King of Swords Speaking

I was looking something up and happened upon the chart below.  I cannot tell you the delight to find the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) associated with the Tarot.  This is straight from Wikipedia but check it out.  If you are not familiar with MBTI, it is an excellent way to observe your own personality presentations and to understand where your difficulties with others arise.

Yes, ENTJ, at your service, The King of Swords, though you may call me Prince.

(I'm having trouble posting but will go for it and come back later and try to re-format.  Very excited to
share this infomration with you!!!)

Court cards and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Tarotists sometimes assign correspondences between the 16 court cards and the 16 types under the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality profile test. See Wikipedia article on Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for a discussion of the MBTI and the 16 MBTI types.

It should be noted that there is no one single universal system of correspondences between the 16 court cards and the 16 MBTI types. There have been a number of different systems of court-to-type correspondences identified by tarotists.

[edit]Table of various MBTI correlation

#	Valet of Batons	Knight of Batons	Queen of Batons	King of Batons		Valet of Cups	Knight of Cups	Queen of Cups	King of Cups		Valet of Coins	Knight of Coins	Queen of Coins	King of Coins		Valet of Swords	Knight of Swords	Queen of Swords	King of Swords	source:
1	INFP	ENFP	INFJ	ENFJ		ISFP	ESFP	ISFJ	ESFJ		ISTP	ESTP	ISTJ	ESTJ		INTP	ENTP	INTJ	ENTJ

Oh, the joy of a new deck. There are so many to choose from, that your Christmas stocking should be heavy with variety.  Today Mary K. Greer, tarot icon, posted this on Facebook and I needed to share it with you!

Mary K. Greer

I'm very happy to announce that the new edition of Oswald Wirth's great classic, _Tarot of the Magicians_, is now out with an extensive introduction by me. This edition also contains a copy of the 1889 Wirth deck on card stock at the end of the book, which you can cut out. This is the first edition of the deck to be published since its initial printing of 350 copies. Of course, you'll want two copies of the book - one with the cards left intact and a second copy from which you'll cut out the cards to use.
http://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Magicians-Occult-Symbols-Inspired/dp/1578635314/

Tarot of the Magicians: The Occult Symbols of the Major Arcana that Inspired Modern Tarot

www.amazon.com

Tarot of the Magicians by Swiss occultist artist and author Oswald Wirth was first published in Paris in 1927, and a Weiser edition was later released in 1985.

May God bless...

May Buddha bestow...

May Aakash anoint...

May Jehovah rejoice...

and may the Goddess keep all these Guys in line!

- Casey Jones DuHamelM

The Chariot

 

The Chariot

The Secret Tarot (mini deck)

 Lo Scarabeo

Moving right along...have you noticed the energy?  Flowing, going, dashing right along even with Mercury retrograde.  An interesting time to pull The Chariot and see what direction you're going.

I've been called to mini decks lately.  See my column in The Stone Moon's ezine newsletter at http://thestonemoon.com (On the top bar, click on Newsletter and scroll down to "Unveiling the Arcana" by yours truly.

Each artist's image invites us to see deeper or different opportunities for a card.  Here are some overall words to trigger walking along The Chariot's path:  Beginning, starting, causing, stimulating, controlling, breathing through, self development, releasing, trusting, insight, building up/letting go, conflict and resolution.

In most deck our charioteer does not hold the reins.  Does s/he will the forward movement or is the motion already in progress and s/he rides along trusting her Higher Power.

The Chariot, number Seven, or number Sixteen, The Tower, (1 +  6 = 7) dance in a constellation (see Mary K. Greer or Angela Arrien) that expand our perception of this card who moves with the energy of Cancer.  One commentator says that's Mars in Cancer.  There is a bit of brusque energy that rides or hides in this card.

In Rotarota Tarot Study Group, the focus is on personal intuitive connection with the cards.  Here are some highlights from a meditation on The Chariot:  yin/yang, movement, surfing, third chakra, wolf heart, come down off your soap box, ceremony, spirit guides, making peace, Celtic knot work, stepping through the threshold, balancing the woo-woo with everyday life, balancing in the now, wand of sovereignty, stars of hope and inspiration, changing, throwing away old ways of expressing myself, chariot of the mind, what is sexy in my life?, power and guidance of the sphinx, timeless, holding still until it is the right time to move, warrior goddess, forging beyond barriers, symphony of the spheres, alert, awaiting the next step, royalty, brave, two sides in harmony.

