HELLO WITCHES Nº42

Last week was quite busy. It was nice to get settled and ready to work once more, even though I found myself smiling every time I thought back to the days in LA. In remembering those wonderful moments of exploration and emotive outings, I felt fueled to burn through the rest of the working days with vigor. When Friday came, I was still on hyper work mode, but it slowly churned into weekend mode once I went for dinner and cleared my mind a little.

The Hierophant and High Priestess side to side last week concerned my reflections on the public space of Samhain Moon. I asked myself how much is too much and what can be too personal to share online. I am naturally compelled to write this blog because it is a great learning tool, a digital grimoire in which I analyze my essence and break it down for anybody else who is curious to do the same. It isn't humanly possible to profile the viewers of a public space unless they make themselves known in the comments section, and that is not always the case. There needs to be enough material put out so that the blog remains a clear reflection of what is going on, but there is a limit also on what is okay to publish. I value my privacy very much and remain a private person even if my online persona is louder, but I don't think that it is something to be concerned about as much. As long as the experience is shared without revealing too much about my private self, I think I will be able to keep a good enough balance. There is a great 60% of details that I keep to myself and will continue to do so. It isn't to hold back by any means, but rather, a safety precaution that must be taken to ensure I'm not saying too much. In short, I don't think that Samhain Moon makes my life entirely public. I felt that it was important to note that today as we look back into the past week.

Things are back up to speed now, I feel really good about the rhythm my life has taken recently. In looking at the spread for this week, we have two apparent color schemes and moods. The week is broken up into two; first we have clear celebrations in the home. We have taken to really pamper ourselves with care and with good company, and as a result we find ourselves more productive and motivated to push forward with the rest of the things we have to do. From the look of Monday through Thursday, the party continues. After a brief interval of breathing room, we are presented with options that define the setup for the next week as one of options and of turning our back on something. Let's look deeper into it.



♡ Monday. Queen of Coins. There is no better way to start off the week than with this beautiful court card. She is the only one present throughout the week, so the focus is a little bit different. The focus is on comfort and on work. Working comfortably, in good spirit and with good food will be the way to prepare for a better week. I love the headdress on this card; everything about it is so lavish. It's not hard to feel this way when you truly take care of yourself.

♡ Tuesday. Nine of Cups. I love this card. The number is discretely placed on one of the pots up ahead. There are people sharing their experiences and a merry cup of wine at a table. It's a private party and a merry one where good news can be shared. I can see the cups being passed for everyone in rounds, and laughter produced from the merry moment. The fish in the very center stands out to me. It's an obvious reference to multiplied wealth, and in this case with the cups it is a multiplication of emotional wealth. Share the joy and the love, it's good to be cared for.

♡ Wednesday. Four of Wands. That is a setup for an empire if I ever saw one! It is a dream in the making, as pointed out by the night scape in the window of the threshold. It's a dream for settling down someplace that can only be constructed from hard work and dedication. It is worth working hard to reap the benefits of the battle. In this case, all the provisions are set and it's time to get to work.



♡ Thursday. Three of Cups. Look at that! The fruits keep on coming, and so do the cups. I feel really good about that sign, especially with the company. The Three of Cups is a card of celebrating, togetherness and good friendship. There is an interesting vase placed over the head of the woman in the middle. They all bring something different, but I have a feeling that the one in the middle is the most humble on the inside, even if the most adorned. Three gifts today, let's stay tuned to see which will be which.

♡ Friday. Carte Blanche. A sudden stop after such a crowded week. This looks like a breather, a day of being absent or a day of cooling down. It's the need to be alone and to take control of our own affairs. I do have a tendency to seek solitude and privacy after being around enough hustle and bustle for a few days. It is what we call the disconnect, or taking some time off to think and make plans. Adversely, it could be a day in which nothing turns out as planned.

♡ Saturday. Seven of Cups. Decisions, decisions. Sometimes things come in pairs, and we need to make the choice of which one we prefer over which. When we are tempted, we are coerced to deviate from things that we have planned out. I feel like there can be many things offered to us over the course of our lives, and the one we pick will be the one that defines where we go next.



