I actually got brave enough to go back to studying the cards today. I'd been avoiding it, worried about the connection, mostly, but also worried about doing it in a new room.
The new room was, to say the least, difficult. It's colder than I'd like, even with the fire going, and not having a desk upon which to write and draw is a pain. I didn't like leaning down to the coffee table because it meant putting my notebook on my velvet spread cloth and chancing crushing it. Holding the notebook in my lap while I tried to hold the other book open didn't work too well either, though. I'll have to see if I can get used to it.
On the much brighter side, I still have a DEFINITE connection to the cards. I got a very clear feeling from them that it was good and right that I start working with them again, and interpreting the card (the Five of Cups) came fairly easily. Also, seeing examples in my own life and in the lives of those close to me seemed easier than it was when I last tried. That could all be a connection to this particular card, but I don't think so.
I'm actually wondering if the long break didn't do good. Now that I've gotten over my worries, I feel a renewed sense of desire to study the cards. It's certainly something to consider if I ever feel stuck or mired down in that study.
Showing posts with label Gilded Tarot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gilded Tarot. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Making Progress
I've finished the Minor Arcana of Wands, and moved on to the same of Cups. I must admit I'm enjoying Cups even more than I did Wands. I've always been better at emotions than business, lol!
I also discovered, on the Ten of Wands, that I'm starting to SEE more, and adding my own interpretations to the ones in the book. That's definitely helping me gain confidence, even before I start reading.
It's very gratifying to see noticeable progress right before my eyes, and the journaling definitely helps me see it. Much as I love journals and journaling, I find it hard to believe that in all my attempts to learn the tarot, I've never kept a journal, even though everything I've ever read says you should.
I definitely will from now forward!
I also discovered, on the Ten of Wands, that I'm starting to SEE more, and adding my own interpretations to the ones in the book. That's definitely helping me gain confidence, even before I start reading.
It's very gratifying to see noticeable progress right before my eyes, and the journaling definitely helps me see it. Much as I love journals and journaling, I find it hard to believe that in all my attempts to learn the tarot, I've never kept a journal, even though everything I've ever read says you should.
I definitely will from now forward!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Two of Wands
The Two of Wands shows a man holding a hiking staff, standing at a fork in the road. The path(s) are golden, the vegetation very green, and the sky and distant mountains reds, yellows and oranges. Birds and a high mountain are in the direction of one fork, a lower mountain on the other. Two ornate wands, each appearing to be 10-12 feet high, are planted haphazardly in the ground between the two paths, and a stag stands near each.
This card is obviously about a choice or choices. Based on my personal experience hiking, one choice (the higher mountain) leads to a higher view and greater reward, but is likely to be much more difficult than the other, which is still good, but perhaps not as spectacular. Also based on personal experience, you should be very sure about your commitment to a venture before choosing the harder path. Consider carefully which would be better suited at this point in your life.
Also, according to the book, items that number two generally indicate the involvement of others. Obviously I will need to learn much more about each set of cards (aces, two's, etc) after I finish my overall view. Not to mention numerology, esoteric symbols, and a whole slew of other things. :)
This card is obviously about a choice or choices. Based on my personal experience hiking, one choice (the higher mountain) leads to a higher view and greater reward, but is likely to be much more difficult than the other, which is still good, but perhaps not as spectacular. Also based on personal experience, you should be very sure about your commitment to a venture before choosing the harder path. Consider carefully which would be better suited at this point in your life.
Also, according to the book, items that number two generally indicate the involvement of others. Obviously I will need to learn much more about each set of cards (aces, two's, etc) after I finish my overall view. Not to mention numerology, esoteric symbols, and a whole slew of other things. :)
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Ace of Wands
I have finally started the next part of my journey, which happens to be Step 2 (part 6) in the Easy Tarot Handbook (ETH). That is, Meeting the Tarot, starting with the Minor Arcana in general, and the suit of Wands in particular.
My first step was learning a few basic facts about Wands in this deck. They represent Fire here, and most often are about business and work. And as is appropriate to Fire, the cards in this suit are all red-tinged.
The Ace of Wands is no exception. Black and yellow compliment an overall red theme. The single wand emits fire, the planet might be Mars, and the storm clouds are glowing fiery red, presumably reflecting what I choose to believe is the sunset. The book definition you'll have to read for yourselves, Dear Readers, but I will give you my own personal interpretations.
