The MAGIC Card! ISIS

I wrote this poem years ago, in honor of "The White Goddess". In Kris Waldherr's, "Goddess Tarot" cards, the Egyptian Goddess, "Isis" is the image on the Magic card. This is the deck I use most often; I love the images and the use of mythology from many cultures.

"I am the Great Mother. Reach out to me in times of sorrow.

I have experienced great joy and relentless grief.

I have lived in the darkest of the dark places.

I have experienced great joy with my beloved, Osiris

and in the birth of my miraculous son, Horus. 

I mothered a child. I mothered a nation. 
I am The Throne, the lap, and the nurturer of kings.

I am The Queen, The Divine One, The Only One. I am maker of kings.

I am The Lady of Joy, and Creatrix of the Nile's flood.

I am The Female RA.

I am The Moon Goddess, The Star Goddess, and Queen of the Underworld.

I emerged out of the primeval abyss of water,

and from my energy, all life was born.

Call out to me at twilight. I will arise from the sea in the scent of jasmine, sandlewood, rosemary, and lotus blossoms.

My tears, my passions, and my joys are for you.

I am The White Goddess,

ISIS."

The Magic card is about self-empowerment and awareness of the magick within you. Think about what that means! If you're fortunate enough to have this card turn up in a tarot reading, you are being encouraged to transform your life! The power resides within you; it's your own personal magick. You have the ability to untap your inner forces and grow beyond any limitations. The possibilities are endless. You just have to believe; in your magick, in your personal power, in your strength, and in the awareness of your own limitless possibilities!

Have a reading!!

A Healing Reading

I believe all tarot readings have the potential to be healing. Most querants come for a reading because there is some "problem" they have, that needs exploration. There are tarot spreads, though, that are set-up precisely for "healing" readings. There is a wonderful book on this subject, titled Tarot For The Healing Heart, written by Christine Jette. The spreads have uniqus names like, "Picture the Pain", The Headless Horseman Of Dis-ease", and "The Good Grief Spread".

I have used these spreads and have experienced amazing results.....but not always! I would usually know after the first several minutes if using a "healing" reading may not have been the best choice. One must be ready to courageously and honestly look at oneself; to be willing to accept one's challenges; to not judge (either the reader or oneself!); and to be open to making changes. Whew! That's a lot to ask. Sometimes, the querant is just not ready. This is hard work.

But, if one is ready, much can be learned and understood. The images help one see their issue(s) being experienced by another. They are able to share the burden of their pain, with the archetypal figures, and no longer feel so alone. I've experienced some quicker and more profound healings doing tarot readings, than doing traditional therapy. Tarot can be a joint effort, or partnership, between reader and querant; both exploring the archetypes, to understand and heal what is occurring in present time. It's a gentle, unified approach to help others through the healing journey. 

A "healing" tarot reading may be something to consider, if one is interested in a deeper exploration of some of the problematic issues of life. Tarot is not meant to replace the need for medication, medical tests, psychological tests or evaluations, or any serious medical condition! What tarot can do, is provide a fresh perspective and a different lens through which to view one's life story.

"THE TOWER".....Time to Expect the Unexpected!

    What do you do when "The Tower" card reveals itself in your reading!?? Is it an immediate panic attack? Does your head start spinning out of control, as you helplessly start imagining all the dreadful things that could happen in your life? Are you thrown into the future to some dark and scary..., uh, what? We don't know what the future has in store; that's why we must learn to expect the unexpected!

     I guess we should start with the meanings of this major arcana card, The Tower. It is when unexpected events happen that usually change our lives. Change, in and of itself, is what most of us fear most. We like things to stay the same. We like to know where we stand. We like to know what our job is, who our friends are, what we're having for dinner, when our spouse is getting home; we like life to be predictable, and safe! When life throws us a curve ball, we often react with fear, anxiety, and depression. We don't see it as an opportunity for change; a change that might ultimately be good for us. We view these events as if they are an unwelcome stranger. We want them to go away, NOW. We want to wake-up, with everything as it was, and realize it was just a bad dream.

    Life just isn't that easy! Unexpected events occur in everyone's life, but the reason they are so disarming, is because.....they're unexpected.

