What Makes A Happy Relationship? 10 Signs You're On The Right Track

Cupid's arrow doesn't always strike on your first date,
but there are signs that indicate promising potential

“I think perhaps love comes from finding someone you feel utterly comfortable with, someone who makes you comfortable with yourself. It's like...finding yourself, or maybe it's like finding the other part of yourself.”
Candice Proctor, Whispers of Heaven

In a world of internet dating and virtual matchmaking, finding new love that lasts can be quite an eventful journey ranging from fun to traumatic.

Especially when you find yourself single after a long-term relationship has come to an end, figuring out if a potential match is worth pursuing can be confusing.

First of all, remember that sexual attraction doesn't necessarily mean you are compatible. When passion fizzles out, there may not be much else left. Get to know each other first, unless a casual fling is all you want.

On the other hand, don't expect love at first sight when you meet someone. If you get on really well together, but haven't been blown off your feet, then don't give up just yet. Meet up for a few more social activities and see where it takes you.

This is the kind of date where often confusion sets in; you're expecting a surge of passion hitting you as soon as you see the person, but instead you have to get used to the fact that their 3D appearance is somewhat different to the photo you've seen of them before.

But fear not!

Here are some signs that help you focus and indicate you may be on to a winner:

1. Conversation flows naturally, and you feel at ease with each other.

2. You don't experience awkward silences, and if you do on your first date, it's only because you're nervous. That's normal. However, that nervousness gets quickly dissolved, because you both sense how you can make the other feel more relaxed.

3. You keep in touch regularly via text, phone or email at a level you both feel comfortable with. You don't need to wonder, when the other will be in touch again, and you don't feel like you'd rather not respond and only do so, because you want to be polite.

4. Even if you haven't yet fallen head over heels in love, you actually look forward to seeing the other again soon, and you feel excited about the social activities you have planned together.

Tarot of Silhouettes (c) Steven Bright

5. You are both happy to take things slowly and want to get to know each other first before you commit to anything further. There is no pressure.

6. You feel safe and relaxed in the other's presence. You can be yourself, and you feel you don't need to pretend.

7. You both find it easy to talk about the kind of relationship you want. You are honest about your aspirations rather than telling the other what you think they'd want to hear.

8. You both share similar beliefs and values, and you enjoy healthy debates on topics you don't agree on.

9. You don't judge the other by their likes of music, books or hobbies, unless they are extreme and don't comply with your core values, or you want to live like Siamese twins spending every minute together.

10. You feel a little spark slowly igniting every time you meet the other.

In many cases you know after the first or second meeting, if it's going anywhere or not, but sometimes the future potential of a new date isn't that clear straight away.

In a nutshell, a good relationship unfolds and flows naturally. There is no pressure, game-playing, second-guessing, vague communication, tension or drama. If you experience any of these issues, you need to address them and quickly move on, if there is no improvement.

Of course, you can consult the tarot to explore the possibilities. Better still, add some astrology and see if you are compatible.

But best of all, use your common sense and look out for those signs above to work out, if you both have the potential of a happy future together.

“Whatever he had found, it made him a better person. Maybe that's what love was, finding the person who brings out the best in you and eliminates the worst.”
Diana Holquist, Make Me a Match

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Tarot Haiku: Five of Cups

"Let's be friends", you said.

Part of me is still useful,

The rest discarded.

How to write your own Tarot Haiku:

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of exactly 17 syllables.
Syllables are arranged in three lines of 5-7-5

Pick a card. Describe what you see, express your emotions, capture a moment of beauty, a glimpse of nature and the seasons, or a poignant experience.

Explore your cards in a new way. Enjoy!

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 🦄


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Developing Your Intuition With The Tarot

Tarot of Quotes

As children we tend to rely very much on our instinct rather than knowledge and practical experience.

But over time we are gradually conditioned by society to base actions, thoughts and feelings on evidence and logic.

Now is a good time to remember the importance and power of intuition; when you have to make a split-second decision, you will most likely follow your instinct rather than logic and reason.

