Reading Tarot for Children and Teens

What do you think of the idea of reading for children or teens? Or would you allow your child to get a reading?  I will begin by stating that I do read for both children and teens. I'm hoping the rules and guidelines that I follow help you figure out what to do, if you are on the fence. Ready yourself, grab a coffee, tea or hot toddy. Put on something both sexy yet comfy, relax and get your peepers ready, heed this warning- it could end up being a long post.
Lets begin with, should you read for children or teens?
There is a big difference between reading for children and for teenagers. Lets start by talking about reading for children. When I volunteered with the Carnival of Terror last year, I had the chance to read for a lot of young people (between 9-12). It was my first time reading for kids outside of my family and friends. If you decide to read for children, the most important rule would be to make sure there is a parent or guardian present. If all you read of this post is that bolded sentence, my work as your Tarot guide is done. It is the most important rule.  So important and I am going to just put it right here, one more time,  if you do choose to read for a child make 100% sure that a parent or guardian is present. This covers you and the child.  You never know what a kid could end up going back to their parents and saying. It is better to have them there to hear everything you are telling their most precious little monster firsthand. Another plus of having a guardian present is that you can ensure that you will not become a babysitter. Sadly this does happen, especially at public fairs or events. There is nothing worse than being stuck with an unruly child when you are trying to create an air of mystery and intrigue. We are Tarot Readers not babysitters. Never let anyone take advantage of your tent or your time!

Rule number two, make sure you have a child friendly deck to use. When I went to the Carnival of Terror, I only brought my Rider Waite deck. In retrospect, I wish I had brung a deck that was more child friendly and did not contain nudity. The Rider deck's nudity is not graphic but it is there are some cards contain totally naked people. Learn from me, I ended up getting some disapproving looks from a couple of parents, especially when their kids were pointing at the Star card saying, "boooooobies." Yeah... that was not a comfortable time to be me. You do not want to introduce a random child to anatomy. Save that for their parents or biology teachers! Next time I am at a public function where there will be children, I am going to make sure to use my Fairy Deck or perhaps find something else to use. Runes or Witch Stones might be a good idea because they contain zero naked parts. Another thing to keep in mind is the imagery on your deck. It may not be a wise idea to use the Zombie Tarot for example, to read for a nine year old. Keep your decks lighthearted and fun for the youngin's out there. Note: I just assumed reading at a Haunted House, would result in older people getting readings done instead of children. You know the old saying to never assume, listen to those old sayings!

Someday I will get a real camera...

Rule number three, because apparently, I love rules, you will need to think about some cards like Death. Do you really want the Death card to come up for a child? Do you really want to explain to them about how it does not actually mean Death and do you think they will actually listen? If I were you, I would remove it. Unethical to remove cards? Yes I think so, but do I want to explain it to some random ten year old, no thanks! There are decks out there that are specifically for children, but I don't see the point investing money into a deck I would only use a couple of times. Instead, I think it is better to modify whichever deck you plan to use. You will also need to think about how you would explain cards like the Three of Swords or Ten of Swords to a child. Depending on their age, the Three of Swords could be described as being sad and dealing with emotions. The Ten of Swords might be a nasty classmate or friend who likes to gossip. Do you just gloss over the meaning, rewording them to be child friendly?  Really think about your delivery and how you approach those not so nice cards. Another thing to consider are the more racy cards like the Lovers or the Nine of Cups. There are other cards too that you may want to be cautious about. A mistake that I made was telling a child when they got the Moon, that there were spirits around them. Little kid me would have LOVED to hear that. This kid was nervous and his mom immediately made me clarify that they were not bad spirits. Something that is so commonplace and normal to an adult could be scary to a child. This is where the idea of using runes or witch stones might be a better alternative when reading publicly for children. 

Witch's Runes

Not a rule but something else to consider are spreads. I typically use the Celtic Cross spread.* Its my go to spread, but it really does not translate well for children. There is too much information in the Celtic Cross for someone who has only been on this earth for a couple of years. I personally prefer to use a three card spread that covers the basics- past, present, future. These spreads typically do not go too deep into the past and I find they work well. Lastly an easy go to is a 12 card / 12 month spread that just covers each month of the year. This one seems to work well and is popular with children I have read for.

