tarot blog hop: the 13th card

Click the photo above to check out the rest of the blog hop!

This month, I'm doing the very first tarot blog hop hosted by Tarot Rebels Facebook Group. We're focusing on the 13th card of tarot: DEATH.

In my Tarot Everywhere deck, I used an image of an expired parking meter to represent the energies of this card. In case you've never used a parking meter, it's a device used to collect money in exchange for parking for a limited amount of time. Typically, the time limit is 2 hours. If you do something called feeding the meter, that's a no-no. It's when you try to go beyond your time limit which of course isn't fair to others. If you're caught feeding the meter, you could receive a citation or fine. When your time limit is up, the TIME EXPIRED sign appears and it means it's time to move on.

The energy of the Death card is like a parking meter because it simply means that you're putting your energy (coins) into a cycle of experience for a particular time period (time limit), and when that time is over, you move on to the next cycle of experience.

SPREAD
I developed the Parking Meter Spread to demonstrate this pattern.

Time Limit: The purpose and focus of the current cycle of experience.

Insert Coin: What you bring to this cycle of experience in terms of your energy, outlook and actions. Compare this card to the Time Limit card. They should be in sync, showing that your energy matches the focus of the cycle.

Feeding the Meter: Challenges you can expect if you're not in sync with the current cycle.

Time Expired: How to prepare for the next cycle.


SAMPLE READING
Here's my own reading using this spread.

Tarot Everywhere and Oracle Everywhere decks

Time Limit: King of Pentacles. The purpose and focus of this cycle is hard work. This King is a worker, not a delegator. He's out in the fields working all day long and he's happy to do it to provide for his family and community. This card tells me that I need to be working hard to shore up my financial future.

Insert Coin: 6 of Swords. This card depicts sailing across a lake. It has a very different energy than the King of Pentacles. This shows I'm taking things too easy right now, just floating along and not putting in the effort necessary to match this current cycle. I also interpret this card as going through a difficult transition often with help from others. Indeed, this is what I'm experiencing and it's a challenge to focus on work and material concerns. This card's placement next to the King of Pentacles reveals a directional cue of running away from or trying to escape from hard work.

Feeding the Meter: Ace of Pentacles. This shows that being out of sync with this cycle will impede future growth and manifestation. The King of Pentacles is the final card in the pentacles set. The Ace represents starting over in a new phase of growth. If I don't put in the hard work now, I won't be able to reap the benefits of this new phase.

Time Expired: Face Your Fears. To prepare for the next cycle, I must face my fears. This seems to resonate most with the escape aspect of the 6 of Swords. Perhaps there's something I'm running away from or am afraid to deal with directly. It looks like I'm going to have to face it head on in order to make a smooth transition into the next cycle.

Purchase Tarot Everywhere & Oracle Everywhere

HERE

tarot blog hop: a union of opposites

PREVIOUS BLOG | MASTER LIST | NEXT BLOG

 
I'm doing another tarot blog hop y'all! This time our blogWrangler is Aisling the Bard presenting the topic: Lammas, A Union Of Opposites. There are two options and I'm doing option B:

B) Find a pair of cards which work as a unit but represent two opposite views of the same situation. They both may be in the same suit or in two different suits, one may be major and one minor arcana, but if one were to receive both these cards in a reading, how would one represent the opposing energies thereof as they apply to the same situation?

I decided to use the Tarot Everywhere deck because I created it with some opposing cards.

For example, the 7 of Pentacles was designed to reflect the slow growth and anticipation of the ripening stage while the 10 of Pentacles reveals the resulting harvest. When these two cards pop up together in a reading, I've also found they can mean, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

I like to use "call and response" cards in my decks which sometimes reveal opposing views. The 5 of Pentacles depicts a hitchhiker out on the road by himself, needing assistance. The 6 of Pentacles depicts someone offering an ice cream cone as a gesture of friendship. The call is the 5 of Pentacles and the response is the 6 of Pentacles. Hopefully, if the 5 of Pentacles appears in a reading, the 6 of Pentacles will follow showing that you have asked and received the help you need.

I also created some visual pairs by accident. The 7 of Cups and 2 of Pentacles are visual opposites: the sky and the earth. If they both appear in a reading, it can mean that you need to get your head out of the clouds and make the most realistic choice. Or, alternatively, it can show that you're too stuck in black and white thinking and need to use more imagination.

Purchase the Tarot Everywhere deck

HERE

PREVIOUS BLOG | MASTER LIST | NEXT BLOG

Spread: coming together and falling apart

Many, many months ago, I ran across this quote on a blog post:

“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy. ”  
― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heartfelt Advice for Hard Times

I thought it had the ring of a good spread. Here's the Coming Together and Falling Apart spread:

Card 1: The problem: Choose this card face-up from your deck. This means to go through the deck and find a card that depicts your problem, worry or concern.

Card 2: What the problem looks like when it's falling apart.

Card 3: What the problem looks like when it's coming together.

Card 4: How to make room for grief.

Card 5: How to make room for relief.

Card 6: How to make room for misery.

Card 7: How to make room for joy.

