Tarot Card for the Day ~ March 1

Seven of Shields

Castle Of Wonders

 

Alrighty, girls and boys.  Two days in a row we have cards requiring a Nealio’s fracturized faerystory version of the legend behind the card. 

 

As usual, my version of the story can be a bit different than what you might find in some Arthurian mythologies.  And my interpretation of the card veers a bit from the norm as well.  

 

So grab a mug of hot cocoa, a bottle of absinthe or a few of those cute little mushrooms and away we go.

 

Sir Gawain found himself in hot pursuit of an outlaw knight.  He chased the cur over hill and dale until the outlaw rode in to the courtyard of a great castle, and then into the great hall of the castle itself. 

 

Gawain rode on in as well.  As Gawain entered the hall, he began being pelted by a huge indoor storm of  sleet, large iceballs and stones.  Being a prudent man, Gawain reined in his worthy steed, thinking, “Hmm….  There’s more here than meets the eye.  Maybe I better just go back and tell the guys I lost track of the outlaw, and will hunt him down another day.”

 

But being a brave soul and one of the leading lights of the flower of chivalry that was Camelot, he pulled himself together and said, “Nay then. ’Tis my quest, and meet it is that I pursue it come what may.”  And he began pushing his way through the storm.

 

At which point the storm simply stopped, and he found himself confronted by an entire army, blocking the way of his pursuit.  Again he took pause, thinking, “This here is some weirdness here.  Maybe it’d be better to just come back another day and see woss happenin’ then.”  But again, he screwed up his courage, pulled out his trusty sword and launched himself against the foes.

 

At which point they disappeared, only to be replaced by a huge lion and griffin who (which?  Nah, who) blocked his way.  This time Gawain really took a step back, thinking, “Okay.  Look, magic is one thing, but this is getting ridiculous.  I could end up lion chow here.  I’m just not gonna.…   I’m not….  Aw, mayin!” 

 

And again he remembered his quest and his solemn vow to his mates from the Round Table, so he pushed forward, hard.  The lion and griffin disappeared.

 

And as Gawain sat, staring into the center of the immense hall, a GREAT WONDER occurred.  There was a shimmer, and a shine, and a wrinkle in reality that became a doorway into a realm of wonders, of goodness and of magic, which provided many amazing things which the goodlye Knighte gathered up and took back for the benefit of Camelot.      

 

So, what has that got to do with anything?

 

I thought you’d never ask. [Just like you thought I’d never finish.  Right?]

 

Okay, some readers see the Seven of Shields as betokening money, business and barter.  Anna Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, writes of treasures, bounty, persistence and the steady, methodical removal of obstacles.

 

When this card shows up for a client, I’m likely to say,

 

“Okay.  What it comes down to now is knowing what you’re really going after, and refusing to give up.  You may feel overmatched, overwhelmed, even afraid and a tad hopeless.  But if your goal is REALLY important to you, remember what it is, screw up your courage, dig in your heels and push back or push on.  Hard! 

 

“And if you really have chosen a goal that is worthy of you, and important to you, have faith in yourself.  You will succeed beyond your brightest dreams.”

 

Find a goal that is worthy of your efforts.  Know what it is, and why you have chosen it.  Keep pushing once, twice, as many times as it takes till the opposition finally just gives up and goes away.  And know that your most beautiful dreams can come true.

 

Bright blessings and great wonders! 

 

Quote for the day:    Have you ever had one of those days when something just seems to be trying to tell you somebody?  ~ Neil Gaiman

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 28

Six of Spears

The Return of Ambrosius

 

Ah.  A nice long read for a Saturday morning!

As I said last time this card showed up for the Blog, it’s one that requires a Nealio’s fracturized faerystory version of the legend behind the card.  That will help you understand my interpretation of the Six of Spears, which – as usual – varies a touch from the norm.

By the way, my intuition-based recounting of the story of Ambrosius also varies a touch from anybody else’s, historical or otherwise.  So, gae we noo taegether, aye.  Or something.