When it comes to reading for teens, I work a little differently. Teens are probably my favourite age group to read for because they have this vibrancy about them. Young people are open minded, they are excited and willing to listen. If you are on the younger side of teenager-hood (I made a new word- fancy) your parent or guardian should either be present or at least pop in to tell me that its okay. They do not need to stay for the reading, but I still want their permission.
The cut off for parental permission for me is that if you are old enough to drive a car, you are old enough to decide for yourself whether you should get a Tarot Reading or not. I know a lot of people say 18, which makes perfect sense and I agree, but full disclosure, I would probably not turn a 16 or 17 year old away. Plus some of them are more mature than people my age, so there is always that.

There are still some things to consider when reading for teens. First your deck choice. I don't think you have to be as cautious about nudity as you do with children but you still need to remember that they are minors. None of us want to turn into the "creepy Tarot Reader" on the circuit. Some Tarot decks are basically softcore porn, The Witches Tarot is a perfect example of that. I would not use that deck, seriously though, have you seen that deck? The nudity is very 80's and it just gives me the weirdest vibe. They need to spice that one up, but alas thats a whole other post. Unlike reading for children, you can be a little more creative with your deck selection. The Zombie Tarot, Halloween Tarot or Tarot of the Dead might be fun for this age group (upon re-reading this before posting, I noticed I listed all spooky decks. I just cannot turn my brain off of Halloween). You can also be old school like me and stick with old faithful, the Rider Waite-Smith and I think you would be fine.

Picking a Tarot spread for this age group is easy as well. By thirteen you have seen some things. You should have had some major experiences by this point. Therefore I believe the Celtic Cross works fine or any other Tarot spread you want to use would also work great. There is just enough past for the past cards to  make sense. I love telling young people about their future loves, careers and adventures. 90% of the time its something positive and gives them something to look forward to. I always slip in a little guidance counsellor like wisdom with messages of "staying in school", "following your dreams" and "being open to love" because hey, why not plant some positive seeds. You might just be the reason they decide to stay in school if they think it is written in the stars that they will be successful. Note: I am not saying to manipulate a teen by telling them everything will work out and be dandy, but I see no harm in telling someone hard work will pay off or to follow their dreams. You the always mysterious, Tarot Reader may be a beacon of hope for some young person. Keep this in mind. Which brings me to my next point.

What about those cards that are not so nice? How do you explain them to an impressionable teen? This one is not easy because teens are old enough to pick up on the symbols on the cards. They are also very intuitive so trying to hide something from them will probably result in embarrassment. I try to treat teens like adults and am very black and white about what I see. The good thing is that you can explain to a teenager that the Death card means change and not physical death or that the Three of Swords means heartache.  They are often wiser than we give them credit for.
There is a balance in Tarot of light and dark cards so eventually you will get someone who for lack of a better term, gets a really shitty reading. This especially sucks when it happens to a young person. Again its all about delivery. There is no need to tell a young person that something horrible is going to happen. Be delicate and explain that nothing is set in stone and that these cards are showing up as a warning about what can be avoided. An example is the Devil. Maybe this person has been getting into things they should not be doing, maybe they succumb to peer pressure. This would be a good way to let them know they can think for themselves and that they can avoid going down a bad path if they listen to themselves instead of everyone else. There is a positive in every card so if you get a young person who has a lot of negative cards, do everything you can to make sure they leave feeling happy with a new point of view on how they can navigate growing up. I wish I had a Tarot Reader who could have helped me through those awkward years!