Select The Chariot from one of your decks.  Take time to really look at the images.  Let go of preconceived ideas about what it "should" indicate.  What does The Chariot say to you right now?  We have four or five magnifying glasses on the table to examine some of the intricacies of a card.  Sometimes a new image will be seen for the first time.  I peered through a magnifying glass and saw the surfer in James Wanless' Voyager Tarot for the first time.  Be surprised.  Write down what you see, what you feel.  Give The Charioteer a voice.  Let her or him speak to you.

Have fun.  

Arcana in the Outback

Nestled in Colorado's Outback are healers, spirit walkers, conjurers of good will, women who walk dry paths to bring light and joy to the high plains.

Elizabeth is a small town that changes yet stays the same, shimmering as the heart of the endless prairie.  Once it was an artists' colony with dirt roads.  On the outskirts today Walmart reminds us of change.

I walk down Main Street.  The Carlson Building, for decades the only public gathering place, is now a used clothing store.  Jeff's exquisite rug shop is only a memory.  I wonder where Lisa teaches yoga now.   A new Apothecary shop lures me and I wander along jars filled with marinating herbs and spices and smile.

Next to the Wildflower, the best saddle repair shop for decades, is the Karma Cottage.  Magic comes to Main Street.  I am delighted with all the physical tools to encourage spirit into our daily lives.  It reminds me The Stone Moon in Bellingham, Washington.

Not only do I find must-have Celtic earrings but two books by long time friends.  I buy a copy of Eva Black Tail Swan's book.

Connie Lehman and I talked of her artwork on the Major Arcana many years ago.  Like all magic, the idea comes first, then the work and finally~voila, in my hands, a beautifully produced book and deck of 22 cards, written with Irene Clurman.  The Fool rejoices.

Find more about Connie's deck at:

          tarotlifecards.com

The Lovers Knock on your Door

When The Lovers Knock on Your Door

A wind blows clouds asunder.  Blue sky opens to higher power, the realm of unseen helpers.

But what's in your face?  What choices dominate your monkey mind?

This month women of Tea & Tarot slept with The Lovers and invited them in for tea.  My Lovers card flipped behind the bed, out of reach and I had to ask my lover to retrieve it for me.  Asking for help is not what I usually associate with this card.  But I will now.  An aspect of this engaging image, asking and receiving, knowing what the choice is and accepting the outcome.  We gather to find our own understanding of the cards, to enhance our perceptions, to "own" the deck.

First I see the importance of integrating the masculine and feminine within.  Once we blend  these two aspects, we can be more successful in our relationships, in making wiser choices, in stepping out of our comfort zone to experience new horizons.

Today we celebrated one year of tarot study, gathering once a month and examining the Major Arcana in sequence and as it relates to the pip cards and the tarot constellations as developed by Angeles Arrien and Mary K. Greer.

The Thoth deck Lovers

Each deck offers symbols that pull us into greater understanding of ourselves.  Do you have a favorite deck?  What do The Lovers ask of you?

 

 

  

Blue Moon 2012

Sunset on Lake Whatcom

We walk to shoreline, looking down the lake toward Bellingham as the sun glows a soft apricot on water.  Turning toward the spit, we walk hand in hand as the air chills.  We pause toward the end, not wanting to intrude on a couple fishing.  I stare into the deep clear water, our drinking water, too cold for a swim.

As we walk back, Michael points out a bench facing Stewart Mountain.  It is a new bench inscribed in memory of a couple.  We sit close.  I gather his warmth through my heavy jacket, hold his hand as he puts it in the pocket of the yellow fleece jacket I gave him years ago.  Still I'm cold waiting for moonrise.  I stretch my legs across his.  He is always warmer than I am.

Blue heron waits for blue moon

We watch the stillness of a blue heron practicing gigong as she waits for the blue moon.  She dives only once, flies flat just above the water line and returns for her vigil.  We wait.  I miscalculated the time of moonrise, forgetting to allow for the sight restrictions of the mountain across the lake, our favorite sky viewing spot.

We talk.  We listen.  We remember other full moons.  Seagulls squawk their impatience.  We are both cold now, cuddled up on that bench waiting.  Perhaps we are both just about to say "let's go home and have dinner."