    So, how can we prepare for these events? We can't really. But we can start looking at life as the journey, not the destination. Every step can be a new adventure. Sometimes we"ll bound up the stairs and do a victory dance, like Sly Stallone, in the movie, "Rocky". Other times, we'll trip and fall, and have to start all over again. What separates the women from the girls here, is faith; faith that, within the darkness, there will eventually be light. Answers will come to us, when we're not even sure what questions to ask. Guidance is always there, if we're willing to pay attention. We are responsible for our own lives and how we live them. Are we living in joy or fear? If we live in joy and love, we can see all aspects of our life as gifts to enhance our human experience. We can learn to appreciate change. We can continue to grow, throughout our lifetimes, and fulfill our soul's purpose for being on this earth.

     If we live in fear, we will mistrust our fellow travelers. We will doubt the value of our experiences. We will blame others when things don't "go right", instead of rolling with the punches, forgiving others, and moving on....to bigger and better things! So right now, decide if you want to live a life of fear, or a life of faith and joy and love? If you choose joy, I guarantee you will handle "the unexpected" in life and be happier for it! And you won't get freaked out the next time you draw "The Tower" in your reading!

A Message for the Day

    When we don't have time for a reading, or just wake up feeling a bit wonky, and needing some focus, choosing one card will give us a message for the day. But, make your preparations! Take a moment to think about how you are feeling. How does your body feel? Are you stiff and achy, or flexible and free! How about your emotions? Are you happy and content with life today, or sad and depressed? Do you feel alone, or spiritually connected? Many of us just start our day without taking assessment of where we are. We go into the world unprepared to meet the challenges, and wonder why we're so tired at the end of the day.

    Give yourself time to make that daily assessment. Think about what your plan is for the day. What kind of work day are you expecting? Do you have other plans after work? All of this can be accomplished in a very few minutes, but you'll find yourself in a more present state to choose your card. Always shuffle the deck first. I don't have a prescribed number of shuffles myself. I shuffle until it feels right. You can then lay the cards out, face down, and let your hand guide you to the right card. You might rather cut the deck in two or three piles, place the one of your choosing on top, and then pick that first card for your message.

    Whichever method you choose, take the time to really look at your card. Look at the images and decide what you see in them. Read the explanation for your particular card, if you are unsure about it's meaning. Relate the message to what you've just thought about your day, and its expectations. If you're leaving the house, you might take the card with you. Take a peek at it when you can, and remind yourself of your message for today. You might just find that you are more prepared, more relaxed, and more ready for the challenges that come your way!

    

The Essence of Tarot

When I work with querents, (clients) they often come with specific questions they want to explore. But the interesting essence of tarot, is that you don't always get what you ask for, but you inevitably get what you need!

One must be open to the process, the unfolding, and the mystery of how the cards reveal their message. Simply put, we may have an issue we want to "fix", but the tarot might encourage us to spend more time with our children, or spend time alone, or take on a creative project. We must trust that by engaging in the "activity", the "issue" will resolve itself. There are not always simple fixes. We must learn to let the process of life flow.

In my experience, I've found the beauty of tarot to be in the connection between reader and client. It is a gentle way to explore and understand the dynamics of life and the joy and turmoil that can result. To recognize oneself in beautiful images and feel an affinity to the figure, or to the behavior of the figure, can bring one a sense of peace and continuity. Someone else shared my experience, and found a pathway through it. Life truly is a path we walk, and sometimes run or crawl on, but it is ever-changing and always exciting and hopeful. We just need to open our eyes, open our hearts, and allow ourselves to be divinely human. Hope to meet you soon.

Tarot Therapy

As a therapist, I might view the tarot a bit differently then some. I see it as "the great equalizer". I believe we are all on this Earth and in this soup together. I believe we were put here to help one and other, and to accept one and other. We all go through the highs and lows of life, and we all need help navigating the rough waters sometimes. Tarot therapy enables us to step back, and observe our lives, through images, whose origin dates back centuries ago.

Today's problems, issues, and stumbling blocks, can be viewed in these images. We are able to see that most of our experiences are just " human experiences, ones shared by all who came before us. Sure, the times and trappings have changed, but people still evolve through life from their experiences. We all need to learn and grow. We all need to accept change. We all need to have our hearts broken, and embrace the opportunity to try to love again. We all need to find the work we love and be courageous enough to do it. 

Tarot reveals all of our human foibles and triumphs. It helps clarify where we are and where we need to go, (and grow). It is not hocus pocus. Tarot can guide us on our life's journey, and help us choose the right path for our individual natures.