Last but not least this part is for the parents who may be on the fence about letting their most precious angels/ sometimes devils get a Tarot reading. First it is super important to do your research. Make sure you take them to someone who has a good reputation. Read testimonials, check out their website, ask around, creep their Facebook or Twitter account. If you get someone who takes Tarot seriously and is not just messing around for a few extra bucks, you will not be disappointed. Please be weary of anyone who just pops up claiming they can read the cards. There are a lot of weirdos out there but you don't need me to tell you that. Don't be afraid to ask the reader questions or talk to them before hand. Be prepared that no one, not even the Tarot Reader will know what is going to pop up during the reading. If this makes you feel sketchy, Tarot may not be for your young one just yet. If you are still with me, know that if there are topics that you do not want discussed, just let them know. Any reader worth their incense, crystals and salt will be respectful of these requests and would appreciate the heads up. Tarot is an age old tradition of fun, mystery and exploring the unknown, remember that this is for entertainment. If you have any reservations whatsoever, than my recommendation is to NOT allow your child to get a reading done. As your Tarot reading guide, I like to think we are not going anywhere so we will always be around when the time is right.

*For anyone who is not familiar, the Celtic Cross is a fairly traditional Tarot spread which consists of ten cards, that cover everything from the past to the future, issues hiding under the surface, how others see you, hopes and fears and everything else in-between. 

Death

Death XIII

My oldest foe Death,

How I fear your visit

The clasp of your cold hand

The scent of your presence,

I live in your black shadow

You great bringer of sorrow.
Forcing the wheel of life to turn

Encourager of new seasons,

Without the demise of Winter

Spring would not burst forth.

Without you, would I know joy

Experience purest happiness,

Without comparison to your gloom.

My dearest friend Death,

Do you know what love is?
 

-N. Thiemann

This card needs no fancy heading or funny play on words. It needs not a paragraph on the February weather or my usual initial banter- though I do have some good Tarot Adventure stories and updates for my next post. This my friends, readers and fellow bloggers is the most infamous card of them all. Featured in countless horror movies, detective novels, surrounded by a smokescreen of mystery and fear. Why do we fear this card so much? Is it because most of us are inherently scared to die? I sometimes think this card is so powerful because we can all connect with it. Every one of us has experienced death in our lives or will eventually experience it. I remember my first exposure death. Like most people, it was the passing of a pet, my first dog, Tramp. I will never forget the day I found out Tramp had passed on. I think we all remember our first experience realizing that the fragility of life is a very real thing.  Out of all of the cards, this is the one I respect the most. I have the upmost respect for the grieving and the afraid. We are all in this together. Side note: my dog was named after "Lady and the Tramp" (it was the 90's) and we thought that would be a fitting name for the scruffy terrier/weiner dog that he was. Afterwards we realized that might not have been a good "dog name" after all. The little bastard- I say that with love, had a real passion for running away and it would result in my mother yelling, "Tramp" loudly out the door. I think a lot of people in our neighbourhood might have took it personally based on our popularity with the neighbours...

Many people in the Tarot community tread lightly when this card makes an appearance in a reading. I believe in following some serious Tarot ethics and one of those things is to never tell someone they or a person they love are going to die. Lets leave that conversation for medical professionals who can really tell you how much more time you have on the clock. This is not something for a Tarot Reader, in my opinion, to get into. I have a close friend whom a Reader once told her mother that her father would die within the year. She spent a year worrying every time he coughed or went out. He is still kicking today. You see, there is no need to plant that seed in someone's mind. Even if I do see a death, I personally would never tell someone. Does that make me dishonest? Maybe. I'm not losing any sleep at night. Plus it is very rare that this card does mean an actual death in the first place. Which is a perfect way to lead into our next paragraph...

 

This card does indeed mean the end of something, hence the title, "Death" but that could mean the end of many things. Depending on the cards surrounding it, it could indicate the end of a job or relationship. Usually it lets you know that the end will be a GOOD thing. The sun is pictured rising which is always a symbol for better things to come. When the cards around Death are a mismatch of all sorts of different meanings than I take it as a sign of BIG CHANGES to come. It can indicate a whirlwind like change, where you feel like everything is happening around you but you have lost control. Oftentimes this will come up for people who have been having a terrible year or they are feeling lost on their path. This card really wants you to just, roll with it or go with the flow. There is no sense fighting what we cannot change. Like physical death, we can put on anti aging face cream or workout until the cows come home but in the end the Reaper will always be waiting. I am just a ball of sunshine today folks! When this card is coupled with the Three of Swords, Nine of Swords or Ten of Swords, this is when I would think about physical death. Again, I caution you, please use your discretion. No one needs to hear about their demise from a psychic. If you are someone who feels that their querent should hear all news, please be gentle in your delivery and remember even the best of us can be wrong. I strongly urge discretion when sharing information like this and the consideration of not sharing this info at all.

