Category: Tarot Tuesday

Jac Reviews: Tarot of Loka

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday
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The court cards in Loka. Cavalier, Jack, Queen and King.

Thank you for joining us for another of Jac’s reviews! We know it’s been a while, but thank you for sticking with us through 2020.

Here I am going to talk about a deck that is unlike the others we have looked at. The Tarot of Loka, from Ralph Horseley and Alessio Cavatore. This is a card game based on the classic decks we’re all familiar with and designed for playing in mind. It draws its origin from a time before the popular designs of Pamala Smith and looks to her inspiration, the Marseille deck. While these cards can be used for readings it’s important to remember that you can enjoy these as the entertainment they’ve always represented.

Loka is a trick taking game that is designed for four players; two people for each team. Players go around the table placing cards and the highest value card takes all the lower, gaining points for their respective teams. The Major Arcana are the most powerful “suit” and you gain more points for collecting specific cards.

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The artwork is imaginative and whimsical in its euro fantasy style. Replacing the traditional suits with the four elements makes the deck feel right in any medieval themed amusements. The Pages and Knights have transformed into Jacks and Cavaliers to more easily relate to playing cards. However in changing the deck to be approachable, to people interested in the game, the Minor Arcana have been reduced to their pips!

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Produced by Lo Scarabeo, the instruction manual is multilingual which allows everyone to learn this wonderful game! The cards have a smooth matte finish that makes them easy to slide across the table while dealing. They are also of a moderate thickness that makes them easy to shuffle but not leave you concerned that they will be torn by children who want to learn the game.

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The Tarot of Loka is a great deck to introduce people to the idea of tarot without being intimidating. Too many folks have been taught to be nervous around tarot, never exploring the cards and the variety of ways to enjoy them. It’s also a good way to find new joy in what you may think is a tool only meant for divinations. Everyone can come together and learn to have fun and grow a new appreciation for a game that has its root in centuries of history!

Like the look of this deck and want to try it for yourself? Click the links below to purchase!

Tarot of Loka

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Tarot of Loka

Jac Reviews: Tarot Art Nouveau

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday
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The Devil and the Two of Cups, some of the more interesting cards of Tarot Art Nouveau

Thank you for joining us for another of Jac’s reviews!

Today I’m reviewing the Tarot Art Nouveau, illustrated by Antonella Castelli. She was able to draw inspiration from the classic design of tarot to develop a flow of color that washes throughout her images. She keeps the focus primarily on human figure and their emotions in this deck.

I’m struck by the soft coloring contrasted with bold outlines to create a feel of watercolor that bleeds through every picture. Some of them are difficult to draw meaning from, however, even if you are familiar with tarot. While many reflect their inspiration from the classic design, others are too ambiguous to attach a clear explanation.

The Devil and the Two of Cups, for example, are clearly new creative visions of the cards. Far removed from Smith’s symbolism, these images still express the intent of tarot schema upon which concepts are built. The Devil looks devious, yet alluring, and the 2 of Cups shows a deeply close relationship.

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The Five of Pentacles, Ten of Pentacles, and Five of Chalices focus more on pretty figures than their meanings.

In contrast, however, we have the Five of Chalices and Coins along with the Ten of Coins. Fives normally express hardship and loss in their extremes, where these women seem a bit downcast there’s nothing to suggest pain or despair. The joy and fulfillment of success is absent from the 10 of Cups, as well. She looks rather blasé instead of even expressing subtle emotions, like pride or contentment.

It is a Lo Scarabeo deck. These offer a multilingual review of the card meanings and a basic layout for readings in its manual. Additionally, every card has its name written in the corners so many people can use them. While all tarot readings should have a variety of interpretations, I’m amused by the more literal approach. The small booklet itself also provides a generally adequate explanation of what each card represents.

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Backs of the Mini and standard decks

The full size deck and the mini deck both have a gloss finish which makes them slick to slide well across themselves for swirl shuffling. The card stock is comfortably thick, so I don’t feel as though I’m damaging them with every use. The back of the standard size deck has a bilateral image of The Fool, while the mini has a unilateral framing of Justice. The color seems a gentle wash in its larger form, rather than bold splashing in miniature.

