Learning Your Life Lessons Tarot Spread

Morgan Greer Tarot  © US Games 1993

As we navigate through life, our experiences teach us many lessons:

we make mistakes, we get things right, we observe other people and learn from them.

We travel, work, build relationships, acquire knowledge, meet challenges and experience change.

Sometimes we need to stop and pause to remind ourselves of the lessons we have learned so far and how they can be of use to us at a particular time.

If we don't, then we may end up making the same mistake twice or get stuck in a rut.

For this purpose, I have designed the following spread.

Each card in the Tarot (and even oracle decks) offers a life lesson that is personal to you.

Meditate on each card you have drawn - what are the lessons you need to remember and make use of today and in the future?

Take your time, but be concise. My sample reading is below:

1. Life lesson I need to apply in the Present
2. Life lesson that sustains me
3. Life lesson I learned in the Past and is still relevant today
4. Life lesson that protects me
5. Life lesson I will need to apply in the near future

1. 4 of Swords - Having regular breaks from work and busy situations does wonders for creativity, physical and mental health. Never let others determine when you can rest and recharge. Take time out when you need it, and this is what I need to do in the present.
2. 7 of Pentacles - Don't expect overnight success. Putting in my best efforts with patience over time will eventually bear fruit. Everything I care for deserves my full attention and nurture at all times. This lesson sustains me at any time I feel insecure, have doubts or have to define my priorities.
3. 3 of Wands - Don't be afraid of new beginnings and the unknown. I have experienced many changes in my life, and I shall move forward with trust and optimism on my new life path ahead.
4. 2 of Cups - Love! Building and maintaining harmonious relationships, developing mutual trust, tolerance and understanding even at times of uncertainty and change. Unconditional love and rising above anger, resentment and limiting attachments protects me from severe heartache and long-term bitterness.
5. 5 of Pentacles - I need money to pay my bills and make a modest living, but I also know that money doesn't necessarily make me rich. Life's riches are often found elsewhere. I need to be more aware of the little things that enrich my life and look out for them every day. Limiting my desire for material possessions will help me through lean times whilst still feeling content.

What life lessons have you learned and how does the Tarot help you apply them? 

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Feeling Alive

Magical Mermaids and Dolphins Oracle

© Doreen Virtue 2003

I've been trapped in the house for the last five days by the snow. My car was hopelessly stuck in the nearby cul-de-sac; it's one of those useless cars with front-wheel drive, so it just didn't want to budge.

Today I decided I had to get out to go to the gym and do some grocery shopping. Needless to say, the car was stubbornly staying put on the snowy/icy surface of the road.

I had to get a shovel and dig it out. Gasp!

After a week of feeling cosy and comfy at home, I threw myself at the mercy of the adverse UK weather conditions. I even contemplated digging my car out - I've never done that before in my life!

To cut a long story short, I started off half-heartedly and wanted to give up after five minutes.

But a little voice told me not to give up, and I kept on digging and trying to move the car, got hot and sweaty along the way, but also more determined not to give up. By then, I was digging for victory.

And in the process I started to feel alive.

I realised that during the last five days I was just a little too comfy in my little bubble at home.

I needed a moment like this to wake up and feel my whole body move and work and sweat. Hell, I was on the way to the gym, and this dig was my warm-up!

I felt alive, because I had to overcome a challenge I've never had to deal with before. In the past, it would be  a job I'd pass on to the man in my life, but not today.

It took me half and hour and two Jehova's Witnesses (bless them!), who gave me the final push and set my car free.

It felt like waking up from a slumber, and I'm now thinking that we all need something every day that will make us feel alive.

No need for it to be anything out of this world; just an ordinary task or situation, which is experienced mindfully and consciously. 

The card above from Doreen Virtue's Mermaids and Dolphins Oracle has come up as a message regarding my experience today - a lesson learned, and it makes sense:

I was nearly giving up and going back into the house, but I decided not to quit. So many people give up on what they want to achieve without realising that with a little more effort they were just about to make it.

