Relationship Spread

I use this one a lot -- it has two paths leading down to a common intersection.  One path is the querant, the other is the "relationship interest".  Spread offers ample opportunity to pull additional cards to further explore various points.

The Spread:

1  What you're looking for
2  What other is looking for
3  What you want from other
4  What other wants from you
5  Weaknesses you bring
6  Weaknesses other brings
7  Strengths you offer
8  Strengths other offers
9  Result

(optional -- you can draw as many of these as is necessary)
10  What hinders result
11  What helps result

Fill the Cross Spread

Well, it's been about a bazillion years since my last post -- things have been very hectic (screwy economy!), but I think they're about to settle down for me (but am keeping my fingers crossed!)

The fourth season of Sherwood Forest Faire starts up next weekend -- I'll once again be out there in the yellow vardo doing Tarot readings!  If you have a chance to pass by (we're 40 miles from Austin, just off 290), please come and say "Hi"!

Rather than post a reading this time, I wanted to share one of the spreads I like to use.  In fact, I use this spread more than half the time at Sherwood.

It's an original spread -- I call it "Fill the Cross".  When you lay the first eight cards out, they leave a little "plus sign" or "cross" in the middle.  After reading the first eight, I lay the ninth card down on top of this "cross".

The spread lends itself well to "General" and "Career" readings.  I can also draw additional cards (if necessary) and create "spurs" off the cards along the edges to dig further if I need to.

Here's how I read the cards:

Card 1: Where you are right now

Card 2: What holds you back

Card 3: What pulls you forward

Card 4: A weakness to be addressed

Card 5: A strength to be utilized

Card 6: How you might turn the weakness

Card 7: How you might apply the strength

Card 8: What you'll see along the way

- and finally -

Card 9: What you'll see at the end

The Spread:

Don't Build a Wall!

(Note: In my mailing, I accidentally put the wrong card in the post. It's the Four of Pentacles, not the Four of Cups! I read the Four of Pentacles in the reading, so that part's accurate.)

Hi -- hope this week's been good to you. Summer's about to hit here in Houston ... we had our first 90 degree day last Saturday (but then it cooled off on Sunday ... go figure). Temp's in the mid 80's all week. Winter and Spring don't last too long in South Texas.

I normally talk a little bit about what's been going lately -- but things have just been kind of busy. Haven't had too much time for much anything else. My 18 year old daughter's been a pain, but that's nothing new. I think I've said this before about kids ... "They never get better, they just get more expensive"

Don't even have much planned for the weekend -- I think this'll be a "work around the house" weekend. Have a lot of yard work and pruning that I've been putting off. Great, now that it's getting hot outside, I finally have time to do it!? Should have done this a month ago -- oh well.

I guess the most exciting thing I did this week was spread fertilizer and such in the front yard. That afternoon, the lawn folks came by unexpected and cut the grass -- sucking up all the stuff I had laid down! My luck!

Let's we get on to the reading -- we'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:

Ace of Wands (Reversed)

Four of Pentacles


I normally read these two card spreads as:

1) Something to try and achieve (or resist)
2) Ways we can try to do #1

This time, I'm picking up something a little different. Let's see how this goes.

The Ace of Wands, like all Aces, suggest a new beginning. Wands suggests excitement and enthusiasm about a new project; also suggests the burning energy we feel when we're really into a new idea.

Being reversed, the message is distorted a bit. It could suggest a delay, for instance, or it could suggest a twist -- rather than feeling energetic, we may feel tired and listless. Rather than being excited about something new, we may feel "the blah's" about our situation.

Okay -- typically at this point we'd look at our second card to see how to remedy this. This particular card, the Four of Pentacles, is very confusing in this position. This card suggests walling ourself in -- ignoring outside influences and experiences.

In fact, this card suggests exactly what I'd expect to see from a person who is feeling tired and discouraged -- they don't want to consider anything new ... it might make them even more tired! So ... they build little walls around themselves. That way things may not improve -- but they won't get worse, either!

The truth in this situation is that things do get worse, of course. By keeping the outside world at arm's length, you miss the experiences and influences you need to grow. You may think you're sitting still, but you're actually moving backwards.

So ... in this particular case, I don't think our second card is a recommendation, I think it's a warning. It's saying "You DON'T want to do this if you're feeling the effects of a reversed Ace of Wands!"

If you feel tired, if things seem too complicated, the last thing you want to do is drop out -- instead, the best way to turn yourself around is to join in with the changing world. Listen to and consider the new experiences and ideas swirling around you; this is the best way to get you excited about things again!

You're not alone

Hi -- sorry I missed the last couple of readings; time got really tight between the Renfest and regular work stuff (plus trying to find all the documentation for taxes!)

Things should ease up a bit now -- I've got a talk to do at a conference next week, but I've got most of the prep work done for that. The festival is over now so I get my weekends back -- although I miss it!

Doing readings at a renaissance festival was an interesting experience. I found out that I have a certain number of readings inside of me per day. Once I get to that number, I'm just drained and empty. Sometimes I'd close up shop a little before the end of the fair -- I figured it was like running out of inventory!

Don't know if you saw my final setup with the wagon and my table -- here's what it looked like:






Let's we get on to the reading -- we'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:





Four of Wands




The Empress (reversed)







Kind of curious -- seems like I saw this first card a lot during my festival run. The Four of Wands is a celebration card -- I always envision a group of people watching and approving of this couple. So -- it's not so much that it's a celebration ... it's that other folks recognize and acknowledge that you have reason to be happy.