The Art Nouveau style has always clashed with industrial design in favor of a organically inspired creation. The lines curve and flow, often blending nature and humanity. Within this deck you can feel the style held constantly. It does seem like the focus was more about illustrate a beautiful form over being able to express meaning behind the deck. Regardless, I don’t find it to detract from the cards usability and it’s a deck I have made great use of.

Like the look of this deck and want to try it for yourself? Click the links below to purchase!

Tarot Art Nouveau

Tarot Art Nouveau Mini

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Tarot Art Nouveau

Embracing the Fool

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday

Well, I started to write this up for Tarot Tuesday, got distracted and now it’s Wednesday… but it is also April Fool’s Day, so this still works, right?

For a little change of pace, I thought you all might enjoy a dive into a single tarot card. And we might as well start with the very beginning, card 0 of your Rider-Waite inspired tarot deck, The Fool!

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The Fool, as seen in the Rider Waite deck.

There are plenty of reasons to start with The Fool, aside from just his position as card 0 of the Major Arcana. If one is to look at the cards as a story, then The Fool is who we follow through it. He is young, naive, and about to step out on a journey into the unknown. The journey could bring him to wonders, or he may lose his footing and stumble, but right now at the beginning he does not care. He is moving forward, and that is what matters.

Let’s take a moment and look at just the image. A young man in a jaunty cap is off on a journey, his bag on a stick over his shoulder, and a rose in his hand. The sun is at his back, and he looks up, not noticing (or caring?) that he is about to step off a cliff. A small dog is at his heels, either a companion or about to warn him if he steps too far.

The Fool is a symbol of naive beginnings. Naivete is not in itself a bad thing. Being naive means going into new things without preconceived notions, which can allow us to see everything as wondrous and new. But there is always a balance to be struck between experiencing new things and being foolhardy about it. So go ahead – try something new! Do something you have never done before! But don’t have your head so far in the clouds that you don’t see the cliff in front of you. Pay attention to what’s around you and you’ll receive warnings when you need them most.

The Fool has no pretensions. The Fool does not know, and thus is open to knowledge. The Fool shows innocence and reminds us to embrace our inner child. The Fool reminds us to not overplan, not overthink, but to go with our impulses and do something new.

Now, a little fun: I delved into my collection and photographed all the Fools I could. Jac and I were having a conversation recently about how different decks interpret the same images, and I think these show that well. I have found in general, the farther the imagery deviates, the more the author has their own unique interpretation as well.

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The Fool in The Enchanted Tarot stays pretty close to the Rider imagery. This was my first deck!
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Now for something completely different, the Klimt Tarot has a much less joyful image.
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The Gummy Bear Tarot sticks with its roots, simplified.
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The Ancestral Path Tarot instead puts the reader, the seeker, as The Fool.
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Imagery in the Thoth Tarot is its own rich tradition, and one I may delve into another time.
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Another silly deck, this one came from Spirit Halloween! Alas, as these were “novelty only,” they come with no interpretations.
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My Spanish is terrible, but I still love this deck from the Mage the Ascension (roleplaying game) 20th Anniversary, Spanish Kickstarter. The Fool’s “dog” clings to his leg and he still has a rose, but now he has a sword instead of his bag on a stick. And I love his fashion sense!
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Well, I did say The Fool was a card of beginnings, so here’s the Egg in Food Fortunes
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Another less happy image, The Fool in the Dark Grimoire Tarot isn’t going anywhere, except into his own madness.
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This Color Your Own Tarot from Echo Chernix was a Kickstarter deck and given to me as a gift. Somehow when I started coloring I started at 1 and missed The Fool! Artist’s own style of standard imagery here.
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The Byzantine Tarot – I love this one for its religious icon inspired art. The Fool has lost a lot of his trappings, but going naked into the world still fits.
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Replace cliffs with rooftops and you have The Fool from the Steampunk Tarot!
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The Halloween Tarot nicely blends its own imagery with the standard Rider imagery for this clown Fool.
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The Vertigo Tarot is very much a showcase of the artist, but if you look closely you can still spot some of the standard trappings of The Fool.
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Well, apparently The Fool in the Osho Zen Tarot really doesn’t care about that cliff! Interestingly, this in one of very few cards in this deck that seems to stay close to Rider images.
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We’re just taking the Rider Waite symbolism and making it cute for The Manga Tarot.
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The Mystic Faerie Tarot is a very popular deck it seems, but The Fool doesn’t really do much for me. He just looks like another fairy.
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Ah, Dali Tarot Universal. If we could understand the imagery easily, it wouldn’t be Dali. But a lot of details worth going into here!
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The Celtic Dragon Tarot certainly has a young man starting out on a journey, but here instead danger appears to lurk unseen behind him and his path is solid.
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The Starman Tarot uses The Sacred Clown in place of The Fool, and for this deck I really like that change. They are still clearly the one we experience the Tarot through.
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The Ostara Tarot does not go with the typical images, but the young witch with red knees flying off into the unknown still captures the mood well.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite fool? Let us know in the comments!

