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?

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:

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

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:

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

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:

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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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 🦄

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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

8. Affirmation

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 inside Cosmic Journaling Through The Year 

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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.

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

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22 Summer Journal Prompts That Make Shift Happen

It's been a glorious summer so far here in the UK, and when it’s too hot to move, take the opportunity to relax out in nature with your journal and tarot deck for some chilled-out mindful moments.

It’s summer time and the living is easy, the perfect time to tame the mental clutter to clarify, simplify and create some inner peace.

One prompt a day, and you are on the way to make some powerful mindshifts happen without trying too hard.

Daily journaling can also reduce stress as insightful self-enquiry helps to stay focused, productive and on track of your goals and aspirations.

Journaling is also a great way to connect with the Tarot, so here are my favourite summer journaling prompts to explore with your favourite deck:

1. Who are you in this moment? Use court cards only to draw a card, and then draw up to two cards from the rest of your deck.
2. How can you change your response to something that is stressing you?
3. What can you do to help you accept something in your life that cannot be changed?
4. What are you inviting into your life with your actions?
5. What do you need to say ‘yes’ to more often?
6. What do you need to say ‘no’ to more often?
7. If you had to give this present moment a title, what would it be called?
8. Who or what are you taking for granted and is worth to be appreciated more?
9. What are you trying to control too much, and how can you start loosening your grip?
10. Where can you give yourself some extra space?
11. What is your superpower today?
12. What did you lose in the past that you are grateful for today?
13. Draw a card to recall a funny experience you had.
14. What is your intuition trying to tell you today?
15. How can you avoid distractions today?
16. How can you embody love today?
17. Look back where you were a year ago today. How far have you come?
18. What do you need to give yourself credit for?
19. A new chapter in your life is about to open. What will it be called?
20. What is the title of the current chapter about to be closed?
21. Love is…
22. Life is…

You can repeat these prompts and also add your own if you like.

Explore these questions in style with my latest summer-themed creative journaling printable kit, which includes my newest ebook Journal Yourself Happy.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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5 Insightful Ways To Use Tarot For Self-Development

Tarot offers so much more than simple fortune-telling. If you're seeking an empowering companion on your life journey, choose Tarot for self-development, healing, and personal growth.

Here are five ways you can use the Tarot to increase awareness, perception, knowledge and understanding – qualities and skills you need to make the most of all aspects of life:

1. Setting Goals and turning them into Reality

Many people float through life without any clear direction where they want to be.

And if they do know where they want to be, they often don’t have a clear plan about how to get there.

This powerful monthly manifestation spread can help you focus on turning your dreams into reality:

2. Increase Confidence and Self-Esteem

The first step you need to take to raise your confidence and self-esteem is getting to know yourself better and start believing in yourself.

Many people are doubtful and insecure about their talents and abilities, their worth in terms of personality and looks.

Chances are high that you are much better and stronger than you think.

Learn more about your strengths and weaknesses by checking out your personality and persona cards.

You can also use tarot spreads to explore and give your confidence a boost, such as the Magick Monday Confidence:

3. Problem-Solving

Virtually every day we ask ourselves how to resolve specific problems, so why not ask the Tarot for some guidance:

• How to resolve a conflict in a relationship or at work?

• How to overcome an obstacle?

• Why can I not reach my goal and what can I do about it?

• What can I do to bring new love into my life?

Unblock yourself with the Get Unstuck Spread:

4. Healing from Heartache

“Breaking up is never easy, I know, but I have to go. Knowing me, knowing you it’s the best I can do.”  – Abba

Recovering from a breakup isn’t easy, and nobody will blame you for temporarily self-medicating with bottles of wine and tubs of ice-cream.

But there are also healthier and more therapeutic options. Combine Tarot with journaling to make sense of the whole thing, so you can get closure and move on with your life.

There are so many spreads about overcoming heartache. 

You may be asking yourself if he’s coming back or will you ever find new love again, but exploring what will grow from your loss can help you shift your focus to new opportunities:

Other questions you can ask:

• What can I do today that makes me feel better?

• What can I do today that will help me heal?

• What will make me happy today?

• What can I do today that will help me let go and start afresh?

5. Explore your Options

We have to make decisions every day, most of which are made quickly and without fuss, others are major choices that need a little bit of thought and consideration before you decide what to do.

Questions you might be asking yourself are:

• Which job / career will offer me better prospects?

• Is s/he the right one? My soul mate?

• Shall I go ahead with the business launch or should I delay as not everything is in place yet?