Using your intuition is also an important skill when reading the Tarot.

You may know lots of different meanings for all the cards, but which one is relevant in each reading you do depends on your intuition.

How intuitive are you?

There are some key rules to identify your current level of intuition:

1. You recognise an object with very little time to see it properly, usually less than a second.

Try flicking through magazines and recall afterwards the images you noticed. You can also look quickly at group photos of friends and family and identify afterwards specific people you noticed.

2. When you look at clouds, many images come to your mind.

Making creative associations through this kind of openness help you to generate new ideas and insights.

3. You can take in a scene quickly and recall details.

Look at a crowd scene and then look away. Ask yourself questions about details, perhaps individual actions, clothing, weather, surrrounding area, buildings etc. If your intuition works well, then you are not aware that you take in all this information. It all works 'automatically'.

How can you improve your intuition?

There are a few universal principles to help you develop this skill:

1. Become an expert

The more you know about a subject matter, the sharper your intuitive sense will be. So, the more you practise and read about tarot and absorb the information, the better your readings and accuracy will become over time.

This doesn't mean you have to memorise anything but simply pick up the information through practice, conversation or in written material and then let go.

This way you will automatically store knowledge in your unconscious and recall it later when you need it with the help of your intuition.

2. Pay attention to your feelings

Don't ignore that inner voice telling you that something is not quite right with the person or situation you are dealing with. Let go of trying to find 'evidence'. Instead just act according to how you feel.

3. Trust your intuition

Relax; it's not easy to reduce the input of a conscious mind, but regular exercise will help you improve.

Start a journal; record your dreams, don't doubt the validity of the messages that come through to you; be conscious of your environment and tune in.

Try pulling a tarot card at random and without hesitation come up with an instant message from the universe for yourself.

Avoid censoring your thoughts; in that moment you stop using your intuition. If nothing comes up, pull the next card. Keep going until something 'clicks' in your head and ideas start trickling.

4. Stay Healthy

Keep your energy clear; meditate, eat wholesome foods, get active and sleep well.

Regular fresh air activities will help you clear your head from distracting thoughts and become more receptive to more useful messages when they come through.

5. Observe the Moon Cycles

Discovery Tarot Course

The full moon is a powerful time for receiving intuitive messages. At this time also pay particular attention to your dreams.

Enjoy developing your intuition. After all, learning to trust your instincts will help you make the best decisions when stuck at a crossroads.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Inspirational Messages From The World

Tarot of Quotes

Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I’ve ended up where I needed to be." 

Douglas Adams

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives." 

William Ross Wallace.

"You are not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations, nor should you feel the world must live up to yours." 

Frederic Perl

Affirmation: I am content.

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A Message from Strength

Tarot of Quotes

“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. 

Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. 

Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”

August Wilson

Affirmation: 

I create harmony by gently balancing my opposing needs and desires.

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The Power Of Transformation

Tarot of Quotes

Welcome to the Mabon Blog Hop. If you have just arrived from Jaymi's contribution, thank you for stopping by. You can jump back onto the blog hop train and continue your journey by clicking on the link to Morgan's blog at the end of this post.

The topic for today is an intriguing one: which Tarot cards or spreads signify most truly the power of transformation? What is my personal, ultimate tool of the Tarot that offers me the ability to transform my Self and my circumstances into something new, different and better than how I began?

Let me share with you the simple truth: the Tarot on the whole is a tool of transformation. The moment I picked up the cards all these many years ago and started learning the Tarot, it slowly but surely transformed me from someone full of insecurities, who was just reacting to events, situations or circumstances, to actually taking control, living more mindfully and making things happen.

I don't do readings for myself every day. In fact, I rarely read for myself, but each card in the Tarot teaches me a lesson on a daily basis. Every time I read for others or when I teach the Tarot, it offers me new insight and wisdom.

The Tarot teaches you universal life lessons and patterns. When you decide to learn Tarot, you become the Magician, the initiator of transformation, the archetypal alchemist, who has all the tools and ingredients to create and make Magick happen in your life.