The storm clouds make this, to me, a very good card. I love storms, especially the violent thunder-and-lightening variety. And it is obviously a card about beginnings--that special energy-charged quality of the air right before such a storm starts. And whether the lightening pictured is heat lightening or storm lightening or even simply energy dispersal, it very much relates to Fire and, well, energy. :) The appearance of twilight (also a good time for me, as I'm very much a night person) is also a sign of good things coming, and the view of stars symbolizes great potential and the ability to go far.
My first step was learning a few basic facts about Wands in this deck. They represent Fire here, and most often are about business and work. And as is appropriate to Fire, the cards in this suit are all red-tinged.
The Ace of Wands is no exception. Black and yellow compliment an overall red theme. The single wand emits fire, the planet might be Mars, and the storm clouds are glowing fiery red, presumably reflecting what I choose to believe is the sunset. The book definition you'll have to read for yourselves, Dear Readers, but I will give you my own personal interpretations.
The storm clouds make this, to me, a very good card. I love storms, especially the violent thunder-and-lightening variety. And it is obviously a card about beginnings--that special energy-charged quality of the air right before such a storm starts. And whether the lightening pictured is heat lightening or storm lightening or even simply energy dispersal, it very much relates to Fire and, well, energy. :) The appearance of twilight (also a good time for me, as I'm very much a night person) is also a sign of good things coming, and the view of stars symbolizes great potential and the ability to go far.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The End of the Beginning
After more than a month off, I'm back. I now know that I can't always control whether I post or not, but I will try all the harder to stay on track.
On to the tarot part. :)
I have now finished Chapter 5, "Just Before We Begin . . .". I call it the end of the beginning because the next step is actually getting to know the cards. I have been looking forward to this part and alternately scared of it since I began the book. Why scared? I suppose I feel that HERE is where I learn whether this is possible for me. Where I learn whether I can do it or not.
As to getting to know them, Ms. Ellershaw believes that too many rely too much on the major arcana, so she begins with the minor arcana, follows with the court cards, and only then moves on to the major arcana. And I'm perfectly willing to do that, maybe because it seems like smaller "bites."
Chapter 5 was about the process for getting to know the individual cards, as well as some logistics about spreads and reversed cards. (She doesn't feel different interpretations for reversed cards are necessary, btw. I don't agree with that, but I'll stick to it while following her lessons.) It was a relatively short chapter, which was a good way to get back into the book and the instruction.
On to the cards themselves.
On to the tarot part. :)
I have now finished Chapter 5, "Just Before We Begin . . .". I call it the end of the beginning because the next step is actually getting to know the cards. I have been looking forward to this part and alternately scared of it since I began the book. Why scared? I suppose I feel that HERE is where I learn whether this is possible for me. Where I learn whether I can do it or not.
As to getting to know them, Ms. Ellershaw believes that too many rely too much on the major arcana, so she begins with the minor arcana, follows with the court cards, and only then moves on to the major arcana. And I'm perfectly willing to do that, maybe because it seems like smaller "bites."
Chapter 5 was about the process for getting to know the individual cards, as well as some logistics about spreads and reversed cards. (She doesn't feel different interpretations for reversed cards are necessary, btw. I don't agree with that, but I'll stick to it while following her lessons.) It was a relatively short chapter, which was a good way to get back into the book and the instruction.
On to the cards themselves.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Ready to Move Forward
In the past week, I've finished all the preparations I talked about in the last post. I feel energy practically pouring from my cards now!
I acquired a lovely pink ametrine stone, the properties of which include boosting psychic abilities and dispersing negativity. I cleansed it, and then I ended up charging it on Beltane night, which I was thrilled about. I had thought I would charge it on the new moon, but now I think I will make this a yearly charging on that very special night. The stone now nestles beside the cards in the satin bag I got to keep them safe.
With brief meditation, a simple phrase which puts me in the proper mindset for reading came to me. When I either say it or think it, I feel the familiar tingle which tells me I am doing something right, and the cards seem to leap with energy, as if they were an extension of myself.
This isn't too surprising, I suppose. Over the past few days I have kept the cards close to me whenever possible, and on two separate nights I slept with them under my pillow. (On each of those occasions I felt noticeable more in tune with them the next morning.) I will continue shuffling them frequently to bind them to me even more fully.
For now, it's on to Step 4, Keys to Learning.
