First Footing....

This morning I received an email from Tarosophy advertising a new course called Tarot Life. The course runs for 12 months and each month is accompanied by an instruction booklet available on Kindle or as a PDF. I have been looking for a Tarot study for the New Year and this seems perfect. I have purchased the book and worked out the initial steps.. very exciting. I will use my blog to record my results now and then and keep ypou updated with how its going. Even if noone ever reads my blog, it can keep me updated and act as a reminder... well, in theory!

So its the last day of 2012. This time last year I was about to leave the UK and return to New Zealand. I was not happy about that. I looked forward to seeing my home again and my older girls and my goats and cats, but leaving my mum and my sister and Dilly my best friend, was not easy. Not to mention leaving the cool winter weather for the humid heat of Nelson. I have no idea where we were at new Year, what time zone we were crossing, it went by unnoticed, although I was awake the whole 26 hours we were in the air. I do remember the airport staff at Heathrow were lenient with our extra hand baggage, as a salute to the season though, so that was nice!

Today, reflecting on the year I thought I would devise a 3 card spread to give me a snapshot of this past year. I have called it First Footing after the custom in Scotland, my Motherland.

The spread was designed to show where we excelled in our life journey and personal growth in the past year, what we want or need to leave behind, and what we should pack in our rucksack to take with us when we go first footing!


First Footing Spread


1****2****3


1. What you will leave behind in your footprints as you leave the old year
2. Your biggest path of growth this past year
3. What you will take with you as you step into the new year 

So... these are the cards I drew for this spread. I used my Deviant Moon deck as it was one of my most used this year, especially in the first half of the year :)

5 of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles & The Tower from Deviant Moon Tarot

 

1. What you will leave behind in your footprints as you leave the old year - Five of Pentacles


Leaving behind hardship and poverty seems like a good thing to me! Although this card seems to be about judgement from how I see it. The watching eye in the church, the female character sneaking around, as if ashamed to be seen. Also the Judgement card is number eleven and I cant help but see the two chimneys as an 11. The poor naked creature appears to be bathed in moonlight from her colour, which brings to mind Diana, the Moon goddess, who was also a goddess of chastity. She was also a patron of slaves, and they would always be given sanctuary in her temples. Interesting, so she could be seeking sanctuary, from judgement, the undeserved judgement of society who shunned her, because they only saw what they wanted to see. Far from a loose woman she could be running from the rape of society.

All these things are good things to leave behind, there has been judgement, but the strongest judgements have been self imposed... as they say, we are our own worst judges!


2. Your biggest path of growth this past year - Nine of Pentacles

This is a funny old card.... nine different Pentacles  hang in the sky, the masked creature is chained to a small skull that looks like it came from a gravestone... could this be mortality? The earthly life. And those Pentacles could symbolise riches in heaven, or in the spiritual world rather than the physical. She has had some setbacks in life, with no arms, and the loss of one foot. But the foot has been replaced by a wheel, which will enable her to move faster maybe. Kind of a built in scooter! In spite of her Venetian style carnival mask and lack of limbs, she does have an air of confidence. Her dress looks well made but with the moon buttons this could be illusion, like everything is not what it seems.
She may look well dressed and bodily incomplete, but she is actually more whole than many, as she is rich in spirit . Her mask could symbolise her lack of presence in the material world and like the moon carved into the stone she walks on, this turns the traditional meaning of the card on its head rather. Her robe could actually be that of a holy or spiritual order, and the mask be her veil, sheilding her from the eyes of the world. No arms could be a way of showing that she reaches out with her soul for wealth rather than grasps with her hands at happiness in material wealth. I see this card here, as being about the importance of enlightenment and spiritual growth.

Also of interest is that 2012 for me has been a 9 year, and the card is a 9....this could signify that the spiritual development that started this year will go on to become stronger in 2012


3. What you will take with you as you step into the new year  - The Tower

Here I see the breakdown of illusion, and falsehoods. The moonlight is burning through the tower causing it to begin its collapse. The tower itself is actually very small, and so the falling man could actually be in a dream or an Alice in Wonderland kind of world. Perhaps the moons light has set him free from the tower, and although it had seemed a huge thing, we now see how small is actually is. Like the line from the Eagle's song, Already Gone which I have quoted before:

"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
 And we never even know we have the key "

Self imposed imprisonment has come to an end, and it may feel like you are falling and losing security but actually you are gaining freedom from a prison that was way too small and confining to fit who you really are. The other guy lying down could be the prisoner who is now being put to rest, .... he could represent self criticism, judgement..... like in the first card....Makes sense!

A very blessed and wonderful 2013 to you all......

Thanks 2012.. for everything.

