MARSEILLE TAROT PLAYING CARDS

This project excites me. So much in fact that I needed to write about it. Ryan Edward of Inset Cards and Curiosities is bringing something major to the table of cartomancy: a fusion of playing cards and the Marseilles Tarot. The two are often read much the same way you'd read tarot, but there is a whole other school of learning that treats these pip cards as a system. The Hedgewytch Method, or cunning folk system is the one I practice... I practice the the Playing Card Oracles system by Ana Cortez, but that's a story for another day.

It is said that this deck will be published in a limited, hand-painted edition this coming May. The mass market edition is said to come in 2018. That's quite a wait! But for now, these beautiful photos can hold us over. I found out about this deck through Camelia Elias' blog Taroflexions. She teaches us how to read tarot like the devil, and I love her books and blog.







Do you love cards as well? The slight bend of the paper and how crunchy it feels when you shuffle the cards. The sound of the paper as you riffle shuffle. The familiar faces looking back out at you, or conversing among themselves. The play of light and shadow caused by the environment and by the reflection of other objects placed on the table. The reflections of light on the table.

The mirror that reflects your insides as well as what happens outside of you.

I love cards. I love them madly. Interacting with them and offering my services sprinkles purpose into my life.

I appreciate the process work as it is depicted in the photo. There is great care put into the little details, and that's something that I'm very passionate about in my interactions with cards. It is precisely those little details that end up suggesting nuances in readings. It's the most rewarding thing!

Even though the launch date is still a while away, I am really looking forward for this deck to come out. Sometimes it's the little details that grasp us.






I appreciate that these cards seem to be hand painted and hand lettered. Analog illustrations retain nuances in strokes that I haven't been able to replicate with digital tools. The color washes are very appealing. I can't wait until this deck is published! The modernized woodblock style is one that appeals directly to my interests. I always prefer the vintage to the current. The nostalgia of those times that have passed graces me with a profound appreciation for these aged trinkets. And then there is the notion of aging it all on your own, through use and mutual experiences.

Preorders are scheduled to start next week at some point, fingers crossed. Until then, I am dreaming of this deck. This hybrid was a necessary missing link, and now that there is this variety accessible, we can do anything.

Perhaps I will even be motivated to pick up a drafting pencil and work on my own deck. Its been on and off for years, and despite my best effort I can't seem to get it to work. But for now, there are ther cards to read. More embodiment to concepts sparked by the love of cartomancy and tarot.



These photos are compliments of Ryan Edward's social media pages. View his Instagram, Inset shop and Twitter. I hope that you have enjoyed being introduced to these cards as much as I did. They're beautiful cards!
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DISTANT PAST TAROT

Card decks that move me profoundly are the ones I keep in my purse and on my decks for years. With great joy I write to tell you that I found one of those decks for myself today. The Distant Past Tarot!

Cerulean and emerald jewel tones delight my eyes and soothe the path from one card to the next. I can put their stories together because they are evocative, expressive and read seamlessly. Oh yes, this is the kind of deck you can work with right after opening and shuffling. Spend some time thinking about the question, and the first time you put your cards out on the table they sing. No need to spend some time getting acquainted with the deck and giving it time to soak up your vibes. It’s instant, like love at first sight. I’m hooked!

Readings with this deck have a warm, albeit nostalgic feeling to them. I feel I am getting to know new personalities that will be giving me advice as time goes on. I feel drawn to personify them and to imagine what they would say to me if we crossed paths. This deck is being housed in one of my Wyldechilde Creations pouches. The colors go really well together and the dupioni silk lining the inside of the pouch has the most beautiful shade of teal. I'm getting the feeling this will be a great pair for inner emotional work and healing.

The card stock is buttery and sturdy linen playing card stock. I appreciate the fineness of the paper. You can bend them this way and that without warping them too much, and so they will hold up to use for years without deteriorating at an increased pace. This promises longevity and many happy years reading. If you are like me and burn through the pristine condition of your cards because you use them for work, then this deck is definitely for you!