My reading:

I chose the 2 of Wands as the problem card because it shows my sense of always being unsettled and on the move. I haven't stayed in the same place for more than 4 years for all of my adulthood and I'm just realizing how much I want to be in a more stable environment and somewhere I can call home.

Lay the first three cards in this order: Card 2 - Card 1 - Card 3.

Now that the cards are side by side, I can easily see a pattern: When things become too structured, rigid and buttoned up (Emperor), I pack my bags (2 of Wands) and prepare for a new adventure...a fresh start (Ace of Pentacles). I guess when I look at it this way it doesn't seem so bad. I've been  believing I want a more structured environment but this reading tells me that's it's the structure that creates my impulse to break free.

I used my Oracle Everywhere deck to provide guidance for the journey. Love Your Reflection is how I can make room for grief. I intended this card to be about self-love, but I think there's a more visual cue here too -- photography. When I'm grieving the loss of people and places I'm leaving behind, I should take photos!! I take photos of lots of things but rarely as a sentimental gesture.

To make room for relief I can Follow A New Path. This card here suggests that there is a sense of relief in following a new path and embarking on a new journey, despite my claim to desire a more stable existence.

To make room for misery I can Rise Above, perhaps seeing my transition from a higher perspective. Maybe my desire to leave and start over is really serving an important purpose in my evolution.

Finally, Move Your Body came up for making room for joy. This card is about dancing and free expression. It shows the joy you get from feeling uninhibited and just going with the flow of life.

Purchase the Tarot Everywhere and Oracle Everywhere deck

HERE

blog hopping again...with Willows East

I've connected with Gretchen at Willows East for another blog hop. It's a pretty simple one where we share stuff about what we do and why.

The idea is to briefly introduce visitors to your Tarot or Intuitive blog, journey, mission, or business.

Here's a link so you can visit Gretchen and the other blog hoppers: http://willowseast.blogspot.com/2016/07/tarot-blog-hop.html

1. What brought you to Tarot?
When I was 19 a long-time friend handed me a tarot deck as a gift and said, "This looked like something that would be right up your alley." At the time, I had never heard of tarot before and I'm not sure she had either. But she did know I interpreted dreams and analyzed handwriting so tarot seemed equally mysterious and awesome. It was the beginning of a life-long love affair.

2. Which deck is your favorite?
My oldest favorite tarot deck is the Tarot of the Ages. It has the most sumptuous artwork I've ever seen and I appreciate the realistic body images.

But since I mostly use the decks I create now, my favorite would be a toss up between Tarot Everywhere and The Animal Tarot. Tarot Everywhere began as a photo project. I began noticing tarot cards in photos and soon those photos became this tarot deck. It seems to be a deck that most people can relate too. The Animal Tarot is a deck that features photos of animals instead of people. I like that it's not a fluffy, pretty deck -- the animals are serious and in their different natural habitats. It's a great deck for combining tarot and animal totem wisdom.

Tarot Everywhere

The Animal Tarot

3. Link to your Tarot business page, shop, or explain the purpose of your blog.
I have started many, many blogs. The one I had before this one was a collection of my posts on cartomancy, tarot, and divination tools (https://twelveofhearts.wordpress.com/). During that time, I started creating my own decks. My initial purpose was to make or use images to represent tarot cards since there are so many copyright restrictions on using deck images. When I posted photos of my decks, people asked: Are you going to sell them? When can I buy it? Why won't you sell it?

At the time, I didn't know of a simple way to sell them until Printerstudio (the printer I use) offered a SELL YOUR DESIGN feature where you can make your designs available for others to purchase. By that time, I had made two decks that I was ready to share. So, I started this blog as a way to  demonstrate ways to use them in readings. Now, I've published 15 decks on Printerstudio (and counting). You can find my decks in my Printerstudio shopspace: http://www.printerstudio.com/sell/otmoraclecards

4. What makes your journey or business unique?
I don't know that my journey is unique. I'm just another tarot nerd obsessed with cards!

5. Ask your deck, higher self, or guide, what it would like to share with visitors. Draw one card and/or share your response.
I'm working on an exciting new deck concept that uses haiku as a divinatory and meditation tool. Each card features one line of a translated haiku by Matsuo Basho. When you pull three cards, you create a new poem.

in a world of one color
flecked with mud
spring rain

Since I've been having strong empathic reactions surrounding recent #BlackLivesMatter incidents, I believe the poem is a commentary on it. I'm interpreting the spring rain as an impending and necessary healing that will wash away the mud (blocks/places where we're stuck) in our one color world (we're all one).

I'm making tarot & oracle decks, and divination courses

Support me on Patreon

tarot blog hop: junk mail tarot

PREVIOUS BLOG | MASTER LIST | NEXT BLOG

I'm excited to be participating in my first tarot blog hop!

blogWrangler Morgan Drake Eckstein came up with this month's theme: Junk Mail Tarot...A tarot art project for non-artists! The idea is to make a tarot card using junk mail, old magazine photos, or stock photos online. Then discuss why you chose those images for that particular card. This seemed perfect for me since I create tarot and oracle decks using old book illustrations, vintage photos, and art I make on my iPhone.

