tribeca tarot reader

Asking the right questions

2012-02-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

It’s interesting how you develop your own technique and then go on line and see that you are doing the exact opposite of what everyone else is doing! I always tell people when they ask questions to try and be as specific as possible, if they are too vague I always get annoying cards of ‘look to your intuition’, which doesn’t feel helpful at all!

I can’t answer a question like ‘what career should I follow’ but I can answer a question like ‘is teaching a good idea for me?’ So I’ve been encouraging people to ask ‘yes/no’ questions - specific questions, like will my relationship work out? Should I do an MBA? Is this the right job for me? Should I look for a new job right soon? Will I find love soon?

Then I read on line how some people think the tarot doesn’t like yes/no questions… I guess tarot cards respond to what the reader feels comfortable with. I like clarity, so when people ask me clear questions, I can help them find the answers.

Third Anniversary

2012-02-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the three year anniversary of this blog. I’m very happy about that. I’ve put a lot of love and effort here, and feel really proud of it.

If this is your first time to the blog, I discuss all matters tarot here, as well as some themes that recur in my tarot readings. I started it to show people that I am serious and informed about the tarot, although the readings themselves are often full of laughter.

I use tarot to explore what is going on in your life in the here and now, and to see how where you are putting your energy today is affecting your future. I always stress that nothing in the cards is set in stone, there is always free will or random chance. But the cards do accurately reflect what is going on in your life today, and can predict from that what is likely to happen in the near future, and from that many discussions can flow…

Please explore around the site. In the beginning I wrote about what tarot means, and then about each of the 78 tarot cards, and then I explored what groupings of cards meant, and I’ll continue blogging about the readings I have the issues that come to light. Enjoy…

8 Measureable things…

2012-01-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

I have read so many relationship books that I can’t remember where I read this or if it is an amalgamation of many books, but this is one thing I’ve often recommended in the past for couples who came to me for counseling.

Create a list of 8 measureable things that you would like your spouse/partner to do for you. Being kind or listening more doesn’t count, it has to be something concrete and quantifiable – e.g. Empty the dishwasher every day without being asked or thanked - or let’s have a designated night in the week where we go out separately, with our own friends – a clear measurable task or event where everyone can know if it has happened or not.. Women often write about household chores, men often write about sex, but not always…

Then you read each other’s lists and each agree to do 3 things on it. People often find their partner’s list fascinating – so this is what you really want from me, right now…

If you can’t manage that, then the relationship is in a sorry state and you need quick intervention/counseling. But most couples can agree and it’s amazing how quickly they feel better about things, as these needs start to get met in a way they can both recognize.

Of the literally hundreds of relationship books that I’ve read, one that stands out and that I happily recommend is Getting the Love You Want, by Harville Hendrix

Using Tarot for Personal Gain

2012-01-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

A while ago my sister sent me this interesting article… and in it Alexander Chee was writing about how Tarot no longer worked for him, because he had been leaning on it too heavily as he read for himself how lovers felt about him and then no longer felt the need to clarify things with them, and not surprisingly his relationships started to fail.

I have to say it’s been years since I’ve even tried to read for myself. I can read really well for others, but whenever I tried to read for myself, I got mud, and couldn’t see anything. One thing I think, without trying to sound too pure, is that Tarot works best in service. If I serve others, it works, if I use to serve myself, it doesn’t. And that’s the kind of tarot I’m comfortable with.

The author in the article was like the one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind, giving himself too much power and then everything got blurry. But if you understand we are all short sighted, but the Tarot helps us look ahead with more clarity, that’s how it works best.

Beautiful top painting is by Ariel Brearly

Lots of queens

2012-01-10T04:55:00.001-08:00

I’ve gone through the cards individually and am now looking at what groupings of cards mean – what does it mean if you draw lots of queens? Drawing lots of any card intensifies the message of each individual card. If you draw lots of Queens it can mean that there are a lot of women in your life, or a lot of feminine energy. It may mean you want more male energy to balance all these Queens or that each queen is a different aspect of yourself.

The Queen of Wands is fiery and sensual, The Queen of Swords is intellectual and can be cutting, the Queen of Cups is intuitive and empathic and the Queen of Pentacles is grounded and nurturing. And all these Queens relate to the Empress, who is fertile with possibility. I always stress that the court cards are really complex and need the context of your individual reading to make true sense of them. (of course, that applies to all cards, but court cards in particular!)

New Year's Wishes

2011-12-29T14:34:00.001-08:00

Neil Gaiman said it beautifullly a few years ago:- May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

Wishing you all good things for the new year...

Liat

My Current favorite review

2011-12-19T18:05:00.000-08:00

I am so grateful when people write reviews about our readings. I'm up to 90 reviews at Citysearch right now, and if Yelp didn't filter most of the reviews, I would have 60 there (you can read all of them by clicking on the word 'filtered')

This is my favorite current review - from Citysearch
I went to Liat 6 months ago and I was so mad about my cards that I just wrote off our first meaning. Half the things she said were thing I didn't want to hear or thought they were completely wrong. After 6 months everything she said would happen has happened. I decided to go back to her and tell her everything and this time I had an open mind. She is truly understanding and you can tell she only wants the best for you and that you may not get the cards you want but take it in and do something about it. I will definitely see her again and have already recommend her to my friends.

And I loved it because it was completely true about her feelings. I remembered our first reading and I could see she didn't want to acknowledge what I was saying... but I can't change the cards. If that's what I see, that's what I report... So I was so happy when she returned and told me that she hadn't believed me and didn't like what I was saying and then everything I said came true and now she's ready to listen again...

A lot of the reviews talk about how I don't sugar coat things. But I've come to the place in life where I really do prefer a hard truth to a soft lie. If we start with truth we can get somewhere, but if we hide in lies, it's all soft and sinking quicksand and there's no way out...

Transitioning

2011-12-11T12:38:00.000-08:00

I often see the two of swords, when people have moved from defending themselves to an entrenched position and in danger of becoming defensive. It’s a hard card to live with, and one of the things I always tell people is that although the woman in the chair is safe, she’s also isolated and can no longer see the situation clearly.

So the question is always, how do we get out of that position? The other day I had a reading where the client drew the two of swords and in the position on top of that card, she drew the Queen of Swords. And I said - that’s a perfect transition!

Before she would go from having two swords up to putting both swords down and then being too vulnerable, and then lifting both swords up and feeling trapped. The solution is to have one sword up, strong and capable of defense/protection, but it leaves the other hand free, to reach out and connect.

I love the visual short hand of the tarot.

Much to be thankful for

2011-11-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. I like it for lots of reasons, but mainly because a) the food is delicious, b) there is no crazy gift buying agenda and c) it asks us to be Thankful. I’m always grateful to be reminded of things to be thankful for.

I don’t want to sound so pure, like I don’t get snarky and mean… but I do think we rush through our lives and the details sometimes blur, and taking a day (or three!) to prepare a festive feast, or to sit with others who have prepared food with love and care, and then to have time to walk in the woods and see the earth get ready to wind down for winter, leaves making a soft cushion, ready for snow, helps us become part of the life cycle again.

I know we are always separating ourselves from nature, being warmer or cooler than the weather outside, being dryer or cleaner than any animal could be. But I think it’s always worthwhile to remember life goes in cycles. That thanksgiving and autumn fall in the same time, that family and food are precious to me and that it really is only about time together, that there is no gift giving frenzy, just makes this my favorite holiday.

Lots of Knights…

2011-11-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

I’ve gone through what every individual card means in this blog, now I am going through what clusters of cards mean… What does it mean if you have lots of knights in your reading? Again, I have to put in the caveat that the court cards are amongst the most complex of the tarot cards and need sensitive interpretation.

You put the knight cards in front of you and the first thing you see is a lot of young men on horses. There is an adolescent intensity here, a rushing towards something, a yearning. In their youth, they are not jaded or cynical, but rather they believe in their causes fiercely, and are willing to fight for their beliefs. And the most important thing the Knight needs to know, with all his action and his feelings – is he riding in the right direction?

The Knight of pentacles is stuck, needing movement, the knight of cups, also known as the seeker of hearts, is more deliberate, and often looking for love. The knight of wands is all energy but often not enough planning and the knight of swords is storming forth with anger and impatience. And all 4 are hoping to make it to Death, the other horseman in the tarot deck, who is riding in the right direction and is all about transformational change.

Article in Nerve.com

2011-11-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Colette McIntyre from nerve.com contacted me and asked if she could do an interview, asking for sex advice from a psychic - and here it is!

