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Potter posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 4 months agoI did a three card spread on my love life (man, i dislike that phrase!). I’m very single and feel very much without prospects, so I thought it would be nice to do some thinking on via the cards. I used a spread from Barbara Moore’s Tarot Spreads book.
1. Your love life: The Chariot
New beginnings, going off into the unknown, taking risk.…[Read more] -
Potter posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 4 months agoQuestion for folks: how do you like to shuffle and draw cards?
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This is something I feel like I’m still finding my groove on and I’m always really curious to know what others do. I really don’t like to bend my cards or damage the sides so I’ve been doing this lately:
http://youtu.be/VEqFfJ_wtUgI don’t have a set number of times that I shuffle, I just do it until it feels right. Then with my left hand I…[Read more]
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I used this method today and I really liked it. awesome!
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I use this method and it does work. I think it depends on each reader. Whichever works and feels right. :)
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I shuffle like a croupier (but without any panache…)
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Emma-Jean joined the group
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Mary L posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoYo, for folks who were interested in blog sharing: I had to switch mine to WordPress (Weebly kind of sucks for blogging, just as a PSA).
New url: http://looseleaftarot.wordpress.com/
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Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago2 of Wands Reading
with the Dreaming Way Tarot
1. Knight of Cups. I desire clarity, to know where I’m going. I don’t want my decisions to be led by emotion alone. Conversely, I think my emotions are confusing my action.
2. 3 Wands. What is holding me back is a reluctance to get involved with people (the person in question). I keep…[Read more]-
I like your spread a lot, I’ll have to give it a go.
There could be a more positive/tweaked reading for your number 8 card, the four of cups. This card can often refer to not seeing an opportunity, missing something because we’re too critically focused on certain aspects of our situation. We’re all, “what’s up with these three cups here? they…[Read more]
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Yes, Mary that makes a lot of sense! Thanks!
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Oh, yeah, and how awesome is it that in a 2 of wands spread the 3 of wands shows up right at the top?!!!
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Oh my god, I love this deck! I thought I should stop buying decks for now but maybe…..I should make an exception for this one.
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This is such a beautiful deck! It’s really well thought out too and definitely has a personality all its own. I’ll be posting much more of this deck in the future.
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glad to hear, it’s so pretty!
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Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoPreviously I mentioned that Rachel Pollack has a spread for each card in ‘The New Tarot Handbook’. She actually doesn’t include spreads for the Minor Arcana. So, I made one up based on her spreads for the Major Arcana.
The last reading I posted, Dr. Apollo’s All Purpose Spread said that I need to learn more about choice and balance in the 2…[Read more]
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Nice. I have too much free time today, so this is perfect! :)
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I did it! (Hopefully)

1. Justice/Plantain: Adjustment, correct allotment of time; related to metabolism, infections
2. Five of Pentacles/Mugwort: MIsfortune, falling back on innate capabilities; related to digestive, antispasmodic
3. Ten of Pentacles/Wild Yam: Moving into abundance; related to antispasmodic, diaphoretic
4. Six of S…[Read more]-
Beautiful deck!
It’s interesting that #2. what’s holding you back, #3. what you need to let go of and #8. advice on moving forward are all pentacles dealing with security. Could the 8 of pentacles advice be that you should appreciate what you have and enjoy it? Or maybe to just sit tight. If that’s the case then the seven of swords suggestion…[Read more]-
All of that was really great! Especially about the King of Pentacles and the Seven of Swords. It makes a lot more sense when you explain it!
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Awesome! That means I must be learning something.
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You definitely seem to be learning a lot.
Looking back on this reading a lot of your instincts were spot on. Like, really, really on the mark. I had been waiting for some test results on a thyroid lump, to see if it had been growing, and if that was the case, to probably get a biopsy. The King of Pentacles idea to wait turned out so right.
The…[Read more]
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Wow, Alison that’s really rough! You must have been releived to get the results!
That is really cool to go back and see that one’s instincts about something were correct. I have difficulty being objective in readings for myself. I think it’s easier to see things in other people’s readings.
What I see in this now is that the seven of wands…[Read more]
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I was ok :) I’ve had my fair share of weird health issues, so I’m pretty good at ignoring them. I was also pretty confident based on not getting bad vibes from this reading.