"Look!"  I point and catch my breath with the intensity of the spotlight floating on the mountain ridge.  She rises quickly like a million wings lifting her.  A small glimmer of white water her first reflection.  Ducks circle in the growing water light.  Bats careen between us and the moon.  The silver light opens, a swath across the lake, touching us.  No one between us and the moon but her watery reflection and lake animals.

We bathe in blue moonlight for time without timing.  He is mesmerized by her sudden appearance and marvels as we walk back to the car.  No, he doesn't make gender references.  I do for surely the divine feminine is alive and well and linking me to the Universe tonight.

Photo credit:  C.J. Prince

When do The Lovers call you?

The Lovers from DruidCraft Tarot & Gaian Tarot decks

As I change the sheets, I gather up the stones under my pillow:  rose quartz, Tibetan tektite, amethyst, golden quartz, garnet, magnesite, aventurine, selenite, calcite.  And the DruidCraft Lovers card.

The tarot study group will examine The Lovers next month so everyone is invited to sleep with the card, observe dreams, and feelings upon awaking.  I've slept really well so far!  Except for the madness of the skies and the Perseid meteor showers flashing overhead.

Today The Lovers asked me what I was separated from.  (I'd stopped changing the sheets and went to the Gaian deck for another image.)  What is not integrated in my life that needs to be.  What do I want and how do I  choose to obtain it with harmony?  Is my masculine and feminine out of balance?  What are my choices today?  Keep it simple.

Even the astrological blurb in the Bellingham Herald this morning advised not taking on too much.  Making the bed may the height of today's accomplishments at this rate.

Do you look at one card at a time?  Really look at it?  Find out how it relates to your life now?  The invitation is always open.

Bright blessings as the Universe unfolds.

 You sit at your kitchen table with a circle of women.  Each one has a deck--or two--or more.  And you cannot help yourself.  You covet.  You share your decks as they share and oh, you do want that one, oh, and look, there at that Fool.  You simply must ...

That's how the Llewellyn Tarot deck got on my Must-Have List.  And now I do.  I go through the deck, peering at each card with recognition and surprise and delight.  A new deck brings new insights.  You cannot stay complacently thinking you know what each card will say.  They call out to you in new ways, give you hints you had not considered.

How do you get to know a new deck?  I usually sleep with it.  Haul it around with me at the bottom of my bag, pull it out and show it to friends.  I talk to it.  It talks to me.  We become friends.

I tried to order from Llewellyn, the publishers of this deck but the site would not allow me to order.  And I was in that must-have mode and impatient to go downtown to one of several metaphysical stores.  I ordered from Amazon and it arrived quickly.  Good luck with your next choice and getting to know a new friend.

Of course, there are women at the table who work exclusively with one deck.  They really know that old friend.  I wonder and wait to see what new friendship might lure them.  The possibilities are endless.

Sweet dreams, Deck Lovers.

Rachael Pollack

Check out Rachel's commentary:
http://globalspiritualstudies.com/shop/presentations/tarot/rachel-pollack-prophesy-oracles-fate-and-tarot/

Dannah Davidson doesn't believe in the tarot.  But her best friend Nirvana reads the cards and tells her what she sees.  Dannah overcomes the  terror of domestic abuse with the help of her friends in "Catching My Breath", available at Amazon.com

C.J.'s novel is published!!!

I am delighted to share the news of the day, the week, the month, okay, the year:
My novel is published and available at amazon.com

Dannah Davidson doesn't believe in the tarot cards or the angels she paints.  But her friends do.  Without them, she wouldn't be able to climb out of the abyss of domestic abuse.  To learn more,  order a copy today.  ;-)

Three women, three stories, one town...all in one book.  Joanne McLain and William Thomas write of two other women who learn to find happiness when it seemed beyond reach.  Three novels under the title:  "Catching My Breath."

 