Telephones...

2011-10-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

I’ve always had a bit of a frustrating relationship with phones. For some reason I don’t hear very well on them, especially when there is a lot of background noise. There’s no point taking calls when I’m out – people want to set up appointments and I have to look at my calendar which is at home, so all I can do is say I will call them back. But my iphone has terrible reception in my apartment…

Friends laugh when they hear my phone message, which essentially asks to send me an email. But emails are clean and reliable for me, and while a few do go astray, most of them are answered pretty quickly. However phone messages languish until I can find a moment... But that moment somehow is always after 11pm when I can’t return any of them…

All of which means, I apologize, but phone is really not the best way to connect with me, email is far better! (and yes, I am sending them out at 11 pm but that doesn’t bother anyone!)

Hope to hear from you soon,
Warmly,
Liat

Changing Decks

2011-10-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

People like reading from old decks, there is something about the sense that other hands have handled these cards, that they have a history, that they (and I!) like. However, over the course of a year, hundreds of people will have shuffled those cards and after a while they start to look tired. I change my deck about once a year, when the old cards start to get frayed and dog eared. The time has come… today I start with my new sleek deck…

I use a version of the Rider Waite deck, called the Radiant Rider Waite Tarot, which is basically a brighter, more colorful version of their original drawings.

If anyone wants the old one, just drop me a line and you can come and pick them up…

Lots of pages

2011-10-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

I've gone through each card individually, now I am going through clusters of cards. What does it mean if your draw lots of pages in your reading? Every time I start discussing the court cards I always feel that I have to add the warning that court cards in particular need sensitive readings and a generic approach doesn’t work with them. A page can mean many different things depending on the context.

Phew, said it, now I can go on with what does it mean if you draw lots of pages?

Well, first it depends how old you are. If you are under 26, it means it’s all good. You are starting, new, fresh, young, and putting yourself out there. However, if you are older, it means that you feel a little young for your position, and need more gravitas. And if you are over 40, it means you really need to examine your life, you should have older, more established cards and you are feeling too unsettled, too inexperienced, and are making too many ‘newbie’ mistakes… (Or it could mean that you have lots of children in your life… see, it needs sensitive readings!)

Lots of ten's

2011-09-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, I’ve gone through every single card of the tarot and looked at their meanings (just type the card you are interested in the upper left hand corner and it should appear!) Now I am looking at the numbers. I’m just finishing the pip cards – the numbers cards, and then it’s only the court cards left! What does it mean if we draw lots of 10's in our reading?

It means life is particularly action packed and intense right now. The 10’s link to the Wheel of Fortune, the card of karmic change. Tens are about completion but of course we’ve only really completed when we are dead, so at the same turn of the wheel, we start again…

10 of cups is when we want to hold the moment, have the ‘happy ever after’; 10 of pentacles is when growth and stability are hampered by tradition/family demands; 10 of wands is when the burden is too much and we feel like we are endlessly pushing the rock up the hill and the 10 of swords is when change is inevitable, we can’t survive the current situation, in order to be able to get up, we must change.

I read somewhere that the 10’s were the culmination of the physical and spiritual aspects of each suit, the end of the long road, and the last of the pip cards. If you draw a lot of tens, then you are coming to the end of cycle, but it’s an intense ending, with a bang, not a whimper…

September 11th, 2011

2011-09-11T06:08:00.001-07:00

I live a few blocks from the World Trade Centre. We moved to the US in January 2002. I knew, of course, that 9/11 had happened, and felt horror and sadness and shock, but I didn’t understand what it meant that the city below Canal Street was closed; I didn’t know where Canal Street was. I did know that I found the Upper West Side completely overwhelming, and that when we moved into Tribeca in February, a mere 5 months after 9/11, at a time when most people were moving out, it felt like a small, quiet haven. There were often times when there were no cars on the streets at all in the middle of the day (almost impossible to conceptualize now) and when I walked around with my then 4 year old, people noticed us, said hello, seemed glad someone was moving in.

I’ve lived in Tribeca ever since, feel very much part of the village life here. I was president of the PTA at the local public school; I served for a few years on the Community Board, I’ve attended many meetings about restaurants and community growth, several meetings on the World Trade Centre specifically.

One year I accidentally booked some readings on 9/11, but I won’t do that again. The energy is too weird: too many people, too much grief, excitement, anger in the air. I won’t walk down there today. It’s too crowded and there is too much security. But I am glad that they are getting the pools filled. I look forward to walking by them one afternoon. My hope is that it will give a chance for reflection.

It’s all in the cards

2011-09-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes well meaning friends try to tell me that it’s not the cards that give information, rather it’s my training as a therapist, or my ability to read people, the cards themselves are so general and vague and the person can see whatever they like in what I say, they argue. But, I reply, I read for strangers every day, and every day I tell them something I could not possibly know, and it’s not vague at all, it’s specific and personal.

Recently I did a reading for a woman, and after 40 minutes of chatting she asked one last question about her mother. She had not mentioned her feelings toward her mother at all throughout the reading and this last question was almost an afterthought. She drew Star reversed/ 5 of swords Reversed / 2 of pentacles Reversed.

I looked at her and said you have a relationship where neither of you get what you wish for, either she or you feel like the other one is stealing their swords, and that you feel you are always dropping the ball around her and letting her down. And she gasped and said, ‘how did you know?’

I didn’t know… I only described that the cards told me…

The two gorgeous paintings are by Chidi Oyeke
Procession
Pot of Life

All information is useful…

2011-08-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

I have been reading cards for over 25 years, both here and in the UK and in Australia. When I got to the US, I started reading for friends, and then friends of friends, but eventually that group started to wear thin. One day, in late 2009, I looked at the latest Groupon email and thought, maybe I could expand through them…

When I contacted them, their representative was not receptive. "No, we won’t consider you, you’re not professional."
What do you mean I’m not professional? I’ve been doing it for years.
"You’re not on Yelp, you’re not on City Search, we’re not interested."

And she hung up, leaving me feeling very unsettled and rather depressed. It took me a week or so, as I mulled over it, and I came to realize that she had given me really good information. So I looked up Yelp and Citysearch, and, shaking off any anxieties, I got myself listed on both of them.

In a full circle, about 7 months later someone from Groupon rang me - "We’ve seen your amazing reviews on Yelp and Citysearch, would you like to be on Groupon?" Their offer didn’t work out financially for me, but was I very pleased that they had rung!

That’s what I mean when I tell people all information is useful. Even when it is something you don’t expect or want to hear, once you know it, you can use it, and improve your situation.

Lots of 9’s

2011-08-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

When we get 3 of one number, it usually intensifies the message of each card. If you get lots of 9’s, the end is within sight, but we are striving harder to get there.

The 9 of cups is contentment, striving towards the happy ever after of the 10 of cups. The 9 of wands is striving towards victory, but facing one battle after another. The 9 of swords is when the swords we carry turn against us, and the battle must be confronted before your anxieties ruin everything. The 9 of pentacles gaining entrance to the garden of luxury - the reward after the striving.

But if you get a lot of 9’s it means that there is an edge to your energy, a striving that isn’t being satisfied and isn’t complete yet. You need to go to the Hermit, the major arcana card associated with 9, and start to work through your own journey to get to the next state. 9’s are about figuring out what you are seeking and then finding it.

The first picture is by Ocean Surf Life by Gay Jefferson
And the second image is Striving for a Composed Image by Jason Altobelli

What is the difference between an astrologist and a tarot card reader?

2011-08-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Recently a few people have asked me what is the difference between astrologists and tarot card readers.

Both require in depth knowledge of their own particular field. I always say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I don’t know much about astrology, so I immediately tell people that I know nothing, rather than act on the small amount of knowledge that I do have. Essentially, both astrologists and tarot readers are looking at the patterns in your life, but astrologists are looking at it via the movements of the stars and sun and tarot card readers are looking at it through the energy revealed by the cards you draw.

I usually give the analogy that we are both musicians, but the tarot card reader is playing the piano while the astrologists is playing the violin. We can appreciate each other’s skills and don’t always replicate each other’s results, even though we are both making music…

I always like to credit the images if I can
The first image is Jack Frost by Christopher Mir the last image is from Alan Scheurman's CD cover Old Patterns and sadly I don't know who created the middle image.

Lots of 8’s

2011-07-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

I've gone through all the individual cards and the suits, now I am looking at the numbers. What does it mean if we draw lots of 8's in our reading?