Yeah, I’m not sure what kind of action I might have had in mind for card 7. I don’t think I even asked a real question when I drew these. Just something like, “So… what a…[Read more]
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Hmmm… good question. I think both pentacles and wands can relate to the body but I think wands have more to do with action (particularly the beginning of action) than pentacles do. I think wands can be more forceful, adventurous, or instigating in their action as well. It does seem appropriate that a wand card came up in a position that I…[Read more]
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Also, wands tend to be more optimistic than pentacles. Here’s some correspondences that have come in handy for me:
Optimistic/Positive/Easy: Wands, Cups
More Difficult: Swords, PentaclesInternal-Emotion & Thought: Cups, Swords
External- Action & Work: Wands, PentaclesYou could draw these into a graph so you can simultaneously see that wands…[Read more]
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Yes, I really liked that the plant on this card was easy to connect to the idea of the card. And I love your idea of a graph. I’m definitely going to try sketch it out!
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Alison, I was drooling over decks and found this on one. I thought of you.
The Healing Tarot-
I tried to look at more pictures of it on their website, but it didn’t load. It looks really interesting though.
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Yeah, there website doesn’t work but I actually also found this on another website too. They have a Facebook page. If you’re interested, here’s some reviews. On that page there’s a link to see the cards.
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When I came up with this spread I was basically trying to learn about the elements present in the two of wands. I feel like I have a much clearer understanding of this card now. This card is about choices and trying to find balance between the security of what one has and the adventure that can come with action and venturing forth. I see the…[Read more]
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That is really cool. And an idea I’ll definitely keep in mind the next time I use this spread! Also, I love that you did an entire spread for one card.
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Ryn joined the group
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Kacey joined the group
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Potter posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoPotential job spread. I’m struggling with the job search hardcore, so I thought this would be something interesting to do to keep working with the deck. Maybe I should a more basic spread, lol.

1. Me: six of pentacles
Charity; giving and receiving in a hierachical way; balance. I could be either, or may I’m both the giver and receiver. I feel…[Read more]-
Congrats on your graduation! Looking for a job is rough! It gets really frustrating when you have options and don’t know which way to go. I’m kind of there with you on that one.
I’m enjoying reading others’ interpretations of their readings. Just to add a bit to what you wrote about the king of cups: The element for kings is fire, and the…[Read more]-
Elisabeth, I really like that addition. Thank you!
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I had a thought about the combo of the first three cards, although I’m sure I’m projecting some of my own experience working in the nonprofit sector… but to me those cards seem to be about needing to balance rewarding work with work that will give you some financial security. Going into a field like social work means you sometimes have to make…[Read more]
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That’s a great thought, Mary L. And I think you’re spot on about the balance of work/life, care of myself/care for others. That’s a big thing we struggle with in the non-profit and social work fields, and something that’s definitely been on my mind. I did AmeriCorps for two years, which was a biiiiig lesson in overcommitment to an agency, so yes,…[Read more]
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Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoDr. Apollo’s All Purpose Spread (Love the name)
Dreaming Way TarotThis is one of Rachel Pollack’s spreads from The New Tarot Handbook.

1. Know. This is something the querent knows but needs to look closer at. Kings of Wands.
2. Unknown. Something the querent doesn’t know but need to learn. 2 of Wands.
3. Danger. Something the…[Read more]
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The more I see this deck, the more I like it!
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Yeah, the artwork is amazing! I’d never seen this one before so I’m looking forward to seeing more pics of it here.
Also, Dr. Apollo’s All Purpose Spread totally sounds like something you’d buy in the pharmacy section of a co-op, or from a sort of sketchy-looking tent at the farmer’s market.
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Right? Like a slightly discolored, lumpy, herbal-smelling cream of some sort!
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What about that Hierophant?
I keep thinking about this card and can’t decide if I think he is asleep, ignoring the wisdom that is available and within reach (the keys), or if he is guarding them…or what? This seems a very unusual Hierophant image. He is usually depicted as active or awake at least. He seems very old, so perhaps that means…[Read more]
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This Hierophant card is a really interesting one. I didn’t even notice that his eyes were closed! Based on the traditional meaning, I actually took it to mean that you should be careful of traditional approaches or of highly regulated/conforming approaches that this authority figure may rely on. That might show more about my view on life than…[Read more]
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I thought the same thing!
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Erin posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoThis is my intro spread for the Steampunk deck. I liked what I saw below with the other decks, so thought I’d give it try. The results were interesting! (Sorry, I think the photo uploaded sideways… lol)
1. Tell me about yourself. – Strength – Strong, clever, courageous, compassionate
2. What Are Your Strengths? – Four of Swords – Respite from…[Read more]-

Let’s see if it works this time.-
I love that three of cups! To me that’s totally a queer card. :)
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That’s really awesome that you found a deck that you click so well with! I liked your interpretation that it’s telling you not to overthink meanings. Particularly because I’m a 9 of Swords kind of person, up all night with my overheated brain. :)
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Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoI just finished Rachel Pollack’s The New Tarot Handbook. I used to have 78 degrees of wisdom but I lost it. I thought the Handbook was really nice because it’s short. Pollack calls it a distillation of all of her knowledge. So, you get the meanings but for the most part she left out a lot of lengthy background stuff that was in 78 degrees.…[Read more]
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Oh! And there’s some excellent spreads in the Handbook, including two and three card readings. Also, she gives spreads for each card and questions that have to do with that card. I loved this idea and will prob. post some readings.