The spring equinox is one of the four great solar festivals of the year. Day and night are equal, poised and balanced, but about to tip over on the side of light. The spring equinox is sacred to dawn, youth, the morning star and the east. The Saxon goddess, Eostre (from whose name we get the direction East and the holiday Easter) is a dawn goddess, like Aurora and Eos. Just as the dawn is the time of new light, so the vernal equinox is the time of new life. The New Year In many traditions, this is the start of the new year. The Roman year began on the ides of March (15th). The astrological year begins on the equinox when the moon moves into the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries, the Ram. The Greek God Ares is equivalent to the Roman Mars for whom the month of March is named. Between the 12th century and 1752, March 25th was the day the year changed in England and Ireland. March 25, 1212 was the day after March 24, 1211. I like to celebrate the festival of Nawruz, Persian New Year, which falls on the spring equinox. We fix a special dinner of seven food dishes that begin with ‘S.’ Since we don't know the Arabic names for food, we use English words and eat salad, salami, soup, squash, etc. The table is decorated with a mirror, a bowl of water with one freshly-picked green leaf floating in it, a candleabra containing a candle for every child in the house, a copy of the Koran (or other sacred text), rose water, sweets, fruit, a fish, yogurt and colored eggs. The Coming of the Spring Although we saw the first promise of spring at Candlemas in the swelling buds, there were still nights of frost and darkness ahead. Now spring is manifest. Demeter is reunited with her daughter, Kore (the essence of spring), who has been in the Underworld for six months and the earth once again teems with life. The month of March contains holidays dedicated to all the great mother goddesses: Astarte, Isis, Aprhrodite, Cybele and the Virgin Mary. The goddess shows herself in the blossoms, the leaves on the trees, the sprouting of the crops, the mating of birds, the birth of young animals. In the agricultural cycle, it is time for planting. We are assured that life will continue.

Robins Dance in the Spring!

Photo:  C.J. Prince

 

Article:  The Farmer's Almanac

http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-seasons

www.almanac.com

First Day of Seasons: 2012 and 2013

When Does Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Begin?

• The Reason for the Seasons

See chart below to see when seasons begin for 2012 and 2013—namely, the spring or vernal equinox, summer solstice, fall or autumnal equinox, and winter solstice.
The four seasons are determined by changing sunlight (not heat!)—which is determined by how our planet orbits the Sun and the tilt of its axis.

• On the first day of spring—the vernal equinox—day and night are each approximately 12 hours long (with the actual time of equal day and night, in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring a few days before the vernal equinox). The Sun crosses the celestial equator going northward; it rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west. See our First Day of Spring page!

• The first day of summer—the summer solstice—is the longest day of the year, the Sun reaches its most northern point in the sky at local noon. After this date, the days start getting shorter. See our First Day of Summer page!
   
• On the first day of fall—the autumnal equinox—day and night are each about 12 hours long (with the actual time of equal day and night, in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring a few days after the autumnal equinox). The Sun crosses the celestial equator going southward; it rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west. See our First Day of Fall page!
   
• The start of winter—the winter solstice—is the shortest day of the year, when the Sun reaches its most southern point in the sky at local noon. After this date, the days start getting longer. See our First Day of Winter page!

Seasons of 2012:
SPRING EQUINOX	March 20, 1:14 A.M. EDT
SUMMER SOLSTICE	June 20, 7:09 P.M. EDT
FALL EQUINOX	September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT
WINTER SOLSTICE	December 21, 6:12 A.M. EST

Seasons of 2013:
SPRING EQUINOX	March 20, 7:02 A.M. EDT
SUMMER SOLSTICE	June 21, 1:04 A.M. EDT
FALL EQUINOX	September 22, 4:44 P.M. EDT
WINTER SOLSTICE	December 21, 12:11 P.M. EST

Credit: NASA

Do you have a favorite deck?

Which ever deck I hold in my hands seems always to be my favorite!  Today a card from the Morgan-Greer Tarot fell to the floor...from somewhere!  The magic of working with these cards.  The deck was tucked in a lovely velvet bag on the other side of the room.  That's how the cards work, how a deck calls me.

The Morgan-Greer Tarot is an excellent deck for beginners, and a welcome breath of fresh air for those long blessed with tarot decks.

 In the  Rider-Waite tradition, the art work cleverly does a close up of the action. The cards are uniquely borderless, like you're in the scene, not observing from a distance.

I sorted my cards, the Majors and the suits into Rods, Cups, Swords, Pentacles, just checking to tally 78.  Except for that wayward card, the remainder was in order. 

The Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King

Major Arcana: Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World.

The Fool is 0.   Strength is 8  and Justice is 11.  I always check.  This is my preference though they are often reversed.  The natural progression of the Fool's journey seems to want Strength in the 8th position.

Whatever deck dances into your hands this day, enjoy its gift, the color, design, history and message for the moment.