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Embracing the Fool

Gummy Bear Tarot: A Tarot Tuesday Deck Review

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday

IMG_20200324_175851-01Considering the week we’ve all had, I decided to go lighthearted with this week’s “Tarot Tuesday.” So I turned to my collection and pulled out this old gem: Gummy Bear Tarot.

Gummy Bear Tarot is by Diermar Bittrich and was published by US Games Systems in 2005. And it has been sitting on my shelf for nearly that long. It was an early silly present from my delightful husband – and a solid example of the sense of humor in our house. Aside from taking it out to play around with a time or two, I had never used it for a reading before today.

So, on to the aesthetics first!

Gummy Bear Tarot is a smaller than standard tarot deck, close to playing card in size. This is actually really comfy in the hand for shuffling. It comes in a metal tin with an instruction booklet, making it a really nice deck for carrying with you as long as you don’t mind the silliness of gummy bears!

IMG_20200324_175906-01The images themselves are actually very simplified Rider Waite Smith imagery, replacing the main figures with stylized gummy bears. But it is not over simplified. While the more esoteric and symbolic imagery has been removed, the core needed to recognize and interpret the cards is still there. This does make this harder for a more intuitive reading – there is less on each card for the intuition to run off of, so I find myself mostly relying on what I have memorized of the cards from reading other decks.

That said, I almost did myself a disservice by not looking in the little white instruction book. The instruction book is actually thicker than others of its types, and it includes more information per card than I was expecting. I like that instead of the usual upright and reversed combination, this deck assigns each card a “strength” and “weakness.” I have not read through all of the meanings, but none of them jump out as glaringly off.

Overall, this deck is silly and cute… but if you actually do readings with it, and get past the silly, it has surprising depth.

Now, a sample reading!

I was thinking about various business concerns and choices when I laid out this spread.

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Current Situation: Two of Pentacles: A bear stands on a beach, juggling two coins. This is a time for balance and trust. Trust that you can keep things balanced and moving. But make sure you aren’t just juggling out of habit or inability to commit. Let go of what you don’t need to balance.

Immediate Past: Eight of Cups: A bear sets off bravely into the world. There is a readiness to leave the old behind. Your horizons are broadening and you’ve found inspiration in spirituality. Make sure when moving forward it’s not to run away from what’s, or who’s, behind you. This is an experience of the unknown.

Immediate Future: Seven of Cups: A bear has a vision of wealth, power, and safety. The unconscious is full of strong, vital forces, energies we can use to achieve our dreams. An internal awakening is coming. But be cautious of being lost in dreams. Stay grounded. Concentrate on one goal.

Foundation Energy: Three of Wands: A bear looks over the horizon as he contemplates a coming journey. This card shows enthusiasm, creativity, and new ideas – certainly the energy behind many independent businesses. But beware grand plans and hectic activity that results in going nowhere.

Best Outcome: Ace of Pentacles: A hand holds a coin over a rose garden. This is a beginning of a time of growth. Have patience and trust in friends and you will be rewarded. But in order to keep things growing you must not give in to melancholy or set your sights too high. The time is coming to recognize your chance and seize it.

So, hope you liked my little foray into the Gummy Bear Tarot!

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Gummy Bear Tarot

What to Ask the Tarot

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday

Tarot TuesdayWith so many of us stuck at home right now, a great activity for my fellow witchy souls out there is to pull out those tarot decks and get in some reading practice!

