Practicing Gratitude With The Tarot

Thanksgiving Day in the US serves as a gentle reminder for everyone around the world to pause and consciously appreciate all the goodness in our lives.

But why limit practicing gratitude to just one day? Cultivating a habit of appreciation can significantly improve your mental health.

If you're struggling to find things to be grateful for right now, you're not alone.

Life can be tough—relationship breakups, unemployment, poverty, illness, bereavement... It's easy to become cynical in such situations. I get it.

A time of year so devoted to being grateful for what we have can also painfully highlight what we lack or have lost.

But here's an invitation: be open to gratitude.

Expressing appreciation for even the simplest things that go right in your life can help shift your perception to a higher vibrational level.

And why not use the Tarot to help you along?

You can approach practicing gratitude with the Tarot in two ways:

1. Go through the whole deck and choose one thing for each card you are grateful for.

2. Or just pick a few cards at random to explore what you can be grateful for at this moment in time.

Examples:

Wheel of Fortune – grateful for those lucky turn of events in my favour

Three of Pentacles – grateful for all the experience gained from working with fantastic people

King of Swords – grateful for having stopped all the emotional drama in my life once and for all

The Moon – grateful for the magic, mystery and imagination in my life

Two of Wands – grateful for new opportunities I’m excited about

Remember to make a note of them all in your journal (check out the Tarot Moon Journal).

Why not giving this gratitude tarot exploration a try and raise your vibes today.

Pick as many cards as you like, and perhaps you will even enjoy drawing a daily card to express your gratitude for something (or someone!) good in your life right now.

Special journaling prompt:

What can I be grateful for in my life that money can’t buy?

Make your own set of oracle cards….

Discover your hidden blessings with the Tarot!

Warmet wishes,

Christiane

Global Tarot Year Card 2020: The Emperor

Tarot of Quotes

The Emperor in the Tarot (key 4 in the Major Arcana) is our planet's year card for 2020 based on numerology (2+0+2+0 = 4).

This card symbolises power and control issues in both beneficial and challenging ways.

For many people, the world has become an unsettling place - fascist leaders taking control, inequality, rise in crime, radical climate change activism, environmental catastrophes around the world, the sheer volume of plastic waste, unsustainable consumption, war in the Middle East, fake news, political corruption and gaslighting...

It all started in2016 with the Brexit Referendum in the UK and continued into  2017, the Wheel of Fortune year, in which Trump took office in the White House.

Since then, our heads have been spinning caused by a dazzling speed of change beyond our control.

But 2020 is the year of the Emperor - a reminder we need to step back into our power and become leaders of light and hope in our families, communities, at work, in our relationships and also for ourselves.

This means we have to get fully engaged with the world, get active, speak up and debate, join and support groups to contribute towards making a difference.

Taking responsibility that we are all to blame for the state of the world, and now it's time to make amends by radically changing our ways.

The Emperor has a vision of where he wants to be in the future. He is passionate, ambitious, driven and doesn't shy away from confrontation.

He is in control by making plans and getting organised.

He is creating a solid foundation - a springboard - from which he can progress, move forward and grow.

At a global level during 2020, we will see more people questioning old structures and institutions (Meghan and Harry, Iran protests, healthcare funding, climate emergency...). This will continue into 2021, the year of the Hierophant.

There will be power struggles between governments and new grassroot movements demanding change.

The dark side of the Emperor will show up, and we have to face it head on: narcissism and control issues.

Look at neo-fascist populist leaders taking control all over the world by spreading misinformation and character assassinations on a global scale through social media.

The population is being controlled by lack of funding for education. The government doesn't want our children to become digitally intelligent. This would expose government's lies and damage their power.

We have to take education (including critical thinking and fact-checking) in our own hands.

The Emperor is linked to the zodiac sign Aries - what will be started, may not necessarily come to a conclusion.

Projects borne out of passion or anger may be aborted midway due to intense emotions diminishing, lack of interest, energy, a short attention span.

Without a good plan and preparation, even the best intentions and ideas despite enthusiasm may not lead to anything and just dissipate.

I'm watching the Labour leadership election and development of Extinction Rebellion (and other environmental protest movements) with the Emperor in mind. 

The Emperor is this year's global year card, which means that while this masculine, yang energy has a strong influence on our personal lives, it also works combined with our personal year cards.

