Moving on to Pastures new...

 

Time flies by, and since my last post on this blog so much has happened....

And because so much has happened, there has been an awful lot of growth.

A while ago, I started a new blog that takes over from this one, so please hop over there and subscribe:

Cosmic Spirit Wellness 

If you haven't been to my main website for a while, there is plenty of new tarot and astrology content for you to discover.

Check out 

1. 10 Tarot Affirmations to overcome Anxiety

2. The Year of the Hierophant

3. Spice up your Tarot readings with Divination Add-ons

4. My printable Powerful Me Oracle Deck

and so much more ⭐

And did you know that I completely revamped the Tarot Moon Journal? 

It's now a perpetual "ETERNAL" journal, which means you can start using it at any time during the year, and it is reusable every year.

Learn more and grab your copy here:

Tarot Moon Journal ETERNAL 

I hope you love what you see on my new spaces and can't wait to see you there 😍

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Celebrating International Tarot Day: The Nine of Swords

(c) Aquatic Tarot

A year has passed, and we are celebrating International Tarot Day again on the 8th July.

On this day, tarot enthusiasts all over the world are celebrating the magic of tarot, and this is my contribution to Oephebia’s Tarot Challenge.

Cards for each participant were chosen at random, and the Nine of Swords was drawn for me. How lucky am I 😊

The Nine of Swords is all about worries, anxieties and fears.

In the image of the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) Tarot we see a woman, who seems to have just woken up from a nightmare.

The background is pitch black, no glimmer of light, as if all hope and optimism has been lost. It looks like a dark night of the soul.

Imagine lying in bed at night and you can’t sleep. What do you do? Thinking… over-thinking… small issues and negative-self-talk can easily become large shadows in the dark leading to self-inflicted suffering.

Irrational fears begin to cloud sound judgement. It’s time to switch on the light and make yourself a cup of cocoa. Or pick up an inspirational and uplifting book or magazine to calm down your racing mind.

The suit of Swords relates to the element air, which is associated with the mind, logic, reason, intellect but also life’s challenges.

The pattern on the blanket is a combination of a red rose and the symbols of the zodiac air signs, which suggests that anxiety is created in the mind based on emotional attachments.

Numerically, the number nine marks the completion of a cycle, fulfilment, conclusion, integration and attainment.

It indicates a turning point after having reached a peak, which is beautifully illustrated in the RWS Major Arcana key 9, The Hermit, who is standing on top of a mountain searching for a new direction.

Nine is also linked to Major Arcana key 18 (1 + 8), The Moon, which can indicate confusion and insecurities often on an emotional level.

There is a sense of aloneness in all the Tarot Nines, suggesting a need to be self-reliant and take sole responsibility for our situation.

Astrologically, the Nine of Swords is linked to Mars in Gemini. In Tarot terms this means an energetic influence of The Tower and the Knight of Swords, quite a stormy and destructive force.

This astrological association offers us more insight into the meaning of this card – the destructive force of the mind, cruel words, harsh criticism, restlessness, impatience, being on the verge of pressing the self-destruct button.

But not all is lost as there is another force influencing the Nine of Swords – The Lovers, also linked to Gemini and a more benevolent energy amidst all the mayhem.

Something good is hiding in the Nine of Swords
(Image: Cosmic Faery Tarot)

Love, as always, is the answer, especially self-love in this case. Be kind to yourself. Put your hand on your heart to soothe and talk lovingly to yourself. Be patient. Detach from drama.

Realise that you are creating your own suffering and can choose to think differently, in a more life-affirming way.

Crystals that can be used with the Nine of Swords are those that alleviate the destructive energies of this card. Here are a few suggestions:

• Sunstone, which can be placed on your sacral chakra for 30 minutes while you focus on relaxing and becoming present 

• Rose quartz, a stone that helps to nurture self-love, and Agate, which is associated with the Lovers, for clarity of mind and practicing healthy discernment 

• Garnet, linked to the Tower, can help release outdated ideas and beliefs 

• Peridot, linked to the Hermit, has a healing influence on the mind to find inner peace 

• Sapphire, linked to the Knight of Swords, can help cut down on confusion and confront issues head-on to dissolve anguish 

Herbs that help to diffuse mental chatter and clutter are chamomile and valerian. Ginseng helps to resist stress and improves cognitive ability. It is also being used to reduce anxiety.