♡ Sunday. Seven of Swords. Another Seven. In this case we see a boy stealing swords from a dormant place. He looks back with haste and carelessly drops two swords, the indication that he was there. He didn't cover up his tracks, he was quite careless. This is a possible theft of time or of space, but one that goes unnoticed until later. It is not the best day to confront any problems or to seek solutions, it's simply a time to watch.

♡ What to avoid. Four of Cups. Getting stuck or locked up in the house. It looks like the more we accept our condition, the less we can do about it. When we limit our world to the same four walls and the same space, we're not giving ourselves a chance to grow. We need to expand our horizons to be able to see further ahead.

♡ What to strive for. Ace of Cups. Look for caring, for understanding and for nurturing emotions. I feel this is a lot of fantasy, and possibly an optimistic sign. It is saying: drink, laugh, be merry. Enjoy things as they are in their simplest essence and don't question things until you're more sure about how things will go. This is an offer of love, a bond worth making and the promise that somewhere out there, there are similar sentiments being shared in the world. Dream wildly, make things happen for yourself.
I feel really good about this week in terms of where my life is going. The plans are falling into place and I have been able to visualize the way in which I am winding down the year (already!) I couldn't have done it without the support of my loving family and friends, it's really empowering when there is support coming from all sides.

Fun observation, we're almost at 50K hits! Thank you everybody!
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TRIP TO LOS ANGELES

Things are slowly gravitating back to normal. I had a wonderful time in LA, Niki introduced me to her workmates over at Nickelodeon Studios, which were all really quite nice and welcoming. We kicked the week off with a karaoke birthday bash and made our way up with nice dinners, adventures down at Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, and a hearty load of work to keep me occupied during the trip. Sometime during the middle of the week I had an interview for an internship with a company I really resonate with, I hope to be able to share more about that later. Let's keep those fingers crossed, this could be a truly enriching experience in a place that I love dearly.

I had the pleasure of seeing some of my closest college friends as well. I met them during my very first year in college, which happened to be the one with the most influential changes in my life. We may gravitate through different parts of the world, but I still harbor an immense care for all of them. It makes getting back together to catch up really sweet, that way we all have different stories and experiences to share with one another. I scrutinized them for details on how their move to LA went, as well as for the run down on their job hunts and how they feel after making the jump from Florida to California. Their responses were electric with encouragement and inspiration for the future. Saying good-bye is never easy, and I think this one took just a little over half an hour.

The trip culminated with the Muse: 2nd Law concert and Uniform Night at the Batcave. No trip to LA is complete without the deliciously decadent nightclub experience that you can enjoy amongst bats and ghouls. We had a wonderful time dancing on stage with the Go Go Bats and getting our picture taken at the photo booth. Muse was excellent; Matthew Bellamy really poured his soul out for us on stage. A nice quirk worth noting here about the concert is that mid way through, they have a roulette that chooses one song or another. We had the options of Stockholm Syndrome and Newborn. That made everyone go pretty wild, and was a nice feature I haven't seen at a concert before. The pyramid was also quite riveting. It had a series of visuals suggesting a trip through the brain as well as a delineation of the human senses: touch, taste and feel. I love bands that can string together a coherent concept and still manage to have amazing visuals for a show. Bravo, Muse!









The story behind this photo is quite emotive. I woke up to some sad news on Thursday that I wasn't able to wrap my head around completely. I finished up some work and then I headed out for a walk to Trader Joe's. On the way there, I saw a rose bush with only one that was floating all the way at the top. There was nothing around the area, just this desolate looking plant that gave off just the right feeling. I took it as a sign and snapped a photo of it, then admired it in silence. It has to be my favorite photo of the trip because it holds with it a lot of sentiment.

The rest of the day was spent in quiet preparation for the Muse concert. The 2nd Law tour really blew its fans away with the light show. Can you imagine that pyramid descending? In addition to the aforementioned, the pyramid showcased the members playing, the crowd, lyrics during Knights of Cydonia, and it flipped over so that it covered the members at the very went. It was a wild and absolutely fun concert experience.