Whenever I think of the figure 8, I see it lie sideways, and make the shape of infinity… Eight in tarot is a number of karma and destiny. It also asks us to see things clearly.

I like the progression from the 8 of wands, energy wasted, to the 8 of swords, feeling trapped, to the 8 of cups, walking away with wisdom, to the 8 of pentacles, solidly back in the groove. The eights encourage us to evaluate our situation, let go of what doesn’t work, and make way for the new.

The image of the 8 in crop circles comes from psychedelic adventure
The beautiful quilt of the 8 of cups was made by Joyce Hartley

Independence Day

2011-07-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

As people, we don’t have one day of suddenly becoming independent. We have independence moments – a college graduation, when you learn to fix the dishwasher yourself, when you organize a business loan... those moments are worth celebrating!

Of course independence means something different to each person. No one is truly independent, ‘no man is an island’. I always think of humans as a pack animal. We need other people around us, people we can rely on, people who rely on us; family, friends, work mates.

A 50 year old woman I read for recently lamented that since her grandparents death, she has no one to go home to, no one to give her shelter from the storm and allow her time to regroup.

A lot of the people in their mid twenties who come to me are also struggling with what does independence look like for them, some thought they would be further ahead than they are now, some still want to stay home.

A sense of independence comes when we find we can do certain things on our own, and carry certain burdens for those we love, and feel a sense of competence in the world. And that’s worth some fireworks!

Adding light to your life

2011-06-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

I'm forever telling people to light candles. Lighting a candle is an ancient ritual and helps create a sacred space...

Well here is a beautiful idea - 365 candles, each inscribed with an inspirational word.

I'm far more likely to use one a week, so this will keep me going for years! :)

Now that I've had some time to think about it, I've decided on these candles - I will burn one a month till it goes, and then find the charm on the bottom of the candle... what could be more charming?

Steering through a tarot reading

2011-06-16T10:41:00.001-07:00

Sometimes readings go in themes. I had two readings in a row the other week where three quarters way through the reading, the person confessed that they had been to a different tarot reader the week before (I know, it’s my fault, making people wait so long to see me!) But I wasn’t annoyed, instead I said, well, were the cards the same or different?

One, a man, said that both of us had given the exact same outcome, though my cold reading was better. Seeing that the outcome was that he should stop dating women and let himself recover from a broken relationship, he agreed that he indeed would stop torturing himself and those poor women and only hang with friends till the end of the summer.

The other, a woman, told me that both I and the other reader had told her that her ex, would not come back to her (she then told me that he had since moved in with another woman) But she didn’t see why that couldn’t happen and wanted to wait…

We are all the captains of our ship, and if we have our heart set on one direction, a tarot reading can warn of rocks ahead, but we can’t change the course, only you can…

Lots of 7’s

2011-06-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

In case you’ve just dropped into the blog, earlier I went through each individual card (you can look them up by typing the card name in the top left hand corner next to the B - or just starting at the very beginning of the blog and wandering through) Now that I’ve gone through the suits, I am going through the numbers. What does it mean if you draw lots of sevens in your reading?

Seven links with the Chariot in the Major Arcana, a card of will power and drive.

Seven is a powerful number in our lives, forever linked with the seven days of the week and the famous phrase ‘on the seventh day God rested’ – meaning seven is a natural number of stopping and thinking, work and evaluation, introspection and contemplation.

In tarot, the 7 of pentacles is literally thinking about the fruits of your labor, the 7 of cups is having too much choice, not knowing what to think, the 7 of swords is betrayal, someone stealing your capacity to think, and the 7 of wands is the struggle to find your voice, to defend your thoughts to the world. If you draw many 7’s in a reading, the cards are telling you to stop, watch your choices, think very clearly about the matters at hand.

I can't always credit the images, I don't always know where they came from but when I do know, I always try to acknowledge the artist.
The image of the Chariot is by Joe Bandel
The beautiful cloud photo was taken by Angela Craggs
And the lovely last image is by Michael Devine
I don't know where the first image came from, if you do, please let me know...

How to use this blog

2011-05-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

Every so often, as more new people come to my blog, I want to retell how and why it was created. My intention was to go through every single card in the tarot, all 78 of them, and give my spin on them. It took me two years and earlier this year I had finally completed it! I’m very happy with the images I’ve collected and the stories I’ve told. If you want to find a particular card, just type in its name in the top left hand box on this page, and it will turn up!

After you do a reading with me, I often send links to the cards that appeared in your reading, to help remind you and give you a chance to look at them again. What I say to you in your reading is often more personal and idiosyncratic than the general interpretations in the blog, but hopefully they help remind you of our discussion.

It’s also my chance to show people that I am serious and educated in the tarot. Our readings often have laughter in them, but the underlying intention is to use the tarot to see where you are putting your energy, and see if it is giving you the results that you want. That’s the entire hour reading in a nutshell.

I have very few bookings left in July and am starting to book in August right now. I love reading the tarot, because I meet people and talk to them about what is important to them, and we help each other see things in a new way.

Lots of 6’s

2011-05-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

What does it mean if you draw many 6's in your reading?

After the struggles of the 5’s, harmony and equilibrium is restored with the 6’s. If your reading has many 6’s it means insight and solutions to problems. 6 of wands is victory itself, 6 of cups is nostalgia/ gifts from childhood, 6 of swords is moving on (with sorrow, but still, it’s better than being stuck!) and 6 of pentacles is an attempt to balance inequity. (which is actually a very nice reading of it, I usually see it as something harsher)

As the 6 connects to the Lovers card, it’s easy to see that a choice is made, a balance is found. So lots of 6’s are a welcome energy, showing that good things are coming ones way, and struggles are receding.

Tattoos

2011-05-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

Whenever I read for someone with a tattoo, I always ask them what it means for them. I’m fascinated by tattoos, by the idea of putting something indelibly on your flesh and carrying it for the rest of your life.

One of the waiters at Kitchenette, a charming restaurant where I often do readings, had the 3 of swords tattooed on his arm, (I should have photographed it at the time!) and I said to him that’s a hard card to carry and he said it reminded him of a hard lesson and a mistake he won’t make again. Sometimes a way to let the pain go is to honor it… Personally I would rather have the Empress on my arm!

So I was thinking what would I get tattooed? I often think of getting ‘in the end, only kindness matters’ on the nape of my neck.

What would you get tattooed?

While looking for the best images, I came across
tattoosday, - lots of great images and stories there, and Check out my ink - less stories, but more images. (I like the ones with stories best)

Back in the big apple

2011-04-26T12:10:00.001-07:00

Hello!

Just came back after a beautiful week walking in the woods, feeling clear and calm. Taking bookings for June now, and looking forward to meeting you,

warmly,

Liat

Tribeca Tarot Reader

646-241-8244

Away for the next two weeks

2011-04-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

I am a away (going to walk in the woods, and get out of the city for a moment!) for the next two weeks.

During that time I will be uncontactable by phone but I will be checking my email once a day and if you wish to make a booking, you can do so by email - contact me via tribecatarotreader@gmail.com and we can set something up. I am currently booking for late May, early June.

In the meanwhile, I wish you all well,

warmly,

Liat

Tribeca Tarot Reader

Recording Readings

2011-04-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

People often ask me if they can take notes or record a reading and I always say ‘of course!’

Then I was talking about it to a client the other day, I said that in therapy, the therapist can record the session but the client can’t; and I thought, isn’t that ridiculous?

If a client had asked me to record a session when I was a therapist I would have seen it as a challenge and tried to interpret it. But really, it’s just that sessions can give a lot of information, and that can feel overwhelming. Recording the session allows you to relax, you can experience it and know that the machine will help you with all the details afterwards. Of course, I don’t know how often people listen to these recordings afterwards, some I suspect never do! But one woman told me that her daughter had played her reading to her, and then the mother had chosen to come to me too, so clearly some recordings have a life of their own…

I guess what I’m saying here is, is that I prefer the liberation of working with Tarot in so many ways.

Beautiful hand image by Elena Ray (I find so many of her images to love!)
And the last image is Patricia Awapara's Sanctuary

Lots of 5’s?

2011-03-30T09:31:00.001-07:00

Numerologically 5 represents change. In tarot, the fours were about stability and maintaining what you have built up but the fives are about instability and the loss of some of what you have. If you draw lots of 5’s you are in a power struggle of some kind.

Five of wands is struggle/conflict, five of cups is sorrow and regret, 5 of swords is defeat and malice, and 5 of pentacles always feels like the worst five to me, out in the cold, suffering.