The High Priestess reveals Herself in many Guises

The High Priestess settled under the cedar trees, listened at the dining table as her sisters spoke of her truths.  Rotarota:  Tea and Tarot met to dance with wisdom.  Here are some of the images received during writing meditation:

grace beauty mystery a woman blessed happiness purity balance

in control even in darkness

not afraid to make decisions 

she shines like the stars  wise 

she gives good advise   she weaves the web of all  that is

cerridwen

ever changing mood of all seasons

stream of time    growth and change

half concealed   oracle of delphi

in stillness comes the answer   this too shall pass

it is not always necessary to pass on all of your knowledge

guidance of the moon

The High Priestess asks

 Image by Mari-na

Demure as the Mona Lisa's smile, she waits at the beginning of the deck, following the flippant Fool and the eager manifestor the Magician.  This day she wishes your attention.  She is not just another card.  She offers solace in the long journey to the World. 

Here are her questions for you:
   Do you see me as a maiden or crone?  Why?
   Do you see me in your dreams?  Ask as you enter dreamtime for I will help you.
   What are you ignoring?
   When do you feel trapped? 
   What secret do you need to reveal?
   Why do you study tarot?
   What wise women support you?  How am I present in their faces?

From Joanna Powell Colbert

Gaian Soul: Waiting for Lady Spring

Illustration from "Folktales Children Love" by Watty Piper, ca. 1957

Gaian Tarot / Gaian Soul News from Joanna Powell Colbert "At the crossroads of Creativity, Nature & Spirituality . . . is Transformation."

March 6, 2012 ~ Gibbous Moon in Leo

Here in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, March begins in rain. And in snow. Yesterday I counted three kinds of snowflakes: big, fat, fluffy ones; thin watery ones; and hard pellets of hail. Today I woke to a chickadee's call. I hear a faint whisper: "Persephone returns!" They say that in Seattle (a hundred miles to the south), the salmonberry is in bloom, snowberry is leafing out, and the yellow lanterns of skunk cabbage are rising from the primordial mud. On the island, I'm told, the red-flowering currant is beginning to blossom. But not here. So yesterday I went to the woods in search of Spring. (Click here to read the rest of the story, and to see photos, sketches from my nature journals, and pages from a book I've owned since childhood. The story of Lady Spring in that book is responsible for imprinting me at a young age with a love for the Divine Feminine!) http://www.gaiansoul.com/2012/03/in-search-of-lady-spring/

C, I just wanted to let you know a little bit more about what we'll be doing in my e-course, Gaian Soul Practices for Spring, that starts next Sunday. In this session, we will emphasize nature journaling (with camera, drawing, and/or writing), on finding a "secret spot" outside, and closely observing the seasonal changes in your own (proverbial) back yard. (Not unlike the story I just shared with you!) We're also going to study some of the Maiden Goddesses and Goddesses of Spring, along with the myths of the dying and resurrected gods who were precursors to the Christian story we all know so well. If you've ever longed to experience the archetypal season of rebirth and resurrection in a mindful, creative, nature-based way -- this may be the course for you. Today, March 6th, is the last day for the early bird price. I'd love to have you join me and a warm circle of lovely souls who have already gathered to walk this path together. Class starts next Sunday March 11th, and lasts for five weeks. All the details are here. Let me know if you have any questions at all. Just hit "reply" to this email!

May the Greening of the Land Bring a Rebirth to your Soul, P.S. Here's what one happy student said about my Gaian Soul Practices for Candlemas course: "I so loved the course. It kept me centered and gave me new eyes to really see and appreciate this time of year when the earth is transitioning into Spring. I always thought of the post-Yule season as an endless time of seemingly barren winter, but through your course I was able to celebrate this time of the Land's new awakening. Since I love Brigid, it was so good to celebrate her sacred time too. Plus, now for the first time in my long life, I have a journal! I write, I 'draw' (not well but joyfully), I gather beautiful images from magazine and paste them in. I use watercolor pencils and have the best time illustrating my pages. I love it! It's reflective and healing and just fun. I even wrote a poem that is now enshrined in my new journal. :-) I realized how much I loved your course this weekend when my email box was empty, without a new week of reflections and real-time, hands-on activities that tie in with the season." -- Mimi C., New York Thank you Mimi! Gaian Soul Practices for Spring

