Thursday, August 23, 2018

Combining Tarot And Oracle Cards In Readings

combining tarot and oracle cards in readings

Combining tarot and oracle cards in a reading can offer you a fresh and innovative approach to divination.

There are no rules except experiment and use your imagination.

For that reason combining tarot and oracle cards can be confusing at first, so I've come up with some ideas on how to get started.

Take a look at the following image. How would you interpret the cards to answer the question?

tarot and oracle cards combined in a reading
Cosmic Faery Tarot and Cosmic Journaling Oracle

While the tarot card in the centre offers you an overall theme or direction, the two cards of the oracle deck focus on specifics.

Sometimes it is the clarity and succinctness of the oracle that can help you pinpoint the true heart of the matter.

It can offer straightforward and immediate empowerment, something you can act upon straight away.

Instead of Help you could have drawn the Six of Pentacles from your tarot deck, or the King of Swords instead of Knowledge. Possibilities for interpretation would have increased but also become more vague.

What also works is the complementary artwork of both decks, which can make readings more fluid and coherent.

Here are more examples of tarot and oracle decks that work well together:


1. Rider Waite Smith Tarot - Pixie's Astounding Lenormand

Can you combine Tarot and Lenormand cards in a reading even though they are totally different systems?

Yes, why not? If you want to learn more about the Lenormand system, check out Lenormand Reader.

In the meantime, here is a 3-card reading I have done to address a possible career move using Tarot and Lenormand cards together:

Rider Waite Smith tarot deck and Pixie Lenormand cards

Here, the focus is on the Tarot while the Lenormand indicates underlying influences / energies.

The centre card is the heart of the matter surrounded by two energy cards, whereby the card on the right offers an insight into future development / possibilities / direction of this situation.

Eight of Pentacles / Tower: Effort, mastery, a full schedule; being immersed in work. The Tower suggests that the working environment allows advancement, but bureaucracy can be stifling. Timing (Lenormand): 19 days or weeks, so this can be a long-term situation.

Three of Cups / Tree: The total opposite to hard work is having fun and joyful times with people. The need for work-life balance. Reaching out, being social. The Tree suggests that this will maintain health and keep me grounded.

The Star / Child: (Starchild!) Hope, optimism, the future looks bright. The child suggests new beginnings albeit on a small scale. Timing (Lenormand): soon, so there could be some short-term developments that may lead to new opportunities in the future.

Tree - Tower - Child: It is also interesting to look at the Lenormand row separately for additional information.

The combination of Tree and Tower suggests hospital, and funnily enough my part-time work is based in a health service/care environment.

The combination of Tower and Child suggests child welfare, adoption services and teenagers. I'm blown away how much this relates to my work and life (my teenage son lol).

The bigger picture is slowly emerging from this Tarot/Lenormand combination.


2. Morgan Greer Tarot - Chakra Wisdom Oracle

morgan greer tarot and chakra wisdom oracle cards

If you would like to combine tarot with chakras, then the Chakra Wisdom Oracle offers a great introduction to chakra balancing and healing.

The spread in the above image is taken from the Chakra Wisdom guidebook and about removing blocks:

What do you perceive as a problem: Empress - Instinct (trusting inner guidance, solitary journey, self-reliance, moving into sovereignty)

What is blocking you: Three of Pentacles - Impatience (wishing for quick results, being exhausted by efforts, forcing something, uncooperative people)

What would create a breakthrough: Six of Swords - Impartiality (take a step back, detach from emotions, take a break, distraction can offer new perspective)

What you must do to create what you desire: Knight of Wands - Insecurity (tackle insecurity by being bold and taking risks; be more confident about your abilities / opportunities)

The tarot cards (Morgan Greer) in this reading  point to the how, why and where. 

In order to get used to combining tarot and oracle cards, you can try this reading using both decks seperately and see what information would be missing by only using one deck.


3. The Wild Unknown Tarot - Connected & Free Oracle

Here, I have used the Connected and Free Oracle to determine positional meanings for this 3-card spread with the Wild Unknown Tarot:

the wild unknown tarot and connected and free oracle cards

Surrender: Son of Wands (Knight)

Beginnings: Daughter of Swords (Page)

Be You: Six of Pentacles

I love how you can create new intuitive spreads with the Connected and Free Oracle. Here's another one:

Sun's Rays (what is becoming clear)

Flying High (what will accelerate creativity / raise your vibes)

Slow down (where do you need to take it easy / rest / slow down)


4. Bohemian Gothic Tarot - Madame Endora's Fortune Cards

bohemian gothic tarot and madame endora's fortune cards

For this tarot and oracle combination, I have chosen a 3-card spread from the Cosmic Tarot Faery Guidebook:

Reflect: The World - The Sphinx (Choose your words carefully)

Illuminate: The Sun - The Harlequin (True feelings are masked)

Discover: Knight of Cups - Fire (Reckless actions lead to conflict)

I love how Madame Endora's Fortune cards offer a sinister but revealing twist to this reading with the Bohemian Gothic Tarot.