• Shall I spend my savings on the holiday or the training course? I have to make a choice as I can’t afford both.

Again, there are numerous spreads and explorations that can help you make decisions and work out what is best for you.

As you can see, you can have oodles of fun with the Tarot and start sorting out your pressing life issues along the way.

If you want to learn more about how to use the Tarot for self-development, then please check out my Discovery Tarot Course.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Discover Your Tarot Love Match

Smith Waite Centennial Edition Deck

The Tarot Love Match Reading is a fun and insightful way of exploring the dynamics of your relationship (or a potential relationship you are thinking of pursuing).

As the twelve zodiac signs are assigned to twelve cards in the Major Arcana, you can pick the two cards that relate to you and your (potential) partner and explore your compatibility.

Here are the Tarot cards with their associated zodiac signs and elemental attribution:

Aries (Fire) - Emperor

Taurus (Earth) - Hierophant

Gemini (Air) - Lovers

Cancer (Water) - Chariot

Leo (Fire) - Strength

Virgo (Earth) - Hermit

Libra (Air) - Justice

Scorpio (Water) - Death

Sagittarius (Fire) - Temperance

Capricorn (Earth) - Devil

Aquarius (Air) - Star

Pisces (Water) - Moon

Before you start interpreting the cards, note the ruling element of each zodiac as the combination of the elements offer you a first impression of the potential harmony of your relationship:

Friendly: Fire/Air, Earth/Water

Neutral: Fire/Earth, Water/Air

Unfriendly: Fire/Water, Earth/Air

We also tend to have more in common with other signs in our own element group, e.g. Earth/Earth, which would also be a friendly combination.

Please note that if the zodiac card combination of your current relationship is an "unfriendly" one, don't worry!

The Tarot Love Match Reading gives you an insight into how your personalities may interact, and there will always be individual exceptions, which can be explored further by taking into account a full birth chart and associated Tarot cards.

People who are already attracted and connected to each other may well have other planets in compatible signs.

On the other hand, an "unfriendly" match could indicate challenges arising in your relationship, which could result in having to put a lot of effort into making it work long-term.

But being aware of this possibility empowers you to being more mindful about your relationship and explore it on a deeper level.

Examples:

1. Taurus - Cancer

Friendly earth/water combination.

The Hierophant likes structure, routine and tradition; he is patient, practical and faithful.

The Chariot is dedicated, protective and emotionally resilient; both enjoy comfort, security, and even accumulating material possessions.

Together they have the potential for lasting love and to build wealth and success in a long-term relationship.

2. Leo - Virgo

Neutral fire/earth combination.

Strength loves being the centre of attention and perseveres with the object of its desire; passionate, energetic, enthusiastic and optimistic.

In contrast, the Hermit is down-to-earth, introvert and modest.

Whereas Strength enjoys Hermit's need to please in a relationship, Hermit's critical nature can be a turn-off.

Likewise, Hermit may be amused by theatrical Strength but put off by Strength's lack of empathy.

Both need to be more tolerant of each others quirks to make this relationship work.

3. Libra - Capricorn

Unfriendly air/earth combination.

Justice likes an ordered and serene environment; diplomatic, attentive listener, striving for balance in a relationship.

The Devil is ambitious, hard working and loves to be in control; he is often serious and reserved.

Justice can be irritated by the Devil's tendency to be overpowering and ruthless at times, and overall there doesn't seem to be a strong mutual attraction.

This relationship could well be a non-starter, or it may need a lot of hard work on both sides in order to succeed.

Tip:

When you look at the card pairs above, take a look at the position of the figures in the images and how they relate to each other.

What does their body language tell you about the dynamics of their relationship?

Now move the cards in each pair around, e.g. from Strength/Hermit to Hermit/Strength; what further insight do you gain from this swap?

If you enjoy this exercise, you can go deeper by adding the matching court cards, which have also been attributed to the zodiac signs:

Aries – Queen of Wands
Taurus – King of Pentacles
Gemini – Knight of Swords
Cancer – Queen of Cups
Leo – King of Wands
Virgo – Knight of Pentacles
Libra – Queen of Swords
Scorpio – King of Cups
Sagittarius – Knight of Wands
Capricorn – Queen of Pentacles
Aquarius – King of Swords
Pisces – Knight of Cups

So, using the examples above, we would be looking at the following card combinations:

1. Hierophant/King of Pentacles - Chariot/Queen of Cups
2. Strength/King of Wands - Hermit/Knight of Pentacles
3. Justice/Queen of Swords - Devil/Queen of Pentacles

What additional information do the court cards offer?

