The Hobbit Tarot

Who could resist a hairy toed tarot? The Hobbit Tarot created by Peter Pracownik and Terry Donaldson follows Bilbo Baggins in his adventures as a parable for our own quests and challenges. The mythic world of JRR Tolkein combines with the symbology and system if the tarot, which represents our sties to self actualization.  As the author says,  "the beauty-and genius- of the Tarot is that as a set of simple pictures it holds universal appeal. It provides a very simple, yet profound way of looking at ourselves... (which) can lead to greater understanding and self-realization."

Three new card spreads are presented: a twelve card "Ring of Gollum" spread that puts the card in a circle that follows the houses in an astrology chart; Then a nine card "Sword of Aragon" spread, which looks at both past influences and future expressions; and a very pleasing fourteen card spread, where the cards are laid out in a spiral and read in a storytelling fashion, starting at the center and moving outwards.

This is a wonderful deck for anyone who was entranced with Lord of the Rings. The 96 page booklet is very detailed in it's description of the card and it's divinatory meaning, including reversed cards. Shuffling through the cards face up, the images reminded me of first reading of the epic back in the fifth grade, and I thought about my own journey on the earth over the last forty six years. I cut the deck into three, pulling cards:

Where am I now: Nine of Coins -  Bilbo is seen with the Arkenstone out under a new moon, making the difficult decision to turn it over to the Bard. This card brings a sense of arrival, achievement, heightened self reliance and self worth with a warning against excessive enjoyment.

Where am I coming from: Eight of Cups - two eagles swoop in the sky while the silhouette of a horse and rider head towards the mountains. The traditional card of retreat or withdrawal, the divinatory meaning speaks to looking for something on a deeper level, commitments, and trust in being guided.

Where I am going: VIII - Strength - Gandalf Leans against a rune stone, taking a moment to fill his pipe and find the strength in resting awhile. The message here is take control by accessing inner strength and a need fir determination. A gentle touch combined with emotional strengths can be a way to deal with problems.

Blessed be.

Dark Heart Mandala

For my master's degree, I took an elective on mandala art. We worked from a few texts, my favorite being Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing by Judith Cornell, PhD. I will be posting my own mandalas here on my blog, and encourage you to create your own. It was therapeutic, engaging, and most importantly, fun! I used colored pencils on black construction paper, both purchased from my local art store.

For this mandala, i have to say I love how the luminous effects are an interplay between dark and light, and I found myself thinking a lot about the recent work we did on "owning the shadow" in the hypnotherapy program that I teach at Twin Lakes College, and the need to embrace and integrate all the aspects of the self to create that feeling of enlightenment.

Secrets to Abundance

• In the ancient art of Feng Shui, spaces (home, office, room, property) are divided up into nine sections, each with a specific “life value” or focus. For today's talk, I am focused on two: Wealth & Abundance (always the furthest corner in the room from the door) and Helpful Beings, (found in the first right hand corner in relation to the door).

• As opposites attract, and balance is often key to resolving any blocks in energy flow, we as business women are often aware of how being in service has a correlation with our income and cash flow. One way to increase our positive cash flow energy is to focus on helpful beings, ie helpful people, friends, family, colleagues, team members, networks and community as well as spirit guides, angels, ancestors  - “all visible and invisible beings”.

• Cigar boxes, pencil boxes, hat boxes, a large bowl, a mason jar - anything can serve as your helpful people box. Nothing too big - you don’t want to psychically burden yourself! Personalize by decorating with pictures of friends, family, spirit guides, goddesses, angels, pets, animal guides, etc. Images of multiples e.g. a ring of fairies has a different feel than a single fairy.

• Helpful people boxes bring chi, positive energy to this life station, whether or not you reinforce it by also placing the helpful people box in the helpful people corner. Bring intention to another life value if placing it in another area e.g. “I now invite helpful people into my career and on my life path.”

• What do I put in it? Business cards, Leads slips, post it notes, index cards, magic money (if making a check out to yourself, mark it VOID), prayers, quotes, fortune cookie messages, written intentions (80% of what we write down comes true in a year - Well Adjusted story), something to represent YOU, your business (gift certificates, flyers). I keep a small notepad in my morning meditation space & start each day by putting in my clients.
• These are emotional deposits- prayers for people who have been helpful to you, e.g. “ Joanne Gramo has always been a helpful person to me. Let her now receive all the help she needs from all the visible and invisible helpful beings, this or something better now occurs for the greatest good.”

• “Unhelpful People” - people who are a pain in your life, soon either become helpful or become resolved. Praying for your enemies builds compassion as well as frees you emotionally - you know you’ve done your best, by turning it over to a higher power(s). E.g.. “May my annoying neighbor now receive all the help he needs to find a different home & move out, or become a helpful person to me by shutting the f* up, this or something better now occurs for the greatest good.”

• It is a symbolic act, and each time you see or use your box, you will be affirming the messages inside. It acts as a psychic “back burner”.

