SPIRIT SPEAKS ORACLE

I got this deck over the holiday season. Carol Herzer had just put them up in her Divine Sparks of Light page, and I picked up two sets. I waited anxiously for them to arrive, and when they did, I celebrated them. Since then, I've been using them in medication or looking through them as a collector does his prized possessions. You may remember Carol from my Mystic Shadows review, as well as Dark Crystal Rose and Illuminated Tarot review. All of these decks are used regularly and bring me much joy.

As I am thumbing through the cards, new faces come out to greet me. I am meeting new entities that look nothing like all the other ones I’ve met before. Some feel like they will become friends, while others feel like they yield important tests and lessons. This deck has a special quality to it in that it creates sacred spaces and experiences that you can have within the cards. The cards are portal to someplace out there.

These decks are completely handmade. Hand cut, hand painted. I love that about them! The backs are in silver paint with iridescence and with glitter. This means they come alive at night with the lights on, or in candlelight.

Silver means the moon, intuition and the feminine aspects of yourself. It signifies tranquility and understated confidence in dreams, and that is completely appropriate for dealing with entities not from this world. They fan out nicely, and I like that the hues in the back are close but not exact. They have the same value, but the different brush strokes and glitter applications bring the backs to life. I love that about them.



The cards have no names and no instructions. This is a deck that will be used purely by intuition. I mean to photograph them, print them out and put them in my journal so I can name them. I will be giving them upright and reverse descriptions and names, as they come to me from use. There are two decks, so there will be many names to give out to them. I love that!

My first experience with this deck was through the meditation size large cards with no glitter on them. The meditation was immersive; I got sucked right into the cards and I felt I had actual encounters with the beings held therein. It was magical!

Since acquiring these special decks, I sat down with one of them and crafted names for the cards in the reverse and upright. I find that the names of the cards change every time, so I've come to name them as they tell me they wish to be named. They transform for you, making this deck incredibly versatile and easy to use. It's so great when the cards grow with you.

I love the diverse scenes in these cards, and I love the glitter on them. It adds dimension to the experience. I cannot recommend these cards enough!





♡ What is your most important characteristic?
The Ancient Fountain Ruins. I tie together wisdom from different planes of existence and places in time. The answers you seek are not delivered in scenes acted out, but in feeling and in quiet understanding. You will have the wisdom whispered to you through meditative thought and acceptance. When you allow yourself to flow in synchronicity with natural order, elementss align for you.

♡ What are your strengths as an oracle deck?
Sacred Pillar of Space Communication. I stand as a lone pioneer in my niche. No other deck of cards out there offers the sacred sites to visit. This deck comes to life in a way that is very different from every other deck out there. It is free of the constraints of language, perceived instead through a universal consciousness of understanding. This deck will help you tap into real inner knowing, because you won't have anything to go off of other than what you perceive. Now you are able to shape your own reality.

♡ What are your limits?
Plasma Ice Castle. There are intricate layers of the brain that you will have to train yourself to tap into. You will access the knowledge as your mind becomes ready to awaken parts that lie dormant. There are secret channels that may never come to life unless you devote yourself to the exploration and the discovery of your own inner potential.


♡ What are you here to teach me?
Starseed. Unlock the potential feelings within yourself that you do not yet understand how to activate. You are full of potential, limitless, and without bounds. Tapping into inner worlds will help you resonate in many colors, understanding yourself as new life flows through you and inspires you. You awaken.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
The Cold Flow. Look into yourself and allow the images to come. Form new connections in your neurological pathways. By refreshing your mind and your memory, you'll find that the flexibility of what you can do next is entrancing. The deeper in you go, the more you will be curious about what you can dig up.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Scrying Chalice of Ice and Fire. There will be extremes in working with this deck that are combined as if by alchemy. When you take a look into these cards, your faith is strengthened by the experiences you allow yourself to have. The outcome will be heavily dependent on your choices and how you choose to use these cards.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
The Cloaked Fairy. There are sentient beings manifesting in these cards. If you pay enough attention, you could have an experience with a being that is not from your star system. When you concentrate on looking inwards, you'll be surprised at the beauty you may find inside. With this deck, we may come to recognize that we are also made up of and connected to what is out there. We pulse with life in the same rhythm as that of the celestial bodies around us, woven into the cosmic fabric of life and light.

♡ How do you see me?
Spirit Veil. The seer with fascination for looking inwards and finding secrets. You speak the ancient language and you understand how to tap into the energies of the spirit world. Should you really devote yourself to learning, you will connect to a new channel with veritable information.