(Or, if you are reading this article months from now, and are thinking about going to visit a local reader for a reading, or you’re connecting with a reader online, this advice is for you, too.)

For me, reading tarot is not about trying to predict or “read” the future. It is about the reader. It is about the one asking the question, the one who is seeking guidance. It reveals energies, influences, and patterns that are already at work in your life. I like to compare it to a friend without filters: the cards will often tell you things you already know, but don’t want to admit.

One of the most important steps to achieving a good reading isn’t about whether you have memorized all of your cards, whether you have finely honed your intuition, where and how you draw the cards, or even whether you picked the right deck. It’s in asking a good question.

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Three cards from the Dali Tarot – one of my favorite odd decks in my collection!

So, what makes a good question to ask the tarot? Here’s my advice:

Don’t Ask Yes or No Questions

There are ways to tweak a spread or pull a card if you really want to do that, but you are missing out on a great depth of potential advice. Other options that work better include:

  • Ask about the outcomes of two different choices to compare. I.E. Instead of “Should I start a business?” try “Should I start a business now, or wait until I have more money saved?”
  • Ask about the actions or influences around a particular outcome you want to achieve. I.E. instead of “Will I get a promotion?” try “What do I need to focus on to get a promotion?”

Keep Your Questions “You” Centered

You are in charge of your own actions and emotions, not those of others. Unless they are active in the reading with you, focus on you in your readings. The advice received will be a lot more useful. For example, instead of “Does he love me?” try “What should I focus on to make this relationship successful?” It’s not a yes/no question, and it will give you advice you can act on!

Ask About Influences and Actions, Not Events

Trying for a clear “this will happen in the future” answer is not something tarot is really good at. Instead, it’s going to alert you to patterns in your life, whether they are ones you are already in, or ones you need to watch out for. So trying to nail down whether (or when) a specific event will come to pass will be frustrating, especially for a beginner reader. Instead, try asking about actions you need to take for a desired outcome.

  • Instead of “When will I get married?” try “What is standing in the way of me having a committed relationship?”
  • Instead of “Will I find my dream home?” try “What do I need to focus on to find my perfect home?”

Be Careful When Asking Health Questions

Just a note of warning when it comes to health readings. Reading to find ways to break unhealthy patterns or establish healthy ones is a great support. But the cards are not a doctor to tell you whether or not you have a serious medical condition. Don’t use them as a replacement for medical advice or regular check-ups.

Clearly Know Your Question Before You Begin

Okay, we’ve got some basics now. Take the time to really think out your question before you start your reading. Knowing clearly what you are asking will give you better results. Muddled questions get muddled readings. General questions get vague answers. Be clear and be specific.

Don’t Keep Asking the Same Thing, Hoping for a Different Answer

I feel like at a certain point, the cards become that bitchy friend. “You already know what you need to do; why are you asking me?” The temptation may be there, especially if you don’t like the answer you go, to reword your question and try again. It’s one thing if one reading is unclear – maybe that is a sign your question needed rewording. But asking over and over will just make your reading muddled and useless.

What do you think? Have any additional advice on good tarot questions and what has or hasn’t worked for you? Let me know, and let’s get practicing!

What to Ask the Tarot

The Spells Deck: A Tarot Tuesday Deck Review

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday

IMG_20200310_175123-01When it comes to what decks I actually read from, I tend towards relatively traditional tarot decks with lovely new artwork interpretations. But I can’t help myself: If I see a deck that is particularly odd, unusual, or even silly I will be tempted to buy it.

So, on a recent road trip, The Spells Deck by Cat Cabral, with illustrations by Kim Knoll, caught my eye and, well, I bought it.

I will be clear right off the bat: this deck is not a tarot deck and does not claim to be one. The back of the (rather nice, sturdy box) reads:

“Enhance your life with magic. This enchanting deck features 78 rituals, spells, and recipes for love, empowerment, healing, and so much more. Brimming with alluring illustrations and powerful practices rooted in ancient traditions, this illuminating deck makes it easy to infuse each day with the wonders of magic.”