Tarot Bags & Cloths

I have become addicted to making bags for my decks, and everyone elses! Stitched, knitted, crocheted... all colours, shapes and sizes...I have made heaps now. Other folk seem to like them too, so I have been having a lot of fun, making them to order for my online store, or to trade, usually for decks or books on my wishlist.

The first cloth I made was for my Deviant Moon deck, and I knitted a bag to go with it, I was really pleased with my efforts, I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist, which means I can be easily put off if something is not working out how I feel it should. With knitting though, I have been happily freeform knitting, shaping the bags as I go and really enjoying the whole process.

This bag is called The Hermit, it's made from a slightly rough weave outer cloth and lined with a toning cotton, it is actually a wrap more than a bag, with a pocket at one end for the cards and the rest of the wrap opens out to a cool cloth for 1-4 card readings. Shown here opened up, with The Tarot of the Cat People. The wrap is held closed with ribbons and clay beads.

The Hermit - Tarot Wrap

This next bag is a cotton double drawstring bag, fully lined with black muslin. I embroidered the pentacle freehand using space dyed machine threads. The ribbon ties are finished with Indian style sliver beads.

Purple Pentacle Tarot Bag

This is my Deviant Moon cloth, made from four different quilting cottons and backed in heavy indigo cotton fabric. The cloth measures about 24 inches square. I painted the Moon by hand on calico and sticthed it to the cloth.

Deviant Moon Tarot Cloth

Here is the cloth pictured with the bag that I knitted for my Deviant Moon deck... I love it, it fits the cloth too and is all soft and snuggly like a wee deck sleeping bag. It is often to be found under my pillow! I even added a wee label to the bag :)

Deviant Moon Tarot Bag

This is one of the first tarot bags I made, its made from a gorgeous shot thread silk velvet and hand appliqued and embroidered. This bag doesn't have one particular deck yet, it has held a few over the years!

Shot Velvet Embroidered Tarot Bag

4 of Wands

Friday 13th and a 4 of Wands day... nice!

I like this card, love the egg shaped house in the tree's, like a giant House Martin's nest, all ready for the two lovers to snuggle into. House Martins are one of the birds I really miss from England, they always come back to the same nest each year unless it is disturbed, so when painting the outside I was uber careful not to disturb it.

Deviant Moon - 4 of Wands

So this is about stability, strong foundations and domestic life according to the LWB.... it can be seen as a marriage card too... don't think so in my case ;-/ This is the base of a project or stage of life, I am not sure what it could relate to in my life right now in this way, but there are other things I see here. It is about being able to enjoy something you have achieved through your hard work and maybe that's what it is telling me. I cannot enjoy my home right now, there seems so much to do, and it gets me down.

The two people are looking at each other with love and gratitude, the atmosphere is joyful and ahead of them is the house at the end of the path.... looking towards or back on what they have created and now they are thankful, for that and for each other. They haven't lost site of their goal, which is something we all do if we are not careful. This couple have enjoyed the journey too, something else that can be lost along the way when we are rushing to get things done.

A friend said three very simple words to me the other day.... which does fill me with a sense of the unbounded joy and celebration of the 4 of Wands...

Life is *HUGE*

It is indeed.... sometimes we forget how huge it can be, and how full.

So gratitude, and joy for what I have achieved so far, and celebration with those I have achieved it with :)

The Lovers

The Lovers is a very appropriate card for me at this time... a card of choice, the diverging paths on the highway of life.... decisions to make and free will to make them. A lot can depend on the choice though.... and it will not be easy to please everyone.

Deviant Moon - The Lovers

It is also about falling for something, or somewhere, or someone in a BIG way... which makes choice almost impossible as you could feel you have none, if the passion is so great. This is how I felt when I decided to move to New Zealand, I see that now. Especially the crazy and foolish aspect of such a leap of faith... very much The Lovers card.

Now I am unsure which way to go, but I do feel at a crossroads, like it's time for change..... or maybe it's time to fall in love... always have to be careful of that wee serpent though....

Looking in my old Eileen Connolly book her prayer for the lovers is very much what I have been asking the universe recently. For guidance.... this card tells us to listen to our inner voice. Amazingly this also ties in with todays horoscope from my guru Jonothan Cainer, whom I have read for many years, from way way back in the UK when he started doing the forecast in the Daily Mail. Jonothan tells us Cancerians to ignore the loud shouting and proclamations, as you will learn far more from the quiet whispers, especially within a relationship. This too is appropriate for me....

8 of Pentacles

I drew today's card rather late in the day as things turned a bit off this morning before I got that far. Also a friend turned up and I did a reading for her. Interestingly, in spite of very thorough shuffling by both of us we both drew the 8 of Pentacles!

Deviant Moon - 8 of Pentacles

So this is a card of training, attention to detail, learning new skills or improving those you have, maybe going back as a beginner. It is about working for you and your own satisfaction, even if no one but me ever see's the work.

