The Tarot Room – Georgianna

Just thought I’d take a moment to plug my friend Andrew McGregor’s metaphysical shop – The Hermit’s Lamp. They’re celebrating their first year at their present location on Bloor Street West, and I was able to get over there for the party last weekend.

The store looks great, as does its proprietor. There’s a lot there at the store – crystals, candles, jewellery, books, oils, artwork, Tarot decks …the longer you browse, the more interesting things you’ll find. (That’s true for the website too … they have Tarot running shoes! – which of course, I want.)

I can get carried away in stores like this (also in stationary and hardware stores) so I tried to set a limit on what I could buy before I got there. I gave myself permission to buy one Tarot deck … and maybe, maybe one other thing.

As it turned out I got myself The Orisha Tarot (created by McGregor himself), and an adorable Tarot bag from the Unemployed Philosophers Guild. I also got a little gift for someone else, so I didn’t count that in my ‘no purchase over two items’ rule. Had I stayed any longer though, it’s likely I would have broken my pledge.

Anyway, if you’re in the Toronto area and looking for some magic, you can visit The Hermit’s Lamp in person at 1209 Bloor Street West, just west of Dufferin on the south side.

And for those not in Toronto … you can always visit online —> The Hermit’s Lamp

Have you ever wanted to really dig down and get to know the ins and outs of the Celtic Cross?

If you’re in Toronto, June 18th might be your lucky day! Theresa Reed aka The Tarot Lady, is visiting Toronto and The Hermit’s Lamp to teach an in-depth Celtic Cross workshop from 3:00 to 5:00 on Sunday, June 18th.

Theresa is one of my favourite Tarot readers, and The Hermit’s Lamp is one of my favourite magic shops. Having both together is going to be great!

Check out The Hermit’s Lamp website for more information, and to sign up.

Space is limited, so don’t wait!

Andrew McGregor of The Hermit’s Lamp recently got together with Tarot designer and scholar Robert M. Place to chat about art, Tarot, and Tarot history. It was a really interesting conversation, and you can hear it here. Take a listen!

And if you like that one, you might want to listen to some of the other great Tarot podcasts from the Hermit’s Lamp. You can see a complete list here. Enjoy!

Andrew McGregor of The Hermit’s Lamp, has been doing a series of podcasts where he interviews some very interesting people in the Tarot community.

One of the podcasts I listened to recently features clinical psychologist Dr. Art Rosengarten, who’s the author of Tarot and Psychology, as well as the designer of the Tarot of the 9 Paths.

In the podcast McGregor and Rosengarten discuss everything from how Tarot might work, to Jungian Sand Play, to the paradox of meaning, to reading for men.

Take a listen for yourself, it’s really interesting → The Hermit’s Lamp w/ Dr. Art Rosengarten.

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For those of you lucky enough to be in Toronto on Saturday, July 26th, you might want to check out the opening night party for The Art of Tarot show at The Hemit’s Lamp.

The Art of Tarot, featuring the work of 10 different Tarot-inspired artists, will actually be on display from July 26th through September 1st, so you’ve got plenty of time to see the show, but it’s always fun to be at the opening party!

Get there if you can! It’s going to be a great show and a very fun event. Hope to see you there.

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Two of my favourite Tarot readers/teachers have come together in Andrew McGregor’s most recent podcast – Kindness, Compassion, and Tarot with Theresa Reed, aka The Tarot Lady.

What a great topic, and what two great people to talk about it.

Take a listen at The Hermit’s Lamp website, or through iTunes.

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Gail Fairfield is one of Tarot’s modern pioneers. She’s been reading cards since the early 70s and her book Choice Centered Tarot was (and still is) truly influential in breaking down the old ‘fortune-telling’ style of reading.

Her focus on the essence of each card, and the system of Tarot itself, helps make reading with any deck relatively straightforward. It certainly helped me when I first started reading.

I’m writing about Gail Fairfield now because I just listened to a fabulous podcast where Andrew McGregor of The Hermit’s Lamp interviews her about gender, Tarot, and how she came to develop her own ideas about the cards.

It’s a really interesting discussion for Tarot newbies and experienced readers alike. Take a listen by downloading it for free at the Hermit’s Lamp, or at iTunes.

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When Andrew McGregor of The Hermit’s Lamp first released his limited edition Tarot Waiting To Happen deck, he offered people a chance to get themselves drawn as one of the cards.

I asked if I could be drawn with my darling cat Carl JK as the Queen of Wands. Here’s the result! I love it!!

And I really like the deck too. It’s based on the Marseille Tarot, but instead of replicating the traditional images, McGregor imagined what might have happened just before the picture we usually see.

For instance, why is the Hanged Man hanging, and what was Justice doing before heading to court?

You can see all the cards at The Hermit’s Lamp website. I think there might even be a few copies of the deck still available if you’re interested in getting one for yourself.

And just a reminder, if you’re in the Toronto area and think you might want to visit The Hermit’s Lamp in person, please note, they’ve moved to a fabulous new home at 425 Vaughn Road.

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Tarot Waiting to Happen is a brand new, very limited edition Majors-only deck by Andrew McGregor of The Hermit’s Lamp, and it’s fantastic!!

Though it follows a traditional Tarot storyline, it does so by looking at the moments just before the situations we usually see portrayed in the cards. Times like Justice reading up on a decision before trial, or the Emperor as he’s putting on his clothes.

We even see what might have got the Hanged Man swinging.

The idea is fabulous, and I love the black and white line drawings. The only thing I could wish for is that McGregor follows this deck up with a 78-card version.

To see images of all the cards, and to order a copy of your own, visit The Hermit’s Lamp website.

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Toronto Tarot Lovers – Attention!!

I mentioned it a while back while they were still taking submissions, but I’m posting again to remind everyone that the show opens this week …

The Art of Tarot 2013 at The Hermit’s Lamp. Andrew McGregor has put together another fabulous collection of Tarot art from artists in and around Toronto.

Though the show will be hanging through May, the Opening Night party will be this coming Thursday, April 25th from 7:30 to 9:30.

I’m going to try to be there, and if you’re in the Toronto area, you should too! It’s going to be fun, and full of Tarot magic.

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