Welcome new readers -- please join me on Facebook & Twitter so we can connect. To make sure you get the next issue of our newsletter, please add the email address joanna@gaiantarot.com to your email program, so that you have no trouble receiving future issues. If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If you've received this from a friend, we invite you to subscribe. Fill in the form below to receive a five-part video course, "An Introduction to the Gaian Tarot" PLUS a beautifully illustrated e-book of my nature essays, "Reflections on Place & Presence" -- and our monthly e-zine, too: Name Email Who is Joanna? Joanna Powell Colbert is an artist, author and teacher who offers practical inspiration for transforming your life, at the crossroads where Creativity, Nature and Spirituality meet. She teaches e-courses and workshops around the country on earth-centered spirituality, manifesting your dreams, creativity as a devotional path, and tarot as a tool for inner guidance and self-exploration. The Gaian Tarot, nine years in the making, combines Joanna's love of symbolic, archetypal art with the mysteries of Mama Gaia, the natural world. The mass market Llewellyn edition was released in September 2011, and a Collector's Edition is also available. Joanna blogs at www.GaianSoul.com. All Gaian Tarot images can be seen at www.GaianTarot.com. Join other Gaian Tarot lovers in circle at www.GaianTarotCircle.com.

Joanna Powell Colbert, 336 36th St. #172, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA

Check this out!

Omega Tarot Conference 2012 The Tarot: Readers & Deck Creators Imagine if you could go back 100 years to attend a seminar with A. E. Waite and Pamela Smith, creators of the Rider Deck, the world’s most famous tarot. What would it be like to have Waite and Smith teach you how to read the cards? This conference brings together an extraordinary group of tarot readers and tarot deck creators for a wonderful weekend of readings, art, and practical skills. This year’s conference features three tarot artists plus two deck conceptualizers. Discover what inspired them to “dream the tarot onwards,” creating new images and ideas deeply rooted in the tarot’s ancient traditions. No matter what your level as a reader or your knowledge of tarot is, learning directly from deck creators will help you develop you own natural abilities. Discover what inspires a new deck and what goes into the making of cards that really work. Guided by this passion and knowledge, we do readings—for ourselves, friends, and complete strangers. Creating new decks has changed these teachers’ lives. Learn how the passion for tarot can change yours. Bring your favorite decks, and ideas for your own deck, if you are creating one. Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack are also teaching Reading Tarot Cards With Magic & Wisdom; July 29-August 3. Teachers Caitlín Matthews is a writer and teacher acknowledged as a world authority on Celtic wisdom and the ancestral traditions of Britain and Europe. She is the author of more 60 books and the originator of three tarot decks: The Arthurian Tarot, The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot, and The Celtic Wisdom Tarot. hallowquest.org.uk Robert M. Place is an internationally known visionary artist, whose award-winning works in painting, sculpture, and jewelry, have been displayed in galleries and museums in the United States, Europe, and Japan. He is the designer, illustrator, and coauthor of The Alchemical Tarot and The Angels Tarot. thealchemicalegg.com Joanna Powell Colbert is an artist, writer, and teacher of tarot and earth-centered spirituality. Amber Lotus Publishers calls her one of “the most accomplished and well-loved artists in the Goddess-spirit community.” The Gaian Tarot, nine years in the making, combines her love of archetypal art with the mysteries of the natural world. gaiansoul.com Rachel Pollack is the author of 32 books, including two award-winning novels and the tarot classic, 78 Degrees Of Wisdom, referred to by readers, teachers, and tarot professionals as “the Bible of tarot readers.” She is also the designer and illustrator of the Shining Tribe Tarot. rachelpollack.com Mary K. Greer is a writer, teacher, and tarot reader whose innovative techniques are interactive, transformational, and empowering. She is author of 10 books, latest of which is Who Are You in the Tarot? She collaborated with Ed Buryn to create The William Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination. marygreer.wordpress.com

details

Course: SM12-3302-952

July 27 - 29, 2012

Rhinebeck, New York

Tuition: $345

accommodations and commuter fee

more information

cancellation policy

teachers

Joanna Powell Colbert

Mary K. Greer

Caitlin Matthews

Robert M. Place

Rache

Woo whooo! A new deck on the horizon!

So, you think you don't need another Tarot Deck?  Think again.  Doreen Virtue's new deck will be here soon!

Where does it begin? ROTAROTA....

In Rotarota :  Tea & Tarot
we focus on a card in the Major Arcana, relax and "listen " to what the card says and write it down, beginning to form our own intuitive connections with a card, not just memorizing what a book says The High Priestess means.

 Another Fool to guide us on the pathway through the stars.

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary.

For those who don't believe, no proof is possible".