The global year card represents our external influences - opportunities and challenges, global events and developments we cannot control.

Our personal year card represents internal energy - strengths, weaknesses, attitudes, beliefs, values, choices, desires, our actions and responses to global year card energies.

How does your personal year card interact with the current global year card?

Take these three steps to start exploring:

1. What's your first impression when looking at both cards together?

2. What element/s are represented? (earth, air, fire, water...)

3. What astrological correspondences? (planets, zodiac)

Elements and astrological correspondences can give you an indication, whether your combination is friendly, supportive, neutral, conflicting or challenging.

You can then explore how to harness, resolve and align these energies to your advantage.

This work isn't done in a day. It's an ongoing project that lasts a whole year.

How is the Emperor energy reflected in your part of the world? Let me know in the comments 😃

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Pluto In The Tarot

Pluto is one of the three modern planets discovered in 1930, and it was later added to the Tarot as the ruling planet for Judgement.

Together with Mars, it is one of Scorpio's ruling planets, so in the Tarot it is also linked to Death, the zodiac card for Scorpio.

Pluto in the Tarot is not associated with any Minor Arcana cards, which have all been assigned to the traditional seven planets.

While all planets represent gods, Pluto is the God of the Underworld, so it makes sense that it is now linked to Scorpio and Death.

The energy of Pluto is that of transformation, regeneration, letting go as well as the unconscious.

It is associated with sexuality, physical and spiritual birth, with death and resurrection.

Pluto nudges us to confront our - and nature's - darker, more instinctive side.

Pluto energy offers us psychological insight and the ability to heal and regenerate.

On the other hand, it can generate obsessive compulsive tendencies.

So what does this all mean for Judgement and Death in the Tarot?

"I was dreamin' when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray
But when I woke up this mornin', could've sworn it was judgment day
The sky was all purple, there were people runnin' everywhere
Tryin' to run from the destruction, you know I didn't even care..."

- Prince, 1999

Pluto's influence on Judgement suggests the ability and necessity to let go of old patterns and baggage in order to move on.

After all, a change of direction is an ending, just like putting closure on a situation by having learned a lesson or practicing forgiveness.

Pluto's influence on Death suggests the need for detachment, a rite of passage, an emotionally painful transition, resurrection.

Both cards remind me of the rise of the Phoenix from the ashes, endings and new beginnings, but while Judgement's ending feels more upbeat and the rise is imminent, Death's ending is lingering and comes together with Scorpio's sting in its tail - ouch.

If both cards were present in a reading, it can suggest the transformative nature of Pluto intensified and a sense of upheaval, life being turned upside down as a result of external events or decisions being made.

If you would like to learn more about how to combine tarot with astrology, check out my Starlight Tarot Astrology Course.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Tarot Love Readings - The Relationship Card

The Vampire Tarot - (c) Robert Place

What makes a relationship tick?

It's always fun and insightful to explore its dynamics and compatibility in tarot love readings.

Often, random cards are drawn in a spread, which is fine, but you can also learn more by working out the couple's relationship card.

For this, you need to know each person's personality card and add the numbers of each card together, which gives you the relationship card (The Fool = 22).

I demonstrate this with the personality cards of me and my ex - haha, it's a crazy fun mindfluff, but it also offers some revelations about what the heck went wrong ?

So this is me (9 - Hermit) and him (4 - Emperor), add both numbers together, which makes Death our relationship card 😱😂

Well, Death kind of says it all; a Hufflepuff Hermit (zodiac card Knight of Cups - Pisces) trying to make it work with a Slytherin Emperor (zodiac card King of Swords - Aquarius). You can literally feel the cracks forming.

However, Death also indicates that this relationship was transformational in some way.

For me it has helped shift a lot of old baggage, uncomfortable at first, but in the end one of the happiest breakups I have experienced 😃

And what do all the other Major Arcana cards mean as relationship keys?

Here are my suggestions:

1 - The Magician: The only way the Magician can come up as a relationship card is when based on a combination of the Fool (0) and the Magician (1), but because the Magician doesn't exist as a personality card (birth dates don't add up to 1), it also won't come up as a relationship card.