I decided to do an iPhone photo collage (using photos from Unsplash.com) representing the tarot card Temperance. It shows a dancer deftly balancing on a stack of stones which floats on the ocean. Temperance, to me, is about learning to stay balanced and going with the flow despite changes in the "current" of your life.

Here are a few of my favorite cards I've already made.

This is the Fool card from my "Selfie" tarot deck for a #diytarotchallenge last year. It's my silhouette superimposed with a photo I found on Unsplash.com. The image depicts my head as a spiral floating in the clouds. For me the spiral represents an unending flow of energy that propels you into new experiences and higher evolution with each revolution. The Fool is a perpetual seeker and dreamer. His head is in the clouds and he's always looking for the next new experience to take him to higher levels of understanding.

This card is from my Tarot Everywhere deck. In the tarot, The World features a woman dancing inside a circle. The circle is a key symbol because it represents something coming full circle, completion, and wholeness. At the end of the series of trumps, The World card signifies you've integrated the lessons of the other major arcana. This image of a basketball going through the hoop symbolizes winning at the game of life. The rim is the circle and the basketball (also another circle) dances within it. This card represents success, achievement and fulfillment.

This Sun card is from a personal deck I made for Black History Month earlier this year. The Marseilles version of this card depicts two people together in kinship. I used this photo of Venus and Serena Williams for The Sun to depict victory, happiness, and also familial love. It's wonderful when you've accomplished something alone, but I think success is sweeter when shared. Watch the video on how I made this deck using the Photo Artista Haiku app.

PREVIOUS BLOG | MASTER LIST | NEXT BLOG

i see white people in my tarot cards ~ my thoughts on #tarotsowhite

I just found out about this hashtag #tarotsowhite from reading Benebell Wen's blog post: My Perspective and #Tarotsowhite. The hashtag was created by Kelly-Ann Maddox on her cardslinger vlog, Episode 307: Cardslinger: Reversals | Mini-Decks & Complaining About Whiteness. If you check out the video below, she brings it up in the video at roughly 25:00. She's talking about the overwhelming lack of race diversity in tarot and oracle decks and invites people of color to share their views. I applaud Kelly-Ann for bringing awareness to this topic and for inviting other viewpoints.

Here is her introductory statement but please watch this entire section so you'll understand my comments:

"I am completely aware that another White voice is not what we need on this issue. My intention is to use my platform to open up this dialogue and to start having this conversation so that we as purchasers of tarot and oracle decks can let creators and publishing houses know that we find the lack of race diversity in decks to be disturbing and perturbing and unsettling and all around yucky...."

I am Black, American, almost 50 years old, and a tarot and oracle reader for over 25 years. I've been in the online divination community for about 20 years. I'm also a deck creator and I believe that telling deck creators who or what to include in their decks is the equivalent of telling an artist what to draw and how to paint it. I certainly wouldn't want anyone telling me what to create or who to include in my decks.

It's great to bring more awareness to this but I believe we should be focusing attention on the consumer. The finger should be pointed back at ourselves. If we truly have an ethical problem with a deck, we should not be purchasing it, promoting it with giveaways, showing it on our Instagram feeds, or doing video reviews of the deck. As deck purchasers, we need to change our mindset and buying habits, and use the power of money to create change.

Tarot Everywhere deck ~ purchase HERE

No Quotas Please
I'm not into the idea of deck creators adding people of color to their decks just to suit popular opinion or to fill a publisher quota. I'd rather they create a deck that is authentic to them without forcing a racially integrated experience. Why? Because cultural authenticity is just as important as race diversity. If a deck creator/artist doesn't know any Black folks in real life, how do they know how to depict us in their deck? Are they in tune with our cultural nuances? Are they attentive to our physical features? When you create art or anything else, you create from what you know. The issue isn't about simply putting people of color into every deck. The real issue is about getting to know real people of color in the real world. When we ALL start doing this, it will naturally lead to more inclusion. 

Tarot For Lost Souls (personal deck)

Don't Hate...Create!
In the Black community, I've found that we're much more responsive to decks that are also created by us so we can put our money into our community and support each other. But many of the decks that prominently feature people of color are not actually created by them. If you don't feel included in tarot and want a deck that represents you...create it! Don't wait for someone else to do it. Anything worth having is worth pursuing.

Untitled deck in progress

A Little Help
If you're looking for more diverse decks, don't wait for those decks to stream by in your Instagram or Facebook feed. Go find them! Here's 20 decks to get you started! If you can't find anything on this list that resonates with you, then it's time to make your own deck!! With all of the self-publishing options and resources at your fingertips, you have no excuse not to.

Tarot of the Ages
Black Angel Cards
Afro-Brazilian Tarot
African-American Tarot
The Urban Tarot
Gaian Tarot
African Goddess Affirmation Cards
The Motherpeace Round Tarot Deck
Tarot de St. Croix
Vision Quest Tarot
The Sweeney Tarot
Vudu Tarot/Espiritismo Tarot
Medicine Woman Tarot
Tao Oracle
The Charming Tarot
So Below Deck: Book of Shadows Tarot, Vol. 2
Universal Goddess Tarot
Vanessa Tarot
Tarot of the Boroughs

The Stretch Tarot

Support someone who is creating NOT hating!
Become one of my patrons on Patreon! 

