What’s in the Cards for Tarot Tuesday?

Well, folks, you’re probably shocked to see a blog post from me. I should apologize for not diligently updating lately. Honestly, I just haven’t been feeling very enthusiastic about much of anything. I’ve been trying to prep workshops for next year, and I’ve been thinking about possible book projects for the future. But I haven’t had much energy for anything else beyond going in to my office and working with clients in that capacity. I think perhaps the summer is catching up to me, a time when I really tried to get two days worth of work in one 24-hour period on a regular basis. Right now, it seems the Universe is telling me to ease up, to lean back in my chair and to appreciate the softness of the cushion, and to just stop trying to live up to all of these false deadlines that I myself have imposed.

So, to that end, I’m contemplating what I should do from here on out with the blog. I don’t think I’ll be doing Tarot Tuesday any longer, but I still want to occasionally feature Tarot and its mysteries and meanings. The Monday Messages from Merlin will continue, I know, but they may not come every Monday. I think Spirit is leading me to be less structured about the blog and more fluid with the postings.

I hope you all will continue to read, no matter what comes up and what topics Spirit impresses upon me to address. I mean, honestly, if it weren’t for you, why would I blog in the first place?

*****

On another note: I do want to take this opportunity to wish all of my American friends a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving. I don’t need to ask you all to think about what you’re grateful for–I know each of you already does that, because you’re all wonderful people who appreciate the good things in your lives. I do want you to know, however, how much I appreciate you spending some of that quality time here with me.

Image by Charles M. Schultz

Tarot Tuesday 11-3-09

This is a different kind of Tarot Tuesday post, because I’m in a different kind of mood.

In all honestly, I’m not sure what kind of mood I’m in. For the last several days, I’ve been feeling very out of sorts. I am distracted and edgy, and I can’t seem to concentrate for long periods on much of anything. I feel restless, like I need to be doing something, but I can’t put my finger on what it is I need to do. I have tons of things that I should be doing, but that is an entirely different matter. I have these bouts periodically, and they usually herald a significant change in my life. Sometimes it’s a new project or a new direction. This time, I’m not sure what it means–or, if it means anything at all. Maybe this particular full moon energy is just making me crazier than normal (I’m a Cancer–full moons usually effect me quite a lot in many different ways).

So tonight, I’m in a Hanged Man kind of mood. So instead of doing a reading, which may or may not have been especially on-target due to my unexplainable erratic energy, I thought it might be a good time to do a Tarot Meditation. I like to use the Tarot as a meditation tool. One way to do this is to select a card from the deck that you feel drawn to at this particular time and move into the card’s energy and pictured scene in a meditative experience. Let’s remember what the Hanged Man, Major Arcana 12, looks like in the Rider-Waite deck:

There he is, hanging by his one ankle, upside down. Notice that on either side of the tree branch (bar? wand? stave?) from which he hangs, there is a huge crop of new, growing leaves. He hangs easily from his ankle, not seeming to be in any pain or discomfort in this position, and his hands are behind his back, signifying submission. Around his head, we see the glow of his aura, or perhaps a symbolic representation of higher consciousness or wisdom, much like in famous paintings of saints and other great masters. What is happening here in this image? The Man hangs on his tree, content in his place, still, silent, contemplating. He is not bound or held there by anything but one small knot of rope and his own choice; he can release himself from this position at any time. And yet, he waits, silent, and we understand that enlightenment is what he seeks. He already has spiritual knowledge (the halo), but there is something else he seeks, and he goes within himself to find it, where the Divine dwells, patiently waiting.

Take a few moments yourself to look at this image. What speaks to you here? How do you feel as you gaze upon it? Notice your feelings, where they are in your body, what they feel like. Don’t analyze them; simply breathe and feel them, and allow them to be with you.

Now close your eyes, and see the image of the Hanged Man in your mind. As you watch, the image comes alive. Breathe and be with the Hanged Man in his position of supplication and acceptance. What in your life do you need to accept? Keep breathing, and find the acceptance of your own self in the quiet serenity of your mind. Be in this silence; be comfortable within it. There is nowhere else you need to be right now except in your own place of peace.

Now, as you stay in this peaceful place, see light within your mind. It may just be light, a calm, beautiful light. It may be another image, a picture or a word. Whatever it is, this is something you need right now in your life. Just notice what you see and know that you will understand it at a later time. Be present and do not allow your mind to wander away; give yourself the gift of undivided attention. Know that whatever you see, sense, hear, feel, or experience, you will remember it. This is the gift of the Divine, and the Hanged Man is the portal for you to receive it at this time.

Now…slowly open your eyes. What gift did you receive?

As I sat in the Hanged Man’s stillness tonight and saw the light, I also saw the prow of a huge ocean liner cutting through the light, coming right toward me. I don’t know yet what this means, but I feel I am moving forward somehow, whether I can see it or not. I am reminded of how, on the cruises that I’ve taken, you are in the middle of a vast ocean and can see nothing around you for miles and miles, yet you are moving speedily through the water without any sense of that movement at all. I think this is the Hanged Man’s message for me tonight.

What’s yours? What does he have to say to you?

Tarot Tuesday 10-27-09

Hello blog friends! It’s nice to see you here on Tarot Tuesday!