IMG_20200310_175346-01Interestingly, the deck does have 78 cards like most tarot decks, but as this is not a tarot deck there are no suits or arcana. Instead, each card gives you a mini magical lesson and a small way to practice what you learn. The cards come in eight categories: Witch’s Tools, Language of Magic, Bonds of Love, Abundance and Good Fortune, Rites of Purification and Renewal, Fires of Passion and Creativity, Intuitive Awareness, and Witch’s Familiars. It comes with a small pamphlet with some additional magical basics and suggestions on how to use the deck.

The deck has a nice feel to it – standard size, with a satiny finish and a relatively standard weight. I did have a couple of cards get wrinkles through them apparently in the printing process.

IMG_20200310_175235-01I have to disagree with the assessment of “alluring illustrations.” The card backs are kind of mediocre modern art, with a different color scheme/swatch and line combo for each of the subject categories. Each card has an icon and title in a sort of gold/mustard yellow, and otherwise is very plain text. The simplicity is easy to read, and illustrations are not really needed for that purpose, but as a very visual person that description is deceiving.

The information here is basic, but it covers the basics well. This is an interesting way to present the magical learning I have read many times in an easily digestible format. Kind of like flash cards for the baby witch. And as someone more experienced, I am mostly pleased with the information they presented. I am particularly happy with everything they decided to include in the “Witch’s Tools” section. I am confused by what deities it chose to include: mentions of Greco-Roman gods and Orishas, but not really any other pantheons, strikes me as an odd choice and I honestly wonder whether that was consciously thought out or not.

Honestly, aside from the novelty of the deck that was the reason I bought it, I can see two solid uses for this deck:

  • A solid beginning for the new witch who wants to take things in smaller doses
  • A good daily practice deck for the witch who wants to make magic a better habit and can use the cards as a daily refresher.

This sound interesting to you? Use the image below to share this article on Pinterest or other platforms, and click on the link below to buy this deck from Amazon:

The Spells Deck: 78 Charms, Remedies, and Rituals for the Modern Mystic

The Spells Deck

Tarot Tuesday: Jac Reviews The Steampunk Tarot

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot TuesdayLeave a comment

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Our wonderful Jac Smith is on hand in shop to read the tarot cards for you, and she’s sharing insights into the decks she has used. Enjoy!

First up, I have The Steampunk Tarot. The manual is written by Barbra Moore and the deck is illustrated by Aly Fell. Initial impressions are of how much effort was placed into creating the correct atmosphere for the deck. It tries to capture both the inspiration and the darkness of industrialism.  It must find a way to express the aesthetic tone of a diverse alternative history, while at the same time holding true to the Smith deck design. Striking the correct balance of creative originality and upholding a century of tradition proved to be a bit more discordant than I would have liked.

Moore proves she has a great deal of experience with the tarot in her writing. She can clearly articulate between conventional meanings and their variant interpretations as well as understanding the importance of reading cards together collectively instead of taking a meaning in isolation. Her wisdom shines when she acknowledges that cards can represent positive and negative aspects, but that it is essential to recognize these for what they can teach us and never placidly accept fate as immutable.

While she has been inspired by this subculture and has a sincere desire to portray it within her writing, it comes off as being somehow misplaced. Moore’s familiarity with tarot just doesn’t extend into Steampunk as well as she would like. Her passion for the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres are clear, but Steampunk requires a more narrow lens. The analogies feel forced and comparisons cliche. What emphasizes their awkwardness is that such descriptions seem placed so deliberately as though she needed to make the association. Instead of appreciation for a subculture it looks like it has been extraneously attached to the tarot.

The artwork is also clashing between the tones of inspiring and contrived. There is a dramatic flash that illuminates the entire deck with starkly bold light that directs the attitude of every image. The color is vibrantly over saturated like walking through a dream. Symbols have been altered and even gender has taken a delightful flip to accent that we all may hold the traits of Knights and Knaves! Yet these changes only highlight the traditions that were held to in the design process. Many cards look just as they would a 100 years ago, but now that there is a little brass paint and some gears included. There are also a handful that seem as though they have no design inspiration at all, and are instead loose pin-up pieces that were shuffled into the deck.

The cards themselves are thin with a gloss finish. Being thin aided in their maneuverability at first but I’m finding the wear on them concerning. They didn’t require being shuffled countless times to be broken in though. Their glossy coat can make a classic riffle shuffle a bit tricky for some, but if you prefer to “mix the pot” I’m sure that it would benefit. All reverse cards will be noticeable with a back design that is not symmetrical, however this deck places no great significance on card orientation for interpretive purposes.

Overall I’m happy that someone tried with all sincerity to capture the spirit of Steampunk in these cards, but by its very nature it cannot be contained. Every accomplishment is only another step forward in progress to which there can be no terminus. I’m delighted to see that such a strong foundation in the tarot was laid so you can see all that was built upon. With that effort it is easy to see where boundaries were stretched and creativity pushed to its edge. Not every goal was reached, but that too is essential in growing. It is necessary to imagine what we could do to improve upon the past and this deck encapsulates that sentiment perfectly.

We carry the Steampunk Tarot in store, or use the Amazon link below to help support our website!

 The Steampunk Tarot

Steampunk Tarot Deck Review

Tarot Tuesday: Flowers From the Dead Oracle Deck

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday

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I’m not usually one for oracle decks. Tarot and its imagery are what fascinated me first, and as such remain what I am drawn to. But the lack of expected format to an oracle deck allows the creators to be a lot more creative. They can create as an elaborate or as simple a system as they like – there is nothing of tarot’s format to constrain them.

Flowers From the Dead is one of very few oracle decks in my personal collection,  and the aesthetic is certainly not my usual. But I started off my year attending Hauntcon in New Orleans, and it certainly fit the mood for me that weekend!

Aside from opening it to look at the cards, it sat on my shelf for a few weeks after I got back. The deck consists of 47 cards, each with a unique skull or skeleton. There is a single card with a sample spread for readings, but otherwise the cards speak well for themselves. The weight and size make for easy shuffling.

Then, after a week where I swear no one was getting along and everything became arguments, this deck called to me to try a reading. So I pulled her out the evening of the full moon, and this reading was the result.

Yourself: Turtle – Peace and Tranquility. Also the peace that having a thick shell to retreat into will give you. Maybe it’s time for some personal retreat.

Your Environment: Snake – Transformation and Change. There has been a lot of shifting lately. Also, the people shedding their skin as it were and showing what is underneath, good or bad.

Current Situation: Javelina – Arguments and Power Struggle.  This was kind of one of those “well duh” items. They were all over the place that week.  A lot of them could be traced straight to shifting power dynamics.

What To Change: Rat – Purge and Simplify.  Since we are talking about tempestuous relationships, this is a time to focus on the relationships that matter and what is important within them, and cut away what is unneeded.

Outcome: Bat – Transition and Unknown. With everything being a bit uncertain and mid power shift right now, we just have to see how everything falls.

Overall,  an interesting reading with not much depth, but still a very clear message.

(Belated) Tarot Tuesday: 2020 Wheel of The Year with Ostara Tarot

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot TuesdayLeave a comment

If you remember from last year, I like to do a Wheel of the Year tarot spread for myself on the first, Well hold on tight, folks, because this one is rocky!

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The deck I’ve been working with lately is the Ostara Tarot. It was created with the work of four artists, and I find I connect well with the imagry. Plus, this is the first deck I have ever used where the reverals seem to click! My interpretation isn’t always spot on with the book’s, but that is one of the things about practicing tarot – you learn to trust your intuition.

So, here we go, clockwise from the top:

January – Strength – Trust in your inner strength. Things may be challenging, but you have the strength to overcome and succeed.

February – Two of Coins, reversed – You are overburdened, and if you are not careful the stress will overwhelm you. You can’t keep juggling commitments like this – it may be time to look at exactly what you have committed to and make a choice.

March – The Emperor – Strength, stability, and a strong masculine presence. After the stress of February, there is a source of stability you can lean on. There is safety in this card.

April – Two of Swords, reversed – You are no longer teetering on the knife edge, precarious between two forces. But be careful that this in not just that you are so overwhelmed you are blind to the opposing forces at play.

May – Judgement – This is a time of major decision, something that shakes up your life. I can not say whether it is positive or negative, but what came before and what comes after will be very different.

June – The Lovers, reversed – A commitment turned sour, or a failing relationship. This is time to evaluate, and perhaps remember why you entered that commitment in the first place. Evaluate and make sure your inner voice isn’t leading you astray.