I acquired a lovely pink ametrine stone, the properties of which include boosting psychic abilities and dispersing negativity. I cleansed it, and then I ended up charging it on Beltane night, which I was thrilled about. I had thought I would charge it on the new moon, but now I think I will make this a yearly charging on that very special night. The stone now nestles beside the cards in the satin bag I got to keep them safe.
With brief meditation, a simple phrase which puts me in the proper mindset for reading came to me. When I either say it or think it, I feel the familiar tingle which tells me I am doing something right, and the cards seem to leap with energy, as if they were an extension of myself.
This isn't too surprising, I suppose. Over the past few days I have kept the cards close to me whenever possible, and on two separate nights I slept with them under my pillow. (On each of those occasions I felt noticeable more in tune with them the next morning.) I will continue shuffling them frequently to bind them to me even more fully.
For now, it's on to Step 4, Keys to Learning.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Preparations
The next step is titled "Making Preparations." It involves, not surprisingly, a few steps to prepare for actual readings.
One of those steps is acquiring and charging a protective crystal to keep with your cards, so I will venture out this afternoon to shop for a suitable one. I'll probably go to The White Flame Company, a new-age type shop within a few minutes of my house. They have a fabulous crystal and stone collection, and I'm sure I'll find one that feels right there.
Other steps include the care of your deck, a phrase for getting you in the right mindset for reading, and ideas for preparing the cards themselves. The idea that made the most sense to me is to sleep with your cards for a night or two, in order to align the cards' energies with your own. I plan to do it tonight.
Sweet dreams, all!
One of those steps is acquiring and charging a protective crystal to keep with your cards, so I will venture out this afternoon to shop for a suitable one. I'll probably go to The White Flame Company, a new-age type shop within a few minutes of my house. They have a fabulous crystal and stone collection, and I'm sure I'll find one that feels right there.
Other steps include the care of your deck, a phrase for getting you in the right mindset for reading, and ideas for preparing the cards themselves. The idea that made the most sense to me is to sleep with your cards for a night or two, in order to align the cards' energies with your own. I plan to do it tonight.
Sweet dreams, all!
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Basics
I've started on Part One of my book, Good Foundations. In this section are the first 6 steps in the method. So far, I've read the first two, which are simply a background on the cards themselves and a kind of FAQ about them.
In doing so, I've run into a problem I've often encountered before. Most tarot decks, and tarot readers, for that matter, associate the suite of Wands with Fire and that of Swords with Air, and this one is no exception. But this has always seemed backwards to me. Wands are light and wispy, they move through the air and make a light swishing noise if you swing them hard--all things associated with Air. Swords, on the other hand, are heavy and sharp and pointy. They cut and stab and destroy, all things associated with Fire.
Now, I understand that there ARE decks with the Sword/Fire Wands/Air correspondences, and I will probably favor those decks once I actually know more about the whole process. In the meantime, the best advice I've seen is to interpret the suites as you, personally, see the elements. I'm worried it might make this particular method confusing, but I just can't force myself to see it the other way around. I suppose time will tell if this works for me, or if I end up changing my mind.
Which correspondence do you favor?
In doing so, I've run into a problem I've often encountered before. Most tarot decks, and tarot readers, for that matter, associate the suite of Wands with Fire and that of Swords with Air, and this one is no exception. But this has always seemed backwards to me. Wands are light and wispy, they move through the air and make a light swishing noise if you swing them hard--all things associated with Air. Swords, on the other hand, are heavy and sharp and pointy. They cut and stab and destroy, all things associated with Fire.
Now, I understand that there ARE decks with the Sword/Fire Wands/Air correspondences, and I will probably favor those decks once I actually know more about the whole process. In the meantime, the best advice I've seen is to interpret the suites as you, personally, see the elements. I'm worried it might make this particular method confusing, but I just can't force myself to see it the other way around. I suppose time will tell if this works for me, or if I end up changing my mind.
Which correspondence do you favor?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
A Controversial Start
I received the kit containing both as a birthday present from my DH, and in glancing through it I liked its slightly different approach to learning. Most reviews I've read say the tone of the book is too dictatorial. I usually dislike anything claiming to be "the one true way," but I've tried other methods and they haven't worked for me, so I'm willing to give it a try. The cards themselves are absolutely gorgeous, and appeal to my love of shiny things. :)
I can't wait to get started!
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