A new workhorse to love and wear down. I am so excited to use them for my daily draws and to use them when I am on the go. I know they will impress and delight my querents because they are simply gorgeous. They have already made an impression on many Tumblr users that have spotted them being used.

I ended up selling the poker size and purchasing a standard tarot size because I had to focus so much to see the cards. They weren't legible enough for me and were going to cause problems with my eyesight. Heads up, though. I suggest you be really sure of the size you choose when you place your order. The artist behind this deck is not warm and did not give me decent customer service. She was actually dry and impersonal. I've never had this negative experience with a deck creator before, where they don't really extend themselves to you if you're not happy with your order. She didn't try to solve my problem. Even though this deck is gorgeous and I'd love to get a backup copy, I won't be doing it because I don't want to endorse the unpleasant seller. I'd much prefer to get the backup copy secondhand from someone else, though.

EDIT: A little while back Jeri Totten actually contacted me about this review.

I don't know if she was trying to get me to change my review on her or not, but she said exactly the same thing in her follow up e-mail that she said to me when I contacted her about my issue. I kid you not, word by word it was the same excuse. I asked her why she bothered writing at all when she had the exact same thing to say and then never heard back. So the customer service remains dismal. If you're just going to justify bad customer service, don't contact me about this review at all. I'm not impressed or amused by the redundancy, and frankly it doesn't change my opinion one bit. I owe my blog my most honest opinion. After so many glowing reviews, there had to be something that would eventually happen to me that would not be so great. I have a right to be as transparent in my blog as I am being.

While you may disagree with me, my experience was a negative one. She didn't extend herself to me or make me feel like a valued customer. After the excellent service I receive from the Baba Studio and other independent deck creators, I know when I am not cared for as a customer that got a product that wasn't suitable.. It did not make up for my trouble to pass the deck on  at all, which I was able to do but still took time I did not need to spend from me.

EDIT 01/20/2020:I'm really bitter about my customer service experience with Jae Larson Designs. To this date I have refused to purchase the Second Nature Tarot or to get a backup copy of the Distant Past tarot because I cannot forgive this seller for our situation with the Distant Past Tarot. Whenever people ask me what the name of the deck is, I tell them I don't know. I feel I have claimed the deck for my own and will use it until its lost, but I still wouldn't endorse her.

With that said, the cards themselves are gorgeous and we can't tie the negative entity with the glowing work. I intend to throw away the title card and attribute the cards to claim their own tarot deck name eventually.

But for now, let's read some cards.






♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Queen of Cups. This deck is dominated by blue hues, connecting it visually to emotion and introspective intuition. Think carefully, internalize the message and then deliver it with grace and compassion. Let this be your archetypal guide helping you forward and helping you connect with such a sacred tool.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Seven of Wands. Conflicts are directly addressed, and so are your choices. Anything that can help save you from the stress of the situation will be emphasized, but in times of stress you need to be connected to all your senses as well as quick on your feet. You don’t always count on the luxury of time to do what you need to do.

♡ What are your limits?
Five of Swords. There are times when no matter what you do, you are contradicted. Things don’t work out. Please remember that some things in life are in your control. Others are simply not. What you do have control over you certainly can influence, and what you have no control over you will just have to let go.


♡ What are you here to teach me?
The Moon. Connect to your intuition through all of the senses. Use your gift of sight to see beyond what is portrayed, into the world of departed souls and energy manifesting itself. Harness the divinity to help yourself see past the veil of the impossible and into some really amazing cosmic sights. Enlist your third eye.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Knight of Coins. Proceed at a steady pace, and try to be protective of those things in your control. Guard your posture and expression when you deliver the message. Be aware that others will not be viewing through the veils with you, which is why it is important for you to still be able to articulate mundane messages channeled through divine means. Digest the message and feed it to your sitters with clarity and precision.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Ace of Cups. True love and compassion generated to share with others, as well as your inner self. Spread the love and help others get started better understanding their feelings and impulses.


♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Seven of Swords. Trickery and good-natured pranks. Or are they? Don’t be fooled by the beautiful imagery. This deck packs a bite. Stay vigilant so you don’t miss anything directed at you.

♡ How do you see me?
Nine of Cups. Entering a happy period in your life, where you have everything you need. And then some. Amused by the surprises and the blessings life has started steadily bringing your way. Light of heart and soon light of soul as well.

♡ How do you see yourself?
King of Coins. Well groomed and opulent in image as well as presence. This archetypal correspondence signifies a well thought out deck with enough substance and assurance to help anyone venturing the spiritual and mundane realms tune in. The rewards are great, enjoy the journey.



Looking forward to breezy spring days with tea, flowers and magic.
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MOON BUNNY

I woke up this morning to a text message from my stunning friend Nati, linking me to these Moon Bunny earrings from Morphe Jewelry. They're so pretty! The perfect concept.

You may remember the brand from this post in which I gushed about the Wandering Star ring in rose gold, with sapphires. This ring is symbolic of a promise to myself, to love myself first and to prioritize what is in my best interest. It is a reminder that even though I've gotten lost a few times, I find my way back to the light and to my true purpose in life. My journey has been one like any other, with ups and downs. But it has been my trajectory through life and because of that, it is meaningful to me.

ours is the light by which my spirit’s born:
yours is the darkness of my soul’s return
— you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars

— E. E. Cummings quote “you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars...”

This was Sofia Ajram's inspiration for the Wandering Star ring. It's so romantic! It fits the bill of self-love and of being on a spiritual journey, and this is how I've tailored the concept of the ring to a personalized symbol. As it so happens, I am halfway done paying for it and have been dreaming of it. But now these earrings have come up, and I have my heart set to order a pair as well. Ahh, give me a break! My wallet needs a breather. Lol




These earrings speak to my spirit. I harbor a deep fondness for rabbits, an obsession that has brought them to embody my brand logo. My dream life consists of having a white rabbit with pink eyes hopping in my garden while I drink tea in the mornings. Her name is Vanilla, and she wears a red ribbon around her neck. In the morning, I draw daily cards and go over playing card tableaus. Therein, I gave into the inner mirror and find where my life is going. There is music playing in the background, and there are tarts on the table. My journal lies open on the table, set to the today page.

This is pretty much the future I have been working towards for myself. It's probably going to be a long time before I can find a space with a garden and the commitment to a place to not travel back and forth too much, but this is essentially my life goal. To have my own space and to live a quiet life with my pet rabbit. I will take to being a full time fortune teller for the rest of my life if I can still continue to sustain myself doing it. If not, then I will likely have to improvise. But that time hasn't come yet.

Do you have any plans for your future that involve a dreamed up scenario? I feel like not everybody whose path I cross has such a defined idea. But in the end, we all know more or less which life direction we want to go in. There are parameters defined as to the environment and the state of mind we wish to be in, provided we also have the right people around us to share those intentions with. It's all a work in progress, as every life path is long winding and by no means perfect. For now, we dream.



Would you like to share some of your future dreams with me? I'm curious to know what my readers are working towards at this point in time.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CARDS

Cards, what have you got for me today?

The Hope — The Question — The Lady of Faith

The mirror reflects outwardly what is happening inside. A rainbow prism highlights an outside presence gracing me with light. My faith is restored and I seek my own answers within, crowned by logic and perception.

The struggles of the shadows past are left behind. So then starts the journey of asking questions and receiving the answers through divine means.

This is part of maturing, letting go and embracing an absence of color. Only those who look within are able to see and feel that color still there, inside themselves.

