THE VICTORIAN ROMANTIC TAROT

The Victorian Romantic Tarot is new to my collection and feels like a necessary addition to any. I now have a deck I love in two sizes. Weeks ago I had no idea if I would be able to read it with precision, but as of this moment I don't really care. Whether I currently understand the semantics or not won't matter; I will be studying the semantics of this deck and two others from now until the end of year. I feel very drawn to Alexander Daniloff's tarot deck, to the Tarot of Prague and to the Victorian Romantic Tarot. Notice two of them are done by Baba Studio, also known as the Magic-Realist Press. Their work is divine!



I don't want to spoil the book for you, but I will mention some highlights that made it very special for me. If briefly touches upon the Victorian obsession with Egypt, the taboo to fortune telling, and how influential people of the time were touched by fortune telling through cards. It redefines the history of tarot within logic and divination as I used to know it. While carefully delineating meanings for us in both keywords and stories, the Victorian Romantic is intended for intuitive use and personal connections. The book itself states that although the information is provided, the best route to go is to develop your own meanings from experience. Sure, many books on tarot say that! However, when you get into practice, you will find that having both perspectives will really aid you in readings.

I have always thought that I was born a few centuries too late. Even with the conscious sacrifice of some hygienic necessities, I have wanted to live in the French Rococó ever since I first learned about the time period in school. I love the discipline — and discrete lack thereof — exercised at the time. Terms such as 'romantic ideals', 'language of flowers' and 'courtship rules' really resonate with me. I was unconsciously brought up to love rules, discipline and romanticism, and I do so madly.



This is a great deck to use in the spring. It has an inherent sweetness to it that is hard to come by, and I especially like the fact that the illustrations convey traditional artwork. Don't get me wrong — I love contemporary art and find stylization to be pretty rockin', but there is something special about Pre-Raphaelite, Neoclassical, Victorian, Rococó and Medieval art periods. They pull us through portals into moments in time that have been frozen for this very purpose. Some of the cards look like paintings, not all of them look like engravings, which is actually quite nice and makes them come alive for me. They read wonderfully and they merit further study. The companion book will help with starting out, but the rest is up to us.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VICTORIAN ROMANTIC TAROT:


♡ What is your most important characteristic?
King of Wands. This deck steals the show. The world is its stage and it is the only player! I get the sense that music keeps it in harmony, and that its song is meant to touch the lives of those who linger around it. This deck is really different from all of the other tarot decks that I have and it shows. I'll just have to go with the flow on this one and dance to it's song. It'll be much easier to get acquainted that way!

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
The World. This is possibly my favorite depiction of the World card. Watch her float! Her tray is loaded with roses and wildflowers. The circumstances look really warm and inviting; I'd love to spend a day with them frolicking in the beauty of nature. The use of white space is great, it conveys the atmosphere as open. Anything can happen here!

♡ What are your limits?
The Star. This deck has bared its soul through numerous readings around the globe. After you're stripped to the public, all that there is, is all you can give. She looks coy and inviting at the same time, with her drapes barely covering her as she basks in the moonlight. This is an intimate card portraying the deck as an intimate experience, one that shouldn't be shared with too many people.

♡ What are you here to teach me?
The Chariot. To pick up the pace when I run into a different manner of dialogue from the cards. I slow down considerably when I have to adjust to the new imagery and the symbols it brings. It's saying, "hey! Pull your act together and go with what you feel, we're a little short of time and we have to go!" Taking control of the reigns as you're on your way forward isn't easy, but that's what I am going to get some help with.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Three of Swords. Releasing stress and pressure from waking life. In the place of beauty and mystery there is no room for daily life troubles in the way. Release trouble, release uncertainty and embrace a whole new side of things. If there will be grief present, accept it but count on a friend nearby that will be willing to listen and offer help. This looks like the deck to come to when I am having trouble, which is a good support to have!

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
The Hermit. Seeking enlightenment or answers by yourself. It makes sense, since some decks prefer to be used with other people. This one prefers to be used in solitude. Light a candle, dim the lights, put some music on and turn your phone off kind of readings are suggested. Taking away all the noise and withdrawing to a quiet place to think is necessary. To cut away our daily worries, we need to look after ourselves first. I really like that!

♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Nine of Swords. A woman sleepwalks. She is not presently aware of the dangers she is in. She seems to be in a state of hypnosis more so than sleep, and might have a rude awakening once she finds out where she got herself to. Sometimes we carry so many troubles in our minds that we let them carry through into sleep and dreams. We really hurt ourselves when we are overwhelmed with our own thoughts. The circumstances can be quite literally a nightmare.

