This is a day to take your time and think things through – calmly and quietly. Trust your inner voice and let silence be your friend. There’s probably a lot of emotion behind your thoughts these days. Try to keep balance.
Make sure you’re not overthinking things. It’s all about listening to both your logic and your intuition. Both have something to say to you right now. Try not to let your emotions sweep you away or your thoughts crush you down. You’ll know what to do when you need to do it. No need to act right now, just sit.
Mental peace is the energy you’ll discover in your quietude. Keep still. Keep calm. Your thoughts may be heavy, but you’re more than strong enough to hold them.
Harper/Collins in London published the original version of this deck in 1995, and Place himself republished it in 2007. Both editions have sold out.
Fortunately for me, I got myself one of the originals back in 2003. But if I’d known it was going to be worth as much as $2,000 just a few years later, I might have treated it more gently, or at least kept the box.
It’s a gorgeous deck, filled with magic. The images are beautiful, but even more importantly the messages are brilliant. It’s alchemy expressed through the lens of the Tarot, and is unlike any other.
The second edition of the deck, called The Alchemical Tarot: Renewed, updated the first version. And the third edition has even more changes, including a second Lovers card.
Apparently, Harper/Collins thought Place’s original depiction of the Lovers was too risqué. Now we can decide for ourselves. I can’t wait to see it.
Also updated in this third printing, are the card backs and the little-white-book, which has become a little bigger.
Place is ready to go to print, and he’s going to do it no matter what. But he’s got an IndieGoGo page and is offering some wonderful gifts for those who’d like to help him raise the cost of printing.
Take a look at his page and consider helping an inspired deck be reborn.
You may have had a tough go of it this last little while, but you’re hardly ready to give up. Have confidence in your inner strength and experience.
You have the tools necessary to get you through this situation. It’s certainly not the first time you’ve faced it so you already know what to expect.
Stand tall and don’t back down from your truth. You care about what you’re doing and that’s why there’s not much choice but to keep going forward. If it gets too hard, take a break, but try not to stop.
Remember your power, it’s real and it comes from inside.
Just a reminder to readers in New York State, fortune telling is still officially illegal there. And that goes for New York City as well as the rest of the state.
Of course you wouldn’t know it by the number of psychic shops in town, but according to an article in the New York Times last week, as well as the penal code itself, it’s true.
The Class B misdemeanor is listed as No.165.35 and reads as follows,
A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses; except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the afore described conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement.
The law was added to the code in 1967. It’s been around for a while, but obviously isn’t enforced too often. But just last month it was. Sylvia Mitchell of Manhattan was charged with illegal fortune telling.
It’s important to note that she was also charged with grand larceny for allegedly defrauding people of thousands of dollars by claiming to remove ‘blockages’ of some sort. If the charges are true, I find her actions reprehensible.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now, if someone tells you that you have a spiritual block or curse that they can remove for a fee, they’re very likely con artists. Don’t give them your money.
But this other business of being charged with something as broad as ‘fortune-telling’ is something legitimate readers should pay attention to. Even those who just read cards and make no claims to spiritual connections or occult powers.
The obvious way around the law is to do what people have been doing for years. They simply add the disclaimer ‘for entertainment and amusement purposes only’ to all marketing materials and websites, whether they mean it or not.
As it stands the law, and its loophole, seem to be a bit of a sham. Some readers are definitely entertaining, and even amusing, but that’s not why most people go to get readings. And everyone knows it.
And yet, if a reader admits that most, if not all their readings are meant to be serious, they could be arrested. It’s crazy.
Can’t we just use the laws we already have against fraud to protect people from scammers, whether their scam involves pretending to be a fortune-teller, priest, doctor, investment mogul, or any number of different occupations.
And for the people who believe that they can get or give advice from cards, or crystals or relatives passed on, let them, without fear that they’re engaged in a crime.
