Posts tagged with 'Tarot'

Sensual Wicca Ace of Wands

  • Posted on April 20, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Twitt

Ace of Wands

Sensual Wicca Ace of Wands

A fiery salamander clings to a branch in this expressive card. The suit of Wands corresponds to the ancient symbol of fire and I suspect the flames lining the salamander’s back represent Kundalini (Chakra) energy.

The choice of a salamander in magical symbology is no coincidence, given its remarkable transformation from a creature of water to a creature of land. Fire elementals were called salamanders. According to Monstropedia http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Salamander, “The salamander represents those who pass through the fires of passion and of this world without stain…. The salamander is also used to symbolize the flames, which it passes through, and so is a symbol of fire, temptation, and burning desire.”

The LWB for this deck gives the card’s meaning as “A new beginning, a new project, offer for employment, initiative”. Aces generally mean action and beginnings and the association with the element of fire leads us to new beginnings in creative endeavors or romantic relationships.

I’m planning to start writing a new story. What are you being driven to do?

Lyndi

Quantum Tarot: The Magician

  • Posted on April 15, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Twitt

The Magician

Quantum Tarot Magician

Traditionally, the Magician, the card #2 in the Major Arcana, was associated with the ancient god Hermes / Mercury, messenger of the gods. Later, Medieval alchemists traced their craft to Hermes Trismegistus, or thrice-blessed Hermes.

The LWB of the Quantum Tarot associates this cared with Electromagnetic Force, represented by the rainbow colors, and describes the figure in the card as seeming to be “playing with energy… bringing consciousness and understanding to illuminate mystery.” The parallels to alchemy are all too apparent to anyone who knows even a little about the subject. The LWB goes on to say:

He represents the light of conscious thought and the ability to manifest an intangible idea or vision in the material world… Whenever we engage in a creative act that makes something out of nothing, we inhabit the magician archetype.

Sounds like the perfect card for a writer, doesn’t it? I’m hoping to tap into some Magician energy as I start my new project, the final story in my Alliance series.

Lyndi

Lotus Circle: 8 of Swords

  • Posted on April 10, 2010 at 9:51 am
Twitt

Eight of Swords

Lotus Circle 8 of Swords

A woman peers out of an upstairs window. The windows on the lower floor are barred by eight swords.

The Tarot of the Lotus Circle gives the following keywords for this card: Self-Imprisonment, Restriction, Crippling Fear, Denial, Imagined Helplessness, Victimization.

Traditionally, this is the “Damsel in Distress” card though not necessarily physical danger. Swords correspond to the element of Air, meaning intellectual matters. Historically, this card was interpreted as meaning a victim scandal, spread by lies and rumors.

If this card appears in answer to a yes or no question, the answer is No.

Ask yourself: What are you doing to keep yourself immobilized?

Art Nouveau King of Chalices

  • Posted on April 3, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Twitt

Art Nouveau King of Chalices

King of Chalices (Cups)

I looked at the posts I’ve done so far and realized I’ve neglected the Suit of Cups, here called Chalices. In this depiction, the King is a white-haired, bearded man holding a large chalice. A young woman I can only assume is his daughter leans on his knee. ;)

The LWB says that Chalices represent “the emotional and sentimental sphere”. The King indicates “generosity, helpfulness, a favorably disposed important man”.

In Tarot For Writers, Kenner says that Kings in all suits stand for the element of Air and Cups for Water, so the King of Cups combines both elements. Astrologically, the Kings are related to the fixed signs, so King of Cups would be Scorpio.

Historically, Kenner says this was “a cautionary card, warning of ill-will on the part of a man of position; he could be a hypocrite, only pretending to help”. The association with Scorpio perhaps explains this as many astrologers used to take a negative view of that sign. Scorpio can be spiritual or vindictive, the Eagle or the Scorpion.

Modern tarot readers view the card more kindly as representing a gentle, sensitive, family man.

Lyndi

Albano-Waite IV: The Emperor

  • Posted on April 1, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Twitt

Albano-Waite Emperor

IV The Emperor

A stern-looking bearded man sits on a crown adorned by rams skulls. He wears armor and a purple robe, a crown and carries a scepter shaped like an Ankh, the ancient Egyptian symbol of life. He is the Emperor, King of the World, conqueror, leader, administrator.

According to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tarot Spreads Illustrated, this card depicts the “Father of Civilization” and his archetypes are “Father” and architect/master builder.

Astrologically he is ruled by Aries.

In Numerology, the number 4 represents good foundations, discipline and organization. It can also indicate a blockage of some kind.

Upright, the card represents “solid foundation, strategic planning”

Reversed: “Time to make a plan, knuckle down”

What this card tells me personally is that I have a good foundation as a writer, but I need to sit down and apply what I’ve learned. It truly is time to make a decision and a plan and then knuckle down and do the work. I’ve been drifting too long.

What does this card say to you?

Lyndi

Lotus Circle: Four of Wands

  • Posted on March 13, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Twitt

Four of Wands

Four of Wands, Lotus Circle Tarot

Lotus Circle: Four of Wands

I recently went to EPICon2010 in New Orleans and this card reminds me of the lovely Southern mansions in the area.