I am super looking forward to going back there later during this year. I feel like my life is finally pushing me back out into the world, rather than keeping me in this quiet stage of internal reflection that I have been into. Sometimes we need a reminder that we aren't eternal to bring out the best parts of ourselves.
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NUMEROLOGY WITH TAROT

I want to show you how I find the overall theme for the month. It is done the same way we can find our life path number: through numerology. Instead of adding your month of birth with day and year of birth, you add it up as month, day and current year you are in. It is a fun exercise, and after trying it out on various friends, you can find that the challenges you are going through currently can and will relate to the cards that you are dealing with.

Add all of the numbers up until you get one number from 1 to 9. I often get some weird looks when I tell somebody how to do it, since it's much simpler than it sounds. In metaphysics and numerology, we don't employ mathematics the same way that an algebraic expression requires. I am sure the most skilled mathematician could find a numerical equation of greater length and process to arrive to this simple principle in order to explain it through science. However, it seems to me that would just be to complicate our existence after knowing that this simple method works.

This is a great exercise for all of those that question destiny and fate as they entwine. After comparing what you have been going through in previous years as I have been doing, you can see the highlights and shadows of your life as a complimentary reaction to numerology and magic. It can make a believer out of many and brings a new layer of understanding to our life as we see it. I want to show you how I do it so that you can do it for yourself and people you care about as well.

2012:
This year was a year of self-exploration and great learning. I familiarized myself with my tools and found the limits to my gifts. It is associated with the planet of skill, logic and intellect, which happens to be Mercury. This is the card of beginnings, which comes right after the Fool card. Thanks to the immense leap in 2011, I found new beginnings, bridged between the spirit and the human world. When you are finally in control of your skills, things flow better. Every message that comes through divinity can be channeled to manifest in our mundane world. As above, so below.


10 22 2012
1 4 2 1 2
5 2 3
10
1 THE MAGICIAN

2013:
The year is just starting out but I can see where it is going. I have been at peace with myself and everything that I learned from 2011 — 2012. This year is not so much about action or movement, it is about sitting still and watching others as they carry on with their lives and their karmic progress. It feels that way! In a way I feel detached from everything going on around me because I am not actively participating. Rather, I sit back with confidence and understanding. Something will prove the dominion of intuition and of psychic skill. I don't need anybody to approve of something that I know I earned by divine right.

10 22 2013
1 4 2 4
5 2 4
5 6
11
2 THE HIGH PRIESTESS

2014:
Obviously, being in the very beginnings of 2013, it is hard to project what could come in 2014. My lesson has not yet been learned, so I won't be able to understand the next step until I do. The Empress is ruled by Venus, the planet of love. Other than the obvious points of motherhood and nurturing people, this card points out a connection to the land. It is to understand one's role in the world and in the wealth that is provided to us. We all have just about what we need to survive and to be happy, even if we have to work hard for it. Today I get the sense of preparation for wholesomeness and comfort. I think also that it will mean a new-found appreciation for beauty and femininity, perhaps in a way that I haven't thought could be possible until this year.

10 22 2014
1 4 2 1 4
5 2 1 4
7 1 4
7 5
12
3 THE EMPRESS

J'S NUMBERS:


2012:
I will only say that this year revolved around J's challenges of getting a car as he transitioned out of college life. He got it! I want to note that this is seldom a war chariot, but rather, one of victorious celebration. It does certainly feel like a nice ride under the sun when you graduate even if you have to make elements flow harmoniously afterwards. It's good to celebrate!
04 16 2012
4 7 2 1 2
4 7 5
4 12
7 THE CHARIOT

2013:
It depends on which tradition of tarot you follow. If it is Thoth, it will be Justice rather than Strength. I personally find they go together, as one leads to another through various steps. However, the direction picked out here is clearly Rider-Waite Smith.
04 16 2013
4 7 2 1 3
4 7 6
1 7
8 STRENGTH / JUSTICE

