Getting to know Lady Justice

Justice XI

 

I know in the last post I had said that I would see you in 2016, but typical me, I lied. I have just been feeling the Tarot love so strongly lately that I had to do another post. Can you believe that tonight is Christmas Eve, which has always been my favorite part of the holiday, what about you? Did you find 2015 flew by at an insanely fast rate? I know I did! I just cannot believe that tomorrow is Christmas  and then next week marks the end of 2015! Insane! I already said it in my Yule post but I will just say it one more time, I am very grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened this year. Tarot has taken me on so many adventures it has been mystically, marvelous (see what I did there?)! I am grateful to the Tarot community: fellow Readers, Bloggers, Tweeters, FB Posters, and of course my Tarot Family over at Tarot with Tasha. It has been an amazing year full of Tarot and I am super excited for our adventures in 2016! Lets get on with the card, shall we?

 

Well sexy, beautiful, studly, handsome readers, we made it to the eleventh card, Justice. I must confess, up until like yesterday, I thought this was a man. Somehow Lady Justice and the Justice card never matched up in my mind- blonde moment! (I do think it's pretty badass that the Justice card is also a blonde lady, did the Tarot cards predict Legally Blonde was going to happen all those years ago? Sorry I got sidetracked...) You probably can tell by now, that I am more drawn to the watery lovey cards thus far than I am the more stern cards. Its just my personality and has nothing to do with the importance of these more "stern" cards. Justice is all about getting what is owed. Sometimes that can work in your favor, other times not so much, but in the end you deserve what is coming you way. It can be thought of like Karma. You are getting back what you put out. If you have been a good person and have done your best, this card is here to let you know you are going to get some form of payoff or reward. On the flipside, if you have been a bit of an a-hole then you can expect your "up-n-comin's" as my late grandfather would have said. This card can also indicate a possible legal issue or having to go through the justice system. In a career reading, this could mean a possible career in one of the many professions inside of the justice system. Lady Justice (now that I know she is a lady) wants you to weigh both sides of the coin, think about both sides of the story and make a fair decision. Its about thinking things through and doing your best to do what's right instead of what is easy. In her left hand she holds a set of scales meaning weighing your options. The sword represents punishment by not following the simple rule of being fair to others. The crown on her head represents that even the justice system is not to be held above the common folk- too bad this isn't practiced in all justice systems... I will just keep my opinions on that to myself!

 

Keys to remember: Fairness, karma, weighing your options, possible career within the justice system, getting what's owed.

 

An exercise in Karma:

When thinking about an exercise that would bring the Justice Card into your life, I kept thinking Karma and how could we play with that. I don't expect you to right your Karma by going out on a limb and trying to fix old relationships etc. Old relationships are in the past for a reason and we don't want to make our lives messy. Instead, I think it would be a good idea to try to bring some good Karma into your life. Go out and do something nice for someone not expecting anything in return. This could be buying a coffee for a stranger, taking your dog for an extra long walk or to a dog park, helping a family member or friend. Just go out there and do something that is nice for someone who deserves some good Karma to come into their life. Let Lady Justice guide you and think on the card before you go do your good deed. You never know, Karma might come around for you and you might get a little somethin' somethin' from the universe!

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

 



  



Happy Solstice

Happy Solstice! )O(

Before we get into Lady Justice which is our next card, I wanted stop in, to talk about how today is the Winter Solstice or Yule. How exciting! This evening will bring the longest night of the year and officially mark the first day of Winter for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. I am finding it hard to swallow that yet another year is about to pass us. Its unbelievable that 2015 is almost over. This year has been a really special one for me and has truly been one full of adventure! I got married to my "one true love" as Disney would call it, went to Salem which has been a dream my whole life and I got to work at a carnival, a haunted one no less! I was able to use Tarot to raise money to help an amazing cause and had the pleasure of meeting all kinds of different people in my community. I think I was able to bring Tarot to people who would normally not experience it and my Facebook group has grown into a budding Tarot family. This blog has grown and gotten more views and visitors over the past twelve months and I think I learned how to use a hashtag! (#stilllearning) I have been able to use Tarot to touch lives, make people happy, comforted and connected with the universe a little better than before. It has been a crazy but wonderful adventure. I am excited for what is waiting after the clock strikes midnight on the 31st. 

Yule has always been one of my favourite Sabbats. The idea of the longest night of the year when I was a kid, was always a mix of the scary unknown and anticipation. I would lay in bed for what felt like hours, thinking the sun was never going to come back. Even as an adult, I still have a hard time sleeping on the Solstice. It feels like night is never going to end, time feels slower and the darkness of this night is just a touch more inky than the others. The magick is that no matter how dark, the Sun always does come back. No matter how dreary it might seem and even if it feels like the darkness stretches out into forever, the light never actually leaves us. Thats the meaning of this old holiday to me. Can you imagine our ancestors and how they have felt by this point? The days growing shorter and the nights longer and colder. Then finally right before the breaking point the longest night passes and slowly the sun creeps back. What an amazing feeling that must have been. Yule is a holiday of hope, blessings and merry making (though I think the Pagans always had a way of sneaking some sex into every holiday, such a smart group!).  We must be thankful to the light, the sun and all of the blessings in our lives. This is a time of feasting and toasting. Below is a little Yule ritual for anyone who wanted to welcome back the Sun. Happy Yule, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing this past year of adventure with me, here's to many more!