Being paid for a psychic or card reading should not be illegal. The Maryland High Court said it well in their decision to repeal a fortune-telling ban in Montgomery County, Maryland in 2010,
Fortunetelling may be pure entertainment, it may give individuals some insight into the future, or it may be hokum. People who purchase fortunetelling services may or may not believe in its value. Fortunetellers may sometimes deceive their customers. We need not, however, pass judgment on the validity or value of the speech that fortunetelling entails. If Montgomery County is concerned that fortunetellers will engage in fraudulent conduct, the County can enforce fraud laws in the event that fraud occurs.
The County need not, and must not, enforce a law that unduly burdens protected speech to accomplish its goal. Such a law will curtail and have a chilling effect on constitutionally protected speech.
The Moon moves into Capricorn today and will stay there until Friday.
If you were to describe this transit using the Tarot, you might say that the High Priestess is wearing the Devil’s clothing. The virginal goddess has gotten downright beastly.
The Moon in Capricorn, or High Priestess in the Devil’s clothing, is a period of potential internal conflict. The physical world might seem to draw you away from what you typically believe to be right.
You might feel driven or compelled by behaviours and attitudes that go against the grain of your morality. It could be liberating or disturbing, depending on your secrets.
Whatever’s going on though, don’t be too hard on yourself. Get obsessions out of your system, and learn what you can about yourself while you do so.
You should be ready to move on soon. There’s nothing wrong with a little focused physicality. Just don’t get stuck.
It looks like it’ll be a sweet day. Open communication full of love and tenderness. This is a day to make sure you tell the people you love how much they mean to you.
If you’re starting a romantic relationship, or in one, it can be especially delicious. Be romantic and enjoy each other. It’s a time of beauty, peace and innocence, the reason we love love so much.
If you’re not feeling romantic, take the energy and let yourself simply express how much you care about those around you.
It will be most powerful if you tell them one-to-one. Let them know they’re special, it’ll make you feel great too.
Mercury moved back into Leo today, and will be there until September 9th.
Looking at this transit through the eyes of the Tarot, it would be like the Magician is wearing Strength’s clothing.
He’s still floating his lemniscates, but now he’s wearing a dress, and for part of the time, he’ll be going backwards.
Mercury in Leo, or the Magician in Strength’s clothing is a time of energetic and potentially exciting communication.
Ideas can be expressed with enthusiasm, and it’s worthwhile to share. You can inspire others, and be inspired right back.
Watch out for boasting though, and keep to the straight and narrow when you tell a story. It’s easy to get carried away when the sun’s shining and everyone seems to be smiling.
Be inspired, clear, and focused. But please note, until August 26th, Mercury will be retrograde. It’s sort of like the Magician is running backwards.
Communication and travel are especially prone to mix ups, and with Strength’s energy involved, the results can be dramatic.
It’s nothing to be afraid of, just remember to check your schedule twice, and try to think before saying anything that might cause a stir. It’s hard to take things back once they’re out.
And on a more positive note, it might be a good time to catch up with old friends. Wherever the Magician looks, he sees something interesting, and right now, he’s looking back.
Today you might find yourself simply working and waiting. You’ve been trying hard but it probably feels like there’s little to show for it. Keep your chin up! You are actively creating change in your life, but it takes time.
Try not to get down on yourself while the process continues. Commitment means sticking through the dull, tough times to reach your goal. You’re well on your way and it would be a shame not to keep going. In fact, the hardest part now is not to give up for fear of failure.
There’s still work ahead, but you’re going in the right direction. Keep plugging away and you will succeed.
Our topic is ‘problem cards’ and how to turn them from frustrating adversaries to your best friends in the deck.
We’ll also be looking at the dark and difficult aspects of the cards and how to read their shadows and light.
And of course with BATS coming up August 27-28, we’ll be talking about that incredible event as well. This year marks the 20th anniversary and it’s sure to be a Tarot extravaganza.
Join us live in the chat room or call 646-200-0765.