Just as Arthur had to deal with a rebellion of the lesser kings at the start of his reign, and Arthur’s father Uther had to deal with a rebellion of the lesser kings at the start of his reign, Arthur’s uncle Ambrosius had problems at the start of his reign.

But Ambrosius was literally driven out of Britain, over to Brittany in France.  And the people who stole Britain from him were a bunch of real slimebuckets, you bet!

Now, that made him a King in Exile, which could be a pretty cushy life.  Small castle, nice lands, good hunting, splendid French wines − there could be a real temptation to just put your feet up, marry a French princess, become a courtier and suck down the good life.

Not for Ambrosius. 

He gathered, from ALL around the world, the finest strategists, armorers, teachers, alchemists, trainers, etc., etc., etc. and put them all to work for him, on him, on his forces and on his hopes.  So that, after a while, it became generally acknowledged that he had the finest army in all the world. 

And in his own chosen time, he and his army went back across the English Channel and literally blew through the opposing forces like wind through a cane break. 

Which brings me back to the card.  (Yeah.  Finally.)

To most readers, the Six of Spears betokens a victor triumphing, or great and important news.  Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, sees this card as a well-earned victory, change for the better, and “passing through a gateway to a new era.”

I won’t go against any of those interpretations.

But to me, Six of Spears represents utter, total complete victory after what seemed to be utter defeat.

And the victory comes, not instantly, but after careful planning and the marshalling of THE BEST people who can help make the desired success and/or reversal of fortune possible.  (That means you’re not SUPPOSED to try to handle it all by yourself alone!  But don’t settle for help from any doofus who happens to wander by with a card that says Consultant, either!))

So, what IS the seeming defeat that you would turn into a victory FOR THE HIGHEST AND BEST? 

Who are the

friends,

associates,

helpers,

consultants (good ones!),

managers,

healers,

intuitives,

artists,

spiritual directors

OR WHATEVER

who would be THE BEST to help you take back what seems lost? 

 

What must you do to involve them in your cause?  And what can you do to start on that today?  Go!  Go!

 

Bright blessings and victory that is for the Highest and Best!

 Quote for the day:    Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.   ~ W.C. Fields

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 27

The Lovers

 

Gareth & Lyones

 

Hmmm…  Cards seem to be cycling back rather frequently for this Blog this month.  We last saw The Lovers on February 12, and here it is again. 

 

Does anyone feel like they’re being called to examine the recurrent themes of their life of late?  Must be that eclipse that occurred a month ago.  Astrologers, what do you think?

 

Anyway, as I said when this card last turned up, if you REALLY need to know what The Lovers portends as a daily card, you more ’n likely need greater help than I can provide.   

 

Yes, it is at the very least the card of a good, solid, balanced, loving relationship − one that is comfortable, open and committed, if not necessarily intimate.  Platonic will, in fact, do. 

 

When I work with clients and this card comes up, I tell them they are being guided to look for perfect partnerships in whatever areas of life they are asking about.  I remind them to bear in mind that partnerships are not just about people. 

 

A perfect partnership can be the right romantic partner at the right time, certainly. 

 

But it can also be

~ the right working relationship (boss or assistant) or

~ the right work,

~ the right client(s),

~ the right doctor,

~ the right book,

~ the right business location,

~ the right prayer,

~ the right meditative practice,

~ the right sacred space ,

~ the right Springer spaniel puppy or even

~ the right Tarot reader 

 

So when you have choices to make today, and even in the foreseeable future, look for PERFECT partnership.  You deserve it, and you should not settle for less.

 

Bright and perfect blessings!

 

 

Quote for the day:    I never saw any real magic….  But I always believed.  That’s why I wrote all those stories when I was younger, because I wanted others to believe.  I thought if enough of us did, if we learned to care again about the wild places from which we’d driven the magic away, then maybe it would return.    ~ Charles de Lint

 

 

Tarot Card for the Day ~ Fenruary 26

Seven of Cups

The Questing Beast

 

 

 

What a great card!  And interesting that it has come ’round again after only ten days.