2014:
04 16 2014
4 7 2 1 4
4 7 7
4 14
9 THE HERMIT

Try it out on somebody you care about. I tried it out on my boyfriend. What do you see happening for him? Please share in the comments section!
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THE MYSTICAL WORLD OF CIRO MARCHETTI

Ciro Marchetti is a graphic designer and illustrator devoted to painting a pretty picture that will jump start your imagination. He has found his niche in the divine and fantastic, trying to add in some elements of reality for credibility and personal resonance. His work speaks for itself with the immensity of its success. I don't doubt you have seen it displayed in the Gilded Tarot, the Legacy of the Divine Tarot, the Tarot of Dreams, the Oracle of Visions, and the Gilded Reverie Lenormand. What a line of work! I have collected them all. While his decks have been released in limited editions for collectors and fans, many of his works are available through Llewellyn for those on a budget. If you missed out on his print runs of Legacy of the Divine, you can still find the mass market one on shelves and on the internet. It's a great place to start!

I asked him a long time ago which of his own decks he prefers to read with. He said: Monica Laura, I don't read.... with any.... But if you want to know my favorite, its the Gilded, because that's how it all started, but on the other hand the Tarot of Dreams because that represented a more personal take on tarot imagery, then of course its should be the Legacy of the Divine because that was a platform to provide Tarot with a mythological context and rational for its origins and continued existence. But then again I have a soft spot for the Oracle of Visions because then I could do my own thing without having to worry about pre-existing traditions, rules and structure. But now, how can I not like the the Gilded Royale which allowed me to go back to the beginning and do it over again and hopefully better. So my favorite??? hmmm, let me think, I'll get back to you... — Ciro Marchetti

We just received word that a great visionary in the world of tarot and metaphysics has decided to retire his tarot artistry to pursue some new ventures. His Gilded Reverie is in the final print run and will go out of print once it is sold out. However, it is now available as an application for your iPhone or iPad. That's exciting! You can purchase it here. (this is not a paid advertisement!)


THE GILDED REVERIE LENORMAND:
The last installment to Ciro Marchetti's series of greatness is a 36 card deck known as a Lenormand. It's a combination of oracular cartomancy to bring you simple (or elaborate and intricate) readings. You can choose the spread that works best for your needs. The simplest spreads for the Lenormand are in pairs of two. I prefer pairs over just one card, since the one card is literally like a word in the sentence. You ask a question and your answer will be quite brief. With two complimenting or opposing cards, you can find a direction to go in or to avoid. It gives you a little more to work with, depending on your needs.

The point of learning the Lenormand — at least from what I have seen, — is to work with the Grand Tableau. It is an elaborate spread that contains all of the 36 cards of the deck. If your deck has extra cards, you could delight in adding them to bring a little extra magic to your readings. Ciro's creations are nice and can prove to be quite useful, but if you prefer the traditional 36 and nothing more, that's fine too.

There is so much versatility in this way and that. The leeway is due to the fact that the cards are quite versatile, and as he designed this deck, he thought to add two signifier cards for men and women. That's a lot of consideration for modern-day needs. Every reader can choose a traditional school or none at all. Throughout the years of Lenormand card study, I have seen others combine the school and add their own personal touch for readings that prove both riveting and enlightening. The point is to experiment until you find the method that is right for you.

The most appealing aspect of the Gilded Reverie Lenormand is the way that it was rendered. It comes with Ciro Marchetti's signature style: vivid colors, minuscule details complimented with fine lighting. It  has fantastical elements mixed in with reality. It's just a new way to look at Ciro's artwork. He chose not to depict a simple tree or a plain coffin even though many insisted that is how Lenormand works. He said there would be no point in making a Lenormand if he couldn't add some of his own ideas to the plethora that already exists, and while many argued about it, I think the end result is quite beautiful. All he had to do was shut out people's contradictory opinions and focus instead on the masterpiece he was making.