• Clean it out! Don’t let it get cluttered - I clean mine out with each change of season, and any other time I feel my “Power & Money” feels stuck - back to opposites attract, remember? Acts as a psychic “tickler” file for those spells in progress. It’s okay to have more than one - helpful people & spells in progress, home & office, individual & shared, etc.

• Feel the power of focusing your intentions, and visually see your emotional deposits grow. Feel gratitude for your connections and feel your true success.

Thank you for allowing me to be a helpful person to YOU!
Please feel free to contact me for more information, future workshops & lectures or for a personal session.

Kayla Garnet Rose, CHT
Certified Hypnotherapist, Santa Cruz, CA

Reiki Hand Mandala

This was one of my favorite exercises. After outlining my left hand, I felt the use of the white pencil to radiate the shape was the perfect symbol for reiki energy. I added a quote my Assata Shakure, " ...I believe in the magic of the hands and the wisdom of the eyes..."

Note: For my master's degree, I took an elective on mandala art. We worked from a few texts, my favorite being Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing by Judith Cornell, PhD. I will be posting my own mandalas here on my blog, and encourage you to create your own. It was therapeutic, engaging, and most importantly, fun! I used colored pencils on black construction paper, both purchased from my local art store.

Art Through The Eyes of The Soul Oracle

 "As an artist my highest aspirations is the infusion of Spirit into matter."- Cheryl Yambrach Rose

Access mythic beings and divine entities that exist in sacred sites through the recently released Art Through The Eyes of The Soul Oracle, painted and written by Cheryl Yambrach Rose, published by US Games Systems. Fifty-two over sized cards with gilded sides have images from original oil paintings andare accompanied by 108 page guidebook. Romantic, visionary and inspiring, these cards provide mystical guidance as well as deep insights into personal solutions by meditating upon the image and the sacred texts provided.

Each card is anecdotal in itself, reminiscent of fairy tale illustrations combined with the tapestries that graced Avalon of old. An affirmation is written on each card, however the guide book provides an expanded meaning with history, mythology and suggestions for incorporating the wisdom offered in everyday life. Rose suggests drawing a single card for daily guidance, or a three card spread - present, influence and guidance. There are iPhone and iPad apps that do three card layouts as well.

After opening the deck for the first time, I smudge the cards with sage and carefully look through the deck, noticing which ones catch my attention, speak to my deeper self. Then I shuffle the cards over and over, infusing them with my energy while creating chaos in the random disbursement of cards. I do my own personal favorite layout. I pull the first card with my left hand, coming from the heart. The second is with my right hand, coming from my head. The third card I use two hands, combining my heart and head together, creating my soul's purpose.


Heart card - A priestess is pulling a purple hood from her face. She is arising from a turquoise sea, and her braids that did into the primordial water are really spirals of DNA. She wears a gold crown and in the background is the new moon clustered in the Pleiades. Entitled "Beneath the Veil of Sophia" this card affirms create, activate your DNA, let the arts be a catalyst to bringing ideas into form, to create from one's dreams and heart's wisdom.

Head card - An angel dressed in white robes and veil crosses her hands over her heart. Between the tips of her lavender wings we see the planet earth, while in her lap there is a gold medallion. This card is called "Earth Rapture" and posits protection, guidance, feelings of being cherished, universal love and the golden age being born.

Soul card - A woman stands at the base of a mountain holding a lamp and walking stick, looking towards the rising sun. This is "The Hermit" who is here to encourage sharing wisdom, speaking one's truth and shining one's light. New life is beginning to take form and wisdom is waiting to be taught.

These are sumptuous cards, the Godiva chocolate of oracle decks, meant to be savored slowly, shared only with those who truly appreciate the finer things in life. Gift yourself or a loved one if you are a connoisseur of mythic art and would like to experience excellence in spiritual portraiture.

Blessed be.

Galaxy Mandala

For my master's degree, I took an elective on mandala art. We worked from a few texts, my favorite being Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing by Judith Cornell, PhD. I will be posting my own mandalas here on my blog, and encourage you to create your own. It was therapeutic, engaging, and most importantly, fun! I used colored pencils on black construction paper, both purchased from my local art store.

For the beginning exercises, I enjoyed creating the scale of light, playing with the subtle pearl shades of a nautilus shell unfolding across my black paper. It felt very tranquil and relaxing, just listening to the scratching of the pen and the rain outside while the drawing seemed to simply spiral out by itself. Here I tried a few variations, my favorite being a spiral unfolding into a galaxy full of stars and moons. It felt light and playful, a joyful moment in creation.

7 Affirmations for Inner Balance

I am balanced in my mind.
I am focused and engaged in creative and productive ways.

I am balanced in my vision.
I allow myself to dream and I follow through on my ideas.

I am balanced in my communication.
I listen attentively and I speak my truth compassionately.

I am balanced in my heart.
I am here to give love and I am here to receive love.

I am balanced in my belly.
I am beauty and I am laughter.

I am balanced in my boundaries.
I take in what I need and I let go of what no longer serves me.

I am balanced at the root of my being.
I attract what I need to grow and I fulfill all my desires.

Blessed Be.

(kgr 2006)