Power Struggle image by Janet Bloch

Radio Interview

2011-03-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the radio interview I did with the very lovely Deirdre Hughey

Liat Silberman – Benefitting from Tarot
Ever been curious about Tarot Reading?
Liat helps to clear the air.

Very pleased with it!

Beautiful image from Dina Sierra

Four Square

2011-03-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

What does it mean when you draw several fours?
Four is the number of stability in tarot, a number of completion – 4 seasons to make a year, 4 directions to make a compass, the 4 suits of the tarot itself.

The 4 of wands is consistent happiness, the wedding card, but the fours can also manifest as too much consistency – the 4 of swords is about things being too quiet and the 4 of cups is about boredom or stagnation and retreating into fantasy. Finally the 4 of pentacles can show a feeling of tightness, of holding on rather than welcoming change. The ultimate 4 is the Emperor, who holds on so tightly it becomes hard to breathe. All these cards are about upholding the existing order, maintaining the status quo.

When you get 4’s things are structured and consistent, and if there are too many 4’s, we should explore the view that there might be too much stability, making for stagnation and a need for change.

Picture of 4 elements is by May Ann Licudine
Picture of 4 seasons by onutzaC

Transitions

2011-03-10T18:04:00.000-08:00

One theme I am finding right now, is that I am seeing a lot of women in their mid 20's – who are out of college, finally in the workforce, and now wondering - what is the next step? Education, culminating in a college degree, has such a clear and clean path - write this paper, finish that assignment, go up one year, have more responsibilities, write this thesis, and voila, you have graduated!

Work is a far less defined space and that is a transition that requires an adjustment. Either they take on too much or too little, feel guilty for making career moves, or feel abandoned when colleagues turn out not to be friends. Often they get cards like the seven of cups, where rather than feeling empowered, they feel overwhelmed by their options, scared to open one door lest another one closes.

We talk in the readings about taking this time to sort out what they really want, and starting to target that, creating their own agendas, rather than following someone else’s. But sorting out what you really want… that’s the key.

Threes:

2011-03-02T11:10:00.001-08:00

What do having several 3’s mean for tarot? Well if Ace is force and two is duality then there is the combination of them: insight. Some call three, the triad, a perfect number because it signifies totality - beginning, middle, end; past, present and future; mind, body and spirit. As I think about this I see threes everywhere – 3 bears, 3 wishes, 3 little pigs, 3 graces…

In the tarot the 3 of wands is waiting… waiting for your ships to come, waiting for results, while the 3 of cups is joy, being in the moment, happy now. The 3 of swords is pain, in the moment, feeling full of sorrow and loss, while the 3 of pentacles is harmony, creative joy at work.

If you get a lot of threes feel what is going on at the moment, but also be aware that the moment will change, you have the past, are in the present but the future is coming… Whatever the situation, look at it from all three aspects – mind, body and spirit, sometimes you are feeding one and not the other… In the Major Arcana, Threes correspond to the Empress, where we can give birth to our hopes and ambitions.

Twos:

2011-02-21T09:59:00.000-08:00

Here’s where it starts to get mysterious (just a friendly warning) The Major Arcana counterpart to the twos is the High Priestess, which is all about intuition and balance, and the Hanged Man, which is all about choice and insight. The two’s deal with duality.

To understand one aspect, we need to know its opposite number – yin/yang, sour/sweet, good/bad. To truly know one, we need to see the other as well. So if you get many twos and/or the High Priestess in your cards, you are struggling with dualities/cause and effect, looking for your path between the two goal posts.

The two of wands is balancing existing skills with future goals, the two of cups is about balanced relationships, two of swords is about defensiveness verses seeing things clearly and the two of pentacles is the eternal juggle of life, keeping those 2 balls in the air.

Hamsa art by Zoe Cohen

All Aces

2011-02-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

What does having more than one Ace mean?
Aces are the distillation of their suit. I always say that the ace is a yes - whatever the question, if you draw an ace the answer is yes. The ace is a focus, an opportunity, a burst of energy. The ace is a new beginning, and a clearing of the way. They are the active energy of the suit they embody. If you want to know more about your particular Ace, I’ve written about them here: ace of wands, ace of cups, ace of swords, ace of pentacles.

If you are drawing more than one Ace (I’ve had a few readings, not many, where people get 3 – 4 aces) then you are really in an energy filled place, you can get things done, make things happen for yourself.

Blog Art

2011-02-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons I'm so happy with my blog is that I can decorate it with images that just really speak to me. I find these images all over the place and can't always credit the artist; sometimes I've just found them in other blogs, with no explanation given (sometimes they found them on other blogs...) But I am trying to be mindful and if I can name the artist, I will do so, and link to their sites.

One artist I’ve come across online who I use frequently here is Elena Ray - You can buy prints of her beautiful images, and I just thought I would share her name with you because she gives me so much joy.

And this is an excellent site for more images.

Two Year Anniversary

2011-02-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

So it’s two years ago to the day that I started this blog. And I’m so grateful, I got nearly a thousand hits over the past month, and every month more people read it.

It also means that I’m getting busier. Two years ago, you could have rung and seen me on the day. Last year, you could ring in and see me within a few days. These last few months, especially this year (all 4 weeks of it!) I’m booking 10 days in advance. It’s wonderful and I’m grateful, but I’m also aware that I’m having to say no to a lot of people. Of course most of them let me book them in a week or so later, but not everyone can do that. I’m also aware of time and inspiration and being in the moment, and I’m sorry that I can’t let everyone in.

Just to let you know that I do a maximum of 3 readings a day. I find this keeps me fresh and focused for everyone. My goal is not to cram in the most amount of people, but to be truly present to everyone I read for. So I’m trusting its worth the wait, and you can still come and see me…

Numbers

2011-01-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

As you read the cards, you realize it’s not the individual cards that count so much, it’s the pattern that appears – all major arcana? Something major is going on! All knights and no kings? All wands and no pentacles? All these mean something. I can’t tell you how often (and off the probability charts) Death is accompanied by either Judgment or the Wheel of Fortune.

Another aspect that has real meaning is the numbers. How many aces, how many twos etc are in your reading. Each number – Ace to 10, has a counterpart in the major arcana. For the next while I’m going to explore not the suit, but the number of the cards, and the implication that has…

Sometimes I come across someone who has said it so much better than I ever did – so here I am quoting Aeclectic Tarot Constellations: Tarot constellations are defined as all cards that carry the same prime number (prime numbers being the numbers one through nine). For the number four, the Tarot constellations would be the number Four card from each of the suits, the Emperor (which carries the number four), and Death (which carries the number thirteen, and reduces to the number four (1+3=4) ).

Learning from my clients

2011-01-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

I love the cards! I mean, people come to me, and shuffle some cardboard and expect to learn something about their lives, so they aren't so surprised when I'm accurate, but I'm constantly amazed at how much those cards tell me.

But I don't only give information, I also learn from my clients. Today I was speaking to this very nice man who is looking for more purpose in his life and we deduced that what he needs is to be: centered, purposeful, kind. And then I said to him I want that mantra! I want to be centered, purposeful, kind. What a gift, to hear the word you want to define your life. I grateful to him and I will continue to work towards that goal.

Interviewed by Tribeca Citizen

2011-01-24T09:10:00.000-08:00

Lovely interview with me on Tribeca Citizen. Many thanks to Erik Torkells for making it happen!

Every card accounted for

2011-01-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

Feel so happy that I have finally gone through all 78 cards, and finished my first pass at the Tarot pack. Of course, there is always more to write - don't worry, the blog will continue - but I feel a real sense of accomplishment that this has been completed.

King of Pentacles:

2011-01-17T10:10:00.001-08:00

The King of Pentacles is a loyal, trustworthy, stable, wealthy man. I call him ideal husband material. He may not have the flash and fire of the king of wands or the empathy and charm of the King of cups, but he is there when you need him, he is reliable and resourceful, and ultimately that counts for a lot!

When we are younger, his steadiness and pragmatism can appear a bit boring. He is not going to be the funniest guy in the room or the one who approaches you first at a club. But he is going to be the one who follows through on his word, if he says he will call, he does. He is the most paternal of the King cards, and wants kids.

He is often referred to as a farmer, who knows how to grow and sustain his fields with his competence and hard work and then live a good life, within his means. He’s a very comforting, comfortable man to make a home with.