♡ How do you see me?
Three of Cups. Under siege of the circumstances. I don't quite have the control that I need yet, and if I take to say something, I should watch my words before I do. We tend to run with the circumstances as they are, instead of taking the time to pause and really feel what we do. Logic overrides feeling, and when that happens, we love sensitivity. Focus.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Nine of Pentacles. As a token of wealth offered from a lovely time period. The woman has her head turned towards the right, to the future. She stares with confidence, although her pose is one of relaxation. She loiters through the garden, her estate is right behind her. She doesn't need to go too far to find what she seeks.. happiness and contentment.



This tarot deck sings to you! The scenes are narrative. This is the perfect deck to talk with a friend over some tea in a sunny afternoon. I might just find a parasol and walk through a dream world for a few months. I love it!
♡♡

TAROT BY ALEXANDER DANILOFF

This deck is perhaps my favorite release from 2012 in the world of the tarot. I first heard of it when my boyfriend found it circulating around Tumblr. He resonated with the death card and asked me to take a look at them. It was an instant reblog. A little while later I learned that it was an out of print Majors only deck, but that a 78 card deck was in process of completion. Every now and then I would go back to admire the images for their artistic quality. They seemed so fun and so appropriate at the same time. Finding the out of print version was impossible, not even Ebay turned up any listings. I made peace with the fact that all the decks must have gone to collectors who prized them for the jewel they were, and that they would not pass them on easily.

This tarot deck is an original tarot deck by the artist and illustrator Alexander Daniloff. First edition, signed and numbered to 65 and out of 450 copies. It has three additional cards: carte blanche and two variants of Strength and Justice. This makes it a very versatile deck because you can choose which school of tarot you prefer. More tarot decks should follow this, it feels like a considerate acknowledgement to the people that will be using it. For those who don’t know what to do with the extra cards, they could put them to use as book marks or pin them up on an inspiration board. I keep the extra cards in the box, but am likely to put them in my tarot diary as page markers later on. They are too nice not to use!

The paper stock is excellent; one that requires careful handling if you want the deck to last. It would be a shame for the corners to get dinged up, but that’s a property of paper that cannot be avoided. The colors stand out with vivid reds and blues. It is an absolute delight to shuffle them and run your fingers over the pseudo-waxy feel of this paper. The stock is sturdy enough to be durable, but watch the corners and the edges if you want to get the most out of this deck. The cards are also a larger size than usual, which really favors the beautiful artwork even if you need to take a little extra precaution in shuffling. The only down side or bittersweet fact is that the deck is so beautiful that I want to shuffle it all day, which won’t be good for its pristine preservation. It hurts me to think about those sharp corners bent and dinged! However, this deck was made to be used and loved until it falls to pieces or until the illustrations fade out from excessive shuffling. It achieved its purpose — I can’t let it go!

The carte blanche is a new concept to me, but not a new concept to the rest of the tarot world. It is perhaps my favorite card to interpret because I have next to no experience with it. It depicts a white curtain with no translucence. The interpretation is left to the discretion of the reader. The first time that it showed up in a reading was in a Celtic Cross, in the very center of the situation. I took it as a sign that I needed to focus on the situation or pay extra attention to the details.



POSSIBLE CARTE BLANCHE INTERPRETATIONS:
☆ No answer.
☆ You decide.
☆ Not a good idea.
☆ Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best.

The Daniloff Tarot has a medieval storybook feel to it along with vibrant colors and quirky stylization. It retains its traditional feel of a tarot deck with refreshed images. The Major Arcana is absolutely stunning with the layers of symbolism etched upon them. The symbols are traditional, but the cards are so rich in detail that they convey the feeling with no mistake. The figures in this deck are pretty quiet, barely anybody is smiling. This quality makes the deck serious and asks the reader to be serious as well. This deck speaks to me in whispers and asks for careful contemplation. It is very different from other tarot decks coming out this year, which have a more contemporary setting or theme. The most appealing aspect of this deck is its stunning artwork followed by its regard for tradition.

Lastly, the backs of this deck are fully reversible. You won't have a clue about whether or not they are reversed until you turn them over. Usually I like a subtle hint to give me an idea of whether or not the card is upright, but these are really beautiful. You can see a rendition of a woman, a tower, death, the moon, and the sun amongst flourished elements and frames. It's lovely! This deck would go best over a black spread cloth with no ornaments save for the occasional emblem or whimsical motif to make the cards really stand out.