It is worth noting that I followed the progress of the Gilded Reverie ever since it was in the beginner stages. I participated in the dialogue every time he posted a round of three options to choose from. He always mixed and matched, and listened to what people had to say about his work. A lot of times there were heated conversations amongst admirers. They are very aware of what works and what doesn't according to them in a Lenormand deck and were more than willing to share the wealth of their knowledge. I think Ciro's style was cut out for the Lenormand all along. It takes a system that is simple and that works and adds a little modern beauty to it. That is exactly what we needed. My biggest contribution to the deck was in recommendations for the number placement / look!



DECK INTERVIEW:



♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Tower. A big business or established project. It's hard for a tower to expand, so it does have its boundaries or its restrictions. This shows the culmination of a project, as the cherry on top. It popped up unexpectedly but took the world of cards by storm.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Birds. How chatty! Birds are a conversation established. It can be fast paced and excited, maybe a little jittery and nervous. It could be gossip or it could also be chatting through social networks. A common interpretation could be text messages or Twitter, depending on what it is combined with.

♡ What are your limits?
Letter. Letters can be ornate but they can also be quite simple. It stresses the fact that it delivers a message, but the message needs somebody to deliver it. This card is very literally a piece of paper that has a message, but if combined with the book card can be a diary or a secret that is being delivered. Like a letter, it is a very intimate dialogue.


♡ What are you here to teach me?
Fish. Capitalize! The fish are a great signifier for work. This is my line of work, — and I love it! —It is a big investment for a means of finance, but it looks like once the technique is mastered, it can be used as a powerful tool.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Stars. Quite literally drawing connections and networking. This card stands for lucidity, psychic development, wishes, metaphysics, astrology, and the zodiac. Stars are seen as hope in the tarot and light, it could also be literally a night sky or stars.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Book. Secret for now. Books are content written, and I feel that it could mean to journal about the development of the relationship. It can also represent school or higher education, which is a very personal approach of mine towards the tarot and oracles surrounding it. The Lenormand is another school of divination; one I am very comfortable with and learning with speed. Write a book about it, publish something! Yes sir!


♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Dog. A loyal friend. This card is heart-warming. I would not say it is the most beautiful one, but I can admit that it is sweet. It can be a faithful person or quite literally a pet. I take this to be a good sign that I can work with this deck and that we will get along just fine... unlike a certain deck I interviewed not too long ago.

♡ How do you see me?
Sun. Success! So much light and warmth that comes from the sun. When you enjoy what you do, it really shows in yourself and in the others you contaminate with your joy. It is the brilliance of light as it stretches through the sky, through a place. It looks like a great card to signify, even though I like to stick to the Moon.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Clock. This is one of Ciro Marchetti's personal contributions to the Lenormand. It's quite kooky, but it is a vessel that chimes at a certain time. It could just be a measure of progress and how long it takes, but it could also note a vivid alarm or wake-up call.



I really enjoy reading with these cards. They're so big that you can appreciate the luscious images in detail, plus they have 4 new cards that aren't available anywhere else, as they are of Ciro's creation — he humorously mentioned he thought that we would use them as coasters. I do recommend reading them with the spread cloth featuring the corresponding houses of the Grand Tableau. It is an old system, but one that works and doesn't need much changing... unless of course, we decide to add the 4 extra cards on either side of the destiny line at the bottom. Mary K. Greer was telling us in Lenormand Cards Study that she uses the 4 extra cards in the following way:

I just created a new way to use the four extra cards. An old cartomancy tradition calls for a set of "wish cards" that are read separately (usually 3). I decided to shuffle the four cards and lay them in a line. Their position tells us something about the whole spread. From left to right:

☆ 1st: what's most important? (for instance, Mask could suggest that the 'masked' Houses are extra important).

☆ 2nd: an obstacle - something that could get in the way of a clear interpretation or resolution.

☆ 3rd: hidden wisdom, a teaching.

☆ 4th: moving on (Time indicates patience: it will take time before things will be resolved; Mask would say something significant in the future is still unknown; Dice - take a random chance; Bridge - Yes, now's the time to move on).


So much beauty! Would you like me to explain how I read the Lenormand in a GT? I'd love to share.
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TAROT CARDS NOT RESPONDING?