Sometimes you just need to hang in there a bit longer and keep going.

What has made you feel alive today? 

If you feel you need to get out of apathy, routine or even out of your comfort zone, why not ask the Tarot:

What can I do today to make me feel alive? 

Use the cards to encourage you to live life to the full. And please do let me know how it works for you. I'd be thrilled to hear from you.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Happy Spring Equinox

The days are getting longer, but due to the snow we've been having here in Leeds, the warmer weather just seems like a distant dream away.

Despite the cold, the Robin in the garden is building his nest - so pleased to see he's building it in the ivy growing up the wall of our house.

His little family will be safe up there from the cats at least.

The Robin has inspired me to create a new image for my oracle deck in progress, which will be in the same style as my Tarot of Quotes. Feel free to share it.

The Spring Equinox is a time of new life emerging and the promise of long, sunny, carefree summer days ahead.

Spring heralds the dawning of creativity, generating new ideas, making plans, setting goals and working on turning dreams into reality.

It's like sowing seeds and nurturing them to fruition.

What are your creative aspirations you would like to pursue and manifest over the coming months?

If you want to use the Tarot for guidance, you can try out my Ostara tarot spread to explore your opportunities and make things happen.

It's always so rewarding to see how students benefit from my teachings.

Please read Joanna's seasonal article about how she has applied astrology in her tarot work on her blog Sun Goddess Tarot.

It's an inspirational springtime read, and from there you can explore and enjoy even more interesting tarot related articles.

🌺Wishing you a Blessed and Inspiring Spring Equinox🌷

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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Cropping Tarot Decks

Sirian Starseed Tarot © Patricia Cori 2012

I've got a new hobby: cutting up Tarot decks! Well, not really cutting them up (perhaps in the name of art or madness I will do that at a later stage...), but removing the distracting borders of the images.

In the photo above you can see my first victim: the Sirian Starseed Tarot, which had an irritating white border (check out my review of this deck with a "before" picture). 

What do you think?

If you haven't thought of cropping Tarot decks before, and you are considering it now, then go for it! I know it takes a little courage to start cutting your beloved cards, but trust me, you will like the result, especially if you own one of the following decks:

1. Crowley's Thoth Tarot

2. Druid Craft Tarot

3. Pearls of Wisdom Tarot

4. Wildwood Tarot

5. Vampyre Tarot (see the cropped images in Lisa's post at Love Dove Tarot, and enjoy her interesting Tarot spread too!)
6. Druid Animal Oracle
7. Cosmic Tarot

and of course the Sirian Starseed Tarot as above.

All you need is a paper guillotine and a corner cutter.

Are you a seasoned cropper? Get in touch and let us know of your successes as well as disasters. Which decks would you like to trim next? Let us know! Are you a beginner and wonder if your deck is suitable? Ask me before you mess it up :)

Changing your standard deck to borderless images can have quite an impact on your readings and offer you new perspectives.

Go on, have some fun and be creative :)

Christiane

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Inspiration - Healing Yourself

“It is precisely because we resist the darkness in ourselves that we miss the depths of the loveliness, beauty, brilliance, creativity, and joy that lie at our core.” - Thomas Moore, Dark Nights of the Soul

The deepest wounds we all carry are locked in our subconscious. Deep memories and subtle impressions; unfinished experiences, rooted in the past.

The pain from those wounds comes to revisit, to block and paralyse us in the moment called now. We all know it comes without warning: "Why am I feeling this way... I didn't mean to do that... I don't know what made me say that."

Healing does not mean finding and treating every single inner scar which sends its message to haunt us.

It means

going even deeper

past those wounds

beyond those distant memories and recordings of unfinished business

to the core of our self

to the heart of our spirit

where we find the light and warmth of our own core qualities of love and peace.