New Moon in Aries Spread

This week, I've been chatting with Kathy Crabbe about making oracle cards, and I noticed she had a wonderful blog post on the Aries new moon. So, I decided to make a simple spread based on her post: How To Get Inspired and Fight To Win This Aries New Moon.

Card 1: What do you want more than anything?

Card 2: How to get it (by tapping into your Aries Fire).

Card 3: Affirmation to support your goal.

Here's my reading.

Card 1: Knight of Wands. This card represents a departure which I'll be making very soon to live in a different part of the country. It also signifies the freedom and adventure I'm hoping this move will help me regain. I'm eager to start over and live life to the fullest.

Card 2: Have Fun. I get this card a lot as an admonishment because I'm always so busy working, creating, and trying to stay afloat. But this card shows that adding more fun to my days will help me live life to the fullest.

Card 3: I am joyous. Love this card! And it ties in nicely with the positive energy of the other two cards. 

The decks used in this reading were the Tarot Everywhere deck, Oracle Everywhere deck and I AM Cards. They are all available for sale through my Printerstudio shopspace

HERE

how to use verification cards in a reading

Sometimes, you've done the reading and it doesn't make sense. Although you understand the meaning of each card, you can't apply the meanings to the question and outcome. One of the things that's missing in these scenarios is a lack of verification cards which can add a lot of clarity to your process.

The purpose of verification cards is to verify and clarify information that is brought out in the reading. Verification cards are chosen before shuffling. To choose verification cards, you must listen to the seeker’s concerns and then think of cards to represent those concerns. What I call verification cards is often called "charging" the card in some systems. However, I don't believe the verification card needs to be taken out of the deck at all. You simply need to consider it as a possible card that might appear in the reading. This is all part of setting your intention for the reading.

Let's say the seeker wants to know if she should continue dating Rick or begin a new relationship with Bob. With Rick she has an on-again, off-again relationship. He's not ready for a commitment and is always on the go. Bob seems more stable. He's a hard worker and ready to settle down. Verification cards will help us decide how to interpret the final card for the answer. There are several verification cards to consider here.

Continue dating = 2 of Cups, 4 of Wands

New relationship = Ace of Cups, Ace of Pentacles

New possibility with someone else = Knight of Cups - this card may signal a new romantic interest

Walking away but not starting anything new yet = 8 of Cups

Thinking things over a little while longer = 4 of Swords

Rick = Knight of Wands

Bob = King of Pentacles

As I stated, you don't have to pull these cards out of the deck to "charge" them. You can simply keep them in mind before you shuffle the cards. However, if you're still learning the cards, it's helpful to go through the deck, card by card, and pull out a few. Write them down and what they will verify along with the question. Then put them back into the deck. If a verification card shows up in a reading, you know exactly what it means.

Let's say these cards are chosen for the seeker's concern.

Tarot Everywhere deck

 
The only verification card in the reading is the 4 of Swords which relates to thinking things over a little while longer. Since it's in the first position of the 3-card spread, we know that she's asked this question because she's not ready to make a decision. The Knight of Pentacles reinforces this. This Knight looks back at the past and isn't quite ready to focus on the future. The character in the card looks toward the 4 of Swords.

The answer is the Moon. This is a card of mystery and suggests that she will remain in the dark or unsure of what to do about this for a while longer. As an answer to her SHOULD I question, it says that now is not the time to make a decision for either choice. There's not enough clarity about it.

The seeker isn't ready to give up her relationship with Rick in favor of Bob but the reading doesn't suggest she should continue dating Rick either. It may be wise to have a time-out to get her priorities and direction together.

If you find that no verification cards show up in a reading, then there may be concerns other than the ones the seeker spoke of. This is often the case when there are underlying issues the seeker  doesn’t mention but which have a stronger impact on the circumstances than the surface issues.

Purchase the Tarot Everywhere deck

HERE

seven types of questions and how to answer them using tarot cards

It's the reader's job to answer the question in the way it was asked, however, I see many readings performed that are not answering the seeker's question. If you're not addressing the question, your reading will be inaccurate.

For example, if a yes/no question was asked, then a yes/no answer should be provided. If advice is requested, the reader should provide advice. One of the problems tarot readers encounter is how to answer certain types of questions. For instance, what if someone asks a WHEN question or a HOW question?

When you consider the TYPE of question asked, this will help you give the most appropriate response. Here are the seven most common types of questions and how to answer them using tarot cards.


(1) WILL

Will I pass my chemistry exam?
Will he come back to me?
Will I get the bonus check?

This is one of the most common types of questions. The seeker usually wants a simple yes/no predictive outcome. Typically, they are not looking for anything deeper nor are they asking how they can change their behavior to achieve the desired outcome. They just need a quick answer so they will know how to proceed. To answer this question with tarot cards, look at the final card of the 3-card spread and use the story method for interpretation.


