Today's Tarot - High Priestess

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Tarot 2013

Have predictions jumped the shark yet?

I've been saying it like a broken record for years: Tarot doesn't make predictions. Nothing can. You heard George Lucas' Yoda - the future is always in motion. Stephanie Myers was right on target with Alice in "Twilight" too - when someone changes their mind, the "vision" changes. I think Doctor Who said it best in the "Cold Earth" episode written by Chris Chibnall "The future turns around you, here, now, so do good".

Predictions do no good that I can see. A "prediction" seeds a specific idea that may or may not be for a person's highest good.  It locks in the psychic's vision of the future...no the person who sought guidance in the first place. Predictions weaken choice and narrows vision. It can heap stress on an already stressful situation if the "prediction" is frightening or un-nerving in any way.

I believe that inutitive work of any kind...psychic readings, tarot, palms, tea leaves, anything... should do the exact opposite. Intuition should widen our vision, show other possibilities we've missed, give us more choices, ease stress and soothe emotions. "Accurate predictions" have no place in that. That's why I won't do readings like that, even though it has lost clients and money for me over the years.

I'm hoping 2013 is the year that REAL intuitive work comes into its own. Maybe with the whole rediculous December 21 doomsday thing behind us, and having survived the mellinium, asteroid fly-bys and the end of twinkies, maybe, just maybe we can all get over the idea of PREDICTING the future and get down to the work of CREATING a better future.

Sure, predictions are fun, especially at the New Year. Truth is, even the most choice-and-guidance oriented of us will indulge in making predictions for the New Year. It's a game, a plaything, an entertainment, as much for us as our readers. It stretches the mental muscles that help us do our more important work, just like playing a physical game can help your physical fitness.

This year I'm going to play a different game. Instead of indulging in the straight "cold reading" kind of thing, I'm going to do a "Four Seasons" reading for the year 2013. The "Four Seasons" is my home-made reading style that sticks with the idea of guidance, but still gives that 'look ahead' feeling that we naturally crave, that need to know that naturally drives humans to want to see the future in the first place. Each card isn't a prediction, but instead is a theme for the season, or an important idea / choice that may come to you during that time. Of course, this reading isn't going to match everyone. It's just for fun, but if it makes sense to you, or helps someone, somewhere along the way...all the better. Happy 2013! 

General Pattern: three major arcana cards with only one minor arcana card suggest that we may be faced with more choices, changes, and   in the first part of the year compared to the second part. Again, not a prediction, but pointing toward the way things are trending - like a compass needle points north. It doesn't predict what will happen or what people will do...just the direction things are headed. 

Winter (Jan. - March ) - THE MOON: On the Rider-Waite deck, the Moon card  shows dogs or cayotes looking / howling at the moon, with a lobster crawling out of the water onto a path that extends to the mountains in the distance. The phrases "howl at the moon" and "evolve" come to mind. The 'howl at the moon' part connects with the idea of authenticity...the advice here is to be true to yourself, be your truest self. This winter may ask us to be more honest with ourselves than ever before - and when we are more honest with ourselves, it leads to more honesty and open-ness with others. It is a difficult thing to do, and can cause us to lose some people we used to think were friends...but shines like a light to truer friendships, and helps us find our real community. When faced with a choice in this season, think about what you honestly want to happen not what you honestly think is the best thing for everyone ... not what you think is the expected answer. All of this also links with evolution...not the physical kind that makes so many people twitchy...the personal growth kind that shows we can learn, adapt, adopt new ideas, ideals, and find a better way to do things. My mind is drawn to the national debate about marriage rights. Perhaps it is time for the nation to 'evolve' on social issues en masse.

Sping (April - June) THE FOOL (INNOCENT): This is the very first card of the tarot deck. In very old calendars, the first of April was considered to be the beginning of the new year instead of January. Springtime is still the beginning of the year in some cultures. Urban legend has it that April Fools day started after the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calenday that switched the beginning of the year from April to January. Those that continued to celebrate the old way were teased as "April Fools" (www.snopes.com). The message here is that Spring 2013 will be a chance to relax and play and de-stress a little, as we look forward to new beginnings and fresh starts. Spring naturally carries a sense of renewal and optimism. My hunch is that we can make it larger, more pervasive than usual, like the phrase "renewed national optimism". I think this may extend to national policy and economy despite continued international policy and diplomacy concerns in the background. The advice here is to make the hopeful choices, and to avoid choices based in fear. "He who hesitates is lost". This does not feel like the time for ultra-conservatism, philosophically or politically.