They are eternally present within us; they are what we need to heal all our inner wounds. That's why this kind of deep healing is called spirituality and not therapy. (thoughtfortoday.org)

"The wound is the place where the light enters you." - Rumi

In your darkest moment, when the pain seems to become unbearable..embrace it and nurture your determination to rise into the light again like a phoenix from the ashes.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Transform your life this year: 

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Zodiac Card The Star - Aquarius

The Star is associated with the zodiac sign Aquarius. If Aquarius is either your sun, moon or rising sign, then the Star is one of your zodiac cards.

As a sun sign card, the Star may reflect your conscious, expressive, outward, open personality; how you engage with people and the world around you.

As a moon sign card, the Star reflects your unconscious, hidden, blocked personality traits, instincts and emotions; you feel them within.

As your ascendant (or rising sign), the Star reflects how other people see you, especially when they first meet you. Your ascendant shows your natural, habitual, instinctive and spontaneous reaction to new people and situations. First impressions!

Personality Traits associated with the Star: 

Positive: independent, progressive, rational, original, inventive, witty, humanitarian, intellectual, visionary, innovative, self-expressive

Negative: impractical, cranky, detached, erratic, unpredictable, argumentative, sarcastic, rebellious, unemotional, idealistic, indecisive

The Star/Aquarius Life lessons:

• living within boundaries and structures without limiting vision and self-expression 
• combining idealism with reality 
• achieving mental and spiritual enlightenment through knowledge and understanding 
• learning to balance self-discipline (Saturn influence) with the need to be a free spirit (Uranus influence) 
• be willing and determined to be a pioneer, even if standing alone, for the greater good of humanity 
• focus on the needs of the collective without neglecting those of the individual 

The following Aquarius correspondences also relate to the Star:

Element: Air
Season/Timing: Winter (January 21 - February 19)
Ruling Planets: Saturn and Uranus (also associated with the Devil (Saturn) and the Fool (Uranus))
Stone: Aquamarine
Key Word: Independence
Key Phrase: I Know

Curious about combining Tarot with Astrology? Check out my Starlight Astrology Self-Study Course

Inspiration for the New Year: Optimism

Tarot of Quotes

“If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.”

- John Heywood

Optimism opens a door in difficult or hopeless situations.

No matter what the crisis, anticipating positive development and outcome is power.

Optimism a way of life that restores faith in yourself, your ability and your future. A positive outlook can help you overcome self-sabotage.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

- Helen Keller

Optimism isn't about pretending that everything is fine when it isn't.

It's about accepting a situation, making the best of it and striving towards improving it, because you know that positive change and transformation is possible and within your reach.

"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out."

- Vaclav Havel

And even if things don't turn out the way you wanted them to, as an optimist you will have had a better time trying than gloomily awaiting your fate.

Make this year a year of optimism and see how it improves your life.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and abundant New Year!

Christiane

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Zodiac Card The Devil - Capricorn

The Devil is associated with the zodiac sign Capricorn. If Capricorn is either your sun, moon or rising sign, then the Devil is one of your zodiac cards.

As a sun sign card, the Devil may reflect your conscious, expressive, outward, open personality; how you engage with people and the world around you.

As a moon sign card, the Devil reflects your unconscious, hidden, blocked personality traits, instincts and emotions; you feel them within.

As your ascendant (or rising sign), the Devil reflects how other people see you, especially when they first meet you. Your ascendant shows your natural, habitual, instinctive and spontaneous reaction to new people and situations. First impressions!

Personality Traits associated with the Devil:

Positive: hard-working, practical, organised, neat and tidy, materialistic tendencies, perfectionism, persevering, disciplined, prudent, ambitious, enterprising, restrained, faithful

Negative: calculating, dictatorial, manipulative, pessimistic, grudging, ruthless, self-conscious, cautious, inhibited, serious


The Devil/Capricorn Life lessons:

• following ambition not just for material gain but also for creative expression
• learning to meet and master the temptations of life
• looking at the brighter side of life and not taking everything so seriously
• learning to be self-disciplined at times of struggle rather than escaping into addiction
• overcoming fear of failure by reasoning and developing a more optimistic mindset
• letting go of the need to control the outside world to create inner peace
• reigning in obsessive need for power by sharing knowledge and skills with others

