Robin Williamson Reads Cards On Nick Drake

October 10th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

If you’re a fan of musicians Nick Drake and/or Robin Williamson, you might want to take a look at the video below.

In it, Williamson, who founded the Incredible String Band in the 1960s, does a Tarot reading regarding the enigmatic character of Nick Drake who died back in 1974.

Even if you don’t know anything about either musician, if you enjoy Tarot, it’s worth taking a look. Williamson’s interpretation is interesting and I like the modified Celtic Cross spread he uses.

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The Art of Mixing Oracles

August 28th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Though typically you don’t need more than your favourite Tarot deck to do a reading, it can be interesting to mix your oracles in order to get a deeper look at a question.

In the video below, Donnaleigh de LaRose from Beyond Worlds, demonstrates how you might mix Tarot with oracle decks, runes, angel cards, and Lenormand in a ‘two-card reading’.

It’s fascinating to see how the various divinatory tools seem to echo each other layer upon layer. They all keep saying the same thing, just with slightly different voices.

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eBay Bans Sale of Magic Spells and Tarot Readings

August 20th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

As of September 1st, you can no longer buy or sell services like magic spells, prayers, blessings, potions, or Tarot readings on eBay.

According to the site, their move is not meant as a stand against metaphysics or the potential usefulness of such services, but rather …

“Transactions in these categories often result in issues between the buyer and seller that are difficult to resolve. To help build confidence in the marketplace for both buyers and sellers, eBay is discontinuing these categories and including the items on the list of prohibited items.”

And I’ll take them at their word. Psychic advice isn’t the only category to have been discontinued. The list is fairly long:

•psychic or paranormal readings, spells, potions or Tarot readings
•advertising opportunities
•memberships
•advice and instruction in: business & computers, lessons & tutoring, diet & fitness, other
•business & websites for sale – advertising inventory, home-based businesses
•art – digital direct from artist, dealer, or reseller
•recipes

It’s important to note that the sale of actual metaphysical items including Tarot cards, books, or amulets are still permitted for sale.

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Playing Cards as Tarot

August 1st, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Using regular playing cards for Tarot readings loses the fun of the imagery, and of course eliminates the main aspect of what makes Tarot what it is – the Major Arcana.

But sometimes all you have on hand are playing cards and you still want to do a reading. You can.

It’s just a matter of having a consistent system of converting the suits of the Tarot into those of your standard poker deck.

My typical system of conversion is:

Cups = Hearts

Pentacles = Diamonds

Wands = Clubs

Swords = Spades

Of course, I’m not the only one who uses this system. It’s the one I’ve seen most often.

In fact, it’s the one described in the video below by Nalani of Rebel Tarot. In her clip she colourfully explains an easy way to remember it.

Take a look …

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Scott Grossberg's 'Hand's of Truth'

January 16th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

In the video below, Scott Grossberg, creator of the Deck of Shadows, demonstrates a reading technique he calls the Hands of Truth.

He describes the method as being similar to using a pendulum in that ideo motor responses from the body direct the reading.

In Grossberg’s technique, a reader randomly chooses two cards from the deck and turns them up. He or she then passes them to the querent who holds each card face up in each hand.

The reader then tells the querent that one of their hands is going to rise, while the other will get lower. There’s no rush for this to happen, but typically it does.

The reader then takes the card from the lower hand and reads it as being an energy the querent is leaving. The card from the raised hand represents where they are likely headed.

It’s an interesting twist on a two-card reading, and really allows for the querent to be involved.

I think I’ll try it out with someone soon.

Scott was a guest on Beyond Worlds back at the end of 2010. He spoke about his Deck of Shadows and a lot of other interesting and magical things. You can listen to the show here …

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To Understand Is To Perceive Patterns

January 3rd, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

The video below with Jason Silva is about patterns. The patterns that make up the natural world and the ones we’ve been creating with our technology.

It’s called To Understand Is To Perceive Patterns. And it makes no mention of Tarot or anything related to it. But it got me thinking about what it means to understand a Tarot reading.