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Sounds really good! I’m waiting for The Heart of the Tarot to come in the mail, per recommendation from Beth. I’d love to hear more about the spreads in this book, and am definitely interesting in more postings based on it!
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Also, I just looked up Rachel Pollack on Amazon. I did not realize that she’s drawn some of her own decks. Have you ever used any?
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No, I haven’t. Curious though because of her background and I thought maybe she would have more of a feminist, woman friendly take.
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Yeah I was reading a little about it. Apparently the original version was more feminist and she purposely remade it to be less so, which strikes me as odd both because she seems to be a really important and well-respected female figure in the tarot community, as well as because she’s a trans woman and the internet says she’s done a lot of trans…[Read more]
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I didn’t know any of that other than that she is a well respected person in the world of Tarot, and I’m really surprised about the toning down of the feminism.
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I just got The New Tarot Handbook too – a lot of it is similar to 78 Degrees of Wisdom but it’s a lot lighter (somehow without losing depth) – I think I would start recommending this for beginners rather that 78 Degrees…I totally see what she means about it being a ‘distillation’! It’s concise and thought-provoking without being intimidating.
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I got 78 Degrees of Wisdom – I’m enjoying the depth, though the extended exploration into ALL. THE. SYMBOLS on the RWS cards is a little much for me at the moment. I’m sure I’ll appreciate it more as I go on though! I think I’ll take a look at the handbook too.
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I completely agree with you about the Handbook. I read most of it in one day, skipped a lot of the Minor Arcana because she says she learned by doing readings, reading intuitively and then looking up meanings in a book vs memorizing everything first. I like that approach. This book helped me a lot with general associations of numbers, elements,…[Read more]
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Mary L posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoSo, a long time ago I had the idea of starting a tarot blog, as a place to polish/organize journal entries that would be easier to sort through than my regular notebook (yay for the magic of category search). Tarot School has officially inspired me to do it, and to make it public instead of just for me… does anybody else have an online journal,…[Read more]
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I’m contemplating it. I’ve already started posting pictures of some spreads privately just so I have a place to quickly access them and to write down ideas that are better than my scrawled out notes in the notebook. I write faster on the keyboard, so it feels easier to develop a narrative/story that way (or by thinking/talking).
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I started a kind-of tarot blog about a week ago. It’s really disorganized right now, and so far is just short (one or two card) readings. I’ve been using it to help me remember the card meanings and use the booklet less, so I don’t know how interesting it is, but I hope to expand it in the future. I’d definitely be interested in sharing if you (or…[Read more]
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Yay! I really think starting a journal or blog is one of the best ways to learn tarot, partly because it really motivates you (particularly a blog, if people start commenting or you just enjoy seeing it build up!) and also because it helps you to index those amazing ‘aha!’ moments you can have when you break through with a particular card.
If…[Read more]
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I love the idea of an online journal and Beth, your blog is really fantastic! I’ve really been enjoying reading about your own take on particular cards.
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Well here is my link: http://looseleaftarot.weebly.com/
If anybody wants to share theirs I’m definitely interested (feel free to PM or post here or whatever)!
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Mary, thanks for sharing! I just read your first blog post and got a wee bit teary there at the end. Great beginning to your blog!
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I really enjoyed your posts, Mary L! And your discussion of the use of the stories and narratives within tarot and our lives was fantastic.
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Waaaa! Mary that’s awesome! I LOVE THIS:
“What’s so compelling about the magic in a tarot deck is that it’s the same magic that’s inside our heads. The human brain is designed to create stories, to invent narratives that hold our lives together.”
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Yeah! That was really awesome!
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Thanks for checking it out! I’m a little nervous about putting the blog out in the world so it’s nice to get feedback.
Also, if anybody’s on the fence about blogging, whether private or public, I’d recommend giving it a shot… having the more “official” platform is already helping me develop my thoughts more than I might normally in my notebook.
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I’ve always wanted to have a blog but didn’t know what to write about. Except photography, that’s my thing, but there are so many of those out there already.
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That doesn’t mean that you can’t make one! You may have some very unique things to photograph or even new perspectives to show them from!
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Thanks Alison! Perhaps this will get me going on that.
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epsilonGreaterThanZero posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoI feel very ambivalent about “Significators” in tarot, and in using certain cards to describe a specific person.