♡ How do you see yourself?
The Fountain of Knowledge. Providing those on their journey with clarity and with the environment they need to tap into their higher selves and their own history. A gentle aid in the journey of spiritual discovery and self-acceptance.
This is a deck I won’t use without the presence of crystals. I feel like they charge and amplify my other decks, but this one especially will benefit from the use of them.

Would you like to purchase your own copy?
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GOLDEN THREAD TAROT

The Golden Thread Tarot is the loving creation of Tina Gong. From my understanding, it was birthed from daily draw cards. At the end of the day she would sketch the card and add elements to it that were personal to her. It took an impressive “few months to make.” I’ve been working on my deck for over three years now! Tina is an artist, though. A designer in practice and her illustration work is real strong! Let’s just chalk it up to: I enjoy her work.

Thumbing through the cards reveals many pleasant surprises. The illustrations are very tasteful and they are actually elegant. I appreciate full nudity because even if it is just one card, it makes a difference. Tarot decks tend to shy away from male sexuality, so seeing it here in a tasteful way is also very refreshing.




The illustration style is in highly stylized vector. There is a lot of detail in the cards for such linear style of illustration, and the shapes do suggest movement and light. The deck was done with mastery of icon work and general understanding of harmonious proportions and stylization that makes design work so appealing in the first place. This would be the go-to deck to recommend to your nearest and dearest Graphic Designer.

From the very first time I saw a photo of the cards laid out, I absolutely had to have them and could not at all fathom having them hovering around in a wishlist. It was an instant purchase of two decks. No dilly-dallying; I know what I like! The card stock is thin and crunchy, it is so delightful to shuffle. The deck fans out real easily. They reflect gold shine back onto my face and I feel like I’m handling something really very special. Luxurious, even.



♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Ten of Cups. The joy of working with this deck is great when you feel like things in your life achieve a good balance. Working with this deck could very well make you happy. There is a stacking of success that comes with the increment of blessings that comes with realizing what you had.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
King of Wands. Use of these cards will fuel your passion for divination and tarot. It is meant to inspire and to set foundation for an exciting journey. When you listen to your intuition the way this deck encourages you to, your cards will sing. It is all dependent on how you set your mood and how you ground yourself for a delightful experience.

♡ What are your limits?
Five of Wands. There are limitations to any relationship. If you are in conflict or in high stress, try to calm yourself first before approaching a reading. I would agree that being in an altered state can sometimes cause misunderstanding from the message being sent to the one that is received. For an open path, wait for things to clear before you sit down to seek answers.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Four of Coins. The lessons that are going to be taught are those of self-control and balance. Try not to allow yourself to be seduced by extremes. Instead hang onto what you have until it feels more prudent to invest in yourself or in your responsibilities. Understand that there is a time for everything.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Queen of Swords. Let your intuition be your sword, and allow your thoughts to come to you and form judgments with unmistakable clarity. It is all reliant on your perception and how you choose to express your ideas. Don’t doubt anything, simply allow yourself to understand and to accept. You will begin to express yourself with more and more clarity. There is growth in that.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Six of Swords. Change is good. There is a journey we all embark on the moment we decide to become diviners, to bond with our decks. What we most need is to release the comfortable to allow ourselves to be swept along by the current that our lives want us to go through in order to attain experience and wisdom. It’s all part of the process. The most value lies in how you approach your final destination.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Six of Wands. There are some ventures away from the traditional Rider-Waite Smith compositions. There is also a great sense of pride and celebration for being different. There is beauty in what makes this deck unique, and clearly there is also pride for the accomplishment of the project present. A job well done!

♡ How do you see me?
Page of Wands. As an eager student, one who draws the energy from within to help spread it back out into the world. Someone of young spirit and willingness to yield to the surprises that life has in store. The adventurer.

♡ How do you see yourself?
High Priestess. Sharp intellect and even sharper sight. There are so many secrets contained therein that are willingly shared with those who will listen. There is much wisdom to be passed around.



Great interview! I really enjoyed the personality of this deck.