Gradually, you tune into yourself, others and your surroundings. You become more aware. You gain foresight. Understanding. A healthy level of detachment. You learn about the cycles of life, death and rebirth. You learn the art of self-empowerment.

Tarot of Quotes

The process of transformation rarely happens overnight. In Tarot, it is symbolised by Death. The ending is its climax, which generates a new beginning; the moment when the caterpillar turns into a butterfly. What the Magician has started is culminating at this point.

It's not straightforward and can be uncomfortable, even emotionally painful at times. You have to learn to let go of your old Self, which isn't always easy.

Once you are mindfully aware of your transformational process, you start to embody Temperance, when you begin to perfect the mix of new lessons learned, behavioural patterns, ideas, beliefs and attitudes.

You start to make things work, create harmony and balance by coming to terms with the changes and getting accustomed to your new situation. You learn about making compromises without losing out.

Your journey continues through darkness and light, setbacks and progress - will you make it to the World and fulfil your true potential?

Tarot of Quotes

When you start to engage with the Tarot as a tool for self-development and spiritual growth, you will notice its profound effect on you over time.

If Tarot is your passion and part of your life, how has it changed you over time? 

An example of a transformational Tarot spread can be found here.

Thank you again for your visit. Before you move on to enjoy Morgan's blog hop contribution, please consider subscribing to my feed.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Pentacles - The Fruits of Harvest

Sharman Caselli Tarot Deck 

If you have just arrived from Joanna's sparkling Sun Goddess Tarot blog as part of the Tarot Blog Hop series - welcome! You will find a link at the end of this post to continue your ride on the Lammas Blog Hop Train, and I hope you will enjoy each contribution to today's topic: 

Pentacles - The Fruits of Harvest

On the first day of August, the Pagan community is celebrating the festival of Lammas to mark the time of the wheat harvest. But high summer offers more than just harvesting wheat; fruit and vegetables should all be plentiful at this time of year.

The suit of Pentacles represents fertility, growth, nature, sustenance and hard work, and the Nine of Pentacles is the card that speaks to me the most to mark the summer harvest this year.

The card shown here depicts a woman surrounded by an abundant crop of grapes in her garden. The castle in the background, her beautiful dress and the bird of prey on her hand symbolise her wealth and status. She is enjoying a quiet moment amongst her harvest, and perhaps for all of us, this is a time to appreciate what we have achieved so far.

The Nine of Pentacles symbolises Abundance. Now is a good time to focus on what we have rather than on what we are missing. Let us also recognise our potential and possibilities before us.

On a personal note, I have been on a journey of change since February this year. Inspirational business coaching has affected my professional work in a profound and exhilarating way, which also had a positive impact on my private life. The gradual transformation my Tarot business has undergone over the recent months is now starting to offer some rewards. My head is still buzzing with ideas, and there is still a long way to go, but now is a good time to take a deep breath and pause for some appreciation and reflection.

I have drawn three cards to give me an idea of where I am now and where my next step may lead to:

Present situation: Three of Pentacles - Next step: Page of Wands - Result: The Magician (Sharman Caselli Tarot)

I'm not intending to bore you with a lengthy interpretation of these cards. Let me show you instead my own version of the Nine of Pentacles, exclusively designed for this post:

Tarot of Quotes

The blackcurrants in my garden are ready for harvesting; this year we've got loads, and they will be turned into some yummy jam tomorrow.

Whilst searching for a suitable quote, I've come across a few, which offer us all some tips on how to achieve our goals and reap a fruitful harvest:

"We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest.”
- Orison Swett Marden

“Even after a bad harvest there must be sowing.”
- Seneca

“He that has a good harvest must be content with a few thistles” 

- Spanish Proverb

“If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.”

- Bible

 What is your harvest like at this time of year? What is your next step to take you closer to where you want to be? 

Now it's time for you to move on to Alison's wonderful Games of Thrones blog for more Lammas/harvest musings. 

