The Tarot Room – Georgianna

I’ve obviously gone crafting crazy this past week. This is the second post in just two days about Tarot crafts.

On Wednesday, I wrote about making your own deck using pictures from magazines. Today I’m talking about making a magnet Tarot with flat-bottom clear glass beads.

Leisa ReFalo was the first to inspire me to combine glass beads with Tarot. I saw some that she’d done a couple of years back at BATS and just loved them.

Then last month on Beyond Worlds, we had a Tarot Tip from Linette Voller on how to make Tarot weights using the same technique. After the show I ordered supplies.

Of course I ordered the wrong thing. The beads I ended up with were much bigger than I’d intended, but at least the magnets were strong enough to hold them.

I shrunk down pictures from the Rider Waite Smith deck and put each on a coloured background using Photoshop. Then I printed out the tiny pictures and cut them all out to fit the glass beads.

I used Diamond glaze to glue the picture to the glass, and added an extra backing of white paper so that the magnets wouldn’t show through the image.

Now that they’re done, I’m glad I got the wrong size bead. Each one is big enough to show the whole card, but still small enough to be adorable.

They can be used for readings, ritual, or just to stick on your fridge.

The whole process is kind of addictive. Once I started shrinking down Tarot images, I began thinking of all the other types of pictures I could shrink down and glue to glass.

The possibilities are endless. I’ll be making more.

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King of Wands

Friday, December 23, 2011
King of Wands

Creative vision, a fiery temperament, inspirational thinking – it could be an exciting day.   You have the capacity to focus your passionate energy into something constructive.

If it’s been difficult to get going with an enterprise that really matters to your soul, this is a great day to clear through the cobwebs. Take your fire and run with it.

But don’t forget to enjoy your strength wisely.  No one likes a tyrant. Get to work on your goal, but don’t assume that everyone else is going to follow your lead. They might be feeling a lot like you are today and are probably looking for some followers themselves.

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The Sun as the Devil

The Sun moves into Capricorn today, and will stay there until January 20th.

From a Tarot perspective, this transit would be like the Sun child is dressed as the Devil. He’s gotten hairy and has gone underground.

In his element, the Sun is joyous exuberance unfettered by boundaries. He’s made it beyond the wall and is victorious after a long dark journey.

Everything is open now, there’s nothing to hide. He bares it all and asks us to do the same.

The Sun’s lesson is to celebrate and to laugh. Each morning is new and each day another chance to enjoy and live fully.

The Devil has a very different energy about him. He’s dark and somber, some might even say scary.

He’s an obsessive type, engaged fully in the material world. He’s physicality at its most profound, holding issues of spirit at arm’s length.

The Devil likes control and boundaries, and doesn’t trust the light in anyone’s hand but his own. He promises to get things done, but he has to be the one in charge.

The Sun has fun everywhere he goes, even the Devil’s lair. He lightens it up a bit, and gets everyone smiling.

The Sun in Capricorn, or the Sun dressed in the Devil’s clothing, is a good time to look at areas in your life that feel restrictive, whether from the outside, or from within.

If you feel chained, unchain yourself. But if you like your chains, then just enjoy. Be aware though that you’re the one to choose.

Serious play, or structured freedom is also highlighted during this transit. And that makes sense with the holidays.

You might not be working at your regular job, but you’re not completely free either.

There’s an obligation to celebrate, whether you want to or not. And since that’s the case, you might as well dive in and enjoy this time for all it’s worth.

Work hard and play hard, but try not to take any of it too seriously.

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High Priestess as Temperance

The Moon moves into Sagittarius today and will be there until Saturday.

Looking at it through the eyes of the Tarot, you can describe this transit as being like the High Priestess wearing Temperance’s clothing. She’s dressed like an angel.

The Moon in Sagittarius, or High Priestess in Temperance’s clothing, indicates a time when intellect, practicality, emotions and passion can work together in relative ease.

What’s normally only an idea might find its way to becoming real. Even-tempered inspiration and emotional playfulness can create what look like miracles.

Take this time to bring your emotions in line with your passions. And play with your most serious ideas. It’s in combining the unexpected that you’ll likely find gold.

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8 of Disks

Thursday, December 22, 2011
8 of Disks

Get down to work. Nothing exciting going on, except maybe the chance to get more done than you thought you would.

Follow the template and don’t worry about being particularly innovative today. It’s probably more important to just get it done.

To motivate yourself try remembering that what you’re working on now is setting you up for your future. Put in the effort and it’ll ultimately pay off.