And what in our lives should we look to in order to realize this happiness? The Empress suggests things around our home life -- our family, our living spaces, our place in the environment. Basically, being "part" of a greater whole.

The reversal could suggest that we're not really seeing this for the valuable asset it is. Sometimes, these are the types of things we take for granted. It's something we see every day so we don't always see it for the strength and support it can provide -- and also for the strength and support we can provide to others in our circle.

So -- what I'm thinking is that in order to always have something we can fall back and take pleasure from -- to feel like "celebrating", we want to be able to look to our family, our friends, and our place in the world. How can we make things better for the folks we care about -- and how can we take pleasure in their support. When we recognize these assets, we'll surely feel a reason for celebration.

Learn From Your Past

Hi! I hope your week's started off well! I am completely exhausted -- this past weekend was my first weekend reading at a brand new Renaissance Faire and I am totally whipped!

My gypsy vardo worked out very well -- I had half of it set up for doing private readings; I also set up a small table outside for quicker ones. It turned out that the weather was wonderful and everyone wanted to sit outside for the reading. The fair site is kind of wooded, so we had lots of shade and dappled sunlight; it was very pleasant.

The Faire as a whole did very well -- we had a full house Saturday (they had to turn people away from the parking lot!) and did almost as well on Sunday. I think they'll have an expanded parking lot for next week!


I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures -- I'll try and remember next weekend (I'll be there for five more weekends) and will post a couple of photos. Here's a photo I found that shows "part" of my wagon at least! (I'm the blue-and-yellow wagon at the top left)

How about we get on to the reading -- we'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:



Page of Wands






Queen of Wands







Interesting that we not only have two cards of the same suit, but they follow a progression (Page to Queen)!

The Page of Wands gets very excited about new ideas or concepts. This page will spend time and energy thinking and planning -- he becomes very envigorated over the idea. He tends to be creative -- this page likes to think "outside the box".

While this page is a great thinker and planner, he's not that great a "doer" -- mainly because he usually lacks confidence in his ideas. Let's peek at our next card and see what we can do to help out.

Well, this is certainly a "confidence" card! The Queen of Wands has earned her confidence -- by learning from her experience in prior endeavors. Doesn't mean everything always works successfully first time -- means that she's learned that obstacles can be overcome. Do this enough and you stop worrying about obstacles -- your experience begins to tell you that you did it before and you can do it again. Obstacles lose their ability to worry you -- which is where your confidence comes from.

A person who believes in themselves tends to influence those around her. If you are confident, others become so as well. That's one of the main strengths of this Queen -- she can influence others by her positive and confident outlook.

Let's put these two together -- our Page suggests you may find yourself in a situation where you're considering a new project or idea ... one that interests you. Although you may find the idea appealing, you may doubt your ability to succeed. If we let the Queen help us out here, we can let what we've learned in past experiences to help pull us through.

Have you had other endeavors in the past where you were able to work through issues? This suggests you'll be able to do the same in any future or planned project. Even projects that failed have lessons for you -- are you more capable to succeed because of past failures? Have you learned from them? Learned things to do? Learned things not to do? Frankly, the more you fail at things, the better positioned you are to succeed at your next venture! Those are lessons you cannot learn from a book -- experience IS the best teacher!

Aim First!

Hi! I hope your week's begun well ... and, speaking as an ex-New Orlean's person ... WHO DAT!!! Been waiting over 40 years to say that and really mean it -- that Super Bowl was really, really nice! Great game, too -- much closer than the score suggests. If one or two plays had gone the other way, the outcome would have been different.

I've had an interesting couple of weeks -- am just getting back from an unexpected trip to Tel Aviv! Really a nice place, nothing at all what I expected from watching US news.

Tel Aviv's a vibrant, modern, and clean city sitting right smack on the Mediterranean ... which means they've got a beach downtown! I felt safer walking around Tel Aviv than I do when I walk around many US cities! Looked and felt a lot like walking around a town in California. It was kind of hard with the time zone differences and the horrible jet lag (coming home, I left at 8:00am and got back home in Houston at 1:00am the next day!)

Delievered my gypsy wagon to the Renaissance Festival yesterday -- I'm amazed at the amount of contructon they have going on. The last time I saw the site, it was basically just woods -- now it looks almost like a Disney village (I mean that in a good way)! I'm not real good at towing a wagon and was crossing my fingers that I didn't find myself in a tight spot and having to back up to manuever. So ... of course I find part of the road blocked and have to do a whole bunch of tricky backing up to make a U-turn on a one-lane road. Not fun at all!

How about we get on to the reading -- we'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:




Knight of Swords



Judgement
(Reversed)







I'm sure I've said this before -- whenever I see the Knight of Swords, the phrase I think of is "Ready, Fire, Aim!"

This card is loaded with energy and is chomping at the bit to take on any issue. Energy is good, readiness is good, attitude is good -- but sometimes a little direction would help out. That's the weakness of this card -- without direction, a whole lot of action may take place ... but the issue may remain unresolved.

The trick of harnessing this Knight is to temper it with guidance and direction -- slow it down, have a plan, track progress. Try to change "Read, Fire, Aim" into "Ready, AIM, Fire"!

Let's see what suggestions our second card have for us. Judgement suggests compassion, open-mindedness, and fairness. Judgement is willing to look at all sides of a question and to try to honestly understand all involved viewpoints. It's only by carefully and fairly weighing these factors that a fair judgement is possible.