It’s all about patterns. The patterns as we find them in the cards, their colours, directions, shapes, suits, numbers.

Are there a lot of Queens in your spread, a lot of blue, or red, or green? How many of the images seem to face in one direction? How many Major cards are there relative to the whole?

Whether you’re looking at a spread, or an individual card, it’s when you see the commonalities and anomalies within the images that you can begin to tell the story.

Just as in life, an individual incident might be very interesting, but it’s not a main theme in a person’s experience until it happens a number of times.

In Tarot, there might be one stand out card that is well worth paying attention to. But it’s how that card, or images in it, relate to the cards around it that tell the bigger story.

Individual symbols are important, and necessary to fully decipher the language of your cards. But understanding Tarot is really like understanding everything else. It’s all about perceiving the patterns.

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Psychic Tarot

October 21st, 2011 § 2 comments § permalink

Psychic Tarot: Using Your Natural Psychic Abilities to Read the Cards

There are a lot of different ways to read Tarot cards. All of them involve using the intuitive faculties, but some are more obviously ‘psychic’ than others.

Nancy Antenucci and Melanie Howard have written a wonderful book focusing on this aspect of Tarot. Rather than being concerned with traditional meanings of the cards, they examine how to read them using your psychic senses.

Appropriately enough, the book is called Psychic Tarot: How to Use Your Natural Psychic Abilities to Read the Cards.

Even if you don’t think you’re psychic, Antenucci and Howard will help get you on the road to believing.

There are exercises galore, spread interpretations, and what they call the Six Principles to Divination, including grounding, intent, form, synchronicity, closure, and integration.

Whether you’re interested in reading just for yourself, or for others, the book helps build confidence in your own inner voice.

I did a lot of the exercises, and really enjoyed myself. I might even be more psychic than I thought.

And I guess that’s the point, we all are. This book helps you see it for yourself.
__________________________________

Take a look at the video below to hear Nancy Antenucci talk about Tarot cards, psychic readings, and the difference between cats and dogs.

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Tarot Views the News – the Canadian Federal Election

April 28th, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

On May 2nd, there will be a federal election here in Canada. So I thought that Tarot Views the News should take a look.

This is not a predictive reading, but rather a quick look at the following terms, in the Canadian context, using the Tarot.

•Federal Election
•Leadership
•Citizenry
•Democracy

2 of Wands from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

2 of Wands

I pulled the 2 of wands when I asked for a card to describe the Canadian federal election.

The card shows a man between two poles. He’s gazing over land and water, holding one pole in his left hand, and a globe in his right.

It looks like he’s trying to make a decision, each pole a distinct option, though very similar in style.

Could the decision be between the Left and the Right, with a whole world between the two philosophies?

This federal election is a choice between opposites. The future of the Canadian world is at hand.

The 2 of Wands is labeled ‘dominion’ in the Thoth deck. Interestingly enough, that’s an important word for Canada.

The constitution of 1867 proclaimed the Canadian federation to be ‘one Dominion under the name of Canada.’ And the phrase ‘Dominion of Canada’ was common until the 1970s.

3 of Swords from the Rider Waite Smith deck

3 of Swords

When I asked about leadership, I got the 3 of Swords.

Hmmmm, this is kind of tough. There seems to be serious disappointment with the three major choices Canadians are being offered.

Canada has five parties really, but two of the five aren’t likely to provide our next prime minister.

The other three all have a chance, but from the looks of this card, there’s no happy choice.

The leaders in this election seem en par as far the race goes, but they might all be concerned that they’ll be faced with another minority government. Something that none of them want, but all might expect.

Lack of communication and embedded, historic animosities have led to a situation where it’s difficult for any of them to get along.

The leadership situation is causing sorrow for all.

#20 Judgment from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

#20 Judgment

The card I got when I asked about ‘citizenry’ was #20, Judgment.

This is an interesting card to describe citizenry – people rising from the grave to the rousing call of an angel.

The figures are gray and naked. Their arms are upraised, welcoming or praising the angel above.

I don’t like to say it, but it looks like this group needs some new life breathed into them. The Canadian citizenry might need some uplifting.