Answers come when we most need them to. We just need to shield ourselves from the loud opinion of those who aren’t involved and don’t matter. Answering the call of spirit.

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SAME CARD POPPING UP?

Do you have a tarot card that chases you throughout your readings?

We’ve all been there.

You shuffle the cards thoroughly in between readings or even pick up a different deck. You’ve been at it a while and so you finally cut and deal. Sure enough, there it is winking back at you. Emphasis. You know the card well, but why is it popping up so often and what is it trying to get you to pay attention to?

Well, there’s a way to figure that out. I’m going to talk about one of the many ways you can do it.

Shuffle the deck and think about the card that is stalking you. Ask, “What is [the stalker card] trying to tell me?”

When you feel like you are done shuffling, put the deck on the reading space with the card faces up. This means that the backs of the cards lie against the table. Fan the deck out and look for your stalker card. Take it out with the two cards surrounding it. Clear the deck from the table and keep only the five cards in front of you.

The card that has been following me lately has been the Queen of Wands. I am using it for this exercise.




King of Hearts — Ten of Coins — Queen of Wands — Three of Wands — Death

The one true love has built a castle to the Queen of Wands in the past. After some time, that all flopped.

That’s the gist of the situation, but let’s go closer.

I don’t identify with this Queen. She is nothing like me. Where I am analytical and quiet, she announces herself when she arrives. She is the life of the party and I am a wallflower. I can admire her for her seductive qualities, as I admire most of the women I cross. This one calls out for attention.

Who is her King of Hearts? Not my King. I’ve had a history with her corresponding King, the King of Wands. Now I tend to gravitate towards men better suited to me, the King of Swords, or signifiers from the Major Arcana. They are the ones that are quiet and serious, with a penchant for learning and thinking. At times I even have the King of Coins pop up in my readings. But no, this is the King of Cups. He’s a suitor. I spurn him with my lack of interest. He builds castles, I destroy them because I’m not interested.

My cards are telling me to be like the Queen of Wands and use charm. It’s telling of my life in the present time. I’ve made conscious efforts to come out of my shell and socialize. In doing so, I am trying to override my introverted nature. So far it is paying in dividends, and I feel like I am making quality friends.

The cards have spoken and I understand their secret language. Time passes slowly in my life and I rarely ever leave my living quarters, I feel as if I am always waiting for change and now I am the one causing the change. Even if I don’t identify with this Queen, I am acting accordingly to her behavior.  I also get the feeling it’s a person in my life, and that would make sense also. But I will respect her privacy and not talk about her.

To further add to this exercise, I looked for my own signifier to see what is happening around her and to see if my cards interact with these cards I pulled for the stalker card. And why not? I love cards.


Princess of Swords — Six of Coins — Queen of Swords — King of Swords — Ten of Wands

You see? There you have him, looking straight at me while I look into myself. Grounded and in the present. Butterfly emphasizing my open crown chakra, which channels all the messages in my life. I am a seeress, and a damn sharp one after 16 years of divining and some working with the spirits.

I have the thought that the story above could be the story between the King of Swords and I. It all ends with a 10.

Starting out, there are thoughts to work on the interaction. With all responsibilities, the effort goes into priorities, leaving both the users spent. Energy is a finite source, and you need to replenish it

Additionally, there are questions you can use with this layout.

STALKER CARD INTERVIEW:
♡ Why is this card stalking me?
♡ What is the relevance of this card in my life?
♡ Am I projecting a quality of this card?
♡ What can I do to confirm I have received the message?
♡ Outcome

Mystery solved. Message received.

If you want your relationships to those closest you to flourish, make time for them and let them feel a part of your life.

If you’re still hungry for more information…

For situations where I want to read it as a story, I’ll use the stalking card as a starting point and read all the cards under it. The ones to the right of the card. To understand how the circumstance got to this, I’ll go back to the left side about 10 cards up and read downwards. This provides context.

Now try it yourself and let me know how it goes.
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