Being reversed, it's possible that we'll have troubles trying to fairly see all sides of an issue. Perhaps we're stuck to our own opinion and are closed to considering opposing viewpoints? Perhaps personality issues become involved and block us from considering fair alternatives? Perhaps we're attributing unreal reasons for competitors stands? Can you put yourself in your opponents position and see his position from his side? Maybe if you fairly try to do so, you'll see his reasons have value? Maybe he's not taking that stance because he's an argumentative blockhead! (well, okay, maybe he is ... but that doesn't mean his position isn't realistic!)

It's only after you view an issue from all sides that you can honestly say you understand the issue. And ... you really can't come up with a reasonable plan to address an issue without understanding it first. Try and do so -- and then you can turn loose that Knight of Swords!

Keep Plugging Away

Hi! I hope your week's been going well ... mine's been fine, except the power's out this morning. Transformer in back of our house blew, but they're fixing it right now. In the meantime, we get a candlelight Tarot reading!

I'm working off laptop battery and my Sprint air card -- am trying to type fast because I've only got about 45 minutes of battery left! Hope I can get it all in!

Also made great progress on my Gypsy Vardo this week -- here's a quick pic of what I have so far:


You can see more pictures and some of the construction story at Woodsong Vardo.

All the hard (ie, heavy-lifting that I got my son to do) part is done -- I just have some work to do on the inside. Hope to move it to the festival site in a couple of weekends (weather permitting).

How about we get on to that candlelight reading -- we'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card.

Our cards this week are:

Seven of Pentacles (Reversed)

Knight of Wands

Battery's running out quickly, so I'm going to type fast and keep this to a minimum (sorry -- I'll make it up next time!)

The Seven of Pentacles is that wonderful warm feeling we have when we've made good progress on a project -- we've reached an intermediate goal, all the pieces fell into place just like we need them to, etc. Since we're reversed, we have to look at the opposite side -- how do we feel when we haven't made the progress we'd hoped to? Do you feel like you've failed -- even though the project is only partially completed? Do you feel there's no use in continuing -- that the mistakes can't be fixed? Do you feel like folks have let you down? What do you do about it?!?!?!

Our second card is our "pick me up" -- the Knight of Wands. What do you do when times get tough -- you keep plugging away even harder. What do you do when times are going good -- you keep plugging away even harder. This Knight is all about energy -- he's not concerned about temporary problems, he's looking to blow past them to reach his goal.

And that's a message we can all use. Things are NOT going to go perfectly well all the time ... we're going to hit stumbling blocks. That's all they are, though ... stumbling blocks. They're not impassable barriers. Don't get discouraged when you hit a block -- keep working to find a way around it. I think that's a secret many successful people have -- they don't get discouraged by setbacks; they keep working away to reach their goal.

And ... we should do the same! Reaching the goal is what ultimately matters.

I'm going to cut it short right there -- battery is very low. No time for spell or sanity checking (so please accept my apologies in advance for my grammar and spelling woes!). Hope things go well for you till next time!

Your Choice -- Free or No?

Hi! I hope you and yours have had a wonderful holiday season so far -- and it's not over quite yet!

I buy a lot of fabric online from http://www.fabric.com -- and just received a very nice message from them (well, it wasn't just me; it was everyone on their mailing list!). Anyway, the sender expressed a wonderful end/beginning of the year wish and I'd like to pass it along:

"We end a year and a decade that has been tumultuous to say the very least. If you are one of those less fortunate, who have suffered personal, physical, or financial loss, our collective thoughts go out to you, with a prayer that the coming year will be uplifting, rewarding and peaceful. If you have been blessed with good fortune, as we have here, please join me in expressing appreciation for those blessings by tangibly reaching out to those less fortunate."

This has been a topsy-turvy couple of years given the financial and political climate -- I hope everyone is weathering events well and I hope things look up for all of you. Let's all look forward to making this a great New Year!

I misplaced my favorite deck of Tarot cards about 2 years ago -- my original Robin Wood deck. I purchased a replacement (actually, a couple of copies), but that original deck had travelled the world with me and had visited some very special places. Anyway, I was doing some clutter-clearing and found the missing deck! I'm glad to be using it for this week's reading! How about we get to it!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:




Eight of Swords
(Reversed)






Two of Cups






We've seen this Eight before -- to understand it, just look at the card image.

We see a woman, bound and blindfolded. She's "trapped" inside a cage of swords. We feel for her as we can easily imagine all those times we feel trapped or controlled by circumstances -- when we're unable to implement our own choices and actions.

But -- if we look at the image a little closer, we see that the cords binding her are not tightly tied -- in fact, they look quite loose. A little bit of wriggling and shifting and those bounds will fall free. Furthermore, that "cage" of swords has some fairly large gaps in it -- once free, the woman can easily lift her blindfold, slip out, and walk away free. All it takes is a little effort. Some people will not make the effort -- they'll accept the entrapment; some people will make the effort.

The same way, if we look at those situations where we feel helpless a little more closely, we'll likely find that we're not as deeply trapped as we might think. There are things we can do -- choices we can make -- that can help us break free. We always (ALWAYS) have options -- it's up to us whether or not we wish to implement them.

Since this card is reversed, we might think of situations where we're not recognizing that we do have options. If you're thinking of something where you feel helpless, like you have no control, then that's likely exactly the situation you need to review. You do have control -- all you need to do is look at things a little closer.