 

Getting Acquainted with Death

 

It is no surprise to anyone who knows me personally, that I am a little on the morbid side. My house is pretty much Halloween ready 365 days a year- however it is classy not tacky- there is a very fine line folks. I love horror in all its many forms. Growing up I lived beside a cemetery so my parents would take me there to play. That's where I learned to ride my bike and used to go sliding. I was always a little antisocial even as a child and would go to the cemetery to relax and sort out my thoughts. The cemetery that I frequent is called Fernhill and it is where my family has been laid to rest for many generations and it truly is my "happy place". Please do not be fooled, even though I surround myself in spooky imagery and take relaxing strolls through the cemetery, I am terrified of death and my own future demise.

 

I have been trying to figure out some exercises to help anyone interested get more in tune with this card. My recommendation would be to take a stroll through your local cemetery, if this type of place does not bother you. Make an afternoon of it. You will be surprised at how much history you will uncover. Do some cemetery etchings or maybe take some pictures. You might just capture a couple of ghostly images. If you do decide to do this exercise please be respectful of the cemetery and those who are laid to rest there. If you bring your dog, clean up after him or her otherwise, I will get on my broomstick and find you! Nothing bothers me more than people who let their pets run rampant in a place that should be respected. This is not an amusement park! *takes off ranting hat*

 

 

If you are not comfortable with the cemetery, which I completely understand why not embrace the change aspect of this card. Take a little trip to a nearby town and check out some new sights. Do something different that you would not typically do. See what happens when you bring new change into your life!

 

Rituals of Imbolc

Welcoming Imbolc: Ideas to Inspire

The view from my Reading Room

I must confess, I was supposed to have these Imbolc ideas written to go with the Imbolc Blessings post. Then got lazy and never posted it, so alas, here I am writing on a snowy day all about the Spring. The weather has been so weird this Winter. It was 9 degrees Celsius yesterday now today it is cold and there is a snowstorm going on. This is probably the first "real" storm we have had all Winter. I am not sure if the Gods are just being good to us on the East Coast or if there is something more sinister at play causing this warm and unusual weather. Snow or no snow, I wanted to talk a little about Imbolc.

I have always liked this Sabbat. Imbolc is all about hope, which is something we sure could use a lot more of in this world. When February 2nd comes around normally we would be in dire need of some sign of Spring or a message from the universe to let us know it is going to be okay. At this time in the year many of us are in the deepest part of seasonal depression and are struggling to stay positive. Imbolc comes to help cheer us up and give us a little nudge by reminding us that beneath the snow and cold, the Earth is coming alive.

Can you believe that in some parts of the world, little flowers are starting to poke their way through the snow? Or that birds are starting to make their way home? Even though we can't see it with our human eyes, nature is getting ready for the next season. We need to have faith that before long the sun will be kissing our faces with warmth once more. I don't want to go into the history of Imbolc or go into it too deeply, simply because there is information all about the Sabbats all over the Internet. I recommend doing some deep reading on this Sabbat if you are not familiar with what I am talking about here, because I think you will be excited about what you discover!

Growing up as a Wiccan- at the time (I really don't know what to call myself these days) I was very lucky in the sense that I had a group of like minded friends and even a family member (my dear magickal witchy Aunt Donna) to celebrate the Sabbats with me. We would all gather together, do a ritual and then have some delicious potluck food. I cherish these memories. These days our group has changed, people have gotten married, older, busier and new magickal people have come into our lives. We do not gather like we used to but I find comfort in knowing that we all share these same candlelit recollections.

Today I want to share with you some of the Imbolc activities I have done in hopes that it inspires you to make some Imbolc memories for yourself. Even if we are a few days late!