However, the energy of the Magician is inherent in the numbers 10 and 19, and therefore Wheel of Fortune (10) and the Sun (19) relationships have the power to master and resolve any situation that comes their way.

2 - The High Priestess: The only way the High Priestess can come up as relationship card is when combined of the Fool (0) and the High Priestess (2).

A soul connection; mutual understanding without exchanging words. There is a sense of belonging and having known each other for ever. Spiritual nurturing; but also the danger of loosing sight of reality, mixing up naivity with spiritual maturity.

3 - The Empress: a creative connection; family. Traditional roles; physical and sensual attraction are key. A sense of belonging and longevity. A successful partnership. Thrives when mutual interests include spending time in nature.

This relationship doesn't work well if it's long-distance or there are longer separations, e.g. extensive business travel.

4 - The Emperor: Strong and committed. This relationship is built on mutual aspirations and ambitions. Both can rely on each other in good as well as bad times. A power couple. Needs to avoid neglecting emotional needs, when focused too much on the business and practical side of the relationship.

5 - The Hierophant: Two people sharing the same values. Traditional, conservative, conventional. Strengthened by taking time for travel, cultural experiences, art and philosophical discussions about politics, religion etc. Avoid lack of change and intolerance.

6 - The Lovers: A constant balance of head and heart. Obstacles and difficulties are overcome with love even if the mind suggests otherwise. Deep down there is certainty that love prevails and both are committed. Opposites attract. A tendency to avoid conflict or frank discussions, which can cause anxiety and deception.

7 - The Chariot: Both people in this relationship prefer to be independent, e.g. keep their separate bank accounts, homes, etc. They walk next to each other rather than towards each other, and yet they are deeply connected. A competitive streak; enjoying sports and travel together. Too much self-reliance can cause detachment. A need to set clear boundaries and keep eyes on mutual goal and aspirations.

8 - Strength: An exciting combination of lust and passion, which won't be tamed by love and long-term commitment. Heated arguments followed by passionate reconciliation. Power struggles; taming of the shrew. Beauty and the beast. A need for reflection and giving the other space from time to time.

9 - The Hermit: Down to earth; practical; no pretence. A relationship built on honesty and trust. You are true to yourself individually and true to each other. Loyalty. An ideal business partnership working well together. Two introverts found each other, who need to ensure that the relationship keeps growing by pushing their individual comfort zones.

10 - Wheel of Fortune: A karmic relationship; two people have found each other at the right time and know they belong together despite a difficult start. A need to know your purpose as a couple, e.g. starting a family or engaging in social activism, starting a business, helping others etc. If this common purpose is unknown, then feelings of restriction and limitation can come up.

11 - Justice: Equality, fairness. Fairly give and fairly take. A slow starter turning into a strong relationship after much consideration. Harmony; pleasant togetherness. A social couple with good circle of friends. Avoid blaming the other in crisis situations, and try not to focus too much on the other's flaws.

12 - Hanged Man: Obstacles and difficulties can easily stop this relationship in its tracks. Making sacrifices or simply surrender to outside influences are often the only solution to make it work long-term. Patience. Avoid stubbornness and rigidity; an open and flexible approach is required.

13 - Death: This card doesn't necessarily mean the end is unavoidable or even in sight. It can be the opposite: lively and transformational for both. Many changes determine the flow of this relationship, e.g. house moves, jobs, family, and the need for constant re-invention and adaptability. It's intense and any resistance by one or both can indeed mean the end.

14 - Temperance: Opposites attract; making it work requires skill, but with time harmony prevails. A healing relationship. A magical mix of commitment and independence. Playful. Experimental. Finding a middle ground. Avoid pretending that all is fine when it isn't; frank discussions and conflict help to find solutions and rebalance your equilibrium.

15 - The Devil: Even though this relationship starts off based on strong mutual attraction (so much so that lust and passion can suck sanity out of both parties),  there is danger of codependence and loss of spark in the long-term. That's because this couple has made a commitment to each other, and they don't want to break it lightly. This is a positive attitude and combined with keeping love and romance fresh and adventurous, this relationship can keep thriving. Avoid power struggles and competition with each other.

16 - The Tower: Mars rules this relationship, which can be tempestuous, destructive but also liberating at the same time. There is no codependence here; two people have minds and aspirations of their own, which they are determined to pursue. One person doesn't give up their dreams only to make the other happy. Tolerance and serenity will help weather any storms.