I hope you enjoy doing the tarot love match reading for yourself or even for your friends.

If you love journaling, you can also find this article in my Cosmic Faery's Journal workbook together with a funky journaling sheet and lots of other tarot spreads and journaling ideas.

And if you want to learn more about how to apply astrology in your tarot readings, please check out my Starlight Tarot Astrology course.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Tarot Journey: Return To The Light

After a dark and gloomy January here in the UK, February has finally arrived.

I can sense a sudden exhilarating shift in my mood as if a button has been pressed in my brain.

The days are getting longer, the snowdrops are blooming, the crocuses are on their way, I’m looking out for buds on shrubs and trees…. on our tarot journey, it’s the return from darkness into the light. Yay😄

The return to the light is symbolised by The Sun in the Major Arcana. Before we embrace this positive energy of joy and enlightenment, we can put closure on the darkness with this little spread:

Now that we have put the darkness to rest (at least for a while), we can focus on the lighter side of life – creation, success, clarity, simple abundance, vitality.

In the Tarot, when the Fool reaches the Sun, he has reached his goal. He is exactly where he wants to be.

In the RWS deck, his achievement is symbolised by the red feather on his head on both cards and the sun in the sky, which has turned from white (beginning) to golden (completion):

In the Cosmic Faery Tarot, I have illustrated the Fool’s milestone as a seedling growing into a beautiful sunflower:

Working with the Sun, ask the following questions:

• What has come to fruition?

• What commitments have I made?

• What do I now understand?

• What can I celebrate today?

• What is making me happy right now?

The Sun is very much about living in the moment, the here and now.

Just for a change, there is no need to make plans or think about the future.

What is most important is to savour the present and just be.

The Sun’s energy is linked to various cards in the tarot, most notably the Ten of Swords (Sun in Gemini), which depicts quite profoundly the emergence from darkness into the light.

If you are curious about your own tarot journey and want to learn more, check out my courses and ebooks, and follow me on Ko-fi, where you can also grab some fab freebies.

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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Tarot Shadow Work: Descend into the Underworld

Cosmic Faery Tarot Deck

With the dark season approaching and the spirit of Halloween in the air, it's a good time to light some candles, burn some incense, play some atmospheric music and work with the shadow cards of the Major Arcana for some serious self-exploration:

• The Hanged Man
• Death
• The Devil
• The Tower
• The Moon

The late Hajo Banzhaf (Tarot and the Journey of the Hero) assigned these cards to the Arc of the Night of the Major Arcana, the descend into the underworld, which starts with the Hanged Man and ends with the Moon.

These are not the most welcome cards when they appear in readings, but when we face them and examine our dark side (including those past experiences we'd rather forget), they can help us turn our darkness into light.

The best way to do that is through self-enquiry. Here are some questions you can ask yourself for each card:

The Hanged Man - What do I keep avoiding? Where am I stuck in my life? In what situations did/do I find it hard making decisions? What sacrifices have I made in order to make progress? What do I refuse to give up?

Death - Endings in my life that were painful. Changes that were unsettling. New beginnings that resulted from these endings/changes. What do I need to let go of now (habits, things, people...)? How can I transform anguish, loss and grief into a new sense of purpose and understanding? What transformations have I experienced in my life?

Tarot spread: 1. Me now / 2. Me a year ago - What has changed?

The Devil - What is controlling me / what am I controlling? Where do I feel trapped? How can I break free? Where am I complacent? Where am I wasting too much energy that isn't worth it? What am I obsessed about? Where have I been despondent? A taboo in my life / family / society.

The Tower - What am I angry about? When was the last time I showed my anger? What incident or situation shook my world? How have I recovered? When did I feel that my life was falling apart, and how have I rebuilt it? What has gone out of control? What have I destroyed on purpose in order to start again differently?

The Moon - When did my imagination last run wild? What are my fears / insecurities and doubts? What am I confused about? A nightmare I can remember I once had. My lunar fantasies: visions and illusions (pull a card for each). What is obscured and needs to be revealed? Where and how am I deceiving myself?

✨Make a date with your shadow and descend into the underworld with these cards✨

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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3 Mistakes to Avoid as a Tarot Reader

When you begin and progress on your journey as a professional tarot reader, you may look for advice and inspiration from your peers, usually found on their websites and in online networking groups.