Because of the fact I have been using the Mythic Tarot lately, which has similar backs, I feel like I tied to this deck more quickly. It’s really a step up above mass market decks. I LOVE the fact that it is self-published and would like to remind you that it is up to us to endorse the talent of artists who brave the self-published path. Support this project and get yourself a copy! You will not regret it at all. To get your own copy, please go here.
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MORE CARDS FALL ON THE TABLE

I used to have this same deck, but the printing was sometime from 2010. The borders were thicker and more clunky. I had the first edition tucked away in my drawers for years. It’s there still. Shrink-wrapped, collector’s copy. It cost me a pretty penny back then because it was out of print, hard to find but still very sought after. I loved it ever since I first laid eyes on it. I couldn’t bring myself to break the AGMüller seal. Pristine, never before touched. The wrapper is worn with time, but still conserved in its binding. I wanted to keep it that way… so I did. I go through great lengths to ensure that the value of my collection stays intact. Really extreme measures in fact, and because of that effort, it has.
I got the previous deck from some obscure bookstore all the way out in Spain. I had no idea if the deck would come, but I placed my faith into it and three weeks later two decks came. One for J, one for myself. When I opened it, the paper stock was different and the ISBN number on the box had changed. The box had a different hue to it and I thought it was a counterfeit deck. Then I realized it was just a different printing, and my experience with that deck was never quite as magical as I knew it could be. Paper does a lot for us, and so do borders. I came SO CLOSE to trimming them off. Come to think of it, it might have made the deck really pop. But the gold back rubbed off and I just wasn’t feeling it. If it’s not right, it can’t be forced! That’s how it works with decks. I would know after collecting 272 of them.

The cards fall on the table, and they glow. They have this etheric shine to them. The gold glimmers from the borders make me feel like I’m having a spiritual experience. I am. I feel these cards.



A sense of oneness with yourself is as important as a sense of oneness with your partner. It feels like coming home, as I’ve heard lovers say they were. Nurturing the spirit by night, nurturing yourself with proper rest. Don’t worry so much about what is on the other side, if your side has weeds growing and things to tend to. Look inside, find all the colors and associations to life that actually live within you. Recognize the efforts you go through in order to breathe life into your works, take time to really appreciate what is there and in front of you. Care for it. If there are things not yet coming into being, they will soon. The gaps are bridged in your life when you are ready to move forward. And when you do, there is always somebody waiting for you on the other side.

There is someone waiting for me on the other side. I feel it. I know it. I accept it. I am cared for and protected, but as of now I feel like I am by myself. I have so much to work on still, and life keeps throwing curve balls at me. And still I avoid and I find a way. There is always a way.

Being a Seeress is not easy. I have to face the expectations of others. They project their wants onto me, and I have to find a way to deliver the truth to them in a way they will be open to hear it. They aren’t always. Sometimes they ask the same question over and over and over because they think that checking once more will actually bring out the message they want to hear. Not the one that I have for them. I’ve got to jump a lot of hurdles at work, people don’t realize how much they project their greed out. But still, the message is what it is. I don’t ever give personal opinion. I don’t tell them what they want to hear so they can be happy. I tell them what comes up in the reading, and so in time they come to understand why things ran the way they did when they kept asking the same question over and over.



When you tune into the inside, you begin to understand things in a new way. I understand the High Priestess now, because I have become one in my years practicing high magic and many forms of divination. I understand the value of silence, and I also understand seeing things from other places not of our world, but not being able to share them until the time is right for others. A divine channel, and that is what we become years after starting our journey as diviners. We become open channels for spirit.

My favorite decks come along with me for my adventures. The newly published (then) Victorian Romantic Tarot accompanied me to the 2014 Steampunk Symposium. I took the standard size and almost lost the Two of Cups in the volunteer room. Thankfully, I remembered to do a careful sweep with my eyes and something told me to look under the table. There were like three cards there!

This weekend I will likely take the cards with me to my adventures in the club, dancing to Depeche Mode and sipping on some wine… or champagne. Cheers!
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HOUSE OF ZODIAC PISCES

My friend Tina Constantine aka Lady Nocturne is a Graphic Designer living in Puerto Rico. On her spare time she dreamed up a Zodiac editorial series which I want to share with you. I love how sexy some of these can be while still being classy. Great work! I have some amazingly talented friends!

Aries ★ Taurus ★ Gemini ★ Cancer ★  Leo ★  Virgo ★ Libra ★ Scorpio ★ Sagittarius ★

Capricorn ★ Aquarius  ★Pisces

I have decided to complete one year of horoscopes devoted to each zodiac sign. I offer personalized Annual Review readings at my Samhain Moon Etsy shop. It is a very popular reading on this blog and in my work life, and now I am offering all 12 signs of the zodiac their own loose horoscope calendar to refer to.