Our second card, the Two of Cups, offers some thoughts to help us along. This Two suggests a new (or a renewal) emotional bond. This could be a new romance or friendship, it could be a renewal of family bonds, a growing sense of your self, or perhaps clearing up petty disagreements that stand in your way. Hmmm ... petty disagreements hindering a deeper friendship sound a lot like loose bonds and a loosely-built cage, don't they? They're easy to fix -- they just take a little bit of effort -- and the payoff is valuable.

Weigh the cost against the benefits gained -- you'll likely find the long-term benefits far outway any short-term costs. We always have choices and options to make things better -- it's up to us whether or not we use them!

Get a Jump on that resolution!

Hi! I hope things have been going well for you lately!

I have to apologize for missing the last couple of weeks -- my father-in-law passed away and things have really, really been hectic around here.

He lived a long, full, and active life -- he was almost 96 and was up on top of his house fixing his roof just a month or two ago! Couldn't slow that man down at all. He didn't get sick or anything -- he was just old and it was his time.

He lived in the same house he grew up in -- so it's got 90 plus years worth of stuff that we're trying to go through. It's also 6 hours away from us, so we've been spending a lot of time on the road ... the driving is really wearing me out!

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:

Eight of Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles



Have you ever been working at a task or a project that just completely absorbed you? You really got involved; perhaps you were learning some new techniques or skills, maybe you were exercising some of your talents -- and maybe even didn't notice time passing?

That's always a nice feeling when it happens -- and that's what the Eight of Pentacles suggests to us. Working away at task -- enjoying it, learning it, building and employing new skills -- is often its own reward. I think of the Eight of Pentacles card as a Joy of work card.

Well, that's a nice start -- let's see where it's heading ...

And ... we have the Ace of Pentacles! Aces of any suit generally suggest it's a good time to consider beginning a new venture in that suit interest. Pentacles suggest fiscal or physical ventures -- perhaps a business project, an new exercise regimen, maybe some household fixin-up? Considering the new year's almost upon us, maybe this is a good time to think of some resolution-type projects?

And -- if you find an interesting project, the Eight of Pentacles suggests the way we should attack it. Jump into it with both feet and eyes wide open! Enjoy the participation, don't give it partial attention. Spend your time and attention on the project -- whether or not the project is ultimately successful, the participation will be a reward in itself!

The lights are NEVER all Green at the same time!

Hi -- hope your week's been going well! I am SO ready for allergy season to be over and done with!

Visited the Texas Renaissance Festival last weekend -- brought my almost one-year-old grand daughter who dressed up as a fairy (pink onesie, pink nylon netting wings and skirt). She had a ball -- it was one of those perfect weather weekends and the crowds all came out. I wasn't expecting that big a crowd -- Texas was playing Oklahoma in football and I figured that would keep a lot of people at home watching TV. Didn't happen!

Anyway, she really got a kick out of watching all the colorful hullaballoo (and there was plenty of it!). Discovered a new way to drive up there, too. About 70 miles of empty country roads -- really enjoyable and sight-scenic-worthy. Saved us an at least an hour in missed traffic jams!

My in-laws came up that weekend -- my niece brought her laptop which was displaying a white screen only when she turned it on. (Don't know why she thought I would know how to fix it!) Anyway, we Googled "Toshiba Laptop White Screen" and were astonished not only to find explanations of what caused the problem, but also step-by-step photo-diaries of how to fix it! Took about 15 minutes and a couple of jewelry-sized screwdrivers and everything was going again (it was just a loose cable). The internet is wonderful!

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:




Knight of Pentacles





Eight of Swords






You know, it sure seems like we've been seeing a lot of Knights lately. This might suggest we consider our projects or wishes that are still in the formative state -- we know what we want, but we haven't quite gotten around to getting things in gear to make them happen yet.

Let's start with our Knight of Pentacles. This is a very strong opinioned card -- he has a position and isn't that open to changing it ... or even listening to alternatives. He probably walks around on his heels because he's digging them in all the time!

As you might expect, he's not a risk-taker. He's very cautious and is hesitant to make a move until every single loose end is addressed and resolved.

Well -- what would you think the end result would be? Do you think this card suggests someone who's ready to leap into action? Or someone who never seems to take that first step because conditions just aren't right yet?

There's a local radio commercial that asks "Are you one of those people who won't go on a drive until you know all the lights are green?" If you're waiting for that -- you'll never get out of the driveway ... because all the lights are NEVER green! You always will find obstacles and issues along your way. Waiting until they don't exist just ensures you never get started.

Let's look at our second card, the Eight of Swords for some additional information. I love Pamela Coleman-Smith's image for this card -- note the lady tied up; her eyes are bound and she's trapped inside a "cage" of swords! Sounds pretty dire, right?

Well, it does -- until you look again at the image. The cords that bind her are pretty loose -- she can easily work herself free and can then remove the mask from her eyes. The "cage" of swords is a pretty loose cage, too -- it's easy to walk between two of the swords and escape. In actuality, this woman is not trapped at all. She's only trapped if she gives up -- but can go free with just a little work on her part.

And that's the message of this card -- to consider whether the obstacle we feel may be blocking us is really that large an obstacle after all. Aren't there ways around it? Don't we always have alternatives? We only lose if we give up our will and our right to choose.