(2) WHAT

What’s going on in my relationship with Steven?
What do I need to know about this job interview?
What can I expect on this date?

WHAT questions typically show a desire for more information. Similar to the WILL question, there is a desire to know where things will lead but, in this case, the seeker is more concerned about what's happening right now. They wish to gain more insight into an issue or a person's actions. To answer this question, look at the cards in the reading and explain the action occurring in the card.


(3) SHOULD I

Should I take this job?
Should I get back together with Steven?
Should I invest in company A or B?

These questions are asked when the seeker is confused and seeking direction. SHOULD I questions always present two or more options. Should I take this job presents the option of (a) taking the job or (b) not taking the job.

This is a yes/no question, however it's different from the WILL question because, in these cases, the seeker really wants to know if the path will be in their best interest. It's often best to select a card to represent option A and another card to represent option B to investigate the outcome for each option.

Tarot Everywhere

In the above reading about which business opportunity to accept, Option A (9 of Pentacles) shows a leadership position while Option B (10 of Wands) shows a heavy workload.


(4) WHY

Why won’t he call me?
Why do I have bad luck?
Why did he leave?

Seekers ask why to get to the root of a problem. They are already aware of the problem but they don't understand why it's happening to them. Essentially, the question is "What's wrong and why is this happening?" Seekers asking these questions are often in a miserable state and really need answers desperately. Insight into why something is happening can be found in the reading's numerical theme. It will point to the seeker's current vibration which may be at odds with what they want. Advice is always necessary even if the seeker doesn't ask for it. Use the reading to provide positive and action-oriented guidance or they will be stuck in negative and self defeating patterns.

Tarot Everywhere

These three cards show the seeker is feeling blocked, experiencing a lack of clarity, and is in a state of suspension. This reading has a numerical theme of 4 which usually appears when the seeker wants something to happen but it's not happening. They feel thwarted and stuck. The four energy is about maintaining the status quo, not change. You may feel like you're in stasis. The advice of the Hanged Man is to surrender to this feeling. Don't try to change anything. Release your need to control what's happening.



(5) HOW

How can I achieve greater success in my online business?
How can I improve my relationship?
How will we get through this crisis?

HOW questions are asked when the seeker wants to understand what actions will be beneficial in reaching a goal. The good news is that the seeker is in a proactive state ready to act upon your advice. They are ready to make the necessary changes to reach their goal. Interpret the card(s) as actions to provide the seeker with a step-by-step plan of action.


(6) WHEN

When will I meet my soulmate?
When will I hear back about the job?
When will my finances improve?

WHEN is a timing question and is asked out of frustration or impatience. When will something happen because it's not happening is usually at the root of these questions. There are many timing methods for reading tarot cards (how to determine timing with tarot cards). Choose one and set your intention to use it for the reading. Often the reading shows timing is in accordance to personal development. Your timing card is often telling you -- THIS will happen when THIS occurs. For example, you'll meet your soulmate when you take a leap of faith.

Tarot Everywhere

(7) WHERE

Where will I meet my soulmate?
Where did I lose my keys?
Where can I find more income?

WHERE is a location question. People ask these questions when they are searching for something and desire a specific response. There is a lot of location symbolism in tarot cards, particularly in the Trumps. For instance, Justice might represent a courthouse or The Hierophant may signify a church or university. The Chariot can show a place in or near cars or transportation. If you have a visual tarot deck, look at the image for clues to location. Is the scene indoors or outdoors? Describe the tarot card scene for guidance on finding lost objects or a good place to meet your soulmate.

Tarot Everywhere

Above are some cards showing specific places: the bathroom, an amusement park, a church, a garden, a bookstore or library, a subway or train.

Purchase the Tarot Everywhere deck

HERE

answer any question with this 3-card spread

Although I enjoy using a variety of spreads just because they're fun and interesting, I believe you really only need one spread -- this 3-card spread -- to answer any question. Essentially, every question needs just one card - the answer. But it's also important to understand how things develop to get to that answer. In this 3-card spread, you can see the real issues and what is changing to bring about the outcome.


The Spread

First card = what's happening; why the seeker is asking the question; key person involved (they are usually mentioned in the question). The first card explains why the seeker has asked the question in the first place. It may appear to restate the question but there is usually additional information within this card that gives you a key to the seeker's perspective. If a Court Card appears here, it may signify a person, usually someone the seeker mentioned in the question. On occasion, a Court Card in this position represents a role the seeker is playing.

Second card = underlying influences; what the seeker needs to know about the situation; the seeker's true goals or desires; what is hidden or unknown; a conflict or inherent problem; what is changing or how things develop. The second card fills in the missing pieces of information. It helps the seeker understand or see more clearly what's going on or how things are developing. If a Court Card appears here, it may signify a person who is influencing the situation. Their influence has a direct impact on the outcome.

Third card = outcome or answer; where things are headed; the bottom line; who controls the outcome. This card gives you the answer to the question. If you don't understand the other cards in the reading, just skip to this one to figure out the bottom line. If a Court Card appears here, it may signify that a person controls or decides the outcome. It can also show how the situation develops.