Although it is helpful and enjoyable to engage with your fellow readers, I have noticed over the years that there tends to be a herd mentality, which can have the unfortunate effect of falling victim to "trends"without applying your own unique flair.

I do understand that when you start as a professional, you are looking for all the help you can find to get yourself established, but at one point it is important to find your own way, apply your own ideas and think your own thoughts.

From that herd mentality and losing yourself into what everone else is doing, try to avoid the following three mistakes:

1. Being judgemental and presumptuous

Many tarot readers claim they are non-judgemental and objective, but are they really?

When readers announce in their blog posts that they refuse to read on repeat questions, or they "have to" rephrase some of their clients' questions, then in fact this sounds pretty much judgemental. They seem to judge their clients' situation based on these issues.

And when you read about their reasons why, then it seems that most of them are based on assumptions and speculations, such as the client obviously hasn't moved on, or why are they asking me such a self-restrictive fortune-telling question? I can teach them how to do better...

When one tarot reader complained about clients requesting several readings from various readers about the same issue, it sounded like that client almost committed a criminal offence.

Of course the reader refused to do the reading, and I will probably get shot by the tarot ethics police when I admit that I have no problem submitting my reading when asked and getting paid for it, too.

Why? I hear you ask. Well, because every client has the right to spend their money on what they want. They can invest it in a huge DVD collection, or they can ask several readers for advice on how to handle and deal with a situation.

Everyone is entitled to second opinions, which doesn't necessarily mean that they feed a habit or live in denial. And being in denial is nothing to feel ashamed or bad about. Denial is often part of the grieving process.

If I hadn't asked another doctor for a second opinion many years ago, I would have been dead today.

When you need help resolving an issue, you may ask several people for their advice. In the end, you evaluate and make up your own mind. What's wrong with that?

Not every client in this position is a tarot junkie.

The antidote to being judgmental and presumptuous is unconditional open-mindedness and acknowledgement that anything is possible. Avoid generalisation. Treat each client as an individual with their own unique issues.

2. Being a copy cat

When you are in awe of fellow tarot readers' fabulous websites and blogs, it can be tempting to emulate them and inadvertently ending up being a bit of a clone.

How many unboxing videos are there on YouTube now? Who has time to watch them all? Are you sure you want to spend / waste time adding to that pile?

How many thousands of websites are out there offering tarot readings? How is yours standing out to get noticed? It doesn't help to copy another website's colour scheme or stock photos.

It's even worse copying their products or services, such as courses and ebooks.

Last year I noticed that a big name in the tarot business had copied the concept of my Tarot Moon Journal, which I first published in 2012.

My creation was given a different title and a once-over in corporate colours, but I know mine is the original and best, like all original ideas usually are.

The antidote to being a copy cat is to find your own style, your true and authentic voice and create unique offerings with your personal touch.

3. Following the Tarot herd

• you don't need to have a huge tarot deck collection
• you don't need to join the latest social media platform, because other tarot readers do
• you don't need to condemn a fellow tarot reader solely based on accusations from another tarot reader. Tarot readers can be highly strung at times. Best to avoid this kind of drama - and judgement! Be fair and kind rather than part of a tarot mob
• only because one reader claims that they don't read reversals doesn't mean you shouldn't either. Whatever works best for you really counts.
• contrary to popular opinion, you can still use the Tarot for fortune-telling, if that's what you want to do
• you don't need to be constantly on social media. Switch off to think for yourself and generate your best ideas
• you don't need tarot certification
• you don't need to bombard the world with masses of tarot deck reviews, complicated spreads and tarotscopes. Instead, why not create a Best of... list linking to your favourites you found on other people's blogs? Better than rehashing what is already out there.
• you don't need to call yourself a healer only because it seems like the new buzz job title for tarot readers. I prefer healing assistant, which reflects my Hermit personality 😄
• not all third party readings are equal. Some of them are okay to do, others are not. Avoid putting them all into one bucket. Consider each one carefully and see how far you want to go with it.

The antidote to following the tarot herd is critical thinking, discernment and realising that less is more. Take a step back, observe and evaluate without worrying about your peers' acceptance or rejection. It's the age-old dilemma of fitting in versus standing out.

Deep down you are wise, clever and intelligent enough to avoid these three mistakes as a Tarot reader once you put your mind to it.

Yes, I have made some of the mistakes listed here, learned my lessons and began to focus on my own imagination, new interests and experiences outside the tarot world that have inspired me to create the crazy cosmic enlightening stuff on offer here on my website.

What about you?

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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