I have to apologize for not making a Merlin post yesterday. I had every intention of sitting with Merlin and channeling, but time got away from me. I am officiating a funeral service tomorrow, and planning the service had to take precedence over all else. Hopefully, I’ll have time to sit with Merlin today or tomorrow, and although his post will be late, it will still be made! Thanks for your patience. Now, without further ado, let’s get on to our Tarot Tuesday question. This one comes from Citrus, who asks, “Can you do a general pull for me, such as career, finance, love, etc…?”

Of course! For this general spread, let’s do a 6 card layout: the first 2 cards for career, the next 2 for finances (and see how those might be tied in with the first cards), and the last 2 for love and relationships. Today, I’m using the Halloween Tarot by Kipling West, since Samhain is only a few days away. After concentrating on my intention and Citrus’ energy, these are the cards that appear:

Card 1: Page of Imps (Wands)

Card 2: Major Arcana The Hanged Man

Card 3: 3 of Pumpkins (Pentacles)

Card 4: 2 of Bats (Swords)

Card 5: 7 of Bats (Swords)

Card 6: Knight of Pumpkins (Pentacles)

The Page of Imps seems to indicate a new idea for a direction in Citrus’ career, one that is burning brightly in her mind. I feel this would be a more creative direction, possible one where she has more interaction with others and feels that she can make a difference. The Hanged Man, however, indicates that Citrus may feel stuck about how to implement this new idea or project. She may feel that she is on her own and has no support for this, which can be daunting, or it may just be that she can’t see how she can make it work. No matter what her doubts or fears, the Hanged Man encourages deep meditation and contemplation about these ideas. He also indicates that, although Citrus may not feel as if she’s moving forward at this time, there are energies at play in the Universe always. Use the power of intention and meditation practices to go within, to focus on a new goal, and to bring it to fruition. The ways that this will happen will unfold as they need to, in their own good time. This new direction may take a while, but it is possible, and enlightenment about its eventual end will come. Be patient.

Financially, the 3 of Pumpkins symbolizes good work and good pay for it, so Citrus should be in a good position with her money in the next month or so. Again, this card brings to mind creative work, so I can’t help but associate it with the new project that Citrus has in mind. It may only be an indication of that work paying off, but I feel stability in finances is assured. The 2 of Bats does indicate the need to make a choice coming soon for Citrus, however, so she may need to cut something out of her life in order to make room for another project that will benefit her financially. It may also be that she will be making a decision fairly quickly in the next month or so concerning the new idea that she has, and she may need to take decisive action to make a choice to move forward with it. Either way, her finances will be in good shape, and I feel satisfaction is forecasted for her.

The 7 of Bats, or Swords, indicates a possibly dishonest relationship that may still haunt Citrus or may still overshadow her in some way. Right now, she needs to be careful of who she trusts with her fragile heart because she’s been burned in the past. I also feel that she needs to watch what she’s saying and doing because there may be “friends” around her who don’t have her best interests at heart and may be gossiping and judging. Having said that, the Knight of Pumpkins (Pentacles) does indicate the possibility of a young partner entering Citrus’ life. This person will be earth-oriented, perhaps even an earth sign in the zodiac. Pumpkins people tend to be responsible and reliable, especially with money, and he may have a tendency to take things slowly. In actuality, this is exactly what Citrus needs right now: someone who can slowly earn her trust, a relationship that can be built brick by brick through understanding, mutual joy, attraction, and honesty. If Citrus is patient (an overlying energy of the Major Arcana Hanged Man in this reading), she may be happily surprised by this new relationship energy.

Citrus, I hope that helps you! Thank you for submitting your question!

*****

Don’t forget, folks: you can have YOUR question answered on the blog, too! Just post here in the comments section, or email me at info@vandeneynden.biz.

Thanks for reading! Bright blessings to you all! xo

Tarot Tuesday 10-20-09

We have once again arrived at another Tuesday, which means it’s time to break out a favorite Tarot deck and answer a question from a reader. Today’s question comes from Julia, who writes: “I would like friends with whom I have things in common to share this journey, I would like to know which direction I am supposed to go in, & I would like a fuller life. I understand the principles of ‘creating what you focus on’, & I do live by this. However I feel like there is still something standing in the way of my movement here.”

That sounds like a lot to cover in one reading for Julia, but I think a Celtic Cross spread might just do the trick for Julia today. To compliment this, I’ll be using the Legend Tarot deck. Here’s an example card.

The Celtic Cross spread is a popular one, but some folks attribute different meanings to different positions within the spread. I’ll explain the meanings of each card position and each card as we go along. After concentrating on Julia’s questions, here are the cards that came up  in her spread:

Card 1 (Julia’s energies): Six of Cups

Card 2 (Obstacles or energies at a cross purpose): Page of Cups

Card 3 (Distant past, foundations of the matter, old beliefs): Three of Shields (Pentacles)

Card 4 (Recent past): Major Arcana The Moon

Card 5 (Possible future, goals for the future): Major Arcana The Lovers

Card 6 (Near future, next step to a goal): King of Spears (Wands)

Card 7 (Perceptions and attitudes): Knight of Swords

Card 8 (What others think): Six of Spears (Wands)

