Ghosts and Spirits Tarot

While are ancestors and those who have passed are always around us, certainly it is at this time when the veils are the thinnest at Samhain that the Ghosts and Spirits Tarot by Lisa Hunt seems the most appropriate tool. Published by US Games Systems, this 79 card deck explores international supernatural lore and legend. Messages are delivered from the beyond through these ethereal images, illuminating our current situations, bridging past, present and future.

The author was always a sensitive child, picking up energies in her surroundings and compelled to transcribe her visions in order to bridge the physical and spirit worlds. She was fascinated, like all of us, by how do we as humans reconcile life and death, honor the dead, and prepare for the afterlife as expressed through many sources of lore and legend. As Hunt puts it, "Let the ghosts and spirits talk to you and help you dissolve the barriers between conscious constraint and objective inner reflection... (they) are messengers (and) a conduit for further communication and understanding."

Hunt presents a five card spread called The Realm of the Spirits spread to unearth whatever haunts your past and to free yourself to enjoy the present. The five cards pulled are:

1. Spirit of the Present: The right now, inspirations, concerns, anything that feels missing.
2. Ghost of the Past: whatever is lurking from the past that needs liberating
3. What frightens you: What is buried in the subconscious and needs to be faced and confronted.
4. What lifts your spirits: that which brings joy and liberation that needs to be embraced more fully.
5. Spirit of the Future: one you have removed the cobwebs of doubt, you are ready to move towards your chosen destiny.

I shuffle the deck, first the standard seven times for randomness, then thirteen times as it seemed appropriate. I am a wimp by nature and my daughter laughed when she saw the deck, knowing I am easily spooked. With the intention to look my demons in the eye and bid us to become allies, I pulled the following cards:

1. Present: Queen of Pentacles. A pale yellow card reminds me of the harvest, a dour looking queen wanders the fallow fields surveying the first sprinklings of snow. Dressed in white, she carries an amulet. Here is Cailleach Bheur, the Scottish bringer of winter storms, a reminder of the necessity for cycles of change and to make plans for the future.

2. Past: 3 of Pentacles. Three wraiths seem to juggle three different disks deep inside a cave, blocking a pathway that has stone spirits guarding the way. Considered the Divine Dead, the Manes inhabit crypts and burial monuments. The card represents a time to renew or create skills, and to acknowledge how individuals contribute to team effort.

3. Fear: 8 of Swords. A skeletal being reaches for the hilt of one of eight swords. In the background are many skulls, seeming to me like the echoes of the past, regret and remorse. The Flying Dutchman represents being indifferent, restrictive thinking, and feelings of futility.

4. Joys: 8 of Pentacles: one of the more positive images, a small bald headed gnome in a green tunic pauses between two enchanted trees who seem engaged in gossip. You know, they herd it through the grape vine. The Kobold from Germany is a household spirit who are helpful as long as respected, a reminder to work hard, be skillful and invest wisely.

5. Future: The Chariot. The only major arcana pulled, a figure labors through the snow by the edge of the treelike, staff in hand. In the background we see skeletal figures on horses, blades drawn, trampling across the night sky. More spectral faces fill the cosmos as birds take flight on the horizon. This is The Wild Hunt, signifying the polarities and a time to take action.

I love stories and mythology, and certainly the Ghosts and Spirits Tarot has added to my repertoire  of lores and legends. I intend to convey to my clients in order to give them comfort, hope and ways to let go of the past, to properly grieve and mourn that which has died, whether a relationship, business, deeply cheriched concept or actual being who has passed to the other side.

Blessed be.

Star of Life Mandala

In creating this mandala, I liked the build up of the numerology: from one blank page, to the duality of white pencil on black paper, the introduction of the three primary colors, now adding the secondary, creating a six, just like the star of David shape in this exercise. I added three pencils to my mix and pondered the ways I have added new tools to my practice over the years, and how this has allowed for a finer refinement of tints and shadows, literally and metaphysically.

8 Tips for Transformation

• Drink water: no ice – you’ll drink more; same with using a straw. When you urinate, consciously let go of whatever has been pissing you off lately. Same when you defecate – say out loud, “I now release all this old crap.” Notice that as you release the accumulated emotional and physical toxins, the sense of well being and serenity that permeates your body.

   • Breathe: take in what you need, and let go of what no longer serves you. Take deeper and deeper breaths until you feel the richness in your veins. Laughter is the best medicine – Breathe into your Buddha belly and feel a big belly laugh whenever you want to feel high.

• Purify: hot showers, hot baths, hot tubs saunas: release toxins naturally and effectively. Transmute old poisons, shed your skin, wash away the past to feel cleansed and renewed. Neti pots cleanse the sinuses & clear the head of congested thoughts.