Here are some things to do on Imbolc:

• If you consider yourself a kitchen witch, why not try your hand at some bread making? You can make a simple dough (who I am kidding, is there a "simple" dough out there that actually tastes good?) break it into three sections and then braid them together. Your bread is going to come out looking AMAZING and everyone will praise you for your mad kitchen skills! When you braid the dough together infuse it with your awesomeness so anyone who eats it gets a blessing from you.
• Make some candles! This was always my favourite part of Imbolc. I used to go down to Michael's- I know, not the most new age kinda place, and buy some beeswax sheets and some wicks. Then I would heat the wax up with a hair dryer and roll them into candles. You can get creative with different colours or designs. There is pretty much no mess and they come out looking beautiful. You can add herbs, oils or even gemstones to your candles. I went to go do this last year and was told that it was so cold they were not getting any beeswax shipments in but other years I have had no problems getting the wax.
• Make a bed for Bride. Imbolc is heavily associated with the lovely, beautiful, inspiring Goddess Brigid. Back in the day people would make a little bed for Bride and put it beside their hearth. They would create an effigy of her from corn husks (or whatever you have on hand) and then would put her in bed for the night. It is believed that Brigid would visit in the night and bestow blessings on your home. You can also make an acorn wand representing the God and put that in the bed too. This is a great way to bring some fertility magick into your house.
• Take a bowl of milk and leave it out or pour it outside as an offering to the nature spirits. If you have a garden, I would recommend pouring your milk there. If it wont freeze (which is what happened to mine) you can leave it outside as a snack for any animals making their way through your yard at night. Almond milk, coconut milk etc. also work fine! Doing this is supposed to bring good luck to your garden and a fruitful harvest.
• Corn husk dollies and sun wheels are another great Imbolc craft to get you into the spirit of Spring. Here are some lovely links to help guide you: dollies and sun wheels also known as Brigid's Cross. Happy witch-crafting!

We will be back in full Tarot mode in my next post all about that infamous Death Card.

***Cue spooky noises.***

 



 

Hanging with the Hanged Man

The Hanged Man XII

Finally it's safe to say we survived the Mercury Retrograde and now are on our way to greener, well maybe snowier pastures (it is February after all). I am feeling a lot better than I was feeling last month. I feel like I am ready to get back on my broomstick and continue on with my Tarot journeys. I must say even with the retrograde going on causing me all kinds of scandal, I also had the pleasure of meeting some really great people for readings. One lady was just a sweetheart. We talked for hours and I ended up almost leaving without getting my fee, leave it to me! Thankfully she was honest and reminded me to take my moo-lah. I also got to read for some lovely ladies who served me delicious goat cheese and cider. We had excellent conversation and a lot of laughs. That is just a small fraction of the delightful people I met last month. I say this often but I am truly lucky to be able to read Tarot and meet so many interesting and wonderful souls.  Meeting people for readings and hearing their stories really helps to remind me of why I do this. Tarot can be exhausting at times. You are constantly opening your energy and spirit up to others, but I will tell you that in the end it is always worth the late evenings and busy schedule. What you get out of reading Tarot is so much more than what you put in. Especially if you are passionate about this art. 

As I write this I can see the trees outside of my house bending with the wind. The flowering crab is doing it's best to stand strong against the February gusts. Clive Barker, the author of my favourite book of all time, "The Thief of Always" compared February to a "great grey beast". Ever since reading that description I have always seen this month as this beast that comes roaring in, beating us down with cold, unpredictable weather and then disappears like a fever dream. Recently it has been eerily warm in my neck of the South Eastern coast of Canada. Normally by this time we would be buried in feet of snow, I am actually not even exaggerating, but as it stands we have less than six inches of the white stuff. The weather is weird. Things are changing. My reptile brain is a little concerned. 