For the past year I’ve been writing comprehensive tarotscopes for all of the zodiac signs. There were times I was late, but I got around to do them all. It was a huge commitment for me! You have no idea how many hours I spent typing in my Notes application and double-checking the correspondences in the cards. It was a huge project for me, and I’m glad I did it with the aid of Tina’s gorgeous editorial photos and illustrations.



PISCES TAROT HOROSCOPE FOR 2016: ♡ March. The Emperor.
This reading starts off with setting grounds for yourself. Set space for your mind and your projects. Make it personal and cozy so that you may feel like you can be fulfilled. When you are in a space that speaks to you, it becomes an extension of your life and your personality. If you dwell in a place that has your personality and vibe, it’s likely to be a huge comfort for you and your loved ones to come to when you want to get away from the world. Nothing beats having a safe haven you built yourself, so try to focus on that.

♡ April. The Hierophant.
Once you’ve got yourself situated and cozy, it’s time for the real big work to begin. First on yourself, you must make sure that all of the concepts you’ve had in mind are well digested and adapted. Now you’re going to begin passing your knowledge onto others, so you must definitely prepare for that. Focus your efforts on teaching others to find their own path, even if they are inspired from you.

♡ May. The Lovers.
This Lovers card is kind of cold and platonic. It reads as the relationship you are in needing more fire. It’s all about choices, really. Sometimes the choices we make prioritize ourselves or our goals. Sometimes our partners want us to focus our efforts on them. The key is in finding the balance so that both you and your lover will feel fulfilled and love.

♡ June. Ace of Swords.
Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Chances are you don’t do it very often because you don’t want to alienate yourself from people… But trust me, if you want your voice to be heard, you need to project it so that others will get the message. Reach out to someone you may have messed things up with and try to say sorry. Come clean about your shortcomings. Be specific. You need to harness another mindset, because sometimes your own makes things up that aren’t true. And then you believe them. Good luck!

♡ July. The Chariot.
You may be moving someplace far. Embrace the adventure and look forward to new beginnings with your troupe. It seems a bit crowded, and impulsive. Often, though, those are the best adventures. The more the merrier, try to remember to bring everything!

♡ August. Judgment.
Change comes with a bang sometimes. At least you had a warning a few months prior. Your whole life might be shaken up with new developments and new decisions to make. Use your head! Think wisely! Ask yourself what your most wise friend would do if they were in your position.

♡ September. The Magician.
Envisioning your goals means that you get to manifest them into being more easily. Once you’ve cleaned the slate, you have a fresh frame of reference through which you can start over. Get creative, imagine yourself becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be. Even if you are clearly not right now, eventually with effort you will grow to fit those shoes.

♡ October. The Devil.
You may have overprotected your dreams. Try to pull back to a safe zone and re-assess your situation. Cut out any factors that are not realistic and feasible. When you dream, you must dream about goals that are realistic for your abilities. If you really wish to turn yourself into a new person, you’ll have to work through the inside before it starts to show on the outside. Accept and prioritize so that you may be able to reap the benefits later.

♡ November. Seven of Coins.
Things get much better when you work with what you’ve got. You should feel a great sense of accomplishment this month. Things are turning around and it looks like you’re grounding yourself much better. Pick out new ideas as other projects near completion so that you might be able to add something new to your repertoire. It’s all about how you plan for the future, and keeping your goals within reason.

♡ December. King of Swords.
You may have a difficult time getting through to people this month. When you feel misunderstood, you shut off and shut down to others around you. You might put up walls that are close to impossible to cross… And then what? What will you do if you end up feeling absolutely alienated from others? Don’t do that to yourself!

♡ January. Five of Swords.
Trouble, trouble. Take this hardship as a lesson. Look to this as an example of what not to chance doing, and learn from all of your mistakes. Try to figure out how you can save yourself the pain in the future.

♡ February. King of Coins.
Things stabilize when you start approaching them from the right perspective. Get yourself settled again and reorganize yourself. After a while you will end up seeing which dynamics change for you, and which ones help you keep going strong.

♡ Clarifier. Two of Wands.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Every step you take, double check it and let it settle before you take another. You need to master the art of patience and understanding of circumstances. That comes with time, with trial and error.