The Spread Formula

Another thing to consider is how to string these card positions together in a reading. I think of it as a math formula. Card 1 + Card 2 = Card 3. This formula produces two sentence structures:

Card 1 AND Card 2 THEREFORE Card 3
Card 1 BUT Card 2 THEREFORE Card 3


Examples

Will I get the promotion?

Remember that the first card answers why the seeker asked the question. In this case, it looks like there's some competition they're up against so they want to know if they will beat out the competition for the promotion. The second card is a reminder that they are highly skilled at this work. The final card shows winning at the game of life and therefore a successful outcome. The formula might read like this: It's a very competitive environment BUT you're a skilled professional with all the tools you need to get this promotion THEREFORE you will succeed!


Is my marriage over?

You're despondent AND your husband is distant THEREFORE someone is ready to walk away from this relationship.


Should I move from an apartment to a house?

Your space is starting to feel cluttered and cramped AND you're seeking wide open spaces and new horizons THEREFORE it's time to move on. 


Will we enjoy our vacation?

You'll get to enjoy some of your vacation, perhaps soaking up some sun BUT there will be storms THEREFORE you will spend most of your time bored and indoors.


Is my boyfriend cheating?

Your boyfriend is a workaholic AND he's got a big project to finish THEREFORE he's not cheating -- he's just overwhelmed with his job.

Purchase the Tarot Everywhere deck

HERE

Great Gift Ideas

Now that we're officially in the holiday season I thought I'd share three great gift ideas.

Tarot Everywhere + Oracle Everywhere + Tarot Everywhere Journal

Tarot Everywhere and Oracle Everywhere have been a big hit since I released them in September. This contemporary tarot deck and accompanying oracle deck deliver down-to-earth reflections of our daily lives. Find out the concept behind these decks in the blog post, Tarot Everywhere + Oracle Everywhere.

Chakra Cards + Chakra Cards Pouch + Chakra Magnets

Chakra Cards are a deck of 35 square cards that can help you assess the state of your chakras. I've also created magnets for each chakra to use as a focusing or intention tool. Whatever chakra I'm working on for the week, I put the corresponding magnet on my fridge as a reminder of that chakra's energy. Check out my Mind-Body-Spirit Reading with Chakra Cards.

I AM Cards + I AM Cards Pouch + I AM Cards Journal

The most adorable deck I've developed to date, I AM Cards is an affirmation deck that affirms all of the positive, vibrant parts of you. A wonderful gift for children or your inner child.

These products may be purchased through my Printerstudio Shopspace. Remember, if you purchase more than $30 worth of products on Printerstudio, you can get FREE shipping using code SHIP30.

my Activating Your Strange Jewels reading

Carrie of Happy Fish Tarot invented this wonderful spread, Activating Your Strange Jewels, based on a book by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm using my Tarot Everywhere and Oracle Everywhere decks for the reading.

Card 1- Accessible Gifts: 3 of Wands. A young man stands on a fence to see far off into the distance. This card represents the gift of vision. This is a gift I'm very acquainted with and use daily. I am amazing at creating a concept and developing it step-by-step based on my vision of it. It's how I create my tarot and oracle decks.

Card 2 - Unconscious Gifts: 7 of Wands. This is a very competitive card about holding your position at the top and having rivals trying to gain an advantage and topple you. Since I'm not competitive at all, this makes sense as being an unconscious gift. But I think it can also be interpreted as having a gift for being an example for others to aspire to.

Card 3 - Challenges of Your Gifts: Strength. This interpretation of Strength relates to struggle and perseverance which I believe relates to seeing my vision through to completion. But there's also a visual repetition through these first three cards - they are all from the perspective of someone at a different than normal height. One challenge is seeing things from a different perspective than others. It makes it difficult to relate to others.

Card 4 - Your Contribution: 5 of Pentacles. This card is intended to represent why your gifts are important and how they contribute to the world. This card depicts a hitchhiker and I wasn't really sure how to interpret it at first. But in light of my strange jewels mentioned in the first and second cards, perhaps my vision and leadership can help others find direction.

Card 5 - Real-World Application: Queen of Pentacles. I think of the court cards as roles so this is the role of the mother to me. She is nurturing and practical. She has the ability to turn her vision into something tangible and nurture its growth.

Card 6 - Advice: Nourish Yourself: The final card gives advice on taking the next step. The first two cards describing my strange jewels are Wands, which are about action, initiative, and effort. And it's true, I sometimes exhaust myself expressing these gifts. Nourish Yourself tells me to make sure I'm also getting my own needs met in the process.

Purchase Tarot Everywhere & Oracle Everywhere Decks

HERE

Divination 3x3x3 Tag with my own deck creations

I just heard about the Divination 3x3x3 tag through Benebell Wen's blog post but it was started by Chloe McCracken of Inner Whispers in this video.

I decided to do this tag with the decks I've developed. My favorite deck is usually the last one I create. But some decks have definitely gotten more play than others.

TAROT

Tarot For Lost Souls is hands down my most favorite tarot deck. Unfortunately, it's not one I'm able to sell but I would gladly share it with others. To make it, I created 78 faces in the UFace app, one for each tarot card. At first, I thought it would be difficult to read because every card features a face but the app is pretty versatile and allows for a great range of facial expressions and actions. This deck is whimsical and really funny but also gives it to you straight.