Again, explore the difference if only one of these decks was used for this reading.

If you are new to combining tarot and oracle cards, you can start off by drawing an oracle card at the end of a tarot reading as a special message or overall advice.

For this purpose, use an oracle deck with phrases or complete message rather than just keywords such as the Spirit Oracle:

spirit oracle cards

On the other hand, when you do an oracle reading, you can begin by drawing a tarot card to determine the theme or situation.

As you can see, possibilities are endless, and I have only scratched the surface with this article.

Hopefully, my suggestions offer you inspiration to start combining tarot and oracle cards. You will find that this technique will open up a new dimension in your readings and uncover new insights.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane


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Friday, August 17, 2018

Manifest Change Empowerment Cards


Whether change is forced upon us or we actively seek it out, we must either learn to adapt or take the initiative to make it happen.

Once we have the will and commitment to embrace the new, letting go of our old lives can be painful, and we can easily fall into the trap of procrastination.

It’s time to examine our habits, beliefs, behaviours and thought processes to make conscious choices about what we need to strengthen, release or change in order to heal and grow.

We need 30 days to free ourselves from outdated thought and behavioural patterns.

During that time it is essential to take action every day towards manifesting the desired change.

After that, another 70 days of daily practice will help to anchor the new patterns in our mindset, so they are more likely to be permanent.

100 days is the magic number, but if you can stick to 30, then you will be well on your way to where you want to be.

So what can you do each day that will help you transform your life?

Hop over to my Ko-fi space and print the Manifest Change Empowerment Cards I’ve created, pull a card each day and take action according to the message.

The idea of these cards is to shake up your routine and push your comfort zone a little on a daily basis.

The cards are divided into three types:

1. Mantras

Mantras are just like affirmations, but they work by repeating them throughout the day in a musical way.

Basically, sing them! Create your own melody, which will help you remember its powerful message, and gradually it will help you eliminate negative thought patterns.

Mantra cards are marked with - M -

2. Explorations

These are prompts to help you explore your way of thinking and how you can unblock and actively influence your mindset.

You can use tarot or oracle cards with the explorations, and it will be particularly helpful to record them in your journal.

Exploration cards are marked with - E -

3. Actions

These are tasks you should do on the day you draw one of these cards.

I have made these actions as practical and easy to follow as possible, so please try to stick to this rule, even if you only spend ten minutes on it.

You’ll be glad to did it afterwards!

Some of the actions are also worthwhile journalling about. Record what you did, how it turned out and made you feel.

Action cards are marked with - A -

All you need to do now is download and print the cards (36 plus bonus cards and blanks for your own messages) on cardstock or heavyweight paper (min.120 gms), cut them out and start using them.

Please do let me know how you get on with them. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you like the cards, please share a link to this post with your friends. Thank you💚

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 🦄

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling



Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Turning a Crisis into a Transformational Journey

the tower and the star, turning a crisis into a transformational journey

At one point in our lives, we will all encounter a major crisis point - bereavement, divorce, relationship breakdown, ill health, financial hardship, mental breakdown...

When you experience a significant Tower moment, the initial shock and feeling of numbness usually develops into a variety of painful emotions, from anger to depression.

What will keep you going is your focus on moving towards acceptance of the situation to allow for subsequent recovery and healing.

Each person deals with pitfalls and setbacks in their own way and in their own time.

While some people quickly get back on their feet, others take much longer to come to terms with their situation.

The Tarot is an excellent tool to help you on your way to recovery and renewal

A simple healing spread used regularly can help you improve the way you feel and transform your life over time.

Turning a crisis into a transformational journey is an 8-card spread that can assist you on your way towards healing.

You can use as little or as many cards as you like.

Choose from the following prompts, which are most relevant to you, or use all of them as a powerful healing meditation:

1. Where I am on my healing journey at this moment in time
2. A strength of mine that will help me today
3. A weakness I need to overcome
4. What is blocking me
5. What I need from others to help me heal (you don't need to do this on your own)
6. What I can do today that would make me feel better
7. Spiritual Lesson

As you can see, there are eight positional meanings for this spread. Eight is the number of regeneration and rebirth.

The Star, numbered 17 (1 + 7 = 8), usually depicts an eight-pointed central star.

You can lay out the cards in a star-shaped arrangement to help you manifest the healing and transformational powers of the Star and this spread.

Numerically, the Star is linked to Strength, numbered 8 in Rider Waite Smith based tarot decks.

In addition to this healing meditation, you could also explore, how the energies of Strength can benefit you on your healing journey.

⭐Would you like to learn Tarot for self-development and healing? Check out my Discovery Tarot Course

Warmest wishes, 

Christiane

printable healing cards
Printable healing cards inside Cosmic Journaling Through The Year 

Connect with me on:

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Tuesday, August 7, 2018

How Chanting Can Help You Meditate

how chanting can help you meditate

Do you find it hard to still your mind during meditation?