INTERVIEW WITH THE DANILOFF TAROT:
♡ What is your most important characteristic?
The Hermit. This deck was conceived under a period of deep study and contemplation. Nothing is left to chance but everything is possible. There had been a lot of careful attention and scrutiny of detail to ensure the visual and physical quality of this deck. It comes after a journey of tests and self-exploration, possessing a level of traditional nourishment for the soul.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Eight of Coins. There was a lot of work put into the durability and intellectual insurance of this deck. It was made to stand the test of time in the community and in your hands. From my intuitive understanding of this card, it may become a staple for the collector that decides to use it. This is a work of art that is meant to be seen by the world and admired by those who feel drawn to it.

♡ What are your limits?
Four of Pentacles. From the personal story of the deck, it is saying that it is a limited paradise. The run was a limited edition of 450 and will get as much exposure as the clients give it. Birthed in a place of classic origin, distributed personally and promoted by those who purchase it. It would need the aid of a big company to really get it across to an exponentially larger community. With what they had available at the time, they were able to make something big.

♡ What are you here to teach me?
Ace of Coins. The seed is planted, the deck is here. It's time to really get to know it and to tap into the world that it presents to better understand how to use it. It will provide growth if harvested, with which the rest of the town can benefit from. It starts with the interest and the effort to put plans into being.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
King of Cups. Have control over your emotions and understand the circumstances when you sit down to initiate a reading. Focus on the divine connections alluded to in this deck: religion, life, death, secular life, power, dark, light, and other connections that can be accessed through psychic intuition.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
The Emperor. The establishment of something solid. The Emperor is a rigid man of tradition, he upholds them as his pedestal for authority. He rules the kingdom with strength and wisdom passed onto him from years of experience.

♡ Which card do you want to show off?
The Ace of Cups. Love, joy and happiness. The ship and the fish indicate new ventures that bring with them new scenarios in the emotional aspect of life. Fish stir in the waters of the psyche and of emotion, ultimately the soul. It will teach us how to react to the currents of feelings, whether overwhelming or joyous. It is a sign of luck in the journey, reinforced by the angel showering us with its blessing as it flies overhead.

♡ How do you see me?
The Moon. My signifier! Psychic intuition that beams down from a divine source as you emerge from the waters of ignorance. You are undergoing a spiritual venture of enlightenment, embracing the shadows to appreciate the light. There are illusion, madness and dreams present in this card, and it is up to you to test the towers of darkness and light. Find a stable ground and go exploring!

♡ How do you see yourself?
Two of Cups. The potential lover that brings a compliment of new views and experiences. What makes this effective is the mix of opposites to bring together something new. The potential relationship is one of direct opposites in harmony. This can be an encouragement to integrate different parts of the self that could be at war or disagreement.


I absolutely love this tarot deck and recommend you purchase yours from Alexander Daniloff before the remaining copies are sold. You won't regret the investment!
♡♡

TOKYO DECADANCE 2012 AT CAFE CHRISTON

I am absolutely charmed with my very first nightlife event in Japan. At 10:30 P.M. I set out from the hotel by myself and felt strange all the way to Shinjuku. We don't rely on public transportation in Puerto Rico, so I took it as a part of the experience of being in a foreign country. I stood before the Alta t.v. as so many before me have, feeling electric with the prospect of the night that lay ahead. To be like an alien and a natural at the same time takes some adjustment, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it.

While I waited, I met a pretty girl by the name of Sayaka. She was incredibly sweet and so was her friend Taku, who arrived shortly after we had initiated a conversation. They both looked stunning! We waited together until Mat and Kelly got there, and then we went our separate ways before the party, but not before I thanked them for their company.

We walked through some very old streets in Shinjuku, the first with a bunch of restaurants and the second being Golden Gai. It had literally 300 bars inside tiny walkways and alleys of different themes and time periods. You could enter a room and find yourself in the 70's with your friends, or go to a rock bar and delight in some British punk atmosphere. Some could only fit up to 5 or 6 people; others could only fit up to 3. It reminded me of a compacted Old San Juan brought to life with cats, people looking to unwind after work, kareoke, and quirky characters. I would have loved to have spent a little more time there.

