began to fade… and then the thoughts followed suit.

Now, as I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize that my life is precious. I want to live a long life, and I want to enjoy every minute of it. And when the end comes, I’m going to be sad about that. These are the realizations that came and developed over time once the suicidal ideation was finally moved out of the way.

I can’t say that the suicidal thoughts don’t come back… because they do. Prozac helps keep me balanced and level, but it doesn’t prevent the occasional major depressive episode from sneaking in. During those times the world looks a lot different and the urges to end my life come back, and I have to remind myself that the depression is only temporary and an illusion. What I’m feeling at those times is a lie.

Not all new ideas are good ideas.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF HAUNTED HOUSE

LionHart’s #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonOfTheWitchChallenge Prompt
Question: Trick – What have I learned this month?

Grim Tarock

Reading Summary: This month I have learned that entertaining addictions (The Dark Lord) for too long leads to a deconstruction of stability and old values (The Tower).  But, you can counteract that with patience and moderation (Temperance) which then leads to reigning in chaos to your advantage (Nine of Citadels atop Knight of Chaos).

Take Away: This isn’t only about deck collecting, which I need to slow down on for a bit as it is a bit of a drain on the finances.  But there’s other addictions here too.  Issues with eating unhealthy foods, with retreating into myself, skipping my meditations, and not getting the time in nature and exercise I need.   All of these things boil down to the addictions and temptations that are, when allowed to go on too long unrestrained, unhealthy for me.  At the top of this list is my self destructive urge, as well, and that is also a problem as it’s what drives so many of my other bad habits and allowances towards excess.

Moderation (which I admit is not my strongest of skills) is the key to the whole mess, of course. With moderation, I can then get a reign on that chaos so ready to run out of control and bring it to heel and benefit me instead of becoming destructive.

DECK USED:  GRIM TAROCK

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Does one’s name influence the person they become?

Ludy Lescot TarotReading Summary: A name can absolutely be a factor in leading the way in one’s life (Eight of Cups), especially if someone is not secure in themselves and have stability in their life (Four of Wands). It’s something that we carry with us throughout our lives (The World). But ultimately, there is an uncountable number of factors that influence the people we become, and it’s just one of the many (Seven of Cups).

Take Away:  A person’s name can influence who they become, but it is only one in a vast number of influences that make up the whole of a person’s development, and a rather small influence at that as long as the person has a good foundation beneath their feet and a solid surroundings and home life to lean into so that such things don’t take up too much of their focus.

DECK USED:  LUDY LESCOT TAROT

#MysticStarChallenge October Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I nurture myself to strengthen my relationship with my Guides?

Curio Tarot

Reading Summary: Be kind with yourself (Queen of Cups), and pick a direction (Two of Wands) for your expertise to grow into (Eight of Pentacles). Keep hope alive in your head and heart, and work on your optimism (The Star).

Take Away:  Nurturing myself with kindness and working on my optimism are repeating themes in my cards, and things that I truly need repeated reminders to keep up on.  The center cards about picking a direction for my expertise to grow into is an interesting addition, and something I need to turn over in my mind for a bit.  It’s good advice, it’s just not something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.  I’ve so long been a man of many skills that picking an expertise and a direction… even while making excellent sense? Feels weird to consider.

DECK USED:  CURIO TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What cards represent my spiritual best?

Da Brigh Black Tarot

Queen of Spheres – Grounded and deeply rooted within that grounding. Filled with creativity and nurturing manifestation, the need to create and bring to life those things that are only thoughts is in my soul whether it is through the growth of plants, artistic pursuits, or the creation of jewelry.

Justice – My need for balance and fairness is an integral part of my moral compass.  I know that life is not fair, but I also know that even if the only fairness in the world comes from me?  I’m going to do my best to instill a level of fairness and balance into my life and, when possible, the lives of others as well.  It is needed.

King of Swords – My knowledge is extensive and diverse, and I have the ability to inspire others to seek knowledge on what inspires their curiosity as well. Leading by example, I delve into any subject that draws my interest and my focus, and although I am willing to share that knowledge with others, I’m also very much interested in pushing others to explore on their own as well.

DECK USED:  DA BRIGH BLACK TAROT