The High Priestess: not just black and white

What deck do you use?  Pull the High Priestess, the illusive guide to the Major Arcana.  Spend some time with her.  Ask her a question and write out the answer.  Listen to her in your dreams.  Tuck the card under your pillow.  Ancient secrets shimmer here.

 

Ace of Wands

Affirmation from Tarot of the Masters for the Ace of Wands:

  "I am filled with self confidence, vitality and ambition."

                           ~James Ricklef

I "met" James on Facebook a few years ago, fell in love with his art work and classical inspiration for it and found his interpretations to be of the highest source.  He produces the deck himself but you can get his book "Tarot of the Masters" at amazon or any well stocked bookstore of metaphysical shop.

Be filled with self confidence, vitality and ambition for your greatest and highest good.

Bright blessings on this soft gray day of rain and brilliant cedars swaying in the wind!

But wait, there's more...from Brigit

The following from my Colorado friend Aine!

A Story of Brigid

On Her Feast Day

February 1, 2012

In my inner planes 'life' Brigid is one of my great guardians. For those of you who

have read my book The Flaming Serpent, you will know that Lugh, Áine, Brigid and Nuada

are my 'close inner planes kin'. There is ALOT of information available about 

Brigid if you 'google' her, but this information I am sharing is what I know

and perceive through my 'wanderings' with her on the inner, and from some of

the older stories. 

Although she would not say so herself (a true Being never claims their own mastery)

she is one of the Brightest Beings in the Inner Lands. She is known as the Flame of the Two

Eternities, the Triple Spiral of Delight. In my perception of her she is the

"Christed Child" of the Tuatha Dé Danann. I LOVE that this lineage is so feminine!

She is the daughter of Danú of the Great Everlasting (our Great Mother) and

Daghda the Sheppard of the Star Flocks (our Great Father). She is the

Morning Star, the Light that never fades (though we can't always see it),

the Light that marks the cycles of Celestial Time. 

 The 'story' goes something like this ~ a long, long time ago, I mean a VERY long time

ago, our beautiful Earth got into a little bit of trouble. This is because of course,

as we all know, she is one of the MOST beautiful of ALL star seeded planets and was

thus very attractive to all. Some of those Cosmic Rascals invaded

her Sacred Ground and caused quite ALOT of chaos ~

more choas than we can even imagine. And we are STILL

sorting this out. Our beautiful Earth Mother went into shock and 

"turned off" for a while, as we tend to when we experience a very big shock.

But after she un-numbed herself she remembered VERY clearly

her previous state of incredible bliss and lightness and she DREAMED

of returning to that state. That fragrant dream was so beautiful that it rose

all the way to the Land of the Living Heart where the Tuatha Dé Star Flock

roam. Brigid saw the dream rising and FELT it (as all celestial beings do

"feel" our dreams and longings). The dream started a song in her heart.

Brigid is a beautiful singer and when she started to sing the dream of

the Earth some of her close kin gathered around to listen with their

fine tuned celestial ears. And so they learned through her song

about the longing of Earth to return to her former beauty and bliss.

Then Brigid (whose REAL name is Bríd ~ which is pronounced Breed)

surprised and startled them all by announcing that she intended to

pay a visit to Earth and to assist in whatever way she could. Even the Daghda

(pronounced Dada of course!) was alarmed at this prospect and tried to

dissuade his heart-strong daughter ~ but we know how that goes!

Instead, her intention was so strong that it spread out through the Land

of the Living Heart  like liquid star light (as real heart messages tend to!)

and Aonghus Óg (the youngest of the Gods) was inspired to go with her.

Not only that but he resolved to bring the Sword of Truth with him, the fiery sword

of celestial truth that was capable of penetrating even the darkest dark and

the most chaotic chaos. When others of the Star Flock heard his resolve

and realized that their own beautiful Bríd (now you know how to say her

real name) and their youngest, most innocent God were resolved to go on this

rather brave adventure they decided they had better go with them. So

Midhir of the Golden Hair (that's a way of saying that his celestial light

is so bright that it streams from his radiant head in great waves),

and Nuada, the Wielder of the White Light, and Oghma (pronounced

Omma) who is the Splendor of the Sun, and Goibniú the mighty smith

and finally the Daghda himself all decided to go on this star mission to Earth.

Mananann over saw the journey. To this day Mananann is still the Great 

Watcher of his Star Flock on Earth.