17 - The Star: Optimism, peace and calm dominate this relationship. Drama doesn't belong here, and any crisis situation is handled with pragmatism and recognising the bigger picture of what is truly important. A strong but gentle bond. No need to get married; perhaps even no need to live together and yet nothing keeps you apart on a spiritual level. Both allow each other space and freedom.

18 - The Moon: a deeply emotional bond; often conflicting emotions, filled with an abundance of imagination and fantasy. A romantic love that may not be the ideal match when looked at in the light of day a couple of months down the line. Nothing is sensible or rational here, but love and infatuation rule in a lingering way. Avoid pull-push scenarios, i.e. leaving and coming back. This will seriously affect your mental health and self-esteem.

19 - The Sun: a glorious life force; whole-heartedness, giving love and affection to each other generously. A relationship that boosts confidence and wellbeing. Quarrels are quickly forgotten. Bringing the best out of each other. A social couple with many friends, enjoying life and fun times. Avoid egotism and self-centredness, which can put a dampener on this relationship.

20 - Judgement: The longer it lasts, the better it gets. Over time, the healing power of this relationship is revealed, having a profound effect on both. In this relationship you can let go of old wounds. A deep bond growing over time and together, this couple can achieve more than indvidually on their own. Mutual help and support. Avoid taking the other for granted. Be prepared to forgive.

21 - The World: Grounding and solid. You know where you stand with each other, accepting each other the way you are. A great foundation for a family. A feeling you have arrived and nothing can tear you apart, except when you start to feel stifled wondering, if there is more out there when contemplating the rest of your life. The antidote to this is celebrating and enjoying life together. Avoid routine turning into complacency.

Remember to take your personality cards into account when exploring your relationship card, which can give you a more insightful portrait of your relationship.

You can also use the relationship card to explore connections with challenging people in your life, e.g. parents, children or siblings to work out issues and possible solutions.

Have fun, and let me know how you get on. I'd love to hear from you💚

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Raw and Scary Meaning of Death in the Tarot

Prisma Visions Tarot

It's Scorpio season, a time of letting go, endings and transformation.

Scorpio is linked to Death in the Tarot, so it's the perfect time to talk about the raw and scary aspects of this card nobody wants to raise when it pops up in a reading.

There is no beating around the bush: Death isn't the happiest card in the Tarot.

It ain't pretty (unless you are a tree in autumn shedding your leaves), it ain't fun.

Even the cheerful motto Out with the old, in with the new often covers up melancholy moments of letting something go that holds bittersweet memories.

Scorpio's sting hurts, even if it's just a tiny bit.

And while Death may well symbolise the transformation of the caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly, for us humans the process is more complex, at best uncomfortable and at worst very painful and crushing.

There is no point in denying the true meaning of Death, which in essence is about irreversible endings.

It's the finality of Death that can be so painful and hard to accept.

There is no point in denying the ugly side of Death, full stop. Popular tarot blogs and new age happy clappers want to make us believe that Death is a wonderful thing.

That it's about fabulous change and new beginnings, which sounds great but somehow sanitises its actual meaning.

It's time to acknowledge this card for what it really stands for:

An ending you - or your client - don't want and didn't ask for.

And yes, it can sometimes even mean physical death. It was my father's year card in his final year of life.

That doesn't mean you should tell your client that they or one of their loved ones is about to die. No, please don't.

Instead, when this card comes up in a reading, ask yourself (or your client) what this card means to you (them) at this moment in time.

Death is a taboo subject in our society and often brushed under the carpet. Anything to do with it including fear of death, grieving, and preparing for it when seriously ill.

Because we are living longer, we tend to take the time we have for granted. Death in a reading can remind us that we don't have all the time in the world.

Death reminds us not to delay turning our dreams into reality, because one day it will be too late.

Death in a reading can act as a reminder of our mortality. Together with Justice, it may be a good idea to make a will and get your affairs in order (including life insurance) to prepare for the inevitable.

To many, this sounds macabre, but what you would really be doing is taking care of your loved ones in case something happens to you.

It can suggest any of the five stages of grieving - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance - you or your client may be experiencing. It's time to tackle those emotions.

Death says: "What are you wasting your time on? Life is too short."