 

Would YOU like to suggest (after you renew your acquaintance with the card) what that might imply for today?

 

This is another card where my interpretation may diverge a tidly, tadly bit from that of other readers. 

 

Some see the Seven of Cups as recommending opening to visions through contemplation.  Can’t argue with that, ever, unless you’re trying to cross a busy street against the light.

 

 Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, sees this card as betokening – among other things − fantasy, whims or perhaps a bizarre turn of events.  Now that would be right up my alley.

 

I see the Seven of Cups as the card of utter, total complete joy and joyful abandon. 

 

There may be some need to stay at least a bit grounded, so you don’t go completely off into the realm of fantasy in a “Wow, look at all the pretty colors/I’ve become unglued”  kinda way.

 

But this is also the card of Fairy Favors, creativity and clear vision around attaining true desires. 

 

(And because Northeast Ohio is experiencing a thaw, some of the Green Fay Friends may be peeking out at us and causing the card to return just now.)

 

So go after the joy. Seek it, quest after it, demand it!  And for pity’s sake, at least be sure you can actually define what it is − or what it would be, if you had your druthers − for you.

 

Let yourself renew your belief in and commitment to your happiness, and be open to the myriad magical ways the universe may have to bring it to you.  Let yourself be open to surprises and miracles in that regard.  And open to a little Fairy Magic today!

 

Joy!  Joy!  Joy!

 

Bright blessings!

 

Quote for the day:    If God did not intend for us to eat animals, then why did He make them out of meat? ~ John Cleese

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 25

Six of Swords

The Eachtra

 

 

As I said last time this card turned for us, the Six of Swords as I work with it has several layers of meaning, and requires a bit of storytelling and explanation.  So please bear with me.  Go get a another cuppa, a beer, a bowl of porridge or fudge ripple or chips, whatever. 

 

According to Anna Marie Ferguson, author of A Keeper of Words  − the book that accompanies Legend,the Arthurian Tarot  − The Eachtra is the Irish phrase for an Otherworld journey and adventure. 

 

In some Arthurian legends, one adventure involves a great quest in which Arthur and his knights venture to the realm of Annwn − the Celtic Underworld − to meet Arawn, the Lord of the   Underworld, and (depending on which version you harken to) form a brotherly alliance, king to king, (or do grievous battle, army to army) so as to win and bring back (or steal and bring back) magic and magical tools for the grace and hope of Camelot.   

 

Funny how variable those legends are.  I blame it on the mead the monks imbibed.  And those funny little mushrooms they put in the salads.  Ah, the good olde dayes!

 

Let’s see.  An otherworld journey and adventure…  That’s a pretty perfect thing to have recommended for right now − a time between the seasons. 

 

In many shamanic traditions, it’s the places in between where the magic is, and where the paths between the worlds (realms) lay!  So, as we approach springtime, some of us may be sensitive to a thinning of the veils between ordinary reality and the realms of spirit. 

 

How will you let yourself explore the doorways to goodness, wisdom and healing that are available just now?  Dream on it at least, I hope!

 

Anyway, back to the card, more or less. 

 

In the teachings of modern core shamanism, journeying is the term given to the deep, powerful meditation used by shamanic practitioners to travel to alternate realities. Often, the first teaching journeys are to the lower world, into beautiful, fruitful, healing darkness entered through an opening into the Earth.   

 

So, in my work with clients, and based on my shamanic work, I’ve come to refer to this as The Journeywork Card. 

 

The Six of Swords directs us to go deep – deep within the self, into the core of our hopes and dreams, to the very essence of our being. It tells us to believe in, seek and find the beautiful, powerful, enlightening, inspiring treasure within us. And it asks us to then embrace it fully and bring it up and out into the world to share with and benefit all.