Queen of Pentacles

2011-01-10T09:38:00.001-08:00

In my mind, the Queen of Pentacles is the sort of woman who likes to welcome people into her home and feed them really good soup. She’s nurturing but also pragmatic, down to earth and resourceful, but also warm and good humored. She’s a kind of earth mother: abundant and fertile.

Of all the Queens, she is the most interested in the home, hearth and motherhood. She is of the pentacles, so she’s good with money/finances, she enjoys luxury and she has generosity of spirit. She’s not the most sophisticated or stylish woman, but she is comfortable in her own skin, and that’s really grace enough.

If this card is not a specific woman, then it represents practicality, security/stability and financial success. As an outcome card you can’t ask for better – it means that the outcome you desire is achievable. For women desiring to fall pregnant, she, like the Empress, is a definite yes.

Knight of Pentacles

2011-01-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to look at this knight. Between thought and action, we should always take a pause - to ensure we are doing the right thing. We should all look before we leap, check one last time, be certain. But sometimes in that pause between thought and action, we get stuck, and not finding 100% certainty, we never move. This knight can be either – the prudent pause, or the stuck one.

I look at this man and see him as all dressed up and nowhere to go… He has everything he needs, he has the right degree, the right experience, the right time, all he needs is to do is get in the car and move! But sometimes we get frozen and think we need something more – that it has to be perfect before we start, and of course the perfect conditions never arise. We can get lost in details and forget the big picture.

The inner child version portrays him aptly as the seeker of courage. In the very act of looking for courage, he proves that he has courage enough – but he needs to prove that to himself. When I see this Knight, usually I tell the person that they have everything they need, they just need to take the risk and take action.

Joan Borysenko

2010-12-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

I read a lot of spiritual/self help books and listen to an enormous amount of meditation cd's. One that I came across and really liked was by Joan Borysenko, and I put myself on her mailing list and she just sent me a notice that she is giving a free on line workshop Forgiveness: An Essential Component in Health and Healing Free 3-Lesson Live Series with Joan Borysenko and Robin Casarjian
Hay House Live Online Course Thursdays: January 6, 13, 20 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)

I've heard recorded lectures of hers and they've been fun and enlightening, so if anyone has the time and inclination, I would encourage them to sign up for this. (I've not heard of Robin Casarjian, but I'm counting on Joan to find an equal quality companion)

Page of Pentacles

2010-12-26T16:49:00.000-08:00

All the good things of the pentacle suit – wealth, stability and achievement are augured here. The page is the promise of grounding, of a strong start, of beginning something with legs.

If the page is a person, then this is an old soul – young of body but old of mind. This person is the best of all things – a constructive dreamer. Sometimes they may appear too serious or pragmatic, the pentacles generally lack that spark of charisma, but they are usually generous and good hearted.

Court Card Qualification

2010-12-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

Whenever it’s time to start the court cards I find myself hesitating. The court cards most of all resist pat interpretations, and can mean significantly different things, depending on where they lie and what cards fall next to them. With the court cards, more than any other, context matters. So I find I have to write this caveat before I start, and only then can I let myself go forward and write these summaries…

10 of Pentacles, Inner Child

2010-12-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

The inner child cards do not strictly follow the Rider Waite pack interpretations, and in the pentacles in particular they differ widely, so I will occasionally give them their own link.

This version is all about warmth and the idealized family time that Christmas can present. It’s about family traditions and togetherness, feeling true gratitude and being open to the gifts that life has for you.

beauty on the internet

2010-12-06T11:26:00.001-08:00

When I first started reading tarot cards, there was no Internet, not even a hint of one. So I learnt through books and readings and buying the very occasional pack. I can't draw at all, but I tried to create my own pack, which just helped deepen my knowledge of the tarot.

But now there is the Internet and there are so many exquisite images out there. I just came across this amazing pack - the Fractal Tarot deck. I don't actually think I could read from it, but some of it's images are so beautiful, I don't want to lose them, so I'm recording them here...

I particularly like this image of the hermit, which shows that you focus on the inner so that you can reach out more strongly with the outer...

10 of Pentacles

2010-12-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

Whenever I get this card I say it involves 3 words – complex / family/ money. It’s never simple to decode this card, so this more general reading is not going to be accurate – a proper interpretation depends where the card falls in the tarot spread, and how you feel about it. It can be positive or negative, but it’s not simple. It can mean established, contented wealth, but with a flutter of change… something new is coming and how does it affect the traditions already established?

This version of the card is oddly disturbing, and then you realize that the cozy father and son chess game is being held up by a person/servant/slave? Here there is affection and respect within the family but disrespect or contempt for others. You see, complex, family, money… it’s all there.

9 of pentacles

2010-12-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

In this card we are enjoying the finer things in life. Here, after the hardship and work of some of the previous cards, comes a stroll through the park, and a sense of plenty.

This card can be the reward for hard work paying, leading as it does from the industrious 8 of pentacles. Or it can simply be about feeling comfortable in your own skin, happy with the luxuries of life. When you get this card you are letting the good stuff in, be grateful for it and let yourself enjoy it while it lasts.

The Inner Child card gives us the sweetly domestic Christmas scene, with plenty of presents promised, but love and warmth all ready there…

Eight of Pentacles

2010-11-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

I started reading the cards forever ago (more than 25 years!) and when I first saw this card it wasn’t shiny and glossy enough and I didn’t like it. But I’m older and wiser now and I can see its virtues. This card is about work, steady and interesting.

The person sits, having their accomplishments on the wall, working with focused attention, with more work to follow after that. It’s about focus and concentration and doing something you personally find rewarding. People who are looking for work love to draw this card. People who are in work feel pleased that their hard work will pay off, and that there is more coming.

I like the inner child version, skating the figure of the infinite, in the flow, moving with grace. It’s when you are in the right place at the right time, and it’s all good.

Seven of pentacles

2010-11-16T20:30:00.001-08:00

When I see this card I always tell people they have sown their seeds and are now seeing the fruits of their labor – taking a moment and resting while the outcomes grow heavy on the vine. So you are finally seeing some results (People who are graduating from college often draw this card) or seeing some investments - of time and energy as well as money - pay off. I have also seen it for women asking about pregnancy and it signifies a yes!

But I also get it when people have felt they’re taken as much as they can from this garden, and in the pause, they are considering change – new work, new careers, assessing whether the fruit is worth the labor involved. The beautiful quilt reminds us that to everything there is a season, and make sure you are waiting for the right moment to reap your reward.

The inner child cards emphasize the resting/assessing option; in that candlelit pause you can assess more fully, reflect whether you are on the right path, see for yourself if you want to continue, or if you want change. This is a moment to check your strategy and see if you are still on course.

Six of Pentacles Inner child

2010-11-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

The inner child cards do not strictly follow the Rider Waite pack interpretations, and in the pentacles in particular they differ widely, so I will occasionally give them their own link.

Here you are climbing the mountain to get to the magic snow flake. It’s about determination and perseverance and getting there. The image also suggests that you are leading the pack, but sometimes you are walking too far ahead - check that everyone is on the same page, and wants the same goals/outcomes.

Six of Pentacles

2010-11-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

This is a complex card and needs context to explain - money is often such a complicated issue. I always ask people which figure they most identify with. Are you giving and not getting or taking and not being able to give? Are you expected to be grateful or expected to be gracious? It’s about an uneven power dynamic, and a sense of not enough.

You might think the figure giving the charity is the happiest in this scenario, but actually no one is entirely comfortable when relationships are so fundamentally unequal. And the irony is, when I get this card for relationships, it can mean that both parties can feel that the other has all the resources, power and control…

The tarot of trees has a kinder version, where the scarcity of the nuts meets the sharp wits of the squirrels.

Five of Pentacles Inner Child

2010-11-05T15:56:00.001-07:00

The inner child cards do not strictly follow the Rider Waite pack interpretations, and in the pentacles in particular they differ widely, so I will occasionally give them their own link.

I call this one the whistling while you work card. In this card you are satisfied and content in your labors, always a happy card to see if you are looking for work.

Five of Pentacles

2010-11-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

No one likes this card. It’s when we are feeling out in the cold, poor and ignored. It can be about money, and simply not having enough, but it can also be about fear, and about feeling fragile and chilly in relationships.

It’s about poverty of spirit, and what wanting and not having does to you. It’s about being tired and weary, physically and spiritually. The will work for food card is a chilling and perfect summary of this card

4 of Pentacles Inner Child

2010-11-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

The inner child cards do not strictly follow the Rider Waite pack interpretations, and in the pentacles in particular they differ widely, so I will occasionally give them their own link.