Summer (July - Sept)-7 of Cups: Pendulums will swing. The 7 of cups is sometimes read as "delusion". In this case, the connotation would be more along the lines of "take care to see clearly". Don't get carried away with the spring's optimism. This is a season of pragmatism, practicality, watching, and carrying through with what was begun in spring. In spring, seeds are planted. In summer, we don't do much with those seeds except tend them...watch, water, weed, wait.  It is a time to face what we can not control. What's done is done. Do what you can. This season teaches the comfort of seeing things as they are, and focusing on here and now.

Autumn (Oct. - Dec.) HIgh Priestess: And the pendulum comes full swing, and things go a full circle in a single, dizzying year. The feeling of watching the seeds grow changes to a feeling of springing into action for the harvest, and reaping what we've sown in spring - literally and figuratively. It feels like a busy time too, the lesson here is to "stop and smell the roses"...where the Moon card pointed to spiritual growth, the Priestess card points to the new destination...asks us to appreciate where we have grown TO. We've cleaned house, added on a room, planted a garden and stored the harvest for winter...this is the season for gratitude, to stop and survey what we've accomplished, and plan our next step. This season is a reminder to remember the spiritual side of things, as much as possible to experience the magic, mystery, and mystical side of life. After all the activity of spring planting and fall harvest, things start to fall back toward watching...this time watching the full moon through the trees, looking inward instead of outward. 

General summary: This year will see full cycles compleated at a rapid pace. It will generally follow the cycles and pace of nature, perhaps more closely than society has for several years. I feel pushed to say the "rise of the nones" will continue...nones meaning those from the Pew survey who do not participate in any religion, yet maintaina robust spiritual life. Tolerance will evolve, and we begin to see a generational shift in the way we all look at the world. Letting us have a brightness andoptimism we haven't really seen in the past 10 -15 years. There is a feeling of Korea being in the news again, in a sunny season like spring or summer. I get the mental image of a knit hat in Jamaca's national colors and hear "rasta" and a feeling of fun...maybe a new popularity for Reggae or Reggae influenced music, like The Police in the 80s. Winter weather in the northeast feels crisp, cold and white...but not storms, just normal. There is a feeling of drought in the midwest again this summer, but in a smaller area than last year. Something about whales and the west coast...very large whales like blue or humpbacks, perhaps a rare and special sighting of some sort.  Now I see the "time vortex" from the Doctor Who opening sequence...either the Doctor Who  50th anniversary season will be a gigantic hit in the US as much as all the Whovians are hoping, or people really will come to a new understanding of time, predictions, probablilities and all of that quantum theory can teach us. More confirmation of the Higgs boson from Cern perhaps.  Overall, I feel upbeat and optimistic energy around 2013.

Ok, so I couldn't resist playing a little with that last paragraph...but why not? Play is a wonderful thing, but it isn't everything. Dessert is a wonderful thing, but we can't eat only sweets. Predictions are fun, but they are only a small, entertaining part of things.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous 

New Year. 

www.ModernOracleTarot.com

Today's Tarot - The High Priestess

We all laugh. We all cry. We all love. We all die. Even though it is dressed in different faces, different cultures, different rituals, different beliefs...even though it is shrouded in different mysteries...at its deepest foundation, the human experience is fundamentally the same. 

www.ModernOracleTarot.com

Today's Tarot - High Priestess

"Magic's just science we don't understand yet" 

- Sir Arthur C. Clarke

Daily Meditation Tarot Reading - High Priestess

"Cause and effect" can be magical, if you use it to take your fate into your own hands and make a better future.

Q&A: What do these cards mean?

Q.  I wanted to know if I am generally on the right path, so I drew three Tarot cards with no question in mind. I just wanted to be open to any message they would give me. I admit I am very interesting in a guy named A*****. He (is having a difficult time...redacted for privacy) I got the Moon, Justice and The High Priestess in that order. What does this mean? Could it have something to do with A***** and I?


A. Having worked with you before, I know you get it about predictions. You are exactly right in the way you approached your question and the way you are keeping an open mind is excellent! That always gives the best reading. 


You didn't say what card spread (how the cards are placed on the table) you were using. Each position in the layout has a symbolic meaning, in addition to the symbolism of the card itself. Without knowing that, we are missing some good context-clues about what the message might be for you.


Before looking at the individual cards, anyway, it helps to look at the general pattern, and the obvious thing here is that all three cards are from the major arcana portion of the deck. This can be a hint that there are big lessons, big changes or big energy of some kind moving through life for you. You might be on the edge of an adventure, if not literally, then mentally and emotionally.


When you look at cards individually, the best place to start is the card's "meaning" then add on any intuition you might get about the card. To find the meaning, a good place to start is the book or guide that came with the Tarot deck itself when you bought it. If you don't have that, there are several really good books. The best way to choose the right reference for you is simply browse through them whenever you get a chance, and see which one "speaks" to you or seems to really seem to be the most on target for how you see the world. 