When we got to Cafe Christon, we took the elevator up and stood in line for half an hour until Wednesday Addams came to tell us the rules: No sex, no die, payment at the door. They let us in and it turned out to be a haunted house on our way up the steps. It was not at all what we were expecting, so we started on our way as somebody dressed up as an undead came right at us. Poor Kelly fell down on the stairs twice because she happened to know one of the staff members who worked that night, and he was extra keen on scaring her. Ouch! Every time we reached a new floor, we were met with another creepy scene and at least two lurkers trying to scare us. Believe it or not, I coasted through Halloween Horror Nights, but I felt very scared here. It was mad fun!

Once we got out of that, we found a playground fit for children of the night. Nice chandeliers, a throbbing crowd of people dancing and good music. It had been so long since I had been to a party like this, so it felt like a warm welcome back to my favorite place. We each got a shot and then the photos started; there were so many amazing costumes! I felt a little shy to ask people for a photo since my Japanese is terrible, but Mat helped break the ice and introduced me to some lovely people. Had my Japanese been better, I would have chatted up many more clubbers. I danced like crazy, indulging in the delight of self-expression without words.

The performances were breakthtaking and surprisingly humorous for a first timer at Tokyo Decadance. I saw belly dancers, fire dancers, wrestling, an aereal dance, and a performer play some tricks. We each got a chance to dance on the pedestal for the professional dancers, which gets pretty intimidating once you realize there are people watching you and taking pictures. At some point we took a break to sit down and look for Mat. Half an hour later, Sayaka  from the Alta t.v. came up with Taku. They asked us to dance with them, so off we went again. This was for me the highlight of the night, they both looked so good dancing and they shared some nice laughs with Kelly and I.

There were many instances in which I had to control myself. Everyone looked so beautiful that I was tempted to go a little trigger happy with the photos. I remember walking a few laps around the club to get a good sense of place. I saw people with ships and flowers in their hair, ravers, clowns, Elegant Gothic Lolitas, and some very impressive demons & succubi. I regretted not bringing my Debauch Bunny costume along even though it wasn't worth the risk of damaging it in the long trip from the tropics to Asia. It may make an appearance next year, though.






At 5:30 A.M. we walked out of the party — even though it was still raging on — and by 6:15 A.M. I was on the train to Shimbashi. Dead tired, smelling of cigarettes and alcohol even though I didn't partake in either, and with the widest grin anyone could place. I felt as if I was walking on the moon on my way to Shiodome. I keep saying this, but my experience was magical.



See you next year, Decabar!
♡♡

2013 ANNUAL REVIEW

12 MONTH SPREAD:

This spread is so very lacking in Swords and Coins! When we focus so closely on certain areas of our life, we lose perspective of others if we're not paying attention. I am specifically worried about my career with the sign of loss so clearly stated in the material realm. I can't say I'll miss the Swords too much, though. With all the things that happened in 2012, Samhain Moon is more than ready to move on from the difficulties. To be honest, so am I. Who says we need to live our lives with limitations and problems? Leave that to 2012!

Have you noticed the Sun and Moon pairing as the only Major Arcana paired and present? Never mind the courts, this is a serendipitous event! Notice the polarities between loud and quiet, J as the Sun and me as the Moon, light vs. dark, extroversion vs. introversion; it can teach us to master our public and private selves. It's a particularly important relation to my romantic life, and that's definitely not coincidental. Any other combination was possible in a deck of 78 cards. Now I have to make sense of it as I go step by step!

Should you be interested in doing this reading for yourself, here is the spread that I used. I hope that it will bring you as much clarity as it brought me. Feel free to post your results in the comments section!

2013 PROJECTIONS:

01. October: Nine of Cups. Emotional satiety, enjoying the luxury of good company and happy events. This is a card of romantic wellness and of social activity/celebration — after all, this is my birthday month! There are lots of surprises, so please stay tuned to participate in the celebration.

02. November: Three of Wands. Lots of things in my life hover without conclusion. There are dreams, plans and aspirations held up that I am looking forward to carry out. In waiting for news or opportunities, I find myself taking a rather restless slumber before the pace picks back up. It feels like a lull in time in preparing for the new year.

03. December: Knight of Cups. Stirrings in feelings and romantic declarations. These are dreamy, intense thoughts in regards to myself and others. It will be a full year since my ayahuasca ritual and the death of my grandmother, and as a consequence, I no longer celebrate Christmas or New Year. Feelings can be turbulent when they're fresh, and in this card I see a splash — and possibly spill — of feelings.



04. January: Ten of Cups. Emotional satiety at its finest! Enjoying a fulfilled family and romantic life. This is a splendid start of the year as opposed to the extreme hermit cab syndrome I went through in 2012. It is rare to come across this special mindset, so January looks like a time to embrace these blessings.