And maybe that's what this reading is suggesting -- perhaps our Knight is feeling blocked and won't move until he sees the road clear ahead of him. Since this will likely never happen, this is a trap of his own devise. If he wants to move ahead, then he should just begin. Difficulties will arise, but he can deal with them as they do. Movement doesn't guarantee success -- but no moving guarantees failure.

First things first ...

Hi -- hope your week's been going well! Another "cold" front passed through -- it's going down to the 70's this weekend! Heading off to the Texas Renaissance Festival this weekend -- taking our grand-daughter for her first time (she's not quite one yet). We've made her a little pink fairy costume with wings.

My grand-daugher's name is "Chloe" -- but my daughter (who's not the greatest speller) put "Chloey" on the birth certificate! One is pronounced "Chloe" -- the other is pronounced "What is that word?" I tend to use the "without Y" spelling, but I figure she'll choose what she wants when she's older.

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:





Knight of Wands (Reversed)






Five of Wands (Reversed)





Well, the Knight of Wands is one card I'm very familiar with -- if any card in the deck described me, this would be the one! I think I've used the expression "Ready - Fire - Aim" before -- that's pretty much the concept of this card. Lots of energy and excitement, but direction is lacking. The first part will get you off to a good start, the second part pretty much guarantees you'll get lost half-way through! Since we have a reversal here, I'd pay close attention to that second part. That's the weakness in this card and the most likely cause of the reversal.

Our second card, the Five of Wands offers some suggestions about the problem. This card suggests struggle -- like when you have so many issues demanding your attention that you never quite seem to get going. Since it's also reversed, I'd see this as strongly emphasizing that quality.

Put them together and we get something like this: "If there is a course of action or a project that excites you, strongly consider whether or not you have any loose ends that might hinder you once you've begun. Although you may find the prospect of beginning this new course of action energizing, you may be best served by spending some energy attending to any unresolved issues that may cause you trouble later on. Once you have these cleared away, you'll find the way open spend your full attention on those projects that most interest you."

Clear the way ...

Hi -- hope your week's been going well! We've got our first real "cold" front (as in it'll really lower the temperature a good bit) coming through this weekend. The rain and wind have begun already -- I love this kind of weather! I grew up in South Louisiana, so gloomy-overcast-rainy weather feels so comfortable to me! Thinking of rain, it's supposed to rain in Baton Rouge this weekend for the LSU-Florida game. I'm an LSU alum and LSU's going to need all the breaks they can get to do well in the game. Playing on a muddy field is NOT a good way to start, though!

The rain's been good for my chocolate plants, though. They're not real chocolate plants as in cacao. I have a lot of really shady areas in my yard and struggle to find things that will grow there. Saw the Mexican chocolate plants recommended -- they look like chocolate-flavored coleus. Haven't managed to kill them yet -- I have the complete opposite of a "green thumb"!

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:




Eight of Wands (Reversed)






Knight of Cups






The Eight of Wands is one of the two Minor Arcana cards in a Rider-Waite-Smith style deck that don't have a person depicted on the image. Doesn't mean any special -- just a bit of trivia for you!

Typically, this card is associated with movement or action. Looking at the image, you can see why! In the Robin Wood deck (the one I use), the wands emit jets of fire -- like rockets in outer space -- just to make sure you understand what they're about! This card could suggest physical movement or relocation, but more often is associated with initiating action on some project close to you.

Being reversed, this suggests this is a topic that you've been delaying action on. Perhaps you're not ready to take on this challenge, perhaps you're unsure how you want to act. Perhaps you're not sure what choice to make -- just remember that doing nothing is the same as making a choice!

Let's look to our second card for some hints -- the Knight of Cups.

Like all Knights, this card suggests energy wanting to be released. Like all Knights, this card is unsure about the direction in which it should release the energy! If anything, this particular Knight tends to look inwards more than outwards -- and if you're always looking inwards, you tend to miss the things that are happening all around you.

So -- perhaps this could suggest that we're unable to exercise the movement of the Eight of Wands because we're dwelling on internal issues. It's okay to ponder issues that are special to you -- but there has to be an end sometime! If you find yourself hashing and rehashing the same concerns over and over again, realize that you have to let them loose. If you can't resolve them, then just leave them behind you. Consider the active movement available in the Eight of Wands -- by applying that movement, you're able to leave vexing issues behind you. Once you can view them from a distance rather than up close, you may find they weren't as significant as you thought they were!

Could be a good time to ...

Hi -- hope your week's been going well! It's full-blown allergy season in Houston; as usual, it's slammed me pretty hard. I'm staying in the house as much as I can -- even a short trip outside has me sneezing for an hour.

On the related topic of things that grow seasonally, I have an wonderful information source that might interest you. Susan Wittig Albert, a Texas author who writes some really neat detective mysteries, also publishes a wonderful free newsletter on herbs. It's called "All About Thyme" and is a weekly calendar of "Times & Seasonings ... Celebrating the Mysteries, Magic, and Myths of Herbs". You can find this posted on the web at http://www.abouthyme.com/dayletters/; you can also sign up at that URL to receive the postings via email. It's a lot of fun and she posts lots of great information.

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:






Knight of Wands







Ten of Pentacles






I really identify with the Knights in a Tarot deck. Not because I'm noble and gallant or anything -- but because I'm more of a "Ready - Fire - Aim" kind of person. I tend to jump into a project before I plan it all out. Has me doing some backtracking from time to time to fix things I should have forseen (but didn't), but it works for me.