Tarot For Lost Souls

Tarot Everywhere originally began as a photo project and I hadn't really thought to make it a deck at first because I'm not usually partial to photographic decks. But I realized why during the process of making this one. I'm not fond of posed people in decks and I tried to limit that as much as possible with Tarot Everywhere. The result is a deck I really enjoy using. I think it gives the right balance between serious and playful readings too! This deck is available HERE. 

Tarot Everywhere

The Animal Tarot is my latest tarot deck creation so of course it goes here as one of my favorites. I'm still trying to figure out how to work with its energy but I like the stark realism of the cards. This deck will be available soon (by late November/early December)!

The Animal Tarot

ORACLE

Over The Moon oracle is simply the most versatile deck I've created. With playing cards on one side and a descriptive visual image on the other, it's hard to beat this deck for answering any type of question. I use the playing card side for analytical information; to answer yes/no questions; and to provide detailed physical descriptions. The visual side is used for the story method of interpretation, when I need to understand the situation by seeing it as a story unfolding. This deck is available HERE. It's available with captions and without captions.

Over The Moon oracle cards

Oracle Everywhere offers powerful and direct advice. I've been wanting an advice oracle, not just a deck with nice words. I want one that will give me a kick in the pants when necessary. This one delivers! The photo below shows a reading for myself where I asked my spirit guides what message they had for me. I need to SLOW DOWN and SHOW COMPASSION to myself. They also instructed me to MOVE YOUR BODY and MEDITATE. These last two are areas of my daily routine I've neglected mostly because life has gotten too hectic and I can't slow down long enough to devote time to it. Message received! This deck is available HERE.

Oracle Everywhere

My third favorite oracle deck is another new one, still in prototype stage. It's called Magic Mantras and it's based on switchwords. Switchwords are powerful words used to connect directly to the subconscious mind, giving it direction to attract the essence of the switchword to you. This is not a deck I thought I would enjoy as much as I do. I made a version of it years ago with just words and recently updated it with photos. The resulting deck really sings now and I feel it gives very direct but positive and insightful readings. To use it, think of a goal or desire. Then select three cards to create a switchword phrase or mantra. This mantra is then repeated, recited, or written to help you attract the desired goal. This deck will be available soon (by end of November).

Magic Mantras

OTHER DIVINATION

Playing cards should be obvious! This is the method I feel most accomplished in and have even developed my own system and comprehensive course on reading playing cards: Your Future Is In The Cards.

If you've been following my blog, you know that charmcasting is certainly a new favorite divination method. It's just so much fun to see where all those little charms land. It's incredible how synchronous the cast is with your circumstances. Check out my adventures in charmcasting series here on the blog. Just search the blog for "charmcasting."

You probably don't know this but I'm a real fan of dice divination. I don't think I've shared anything about dice in any of my past blogs, here or in other places, but when I need really quick guidance (I mean like super quick), dice are the way to go. I've even developed my own dice divination system which I hope to share at some future date. It uses three dice. You can ask a question but one isn't really needed. The cast will give you insights into your day, week, or whatever time period you ask about. For instance, the cast below (155) means: Expect a monkey wrench in your plans!

Purchase my decks in my Printerstudio shopspace:

http://www.printerstudio.com/sell/otmoraclecards

 

Tarot Everywhere + Oracle Everywhere

I've just launched two new decks that have been getting a lot of attention on Instagram already: Tarot Everywhere and a companion deck, Oracle Everywhere.


TAROT EVERYWHERE
This deck began as a photo project. I began noticing tarot cards in photos on Unsplash.com and soon those photos became this tarot deck. This is designed as a traditional tarot deck based on the Rider-Waite symbolism for the most part. Some of the cards are visual interpretations of that deck while other cards present my interpretation of the symbolism of the card.





ORACLE EVERYWHERE
This is an advice oracle deck containing 52 cards. Each card has a brief action-oriented statement offering advice accompanied with a photo from Unsplash.com. The advice offered is simple and direct. Some of it is nurturing, like "Nourish yourself" or "Take a break" while other cards admonish you to alter behaviors: "Stop comparing" or "Let down your guard." It can be used as a stand alone deck for a variety of different readings, especially readings where you're seeking guidance.


How can you use these two decks together?

Energy + Advice Reading
One way is to do a daily reading with a card from each deck. Choose a card from the tarot deck for today's energy and a card from the oracle deck for advice on handling that energy.

Exercise: Card Pairs
Another way to use these two decks together is a card pair exercise. Choose a tarot card and try to find an oracle card that has a similar focus or meaning. Pairing the cards in this way will help you get to know the decks faster and will also help you understand the cards when they appear in your readings.

PURCHASE THESE DECKS

HERE

shadow work with the Obscure Sorrows Tarot Challenge

During the month of July, @deelahunt over at La Reine de L'Air started a tarot challenge based on questions she created from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. If you haven't heard of this (I hadn't) and you're a lover of words, race over there now to check it out.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite Instagram posts from the challenge with you here.