 

Explore the realms of the sacred and the healing.  Go deep within and find the treasure there, then bring it out to share with us all.  Be part of the beautiful and powerful magics of the season.

 

Bright blessings and miraculous journeys!

 

[For more information on journeying, please see my article at

 

http://shamanspath.org/index_ShamanicJourneyIntro.htm  ]   

 

 

Quote for the day:    As far as I’m concerned, the entire reason for becoming a writer is not having to get up in the morning. ~ Neil Gaiman

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 24

Strength

Percivale’s Vision

 

 

This card showed up for the Daily Tarot Card on February 3^rd or so, and just about a month before that. 

 

So, first of all, take a look at the cycles of your life and see what’s been going on that might benefit from an infusion of the wisdom of this card. 

 

Then, as you review what the card is about, ask yourself whether that situation, circumstance, whatever has become a constant that needs to be attended to, OR whether you need to look at why it may be circling back NOW.  AGAIN!

 

Obviously, this card betokens its own name: Strength, as well as courage and vitality.  Plus magnanimity − both toward you and emanating from you – [so feel free to send your favorite Tarot reader an expensive Italian silk almostanything].  The card can also indicate perhaps the most perfect light touch of luck.   

 

Really pretty good for a February Tuesday!  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT!  ALL OF IT!!  (Otherwise what are you reading this for?)

 

Where was I?

 

The Strength card is one of the most utterly positive cards in the deck.  And it does offer a few useful, specific recommendations.

 

It is very important that you do not underestimate your physical and emotional strength at this time, or doubt the power and durability of your connection to Universal Life Force – God, Spirit, The Big G, Mr. Spielberg, or Whatever-You-Name-It.  In other words, don’t down yourself out or assume less of yourself than you may actually be able to handle.  If opportunities come, REACH!  If challenges come, PUSH BACK!  Don’t just crawl under the bed and hide. 

 

Believe in your ability to succeed and to attain that which you most desire, particularly in areas of physical healing and achievement and/or emotional healing. 

 

Draw on your inner strength, which is truly far greater than you give yourself credit for.

 

Like many of us, you may need to begin investing some ongoing effort toward actually identifying and functionalizing your connection to your inner strength.  Our culture ain’t so good about that, unless you have forced yourself to march to the same “inner drummer” as everybody else.  Get to know your OWN connection to Source, and work with it.  

 

We have in us the brilliant, beautiful and eternal power of stars.  It’s up to us to find and focus it.

 

When I work with clients, I advise them about an additional level of meaning to this card in this particular deck.  I find this to be the card of the visionary – the individual who can see higher, farther, and deeper than others can. 

 

Sometimes, even more important, this is the person who can see (distinguish clearly) the trees for the forest and the forest for the trees.  So give yourself credit for being able to see things more clearly, and define things more accurately and truly, than the madding crowd around you. 

 

Own your ability to be the visionary who can, as Robert F. Kennedy so beautifully put it, “…dream things as they never were, and say why not?”  Or see things as they really are, and say, “Nuh-unh sucker!  We don’t play that way NO MORE!”

 

Trust in your strength and draw on it.  Manage it well when you must, but draw on it.  Believe in your success.  And let your vision of WHAT CAN BE guide you higher and higher beyond the norm of what is.

 

Bright blessings, light, clarity and joy!

 

Quote for the day:    Of course, it is very important to be sober when you take an exam. Many worthwhile careers in the street-cleansing, fruit-picking and subway-guitar-playing industries have been founded on a lack of understanding of this simple fact.  ~ Terry Pratchett

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 23

Ten of Shields

Camelot

 

Very interesting card.  Always a very interesting card − at least when I have seen it. 