The following Capricorn correspondences also relate to the Devil:

Element: Earth
Season/Timing: Winter (December 22 - January 20)
Ruling Planets: Saturn (also associated with The World)
Stone: Jet, Obsidian
Key Word: Ambition
Key Phrase: I Use

Curious about combining Tarot with Astrology? Check out my Starlight Astrology Self-Study Course

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New Moon in Sagittarius Tarot Reading

Tarot of Quotes

As promised in my previous post, here are the cards I have drawn last week for my New Moon reading.

In Tarot, Sagittarius is linked to Temperance, which indicates a need for balance, moderation, harmony, healing and spiritual growth. The card that came up right behind Temperance was the Fool.

Here in connection with Temperance, the Fool is suggesting to create balance and spiritual growth by starting afresh in areas in my life I have been feeling stuck for a while. The Fool is about being open and receptive to new opportunities without fear. Avoiding too much planning ahead and instead living in the here and now. Taking a leap of faith and trusting to be on the right path.

The next card I drew was the Lovers as my goal. The Lovers indicate a need to focus on relationships. Openness, honesty and clear thinking will create harmony and healing. Relationship issues need to be resolved once and for all. I know what I need to do ;)

What is the next step to take? To answer this question, I drew the Ten of Pentacles. Security and stability are important factors in a relationship, but with Temperance as an influencing energy, it is also important to combine traditional values with personal principles and needs. This can cause quite a stir ;) Blending conflicting needs and expectations will help to build and maintain strong emotional bonds. This in turn will lead to healing and abundance.

Knight of Wands' strengths (Temperance Persona card) to utilise to achieve goal: courageous, passionate, pro-active, confident, inspiring

Knight of Wands' weaknesses to avoid: Arguments, turmoil, recklessness

On the 28th December, the full moon will be in Cancer (Chariot, Queen of Cups); what will come to fruition at that time? You can do your own moon readings in 2013 with 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.

Tarot eBooks - Great value, innovative Tarot study material

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New Moon Reading Spread

Tarot of Quotes 

On the 13th December the new moon will enter Sagittarius. The Tarot cards linked to this zodiac sign are Temperance and the Knight of Wands.

Why not try a new moon reading on that day?

The new moon is a good time for coming up with new ideas, setting intentions, starting new projects and making plans to be realised over the coming weeks ahead.

Temperance as the dominant energy at this time may ask us to focus on areas such as balance, harmony, spirituality and healthy living. It can also mean that our concerns in any aspect of our lives, choices and decision-making can be  influenced by these energies.

As Sagittarius is linked to the planet Jupiter, there may also be a need for growth, expansion and journeys, both internally and externally.

You can now explore a more specific issue you would like to address at this time:

Shuffle your deck well, and then hold it with the images facing you. Look through your cards until you reach Temperance. The card that is behind Temperance is what you need to address in terms of balance, growth, health and expansion.

If you want to take this reading further, you can draw another one or two cards on action to take and possible outcome.

The Knight of Wands may offer you some insight on your personal qualities you will need to utilise during this time. What qualities of the Knight of Wands can help you at this time? Which ones may hinder you and need to be avoided?

I'd love to know how you got on with this spread. Please post a message below. I will be sharing my reading  a few days after the new moon.

And if you love this kind of Tarot journalling, you may like to download my Tarot Moon Journal 2013 workbook. It's only a Fiver, a small expense that will offer you new insights and personal growth for a whole year.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Transform your life this year: 

Tarot Readings - Insightful guidance when you need it 

Learn Tarot - A magickal, inspirational tool for life.

Tarot eBooks - Great value, innovative Tarot study material

Learn more about Tarot and Astrology with my new online course.

Make sure you subscribe to my feed to receive the latest articles straight into your inbox when published.

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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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