The Knight of Wands is the most "Ready - Fire - Aim" of the group -- not only is he excited about a project, he comes provided with loads of energy to see him through. His is the type of energy that's contagious -- folks around him can feel his passion and become inspired. He's not hesitant because of potential problems -- even if he doesn't know how he'll solve them, he'll still plow ahead confident that he'll be able to overcome any obstacles he comes across.

Will he be successful? Well, our next card, the Ten of Pentacles surely suggests yes! This ten suggests achieving a highly desired outcome -- particularly the outcome of a quest related to finances or physical well-being.

When we put them together, we get a fairly simple message. Don't let fear of failure keep you from trying to achieve what you want -- if you drive forward, you'll be able to resolve any difficulties in order to reach your goal.

So -- this might be a good time to look at losing a few pounds, perhaps start a walking regimen, or maybe preparing more interesting and healthy meals. This might also be a good time to explore professional projects -- maybe take a more active part in projects at work. Not saying you won't run into stumbling blocks (ie: "healthy" and "interesting"? How do you do that!?!) -- you likely will! But ... draw on the energy provided by the Knight of Wands to keep you from becoming discouraged; if the door appears closed, keep banging on it and you will pop it open!

Count Your Blessings!

Hi -- hope your week's been going well! School's started up again over here -- hooray! It's my daughter's Senior year in high school. She has some extra credits, so only has to attend for half a day. They didn't do that back when I was in high school ... 'course, they had black-and-white TV's back then as well!

Have begun getting my costume together for the Renaissance Festival in the spring where I'll be doing readings. Going after the "Gypsy" look -- lots of color, lots of "stuff". Don't know whether it'll be cold or not (February in Texas -- who knows?), so I'll add a wool cloak to the ensemble.

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:




Six of Cups






Nine of Cups






Very pleasant cards this time around! Both are Cups, so this reading likely is concerned with your emotional world.

The Six of Cups is an easy one to understand. Think of when you were a child -- you didn't have to worry about jobs, or car payments, or doctor bills, or issues at work, or ... well, or any grown-up problems! You may have been aware of such things, but those were things for grown-ups to take care of.

A child's main desire is for security -- they want to feel safe, loved, and comfortable. When a baby is crying, what do you do? You pick it up and hug it gently while patting it's back and saying "That's okay, it's alright!" You're making it feel warm and secure.

So, the Six of Cups most often suggests this sort of desire -- the wish to feel safe and secure. Again, we're thinking more of the emotional part of security here.

How to attain this? Let's look at our second card, the Nine of Cups. This card is actually sitting in a place where it's attained emotional security -- all the pieces have fit into place and it's able to enjoy being emotional fulfilled.

How to apply this? Let's try and realize those emotional assets we do have -- and take comfort in them! This is more commonly called "Count Your Blessings"! You're not alone, you're not without strengths and assets -- think about them, recognize them, and draw comfort from them. Sure ... you may want more assurances ... but that doesn't mean you can't appreciate the assets you already have. Draw comfort from these -- and your emotional stockpile will surely grow!

Prioritize!

Hi -- hope your week's started off well. We're "almost" getting rain out here west of Houston -- we can hear the thunder and see the lightning and dark clouds -- but not so many raindrops! Sigh! Still have our fingers crossed, though -- our turn has to come eventually.

Started working with a new company this week -- will be training all week. My eyeballs are rolling from reading manuals all week. The product is very similar to one that I used to support, so I understand the market well. It's almost like slipping on an old pair of comfortable shoes!

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:



Queen of Pentacles







Knight of Cups
(Reversed)






These Pentacles sure are getting familiar -- we've been seeing them a lot lately!

We've seen the Queen of Pentacles before -- she's like a sweet and caring grandmother. She has a big heart and sincerely cares about everyone's welfare. When times are tough, she's always there with a smile for you. She's always ready to lend a hand, too. Not too proud to get her hands dirty if need be!

These are all wonderful attributes -- patience, compassion, and willingness to get the task done without putting on any airs. Our second card is reversed, but I think we'll find it very easy to upright him and realize these positive attributes.

This second card, the Knight of Cups, tends to get sidetracked by his emotions. Queens are experienced -- they've been through the mill and know how to ignore distractions. Knights, unfortunately, are still learning and need a little help to stay on task. Being a Knight of Cups, our second card has to watch out for getting a little too "dreamy" and maybe a little too "introspective". If this Knight were building a house, he'd never get started because he never could make up his mind about what color to paint the inside! His emotions would distract him from his true task -- get the house built!

While it's nice to be aware of what's inside you, you still need to take care of the mundane matters surrounding you first. Once you've taken care of your physical house, you'll have some leisure time to think about the "furnishings"!

So -- prioritize! Note what things are most important and most need attention -- and take care of them first! You'll find this let's you realize the good side of the Knight of Cups by putting things in their proper order!

Get Started!

Hi -- hope you had a fine weekend! We had a dear friend up from Baton Rouge and had a full weekend shopping, visiting, and sight-seeing. Trying to get the "back to school" shopping out of the way early. Texas does this thing where they waive all sales taxes on clothes and school supplies for a weekend right before school starting back up. You really want to avoid the stores that weekend -- they're a pure madhouse!

Was glad to see the "experts" down-grading their hurricane predictions for this season -- I'm still pretty hurricane-shy after last year's Ike. Not that it means they'll be right -- just that we won't have to hear weather "conspirary theorists" spouting off for a while. That's always a relief!