I find myself starting to get a little stir crazy as well. Even though it hasn't been a typical Winter, it still has been cold and wet enough to keep me away from the places I love like the beach. I am starting to feel stuck and am longing for warm sunny afternoons and humid nights. I miss the smell of bonfires and the sound of crashing ocean waves. The way the sand is almost too hot under your toes and the stark contrast of the freezing cold ocean water- gotta love the North Atlantic- am I right? You know you are Canadian when you brave the FREEZING temperatures like a pro because you want to swim in the ocean. I am feeling a little like our buddy the Hanged Man. Stuck on my tree, okay with the wait but stuck all the same with Winter waning on one side and Spring waxing on the other. Its just a slow waiting game but eventually the changing of the seasons will start and I will be back to my beloved ocean in no time.

I suppose I have bored you long enough with my talks of the weather that I really should get on with what this card is all about. When the Hanged Man shows up in a reading he can symbolize a couple of things. First I always see it as something that is moving slow. For example if someone were to ask me about love and they had this card, I would tell them that love is on it's way but its going to be a wait and to be patient. It doesn't mean that things wont happen but it does mean it is going to take a while. Another interpretation of this card is sacrifice. I was told years and years ago that the Hanged Man represents the Norse God Odin- fun fact: I have been researching my family history and found out my maternal ancestors were Norse! Odin hung on the World Tree for nine days to learn the hidden knowledge of the runes. He sacrificed an eye and was speared but through this sacrifices the knowledge that he obtained was well worth the trouble. His message to you if you get this card is that your sacrifices are soon to pay off. Keep doing what you are doing and you will see results. If you are someone who is always doing things for others, expect some appreciation or pay off. I never see this card as bad omen or an image of suicide or death. Some people have conjured this idea up but I assure you that is not the meaning, at least in my humble opinion. Another fun thing that this card signifies is independence. Someone who knows what they want and what they need to do and does not need the help or influence of other people. If you recently had a break up and this card made an appearance it would be very encouraging because it would remind you that you GOT THIS! As long as you have your back, nothing else matters. This card wants you to be independent and make your own choices. I think that is a very powerful and positive message. I hope that if you see this card in a reading that you get excited that Odin stopped for a visit and a lesson in sacrifice and independence. 

An Exercise with Odin 

Our good friend Odin was a Father God in Norse mythology who was also the God of both war and death. He is also the God of poetry and wisdom- which is what we are going to focus on here. His old english name was Woden which is related to the day Wednesday, which is his day. Odin is also the Father of that sexy Thor fellow. He has two ravens whom he uses to keep an eye on what is happening on Earth. I wish I had myself some fancy ravens that I could use to keep an eye on people. 

For more information on Odin, which I highly recommend researching because he is super interesting, check out the link above to old faithful aka Wikipedia. 

What we are going to do to get more connected with his energy is that on a Wednesday, make some time for yourself, sit down and read some poetry. Be inspired by your favourite poet. Enjoy the lyrical rhythm of a good poem. Take time to appreciate this art. Many people have never read a poem after leaving high school and this makes my poem loving heart sad. If you enjoy writing maybe ask Odin for some inspiration and see what you come up with. I used to write poetry all the time and not to toot my own horn, but I was really damn good at it too! I think I may use some of this Odin inspired thought to write some new poems. I hope you do too!

Here are some links to my favourite poets. I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration through their talent!

Edgar Allan Poe- anyone who knows me should not be surprised that he is number one. 

Robert Frost- seriously, he is so talented. His poem, "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" be still my Canadian heart. 

Sylvia Plath- You hear references made about her all the time in movies when people are trying to sound well read or smart. Ever wonder why? Her poetry is both strong and beautiful. Check her out! 

William Shakespeare- I am a sucker for old Shakes, especially his love poems. It is the month of love after all! 

Ovid- Last but not least we have Ovid. If you are not familiar with him just know he was one bad ass dude who was exiled. His poetry was considered a little on a racy side back in his day. I absolutely am in LOVE with Ovid, especially surprise, surprise his love poems. Check him out! <3 I always thought if I were to write a book the main character would be named Ovid.

PS: Not a poem but seriously, check out "The Thief of Always" by Clive Barker if you want an awesome February read! 

Happy reading! 

Let's talk about Mercury baby! Lets talk about you and me... (sorry feeling some 90's rap love)

"Happy" 2016 Blog Readers! 