The Nine of Swords is one of the bleakest images in the Tarot, but like all the other cards, it also offers a positive message: acknowledge and face your fears; they can be blessings.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Cosmic Spirit Tarot and Wellness

 

Living the Two of Pentacles

Rider Waite Smith Tarot © US Games

Welcome to the International Tarot Day Blog Hop!

Following on from the Ace of Pentacles, here is my contribution to celebrating the magic of Tarot on this special day:

Learning the Tarot means having to become a little obsessed with it, but in a good way!

Simply memorising card meanings doesn't cut it. You need to connect with the cards on a deeper level, which is easier than it sounds.

One method is to immerse yourself into a card by living it.

Let's do this with the Two of Pentacles.

First, look at the image: that guy looks like he's having fun despite the choppy waters in the background, and he could drop those coins any minute.

And those ships on the horizon are just screaming sea-sickness at me.

But never mind!

He is still juggling and performing this balancing act while doing a little happy dance and wearing a silly hat.

Next, it is time for you to take some action according to the Two of Pentacles.

Be the Two of Pentacles for a day!

Here's what you can do:

1. Strike the pose
Position your body just like the figure in the image (e.g. lifting left leg etc.). Hold a coin in each hand. You can even try turning a rope into the number 8 and wrap it around the coins. See if it works, and how it feels like. If you have a silly hat, wear it.

2. Juggle with some balls (or apples)
Can you do it? Maybe you want to learn it.

3. Dance
Spontaneous dancing in the kitchen while doing the cooking.

4. Ride a bike
The miracle of balancing two wheels in order to move forward.

5. Multi-task
Many people swear by it, but can you complete all activities you do at the same time to your satisfaction? Are you feeling a little bit stressed out after that?

6. Play
Play with your children outside, play a board or computer game, play up, play a different role. Swap and change.

7. Skip along while walking
Skipping is such fun. You probably haven't done it in a long while. See how it cheers you up.

8. Surround yourself with various shades of purple
Astrologically, the Two of Pentacles is linked to Jupiter (royal violet) in Capricorn (indigo). Forget fifty shades of grey; you want 50 shades of purple - clothes, flowers, eat purple fruit and veg like blueberries and aubergines, etc.

9. Crystals to work / meditate with: Amethyst and Obsidian
Go on, take one of each and juggle ;)

10. Gamble
I am not encouraging you to be reckless with your life savings, just buy a lottery ticket and remember me, if you win.

So here we are, living the Tarot in a crazy sexy kind of way. Have fun trying it for yourself.

Before you move on to the next blog, check out my fab freebies to inspire you on your tarot journey.

Thank you for reading! Please see Liza's blog at tarotliza.com for the next amazing blog in the hop.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Cosmic Spirit Tarot and Wellness

 

The Power of Positive Communication

Cosmic Faery Tarot Deck

Recently I have noticed, how quickly people fall into the trap of negative communication. It all starts with a little whine, but then it doesn't stop. This can happen among family and friends but also on social media.

Constant complaining, whinging, gossiping, expressing anger, frustration, bitterness, resentment, outpouring of problems and dramas.... The Queen of Swords on a bad day that never ends!

Are you one of these people?

I was once in a relationship, in which I became the go-to counsellor and found myself in a position of having to listen virtually non-stop to all the problems he kept having.

That relationship became so draining that I was totally relieved when it ended.

Don't fall into the trap of perpetual negativity when interacting with others.

On an unconscious level, it also drags you down emotionally while you keep talking yourself into a perpetual state of dissatisfaction.

And the longer you keep being stuck in this negative pattern, it becomes a habit that will be hard to shift.

At this stage, your vibrational energy may be so low that people begin to avoid hanging out with you.

A quick and easy way to improve your happiness is to communicate more positively thus raising your vibrations for the benefit of all.