Card 9 (Hopes and/or fears): Ace of Cups

Card 10 (Outcome, what lies ahead): Ten of Shields (Pentacles)

The first card in this reading, the 6 of Cups, indicates that much of Julia’s energy centers on her emotional satisfaction, her relationships to others, and her creative fulfillment at this point in her life. The 6 indicates some measure of nostalgia, perhaps, which may be hindering Julia from moving forward. Memory is a wonderful gift, but sometimes, if we linger too long in the past, we block the beauty of what may be in our life currently, or we miss what is coming to us in the future. These memories may serve Julia well as a source of creative inspiration–perhaps writing about them, or putting together a scrapbook, may help her to honor where she’s been in her journey and still give her the freedom to move forward into this next stage of her life. The Page of Cups, moving as an “opposing” energy, indicates new, vital creative energy surrounding Julia right now, if she can find the way to tap into it. Some of it may be connected to other people, as Cups is the suit of love and relationships, and this may be why Julia feels a struggle at this time. In this deck, a salmon is pictured on the Page of Cups, and Julia may feel she has to fight her way upstream to make any friendship connections. Spirit encourages her to do this, however, because the effort that she puts into these social activities will pay off, and she will feel more emotionally satisfied. It’s up to her, though, to initiate these efforts–the people won’t just come to her. Putting herself on the line and inviting others in will do wonders for her. The two also feel as if they could be tied together; maybe Julia could offer a type of creative party or gathering where she helps others with their creative work, which allows others to get to know her and thus connect on a friendship level. Whatever happens, these new opportunities will begin to move Julia out of the past and firmly into the new energy.

The 3 of Shields, or Pentacles, appearing as Julia’s foundations or old beliefs card indicates that Julia is a hard worker and produces some beautiful and appreciated handiwork. It may be that Julia feels as if only this type of work is appreciated because this is what has yielded the best results in the past. My feeling here, however, is that Major Arcana The Moon, appearing in Julia’s recent past, has given her some interesting intuitive ideas for new projects to try. The Moon card, while exciting and prophetic, can also leave a person with feelings of illusion, manifesting in ideas like, “I can’t try that! No one would be interested” or “That’s a crazy notion! I’ll just ignore that.” Spirit is asking Julia to listen to these dreamy inspirations and to really consider them because there are some wonderful ideas here that could really ignite a whole new direction for her work. I see beautiful shimmering colors with this, too, colors like silver, opal, sea green, midnight blue, and periwinkle. I’m not sure what the colors are all about, but my feeling here is that Julia needs to connect with her deeper, inner Goddess to bring forth some amazing new work. The Moon in this deck is connected to the Goddess Morgan le Fae, who can be scary and inspiring all at once. Julia needs to move past fear and into the sacred space of profound divine connection within herself to bring forth new, wonderful work.

Major Arcana The Lovers appears as a possible goal for Julia’s future. This card sometimes can represent a romantic pairing, but in this case, I get a stronger sense of a creative or spiritual partnership for Julia. Spirit encourages Julia here to concentrate that Moon energy on producing new and exciting work, and to know that the goal of someone coming into her life who will work well with her to promote this work is a good one to hold in her mind. The King of Spears, the next card indicating steps toward this goal, seems to predict a mature man with great communication skills who will be an asset to Julia as she moves forward. All of the time Julia spends on manifesting networks for herself, her work, and her social life will help to open up this new pathway.

The Knight of Swords represents Julia’s attitudes and perceptions. It cautions her not to be too impetuous and quick to change her mind. Sometimes when a roadblock appears on our path, it’s a challenge to our determination to meet our goal instead of a signal to abandon ship. It can be Spirit’s way of seeing just how dedicated we are to our goal, and meditation on this can help us to see more clearly what our next steps should be. Swords cards can also represent our thought patterns, and Spirit invites Julia to spend more time in contemplation and meditation to ensure that her manifestation projects are not being hindered by her own negative thoughts and other methods of self-sabotage.

The 6 of Spears indicates what others in Julia’s life think. This card represents a celebratory and victorious energy, so many of the people in Julia’s life believe her to be talented and able to reach her goals. They see her as someone who is strong and accomplished, and they have a great deal of pride concerning her work and her efforts. Sometimes, this can be a hard mantle to live up to, and Julia may feel unworthy at times of such attention. Still, it’s nice to know that people are supportive and send happy energy to her.

The Ace of Cups represents Julia’s hopes and  fears concerning her situation. It may be hard to see how these two things might be related, but often we fear the very thing we most hope for because of the significant changes this might bring to us. In this deck, the Ace of Cups is called The Holy Grail, signifying the special Cup of Christ that so many knights sought but were unable to attain. To Julia, her ultimate success may be something she dreams of and years for, but it may be scary because she may feel unworthy of the attention it may bring to her. Julia needs to realize that it is her divine birthright to have success in all areas of her life, and the Ace of Cups promises Spirit’s aid in helping her to begin this fulfillment.

The final card predicts wonderful financial and material balance for Julia. The 10 of Shields (Pentacles) denotes wealth and prestige, so Julia can rely on this if she does the important spiritual work already discussed in the reading. Feeling secure is important to us all, so Julia does not need to feel selfish or greedy for wanting this for herself and her loved ones. Her ability to manifest hinges on her own attitudes and her release of fearful thoughts. Spirit will help her to achieve her dreams once she can excavate those from her meditation and dream states, put her new ideas into motion, and know that the right people will come along to help to support her.

