Finding Confidence with the Chariot

The Chariot VII

My Chariot's waiting, ride it...jump on it! Sorry for the 90's R&B there...

This has been an interesting month to say the least. My Tarot adventures have been a little quiet which is a bit of a good thing right now. I felt like I needed to take a short pit-stop before continuing down my path once more. Lately, I have spent my free weekends on other various hobbies such as casually drinking, going to a very shitty horror movie- looking at you Poltergeist and getting caught up on some much needed landscaping.

Zombie Garden of Awesomeness! Yes that is a hand. Romantic! No?

Oh landscaping... no one tells you how painful and horrifying it can be. I discovered some horrors living in the soil in my gardens such as: larva, ants, HUGE worms and other creatures that should remain unearthed, NO THANK YOU! My spiders were also in abundance but I like them so they're cool. I was out there, weeding the side garden, simply trying to transform a run down space into something nice and BAM; there it was under my hand friends, thats right,  I was touching this thing, not even knowing it... a HUGE, white almost see-through larva. Disgusting. It was right there just lurking for me to touch it. I shudder at the memory. Then not four feet down the garden was a giant beetle just waiting for me to accidently awaken it from its terrible slumber. I have seen things dear readers that cannot be unseen.

Where the terrifying creatures rest.

 My back, oh my poor back, how it ached for hours after terrorized fleeing from the gardens. Clearly this is not my niche. Just like the vegetable garden last year was not my niche. I want to believe that I am one with the Earth however I am beginning to wonder if that will ever actually happen...
I took some pictures to show our progress and to show off my Flowering Crab, which is my very most favourite. Like a proud parent I am excited to tell you it is the biggest on the street and stands higher than our house.

With Tarot being slower in the summer months it allows me to work on other mystical and magickal things. My love and I recently started on an oil blending adventure. We started making beard oils and balms for my fiancé's extremely impressive beard and then decided we would make more for the other lovely men folk in our lives. If you are reading this, men folk who haven't received one yet, wait until Yule Tide and you too will be blessed with some balms/oils. I also plan to start making different oil blends to correspond with different Tarot cards. Spicy ones for the Lovers, musky ones for the Moon and of course a hot cinnamon one for The Devil. I am thinking something airy for the Chariot which brings me to what I am actually supposed to be writing about on here, Tarot cards! Today's adventure is going to be all about our ever fun Chariot. The card of confidence, independence and driving your own change. I find that my own personal opinions on this card differ slightly than those of others but we will just roll with it. What do you think of when you see this card?

When I see this card my mind automatically goes to the two "beasts" which is what my Tarot teacher always called them. Upon further learning I discovered they are sphinxes which now makes me think of Harry Potter but thats a whole other tangent that I won't go down today, other than to say, my GODS do I love those books. Any who back on course here- see I am driving this Chariot baby, they always make me think of the two aspects of us all: light and dark. We are made up of both of these things whether some people choose to recognize this or not. We need balance. I believe in this card they are here to usually say the person getting the reading has found balance. They no longer are searching for it like they were in previous cards. The man driving the Chariot symbolizes that you have gained independence and are basically driving your own destiny. Which is GOOD. Many of us, myself included can let others drive our ships when we need to man/woman up and become the captains. In his hand he is holding a fancy cane but he does not need to use it on the beasts because he has control over the light and dark. When someone gets this card I tell them that they are beginning to take control back in their lives. This could be control over a physical situation or a mental one, depending on the cards around it. Movement is another big thing with this card. New changes are ahead and you are going to be in control of them when it happens. You might even be starting the ripple yourself. This card is governed by Cancer and the Moon. Which are both tied to movement and changes as well. 

Keys to Remember: Swift change, independence, control, light and darkness- accepting both, driving yourself forward. 

Driving Forward- Meditation on the Chariot

Today I would like to do something special with our meditation. I would like you to take a drive. Now of course, DO NOT meditate while driving (this includes broomsticks ;)- looking at you witchy friends xoxo but do take a drive somewhere. Go to a place where you are happy. Maybe you need to rest by the seashore and take in some salt air. Perhaps your soul is happy sitting in a peaceful garden or a park. Wherever you go just make sure you can enjoy some quiet time to sit, relax and think. If you do not drive take a bus or a bicycle or your own two feet to somewhere different than your usual. Get outside of your normal element and see what happens.

When you are at your place, take some time to just take in the sights and sounds. If you are at the sea, which would be my ideal spot, listen to the waves crashing, breathe in the salt air. Listen to the birds or other sounds. Do this wherever you are. Enjoy life even for this short moment. Do not think about work or the dishes waiting in the sink (oh boy, am I guilty of that one!) and just be- I sure do sound like a hippy but we will keep going. For this short moment realize how lucky you are to be alive. Not to paint a horrifying picture during this beauty, but out of all those little swimmers you were the fastest one friend. YOU are meant to be here. YOU have destiny. Life is ever so short so take in this moment to just be alive and connected to the Earth around you. Begin to feel yourself becoming apart of the scene around you. Feel your body connecting with the Earth and your thoughts connecting with the higher consciousness. Take deep breaths into your belly. Slowly breathe them back out. Enjoy this rhythm. 

Now think to yourself, why I am I here? What drives me forward? Wait and allow the thoughts to come into your mind. Picture your journey, even your journey to this place. How did you get here? Did you drive, take a bus, or walk? What made you choose this way of transportation? What is your Chariot? Think about your independence and how lucky you are to be able to just get up and go, when many others are unable to. Think of all the positive you bring into this world. Your light. The positive things you have done for others and yourself. What impact are you making on this planet? Now think of your darkness. What parts do you keep hidden to yourself? What are your secrets, your shadows? What do you regret? What aspects of your shadow-self that you embrace? By accepting both sides of who you are, you will become closer to being who you are meant to be. Release anything that is holding you back but keep everything that is moving you forward. In this life YOU are the Chariot. Continue to sit and ponder on these mysteries until you feel ready to go and enjoy your time in this special place. 

Its so lovely.

Lusting for the Lovers

The Lovers VI

Look at those saucy nude people! Ouuuhh-la-la!

I am happy to announce that it is finally warm. It's like someone has turned up the heat a little bit in Canada these days. It feels so good to be able to actually feel warmth. Like actual, warmth. No more pretending its warm to make ourselves feel better, it is actually warm. Its magick. There are some green little stems poking out of the front yard and the trees in the backyard are getting buds. On top of all of this, the air is fragrant with the scent of melting dog poop. Oh melting dog poop stink, you are a good omen. Soon friends, very soon we will see tulips, lilacs, daffodils and dandelions. Oh yes, I went there. I said the dreaded word, dandelions. The Devil's Paintbrush, the demon weed in which I have always had a little soft spot for. They are always a good sign that Spring and Summer are around the corner and for that, I welcome them. At least for now until they are taking over my driveway again, but lets not focus on that. Let's focus on the now and right now I love them. They are wonderful. 

"I'm melting! I'm melting!", said the snow mountain as the warm sun finally made its appearance. Also,  I have the cutest nephew in the world.

All this sunshine infused ecstasy is a perfect lead in to today's card of choice, The Lovers. Pictured above you will see two very naked people. It must be a little cold where they are, if you know what I am saying, wink wink. Above them is the Angel Raphael, before the Waite-Smith deck it was normally a Cupid pictured there. I almost prefer the idea of a Cupid, lets not tell Waite and Smith that however... It is obvious in this card that our naked man and woman are Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Pictured beside the woman is the serpent. Notice that this card is linked to The Devil, card 15. I am no mathematician but you can see that 1+5=6 connecting The Devil back to the lovers... Why would this be? What on earth does love have to do with the Devil? Who am I kidding, we all know why these two are linked. Without lust and desire we rarely have the hot burning love we all crave. Love can be beautiful full of roses and butterflies in your stomach but love can also be raw, dangerous and painful. One does not exist without the other. This is why this card may not exactly be what people often think it is. 

Often times when this card makes a grand appearance in a spread people are happy to see it but under the surface you will learn that this love does not come without some sacrifice. The card signify someone who could be in a love triangle having to pick between two or more lovers (you wild thing you!). Without sacrifice you will not get what you want in the end. It can mean a new lover coming into your life if you are single but you will be sacrificing your single lifestyle for this new life. Are you ready for that? The trees in the Garden of Eden symbolize knowledge of all sides of your lover. Do you want to bite the apple and really know everything? I don't know if I would bite that one, even if it was a delicious candy covered apple with my name on it. The Angel to me is always a symbol of the good people that are in your life and that you do have someone looking over your shoulder. There are only four cards in the deck that have Angels so I always consider it special when they show up. 

Keys to remember with this card: Love, choice, desire, knowledge, sacrifice, new love 

Meeting the Lovers through Meditation 

Get yourself comfortable, maybe even sit outside, I can't believe you can actually sit outside now... SO EXCITED, sorry off track there. Yes, get comfortable inside or out and try to clear your mind. Let your muscles relax and allow your ears to take in the sounds around you. Try to find some peace amongst the chaos of the day to day. You find yourself walking through a large pasture. You are on a little footpath that is leading you through tall grass. It smells like Summer. You can feel the warmth of the sun on your head and back. You take a moment to bathe your face in it's heat. Feeling energized you continue to make your way down the path and you can see before you a stone garden wall that looks very old. It is covered in ivy climbing over the stones and surrounding the iron gate. You feel no hesitation and know you must go there. You know you need to see what is inside this stone wall. The closer you approach you can see flowers blooming along the side of the wall and you can smell the sweet scent of blooming fruit. You are excited and thirsty for what is waiting for you. Your heart begins to beat a little faster, you feel your hands getting clammy, butterflies dance in your stomach.  

Inside the garden is a plethora of flowers in full bloom. Colours of every shade are proudly on display before you. You stop to smell the different flowers. What flowers do you see? How do they smell? How do they feel between your fingertips? You find yourself mesmerized by the flowers. So many different kinds, they look like they are from all parts of the world. Stepping away from the flowers you see an orchard. All the trees are in different phases of blooming. This is a magical place. There are trees heavily laden with pears, apples, peaches and many other varieties. What do you see? You stare in awe at this spender in front of you. 

Something in the far corner of the garden catches your eye. You begin to walk towards it. A figure stands before you naked. You are instantly attracted to this person. What do they look like? Is it someone you know? Or someone you never met before? You approach this person and notice behind them is an Angel. Never in your life have you seen a being so beautiful, so pure. What does this being look like? You find yourself longing to be closer to the other person in the garden. You want to get to know them and touch their flesh. Yearnings stir inside. There is a large apple tree with the reddest apples you have ever seen. A large serpent unwinds itself from a branch and catches your gaze. It offers you an apple full of knowledge. You know biting this apple you will gain the lover of your dreams and all the knowledge you seek, but is it worth the sacrifice?

Did you bite the apple? What happens next? Write your experiences in a Book of Shadows or journal.

I think Paul and I could be hand models, just putting that out there... 

Well friends I think this is all for me this evening. I hope that the May fires burn brightly and your lives are full of love and of course a little lust thrown in there too!

Sine we are talking The Lovers, I thought I would add the love of my life in here too!

The Valentine of the Tarot- The Empress

The Empress III

Isn't she purdy!

Happy 2015 beautiful and handsome readers! Right before the holiday of love (or at bare minimum exchange of flowers and chocolate for sex), I thought it would be also a good time to pull a little Norman Bates and talk about the most maternal card in the deck!

On the other hand this is also a card about fertility and marriage etc. so I do suppose, creepiness aside, that this is a good time to focus on this card. 

The awe-inspiring Empress sitting on her throne surrounded by golden fields of wheat. When she shows up in a reading she is there to advise you of a fruitful harvest to come. Hard work is going to pay off. If you pull this card and feel that lately you have been giving of your love but not getting it back in return, you can expect that to change. Depending where she is sitting in the spread she could indicate someone who likes to take people under their wing like a mother. She is a nurturer who wants to see people grow and do well. On the other hand she can also represent someone who can be possessive and controlling depending on what cards surround her. 

I find if I am doing a reading and the ripened fruit draws my eye I will let people know that if they don't want children they might want to be a little extra careful during their trips to Pleasure Town. This is a very fertile card after all.  Fear not though gentle readers, if you know for certain kids are NOT for you, fertility can also mean new projects or creative ideas- collective sigh of relief. 

I have seen this card also come up for people who are pregnant and its a sign of a healthy pregnancy and baby. 

This card really makes me happy when I look at it. It gives off that warm, fuzzy new socks kinda feeling.  

***Warning sock porn ahead***

Oh yeah baby. Will you be my valentine, sweet fresh socks? I will stop now. 

You are totally still thinking about socks aren't you? Dang!

I will give you a minute.

Some of the symbols that really stand out on this card is her crown of stars, the heart with the symbol of Venus and the water fall that flows behind her.  The crown of stars represents the 12 signs of the Zodiac and how the Mother has control over them all. This also can mean that she can be seen as a Goddess taking care of all things. She is a High Priestess and her sceptre commands our respect. Traditionally the Venus adorned heart is seen as a shield. I don't really see that. I have always seen it as a part of her throne. To me its a symbol of the purest love, always there to hold you up. The stream behind her represents the Water of Life- ever present in all living things. 

This card like all of the cards in your Tarot deck have many different meanings depending what cards surround them. The trick to Tarot is so much more than just memorizing the cards. You also need to be able to link them together with the cards surrounding the one you are reading. 

Good keys to remember when you see this card would be: maternal love, abundance, fertility, getting love in return, highest love, control, possessiveness, love, love and more love. 

Honouring the Empress

Instead of doing a meditation for this card I thought a little challenge would be better due to the pending holiday. Keep the Empress in mind and send some positive thoughts to someone you love. It could be your mother, nan, aunt, sister, girlfriend or your sexy lady neighbour next door (or your gf with the sexy neighbour next door). Think of a woman who inspires you or makes you happy. Send her some love, give her a call or maybe pay her a visit. I think that by doing this the Universe will look kindly on you and good things will come your way. 

Don't forget that this Friday is the 13th so watch some spooky movies and enjoy the magic of a mini-Halloween. 

Of course, I also hope that you get lots of sex in your exchange of chocolates on Saturday! Please make sure to love yourself as well- take that however you want, I am feeling racy today. Treat yourself because you are damn fine! xoxo