I never quite found the perfect book, that's why I'm writing the "modern oracle" books I told you about...the one telling how to do readings for yourself and the other with my take on the card meanings.  It seems like there are no in-between books for people learning to read cards...either they are too basic (like the ones that often come with card decks) and more advanced books, like the "Animal Wise Tarot" by Ted Andrews that I've been using lately (I'm pretty sure its available on www.dragonhawkpublishing.com if you are interested). ANYWAY....


(The following sections have been edited to protect privacy...what you see is a generalized version)


The moon has to do with spiritual journeys, internal learning, intuition...that sort of thing. Basically that means that no matter how things turn out for you and A*****, in the long run it will prove to be an important lesson. You will learn and grow just from the experience of this time.


At first glimpse, you might think "justice" is that law-and-order, book 'em danno kind of justice. At the heart of it, it really is more about wisdom. This is both an advice and a validation kind of message. Use your wisdom with A*****. If you are steady, supportive, loving, compassionate and wise toward him during all this, he'll notice. This card underscores that positive loving feeling from earlier. It feels like he is giving his soul-level or etheric-level permission for me to tell you that. More than just advice, there is a reassurance here that you have what it takes...you really do have the wisdom and patience to be there for him in the way he needs right now.


The High Priestess is "mystery". I don't think that traditional meaning applies here, not directly. It is more a reminder of discretion as the better part of valor...it is a reminder that not all love is "out there". You don't have to tell all of your friends or announce yourselves from the rooftops. I think this card is asking you to let things unfold naturally, don't push, and give yourselves the time and privacy he (and maybe you too) might need for good things to happen. 


I usually wrap things up with any general intuitive feelings or impressions that come through, whether they are related to the cards or not. Since the reading is originally yours, I'm not getting anything in that respect. What I suggest is that you pull those cards again, and just look at them quietly, then do an inventory of what you feel. Are there any mental images, words, sounds, sensations, memories...anything...that comes to mind to give you any additional clues to what the reading's message for you might be.


That's all I can help with at this point...to carry the reading any further is up to you. Given the amount of time that has elapsed between the reading and now, what I would suggest is a "one card daily meditation" type of reading for you...


Pull another card, but this time keep you and A***** clearly in mind, but stay open. Let it show you whatever you need to know with regard to the two of you. Look up the meaning of the card in a few places, then try the restful meditation/review of feelings that we just talked about.


Good luck and best wishes to both of you!


Ronda


www.ModernOracleTarot.com


www.RondaSnow.com

Tai Chi and The High Priestess

Roots are important too, but maybe not the kind you might think.

Yesterday's card, the page of wands talked about adaptability and survival. It is the classic analogy of the tree that bends in the wind so it does not break.

Today's card, the 9 of wands speaks to something similar. Think of that same tree in the storm. If the roots are too weak or too shallow, then the tree falls over in a storm, no matter how much it bends in the wind.

The same is true for people. We have to adapt and deal with change to get along in well in life because time passes and stuff changes...that's just the way reality is.

People need something to hold on to, something trustworthy to believe in and hold on to when challenges come along. We need belief-roots because time passes and stuff changes...that's just the way reality is.

We need something to help us hang on while we're bending and adapting.

Say "roots" in this context, and one of the first things to come to mind is the "family values" we learned as children. The reflex is to think of the beliefs of biological family. If that is true for you, well done. Count yourself lucky and hang on tight to that precious tradition.

But what about those people born into addicted, abusive, unhealthy, genuinely dysfunctional families? What about those less fortunate?

Your roots don't have to be the same as those of your biological family. Heck, they don't have to be the same as anybody else's at all. Being different, unique and individual isn't the same as being uprooted, indecisive, floundering or lost. In the words of Tolkien..."not all those who wander are lost".

Roots are the things that connect you to the cosmos...not the connections of those who came before. What worked for them, might not be right for you...that's where we go right back to adaptation. This is a different time, a different generation, and it is only natural to adapt to your own situation and mind-set. Here we draw in the High Priestess card from a few days ago...honoring your inner truth is a high spiritual discipline. It takes a good dose of courage and discipline to believe what you know is true instead of what you've been told is true.

Like the parts of a tree, these three cards together give us a hint how to weather the storms that come along in life... the page teaches adaptability, the wisdom of bending in the wind. The 9 of wands shows us we also need to find our root...to learn our truth and hold tight to it. The Priestess reminds us to be brave. Unless you are a Tai Chi person, the courageousness of rooting and bending is not as obvious as charging full tilt at a problem, like the knight of swords might. The 9 of wands shows us the power of roots, the page of wands shows us the wisdom of bending, and the Priestess shows us the subtle courage it takes to weave the two together and survive the storm.





www.ModernOracleTarot.com

Today's Tarot - The High Priestess

Honoring your inner truth is a high form of spiritual discipline

www.modernoracletarot.com

Money, Romance and Stress

Q. Thanks for your last reading, it really helped. Since then, I've found someone new. ****** is great, and we are really happy together. Now I want to know about money. Finances and school have been a huge stress for me lately. Do you see any calmness coming my way? What can I do to deal with all of this stress?