For those of you who are regulars to the Blog, you know I’m about to say something like

Tens in any Tarot deck betoken the end of one cycle and the beginning of another, or even the end of one way of life and the beginning of another.  So, if I were reading for you today and this card came up, I’d ask:

How do the things you have been experiencing – and more importantly, how do the things you have begun to long for in life just now – represent a strong message to you that you must allow yourself to acknowledge the end of a cycle and the powerful potential for you to move into something wonderful and new, even miraculous? 

How can you keep that in front of you, and not just for today?  How can you let today be part of something new that you BEGIN TODAY but may continue to pursue for some time to come?

Some readers see the Ten of Shields as gain, riches, or having to do with family abode.  I certainly never want to argue with an interpretation that betokens good things.

Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck I use, indicates this card is about  affluence, riches, inheritance, and possibly clan gatherings.  As my mother often used to say, “Thank God for thrifty ancestors!”

I see the Ten of Shields as saying:

Time for a change. Possibly a BIG change.  In pursuing that change, don’t look for the right person to help bring it about.  Look for the right groups and organizations – probably new ones – to become part of. 

Be very careful to evaluate the GROUP energy or the GROUP dynamics of where you are and where you need to be. 

If you were interviewing for a new job (or a new spiritual circle, or new club), it wouldn’t be anywhere NEAR enough to evaluate whether it felt like your prospective new boss (or leader, or pastor) would be good to work with.   You’d really need to explore and be sure that the energy of the greater team, group, circle or organization felt positive, clean, imbued with integrity, (excitement, spirit or whatever).

So, be open to the possibility that some element of your life is grinding its way to an end.  Then look for the right GROUP energy to become part of as you move onward and upward in your life.

Bright blessings and good group connections!

Quote for the day:   “He has no genitalia and he’s holding a sword.” ~ Dustin Hoffman (upon winning his Oscar in 1980)

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 22

King of Cups

The Fisher King

 

Aaahh…  A lovely and mellow card, albeit a powerful one. 

The Fisher King is, according to Arthurian legend, the hereditary guardian of The Holy Grail, which has rested within his family’s castle for generations or more.  There are many versions of why he has the title, Fisher King, some of which in fact precede the Arthur legends by a LOOONG way.

Anyway, in my fractured faerystory version of what you need to know about him:  The Fisher King is a kind, brave, generous, creative and well-balanced ruler who has a mystical bent and a deep respect for the sacred – being about as much a part of THE SACRED himself as a person can get.  (So keep an eye out for such a person over the next few days.  Or see what you can do to emulate more fully those characteristics yourself.)

At one point, The Fisher King took a magical wound that was unhealing.  In some traditions, this characteristic of the unhealing wound would, in and of itself, make him shamanically inclined. 

According to legend, the only time he was free of the wound’s deep pain was when he would go out in his little boat, fishing.  So he would do that at some point, if possible, every day.  And then go back to his labors as guardian of The Grail.

And that begins to bring us back to the card itself.

When this card turns up for a client, I usually say something along the line of:

“Look.  This is a period during which you’re going to be very busy.  You’re probably going to have lots of responsibilities and have to go in a number of different directions at once.  And you’ll care enough about it all to want to do it effectively!

“So, from the outset, remember to be fair, kind and generous to those who work with you and those who are around you in your life.

“Be brave about going after what you really need to be able to do things well, and about going after what will really be for the highest and best of all concerned.

“And remember to be fair, kind and generous to yourself as well.  Plan from the beginning to build in – and use − specific, regular times for rest, recuperation, re-inspiration and whatever is necessary for you to be recharged AND fulfilled.” 

So do your work.  Do it brilliantly.  But know that you must WITHOUT FAIL build in play time (as YOU perceive it – for some of us, that’s a good, dream-filled nap), recovery time, recharging time in order to be fulfilled in your life, and in order to fulfill your promises to the world at this time.

Brightest blessings!

Quote for the day:   I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. ~ Douglas Adams

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 21

Five of Swords

Gawain’s Penance

 

 

 

A good card for a Midwest late-February Saturday.  And one that turned up just ten days ago, so we obviously need to pay attention.