I’m ambivalent because the purpose of the cards is that each one represents an archetype (this is my assumption), a base image that speaks to the unconscious (mother, father, etc.). This is supposed to be liberating because you can…[Read more]
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Whoa! I’m so with you on this highly gendered/sexed/ethnicized part of traditional meaning! When I read meanings in books that say things like passivity for the Empress I want to burn it…seriously. I feel that ultimately the perfect deck would be free of any of these things. I look at gendered cards not as representing a man or woman but try…[Read more]
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Yeah, Significators feel kinda gross to me as well, unless you know a person really well and can thoroughly explain to them the nuances of the card, which seems like… a waste of time? And for yourself, wouldn’t it be hard to be objective about your own Significator?
Then again, the book I originally used to learn didn’t mention Significators,…[Read more]
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I’m not really sure I understand what a significator is exactly… But my take on the idea of using a card to represent an actual person is that it’s not about the gender so much as the role they play in your life. Sometimes that role is complicated and could be represented by more than one card, but perhaps it’s that specific role that is of…[Read more]
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Yeah, I agree that approach is a good way to handle cards that you’re connecting to a specific person. Usually I see the term Significator used to mean a card that you purposely take out of the deck before a reading, in order to have it represent the person you’re reading for/about. So it feels different to me than when a card comes up naturally…[Read more]
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If I do use a Significator card I draw it vs actively picking one out. I think they’re supposed to be Major Arcana cards but I think it still works.
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Potter posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoSo my new Anna K deck came in today. I thought about starting with the Rider-Waite deck since I’m a beginner, but I really much preferred this one in terms imagery, facial expressions, etc. I also picked up Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom as a starting guide, so it’ll be interesting to compare ideas across the Rider-Waite images in there to the…[Read more]
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It’s interesting that there is such a different take on the 4 pentacles with the Anna K deck and the Golden Tarot that epsilongreaterthanzero posted. The Golden Tarot seems to have much more positive take than the Anna K. What comes to mind is that in relation to the 7 cups and it’s illusion/delusion/fantasy, sometimes things that seem bad, like…[Read more]
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I’m also wondering if the 7 of Cups is saying that this deck will help strip me of my illusions about myself, or if it’s speaking to illusions in general.
I like what you said about it going either way. I agree! The Four of Pentacles seems to be in that same type of space.
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I think the 7 cups can mean that it will help you to see the truth past illusion or fantasies about situations. But I think it also may mean that it will help you when you’ve just got too many options or to organize things that are in a state of disorganization. I do feel like there is link between the meaning of the 7 cups and the 4 pentacles though.
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I agree! I’ve been feeling a need for more structure and security lately, be in internal or external, and I think the 4 of Pentacles is speaking to that.
I actually like how all the cards really seem to flow into each other – there’s a lot of focus on developing clarity and truth, along with recognizing what I need (the reason I sought out this…[Read more]
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SJ joined the group
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Potter joined the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago -
Alison posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoHas anyone ever used the Deviant Moon Tarot? I’ve been looking at it online. Just curious.
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I really liked your interpretation of this reading. What you wrote about the Kight of cups, “if we do nothing with our dreams…”was really interesting. Overall, this seems to be a very positive reading, no stuck energy.
I love that you included your journal, I love journals!!!
Yeah, I think it can take time to become fluid. I think a lot…[Read more]
I got that line from Rachel Pollack’s 78 Degrees of Wisdom. It felt very appropriate and cemented the feeling of the Knight of Cups for me.
When I journal, I do it in three steps: 1) write down the feelings/thoughts i get from each card; 2) write down the meanings from Anna K’s book for the deck; and 3) write down notes from 78 Degrees of…[Read more]
Yes! Lets have a journal thread! I guess that’s what some people kind of do with blogs and I think I’ll start one of those but keep it private for now.
You’re so organized and such a good student. It’s funny I didn’t realize until recently that I’m the messy artist type because I have a streak of perfectionism too that always led me to…[Read more]
Lol, it’s funny you say that – I’ve never felt like an organized student. But I can see it, especially since I totally picked up the multiple highlighter colors things during grad school. My perfectionism definitely stops me from seeing things sometimes!
Also, messy artist types are great! As are detailed architect types! (I totally snagged that…[Read more]
I’m going to start a fresh Tarot only journal–just ordered some new Moleskine Cahier journals. I know there is much debate over them but I thought I’d try them out for myself. I like that they come with plain paper because I like to have the freedom to sketch, write and paste in photos or whatever.
woah, i just got The Chariot in a three-card love spread too! makes sense i s’pose since it’s about new beginnings. i also just saw that it’s a warning to make better choices. point taken, universe!