• Cry: with a friend, a counselor, your favorite pet, a sappy movie, or yourself. Release grief, disappointment, guilt, heart break, frustration and the chemical compounds found only in emotional tears.

• Combine modalities: Chiropractic, acupuncture, traditional therapy, Reiki, nutrition and massage support the mind-body connection made during hypnosis. Ask for personal recommendations.

   • Meditate: Start your day by simply stating your intentions, take a moment to visualize them as if they have already occurred, feel that in your body, and breathe it into every cell of your being. To further amplify this frequency, write in your journal, speak your truth, or better yet, sing your truth. Attract what you need in order to grow.

    • Love your body: Feed yourself good, yummy foods that you truly enjoy to nourish your whole being; play with your body, dance, do yoga, go roller skating, get an exercise ball, stretch. Get rid of your scale – you’ll be surprised how much happier you’ll feel.

   • Sleep: as much as you want to. Take naps. Remember your dreams. Your mind and body are doing the repair work. This is where deep healing occurs. Allow yourself to go to bed when you want to, and to wake up when you want to. Get rid of your alarm clock – you’ll be surprised how easily you wake up when you need to, feeling rejuvenated, relaxed and refreshed, ready for a new day.

• Laugh: all the way to the bank, in your car, during dinner. make people wonder what you are up to. Smile at strangers. Make eye contact. Make “I contact”.

• Have fun!

copyright kayla g. rose 2008, 2012

Pick a card, any card: The Playing Card Oracles

By their numbers, suits and pictures
The cards communicate
And begin to tell their story
Each time we shuffle fate.
-CJF

The Playing Card Oracles Divination Deck by Ana Cortez and CJ Freeman has a regular deck of 52 playing cards, each transformed by original artwork to invoke the wisdom of the ancient oracles. Here, the LWB is definitely our friend and guide to interpreting the archetypes and symbols of each card and revealing hidden meanings. With irrisitable names such as 10 of Diamonds, Tendra and 9 of Spades: The Throne of Spiders each card beckons for more investigation. Ultimately though, as the author states, "let the images, the colors, and the total picture of the cards in your layouts inspire your interpretations. The magic is inside *you*."

Very clearly not a tarot deck, instead the author links the 52 cards with the calendar and 52 weeks to a year. Cortez presents two spreads, the Present Spread and the Cats Spread, both of which use the cards in a way to look at the weeks and months to come.  She also suggests to look at the 4 card spread as if looking at a person, the bottom card relating to issues of the earth, feet, home, career, possessions etc of a foundational nature; the next card relating to water, the torso, love and emotions; the third card speaking to the air, throat, ideas and communication; and the top card representing fire, the head, what is dominating the reading and what the seeker is most aware of in the current situation.

After shuffling the deck seven times, focusing on what was grounding me (feet), what was moving me (heart/womb/torso), what was I talking about/listening to (throat) and what was most on my mind (head) I pulled the following cards:

For my first card I pulled 11 of Spades, Pampero, a shirtless man in striped tights is holding a thin épée loosely in his hands, looking somehow both amused and battle scarred. "This Jack makes a loyal ally or formidable adversary. Unlike his one sided brother in hearts, La Hire, who hides his other side, Pampero seems to be lacking in any great dimension."

The second card was 9 of Clubs, Galahad, a knight in full armor kneels upon a cushion win the clouds while gazing upon a Grail centered in the sun. "...associated with idealistic vision, and the tendency to become disconnected from reality."

The next card was 2 of Diamonds: The Rivals.  My first instinct was to say a succubus in evening gloves lounges on a cloud while a man gasps for air below her, his body half buried in the earth. "Rivalry or clash within our lives can create the push that brings our personal best." originally the card I resisted the most when I pulled it, this lesson actually rings the most true in my life right now.

The last card was 2 of Hearts: The Lovers. A man and a woman are back to back, bound together by ropes, both at the chest and one arm at the elbow. Each has their free arm outstretched, pointing or beckoning to something beyond our sight. "Two hearts are bound together in a relationship, tethered by the sweet and bitter cords of emotion." for what is most on my mind, this certainly ran true.

A very different reading from the upbeat, optimistic Art of Life reading, I certainly know the perfect goth person who would enjoy these cards and get a lot out of them.  There is also a full length source book available, The Playing Card Oracles by Ana Cortez, presenting the history and methodology for card reading. Beautifully illustrated by her father, C. J. Freeman, who also provided stories and poems for the book.

Blessed be.