Death is a process, and sometimes we don't realise we've been through it until we look back and realise that the last couple of years or so have been tough and transformed us into the person we are today.

And we are still alive - that's the good news! Let's make the most of it.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

PS: Learn more about how to use the cards for self-exploration and healing in my Discovery Tarot Course.

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The Meaning Of The High Priestess In The Tarot

The High Priestess in the Tarot is one of the most mysterious and fascinating archetypes.

She embodies the feminine energy that is inherent within us all - intuition, inner wisdom, silence, stillness, reflection, gut instinct, patience.

The High Priestess is your inner spiritual advisor, counsellor, guide and psychic muse. If you don't know what to do or what to say, you follow her instead.

She represents inner knowing that doesn't come with tangible proof but with feelings and perceptions that trigger your sixth sense.

Following the High Priestess requires a huge amount of trust in her abilities but also plenty of self-knowledge to distinguish sound advice from deception and illusion.

She encourages you to dig deeper in order to see the bigger picture, to work with nature's rhythms such as the moon phases and the seasons, learn from your dreams, and follow your aspirations (those goals that seem to call you).

The High Priestess in the Tarot of Quotes is a lighthouse in the darkness, the guiding light that shows you the way safely to your destination.

The surrounding sea is the vastness of feelings and emotions within you, and just like an explorer you need to navigate on the surface to find your way and dive in to find all the treasures (talents, secrets, answers) hidden in the deep.

Astrologically, the High Priestess is linked to the moon. The waxing moon (new moon) represents intentions, conception and manifesting.

In practical terms, when this card comes up in a reading, you may want to observe rather than take action, wait and see, be silent rather than chatty, listen rather than speak. Let something work itself out or a situation unravel in its own time.

If something doesn't feel right, don't do it or stop doing it.

Still waters run deep.

Follow your inner guide or ask someone you trust for advice.

What to avoid: moodiness, being irrational, unpredictability, isolation.

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comment below.

⭐Check out the Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook and all images of my deck on Ko-fi⭐

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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New Year, New Tarot Journey

At the beginning of a new year, I always do the same thing: exploring my year card and finding my personal power word to guide me along.

If you are struggling to identify any meaningful goals or intentions, then don’t despair and read my article on this topic.

My year card last year was The Chariot, and my power word was ONWARDS.

Looking back at 2016, which was rather challenging at times, I can say that I have come a long way, not lingering in situations that weren’t good for me.

Each time I was hesitating or wondering, my special word ONWARDS reminded me of what I wanted to achieve. It was quite magickal.

This year, my year card is Strength, and my personal power word is CREATE.

Strength embodies qualities such as passion, creativity, resilience and soft power, which I am hoping to utilise and develop during 2017.

My special word CREATE indicates activities I would like to focus on, such as making and creating things, including arts and crafts.

Together with Strength, it also relates to becoming more assertive, ruthlessly expressing my values and opinions openly without fear, which is especially important in today’s divisive isolationist world of Trump and Brexit.

This means that instead of avoiding debate, I will engage in a constructive way and not turn away from people with different opinions.

You cannot CREATE change, if you retreat to the echo chamber full of like-minded folk.

Strength isn’t about running away from it all; it’s about having the courage (or CREATE-ing it) to face that lion and roar back into his face.

With regards to Tarot, CREATE will involve completion of my tarot deck and a new tarot journal ebook, Cosmic Journaling Through the Year.

I will also concentrate on offering more creative tarot journaling resources in order to provide ideas and inspiration to get you into visual and tarot art journaling.

Why creative tarot journaling?

If you love journaling, then you know how therapeutic it can be. If you haven’t really done any regular journaling yet, then perhaps because blank white pages in a notebook don’t inspire you, or you just don’t know where and how to start.

I am at a stage now, where writing down words alone is no longer enough, even if it’s in a pretty notebook. I need to express myself on a visual level, too.

Don’t worry if you think you’re not very good at art. You don’t have to be. The resources I am offering are designed to spice up your tarot journal and even help you create your own unique journal from scratch.

If you are learning the Tarot, then journaling is a powerful tool to help you connect with the cards.

Journaling can help you put your mind in order, relax, loose yourself in words and art, and switch off from an otherwise busy life at least for a while.