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:



Three of Pentacles






Knight of Pentacles
(Reversed)






The Three of Pentacles is one of my favorites cards -- I think of it as a "Joy of work" card!

Have you ever been involved in an activity -- so involved that you don't really notice time passing? You're completely absorbed by the tasks, completely engaged by the challenges. It's a really nice feeling -- when you finally do look up and realize "Wow, where did the time go?", you probably feel like you've accomplished a bit. You've extended and expressed yourself and your skills ... and you don't feel put-upon at all. You've really enjoyed the process.

That's what this card suggests -- performing a task so dilligently that you and the task become one for that short period of time. The work defines you -- and you define the work.

This card simply acknowledges that performing a job well can be it's own reward. I don't think you have to be particularly skilled in order to enjoy this feeling -- I can spend hours playing my guitar (and torturing my family and neighbors in the process!) and I'll feel wonderful at the end ... even though I'm not particularly any good. Those rare times when I get a "cleaning urge" and spend an afternoon fixing up a cluttered room fill me with great satisfaction -- and I end up more relaxed than if I'd have spent that time taking a nap! Doing something well -- or at least being totally involved in doing something -- can give you much more energy than you might have spent in the process!

This is a pretty positive card for us -- it's suggesting there are tasks we can undertake where the results will greatly reward us. So ... what's the hangup?

Well, our second card, the Knight of Pentacles is actually very supportive of this activity. This knight is a plodder -- he stays on task, he stays on focus, and he sees things through to the end. He's not flashy, he's not fancy -- but he gets things done! But ... he's reversed!

In this case, the reversal likely signifies some reluctance to actually get started. Perhaps an ennui, perhaps it's just too darn hot to get started on something, perhaps we just don't feel like we have the energy to devote to a task, perhaps we don't see the point ... could be lots of reasons. The thing to remember is that regardless of whether or not we can see it from right here, we know from the Three of Pentacles that, once we get involved in a task, we'll reap the rewards. It's as sure as night following day -- we KNOW this will happen!

So ... if you feel it's necessary, give your inner Knight of Pentacles just a tiny nudge. It might take a little effort to start a heavy ball rolling ... but once it starts going, it doesn't take much to keep it going. The sturdiness of the Knight and the enthusiasm of the Three suggest this might be a great time to consider tasks or projects -- and that you'll be very successful in those you choose.

Let Loose and Move Forward!

Hope you've been havingt a good one! Things have been pretty hot and dry in Houston -- heat index near 110 degrees and no rain anywhere! Can't wait for summer to break!

Other than that, not much going on. I've been doing a little sewing lately -- am making some cloaks (forty of them!) for that Austin-area Renaissance Faire that's starting up next spring (and I'll be reading at!). You can see some pictures of what they look like here, here, and here. I had to coax two of my daughter's friends into modelling ... they were reluctant until I suggested they could use swords and bows as props. That sealed the deal!

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:




Judgement






Two of Cups







Hooray -- no reversals! Maybe we're out of those woods!

Actually, reversals aren't necessarily a negative thing. Reversals suggest progress -- in the sense that once you address issues rather than ignoring them, you should expect some positive movement. Everyone has problems -- but not everyone works to resolve them. It's not the problems you have that defines you -- it's what you do to take care of them that does.

Okay, I'll get off the soapbox now! Let's take a look at the cards we've drawn. Judgement really suggests positive movement. Quite often we hit spots in our life where we must make decisions in order to move forward. Judgement reminds us to be fair and honest when making those decisions -- if we are, we're better assured of making the "right" decision.

Even more than that, Judgement urges us to make the decision, not to avoid it!

Think of those times when you've felt an issue is weighing you down -- when you finally make a choice that lets you move past (or overcome) the issue, you feel like a great weight's been lifted. You feel refreshed and rejuvenated. You'll probably find the path you're now able to follow is a reward for your decision.

What kind of decision may you face? That obviously can vary -- but more often than not it'll be a decision requiring some type of forgiveness or acceptance. These are the types of hurtful things that can hold us back -- and they're also the types of things that can make us feel most relieved once we can put them in our past.

Our next card, the Two of Cups, suggests where we might look to answer this question. The Two of Cups suggests establishing or strengthening an emotional relationship. This doesn't necessarily mean a romantic tie -- but it could refer to a friendship or an emotional committment to a particular project or event. These sorts of emotional ties tend to reward us -- we receive in return way more than we lay out.

It might even be that we're unable to enjoy a new emotional attachment until we complete the course suggested by Judgement. No need to let things in the past drag us down -- let's embrace the lessons (we probably paid dearly for them), learn from them, close them ... and move on to better things!

And that's it for this week! Hope things go well for you till next time!

Turn Things Around!

Hope your week's been going well. I've had a really fun week -- both grandbabies in town at the same time! I've had a great time spoiling them ... and then handing them back to their folks when they smelled bad! Like they say, "If I'd had known grandkids were so much fun, I'd have had them first!"

Having some success on the interview front -- have been called back for a handful of additional interviews. Hope to have an offer next week or so -- keep your fingers crossed for me!

If there's anyone else in the same boat, I'm sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

How about we get onto that reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:



Knight of Cups
(Reversed)








The Hanged Man (Reversed)







Once again we have two reversed cards. This is probably appropriate given the state of things. Even if you're not directly affected by bad news, you've certainly heard it and have likely been concerned about it. Perhaps you worry about it -- maybe even too much?