Thoughts on Reiki

What is Reiki? A good question. I have been an astrologer and tarot reader for a number of years, and I noticed that during my sessions I would run incredibly hot. I learned to wear short sleeve shirts and slip off shoes even in winter, to send the nervous energy through my feet into the earth to be grounded for my client. Then I heard about Reiki, the passing of energy for the most beneficial good, and instantly became intrigued. It has been an amazing way to help my clients get unstuck, whether combined with hypnotherapy or as a modality on it's own.

Developed by Dr. Usui in the early 1900s in Japan, Reiki is one way to tap into universal energy and channel that energy into a being, space or situation. When I enrolled in my first course, I expected to learn some techniques much like my notion of learning massage. To my surprise, what we really did was about fifteen hours of meditation, after being attuned and learning secret symbols that facilitate the flow of energy and the release of blocks and negativity. I had a profound vision during my Reiki I class, that included being deeply in service and a vision of washing Jesus's feet with my hair, cleaning his wounds and assisting him. I was not brought up Christian, so this was a very unexpected. After this class, I was qualified to perform self reiki, to pass energy through my own body to facilitate relaxation and thus the healing process. I also noticed a new relationship with animals - cats would come running up to me in the street, a phenomenon I like to call reikitty.

After year of practice,  I went for Reiki II in order to learn how to assist others. Another fifteen hour meditation ensued, learning more symbols and becoming attuned to Reiki energy through the Reiki master. Once again I set my intention to being in service for my clients, and this time I saw myself before Mary Magdalene, washing her feet with my hair, wiping away her tears, knowing my role is to offer comfort and compassion to those who have suffered loss and grief.

And so I decided to go for my Reiki mastery, the ability to do distance healings as well as deepening my wisdom. I had been through a period of conflict and inner confusion, and I set the intention to experience clarity. On the second day of our atunements, nine women circled me on the massage table, the last one to receive the Reiki energy that day. One woman laid her hands on my temples, another on my ankles, the others forming a linking bridge to continuously pass energy through my being. Clarity, clarity, clarity, I chanted when Jim Carrey appeared...

Yes, Jim Carrey, snorting like crazy, a bottle of sinus medication in one hand, laughing at me, saying, "Clarity? You want Clarity? Try this for clariry, Kayla! Try lightening up!" Yes, how to cultivate lightheartedness, how to see humor in my situation, how to in ire my clients through the ultimate medicine, laughter.

I have a deep respect for Reiki and practice every day, both on myself and with my clients. But I always have a secret smile before we begin, blessing the situation in the name of Jesus, Mary and Jim...

Just for today...

I let go of anger, knowing I can gently express my inner needs
I let go of worry, choosing to trust that I have been heard
I am deeply thankful, to a kind and benevolent universe
I am focused on my work in creative and productive ways
I am kind and loving, to myself and all beings

I am willing to laugh, at myself and all that delights me...

Blessed Be.

(Adapted from the 5 principles of Reiki)

Art of Life Tarot

 The real voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes, but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust

As I have confessed before, I am a quotaholic: I am powerless over a good quote. And what better way to have a quote a day to fulfill my quota than the  Art of Life Tarot Deck by Charlene Livingstone. This stunning deck combines three of my passions: art, tarot and quotes, but what really impressed me the most was the packaging. The cards come in a box where the lid folds up into a nifty little pop up frame, complete with a clear plastic cover, making this a wonderful accoutrement for your desk or altar.

The Art of Life, recently published by US Games Systems, can be used for traditional tarot readings but for me works best as my daily affirmation. For years it has been my practice to pull a tarot card everyday, and these delightful cards have added a new layer of literature and art appreciation to my life. While the oversized cards were difficult for my small hands to shuffle, they truly do the art and quotes justice, any smaller and details would have been lost. The card backs have a beautiful detail of The Tree of Life by Gustav Klimt.

Developed by Livingstone when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she found herself using the tarot as a way to find meaning and comfort rather than a mere hobby. A vivid dream inspired her combine her experiences and sense of purpose to give others a means to also help themselves. She writes in the LWB, "most importantly, I created the Art of Life because I wanted to empower the reader...to give (a) sense of strength, possibility and optimism... To encourage contemplation and for the reader to discover that the answers to life lie within."

Indeed, The Little White Book(LWB) is quite sparse in it's description and meaning of each of the cards,  but it will be clear to the expert reader that each one is a good representation of traditional meaning. Novice readers might find the deck confusing if they are trying to learn basic numerology and the five elements, but certainly they will enjoy the rich tapestry of images and inspiration that the cards provide.

I decided to do the Creativity Spread provided in the LWB:
Card 1 - Inspiration: What inspires you to do the best work possible?
Card 2 - Influences: Who or what has influences you in your decisions and endeavors?
Card 3 - Challenges: What current challenges do you face in your life?
Card 4 - Process: Where are you in your current process? What do you need to do to reach your goals?
Card 5 - Final Outcome: What are the results of your creative endeavors or current projects?