Citizens are people, families trying to crawl out of a hole. They’re looking for and welcoming of a strong leader.

It’s almost like they’re looking for some sort of miracle to lead them onto the next stage.

6 of Wands from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

6 of Wands

But maybe there’s reason for hope.  I pulled the 6 of wands when I asked about ‘democracy.’

Looks like someone’s a winner, and everyone around him is cheering.

I’m reminded that the major 6, the Lovers card, often describes networking, opposites coming together, or choices that need to be made.

With the 6 of Wands, it’s the victory of this process. Everyone involved has made a decision and there’s general jubilation all around.

Democracy is the spirit of a people united.

I hope this is how I feel by the end of the election.

If you’re Canadian get out there and vote May 2nd. It really matters.

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Tarot Views the News – Wisconsin, USA

February 20th, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

Wisconsin flag

Flag of Wisconsin

In the last segment of Tarot Views the News, we looked at some themes surrounding the situation in Egypt.

This time round, we’ll bring it back to North America and explore a few concepts highlighted by the ongoing protests in the state of Wisconsin.

This is not a predictive reading, but rather a look at the following terms from a Tarot perspective:

What is a Labor Union?
What is Compromise?
What is Leadership?
What is Social Justice?

When I asked, ‘what is a Labor Union?” the card I got was the 2 of Swords.

2 of Swords from the rider Waite Smith Tarot

2 of Swords

This card reflects two distinct viewpoints, the resolution of which comes through intelligent, serious communication.

Emotional issues are to be kept at bay, while carefully considering all sides of a situation.

At it’s best, a Labor Union is a balance of sorts, an attempt to make the parties in a labor for wage transaction equal and fair.

Labor unions are meant to discourage power imbalances.

2 of Cups from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

2 of Cups

I pulled the 2 of Cups for ‘what is Compromise?

This card is typically interpreted romantically, but in this context I think it’s pointing to the sacrifices we’re willing to make when we’re coming from a place of mutual respect.

Compromise is the understanding that other people matter too.

The caduceus above the two figures seems especially significant to our question.

It’s an ancient symbol of commerce and negotiation. Compromise is evenhanded exchange and reciprocity between two parties.

#20 Judgement from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

#20 Judgement

The card I pulled for ‘what is Leadership?’ was #20, Judgment.

Families rise from grey coffins, heeding the call of the Archangel Gabriel.

Leadership is clear vision and a call to action. Like the flaming angel in the card, a leader inspires and uplifts.

Leadership sees past the confines of what is now, and takes us beyond, to a better place.

#3 The Empress from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

#3 The Empress

And finally, when I asked, ‘what is Social Justice?’ I got #3, the Empress.

Social Justice is love, like that of a mother for her children. It is nurturing, creative, and compassionate.

The Empress is concerned with what is real, that which is experienced by our five senses.

She wants these experiences to be shared by all of her children. And if they suffer, she does too.

Social Justice is bountiful and abundant. There is enough for everyone.
It is love and respect for all creatures of the world.

There’s an interesting progression in these cards. If we look at the 20 as being 2 + 0, equaling 2, we have three 2s followed by a 3.

Could that mean that Labour Union/Compromise/Leadership progresses into Social Justice?

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Beyond Worlds with Mike Hernandez

January 23rd, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

Mike Hernandez

Mike Hernandez

Beyond Worlds welcomes back the fabulous Mike Hernandez!

Mike is a Shaman, energy healer and Tarot reader.

Most recently, he’s taken on the mantle of Co-Consul of the Tarosophy Tarot Association USA.

On tonight’s show, Mike will be giving us a Tarot tutorial. We’ll be looking at:

• Non-positional readings aka Dynamic Readings
• Telling a story through Tarot, and
• Considering context in a spread, ex. when good cards land in bad spots

There’s going to be lots of learning so bring your notebook and get the class handout here. It’ll to be good.

Beyond Worlds w/Mike Hernandez (live or in archive)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
7:00 pm EST (4:00 pm PST)
call in number: (646) 200-0765

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