05. February: Page of Cups. Naive, emotional messages made manifest. This is an offer that is tied to the heart. It can be of admiration, a romantic exchange, or a good time to enjoy the romantic train that starts in October.

06. March: King of Wands. Hello, handsome! This is J's signifier without fail. What's going on that this month is so obviously centered around you? No matter, the qualities of the King of Wands are of creativity, charisma and burning passion. So much fire makes this man volatile, fleeting and challenging to keep his interest going. Let's see which side of you manifests, and whether it is in you or in me. Maybe we'll just spend a lot of time together.


07. April: Five of Coins. Yikes! This is a sign of trouble for my finances. It looks like it will be a tough time as far as my career is concerned. Since the year is so heavily charged with the intuition and emotional influence of water, this could be a feeling of being left out from an important project. It is not easy to deal with the shortcomings either way, so I must most definitely prepare for what comes next. Better make some handy remedies for this time! Luckily with the influence of the Sun card in the center of the reading, the negativity and challenge of this card may not manifest in entirety.

08. May: Ten of Wands. Mental burnout as a consequence of the month before. It's to be expected, no one takes to losses easily. With a noticeable improvement coming in June, I can see this will be temporary. The best way to deal with exhaustion is to nurture the body with rest and special treats to pamper the mood. Three difficult months out of 12 don't sound so bad. I know what when I get all saturated, I vanish from the scope of social networks and take a break. This may be a good time to do just that.

09. June: Page of Wands. Temptation, passion, creativity, and fire. This is a card of flares that are within manifesting; hopefully not as rage or yet another medical condition to deal with! Give me instead some spice to garnish my life with and some playful memories to fill my fiery with. Notice the lack of restraint after two rough months... that's quite the comeback!


10. July: Three of Cups. Times to socialize and celebrate. Accomplishment or social gathering? Suggestion of an impossible hangover on the next day? Still, a time to let my hair loose and engage in something — that could be — pleasant. It feels like I may meet for drinks with an old friend, maybe. It's also a sign not to lose sight of my goals.

11. August: The Moon. My signifier is present as a sign of psychic intuition, which comes from a cherished family legacy. In which form? Dreams, tarot, visions, environmental lunacy, or unexpected adventures at night? Given the month and all the elements present, it's hard to tell... but this is the only Major Arcana present in all 12 months. That should count for something, right? Sometimes I'm intimidated by this card...

12. September: Page of Swords. This is never a card that makes me happy. On one side it can mean a mental stimulation and research, but I have a tendency to read it like petty arguments. These are the situations that easily make you feel as if you have been subjected to something indecent or unfair. Nobody likes to be in that situation.

13. Clarifier: The Sun.This is a powerful card to influence all 12 others. As it extends its rays of light — or enlightenment — I feel like the negative cards will [hopefully] hit me a little less hard. This is a very powerful Major Arcana, and the sign that my year will shift from heavy to positive. Hey, a girl can hope! 2012 hit me really hard in just about every area of my life. Picking up the pieces after such riveting events merits a positive change. It looks like the uncertainty clears to leave doors open to a new and refreshing cycle.

The Annual Review has proven quite resourceful as the year pushes slowly onward. I review my progress at the beginning and end of every month and find that it has been effective. So effective in fact that I incorporate it into all my 01 hour readings. I love hearing back from my clients on their progress as well. As the year comes to a close, I will offer some discounts to anyone that wants some insight on how the next year is going to go. This is a good opportunity for you to start 2013 in the right foot!

Head on over to my Tarot section and book a reading with me!
♡♡

HELLO WITCHES Nº25

I did not connect with last week's cards as well as I would have liked to. Even though there is powerful symbolism in them, I don't think I was in the right mindset for cards of this caliber. To my understanding, they follow the Thoth school of thought. I am still not the most well-versed when it comes to the Thoth Tarot. I need some experience in that field still. The week itself was pretty uneventful because I couldn't concentrate on anything, but the weekend was absolutely wonderful. It got started late on a Saturday, but turned out great as it progressed. I spent all of Saturday with my boyfriend J, and most of Sunday for what turned out to be an unexpected adventure. We're getting really excited for Halloween coming up! It scares me a little when I realize I still have so much to do before festivities begin.

This week's is the Joie de Vivre tarot by Paulina Cassidy. I have been using this and the Paulina Tarot for the past week in my professional tarot readings and find it quite nice. The cards have a lot of detail and can be read based off the symbols you see in them. If I don't have the time to interpret them one by one, I can still keep to the meanings that I have assigned to them from the traditional Rider-Waite Smith. They are quite expressive, I think they merit a review and possibly a comparison post.