You may have forgotten how to do this, so here are some ideas:

1. What has inspired you recently?
Talk about what has made you feel good, such as a great book, TV show, experience, a person, a trip.... anything that has made you forget about all your woes and crappiness in the world.

2. What are you grateful for today?
Yes, the usual gratitude exercise. It does work.

3. When thinking or talking about a person you dislike (e.g. a co-worker), what are their positive traits?
If you can't say anything positive, then try not say anything at all.

4. What happened recently that was funny?
Even better, if it involves you. Share a joke. Don't take yourself too seriously. Laughter is often the best medicine.

5. How can you help and encourage others to overcome their issues?
Take time to listen and show a genuine interest to be present for others when they need your support.

Shifting towards positive communication doesn't mean you have to ignore all the things that concern you, but don't let them consume you either.

Share your positive thoughts and stories today. Leave a positive comment below ;)

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: The Cosmic Faery Tarot deck is now available to order. Learn more...

Transform your life this year:

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Setting Goals For The Year Ahead When You Don't Have Any

Are you on the road to somewhere?

In recent months, there's been an overwhelming influx of new year diaries and planners online, available in all shapes, sizes, and themes. 

It seems that setting goals is essential for achieving success, and these planners are designed to help you document everything and track your progress daily, weekly, or monthly.

Even I have created the Tarot Moon Journal workbook for all Tarot enthusiasts out there, who not only want to be more mindful about their aspirations, but also want to learn some new tarot skills along the way.

But perhaps you are thinking that this is not for you. You don't have any specific goals except survive and have some good times along the way.

For many people, 2016 turned out to be difficult and even traumatic at times, and if you are one of them, then perhaps all you want to do is recover and heal and simply make the most of the cards you are going to be dealt with this year.

One of them is our global year card, the Wheel of Fortune. Brace yourself... swoosh! 😄

And then you see all these fancy, optimistic la-la people on the internet raving about how certain planners helped them build a successful business or find their soulmate.

And you just recoil feeling a little bit shitty, because your situation is a little less happy-go-lucky-la-la, to say the least.

But guess what? It's perfectly okay not to have any goals.

Yes, don't worry about it. Just let all that hype go.

Word of the Year creative journaling sheet
from Cosmic Faery's Journal workbook

Instead, you can do a bit of soul work with your tarot cards to gain some perspective and direction.

Perspective is always good, especially when you feel you're drifting and you don't quite know what you want or where you're heading.

Start off by calculating your year card (mine is Strength this year)

Then, work out your word for the year based on your year card (my word for the year 2017 is CREATE).

Your personal power word will offer you a sense of purpose, direction and guidance over the next twelve months ahead.

Tarot journaling for healing and
personal growth

Now you should have some idea of what you might want to focus on over the coming months, and you can continue to draw tarot cards for more specific ideas.

On the left you can see a page from my Tarot Moon Journal, on which I have simply recorded the cards I drew for specific areas in my life.

These cards can give you a hint on what you may wish to aim for, but if not, then just leave them there and revisit the page from time to time to see, how the messages of the cards begin to unfold.

You don't need to have any flashy goals to have a great year ahead.

If you have experienced loss, heartache, health issues or any other challenging situation, every little step towards recovery and healing will be a huge achievement.

Drawing a card and asking What can I do today to help me heal? can be an empowering way to make a positive difference without getting overwhelmed by elaborate or even out-of-reach goals.

Once you have made a start with your year card and personal power word for 2017, you may feel a little more in control of the direction you wish to take.

And having at least some control over your life is a good feeling. You can build on that with regular journaling as a personal development and healing tool.

If you would like to learn more about creative tarot journaling for healing and personal growth, then please do join me on Ko-fi.

Wishing you all the Best for the New Year,

Christiane 🦄

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

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Cosmic Spirit Tarot and Wellness

 

Trump and The Wheel of Fortune

Tarot of Quotes

Life is like Star Wars: First there is A New Hope (back in 2008), then last week The Empire Strikes Back, but hopefully in four years time we can welcome The Return of the Jedi.

Sometimes the dark side wins. We have to face that. Life never runs smoothly.

If you are upset about the result of the US presidential election, then I don't want to make it look better than it is by saying It's going to be okay, because it probably won't.