You pull out a few decks of cards and your eyes dart from one to the other. "No, not today." ... "Trusty Vertigo, I'm looking for something new," ... "So pretty, but so cold with me." I couldn't find the right fit. I wasn't feeling any of my favorite decks, which does not happen often. I miss that electric feeling of feeling a deck calling, or being curious about a deck and finding that the cards sing when you lay them down. My mental perception and the intuitive approach I usually try was crossed, there was nothing coming through and I started to feel stressed out. We can't always have an electric day!

I understand what is happening quite well. There is so much pressure to deliver a new message every time that we get upset if we can't deliver. It makes us doubt our ability over and over until we feel like quitting or taking an indefinite break. Nothing breaks something like a hiatus does, and if you're ever thinking of taking one — don't! It's so bad for you. Take a vacation instead, but every time I see the word hiatus pop up I say to myself, "well, its been swell. Time to move on." It shows a lack of compromise, and it can put even the most loyal readers off. Just take a vacation!

You can't force it if you don't feel it. Maybe you should just put the cards away and spend some time clearing your mind until you're ready to get back to business. The pressure of always wanting to be an open channel can sometimes close up our intuition and dull the senses so that we're not really getting anything from what we're looking that. It's uncomfortable and feels a little shameful, but there's not much more we can do about that until the dry spell is past.

Sometimes it's just not in you or in the cards, and that's okay. Have a chocolate or two. Accompany it with wine, champagne or sparkling wine. Whatever fits you best!



POINTERS TO GETTING OVER A TAROT DRY SPELL:
☆ Treat yourself to something nice. Maybe you're not connecting with your go-to deck because you're connecting with another one on your wishlist instead. Sometimes it's okay to splurge a little if you're investing in a habit that makes you feel you're doing something productive. (Ask my ninety-something deck collection...) If you're not crazy for cards, go get a massage, watch a movie or add a comic or manga book to your collection.

☆ Take some time off for yourself. Turn off that t.v! If you don't watch t.v. that much, turn it on! Get lost in a book for a few hours, flip through a magazine or do your nails. Not thinking about it could be the reset or refresh that you need.

☆ Get a bite to eat. It doesn't matter if it's substantial or not, you just need a little something to fuel your system. Treat yourself to something you have had cravings for. You can't run on no fuel!

☆ Read a blog about tarot. There are so many out there! My favorites are Prince Le Normand, My Curious Cabinet, Biddy Tarot, The Princess and the Sea, 78 Whispers, and 78 Notes. I can't tell you enough how many times one of these portals has jump started me into spiritual awareness. Nothing pries the third eye open like online exercise or experience being shared. You can appreciate different styles and cultural backgrounds and get some dialogue started. Perfect!

☆ Write your own blog about tarot. That's what Samhain Moon is for, anyway! If a tarot blog is not for you, why not keep a diary about tarot? You can use tarot for affirmations or for self-exploration. What better way to work off a rut than by writing about it?

☆ Have a friend read tarot for you. I don't recommend lending your cards because that's a very personal bond you work to establish, but if you have a friend that is into tarot as well, you guys could meet up and talk about it. Maybe your friend has some tips to share about how to get over the intuitive dry spell.

☆ Make a tarot playlist. Make a playlist for every tarot mood there is!

☆ Get a professional reading. There are many options both in person and on the internet.

☆ Do something other than tarot. Take the way or the week off. I couldn't live without it for a month, but y'know... it works differently for everyone.

When you're a professional in the field, you can get easily burnt out by the pressure of always being an open channel of divine messages. Let's be realistic here, our feelers can get crossed as well. It's natural! Don't be hard on yourself if you're starting to feel as if your feelers are not exactly up to speed. On the contrary, be thankful that you have a gift in the first place and pamper yourself with love. At some point you're going to feel refreshed and ready to get back to the grind. When we limit ourselves, we wither quickly.

Your tarot cards stop working for a day or two because you're tired or burnt out, not because there's no magic left in them. It isn't that the cards no longer work for you or that the connection is severed. As the reader, you're the one making the cards come to life with your intuition and your skill. You're the one with the magic, so don't make the mistake of giving up too early.




Give yourself a chance.
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