In my friends case I applied this to a new relationship, she is learning new skills and has gone back to the beginning again. For me I am beginning my tarot study again after a long hiatus, and also my art and craft for my online business. Because I am making things to sell I am naturally more diligent about the finer details than I would be if I were just making for my own use.

Looking at this card in direct relationship to today, it could apply to the things mentioned above, but it could also apply to me going back to the beginning of a friendship... all these things are kind of happening at the moment.

4 of Swords

I drew today's card at 2.00am, and then I didn't look at it but put it under my pillow to see if it gave me any insight in my dreams... I did remember my dreams on a brief waking in the pre dawn hours, but forgot them later... they may come back...

Deviant Moon - 4 of Swords

4 of Swords... I love this card, it is one of my favourites in the deck, I love the colours and the character and the roses, and the wild hair... and she reminds me of me! She is resting after a hard fought battle I think... and this card is about resting and retreating fro the world for a while. Maybe into that dream land of the red roses of forgotten fairy tales.

I love how she looks so carefree, so not guilty for taking time out, almost abandoned... that is what I need to be like now. Maybe she has cast off three swords of guilt and there is just the one left, and while it is pointing up at her.... it is less of a threat below her, while she is in higher realms, maybe unaware of its presence. I can imagine it falling down forgotten from its precarious resting place.

Out of interest I just read a meaning for this card by Thirteen on AT and she tells a story of knights who had their casket or coffin made before they left for war, in case they didn't return alive, and they would lie in them on their safe return and reflect how they were lucky to be alive. I like this legend.

2 of Swords

I pulled the 2 of Swords today.... Two guys in one, duality, two heads, two minds one body... (know the feeling well...) two feet facing opposite directions, black and white... although my situation doesn't appear to be so black and white....maybe it really is.... Deviant Moon- 2 of Swords One of my least favourite cards in this deck, although I love the deck I do not love these bulging guys at all..... don't like their legs or their faces... sometimes if I get a daily card (as I display them for the whole day), that I don't like the image of, I sneak it back and take another... but that's cheating! So... stalemate, a stand off, a time of rest before action to regather strength and resources... I definitely feel in need of this right now. Although I do need to make decisions at some point for now I want to sit back, withdraw..... When I don't know what to do I tend to do nothing, which is generally good advice. I don't see this card as a doing nothing card though, too much effort is required to hold my ground, albeit emotional strength. I can see how I need to get on some kind of definite path in order to move out of this dark low that I am in, but as much as half of me craves the light and the world, the other half wants just as much to stay hidden safely in her cave. The Sword is a writing implement to me too, and I have actually begun to rebuild my lost blog recently, to help me get back to my tarot study.. I miss my blog, it made me do stuff.

5 of Wands

Todays card is the 5 of Wands from the Deviant Moon Deck.

Another Wand..... this is interesting, everytime I have attempted to write Wands the past two days it has come out as Swords... I just had to correct it several times... hmmm I shall ponder on that. Maybe I am noticing it today because to me Swords mean conflict and battle, and todays card is about those very things.....

4 characters are fighting with big branches (wands) .... one guy stands back looking a bit thoughtful... maybe he is thinking, hang on... is this really the way to sort this thing out?

Deviant Moon - 5 of Wands

The wand I choose to notice is the one standing firm and blooming with a gorgeous flower.
There is a full moon which could mean that the troubles and conflict are illusory and more in my head than real. This would fit.

Following on from yesterdays 9 I think I am battling with my head and my heart and conflicting emotions about two options in life that both have strong weight for me, and because this is no small decision I am naturally terrified. And yes a lot of second guessing and self doubt and sense of failure is happening within me.

More conflict is happening as my children's father is visiting.... that is always difficult tho I always hope it will be different and he will help bear the load, we are his second family now...... so it never happens....

Will see how the day goes and focus on the blooming tulip of hope....

9 of Wands

I lost my old Tarot blog and so am starting again...

I have joined Deck of the Week over at Aeclectic Tarot, the deck I have chosen to study first is my beloved Deviant Moon Tarot..... beginning with a daily post.

The card I drew today is the 9 of Wands:

Deviant Moon - 9 of Wands

 
This poor masked creature sitting with his head down in the dark underground maize, looks lost, forlorn, and this is exactly how I feel right now.... there is a stairway to his right with wands for rails, but it seems although the steps are there, the way is a bit dark and it's just all too much for him to even contemplate. The 9th wand however is on his left and this wand is ablaze with light, always a symbol of hope, the one candle in the darkness.

I had a small spark of hope today.. maybe enough to light at least the first step up and out of the maize, and fire me up for the last leg of the journey.

Incredibly apt.. . this deck really works for me.... spookily so!