July – The World – A completion, and a unified whole of things. Perhaps its a major project reaching a conclusion and bearing fruit, or a phase reaching its inevitable but satisfactory end. As one thing comes to an end, it also opens you up to new beginnings.

August – The Hermit, reversed – Relying on yourself is one thing, but you can take it too far. Remember to lean on and listen to those closest to you.

September – Nine of Cups, reversed – You have accomplished something, and you feel proud of it, but there may be flaws in this success. Don’t be overproud, and watch for unexpected consequences.

October – Page of Wands – A burst of creative inspiration, this card brings the firey energies of creativity and the joy and experience of youth, You are on the verge of a new phase of your life, when you can express that creativity that is just waiting to come out. Enjoy a new passion for life.

November – The Star – Hope is eternal, and you can feel it now.  Rejoice in your spirit and reach for your dreams. Its been a hard year but you have come through it all the stronger. Rise again and remember that your dreams matter.

December – Eight of Cups – This is a time of isolation. You need some time alone to evaluate your year. This is a good time for meditation and self reflection. Withdrawing, you can decide whether to push forward or move on.

Year in Summary – King of Wands, reversed – The fiery and creative energies of this card are also hasty, rushed, and poorly used. Be careful not to be used yourself or use someone else. Fire is wonderfully creative when used correctly, but without care you can burn our or destroy what is around you.

 

Want your own Wheel of the Year reading? We are happy to do one for you!

Or, want to try your own? Here’s a blank spread for you to save and use!

Wheel of the Year

Tarot Challenge: Feeling Overwhelmed

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Tarot Tuesday

Hello again my lovely readers! I’ve got a little more on tarot reading for you today. I know, it’s been a while, but things generally calm down enough in the winter months that I can be more active posting to our blog.

Recently, we started advertising more of our tarot reading in the store. Both Jac and I have been getting in practice, and finding ways to hone our skills so that we can better do readings for those that visit. I decided to try an Instagram “reading a day” challenge, and pulled out one of the newest decks in my personal collection to practice with.

The deck I am using is Ostara Tarot. It is an artist collaboration deck with work by Molly Applejohn, Eden Cooke, Krista Gibbard, and Julia Iredale. This does make the imagry vary a bit from suit to suit, but not so badly that it feels disjointed.

Today’s challenge was a three card spread. I decided to focus on recent stresses in my life, hoping for some advice on how to handle them.

So without further ado, the card spread!

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For one, we will note that all of the cards ended up reversed. This is likely because as this is a new deck, while I shuffled significantly it’s possible they are still nearly all in one direction. So I evaluated based on both upright and reversed meanings. This guidebook does have better guides to the reversed meanings than most, so I am not as hesitant to use them.

Basis of the Situation: The World. For me, the very first thing that came to mind when looking at this card was a feeling of being overwhelmed. There is so much… everything! The World is also a card of cycles, and as the last card of the Major Arcana, a card of completion. A lot of unrest and work in my life is finally reaching a point of completion I have hoped for. I just moved into a new home, and the sale of my old one is finally going through, After two years of regular travel between multiple homes, I can finally settle back in with my husband. It has been so active for so long, it is hard to actually feel that completion. That difficulty reaching a sense of closure is one of the meanings indicated in the reversed card. It is also a warning to let things complete in their own time, and not to cut corners just because you want things over with.

The Now: Four of Cups. A woman with three cups in front of her disdains the fourth cup that is being offered. The image is one of being closed off, of not letting people in. With that sense from The World, there is also a feeling of so much being on the plate, you don’t want to add to it. But these are not bad goings on – these are good things, opportunities, and connections. It may seem like a lot, but you need to open up to them. Reversed also indicated coming opportunity, and a desire for connection. Share what you feel and let yourself be content. This also connects with recognizing when something is complete and embracing that!

The Outcome: Six of Cups. This is a card of innocence and fresh perspective. Since we are starting with The World, this is also a card reminding us of new beginnings. One cycle is over – it is time to remember the childlike joy of beginning something new. It is hard when you are looking at everything that still needs to be done, but there is also still opportunity to be embraced and fulfilled. Reversed reminds us not to dwell if things of the past are not fulfilled to our expectations.

So much of this reading can be summed up well with a great message for the new year: Letting go is hard, but as cycles come to an end it is time to embrace the new!