A. Hi ***

I'm so happy to hear about you and *******. My first instinct is to say treasure that, and put your energy into that. If you have a happy loving supportive relationship, you can cope with all the rest. What would pay for a relationship like that?...it's priceless! So finances and school stress take a back seat to love and relationships sometimes. The important thing is don't let the school and financial stresses put stress on the relationship. Don't let the other bad things corrupt the good thing...give your energy to the relationship, not the stress. Focus on the loving good things and take refuge in that to let you cope with the other stuff and keep it at bay.

But all of that is easier said than done. Another thing that springs to mind, even before picking up the cards, is to work on calming your nerves and dealing with the stress rather than worry about what is coming down the road. More often than not, that's what stress IS, worrying about things that might or might not happen, rather than paying attention to what you have right here, right now. Look at the good things you have now, like ******. Are you familiar with aromatherapy? A blend of lavender and roman chamomile with a drop of sandalwood in a lotion comes to mind. My hunch is that it would be more effective in a body lotion rather than a room scent for you. If you make your own, use good quality oils, 12 drops chamomile, 10 drops lavender, 1or 2 drops sandalwood in 2 oz of whatever unscented oil or lotion you like. Apply it whenever you feel stressed, or at the very least, rub some on your hands, and inhale the scent deeply when you are feeling stressed.

That being said, you probably remember from our other readings that tarot doesn't predict a single thing....so can I see calmness heading your way? No...tarot doesn't see the future, it helps you create it.

So I'm looking at this as a "pathway to happiness" reading, NOT a looking at what is coming.

First, in the general pattern, we start with minor arcana cards then move to a major arcana card. The suggestion there is act now...manage things now to prevent bigger problems later, or at the very least, prepare for what may come in the future. My feeling is that this is a crossroads. Choose your priorities (cherish and take care of things with Angel, don't get so caught up in money stress that it damages things there). Choose well, act wisely, and you can prevent problems later.

The first card is the page of swords. It traditionally means faith. Sometimes I also associate it with trust. Being in the "lessons from the past" position, my instinct is to ask if there is someone you trust to give you advice about the finances. In my mind's eye I see an older man, with white hair. The hair could be literal or just symbolic. But it is something to think about. If you get guidance and make a plan about what to do with school and money, and plan for the various outcomes that are causing you stress, then they won't seem as stressful anymore.

The "lesson now" is the 4 of wands meaning a strong foundation. This card is more cautioning than the advice of the last card. This seems to say 'rely on your foundation' 'go with what you know'. Now may not be a good time for risk or searching the unknown.

This may seem like a paradox compared to the final card, the High Priestess. Traditionally, this card is read as "mystery" or "mysteries of the universe". I get the feeling that learning to see hidden meanings may help you move forward. If you learn to read the subtitles of a situation, that makes them feel less risky and stressful too. What is a mask, and what isn't? What is the hidden messages behind the things that worry you? What is undue worry about the future, and what is your intuition giving you a warning that something may be wrong now, or may go wrong soon if you don't act. You've learned difficult lessons about romance. Now is the time to learn cunning, wisdom about the world at large...less focus on the emotional, more focus on the "nothing personal" "it's just business" work-a-day (and sometimes very cut-throat competitive world)

As I look at this without the cards, I again get the image of you and ****** in a bubble, light, light blue, a separate thing from the other stresses.

I get the sense of protecting that through advice, logic, learning the "street smarts" of things...but not dragging that mud and dark into your place of light and love. Kind of the emotional equivalent of taking off muddy boots before you go inside the house, if that makes sense.

And there it ends.

I certainly wish you and ****** all the best, and good luck with school and everything else too!

Baihu
http://www.modern-oracle-tarot.com

(Sometimes I do readings for a volunteer online consulting site...I use the pen name "Baihu" there.)

Today's Tarot - High Priestess

The mysterious is just an unexplored corner of the infinite.




www.modern-oracle-tarot.com
www.rondasnow.com

Daily Meditation - The High Priestess

High Priestess: A card of mystery. Sometimes surprises are fun. Knowing the future would be like knowing how a movie ends. Avoid spoilers and enjoy the ride. It is a lesson in appreciating things as they are...not endlessly striving for what-may-never-be. A little mystery is a normal part of nature and life.

www.modern-oracle-tarot.com