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If you’re looking for something to craft over the holidays, why not try making yourself a personal Tarot deck.

There are so many ways to do it. You can draw your own images, use photos from your own collection, or stock images from the net.

You can take a box of art cards and organize them into a Major Arcana, or you can try what I’m doing now, a magazine collage deck.

All you need is a pile of magazines and access to a scanner. Any magazines you have on hand will do, as long as they have a wide enough variety of images.

I chose tabloids because they’ve got good pictures, and embarrassingly enough, I had a number of them around.

In most cases, the Major cards are the easiest to find, but depending on the type of magazines you’re using, some archetypes might be more common than others.

In the tabloids, there are plenty of High Priestesses, Empresses, Lovers, and Fools. But it’s harder to find examples of Judgment or the Hierophant. They’re all in there though, you just have to look.

I scanned all my pictures into the computer, and then chopped them up in Photoshop. I added titles and the odd symbol from the Rider Waite Smith deck, and played around with the background colours.

So far, I’ve got rough drafts of eighteen of the twenty-two Majors, and a lot of raw material for the Court Cards and many of the Minors. And my deck has a name – it’s The Tabloid Tarot.

The cards I’ve posted here are first drafts and will definitely change. But as soon as I get all the majors to at least this stage, I’ll be printing out a practice copy and throwing some spreads.

I can barely wait!!

Why not try your own? I’d love to see it.

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Ace of Swords

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Ace of Swords

Looking at things from a new perspective should be easy today – and a good idea. Let inspiration strike, then focus on your goal in order to start bringing about its manifestation. Clear communication and precise thinking will serve you well.

Try to be discerning – which direction will get you closest to your ultimate destination with the least complication? Let outmoded ways of seeing the world fall away. It’s only then that you’ll have room for the new view.

Be positive and proactive – you’re in charge and you can make what you want happen. Start now.

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Empress as the Star

Venus moves into Aquarius today and will be there until January 14th.

If we look at this transit through the eyes of the Tarot, it would be like the Empress is wearing the Star’s clothing. In other words, she’s thrown off her robe and is in the nude.

The Empress is profoundly feminine. She’s the great mother of the Tarot, the one who gives birth to the real world and all we find in it.

She is compassion and love, beauty and harmony. She breeds luxury around her and bounty for all.

The Empress teaches us to nurture and receive, and to create from our heart. True external beauty grows first from within.

The Star shares the Empress’ compassion and gentle spirit. She too is always there to nurture, calm, and replenish the soul.

Her focus though is on what’s been shattered, what needs healing and renewal. She’s the light in the dark, ready to console, and give hope.

The Star is grace, perfect balance, and love. Even in the deepest night, it’s always bright around her.

The Empress isn’t so sure about the Star’s fondness for nudity, but she fully enjoys any and all opportunities to nurture.

Venus in Aquarius, or the Empress being as naked as the Star, is a wonderful time to give and receive love.

It’s a love beyond romance or sexuality. It’s a deep compassion and empathy for everyone and everything.

This is a great time to recognize not only our own hurts and scars, but those of others as well. Offer emotional support where you can, and be open to accepting it in kind.

And if there was a better time to visit a spa, I can’t think of one.

Let yourself heal and hope. Whatever’s gone on before, there’s a beautiful new day soon to come.

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The moon moves into Scorpio today and stays there until Thursday.

If you translate this transit into the Tarot, you could say that the High Priestess is dressed as Death. She’s in the midst of a great transformation.

The Moon in Scorpio, or High Priestess in Death’s clothing, suggests a time when feelings run deep. The ability to end relationships that don’t work, or release stagnant emotions is accentuated.

If there’s a situation in your life that’s nearing its completion, especially if it’s emotional or relationship-oriented, this might be a good time to let it go. At least explore it with emotional clarity.

This isn’t a time to be afraid, but rather a time to face your fears with equanimity and intelligence.

You’ve got what it takes. Don’t back down from the scary stuff.

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3 of Cups

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
3 of Cups

Celebrate with enthusiasm!  Today is for fun and sharing. Friends are at the forefront, especially the ladies in your life.

Good times, good friends, good drink – it could be a pretty excellent day.  Don’t be afraid to be happy and remember to let people know how much you like them.

Take delight in music, poetry, painting – this is a time of inspiration and creativity.  Social interaction with others will be invigorating and fruitful. 

Let yourself get carried away by laughter and joy.  Seek out the beautiful within yourself and those around you.  You won’t be disappointed if you do.

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