Welcoming Back the Sun- Yule Ritual

Opening the Circle:

Set a candle one in each Quarter (North, East, South, West). Bring a lighter starting in the East, light the candle and say the following, repeat for each direction. 

East: Guardians of the frigid Winter winds of the East, I welcome you to this Yuletide circle. I ask that you join me this night in celebrating the return of the Sun. 

South: Guardians of the fiery flames who light the Yule Log of the South, I welcome you to this Yuletide circle. I ask that you join me this night in celebrating the return of the Sun. 

West: Guardians of the frozen lakes and turbulent seas of the West, I welcome you to this Yuletide circle. I ask that you join me this night in celebrating the return of the Sun. 

North: Guardians of the cold Earth of the North, I welcome you to this Yuletide circle. I ask that you join me this night in celebrating the return of the Sun.

Invoking the Powers of Nature

Have two pretty candles one of the left and one of the right. The one of the left represents the Goddess or the feminine side of Divinity. The right represents the God or male side of Divinity. 

Light the left candle and say: Great Goddess, Mother of the Earth, I ask that you join me in this circle as I celebrate the returning of the Sun and the turn of the seasons. I ask that you bless me and those that I love. Please join me this Yuletide. Blessed Be.

Light the right candle and say: Great God, Father Sun, tonight we celebrate your return from the Underworld. As the sun grows stronger so do we. I ask that you join me in this circle as I celebrate this solstice night in your honour. Please join me this Yuletide. Blessed Be.

Now the circle is cast. Say: The circle is open. Blessed Be. 

You can do whatever you wish at this point. You will be surrounded by the energy of the Quarters and the Lord and Lady. Here are some suggestions:

Little Pieces of the Sun Exercise:

Even though the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of longer days, it also represents the beginning of Winter. If you are someone who gets the Winter Blues this little exercise is exactly what you need. You will be taking four small items and filling them with hot Summer energy. They will keep you motivated and feeling sunny, even in the coldest days of Winter. 

You will need a yellow candle, a small red or orange flower (that would dry well, like a rose), small bowl with water mixed with salt or sea water and one stick of incense. 

Begin with the stick of incense. Take the incense and carefully pass it through the East candle- do not light it. Think of all the smells of Summer, such as: bonfires and campgrounds, burnt marshmallows and suntan lotion etc. As you hold the incense picture the warm summer breeze passing through it. Think of the way the air smells like flowers when the wind is just right. The scent of lilacs and wild roses. Infuse the incense with the energy and hope of Summer. Thank the element for its gift. Return the incense to the centre of the circle. 

Take the yellow candle and carefully pass it through the South candle- do not light it. Think of all the fiery hot energy of the Sun and the South infusing the candle. Direct all of your energy into the candle, fill it with memories of Summer. Feel the candle grow hot like the Summer Sun. Think of how it felt when the Sun was beaming down on your skin. What Summer mornings feel like and hot Summer nights. Infuse it with the energy and hope of Summer. Thank the element for its gift. Return the candle to the centre of the circle. 

Next take the small bowl of salt or sea water to the West candle. Carefully drop a little bit of wax from the candle into the water. Think of the feeling of jumping into a cool lake on a hot Summer day. Think of water balloon fights and refreshing dips in the ocean. Think of the way the beach smells. The scent of salt in the air. The way it makes your skin taste and feel tight. Think of the sound of waves crashing on a beach. The way the sand feels between your toes. Allow yourself to long for the sea. Picture blue streams of light coming from your third eye into the water. Infuse it with the energy and hope of Summer. Thank the element for its gift. Return the water to the centre of the circle.

Finally take the rose bud or flower to the North candle. Carefully pass the flower over the flame- be careful not to put it too close. Think of the flowers that bloom in the Summertime. Think of gardens growing. Vegetables sprouting and the scent of the earth after a sun-shower. Think about the way the grass feels under your toes and how the Earth feels warm. Your hands working the soil and tenderly caring for plants. Think of sleeping under the stars and staring up at the Moon. The way this time of year nature beckons you to come outside and play. Infuse the bud with the energy and hope of Summer. Thank the element for its gift. Return the flower to the centre of the circle. 

Now you have successfully blessed and infused the four items with the power of the returning Sun with memories of it at its height. Anytime you are feeling the Winter Blues bring out one of the items. Light the candle or burn the incense. Use the water for blessing yourself or your home. Dry the flower and keep it out somewhere as a reminder of the growing Sun.