The global year card for 2017 is the Wheel of Fortune, which coincides with Trump's inauguration. Our luck will change, for better or for worse, and it's likely to be a rough ride ahead.

If you feel disillusioned, give yourself time to let it pass, and then get to work to ensure that the Jedi will return. Because that's the way the Wheel of Fortune works.

We get thrown into the deep end, but it's up to us how we get out of it. The way to do it is not to resign to fate but take positive action.

Here are some ideas:

1. Reassure those people around you, who are afraid of how they might be affected by the new leadership. Let them know you stand by them and will speak up for them.

Give them a hug. Make sure they feel supported. Keep in mind you are powerful, because you are part of the majority, who voted for the other side. You are not alone.

2. Don't let anyone tell you to "get over it" and stop expressing your thoughts. You have the right to voice your opinion whenever you like as we live in a free democracy. The opposition won't shut up about it, and neither should you.

3. Take regular breaks from news and social media. You don't need to read or listen to all that shit hitting the fan right now. Most of it is speculation anyway, so it's a waste of time worrying about it now.

4. Whatever you do, don't lose hope. Remember, the Wheel of Fortune keeps turning. Nothing ever stays the same, and you can be part of influencing the change process. Your input can make a difference even on a small scale.

When the result was announced in Europe on the 9th November, it was a poignant moment, because on the same day 27 years ago, the Berlin Wall came down.

Equally poignant, the same day was also the 78th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night in Germany when Jewish shops and synagogues were burnt and Jewish citizens murdered.

The Wheel of Fortune keeps turning. Today you may feel like you stand in its shadow, but by not giving up you will rise up into the sun once again.

It will take time and effort, but hey, let's do it.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Cosmic Spirit Tarot and Wellness

 

How To Embrace The Aries Full Moon Energies

Cosmic Faery Tarot - Major Arcana

When the moon is full, its power and energy is at its peak. On the 16th October, there will be an Aries full moon, and Aries is linked to the Emperor in the Tarot.

So what does this card teach you about the Aries energies we are going to experience around this month's full moon?

Here are some ideas how you can embrace the Aries full moon energies:

1. Begin again

Aries is the first sign in the horoscope and the messenger for spring (in the Northern Hemisphere).

Springtime means starting afresh and new growth after having released the old in previous months.

So, the Aries full moon may ask you to move onwards and upwards in your life, finally letting go of negative habits, toxic people etc.

Once you turn your back on what's draining you, you will notice how your energy levels, vitality and inner strength will increase.

2. Be a leader

The Emperor is obviously a leader, and perhaps now is the perfect time for you to take up his role and lead, not only others but your own life, too.

Don't follow others, but create your own rules, boundaries and visions you desire and feel inspired by.

It's a great time to be assertive and get areas of your life back in order you may have neglected or even let go out of control.

3. Take action

Aries and the Emperor are pioneers and adventurers. They love conquering, too, especially things that seem difficult and perhaps overwhelming.

They don't get intimidated, so whatever task or situation you need to resolve and have procrastinated about so far, now is the time to grab the ram by its horns and see it through.

Tarot of Quotes

4. Get sporty and creative

Aries is also linked to the Queen of Wands in the Tarot. She reminds you to get more in touch with your creative side, follow your passions and keep active.

If you do any sports at the time around the Aries full moon, you may have more energy and achieve better results.

Beware of too much coffee, alcohol or other stimulants at this time, as their effects can be intensified in a kind of hyperactive way :)

5. Keep your Ego in check

Well, the Emperor can overstep his mark with arrogance, self-centredness, jealousy and over-control at times. Watch out for these negative traits to creep up on you without otherwise noticing.

Be more mindful about how you react to and deal with people. Make sure you are grounded and stay calm at times when you feel anything but.

Would you like to learn more about how to apply astrology and the moon phases to your tarot work? Check out my Tarot Astrology Self-Study course and my Tarot Moon Journal.

Warmest wishes,

 Christiane

Transform your life this year: 

Tarot Readings - Insightful guidance when you need it
Learn Tarot - A magickal, inspirational tool for life
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