 

I will be honest, lately I have not been feeling very motivated when it comes to my blog, Tarot or just anything in general. Its like the New Year started and I don't feel refreshed or ready to set goals. I just kinda feel, "meh". On the positive side, my anxiety seems to be in check and my depression is at an all time low, with barely any depressed feelings/thoughts in about a month and a half, not that I am counting...okay maybe I am counting, just a little bit. I wish I was starting my 2016 posts with happiness and fun things, but like I have said in past posts, I want to keep it real over here at Adventures in Tarot Reading and sometimes the adventures turn into a bit of a shit creek and that's okay too. It is OK to not feel awesome about the New Year and not to be excited. It is OK to feel tired and blah. It is fine to want to be a Hermit as long as you know eventually you will have to go back to normal life. Plus you would miss out in a lot of awesomeness if you stay in the funk; therefore this is me, metaphorically putting on my big girl pants and getting on with it! Tarot on Tasha, Tarot on... (sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader)! I have some suspicions these feelings are not just happening to me. I think they might be happening to a lot of people and it could be generated by what's going on in the skies and sadly I am not talking about UFOs, I am talking about our good buddy Mercury and what it has been up too lately.
As some of you may know we started 2016 with a Mercury Retrograde, full disclosure: I don't have a lot of astrology know-how to explain it to you here in great detail, but I'm gonna try so just stick with me... I can tell you it makes you crazy, communications fail, you can expect computer issues- like I am having right now and other electronic devices just seem to get a mind of their own and stop working. This is NOT a good time for business or for talking to people in general. Expect a lot of random arguments for no reason or conversations that go nowhere. If you work in Customer Service (may the Gods bless you!) you can bet your hat every crazy and their dog will call you or be at your station. Its just the wildness that comes with our lovely Mercury going backwards. Basically, for a Tarot Reader this is just a great BIG astrological kick in the pants. The good news it always passes and this month, it will be long gone by January 25th. Then it will rear its ugly head again in April. I like to think this has a lot to do with the lack of focus I have been feeling since the holidays have passed.
If you have felt like your brain has just packed up and left for greyer (he-he) pastures then you my friend, might be feeling this retrograde! My best advice is just take everything with a grain of salt. Live each day knowing that we are one day closer to the end of the madness. I don't recommend any business ventures, travel or work with technology during this time. If you must or have too, plan ahead, be diligent and create a schedule for yourself. Back up the computer, save your files and save them again just to be safe. Be mindful of what you say to people or how you are coming across. Everyone is on a bit of an edge right now. Try not to spark up any debates or nitpick. Just go with the flow the best you can. You and I will be 100% fine. I wish I knew some magick spell to make this time better but I don't so really just go with the flow! Remember there are only seven days left of this wildness and I think everyone will be feeling much better. Take some lessons from this time and practice how you handle all the crazy that is going on around you. You might come out of this knowing more about yourself, computers or just the world in general.
If you follow my Tarot Page on Facebook, you will see I pull a card of the day. Today I pulled the Eight of Pentacles, which pictures a young person working away crafting pentacles. The card is all about study, working hard and mastering your craft. When I saw this card come up, I took it as a sign that I should just get back into Full Stealth Tarot Mode and get on with it! I love my cards. I love Tarot. I love this blog. I am not going to let Mercury mess that up! Keep on keeping on readers! We GOT this!!!

 

BONUS- Here is a picture of my gorgeous Tarot loving Boston to make all of you feeling this retrograde wildness feel better!



One of my fur babies. Dallas really loves the cards. <3



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.

Don't Forget to Check your Monthly Tarot- Scope in the Pages Section! ---->

December Tarot-Scopes are Available Under Extras! )O(

December Special Feature: 

I am not booking private readings or parties for the month of December, but I am doing 12 month forecasts for 2016 by email! You can get a 12 card month by month future forecast for $15.00 which is $10.00 OFF the normal price! Email me at tarot.sj@gmail.com if interested. Note: At this time I can only take Canadian funds through e-transfer. I am hoping to change this soon! )O(