Cosmic Faery's Journal Workbook

Visual journaling with your tarot and oracle cards creates mindfulness and awareness in everyday living.

This is the kind of thing I want to work on this year, helping you to help yourself with creative tarot art journaling, and I hope you are interested in joining me on this venture.

You can access creative journaling freebies on my Ko-fi page, where you can also follow me for more free stuff and grab some fabulous creative journaling printables in my Shop.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Meaning Of The Kings In The Tarot

Following on from the Queens, we are now completing our court card explorations with the Kings in the Tarot.

Both the Queens and Kings are the masters and authorities of the court card families, but they specialise in different areas.

Whereas the Queens focus on yin aspects including feelings, care-giving, slowness and receptivity, the Kings embody yang aspects such as being pro-active, providing, dominant and restless.

Kings are linked to the element Fire, and as such they display Wands qualities in varying degrees according to their suits.

Kings tend to represent men, but they can also represent women, who display masculine traits or need to develop some of them for personal growth.

Just like the Queens, the Kings in a reading can also represent another person or an energy surrounding the querent, something they need to pay attention to.

King of Wands

Esoteric Title: The Lord of the Flame and Lightning. The King of the Spirits of Fire.

Astrological attribution: Leo

Elemental association: Fire of Fire

Characteristics and personality traits: dynamic, energetic, ambitious, decisive, powerful, confident, generous, honourable, risk-taking

Negative traits include domineering, forceful, arrogant, self-importance, hot-tempered, power-hungry, aggressive, crushing

King of Cups

Esoteric Title: The Lord of the Waves and the Waters. The King of the Hosts of the Sea.

Astrological attribution: Scorpio

Elemental association: Fire of Water

Characteristics and personality traits: compassionate, keeps feelings under control, emotional intelligence and balance, caring, kindness

Negative traits include moodiness, self-pity, weak, wimpish, hen-pecked, sentimental, hypersensitive, passive-aggressive

King of Swords

Esoteric Title: The Lord of the Wind and the Breezes. The Lord of the Spirits of Air

Astrological attribution: Aquarius

Elemental association: Fire of Air

Characteristics and personality traits: logical, intelligent, problem-solving, eloquent, fair, detached, calculating, firm, sharp-witted

Negative traits include ruthless, dismissive, goal-orientated, cutting, merciless, cold-hearted, cruel

King of Pentacles

Esoteric Title: The Lord of the Wild and Fertile Land. The King of the Spirits of Earth.

Astrological attribution: Taurus

Elemental association: Fire of Earth

Characteristics and personality traits: responsible, industrious, productive, dependable, paternal, efficient, steady, sensible, prosperous

Negative traits include conventional, stubborn, dull, over-cautious, stuck in a rut, inflexible, unadventurous, lack of imagination

The Cosmic Faery Tarot is available as a digital copy as part of the Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Tarot Guidance In 4 Words

"Put your foot down." #tarotguidancein4words - Tarot Nova

There are many fun and creative ways to connect with the tarot and develop your reading skills, and here's a little Tarot game you can play.

Let's play Tarot Guidance in 4 Words - #tarotguidancein4words

How it works:

Shuffle your deck and pull a card.

Come up with a meaningful message in just four words that relates to the card. It should be a phrase or sentence, not just a set of keywords.

You can also apply this reading method to spreads, and in order to demonstrate it, I have used the Celtic Cross:

Present Situation - The Tower: Break down, break through.

What is crossing it - King of Cups: Be kind to yourself.

Heart of the Matter - The Emperor: Put your foot down.

Past influences - Knight of Pentacles: Persevere despite slow progress.

Attitudes and Beliefs - Seven of Swords: Watch out for dishonesty.

Near Future - Three of Swords: Heal your broken heart.

You as you are - Ace of Cups: Embrace love around you.

How others see you - Five of Pentacles: In need of help.

Advice - Two of Wands: Take a new direction.

Outcome - The Empress: Create your dream life.

Despite its brevity, a 4-word message can offer great insight, which is useful for daily journaling.

And perhaps at the end of the month your daily guidance messages connect and tell a story…

Here are some more ideas for the High Priestess:

• Still waters run deep
• Listen to your intuition
• Don’t rush, be patient
• Turn away from noise
• Silence reveals what’s hidden

And here are some for the Wheel of Fortune:

• Time to be flexible
• Change will bring growth
• Go with the flow
• Win some, lose some
• Your luck will change

I could go on as I’m having fun with this exercise, but now it’s over to you.