At the end of this, I take away the satisfaction of knowing I served many people. I hope that whoever is referring back to their projections is enjoying them. Aries is basically done by now, but some are still starting their journeys with the calendar. I want to wish you all a lovely 2016. Don’t forget to reach out to me if you have answers. Thank you for reading!!
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HEART OF STARS TAROT REVIEW

This is going to be a review of the Heart of Stars Tarot deck by Thom Phan. I originally found this tarot deck a little over a year ago and the first edition had just gone out of print. After a couple of e-mails, I signed up for the waiting list on the second edition. It didn’t take much for me to be sold on this deck. I love everything about it!

It all worked out, though. The edits to the deck really enhanced it for me, which is rare in second publications. Not this time! They added a card with Jon Snow in it, and another with Darth Vader. To my delight, the beautiful card back was also left as it was in the first edition. No qualms!

I've been taking my time to get to know this deck because of all of the influences mixed in. It's very different from what I am used to and I appreciate it for the challenge. Any time I lay cards out on the table, the personalities of the characters jump out. I've found the best way to get readings from this deck is to spend more time reading through the cards and associating traditional meanings with implied symbols. It's a very expressive tarot deck, and I've come to find I really love having all of the Hollywood stars interacting with one another. It makes the deck fun to use for the reader and for the querent as well.

The watercolor space style is really very beautiful and it helps me understand why the deck was called what it was called. It photographs very well and I can honestly say I am very happy with having gotten myself two copies.





The card stock is sturdy, shuffles nicely and fans out perfectly. I feel like I am looking out into space when I lay them out. Envision the cosmos shuffling out your fate for you to read. The card backs are very special and beautiful also. I would love to meditate into them.

It's a very strong deck when it comes to pulling from past associations. I've been transported to several moments in motion pictures where these scenes are being carried out. I like the fact it makes me reminisce on actual moments in motion, as if I was looking through the newspaper in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. For those of you who are not familiar with the concept, the photos in the newspaper move as if they were movies.



♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Page of Wands. I am the one connecting different sources of wisdom and insight from media. In me you will find the deepest wisdom hiding among the most recognizable faces. This makes me easy to converse with when you establish your own personal meanings as they make sense to you. I am full of energy, and willing to share that energy with you.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Two of Wands. Take the time to get to know me and to think about the spreads. Don't rush into it, and eventually you'll see. Not much needs to be said, when you see the illustrations you'll simply know. Make a ritual out of your practice and you will come to find that it all comes to you. It all makes sense when secrets come out to light. But first you have to wait to see what comes of it.

♡ What are your limits?
King of Coins. While there is a caring nature to this deck, you can view the advice given here as that of a tutor or a caring relative. The rest is the experience you will harness by taking initiative and finishing the tasks yourself. You learn by doing, and you empower yourself when you take control of your circumstances. You'll only go as far as you allow yourself to.


♡ What are you here to teach me?
Nine of Swords. I am here to teach you to treat yourself and others with a compassionate heart. If you don't know what kind of struggles somebody else is going through, at least try to be empathetic. Somtimes wisdom is hard earned.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Five of Coins. Learn to accept that not everything works out the way we want it to. Life is not a box of chocolates, rather it i fraught with challenges and difficulties that shape us all into stronger people. Those who cannot cope with the pain end up masking it until it claims them later. Remember not to let your pain claim you. You are in charge of making things better.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
Seven of Cups. Using this powerful tool you will put an end to incorrect perspectives. You will be putting an end to the hopes you had that would sprout new possibilities. If you have to do without it, it may mean it isn’t worth it. You have to look out for yourself always, and in having a friend by your side, you won’t ever come out on the losing side. Remember to seek clarity when you are confused. All of the options will be made available to you.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Page of Cups. Don’t be afraid of all these seriousness in the deck. There is also beauty in the cards, and thus there is something good that comes out of the bad: life lessons and experience. You will learn when to hold back from acting because it is most beneficial. You will also know when to proceed with caution in situations that merit it.

♡ How do you see me?
Two of Swords. You put so much on your plate that it wears you out. The way you multitask and how busy your lifestyle is, is thoroughly exhausting. You need to take a break from overworking yourself. You also need to express more on the outside about how you feel, rather than separating how you feel from how you think. You're not as awkward as you tell yourself that you are.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Ace of Wands. I feed your dreams and make them reality. I motivate you to draw the magic from within. You will be encouraged to follow your dreams and see them manifested into being. Trust with your heart and allow your next step forward to be dictated by your sense of trust in the bigger picture.



There is a third printing in the works, so please check out his site if you wish to order. But well-earned merit. Now he is working on the Oracle of Poets and Tarot Anonymus.
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