Before you go, you may wish to subscribe to my blog via RSS or email. It would be lovely to see you again! 


Cosmic Blessings,

Christiane 

The Fool in the Tarot of Quotes

Here is my latest addition to the Tarot of Quotes.

Background story to this image: I recently planted some sunflower seeds, had far too many and just put one half-heartedly into the porch plant pot. 

And just when I thought it was eaten by a bird, the seedling emerged a few days later at the edge of the pot. 

You can still see the seed shell attached (the seedling's little baggage 😄), and the seedling is faced towards the sun by the edge; only I know how deep that drop is 😉

If all goes well, this little seedling will turn into a beautiful sunflower and return to the deck later as the Sun!

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking an interest in my work! Please don't hesitate to get in touch or leave a comment below.

Christiane

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The Meaning of the Tower in the Tarot of Quotes

"The gem cannot be polished without friction." 
- Chinese Proverb

The Tower is my latest addition to my Tarot of Quotes.

I've had my fair share of breakdowns in my life, and what I've learned along the way is to make the most of them!

When you suddenly find that your body and mind can no longer function normally as a result of a major stress event, then you have two options: give up or take your time to build yourself up again.

Believe me, the latter is the better option. Taking time out, pick yourself up, heal, transform yourself and your life.

The Tower suggests destruction, shock revelations or even just a sudden realization that something in your life isn't working. 

Whatever it is, as long as you aim to get through it, the reward can be release, liberation, spiritual growth, regeneration, radical transformation.

"The world is full of suffering; it is also full of overcoming it.” 
- Helen Keller

Scariest Tower moment in literature:

“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.” - Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis

⭐View all Tarot of Quotes images in my Ko-fi Gallery⭐

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Tarot & Quotes: The Hermit

"Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your won presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement." Alice Koller

The Hermit is my personality card, and it sums me up quite nicely; I enjoy my own company, solitude fires my imagination, it inspires me, and I get things done. 

Don't get me wrong; I do enjoy the presence of good and beloved people around me, but at the same time, my days of regular nightclubbing, parties and frequent tiring business trips to sustain a demanding career in export sales are definitely over, and I'm very glad about that.

The card you can see here is from my own deck-in-progress, the Tarot of Quotes. The frog lives in my garden pond tub and enjoys observing the bright world from the protective darkness of his overturned flower pot.

The quote I've chosen for this image reflects my Hermit personality. Often people mix up solitude with loneliness or isolation, but that's a mistake. 

Loneliness is unpleasant, isolation is restricting, whereas solitude is bliss. 

The Hermit in Tarot is on the threshold of spiritual ascension; having turned away from the need for excessive material possessions, his focus is now on simplicity and nature, physical and emotional well-being. 

"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up."  Pearl Buck

In a reading, the Hermit suggests withdrawal from the hustle and bustle of life, the need to reflect, simplify one's lifestyle and connect with nature. 

The Hermit also indicates that there are spiritual lessons to be learned from issues that need to be resolved; a chance to illuminate and nurture one's hidden inner wisdom and  for spiritual growth.

"No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength." Jack Kerouac

"When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death - ourselves."  Eda LeShan

How easy is it for you to be alone and just simply "be"? When was the last time you took a break from your busy life? 

Use the energies of the Hermit to detach yourself from the issues that make you feel stressed or worried, take time out to reflect and re-evaluate your chosen path ahead by listening to your inner guide.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 🦄

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Introducing: The Tarot of Quotes

A couple of weeks ago I started creating my own Tarot deck based on my life, the places I have visited and how I see the world around me. 

It's a personal project using my own photography and inspirational quotes from famous (and not so famous) people, that have influenced me over the years.

My aim is to complete the Major Arcana by Summer 2012 and make it available as a download. 

So far I have already created five Major Arcana cards, and above you can see my Magician.

Watch this space for more images coming soon!

Have a great weekend,

Christiane 



⭐Update December 2024: All images of the Tarot of Quotes can be viewed and downloaded from my Ko-fi Gallery⭐

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