Julia, I hope this reading helps you. Thank you for allowing me to stand between the two worlds!

*****

Thank you, everyone, for being here today and for lending your energy to this sacred blog space. It’s a pleasure to be with you.

Peace and love to all! xo

Tarot Tuesday 10-13-09

Welcome, friends, to another edition of Tarot Tuesday! After a busy weekend away, I’m happy to re-connect with you all here on the blog. Today, we’ll use the Londa Tarot to answer the following question, submitted by V.L.: “I am really needing some help about what path I should take when I am done with my PhD program. I feel like I should be looking now but I am not sure what I should be looking for.”

Let’s see what wisdom the Tarot can bring to V.L. about these questions. I’ll throw 1 card for her present energy and 3 for her energy in the next 3 months. After concentrating on her questions and shuffling the cards, here are the ones that appear:

Card 1: Three of Cups

Card 2: Major Arcana The World

Card 3: Page of Pentacles

Card 4: Major Arcana Death

Hmmmm….Because the Death card is a Major Arcana card indicating a significant change in V.L.’s life, and it’s the last card in the throw, I’m going to throw another card to see what may be affected by that change or how that change may play out in her life.

Card 5: Three of Pentacles

All right–that gives me some other information that I think will be helpful to V.L. Let’s look now at interpretations for these cards in relation to V.L.’s questions.

The 3 of Cups indicates a happy celebration time for V.L., which should be happening now or in the very near future. It could indicate the end of her PhD program, or it could be a joyous distraction from her studies. Either way, V.L. will be feeling emotionally fulfilled, and this will permeate all aspects of her life, including her schoolwork.

As she looks ahead to the future and what she should be doing, the Universe highlights two important messages in the Major Arcana cards The World and Death. The World is the last Major card in the deck, symbolizing the culmination of a large energy in V.L.’s life. This could certainly be the completion of her PhD, and possibly her exit from academic life. There is another important energy connected to The World, too, which is a vibration of choice moving forward. I like to think of this card as “the silver platter card.” The Universe acknowledges all of V.L.’s hard work and praises and supports her for her great achievement. In this card, It also offers her the opportunity to create the life she wants as she looks forward into the future. One cycle of energy is ending; what will she do now? Of course, this is exactly the question V.L. asked for the blog today, and the Universe is acknowledging that It has heard her. It is also reminding her that where she goes from here is completely up to her, because the Natural Laws of the Universe will help her to create whatever she envisions for herself. She is limited only by her own mind and fear.

The Page of Pentacles does indicate some type of work opportunity for V.L. coming up, probably within the next 2-4 months. This may not be what she wants to do forever, but it will be something to tide her over as she manifests the energies of her “real” purpose. It is also a little more time for V.L. to contemplate and create the scenarios that she really wants to bring into her life. There will be some money attached with this job, but it will not be a permanent fixture in her life, as Major Arcana Death indicates as the next card. As I stay in this energy, I do feel this may be some type of administration job–I see papers and computers and office-work type stuff.

Major Arcana Death indicates that the energy that V.L. creates by thinking and manifesting (as prompted by The World card) brings about huge changes in 3-5 months. Death is always about the end of a cycle of energy, which initiates a whole new cycle afterwards. Coupled with the extra 3 of Pentacles that I threw for some clarity, I see V.L. working and earning some income in a new, creative position. The figure in the Londa deck on the 3 of Pents looks like an artist or painter, and this tells me that V.L. has some artistic and creative abilities that will be highlighted and will flourish as she moves into the future. I feel she will be teaching others and facilitating classes or workshops, with some unique, creative spin–perhaps implementing painting or writing into spiritual exploration in some way. V.L. seems to have the soul of an artist, and the Universe encourages her here to include her love of creativity and her unique spirit as she envisions her future. V.L. may not see this as an avenue for monetary gain, but the Universe indicates in the 3 of Pentacles that good work will be rewarded with financial energy. I also feel V.L. may be doing some writing–a book perhaps, or a workbook of creative ideas that will help other women to connect with their own spirits. Whatever V.L. envisions in her work with The World card can and will manifest–on a small scale first (3 of Pents), but it will bring those sweeping changes that Death symbolizes.

V.L., I hope this reading gives you some clarity and helps you in some way. Thanks for your question!

*****

On a completely different note, I must wish a very happy birthday to someone who remains very special in my life, even though I haven’t spent much time with him in the past few years. He was there for me, though, during a very difficult period in my life, and because of him, I met some of the most wonderful people in the world. Here’s a picture of him:

Happy birthday, Mulder. I miss seeing you every week, but I relive our adventures on DVD when I can. I hope you and Scully are doing really, really well together.