In this one, the scaffolding is up, but the building is not whole yet. There is a vision of what it should look like, and work is taking place, but don’t lose focus now, you need to ensure that your plans are good and that you are carrying them out correctly.

four of pentacles

2010-10-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

When I look at this card I always think of two things: ‘holding on’ and ‘not enough’. This is not about how much money you actually have, but rather how you feel about it. You may have millions but you feel that you need more. You want to keep what you have, you want to be in charge, you fear change, you want control. But of course by giving it so much energy, it is starting to control you.

It’s not always about money, often it’s about maintaining the status quo – you want to keep the situation as is, to keep things static, hold on to the past. And that won’t happen either. So this is a card is warning of future unhappiness. You can’t keep hold of everything, not even the good, and if you try, you are doomed to fail.

I love the sulky cat image, because it’s a clear view of what will happen if we persist with this energy – we turn into this cat, and who wants that!

Three of Pentacles

2010-10-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's funny, this is the card of harmonious work, and I'm having terrible technical difficulties with this post - first I couldn't get the images loaded, now I can't get the text... Not much harmony here!

However, when you get this card, it means that there is cooperation, harmony, similar goals and an understanding of how to get there. People love getting this card when they are looking for work because it means not only is work coming, but it will be fulfilling, interesting work - a career position not just a job.

When you draw this card you feel competent and part of the group. I like the skipping rope version which allows for a sense of play as well - but again, all three people are essential to this game and share in it equally.

Two of Pentacles

2010-10-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is such a New York card – it shows the juggle, the flow of life in the city. Balls are in the air, the energy is good and you are grounded but moving. It’s that sense of fast paced life in the city, and it’s all working.

The see saw image shows the same thing, of course there will be ups and downs, but they are within reasonable constraints, and you are having fun, with the game of life.

The Deviant Moon version, shows it as a dance - shows you being flexible, responsive, moving at just the right time.

So if you get this card, you are in the flow or the zone, making it happen for yourself. The shadow side of this card is when we worry that we will drop one of the balls, that it is unstable and all too much. Sometimes we want things to remain fixed in space and time - but we have to remember that change is the only constant, and with that knowledge, we can go back to the juggle of life…

Ace of Pentacles

2010-10-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Everyone is always happy to see this card. At the superficial level, it means money/success/promotion is coming, and who doesn’t want that? At a deeper level it means you are feeling grounded, that you are getting the results you want, and you can hold on to them. You feel a sense of abundance.

When I get it in a question, the Ace always signifies a ‘yes’ – so if you are asking about work or money, it’s overwhelmingly positive, the jackpot at the end of the rainbow. But even if you are asking about relationships or babies, the ace of pentacles is a yes.

I like the chick image, the sense of coming out of our shells, and getting into the freedom of the wide world.

The Last Suit - Pentacles

2010-10-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, we are finally here – this is the last suit of the Tarot. Fourteen more cards and then the entire deck (all 78 cards) will have been covered. Very happy about that! Also happy to end with the Pentacles, a suit that is grounded, practical, down to earth, deals with money and work and real life. Pentacles deal with results, manifestation and prosperity (always welcome!) Pentacles can appear as crystals, coins, jewels, discs, gold or even shells, in various tarot decks.

King of swords

2010-10-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

The King has all the strengths and the weaknesses of the swords. He is intellectual, discriminating and fair. He has a keen edge, and a dry sense of humor. He can be detached; he likes to look at the facts, and doesn’t like to factor in emotions.

He likes to work with information/data and analyze problems. He provides clarity in complicated situations. He takes time to formulate an opinion and then sticks to it. He doesn’t like to be challenged, though his innate fairness will make him listen. He values ideas, and wants others to value them too.

The Inner Child version emphasizes his passion for justice, idealism and correcting the world’s ills. The King of Swords can be highly ethical and tries to live to very high standards.

His shadow side is when he becomes cruel with his cutting wit, and cold or critical with his detachment. If he is not careful, he can value his ideals above the people in his life, which can make him unforgiving.

the magic of tarot

2010-10-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

I do 2 -3 readings a day, (more than 3 and I start to babble!) and every so often something happens that is so amazing it just makes the hairs on my arm stand up...

So today I was doing a reading, and I always ask for the cards to be shuffled and then cut once, with the non dominant hand. And the very nice girl cut twice and gave me the cards and as I pulled them out I just felt wrong, so I said to her, no, you cut twice, I only ask people to cut once... So I gathered up the three cards, she shuffled the cards, really she did, and then cut once and the SAME IDENTICAL three cards came out.

The three of us looked at each other (thankfully her friend was there to witness the event) and I laughed and said, you're starting to freak me out! Clearly they were the cards that were meant to be read!

My immediate conclusion was that she is strongly psychic herself, and she needs to look into that. I haven't seen that done before, ever.

So here it was, today's magic moment with the cards...

Queen of Swords

2010-09-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Queen of swords is a mature adult, not girlish at all! She is intellectual, strong willed and can cut through the nonsense. She likes clarity and knowing where everyone stands. She is scrupulously fair, and often detached – not emotional or clingy. She is armed and capable, but not defensive - she still has one hand that can reach out and connect. She is a private person, and doesn’t give intimacy easily. Independence is very important to her.

I really like this description from the Intuitive Tarot site: “The Queen of Swords is able to allow others to go through their necessary life lessons without the need to take care of everything.”

Her shadow side is that she can appear (or actually be) cold rather than detached, and superior rather than analytical. She doesn’t suffer fools easily and her criticisms can be cutting. If her intellectual edge leaves her, she can feel overwhelmed by emotion.

And of course, like all swords, she learns through suffering, and life can cut deep.

Knight of Swords

2010-09-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

Here he is sword drawn, riding into the wind with full force.

The Knight of Swords will put ideas in action and has the courage of his convictions. He won’t listen or be stopped by opposition. The energy that swirls around the knight can feel violent: he pushes his will through, he wants his own way. He can fight for a cause he perceives is righteous, but he doesn’t always fight fair. It’s easy for this knight to fall into the trap of arrogance, of thinking the ends justifies the means. The plus side is that he is fearless and has no doubts, and that can get you through a difficult situation.

The Inner Child Card warns that if you feel you are at a crossroads, the knight of swords energy can cut through the confusion, but make sure you have all the facts, otherwise you will be racing off in the wrong direction.

Page of Swords

2010-09-19T17:10:00.000-07:00

O these swords… the gift of the swords are that they are intellectual, analytical and forthright. But they learn through pain.

So the page of swords, standing with some energy and gusto, has to learn his lessons the hard way. He doesn’t want to follow the map, he wants to find out for himself. When you draw this card, life is sending you some challenges. This is an opportunity for self knowledge and growth.

I love the Inner child version, which shows Pinocchio, looking at himself in the mirror. It’s time to ask, who is pulling my strings, and before I worry about lies I tell to others, let me worry about lies I tell to myself… This is a time to look at yourself in the mirror and acknowledge exactly what is going on.

The shadow side of the swords is when you refuse to learn, arrogantly asserting that you know it all. It about not being logical or forthright, but stuck in adolescent certainty.

10 of swords

2010-09-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

Such a strong image! As if one sword in the back wasn’t strong enough, we have 10 here, killing us 10 times over. Here were feel like we’ve been stabbed in the back, repeatedly. Betrayed and abandoned.

In this card, we have hit rock bottom. The only way to go from here is up. Some people call this card the darkest hour before the dawn. We feel like we’ve been murdered, but we still live, and tomorrow’s new dawn will see us get up, and start again. After all – the worst has happened, things can only get better now!

The Inner Child Card show that the child is actually trapping the dragon (as opposed to being trapped by the dragon) Face the worst of your fears, see how real they are, are we playing the victim? Making our woes a bigger deal than they actually are? The only way to really deal with this situation is to look at it with dispassionate clarity, and see what’s really going on.

9 of swords

2010-09-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here you are, sitting up in bed, unable to sleep; anxious, tense and troubled about either what has happened or what might happen. Here your problems are invading your sleep, you find it difficult to get rest, difficult to switch off and it’s hard to find an inner peace.

The Inner child cards show the anxiety as a dragon, trapping you in her sinuous curves, leaving you brooding and weak.

Often, fear and doubts makes us feel younger than we are, childlike in the face of these obstacles. I like this quilt image, because it shows how vulnerable you can feel when these emotions dominate. There is no way out but through, when we get these feelings, we have to address them head on, or they can swamp us.

