TOOL SERIES - Tarot

 Merry meet, friends.

Image from RosieLea - Pixabay

The tarot is an ancient art of laying out and interpreting illustrated cards to gain insight into your past, present, and future. (Mind, Body, Spirit)

According to the dictionary - 

1. playing cards, traditionally a pack of 78 with five suits, used for fortune-telling and (especially in Europe) in certain games. The suits are typically swords, cups, coins (or pentacles), batons (or wands), and a permanent suit of trump.

   "tarot is a powerful way of revealing the truth about your life"

There are many different tarot deck designs. Browse the shop on Llewellyn.com and you'll be scrolling for some time, so pour yourself a drink and enjoy the view. 

When I was about twelve, my (step) mom gave me an interesting little pocket book by Dell Purse Books called Your Destiny in 36 cards. (published in 1969)  You'll find a copy at Abe Books . This book uses a standard deck of cards. I haven't used this in many years but I did dig it off my cluttered bookshelf this morning to share with you.

I have two decks that I really love working with. One is the Everyday Witch Tarot by Deborah Blake with beautiful artistry by Elisabeth Alba. There is a standard size deck (complete with guide book) as well as a mini set I have my eye on. 

I also have a Color Your Own Tarot Deck I picked up several  years ago at Barnes & Noble. I love this set because when I draw a card, I can use colored pencils to color in the image as I focus on the message the card wants me to receive while infusing my energy into the card - making it my own. 

There are many ways to read Tarot. You could choose to pull just one card every day. I like to keep a journal of my cards. For this I use the journal pages from MyLifeMyPlans on Etsy.  With this digital, I was able to print the pages out in any size. I chose a personal planner size.  Keeping a journal of your readings allows you to look back and see if there've been any changes in your tarot practice. 

Don't think you can read Tarot or interpret the cards? No problem. A lot of decks come with guide books or there is a wide variety of books available. One of my favorites is Illustrated Tarot Spreads. Also, as I was collecting links I found this one on Amazon. The price $11.11 - you know the numbers had my attention! The book is called Tarot Spreads Workbook.

Whether you have a deck you love or want to test the reading waters, check out the article on Llewellyn about Reading and Ceremony for Charging A Tarot Deck.

If you don't own a tarot deck or haven't pulled yours out in awhile, I encourage you to become familiar with this medium in your practice.

Blessed Be!

~ Rain

COLOR MY WORLD

Last week I mentioned how the Cherry Blossom bush didn't seem affected by the freeze. Unfortunately, the entire top of the bush got hit hard, only a few blossoms on the lower half survived. I clipped the last remaining one and brought it in to enjoy the scent as long as I could. With so few of them blooming, they scent did not permeate the yard as if the whole bush would have bloomed out.

While on a business trip to Springfield last week, I found a new Tarot deck. I really liked this one as I can really impart my own energy into the deck. Seems like everything is about coloring these days and while I'm not big on the adult coloring books (they don't hold the same appeal to me as a children's color book) this, however, spoke to me. I'm looking forward to relaxing hours on the deck with the colored pencils (included, though I may use my Prisma pencils instead)

What new tools and toys are finding their way into your bag of tricks? Enable me!

Blessings

~Rain

STUDY - The Everyday Tarot

Normally, I would put this under TOOLS but my next post for that isn't scheduled til the 7th. I didn't want to wait that long to show you my newest purchase. While in Springfield for a dental appt. last week I stopped in at Barnes & Noble on the off chance they'd have Miss Deborah's Tarot Deck. Yay!

So here's an unveiling of how the deck is packaged. 

First off, the box is gorgeous. Not a flimsy deck of cards style box but a beautifully crafted hinged lid box.

When you open the box, this is your first look at the contents:

 A navy grosgrain ribbon assists in removing the Guidebook. Lifting the book out, reveals the deck below, shrink wrapped to keep the cards crisp in shipping.

Pretty!

I plan to consecrate the deck next weekend and begin exploring the possibilities this deck holds. Of all the decks I own, I'm already 'feeling' this one and I've not popped the plastic. 

Blessings

~Rain

A NEW TAROT DECK!

No, not this one. I got this image from pixbaby.

However, there is a gorgeous new tarot deck out by Deborah Blake. The Everyday Witch Tarot released this month. I've been waiting for what seems, ever. I've known this deck was in the works but all things extraordinary take time - two years for this deck. You can read about the release on Deborah's January 2nd, post HERE.

Illustrator, Elisabeth Alba did an amazing job of bringing the images to life. And in all that time, the two never met in person until the deck was finished and being shipped. You can see Elisabeth's post about her first meet-up with Deborah HERE. 

I haven't purchased my deck yet, but I'm eyeing a signed edition in Elisabeth's Etsy shop.

Like everything else Deborah Blake puts her name to, she wants the tool to be user-friendly for every level of practitioner.. thus The EVERYDAY Witch.

Llewellyn publications calls this: Charming images pair with simple explanations to make this the go-to deck for anyone seeking to learn or practice the tarot. 

Whether you are familiar with Tarot, never used a deck or looking for a new deck to work with this year, I suggest The Everyday Witch Tarot. 

Blessings!

~Rain

The Christmas Tarot

I just received the most beautiful set of Tarot. This is not your every day tarot deck. For those of you who love Victorian designs, this set is perfect for you or as a Yule gift.

Author of Tarot for Writers, Tarot specialist Corrine Kenner sent me an email this afternoon with the following note...

I am excited to announce my latest project: a Christmas tarot deck, inspired by the magic of a Victorian Christmas. It's electronic so you can download it in less than a minute. It also comes with a 45-page guidebook that you can read online. For more information visit www.ChristmasTarot.com
Merry Christmas

I checked out the website and fell in love. Of course, that led to purchasing. Normally, this deck will cost $9.99 but during the 2009 holiday season you can download it for only $2.09! Wow!

Not only can you use the deck on-line, but you can use any photo-printing medium of your choice to print a hard copy 4x6 deck. The site even includes printing tips to get a great quality deck to work with.

Please remember to post to Corrine what you think of the deck. I'd love to hear your comments here, too.

Blessings
Rain