Now I need to say that when Bríd began this song she was standing

beside the Tree of Celestial Light. This is the Tree of the Great Shimmering,

a truly magical, heavenly Tree. And I need to explain, just in case you are not

clear about this, that many people who have visions of Bríd see her as 

a Shimmering Tree. This is because the Tree is at the Center of Heaven

and it is from here that Bríd, her Great Mother Danú, and many of her

celestial sisters, communicate with Earth. 

Altogether then, they descended, like a rain of stars, but when they

approached Earth and felt her writhing pain and struggle they 

hesitated to enter. Midhir of the Golden Hair proclaimed that

he would go forth alone with the Spear of Victory. They watched him

enter the chaos and as he did a stream of celestial light opened

through the darkness. When Bríd saw this she entered after him

and spread her Celestial Mantle over the space that he had opened.

This most magical of mantles spread through the chaos like a beautiful

rippling silver flame, traveling outward in circle upon circle and the

silver flame began to form a shimmering myst. Aonghus Óg 

was so excited about the beauty of this that he jumped in and began to

to dance and sing. His movement stopped the spreading of the Mantle.

Now when Aongus danced and sang white birds

of heaven always appeared and these beautiful white birds 

flew over the silver myst. The others then entered. Daghda

the Sheppard of the Star Flocks, who is also the Keeper of the Cauldron,

(not just any cauldron, but specifically the Cauldron of the

Celtic Cosmos), reached into that Cauldron of Ever Supply

(he had brought the Cauldron with him)

and  seeded the land with his Emerald Flame. Together they all pulled back

the mantle and beheld the most beautiful green rolling landscape covered with

the flowers of heaven. While they were rejoicing Mananann the

Great noticed that the beings of chaos and misery were still

seething and moaning around the edges of the mantle and so he

took hold of the Sword of Truth and  swirled it in a circle to make a boundary between

beauty and chaos, but the monsters of the deep rose up in deviance

against him in a great wave, so he swirled the sword again. A lesser wave

rose up and there was some peace. Beautiful colors were born within the

swirling waters. Just to be sure the boundary was in tact he swirled the sword a third time.

A third wave formed and now there was a calm and beautiful crystalline sea

surrounding the emerald land. These three waves became known as

the Three Waves of Mananann Mac Lir,

and they formed a Cosmic boundary of order between that land and the outer chaos.

Then Bríd placed the Stone of Destiny, the Celestial Stone of 

White Crystal, on the land. With that the land began to sing a crystalline

song and that song gave birth to sparkling streams and lakes and rivers,

and to the morning dew, and the shimmering myst of silver moon light

and the Star Flock rejoiced at the restored beauty of this land. It was so beautiful

that they decided to stay, and to restore all of Earth to the beauty that now

lived in this beautiful Emerald Land.

However, Bríd had many other Children

to watch over and she prepared to return to heaven. The Daghda said,

"I will stay here until all of Earth is as beautiful as this land

that we have restored," and so it was decided that the Great Father of the Star Flock

would stay on Earth. The others agreed to stay with him in the

Folds of the Shimmering Myst and to help him to assist all of Earth to return to

the great dream that she held within her heavenly heart. Bríd said

"Keep the four celestial jewels with you. The Spear of Victory,

The Great Sword of Truth, the Cauldron of the Daghda

and the Stone of Destiny. These jewels will stay within the Folds of 

the Silver Myst, available to all who seek them through the sight of the Heart."

As Bríd the Great Mother, Lady of the Celestial Cloak turned to leave she said, "I name this island of delight 'the White Island'. In later times it will be known as the 

Land of Eriú, and in even later times still, through the shifting of the great ages

this island will be known as Ireland." Upon hearing that, Nuada the Wielder of 

the White Light pierced his sword into the very centre of the island, on the

Hill of the Mother and a great flame arose, that to this day is the source of

all inspiration and hope in the Hearts of the Star Seeded Children of

Danú, Mother of the Great Everlasting.

Hoping that all the Star Children of Danú and her celestial daughter

Bríd continue to have a magical feast day.

Lá Féile Bríd.

Deepest Blessings

Áine

Celtic Fire and Faerie 

Permission to share in full, with no changes anywhere. 

References "Irish Myths and Legends" Lady Gregory and William Butler Yeats.

"Celtic Wonder Tales" by Ella Young.

Shee-Eire

http://www.shee-eire.com/

Celtic Fire and Faerie | P.O. Box 507 | Crestone, CO 81131

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