Notice also the three Major Arcana cards present in this spread: The Fool, The Lovers and The Chariot. They point out new beginnings, decisions and putting those decisions into action even when the opposing sides prove difficult to straighten out. All the suits are present, making this spread quite balanced out. It's going to be an interesting week for sure.



☆ Monday. The Fool. The good-natured Fool hears the call for a new journey. She's ready to step off the cliff and begin, but a little bat behind her is trying to remind her about the trouble that lies ahead. I don't think she cares about the trouble, she's more excited about the new things she's about to experience. She brings a bat and a spider along with her, which are two animals I have coming up a lot in my life lately.

☆ Tuesday. Six of Cups. The girl has clocks and memories around her. She's in a reverie of melancholy, thinking about the past and how fond she is of it. This is true for me, I do spend a lot of time thinking about my college life and how sweet it was in some respects. I really enjoyed being a Ringling student, and remain proud of the legacy of this college. With the Six of Cups there will be messages coming from the past, or reminders of someone that I used to be and how that can help in the next coming week. Old habits, old work routines, old thoughts coming into play.

☆ Wednesday. Two of Wands. A girl reclines on a wand with one of her imaginary friends sitting on her head. She left a wand out, but she's more concerned with the little globe in her hand. She made a decision and she's ready to part ways with the path that won't be traveled. This card is about making choices after a brief moment of consideration. Often I feel like my life diverges into two paths, and I need to choose one over the other. There is no way to compromise and travel them both. Wednesday may be the day I finally have to say, "okay. I choose path #1."



☆ Thursday. The Lovers. Once the journey has started, the week turns its attention to another subject. The subject of partnerships becomes more important. This is a day to embrace what is going on with my romantic and business partnerships. There is harmony present in the card and a little bird with a message flying overhead. The two lovers ride side by side with their hands entwined. They don't have time for anybody else because they are completely immersed in each other. I like the thought of that.

☆ Friday. Five of Coins. When you get distracted from your daily routines, you often notice the shortages once you focus on where your finances are going. The figure is in the dark, feeling left out from the stability that the rest of the world has got going. Often what we need to do in this situation is turn it around so that we can accept the help that is being given to us. The glowing coins with candles present themselves as options that are right there but that we choose to ignore. It could be alluding to my job situation, but for now I'll let it manifest and I'll refer back to it next week.

☆ Saturday. Five of Swords. The fives are problematic in any spread. They bring up uncomfortable realities and challenges. Here there is a sign of conflict, possible argument with the way that these two birds are crossing one another. One has stripes on the wings, the other has polka dots. They think differently, and they do so because they're not the same. One has charms on the tip of the sword that bend it. Perhaps affection leads to the bending of the sword. Either way, these women are not in the position to argue. (Notice they are wearing heels.)



☆ Sunday. Nine of Swords. Being worried with the little critters that chip away at time and thoughts. The theme of distractions and absentmindedness has been a burden for the past couple of weeks. It seems to be prevalent throughout the months. It all started with my wisdom teeth operation in August and has trickled until the present. Worries tend to blow out of proportion if we let them. It's a sign to get off that tangling vine of a tree, to cut away the problems with my tools and to find my way back to clarity. The critters feel so much like distractions eating away my time.

☆ What to avoid. Nine of Cups. Avoid feeling content or like there is nothing else out there for me. I tend to get comfortable in the luxury of the blessings present in my life. I should still challenge myself to do better and work for it. I will have rewards for giving that extra mile, so why not? The woman in this card looks so happy with all her friends and the blessings they bring with them. It is one of the few tarot cards I have seen that makes me smile.

☆ What to strive for. The Chariot. Swift action and change! The seahorses are crossed, which means these two opposing points of view need to be straightened out before we continue on our way. This action requires concentration, but also awareness of where crossed thoughts take us when we're not focused on our way. It's time to take control of the situation, to separate those disparities and force them to work together for the single purpose.

I got a lot out of these cards today and will be using them again next week. They work much better for me than the Rohrig Tarot does. Perhaps the whimsical theme has something to do with it. There is a lot of magic contained in these cards, even if they look childlike. Sometimes they have elements in them that reminds me of the Fantastic Menagerie Tarot by Baba Studio. I will likely blog about it after all the Halloween festivities.

I can't get used to this purple spread cloth. Does anybody else miss the blue one, or is it just me?
♡♡