One thing I frequently do when I see this card is ask about actual sleep patterns. If you are having trouble sleeping, there are 2 things I recommend. Firstly, Belleruth Naparstek has a series of meditation CD's. Her sleep one is highly recommended, but if you don't like her, find another one that speaks to you. Secondly, I have found Tranquil Sleep, by Natural Factors, a Melatonin based chewable tablet very helpful for me and would happily recommend it on to others.

Mentioned in Yelp's mail out!

2010-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Very pleased to be mentioned in Yelp's weekly mail out!

"Once you've met those caloric obligations, best to get that psyche and physique back on track. Zelina M lets Tribeca Tarot Reader sort out her future infatuations: "Even if the reading is tough," it's the loving kind."

Thanks so much to Zelina and thanks to Yelp too!

8 of swords

2010-09-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

A woman stands, eyes bound, surrounded by swords. When people draw this card they are feeling fenced in, trapped, bound. They are unsure how to get out, they feel overwhelmed or powerless. I tell people that the situation would be made so much easier if they shrugged off the bindings and let themselves look clearly. In fact, she could walk out; it is the feeling of entrapment that holds her tight. This is a situation where the persons own fears or anxieties are holding them in, but they could leave it if they were willing to take the risk to do so (which I know, is much easier said than done!)

The Inner Child take a slightly different spin: here we are in the dark, with the spiders, but also with friends or people on a similar journey, and if we just follow the light, we can get out. It requires effort but it’s not insurmountable, and the fact that others are walking with us makes it easier. As always, finding good people to share a journey, even a difficult one, makes it easier.

Here too, there are swords and danger (she could cut her feet!) but there is also movment. The worst thing about feeling trapped is paralysis, and taking off the blindfold, even if we then see things we don't want to see (and can no longer deny) will definitely help us navigate out of here...

Seven of Swords

2010-09-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

These are the difficult cards in the tarot – not difficult to read, their meaning is clear, but difficult to bear. Here, someone is sneaking in and stealing swords. However, two swords remain, you are not defenseless and possibly you didn’t really need all 7 of those swords, so perhaps with hindsight, you can see that it wasn’t all bad. But in the moment, you feel the searing heat of loss but worse than loss, the sense that that things were purposefully/maliciously taken from you. You will feel betrayed or deceived.

Of course, you may be the one stealing the swords. You may think it’s just office politics, or how things are done, but you may need to look at your own actions – are you betraying someone? Are you acting in bad faith/taking things that you shouldn’t? Sneaking off? Shirking responsibility?

The Inner Child cards read this quite differently… there you are, trapped into being the good one, staying indoors, doing your work, looking longingly at the world outside. Lots of people relate to that image really strongly.

Back in NYC!

2010-08-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely time in Sydney, but now back home and ready to take appointments again.

Please call 646-241-8244 or email tribecatarotreader@gmail.com if you would like to have a reading.

Away for August

2010-08-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for my annual trip back home - to Sydney, Australia, this Monday, August 9th, and will return available for readings again on Monday August 30th.

Wishing you all a warm and happy summer. I can take bookings for September if you want, just email me - tribecatarotreader@gmail.com and I'll set it up.

6 of Swords

2010-08-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

When I see this card I always think of moving on with sorrow, a forced letting go. It often comes when a relationship is over, but ended by the other person. I also see it when there has been a death in the family. As the boat moves forward, the future is not yet visible but the past is definitively over. The hope lies in when we accept that we have to move on, smoother waters lie ahead. It is only when we try to cling to the past, that we get depressed and feel directionless.

Cheryl Lynn Bradley has an interesting slant on this card when she writes: I think of this card as turning your back on humiliation, gossip and bullying and finding the peace of mind to move forward to new and better days. We have all had the negative experiences … that can leave us feeling powerless, abused, intensely angered and humiliated. Sometimes the only real action we can take is to attempt to say what we think and feel, and to walk away clean. Very often the source of our humiliation or despair won't be impacted by anything we may say, no matter how clearly we can articulate our emotional pain or the circumstance which has created it. Sometimes the only choice is to move forward.

5 swords

2010-07-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

Losing the fight.
The swords cards are a hard lot to bear. We look at this card and see not only loss, but the humiliation of defeat. Notice the victor with his strange grin; he may have won, but it wasn’t a clean victory, there was something sneaky about it.

I love the image of the female boxer with the bruised eye, the loser in the fight, but also feeling lost herself. When you get this card it means you are embroiled in a no-win situation, look for another solution, because fighting won’t get you what you want.

In the Inner Child version, the boy from the previous card (the 4 of swords) has lost his companions. He has escaped, alone, to the beach, and is trying to lose himself in playing with the sea creatures, but he knows that sooner or later he has to go back on his raft and face his situation, and the longer he waits, the worse it will feel.

Four of Swords

2010-07-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

No one in New York wants to take a time out, but everyone needs one from time to time. The 4 of swords is a period of retreat to quietness. Things may have been too hectic lately, take some time and meditate about it. After the dramatic 3 of swords, the stress and pain there, this card gives you some peace and quiet and a chance to regroup.

It can also mean that the situation is more passive than you want it to be. I saw it recently in the spread of someone anxiously looking for work and I said, you need to give the job seeking a break for minute and really check with yourself what kind of work you are looking for and why, because what you are doing is not giving you the results that you want. Sometimes the cards tell you to push harder, but this is a card telling you to retreat.

The Inner Child cards don’t always reflect the Rider Waite interpretations and here their 4 of swords is very different – this card is much more active, 4 people on a raft together. Depending on how you feel, this card can be positive (support on the journey!) or negative (have to share space, can’t only do what I want!) What is clear is that they are on a journey together and they can’t independently charter these waters, they have to rely on each other. So here it is a retreat from the individual drive, to fit with the needs of the group.

Three of Swords

2010-07-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

No one likes getting this card and everyone immediately understands what it means – it’s a knife to the heart. I see it when relationships have ended badly, when love has gone wrong.

The image of the blood in the bath is even more powerful, showing the darkest side of suicidal impulses after a really great sadness.

The card showing the sinking ship also speaks to me, sometimes it just feels too hard to stay afloat.

The loss of something of real value to us is always hard to accept, and the 3 of sword shows the struggle with that pain, rage and sadness.

Two of Swords

2010-07-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here sits a woman, eyes bound, holding 2 swords across her body. I often ask people who draw this card to cross their arms like she is doing, and see how tight they feel, how difficult it is to breathe. This is a woman whose defenses have become part of her problem, and are tragically making her more vulnerable than she would be if she just put the swords down.

The two of swords symbolizes a person or situation where truth or reality is denied, where people are kept at arm’s length. Instead we hide our distress and become defensive. The woman in this image is avoiding the truth, refusing to look at facts and pretending everything's fine. She feels afraid to act and she’s stuck.

But I always assure the person drawing the card that the situation is not irrevocable. If the woman is willing to lower her defenses a little, put the swords down, take the blindfold off, she may well find that there is no imminent attack, instead she’s so used to protecting herself that she was pushed all her support away, but now that the swords are down she can welcome them back.

The Inner child cards have more movement, at least there are 2 people engaging here, but they are both protecting tiny piles of rock from which no life can grow. So sometimes the battle is not worth winning, and we have to look at the situation closely to see what it is we are protecting and if it worth our time and energy.

The Ace of Swords

2010-07-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Like a breath of fresh air, the Ace of swords cuts through the mists of confusion. It gives you clarity, focus, vision.

I think the Ace cuts to the heart of the matter. I often see it when relationships are complicated; the Ace of swords tells you when you need to cut yourself free. Of course if the Ace is cutting through illusions/delusions, some of those illusions may belong to us! As I always say with swords, swords learn through pain, so if you are the one having trouble letting go of the relationship, the Ace cuts through your false dreams - which may hurt in the short term, but will heal in the long term…

I like the Inner Child version, of Excalibur being pulled free, giving you the strength, luck and magic to do what needs to be done.

And now for the swords...

2010-07-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

We leave the water based cups and now move on to the swords, cutting through the air. When I think of swords, I think of cutting through complications, sharp edged and smart. The swords deal with the mind, both rational and irrational. The swords are intellectual and want to learn but emotionally they often learn through pain. I associate Swords with strength, defenses, conflict, anxiety, and ambition, but above all, swords seek the truth, and how valuable that makes them!

King of Cups

2010-07-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Charming, charismatic, outgoing, the King of Cups is all of these and more. He is creative and interesting and likes conversation about art and style. He is often quick witted and clever. He can be empathic and in touch with his feelings.