The Knight of Cups is a very emotional card. Emotions are good -- when applied moderately. This Knight's problem is that he is very susceptible to becoming overly emotional. He could let situations control him rather than trying to control the situations.

The Hanged Man offers a way out -- basically, let's just try and view things in a new or different light. Turn things around, look at them again -- you'll likely see things are more positive than you originally thought.

Of course, this card is reversed also -- recognizing that this advice is something easy to say ... but sometimes not too easy to do. All you can do is try. Spend some time considering whether or not there are other viewpoints to consider. Are you seeing things exactly as they are? Or, are your emotions coloring your evaluations? Release a little bit -- step back -- and you might find it easier to recognize a different view.

Listen to Your Intuition

Hope your week's been going well. We finally got a bit of rain down here in Houston; we really, really needed it, too!

Have spent the past week doing the interview thing -- my industry got slammed bad by the stimulus bill and we went through a second round of layoffs (and I got caught up this time!)

So how can the "stimulus bill" not stimulate something? Well, what's happened is that there are government funds allocated for particular industries in the bill. So ... all those industries who were already planning and budgeting for expenditures this year are now saying "Wait, you mean we don't have to spend our own money -- we can spend someone else's?! Let's hold off on our purchases and wait and see what happens!" So, rather than stimulating things, it's had the opposite effect -- slamming on the brakes on growth!

I can't blame the industry -- I'd do the same thing in their shoes. The good news is that eventually this will all go away and things will be able to get back to normal.

So much for my view on economics -- how about that reading instead!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:



Queen of Pentacles
(Reversed)





Queen of Swords






Finally! An upright card -- we've sure been going through a long stretch of reversals lately. Have been seeing some familiar faces a lot, too.

The Queen of Pentacles has been visiting us a lot. We've already talked a little bit about this courtly lady -- she's passionate, she's caring, she's trustworthy, etc. We've talked about how reversals can distort the message of the card -- from trustworthy to non-trustworthy, from caring to indifferent, etc.

What I think's happening this time around is that the distortion is heading in the other direction -- it's extending the original meaning of the card. As we all know, too much of something is sometimes troublesome. For this particular situation, I'm keying in on the "caring" issue. "Caring" suggests feelings and emotions. We often speak of a caring person as being passionate. But ... when you become overly passionate -- you end out letting your emotions get in the way of your observations.

We should always be wary of too much of anything -- what we need is a balance in order to apply all our skills and experiences to guide us along. When we let passions override our other tendencies, we can stray off-course.

Our second card, The Queen of Swords, is exactly the card we want to help out. This queen suggests "street smarts" -- she's had some tough lessons in her life and has learned from all of them. One way to think about "street smarts" (or learning based on experience) is that you don't often have to carefully analyze situations -- you quickly reach a strong gut-feeling, or an intuition, about the proper response.

So, our reversed Queen of Pentacles is listening too closely to her heart -- and our experienced Queen of Swords suggests we listen to our intuition as well in order to keep us from over-reacting.

After all, we've paid a lot to attend the school of hard knocks -- and have learned some great lessons from it. Why waste these learnings -- let's take them into consideration. It may be that our intuition, rather than our emotions, can guide us most effectively for now.

Slow but Steady Wins the Race

Hope your week's been going well. We're sweltering down here in Houston -- temps topping 100 degrees and no rain in sight! I guess we're paying for the cool summer we had last year.

Looks like I will be doing readings at the Sherwood Forest Renaissance Faire next spring (their website is at http://www.sherwoodforestfaire.com). It's a really beautiful setting in the woods about 35 miles east of Austin. This is their first year and it's shaping up nicely. They're only using a small part of their land and are planning on expanding next year (there's a lake on the property that's earmarked for a Pirate Ship!)

My son is helping me build a Gypsy Wagon, or Vardo -- I'll use this rather than a tent ... although I'll probably put up an awning outside just in case the weather is really nice.

If you get a chance to pass by, stop in and say "Hello"! And now ... how about the reading!

We'll again pull two cards -- the first suggests something we should focus on for the week. The second suggests things we might consider in order to fully benefit from the attributes of the first card. Our cards this week are:



King of Pentacles
(Reversed)





Queen of Pentacles
(Reversed)






Interesting -- two reversed cards. Being Pentacles, they could be interpreted as relating to financial matters. Being the way the economy is, this might even sound about right!

We begin with a reversed King of Pentacles. Kings suggest the attainment of the aspects of their suit -- so we might see this card suggesting a business success or accomplishment. Like Smith-Barney, this King does things the old-fashioned way -- "He earns it!" This king isn't known for short cuts or quick fixes -- he's in things for the long term and does things the slow but sure way. He's steady -- you can always rely on him; as such, he's very trustworthy.

The reversal can suggest some delay in reaching these goals -- or perhaps even a distortion. For instance, lack of trust rather than trustworthiness. Let's take a look at our second card for clues as to how we can remedy this situation.

The Queen of Pentacles is also reversed -- and, since we have a second Pentacle, I'm really seeing this relating more to fiscal matters. This particular Queen is also known for being trustworthy; she cares for folks and is generous and giving. Again, no quick fixes or tricks here -- this Queen is very down to earth and old school.

When we put them together -- we see that one sure way to set the King back on his course is to take the long view. Don't look for quick fixes -- doing things the slow, sure, and old-fashioned way leads to the best chances of success.

Be patient, be steady, be confident. If you're caught up in today's economic messes, consider a long and slow ... but sure ... corrective path. It may be your best chance for long-term success!