A couple stands at the foot of a staircase leading to a columned terrace. They seem to have come home.

In The Tarot of the Lotus Circle, Marilyn Campbell lists the following keywords for this card: Commitment; Contentment, Peace; New Home

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tarot Spreads Illustrated interprets the Four of Wands as follows:

This is where it all starts coming together. Celebration after hard work. Good foundation, strong and stable… can support the design of your dreams.

In a reading, it often points to success and prosperity.

If you’re looking for a yes or no, the answer is yes.

Lyndi

Albano-Waite: The Sun

  • Posted on February 26, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Twitt

Sun card, Albano-Waite deck

XIX The Sun

This is an iconic design, the one pictured on the box the deck came on and one I imagine you may have seen before. The foreground depicts a naked child riding bareback on a white horse while carrying a red flowing banner. A huge yellow sun shines in the background. Behind the horse is a large stone wall topped with four sunflowers.

The Sun is one of the most favorable cards in the tarot. The child represents innocence and joy, but the addition of the wall (security) means protected innocence, unlike the innocence of The Fool who usually depicted as a young man about to step off a cliff. The sunflowers imply abundance, as well as hope for a bright future.

In Tarot for Writers, Corrinne Kenner states that “the white horse is a hero’s mount. Horses represent mobility, partnership and social status”. (Horses also represent freedom of movement.) In a story, this card could represent “a child, a farmer, a horseman, a musician or a poet”.

If this card comes up as an answer to a question, assume an emphatic “Yes”.

Lyndi

Art Nouveau Knight of Swords

  • Posted on February 16, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Twitt
Art Nouveau Knight of Swords

Knight of Swords, Art Nouveau deck

This knight appears to be a dashing fellow, riding courageously to the rescue or impetuously into danger.

The LWB says that Swords represent “fight and both physical and spiritual sufferance”. If you’re using this card as a significator*, it embodies “an able and courageous man, with a passionate, irascible and insolent nature”. (Typically, a Knight is used to represent a young man and a King for an older man.)

This is all well and good, but what if the card turns up in a spot where a type of person isn’t the answer?

I turned to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tarot Spreads to see what it says.

Swords “represent thoughts and ideas” and the element of air. They indicate “how we face obstacles and make decisions”.

The Knight of Swords in a reading “indicates the need to act quickly” or to make a quick decision. It makes sense; knights represent action and swords air, i.e. thoughts, so the two combined means quick thinking.

Lyndi

* A significator is a card chosen to represent either the subject of a reading, or if you’re a writer, could represent one of the characters in your book. I like this article on Significators at The Lotus Pond.

L.

Sensual Wicca: Hanged Man

  • Posted on February 3, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Twitt
Hanged Man

Hanged Man, Sensual Wicca Tarot

This is my newest deck, and I think this photo is better than previous ones. (I actually looked at the cameral manual to figure out how to take extreme close-ups. What a concept!)

The Sensual Wicca Tarot: A Wiccan vision of the world of sexuality from Lo Scarabeo lives up to its name with some very sensual and sexual images. It differs from traditional decks in avoiding obvious Judeo-Christian images and titles for the cards. In this deck, Queens become Mothers, Kings are Sages, Knights are Acolytes and Pages are Maidens. The images in the cards represent folk magic practitioners from around the world: Europe, Africa, the Americas, etc.

The Hanged Man is traditionally shown suspended upside down by his feet, tied to the tree by a rope. In this deck, he is suspended by locking his feet over the branch, implying that this is, perhaps, self-bondage. The LWB says:

Sacrifice, dedication, a new perspective, seeing things from a different point of view.

In Tarot for Your Self, Mary Greer interprets this card as meaning “suspended action. A time of stagnation and frustration” and I can certainly relate to that. I’ve been in a long period of low writing productivity. I hope exploring the world of the tarot will help to fill my creative well. How can I not be inspired by such wonderful images?

Lyndi

Lotus Circle Tarot: 7 of Wands

  • Posted on February 1, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Twitt

I was introduced to this deck at the 2007 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Houston. Marilyn Campbell, who designed the deck and wrote the companion interpretive book, gave a workshop of Psychic Fiction. In the workshop, she read one or more cards for everyone present. The 7 of Wands was one of the cards I drew. I remember because she looked right at me and said, it doesn’t come faster if you push the button every five seconds. Or words to that effect. I laughed, but she was right on. I’m an Aries and I can be quite impatient at times.

Seven of Wands

Seven of Wands

In this card, a businesswoman stands waiting for an elevator. The companion book, Tarot of the Lotus Circle by Marilyn Campbell, Jasmine-Jade Enterprises, 2007, says:

Blockages; Minor Obstacles; Solvable Puzzles; Business negotiations are in order; Taking a stand. The change required at the moment is in your attitude.

If you draw this card when you’re looking for a yes or no answer to a query, the answer is clearly No.

This is a lovely deck, very contemporary, with a strong feminist feel. Unfortunately, it appears to be out of print at the moment, though a few are available through Amazon’s affiliates.

Lyndi

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