Do you tend to sit in your meditation class desperately trying to avoid thinking about what you'll have for dinner or those bills that keep piling up?

Let me assure you, you're not alone.

I was just like you, and sometimes those unwanted thoughts still trip me up, but I've come across a method that has helped me immensely, and perhaps you will find it useful, too.

First of all, don't underestimate the power of meditation. It's good for your general wellbeing. It helps you relax, build inner strength and promotes a healthy balance of mind-body-spirit.

But our busy monkey mind stops us from meditating effectively.

It's impossible for us to stop thinking. Even while we sleep, our minds produce thoughts in the form of dreams.

Buddhism suggests that instead of struggling to silence our thoughts, we should learn to outwit our restless monkey mind.

How are we going to do that?

By giving it something else to do - something meaningful, too! - which helps us create some powerful magic within us at the same time.

A couple of years ago, I discovered chanting whilst on a Buddhist retreat.

It may sound eccentrically New Age to you, but believe me, after initially feeling weird, I felt its benefit almost straight away.

When you repeatedly chant the same words in the ancient and magical language of Sanskrit, it becomes a mantra, which can gradually shift negative patterns in your life, depending on the meanings of the words.

So, depending on what you want to manifest in your life, you choose the mantra that can help you make it happen.

What I love about chanting is that you don't need to sit still or in a certain position; at the retreat, we walked in a circle on a meadow and around a fireplace (nobody else saw us 😄)

For example, you can chant whilst having a relaxing bath, go for a walk, or you can of course choose the traditional meditation position.

How many times should you chant the mantra?

The magical number is 108. The best way to count correctly during chanting is by using Mala prayer beads. One bead for a complete mantra, until the circle is completed.

mala prayer beads
My Mala prayer beads - turquoise beads divided by white beads into 4 x 27 sections

If 108 times sounds too much for you at first, you can also shorten your chant down to 27 or 54 times.

These numbers are important and in Buddhist and Sanskrit teachings they have magical powers.

The Number 108 divided by 4 equals 27. A Mala bead necklace is divided into four sections of 27 beads.

Do you need to have a good singing voice to chant?

No. You can simply recite the words repeatedly at a steady and regular pace.

Now that you know the basics, here are four chants I use:

1. Ham Sa

Pronounced: Hahhm Sahh

Meaning: I am That

This very basic mantra helps you ground yourself and focus on your breathing: Ham (inhale) Sa (exhale).

It is said to be a mantra for the heart; it helps you relax and centre. After chanting a round of Ham Sa, you may feel calm yet more energised.

2. Om Namah Shivaya

I discovered this chant in Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love. I love the sound when I chant it; its vibration resonates with me deeply.

Pronounced: Aum nah-mah shi-vay

Meaning: I bow to Shiva.

The Hindu God Shiva symbolises the inner self, so by chanting this mantra, you honour the divinity within yourself, and it is said to promote self-worth and confidence.

A spiritual healing mantra, it is made up of five syllables, which represent the five elements earth, air, fire, water and ether.

3. Om Kleem Shreem Brzee 

This is an ancient Sanskrit mantra for bringing love and abundance into your life.

It is often recommended for attracting money or new romantic love, but abundance doesn't always relate to financial wealth, and love can also relate to friendships, connectedness and a loving support network.

Pronounced: check out this YouTube clip, and if you like, sing along to get into the groove 😉

Meaning:

Om - universal sound of creation Kleem - sound for spiritual development, love and devotion Shreem - sound for the divine feminine associated with abundance and prosperity Brzee - sound for removing scarcity from consciousness

Put these four sounds together, and you create an open mind and receptiveness to let love and abundance into your life by removing inner blocks and obstacles surrounding you.

You can shorten this mantra two-ways to make it more specific:

  • Om Shreem Brzee - to attract abundance and prosperity
  • Om Kleem Brzee - to attract friendships and relationships

4. Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung

A universal healing mantra, which consists of the sounds of the four universal energies

Ra - sun Ma - moon Da - earth Sa ( repeated) - infinity

together with Say So Hung, meaning  I am Thou.

This mantra is said to build bodily resistance to disease and can have a healing effect on the body. Its sound stimulates flow and circulation of prana (life force) through the body.

Chant it steadily, inhaling Ra Ma Da Sa and exhaling Sa Say So Hung. Linger a little on the sound 'ng' in Hung as it is said to stimulate divine glands.

Notice this chant has eight syllables - the number of rebirth.

If you are a novice to chanting, then you may find the above mantras easy to pronounce and remember.

With regular practice you will notice their calming effect and power to help you focus your mind on manifesting your desires.

For more information, you can search online for chanting meditation for beginners, or google the above mantras.

There is a wealth of information freely available including viewpoints on how to chant "correctly".

Remember to keep it simple at first before you delve deeper. One step at a time.

Let me know how you get on, and if chanting is already part of your spiritual practice, please share your tips and favourite mantras in the comment box below.

I'd love to hear from you 💚

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Grab my printable mantra cards on Ko-fi


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