 

In the spirit of something resembling candor, I will once again say that my interpretation of this card in readings veers away from that of most readers I know.

 

When this card shows up for a client, I stand up, climb onto my soapbox, throw things at them and say:

 

STOP!   STOP!  STOP turning your life into one long gawd-awful penance. 

 

And stop living as though you have some penance you think you should do, even if doing so seems “justified” according to the sad, warped old belief structures of some bozos who laid their nastiness on ya years ago  ~ even if they are/were people very close to you. 

 

Reach out for joy, for beauty, for healing, for the highest and best of your potential. 

 

Constantly rubbing your own nose in the messes of the past will never bring about positive change.  It will only keep you from moving upward, and may even keep you stuck exactly where you are, causing you to repeat errors and disappointments of the past.   Don’t do that.  It’s crazy!

 

Live!  Know that you deserve joy and beauty, but that YOU are the only one who can reach for it.  Seek all that is uplifting, and wonderful, and full of Light!  Now!

 

Bright blessings and joy!

 

Quote for the day:   “The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.”

                     ~ Terry Pratchett

Tarot Card for the Day ~ February 20

King of Swords

Mordred

 

Aw, man!  Really!  No kidding!

 

The King of Swords is one of those cards where each deck, each author writing about Tarot, and each reader has his or her own unique spin on what meanings are most truly representative and therefore accurate. And then, to assign Mordred (more about him toward the end) to the card.  Man!

 

Okay, so here are some of the interpretations I’ve gotten from others:

 

~ the bloody bastard who never knows when to stop fighting

~ the ruthless and daring one (likely male)

~ one (usually a man or someone of strong masculine energy) who sits in judgement

~ the innovative but probably unpredictable leader

~ the revolutionary   

 

So if any of those interpretations mesh with how it seems you need to be in your life, (or represent the energy that’s intersecting/interfering with your life), then pay attention and act accordingly – i.e., id it’s about someone else, accept that your perceptions about the person are TRUE!  The figure out what to do from there.

 

I did a shamanic journey to determine how I should generally interpret this card for my clients.  A spirit guide in the form of a great back and silver dragon came by.   It said, “This is what you need to know about the King of Swords.  The King of Swords has three major characteristics:

 

“First, he is so idealistic he often lets his head drift away into the clouds and he becomes flakey, which can cause him to fail.

 

“Second, he is so passionate he often loses track of what’s sensible, appropriate − or even legal − and he blows his own ass up by getting crazy-emotional about what he wants or hopes for, which can cause him to fail.

 

“As a result of the first and second issues, he has actually learned from the example of the Queen of Swords and he has FORCED himself to develop the will to become strategic about what he wants.

 

“He asks himself what he would need to do in order to be true to his highest ideals AND his deepest passions.  He determines how they would blend together, refines his goals, and then develops a specific, detailed plan that incorporates every major step necessary to take him from where he is to where his ideals and passions would have him be.

 

“And then he exerts the will to hold himself to that plan, day by day, until higher ideals or deeper passions cause him to rethink his goals and start the whole thing over again.”

 

Hard work, but worth the effort.  

 

Would your life be different if you had done that, and held yourself to it, twenty years ago?  It’s never too late to start.

 

About Mordred:  pretty much everyone knows him as the bastard son and only child of Arthur who, out of evil or just out of spite, plotted and schemed to displace The King and, in the process, brought down Camelot.  Maybe that is how it was.  There are a number of variations on that theme throughout the tales.  But in one version of the legends, Arthur and Mordred were reconciled in the end; they died fighting side by side against foreign invaders.  Maybe so.

 

What are your highest ideals?  What are your deepest passions?  Where do they intersect and support each other?  What are the steps that will carry you to them?  How can you begin those steps TODAY?

 

Bright blessings, high ideals, passion and success!

 

Quote for the day:   “Quote me as saying I was misquoted.”  ~ Groucho Marx