Mirroring the Past, Looking to the Future Exercise:

This exercise is all about reflection on the past year and excitement about the future ahead. You will need a deck of Tarot cards or other divination tools (runes, playing cards, crystal ball, tea leaves, your own palm (this works perfect when you don't have divination tools of your own), whatever floats your canoe really) and a piece of paper, pen and lighter. 

On the paper write everything you have accomplished this past year. Try to remember the special little things that stood out in 2015 that you were thankful for. When you are ready fold up the paper and set aside for later. Next we are going to look at our future. Do a Tarot reading for yourself or some other form of divination. Try to take a peek at what 2016 holds. Write your forecast in a journal or online. Check back in June of 2016 and see what has transpired so far!

Once your celebration is over, take the paper outside and burn it somewhere safe. Say a prayer to the universe to thank it for its blessings. Watch the smoke carry your gratitude to the heavens.

Janus

Closing the Yule Circle:

I always think it is important when you close your circle to thank the Quarters as well as the Goddess and God in your own words. Start with West and work Widdershins (counter clock-wise) around your circle. Reflect on how the four elements matter in your life and why you are grateful to each one. 

Thank the God or male energy for his presence during your celebration and then do the same for the Goddess or female energy. 

Make sure to snuff your candles. Say: The circle is open, but never broken. Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again!

Clean up and make sure to have a glass of wine or other festive drink and something to eat. Save a little bit of the drink as well as some of the food to offer to the Nature Spirits outside. 

May you never thirst or hunger! )O(

I hope you have a Blessed Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Very Happy New Year!

See you all in 2016 (or possibly before) for more Tarot Adventures! 

Religion and Tarot

Tarot, God, Gods, Goddesses, Aliens, Rocks and Trees- Can we all play on the playground?

This post has been sitting in my drafts for a long time and has been revised a thousand times. I have been debating over and over again, do I really want to talk about religion on here? Religion has become such a taboo subject and that makes my hands sweat when I think too hard about it. Its sad in a way, because I remember being a kid and only thinking positive things about religion and faith. It helped people be better people, it gave them hope for what's waiting after this life and on top of that, it gave you something bigger than yourself to hang onto for help or comfort. Sadly, as history seems to prove, we only get to see the dark side of religion and the extremes that come with it. It has become one of those topics that you do not approach in polite company. I am going to attempt talking about where religion falls in the Tarot world and will do my upmost best to try not to offend anyone.

I want to begin by saying that I personally do not spend any time thinking about my client's chosen faith or lack there of. I think that faith is something that is personal and I am not to judge you for how you seek comfort or where you get guidance from (or if you don't believe anything at all!). I don't think any religion in this world is inherently bad and I think at their cores', religion is a good thing for most people.

When I read Tarot, I get to read for people of all faiths and never have I ever had a negative experience with anyone, but I do hear this question from time to time, "Do you think God would be okay with me getting this done?" That's a really good question and not one that is easy for me to answer. I usually phrase it back as, "Do you think God would not be okay with you getting messages of hope, happiness and positivity?" I can't speak for the man upstairs, but I would like to think he/she would be supportive. (Also note when I say "God" I just mean that in the simplistic term that could mean whatever God is to you. It could be Aliens, Gods, Goddesses, God, Rocks and Trees, Energy, whatever you want it to be or nothing at all.) I do not think it matters if someone who is religious would like to get a Tarot reading done and I most certainly do not place any judgment on anyone wanting a reading or wanting to learn Tarot. Tarot is a way to express yourself, learn more about who you are and its a great way to have some innocent fun. We have morphed religious texts so much and lost their original meaning that I think the only thing that matters is that you are comfortable and wanting the reading done. If you don't feel comfortable with Tarot, I am not going to knock you over the head with a crystal ball for deciding to opt out of a reading.

I do not see Tarot in the same way Hollywood likes to portray it. Much to the disappointment of a few, I did not sell my soul for these gifts nor did I have to throw any virgins into a volcano or perform some intricate blood sacrifice. A lot of people get the idea that it comes from a dark place and that the man downstairs is somehow involved. I think the Devil, should he exist, has a lot better things to do than hangout with me and my Tarot deck- I am not very good company and my deck is starting to get a little grimy. I am sure there are jewel thieves, spies and villains hiding out in much cooler places than my house or myself for that matter.  I think that my ability to do readings comes from a positive place. I believe that there are special people on this earth who are just a little bit more connected to the unknown and mystical side of life. I also think that anyone can get that connection, but it takes time and a lot of hard work! When I am doing readings, 90% of the time its usually a positive message and I don't see that coming from a dark entity who would be hell bent on telling you that you are going to fall in love or get a raise. Even when the message isn't so positive, it is never something bad, its just a warning to get you to wake up to what is happening around you. Again, not necessarily a bad thing at all; nor do I believe it is coming from a place of devil possession and black magick as some would have us believe.