I shuffled the cards, thinking about my current creative projects, ranging from rearranging the furniture recently with more of a feng shui approach to revamping my website while Mercury was retrograde, playing in my garden after a long hiatus and my recent introduction to ballroom dance classes with my sweetie. I thought about my own long term plans create a tarot deck, how slow the artwork seems to be coming along although the writing is done. After cutting the deck three times and asserting no attachment to outcome, I drew the following cards.

Card 1 - Inspiration: Four of Wands (Harmony, Fulfillment, Growth) "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson. Art: Red Vineyards at Arles by Vincent Van Gogh, 1888. Interpretation: A good reminder to review my long term visions and goals.

Card 2 - Influences: The Lovers (Love, Beauty, Choice) Quote: "The heart has reasons that reason cannot know." - Blaise Pascal. Art: Endymion by George Frederic Watts, 1869. Interpretation: Working with my partner in creative ways is a positive influence now, for example, our video series.

Card 3 - Challenges: The Magician (Will, Determination, Creative Power) Quote: "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." - William Henley. Art: Opus 217. Against the Enamel Background Rhythmic with Beats and Angels, Tones and Tints, Portrait of Felix Feneonin by Paul Signac, 1890. Interpretation: Yes, it is challenging to do it all by myself, but it is up to me to do the work.

Card 4 - Process: Page of Wands (Enthusiasm, Ambition) Quote: "It's never too late to be what you might have become." - George Eliot. Art: The New Armor by Franz Meyerheim, 1858. Interpretation: This is a message of energy to me,  as well a seeing being a teacher a part of my process.

Card 5 - Final Outcome: I was not content with drawing a minor arcana to end a reading, so I ended up pulling three cards, the first two being my steps to outcome.

• Two of Pentacles (Harmony, Achievement, Balance) Quote: "Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." - Franklin D. Roosevelt. art: Blue Dances by Edgar Degas, 1899. Interpretation: Enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

• Queen of Wands (Affability, Growth, Motivation) Quote: "The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own."- Benjamin Disraeli. Art: Madam Heriot by Pierre August Renoir, 1882. Interpretation: Nourish my energy and share the abundance of my wisdom.

• The World (Self Actualization, Fulfillment, Wholeness) Quote: "All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do... Build, therefore, your own world." - Ralph Waldo Emerson. Art: The Proportions of the Human figure by Leonardo da Vinci, 1492. Interpretation: I am a co-creator of this universe and I am now creating my reality exactly the way I want it.

Certainly a positive and optimistic reading, I am aware of pulling three wands (enterprise, development, creativity) and three major arcana (universal life stagehand major events) but the most significant card for me was The Lovers as my influence, for certainly my sweetie has been my muse, support and inspiration.  The Art of Life Tarot is indeed a treasure and will be treasured for generations to come.

Blessed be.

Chop Wood, Scratch Itch

Right now I am at happy hour at my favorite local restaurant. The sun is hot on my back, the music a pleasant background noise, the day feels unhurried and  accomplished at the same time. I love my California life, all that I have created, from the order and routine to the sudden surprises and chances for spontaneity.  It feels so good to be in a significantly different place than a few years ago - enjoying a relationship, enjoying a steady stream of clients, excited about future projects while staying present in the here and now.

I have a mild case of poison oak on my thumbs, either from weeding or the cats, and I ponder what has been nettling me, what irritants have crept under my skin to boil and itch. How does this excess fluid serve to protect, to heal, to bring awareness and attention where my body needs it most.

I spill salsa on my iPad, taking a moment to dab it off the virtual keyboard, pondering the changes in technology in my lifetime, all that has yet to come. I saw an article on wrist chips, saw a Dick Tracy type watch. Soon our children will be cloning sparrow wings to their backs, growing antennas from their heads as the click their jaw to make a phone call. I'm sure I'll seen old fashioned and obsolete, she who still marvels at texting.

As we move to more voice commands, clicking of icons and using abbreviations to communicate, I wonder not just at a basic loss of literacy and a turnoff a more symbolic time, just as the development of the funnies arose from the need to illustrate current events in the times of illiteracy, I wonder what will happen to our left brains, as the right more symbolic side is found reflected in society, as surely as videos and visual, passive culture has replaced Sunday drives and mornings with the new york times.

I rub my nails against my thumb and wonder if in the future a simple gesture would start my laundry, wash the dishes, have dinner prepared before I get home. Or does it just keep me grounded, in the here in now, chop wood, carry water, scratch itch...