KLEXOS: The art of dwelling on the past. 
What piece of your past do you need to let go of?

I think these cards are speaking to my strong introversion and spending too much time in my head. Also, my need to overly plan and prepare instead of just taking action.


JOUSKA: A hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head.
How can you stop the cycle of anxiety caused by living in the future?

I chose the Empress to represent the compulsive anxiety-based conversation. In this deck she comes up for health concerns. As I get closer to 50 it seems that even tiny changes in diet, sleep and stress levels produce major shifts in my health and general balance. So I'm always asking how will {fill in the blank} affect how I feel tomorrow? The Hermit shows up again but this time I think to say stop focusing on tomorrow (he's facing the left or past) but search my inner knowing about finding the right balance.


LACHESISM: The desire to be struck by disaster – to survive a plane crash, or to lose everything in a fire. What is your secret disaster fantasy? (What urge does this satisfy?)

This was both frightening and revelatory. And I mean that in a good way. Since I took the disaster in a literal way and though it could point to some past life debris I used The Simple Lenormand deck to get a more literal visual. I was stunned by the outcome. It took only a few seconds to see the shipwreck disaster in these cards. The Anchor card next to Start. In this case, instead of reaching up to grab a star, I see people reaching up from the water for help. I do have a strong fear of drowning even though I swim well and I was one of the few people on the planet who did NOT want to see the Titanic movie lol!

Strength shows this fantasy satisfies an urge to summon courage I don't know I have. Later I read the Obscure Sorrows Dictionary that the desire for disaster is really a desire to "put a kink in the smooth arc of your life and forge it into something hardened and flexible and sharp." This is a good way to describe the Strength card in the Shadow Spirits Tarot.


OPIA: The ambigious intensity of eye contact, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable. What are you afraid of revealing to others?

 

This is very funny. Two sixes that show opposing energy. It's true I don't want anyone to see the extremes of either side of my personality: (1) I'm kind, helpful and a big softy (6 of Cups) because I'm afraid ppl will take advantage of me. (2) I'm anti-social and prefer to just ignore you plus secretly I think I'm smarter than you (6 of Swords) because that might be too real for folks.

RIGOR SAMSA: A kind of psychological exoskeleton that can protect you from pain and contain your anxieties, but always ends up cracking under pressure. What false armour have you constructed for yourself?

I did this one with three cards. The 3 of Swords shows that my false armor is sharp and pointy. Underneath that armor is another layer, the Knight of Cups, showing that the sharp and pointyness is there to protect my sentimental, romantic side. And that kind, helpful, lovingness covers up my true desire....to be alone. Damn Hermit again!

MIMEOMIA: The frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype, even if you never intended to. What stereotype do you unwillingly fit?

BITCH! I guess it makes sense. After all I'm on the cusp of Virgo/Libra, a perfectionist, critical and judging (wait I'm describing my Mom) and waiting for you to make a mistake so I can prove my superiority (insert diabolical laughter here)

NIGHTHAWK: A recurring thought that only seems to strike you late at night, pecking at the back of your mind when you try to sleep. What nighthawk do you need to tame and tether?

This combination brings up my fear that time is running out and having limited time to accomplish what I'd like to accomplish. I see the 6 of Cups as experiencing contentment with the past or at least trying to. This card signifies me looking back at what I've accomplished so far and asking is it enough? Do I have any regrets? Is it too late to change/fix anything?


OCCHIOLISM: The awareness of the smallness of your perspective. Where do you need to broaden your perspective?

I knew exactly what this was about as soon as I saw the Magician. It appears in this deck related to work and busyness. Next to the cluttered, narrow aisles of the 4 of Pentacles bookstore, the message is I've got tunnel vision with my "work." In this case work is my blogging, Instagramming, and creating oracle decks. Unfortunately that work isn't paying the bills and I have several projects I really need to focus on.


DAGUERROLOGUE: An imaginary interview with an old photo of yourself, the enigmatic person who became who you are now, without knowing who they would become. What one question would you like your past self to answer? What would they say?

This is another question that the cards decided to answer in a slightly different way. I used three decks for this one. When I saw the last two cards I knew exactly what the interview was about. Years ago I kept getting stirrings to do work in the physical healing professions but I was definitely not interested. I liked all my mental pursuits just fine. When a friend took a massage therapy course and asked if I would like to join I replied, What if they're sweaty or God forbid hairy? Um no

Long story short after maturing a bit I did eventually go to massage school and then reflexology school and now work as a professional reflexologist. I'm sure my past self would say I would NEVER do bodywork. But I had to grow out of my fears (Knight of Swords) of working with the body to grow into a healing (Healing) professional (8 of Pentacles)

FITZCARRALDO: An image that somehow becomes lodged deep in your brain, which then grows into a wild vision that keeps scrambling back and forth in your head, itching for a chance to be realized. What unexpressed vision keeps you up at night?

To be a powerful (and profitable) High Priestess. Yeah to do all this woo woo stuff in a way that feels empowering to others and to me financially.

Join the fun on Instagram!