Please do share your #tarotguidancein4words with me on social media. I’d love to see your interpretations.

Share your ideas on social media (works great on Instagram) with #tarotguidancein4words and tag me @cosmicfaery

You can also use your oracle cards #oracleguidancein4words

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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The Meaning Of The Queens In The Tarot

The Queens in the Tarot are the mothers of the court card family.

They often represent women, but they can also relate to men, who display feminine traits (e.g. nurturing and caring) or need to get more in touch with their feminine side.

Together with the Kings, the Queens in the Tarot have authority and lead by example.

They are the ones, who take care of the emotional and nurturing aspect of their leadership, as they are linked to the element Water.

Other characteristics include maturity, experience, stability, confidence.

In a reading, the Queens may indicate people, such as a person surrounding the querent or the querent him/herself.

They can also suggest an energy surrounding the querent or character traits that need to be developed or avoided.

Queen of Wands

Esoteric Title: The Queen of the Thrones of Flame

Astrological attribution: Aries

Elemental association: Water of Fire

Characteristics and personality traits: passionate, enthusiastic, exuberant, creative, energetic, active, extrovert, fun-loving, sociable, generous

Negative traits include vanity, tyranny, jealousy, egotism, domineering, catty, pushy

Queen of Cups

Esoteric Title: The Queen of the Thrones of the Waters

Astrological attribution: Cancer

Elemental association: Water of Water

Characteristics and personality traits: sensitive, compassionate, imaginative, intuitive, reflective, introvert, quiet, observant, artistic, calm, receptive, emotional

Negative traits include depressive, emotional overwhelm, irrational, fearful, apathy, inertia, smothering, impractical, clingy

Queen of Swords

Esoteric Title: The Queen of the Thrones of Air

Astrological attribution: Libra

Elemental association: Water of Air

Characteristics and personality traits: witty, clever, diplomatic, firm but fair, objective, stoic, stiff upper lip, sensible, perceptive, independent, outspoken

Negative traits include coldness, deceitful, impatience, bluntness, heartless, bitterness, calculating, devious, lonely, vindictive, unapproachable

Queen of Pentacles

Esoteric Title: The Queen of the Thrones of Earth

Astrological attribution: Capricorn

Elemental association: Water of Earth

Characteristics and personality traits: practical, down-to-earth, crafty, sensual, homely, resourceful, industrious, striving, health-conscious, nature-loving, frugal, thrifty, conservative

Negative traits include miserliness, stinginess, neglectful, sluggishness, dullness, greediness, overbearing, timid, possessive

The Cosmic Faery Tarot is available as a digital copy as part of the Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

The Venus Cards in the Tarot

The journey through our solar system continues from the Mercury cards to the Venus cards in the Tarot.

Here, you'll discover which tarot cards are linked to Venus and how this planet's energy can influence and enhance the meaning of each card.

Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty.

No wonder it has been linked primarily to the Empress, who encompasses the typical Venus characteristics of love, nurture, affection, passion, indulgence and beauty.

The astrological glyph for Venus is depicted on the heart-shaped shield, and her flowery symbol is the rose (red, pink and white).

Learn more about Venus in her role of Roman goddess, and you'll gain a deeper understanding of the Empress.

Venus in astrology is ruler of Taurus and Libra, so we can see a connection to the Hierophant (Taurus) and Justice (Libra).

Some Venus aspects of the Hierophant are those of security, stability and aeasthetics.

Venus loves to be part of a family, a collective, surrounded by people who adore her, which is reflected in the pope-like figure of the Hierophant. 

There is little room for change as symbolised by the stone pillars and dominant figure preaching to his acolytes.

There is also a sense of vanity and arrogance surrounding the Hierophant - elaborate robes and rituals together with grandeur interiors (e.g. cathedrals) can be signs of guru-syndrome.

However, the Hierophant's positive connection to Venus lies in his association with community, and the love, care, and support it provides to its members.

As a ruler of Libra, Venus's energy is also reflected in Justice. Her diplomatic abilities are mainly based on female charm, such as seduction and allure, which are meant to temper her masculine counterpart Mars, God of War (The Tower).