On that bizarre note, dear readers and friends, I bid you good night. xo

Tarot Tuesday 10-6-09

So…all day, I’ve been trying to read all I can about the H1N1 inoculation. My boys’ school sent home a permission form yesterday, asking we parents to decide if we would allow the county to vaccinate them at school. I am cautious about medical intervention, and although my boys have always received routine vaccinations with no problems, I am wary of this new vaccine because of the problems that were encountered in a similar vaccine in 1976. If you’re interested, you can read lots of information all over the web (which, as we all know, isn’t always the best source of facts). I emailed my sons’ pediatrician, a woman I truly trust and respect, and she has weighed in with her opinion and her course of action with her own 14-year-old child. Even so, I continue to be overwhelmed by all of the information I’ve been reading, so much so that it’s hard for me to rely on my own intuition. Is it being overshadowed by my maternal fears?

I decided that I would consult the Tarot tonight about this question to see what answers I could get. I am using my favorite fall deck, the Halloween Tarot by Kipling West, and I concentrated on this question: “Is it safe and OK for M and B to receive the H1N1 vaccine?” Here are the 3 cards Spirit laid out after the concentrated shuffle:

Card 1: Ace of Imps (Wands)

Card 2: 3 of Ghosts (Cups)

Card 3: 6 of Imps  (Wands)

Just seeing these three cards makes me feel better. The Ace of Imps symbolizes an opportunity offered, representing the chance for the kids to receive the vaccination. The 3 of Cups, with its celebratory, happy energy, seems to indicate a positive outcome if we decide to have the children inoculated. The 6 of Imps symbolizes victory and a satisfied ending in relation to this question. 

So…will we have the kids inoculated? If they can receive the shot, which is the dead virus, yes, we most likely will, especially since Spirit is indicating here that no harm will come to them. I am not crazy about the idea of the live, nasal virus being administered to them, however, so if that’s the option the school offers (I have put a call in to find out how it will be given), then we will probably wait and try to get the shot through their pediatrician. 

Does it seem odd to ask such a question of the Tarot? Well, I believe very strongly that the Tarot can answer any kind of question, because it is infused with Spirit and your own intuitive energy. 

Next week, I’ll get back to answering a question from a reader, I promise. Until then…many blessings of health and happiness to you and yours!

Tarot Tuesday 9-22-09

Ah, autumn arrives today! It’s such a beautiful season, and a busy one for me. A lot of events coming up in the next month and a half, and on top of it all, I have received edits for my manuscript, which are due back to the publisher by November 1. So…I may not be around much in the next several weeks, but it is my intention to keep updating the blog as much as I can. Therefore, in the spirit of that commitment, and to celebrate the beginning of this lovely season, let’s do a Tarot reading!

I chose the Halloween Tarot by Kipling West today, pictured here:

This is such a fun deck, and since Samhain (Halloween) is not too far away, it’s perfect for our reading today. The question for today’s reading comes from Kristin, who writes: “ I recently got out of a relationship. I was engaged, and due to some major differences that we had the engagement and relationship ended. This has pretty much turned my world upside down. I live with my Dad and step-mom temporarily and am trying to get back on my feet. I just want to know if I am going to pull through all this ok, and if there is anything specific I should know now to do so ?”

For Kristin’s reading, I’ll do a 7-card throw to look at the energies around her now and as she moves into the future. After setting this intention and shuffling the cards, these are the ones that came up:

Card 1: 3 of Ghosts (Cups)

Card 2: King of Bats (Swords)

Card 3: 9 of Pumpkins (Pentacles)

Card 4: 5 of Bats (Swords)

Card 5: Knight of Imps (Wands)

Card 6: Page of Pumpkins (Pentacles)

Card 7: Major Arcana Justice

The first 2 cards in this reading do seem to indicate the energy of Kristin’s engagement (the 3 of Ghosts) and the man in the relationship (the King of Bats). The energy that I get from this is that the broken engagement was really the best possible thing for Kristin. This man’s forceful and domineering nature would not have suited her well, and she would have been unhappy with his demands. My feeling is that Kristin does seek a strong, responsible partner, someone who can take care of her, especially from a material perspective, indicated by the 9 of Pumpkins. There is a luxury energy present in this card that I think Kristin will respond to. This doesn’t mean that she’s shallow or greedy–it simply means that she needs to feel secure, and right now, she simply does not. The situation of living with her relatives helps with this security issue, and the energy around her now is one of being cared for. The 5 of Bats does indicate, however, that the situation is not ideal. Kristin may encounter some conflicts with her “roommates” that may be complicated and hard on her from a mental standpoint. Concentrating her thought energy on the positive aspects of her situation and the love that she does have for her family will help to assuage hurt feelings and sharp words. 

The Knight of Imps does indicate a man who may quickly enter Kristin’s life, bringing a great deal of energy with him. A younger man, he may seem spontaneous, even impetuous, but he is a good communicator and likes to be busy. I’d say he may make an appearance toward the end of the year, about 3-4 months away, and he may not be a long-term relationship, but he’ll be an interesting and fun distraction for Kristin. The Page of Pumpkins indicates a bit of contemplation and reflection necessary for Kristin to once again feel secure. It may also symbolize a little bit of extra money coming into her life in the form of a slight raise in pay or a windfall, something unexpected. Whatever this is, it may be the boost that Kristin needs to feel secure to be by herself and to take care of her own financial security. With this card, there also seems to be an energy of study, so some classes on independent living or personal finances might be helpful to Kristin. Whatever happens, it will be a favorable change, and the Justice card promises a time of balance and equilibrium coming into Kristin’s life. This change and these circumstances were necessary to clear unwelcome energies and to bring Kristin to an appreciation of what balance and peace really look like in a relationship and in life. This energy may be about 6 months away, but the time in between for Kristin will be an opportunity for her to begin to once again feel settled and to set new goals for herself.

Kristin, I hope this helps a bit. Thank you for sending your question, and blessings to you as you go forward!

*****

If you’d like to have a Tarot reading on the blog, you can! Simply send in your question to info@vandeneynden.biz, or post a question in the comments section below. I randomly select at least one question every week to answer through the wisdom of the Tarot.

Thank you all for being here and for holding this space in sacred energy. I hope to see you again very soon! xox

Tarot Tuesday 9-15-09

Eek! I’m running behind today, but I *will* get my Tarot Tuesday blog post in while it’s still Tuesday! Go me!

I’ll be using the lovely and colorful Gilded Tarot to answer today’s question. A sample of the cards are pictured below:

Today’s question comes from Etienne, who writes, “I am sure to receive a job offer for a teaching position, of which I can choose either a part time or full time position. Which of these would be better, or would neither option suit me? Or is it best to decline this position and wait for something better to come along?”

These are some complicated questions. In order to look at the energy of these 4 options, I will throw 2 cards for each option. The reading will look like this:

Part time teaching position and its energies: Cards 1 and 2

Full time teaching position and its energies: Cards 3 and 4

Declining teaching position altogether: Cards 5 and 6

Possibility of another completely different position: Cards 7 and 8

After concentrating on all of this and asking for Spirit to bring in the highest, best, and most accurate information possible for Etienne, here are the cards that came up:

Cards 1 and 2 (part time position): 10 of Cups, 3 of Pentacles

Cards 3 and 4 (full time position): 4 of Cups, 3 of Cups

Cards 5 and 6 (decline position): 2 of Swords, Major Arcana The Fool, extra card 7 of Swords added for clarity

Cards 7 and 8 (possibility of another job soon): Queen of Pentacles, Major Arcana The Tower, extra card 4 of Pentacles added for clarity

The part time teaching position seems to offer some great possibilities for happiness and money to Etienne. The 10 of Cups indicates a great deal of satisfaction and a happy family life, so it may be that a part time position will allow for more family interaction, bringing all members a sense of joy. The 3 of Pentacles indicates doing good work and being financially rewarded for it, so there will be some satisfaction for Etienne here, too, with his earning power and his contribution to the family finances. This option looks promising from a monetary and emotional level.

The full time teaching position also offers emotional satisfaction and even more creative fulfillment, symbolized by the presence of two Cups cards, which are the suit of love, emotion, and creative endeavors. The 4 of Cups does indicate Etienne’s contemplative approach to problem-solving, and I feel there’s also a real yearning displayed here. Etienne really wants to do “what’s right” and what will bring the best possible outcome, and he may be afraid to make a mistake. The Cup being offered in this card, however, is large and beautiful, and because it’s this suit, it does seem to symbolize that if Etienne is worried about not liking the job, this will not be the case. The 3 of Cups indicates a celebration, usually of a family nature, so there may be a great deal of rejoicing within the family if Etienne decides to go forward with this option. In any case, this job also looks very promising, at least from an emotional aspect.

Declining the job altogether brings a heavier energy with it, a more somber and serious tone. The 2 of Swords indicates the choice that Etienne needs to make, and the blindfolded face behind the Swords in this card seem to symbolize someone who isn’t looking at the whole picture. It’s important for Etienne to really weigh the pros and the cons when he has all of the information, because there may be other considerations he hasn’t yet noticed or thought about. Obviously, a decision will be made, which is why I threw an extra card to go with The Fool. The Fool, although usually a card that indicates a spiritual journey, seems to carry another sort of energy in this reading. There is almost a lackadaisical and indifferent energy I feel here, almost a caution from the Universe to be careful of this attitude in terms of these jobs. Perhaps Etienne is not taking the jobs seriously or doesn’t see them as advancing him in any way. The Universe seems to indicate that these jobs would be an interesting and different adventure, if Etienne is wise enough to see that possibility and take it to heart. The 7 of Swords, thrown for clarity, seems to caution against negative thoughts and the idea of wasted energy. Etienne may have already made up his mind that these jobs are not right for him, which may be a mistake.

Finally, looking at other job possibilities coming in for Etienne: the Queen of Pentacles seems to indicate a woman close to Etienne, a partner or spouse, who will need to be willing to be the primary breadwinner in the family at this time. She has earning power and a will to succeed, but The Tower card coming right behind her indicates that finances may be difficult for the family if left entirely to her devices. The Tower is a card that shakes the foundation and asks, from a spiritual perspective, where a Seeker’s faith truly lies. Seeing it here, in a question about future job possibilities, makes me feel that there may not be another job offer in the next several months. The 4 of Pentacles, thrown for clarity, indicates a feeling of holding on to financial resources, something that may be necessary in order for Etienne and his family to feel secure. The Universe likes a flow of energy, but the flow here seems to be stifled. There may not be another job coming in for a while, so Etienne must make a decision for himself and his family that will benefit them all. Hopefully, this reading will help him to do that.

Etienne, I hope this reading brings you some clarity and some helpful guidance. Thank you for your question, and for allowing me to serve in this way. I wish you only the very best.

*****

I hope all of you reading are having a wonderful week. Mercury Retrograde this time around seems to be having a severe effect on me, and I’m looking forward to it going direct again on the 29th. But hopefully, I’ll see you all again before then! Blessings! xo

Tarot Tuesday 9-8-09

I hope all of my U.S. friends had a lovely Labor Day weekend. Having worked so hard myself over the last few months of summer, I decided to take the day off yesterday, and Merlin did, too, which was why there was no “Monday Message from Merlin” posted. I’d like to think Merlin was enjoying himself in the spirit realms, sitting under a tree, sipping on a margarita or something like that. But don’t worry–we’ll get back on track next Monday with another message, I promise.

Today, I’ll answer one question using the wisdom of the Tarot here on the blog. I’m using the evocative Shapeshifter Tarot today, created by my good friend, Lisa Hunt. Here is an image from the deck:

The Shapeshifter deck has some unusual designations for its suits and court cards, so I’ll try to indicate the traditional deck correspondences as I understand them, too.

T0day’s question comes from Jaime, who writes: “I would love to have a on-blog general reading about  what my 20th birthday in this life is bringing me.”

To answer Jaime’s question, I’ll be using my 8-card general reading. After concentrating on Jaime’s energy and the question, “What does Jaime need to know about his upcoming year?” these are the cards I pulled:

Cards 1 and 2 (career, jobs, and money):  God of Water (King of Cups), Seeker of Fire (Knight of Wands)

Card 3 and 4 (relationships, family, and love):  Ace of Wands, God of Earth (King of Pentacles)

Card 5 (health):  7 of Wands

Card 6 (travel):  6 of Swords

Card 7 (outside interests and/or spiritual pursuits):  6 of Pentacles

Card 8 (outcome energies):  3 of Cups

The King of Cups indicates a man who will be influential in Jaime’s pursuit of a new job opportunity. I feel this new job has either just manifested or is very close, and Jaime’s own energy seems to be significant in the Knight of Wands card. I feel Jaime is looking for an opportunity that allows him to use his creative, passionate, communicative energy. Although I feel a new job is eminent, Jaime’s own energy is so strong and vibrant that he may not stay there for long. His own restless nature may make it impossible for him to settle into the new job before he’s off looking for something else. It’s important for Jaime to recognize this challenge in his own nature and to give opportunities a chance to blossom before simply declaring them null and void. Whatever Jaime decides, he needs to be free to communicate with others in a career setting and to be as free and flamboyant as he needs to be. If a traditional job path doesn’t bring this for him, he needs to concentrate on attracting job energies into his life that are more compatible to his nature. 

It looks like a new relationship is in store for Jaime very soon. The Ace of Wands indicates a new beginning in this area of his life, and there is a great deal of action and passion surrounding this. The person entering into Jaime’s life seems to be older and more mature, a man of means who may be very good at business or monetary pursuits. Pentacle people tend to be very reliable and responsible, which will be a good balance to Jaime’s more spontaneous and unpredictable personality. My feeling is this can be a good, steady relationship for Jaime as long as he can temper some of his more impetuous decisions and stay focused on one person and a committed bond.

I feel that Jaime’s health looks strong from the 7 of Wands card appearing here. It may be a good idea of Jaime to take some of his excess energy and direct it towards exercise or staying in shape, which will bring stress reduction and balance to him.

The 6 of Swords does indicate the possibility of some travel coming up for Jaime, and my sense here is that care is needed in planning and executing a successful trip. I feel this would be a shorter journey, possibly one made by car, and there may be a tendency for a small repair or problem. If Jaime makes sure before leaving that everything is as it should be, he shouldn’t have any reason to worry about going. Just be prepared!

The 6 of Pentacles appearing as Jaime’s outside interests and/or spiritual pursuits cards tells me that Jaime may still be seeking on his spiritual path. He has made some good discoveries about himself and his relationship to Spirit, but he’s still looking for all the answers. The truth is that he may never find all of the answers, but the journey is the most important thing, anyway. I get a sense here of being comfortable with who he is and with what’s ahead. Another message, one of “don’t rush it–enjoy where you are,” comes to me as well. Looking ahead is an exciting prospect, but noticing where he is now will help Jaime to grow and advance and learn the karmic lessons he needs. 

The last card, the 3 of Cups, leaves me with an insatiable feeling of happiness and bliss. The year ahead promises to be rewarding for Jaime, especially in the realms of personal relationships, spiritual growth, and emotional satisfaction. There is also a sense with this card of Jaime noticing Spirit messages all around him, a message that says, “Pay attention!” to all of the little things going on. Jaime has a strong psychic sense, and it will continue to deepen if he learns to discern all of the information that is being given to him at any given time. There is a serenity and peace that will also come from this to him, which will permeate all areas of his life. 

Jaime, I hope this reading helps you as you’re looking forward. Many blessings to you, and thank you for allowing me to serve.

*****

And thank you all for reading. I hope to see you again very soon! xo

Tarot Tuesday 9-1-09

This week’s Tarot Tuesday has dawned bright, cool, and beautiful here in Cincinnati! I am so loving this weather–it makes me want to be outside, just walking and drinking it all in, all day long! It must be my restless, Pagan heart that so longs to connect with Earth Mother and all of the awesome nature deities, elementals, and energies. 

So, to honor my call toward the great outdoors and its wonders, today we’ll have one question. It comes from Citrus, who asks, “Can you do a general pull for me, such as career, finance, love, etc…?” Sure! And to further honor the natural world, today I’ll use the Mystic Fairy Tarot, by Linda Ravenscroft and Barbara Moore. Here is an example from the deck, Major Arcana Temperance:

So, after concentrating on Citrus’ question and asking the faeries to lend their energies and insights to the reading, here are the cards that came up:

Cards 1 and 2 (work, career, and finances): Seven of Wands, Five of Wands (reversed)

Cards 3 and 4 (home, family, and relationships): Queen of Cups, Major Arcana The Star

Card 5 (health): Major Arcana The Fool

Card 6 (travel): Five of Pentacles (reversed)

Card 7 (outside interests, hobbies, spiritual pursuits): Six of Wands

Card 8 (the future): Six of Pentacles (reversed)

In this deck, reversed cards are simply used to call more attention to those particular cards–there is a feeling of importance attached to the appearance of a reversed card. In this spread, Citrus has drawn 2 Major Arcana cards, which signify spiritual importance and higher matters, and these appear in the relationship and health aspects of her reading. There are also 3 Wand cards, connected to projects and energy, and 2 Pentacles cards, signifying the energy of money and resources. Projects and career–the way Citrus makes her money–seem to be important right now. After this overview of the spread, let’s take a closer look at the cards drawn and their possible meanings.

The first two cards indicate energies around Citrus’ work and career. The 5 of Wands coming in reversed says, “Pay attention to me.” The 5 is often a card of conflict, and coupled with the 7, I feel that Citrus’ work environment may not be entirely happy or supportive of her right now. There seem to be some negative and even antagonistic feelings in the workplace that she may have to deal with. I feel there may be pettiness or jealousy coming at her from another source, and she needs to guard against feeling bombarded by negative energy. The 5 does indicate, at least from the energy of the picture in this deck, that a compromise can be reached, but it may be slow coming to fruition, and Citrus may experience some frustration there.

Luckily, Citrus’ family, love, and relationship energies may distract her from an unhappy work situation. The Queen of Cups seems to symbolize Citrus in this reading, depicting a woman who is attractive to others, loving, and desirable. I feel a lot of sexual energy with this, which is not always the traditional meaning for a Queen of Cups, but this particular deck makes me feel this playful yet sensuous female energy with Citrus at this time. It’s important to point out, though, that the Queen of Cups is a water energy, symbolizing deep emotional connections and intuition as well–Citrus will know and feel the right partner for her and will read those energies easily to make a strong personal connection for herself. Major Arcana The Star is a beautiful, hopeful card, indicating that Citrus’ dreams are coming true in regard to her personal love relationships, and there will be an outpouring of loving emotion coming for her. How nice!

Major Arcana The Fool prances his way into the reading as Citrus’ health card. There is a very playful and buoyant energy I feel with this card, so I don’t believe Citrus is going to need medical attention or begin some kind of long healing journey on a personal level. I actually feel that Citrus may be moving into some sort of healing field herself, perhaps one like Reiki or crystal healing, that is more holistic and natural, and The Fool indicates the start of this amazing journey. It may be that Citrus will move into this healing field as a primary source of income at some point in the future, and this is the beginning of that. This feels very exciting to me, but Citrus is also cautioned to be wise in her decisions and not to act rashly, as The Fool can bring that type of energy as well. This journey for Citrus, however, is bound to be deeply spiritual. 

Citrus’ travel card, the 2 of Pentacles, comes in reversed, and I feel that Citrus may travel in connection to some type of work project where she would earn money. The 2 indicates the possibility of a choice, but in looking at the beautiful artwork on this particular card, I feel that Citrus will be gathering money in to herself, and it’s a time not to spend money but to save it. If the travel is too expensive, there will be ways to make it work without going over budget. And the reward for the travel will be worthwhile.

The 6 of Wands coming in as Citrus’ outside interests card indicates a project bringing completion and victory–along with another new birth of ideas or energies. I really feel strongly that this has some metaphysical component to it–it may even be connected to the healing path I mentioned earlier for Citrus. Whatever it is, Citrus will feel fulfilled in doing this–but she also needs to be aware that someone close may not support her and may, again, be jealous of her accomplishment.

Finally, the 6 of Pentacles comes in reversed as Citrus’ future outlook card, saying “I’m important!” The 6 depicts a beautiful faery maiden gathering in lots of resources and receiving help from many woodland friends in this task. Citrus has the ability to stand on her own in her financial life and to reap the rewards of energy well spent. She also has friends and allies around her who can help her find ways to make finances easier and for her to feel more secure in her wealth. The Universe is abundance, and it is opening itself up to Citrus now. She has much to offer the world, and the world will support her in return for sharing her gifts.

Citrus, I hope this reading gives you some valuable insights. Thank you for allowing me to serve!

*****

And now, I’m off to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day. May you all be blessed and find beauty in your own corner of the world. xo