The Inner child version shows a female, showing this card can refer to either a man or woman, and she is calling for friends/aid. What I like about that is that often when things are stormy, people can retreat into themselves and not ask for the help they need, but the Guardian of Hearts is wise and sufficiently sure of herself to call with an open heart and get the assistance s/he needs.

The shadow side of this card is someone who is too passive, watching the world but not getting up and changing things. Or the card can represent someone emotionally manipulative, seeing and understanding and then twisting things to fit his/her own agenda. The common flaw I find with the reversed king of cups is that when his back is to the wall, he melts away. The King likes charm and light and if the situation is difficult he can find himself backing away and leaving you flat.

I actually find this card, as with all the court cards, really complex. I’ve given very different interpretations of this card to people, depending on their situation.

Queen of Cups

2010-07-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

The Queen of cups gazes into the fantastical cup she has created. She has all the beautiful cups qualities we’ve met before – she is loving, nurturing and empathic. But she can also have the cups frailties: she can be hypersensitive, volatile, needy. Often a healer, counselor or psychic, this is a woman who seems to know what's wrong even before you open your mouth. I read somewhere that Princes Diana was a perfect Queen of Cups, and that really crystallized this card for me.

I always tell people when they get this card that this woman needs to look up and see what is going on around her, rather than gazing so raptly into the cup of her own making. She is capable of great emotional depth but has to be careful not to fall into her own fantasties.

The Inner Child cards show the Queen of Cups as the witch Glinda the Good from the Wizard of Oz. I read her more as a fairy godmother – incredibly, magically helpful, but also with strange controlling limitations (why did Cinderella’s carriage turn back into a pumpkin at midnight, why couldn’t it have retained its form for the entire night? You can see I’ve given way too much thought to that fairy tale, but the limitations of the fairy godmother always interest me… )

Knight of Cups

2010-06-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

This knight is all dressed up and ready to go. His horse is moving, but not charging a head. He is holding his cup, in touch with his feelings, but also looking up to see where he is going, he hasn't sunk into fantasy, which cups can do. I like this Knight, who is balancing thought and action, feeling and analysis. This is where you want to be, moving ahead, perhaps a mite too cautiously, but moving in the right direction.

I like the Inner Child version showing us the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, the man convinced he had no heart but acting in the most caring, tender way because of it. He is seeking what he already has, and what he needs to find is faith in himself, he has everything else he needs to finish his quest.

Page of Cups

2010-06-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

The young man looks into a cup and sees… a fish!

If this card refers to a person - he’s creative, looks outside the box, and has a great imagination. He’s the sort of kid you send out to sell a cow and comes back with 3 magic beans, kind and sweet, but not always thinking things through. He can have his head in the clouds and you might have to yank him to get his feet back on the ground. He is idealistic and sweet, and distractible, but things usually work out just fine for him.

If this card refers to a situation, if it’s a new job, things won’t always be as clear cut as you would like it, but there is a chance for creative expression, for trying new things.

The shadow side of the card is it’s sensitivity - It can also refer to a situation where people are emotional and getting their feelings hurt all the time, where you feel you have to walk on eggshells.

I love the inner child version – so many people feel themselves as goldilocks, on the outside, looking in. In this card the page is searching for his/her place in the universe.

10 of Cups

2010-06-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

I call this the Happy Ever After card. It looks like the scene at the end of the movie where they smile and hug under the rainbow and the words ‘and they all lived happily ever after’ appears. Of course, happily ever after is never constant, but this is a card of contentment, of joy in a family/home environment. If I’m asked if a relationship will work and this card appears, we both smile.

It’s a wonderful outcome card, and I’ve also seen it as a basis card, if you operate from this basis, though troubles may come, you can sort them out and give them the proper balance, because home is safe and strong and loving…

I like this image of the family pets snuggling before the fire, this is the coziness and hominess that this card holds.

On the Radio again tomorrow

2010-06-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

I had a really remarkable reading on the weekend, and I'm going to discuss it on the radio tomorrow night, tune in at 9 pm Eastern time and find out all the details...

Looking forward to tonight!

2010-06-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that tonight from 6.30 pm onwards I will be at Madam X's, to give my talk about dating and tarot...

Looking forward to it and to seeing you there!

On the Radio tonight

2010-06-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight, 10 pm eastern time, I'm on the radio with Ken Hudnall, talking about all things tarot.

To go to the Ken Hudnall Show click on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ken-hudnall to listen live during the 6:00 - 9:00 PM (Mountain time) time slot or to listen to archived shows.
During the live show you can call the toll free number - (866) 229-2155 (active only when the show is live) or call (347) 857-2680 or use Blogtalkradio.com's internal chat feature.

As listed in today's AM New York

2010-05-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

Why

Are

You

Still

Single

in NYC?

94 W. Houston

St., at W. Broadway,

212-539-0808

June 4, Madame X,

6:30 p.m., FREE.

Guys should head out in

full force to this

“SATC”-themed

singles/costume party, where

they’re sure to be in the minority.

Dress as your favorite character:

The best costume gets a session

with a relationship expert/tarot

reader.

I like AM New York's good advice to the guys, to come to where the girls will be...

Friday June 4th - come and have some fun...

2010-05-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a fun night - lots of cosmo's, a light hearted talk about tarot, dating, sex and the city and life in new york. And there's a door prize and the winner gets a free tarot reading with me!

Nine of Cups

2010-05-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here he sits, with all his cups behind him, so contented. I call this the ‘fat and happy’ card… it’s about getting what you want on the material level – the luxuries you want, the life style you want, the jobs you want. It’s about contentment and a certain smug satisfaction. It’s not about spiritual growth or wisdom, but it is about an easy delight in the here and now. Everyone is relieved when this card is the outcome, especially if there is a new venture afoot.

I like the Hello Kitty version, where not only have you won the trophy, but it’s the biggest one there! That’s a bit how the card feels, happy with that underlying edge of competitiveness. My only warning when getting this card is not to get too complacent or self centered, remember to share nicely, or the universe will find a way to remind you…

The pretty Inner child version is shows that how plentiful the universe is, with many waterfalls to chose from, to fill the mermaids cup.

8 of cups

2010-05-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

I think of this card as the ‘moving on’ card. Not running away, not leaving with sadness, but having accomplished what you set out to do, it’s time to take a new risk, and move on - not as joyously as the Fool, but not as regrettfully as the 6 of swords either. The person in the card has accomplished something of substance, the cups are stacked solidly, but he walks away without a backward glance.

I get this card when people are really over the divorce, and ready to move on, or ready to change cities for that new job/new experience. I like the Party's over version, and the woman with the cups, though both these cards are sadder than the first one.

The Seven of Cups

2010-05-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

I look at this card and think of it as a New York phenomenon – too much choice, too many options, too many possibilities. The answer is, as my wise mother used to say, you can have anything you want my darling, but you can’t have everything. People who want everything at once, get stymied or depressed when it doesn’t all come to fruition, and it can’t. People fantasize about having all the choices, but when that happens, you become aware that it’s some of the choices may not pan out, some choices will definitely be better than others and it becomes hard to find solid ground.

The Inner child has a totally different interpretation, and I actually read it like a completely different card. Instead of being dazzled and confused by choice, we see a mermaid, sitting and meditating, making every cup glow with inner wisdom and joy. She’s a card I love to see (and have seen it crossing the 4 of cups lately, and that’s such a good contrast, from fantasy to true meditation) Through meditation you can see the true value of something, and then choice is easy, you chose what is important to you let the rest fall away.

and this beautiful quilt by Joyce Hartley shows the female version of the rider waite choices.

Gift Certificates

2010-05-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

Quite a few pleople have told me that they are giving a reading with me as a gift, and a woman I had done a reading for recently asked if I could provide a gift certificate. So I've just designed a (basic) gift certificate, which you can purchase and give to friends and family. Thanks to her for her inspiration and I'm pleased to be able to offer gift certificates if you have need...

6 of cups

2010-05-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

This is a complex card, which can have very different meanings depending on where it falls in the reading. It’s a card showing two children, one older than the other, exchanging a gift. It implies nostalgia or gifts from childhood. It’s a card about the small joys of childhood, and how those memories can warm us. Twice lately I’ve found this card in layouts for school teachers. This is card reminding us what children can teach us, and also what our past can teach us.

But sometimes it’s about being childlike in a situation which requires more adult or astute reactions. Don’t let nostalgia for ‘the good old days’ or rose colored glasses prevent you from seeing the present accurately.