So, Libra reflects Venus's drive to create harmony and balance, especially in relationships and at home.

Interpreting Justice with Venus in mind, consider making decisions based on feminine strengths and characteristics, especially when trying to alleviate disarray or damage caused by masculine traits.

How is Venus reflected in the pip cards? Here are some suggestions:

Four of Wands (Venus in Aries)

The RWS-based image depicts a couple celebrating under a flower canopy. There is celebration, joy, love and a sense of achievement.

Venus heralds good fortunes, which are reflected in this card. So far things have run smoothly, and all is set to continue this way.

More examples: turning a house into a home, a winning partnership, creative / artistic achievement

Two of Cups (Venus in Cancer)

Attraction, desire, confidence, harmony, cooperation, partnership, trust, emotional balance

Seven of Cups (Venus in Scorpio)

Desire of many things, especially those that give pleasure; creative imagination; flights of fancy; pursuit of beauty; artistic ambitions

In Roman mythology Venus also embodied victory and prosperity, traits which are embedded in the Five of Swords and Nine of Pentacles.

Even though the victory of the Five of Swords (Venus in Aquarius) seems hollow or indicates a lose-lose situation, the Venus energy offers a sense of benevolence and goodwill. Something good can emerge from this scenario despite despair or pessimism.

This card also shows how badly love can go wrong: love turned sour; a nasty break-up; control issues within a relationship; abuse; lack of empathy; the upper hand.

Nine of Pentacles (Venus in Virgo)

Luxury, beautiful surroundings, enjoying the riches of life, security, self-reliance, self-care, nurturing and bonding with animals / pets.

Exercise:

Take all the cards linked to Venus from your deck and explore the connections and similarities.

You can use the journaling sheets I have created by downloading them from my Ko-fi page.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

The Mercury Cards in the Tarot

Building on our exploration of the sun cards, we're now delving into Mercury in the Tarot and examining how this planet influences the cards it is associated with.

As God's Messenger, Mercury is linked to communication, reason and self-awareness.

Other areas of influence are languages, travel, transport, logic and intellect.

In the Tarot, Mercury is linked directly to the Magician, and it may seem obvious why.

It is the Magician, who symbolises the power of communication, presenting ideas, arguing a cause, making a winning sales pitch and so on.

The Magician creates Magick with words, including spells, mantras and affirmations. He is influential but can also be manipulating.

Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo; therefore there is some indirect influence on The Lovers and The Hermit.

The pip cards Mercury is linked to are:

• Eight of Wands (Mercury in Sagittarius)
• Three of Cups (Mercury in Cancer)
• Five of Pentacles (Mercury in Taurus)
• Ten of Pentacles (Mercury in Virgo)
• Six of Swords (Mercury in Aquarius)

How is Mercury's energy reflected in these cards?

Here are some suggestions:

Eight of Wands - movement, travel, quick thinking, living life in the fast lane, seizing an unexpected opportunity, taking a calculated risk, gaming, travel by air

Three of Cups - communication (social), travelling in a group, building friendships, bonding (also at work), witty conversations, social networking, internet dating

Five of Pentacles - Asking for help, trying to make sense of a negative situation, bad news, mental overwhelm / meltdown, travel delays, being stranded, lost for words, looking for inspiration, learning difficulties

Ten of Pentacles - good organisational skills, nurturing a network of friends/ family / support, being established as an influencer / speaker / advisor, clever with money and long-term investments

Six of Swords - Travel, a new direction will bring clarity, a decision to leave something behind is based on reason and knowledge, fickleness, travel by sea

If you are reading reversed cards, consider thinking Mercury retrograde, when these cards show up upside down.

And if a Mercury retrograde is actually taking place while these cards come up in a reading, you can also take that into account.

Here's an interesting exercise you can do: 

Pick out all the Mercury cards from your deck. Which of the pip cards would you assign to which Major Arcana card?

You can look out for visual clues but also take similar meanings into account.

For example, I see the Six of Swords linked to The Hermit and the Three of Cups with The Lovers.

But it is perfectly fine, if you have different ideas. How do you see the Mercury cards connected with each other?

For this exercise I have created journal sheets, which you can download from my Ko-fi page.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling