It’s been two weeks since my last post. Again.

But, much has happened. Aside from finding the “voice” of this blog (more on that later this week). The themes of the past two week: buyers remorse, double cards in limited edition Tarot decks, a sign showing me that my favorite Tarot card really is my card, acceptance and contentment.

Maintaining and seeking out desirable decks to add to my burgeoning Tarot collection has become a part-time job. Well, not really. It’s something fun! I sift through web pages and reviews online and often happen upon the accidental discovery. New decks, old decks, self-published decks, limited edition decks, and mass market decks. Yes, yes, more on that later this week.

Two months ago I found and purchased The Bohemian Gothic Tarot Silver, the limited edition version of the Bohemian Gothic Tarot. The Silver had a print run of 500 and has title cards signed by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov, the creators of the deck and the visionaries behind Magic Realist Press and Baba Studio. The deck is called The Bohemian Gothic Tarot Silver for a reason; the cards have silver overlay on them, accenting the blues and various parts of the cards. All of the Magic Realist Press limited editions are beautiful and one of a kind…

The Silver was costly. I winced slightly when I paid for it. I defended the purchase: It was a collector’s item; it will increase in value over time. And, most importantly, I wanted to use the deck. I adore my standard edition of The Bohemian Gothic Tarot, but if the Silver was anything like The Victorian Romantic Gold, it was all going to be worth it in the end.

The deck came and I cast it aside. I was busy and knew I would get to bond with it eventually. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tear it open and take in its beauty. I did. But, after removing the shrink wrap, buyers remorse settled in.

My rational side kicked in. 2 months later. Sure, I wanted it, but I couldn’t deal with the price tag. The mere thought of my fingers smudging the cards and the thought of making the deck mine seemed atrocious. I made my mind up.  I should sell it.

I reposted The Bohemian Gothic Tarot Silver back where I bought it from. 2 days passed (really not that much time) and no one bought it. I became antsy, overly concerned and slightly paranoid at the thought of myself not being able to pass it on to someone else. Then, I’d be stuck with it. Yes, stuck with it. What would be the odds? I proceeded to post it on eBay for an obnoxious amount of money. I figured, the only way to overcome buyers remorse is to make your money back tenfold (well, really a third of that).

One night, for some reason, I decided to take a look at the cards in the Silver. I propped myself up by a pillow in bed, and grabbed the deck of cards. Wow. They really are stunning. The silver accents on the cards give the deck and ethereal quality, almost haunting at times. The images look as if they appear in 3D. I continued to flip through the cards, one-by-one, and came across a double The Star card.

There I went wincing again.

A double card? How? Panic mode set in. If there was a double card in the deck, there might be a missing one, and if there’s a missing one, I couldn’t sell it! I went through the whole deck slowly. Twice. It was just a double. But, it wasn’t just any double.

The Star. The Star is my favorite card! Many people share this sentiment since The Star’s meanings offer hope and optimism; it’s just one of those cards in the deck. In this case, the double The Star card was a sign in my eyes. The Silver was meant to be mine.

I slept on it, and then pulled my “For Sale” listings down. Buyer’s remorse? Really? No way! This deck was meant to come my way.

What do the cards say?

Describe my relationship with The Bohemian Gothic Silver?

The majority of cards in this reading are in the suit of Cups indicating a strong presence of emotional thought and feelings present. Following basic Elemental Dignities, we can also conclude that the Cups (King of Cups and 7 of Cups) weaken the Fire (3 of Wands) card, since water (Cups) weakens fire (Wands). In numerology, the number 3 represents the coming together of things and the number 7 tends to denote conflict. All three cards are part of the Major Arcana, representing day-to-day activities and constant change.

(Left) Past – 3 of Wands

Element: Fire
Associations: Passions; urge; creativity; growth

The 3 of Cups indicates the desire to look for more or seek something different. In The Bohemian Gothic Tarot 3 of Wands, we see a woman looking out from the side of a decrepit castle. Although it looks like it hasn’t been tended to, she looks vibrant and well kept, ready to step up to the challenge. It is dusk and birds are taking flight above, indicating a sense of movement in this card.

Perhaps I was unhappy with the purchase and wanted to look for the next step, that being, putting it up for sale. I was unsure of the outcome, but I made my mind up and took action.

Element: Water
Associations: Emotions; feelings; relationships

The King of Cups is the final card in the Court for this suit. The King tends to indicate what are normally deemed masculine energies of the suit.  In The Bohemian Gothic Tarot King of Cups, we see Nosferatu rising from his coffin after a days rest in his grave. A stunning young woman greets him, but gazes to the side, whilst Nosferatu stares at her. He can’t love her since he is a vampire. She appears disinterested in him, as opposed to being threatened.

Based on my experiences and opting to keep the deck, I am over the “honeymoon” period post The Star experience, I may still be suppressing how I feel about keeping the deck, even though I know feel it was meant to be. When I catch myself thinking about the monetary sacrifice, I’ll remember to enjoy the deck. That’s why it was purchased!

(Right) Future – Seven of Cups

Element: Water
Associations: Emotions; feelings; relationships

The 7 of Cups indicates daydreaming and temptation. In The Bohemian Gothic Tarot 7 of Cups, a young woman walks down a staircase from a roof. She doesn’t appear to be wearing any clothes, but has covered herself with a red velvet cloak. She also holds a wine glass with a red liquid in it (blood, wine?) and her lips are also red (lipstick, stained red with blood?). She gazes up the stairs, as if longing for more. She has given into temptation, and may have not used her best judgement.

Does the future show that I give into temptation? Sure, I may have not used the best judgement at the time I bought it, but I can work to prove that having this deck in my collection was worthwhile.

Image: The Bohemian Gothic Tarot © Magic Realist Press

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

Deck: (Left) The Victorian Romantic Tarot; (Right) The Bohemian Gothic Tarot

Element: Water
Associations: Emotions; feelings; relationships

The Page of Cups is “the dreamer” in the deck–the card that represents a a creative force in action, a lust for life and the desire to see what it brings. In both Page of Cups cards in The Victorian Romantic and The Bohemian Gold, we see a sense of longing, but there are also contrasting emotive qualities between both Pages depicted in the two decks.

The Victorian Romantic Page of Cups shows a youthful girl depicted as the Page, dressed in a purple cloak, symbolic if knowledge and victory. I have been using the The Victorian Romantic Gold for my readings and gold accents decorate  the to part of her cloak, indicating strength and even nobility in this case. The Page has gazes forward at us, as if asking for attention, with a desire for us to be onlookers as she listens to someone else play the harp. The older girl is focused on playing her instrument, her gold glove colored hands, gracing the keys. She wears a blue dress, denoting emotion, feelings and creativity, which is also adorned with gold detailing. A white lace headdress represents innocence and purity. Is this other person the teacher and the Page the student? Or, is the Page just listening to the music and taking in the lush surroundings? It. The foliage in the background is symbolic of growth.

The Bohemian Gothic Page walks down a staircase. As with all of the cards in the Bohemian Gothic Tarot deck, it is dusk or nighttime and an eerie light has been cast upon the scene. The Page is wearing a dark blue, navy colored dress with white lace around the collar–denoting mystery and innocence. She is not looking directly at us, but past us, as if wondering what will happen next. Unlike the Page of Cups in the Victorian Romantic, the Bohemian Gothic Page expresses a look of concern. She is strong, as the red headband on her head indicates, but she may have been forced to be strong at too young of an age, forced to grow up too soon. Green ivy has taken over the building and the staircase that she climbs down, symbolic of age, growth and even wisdom attained beyond her years. A Green Man-like head of a statue at the end of the staircase has it’s eyes turned at the girl. There are forces beyond her control, buts she must remain focussed ahead and in pursuit of her dreams as well, whatever they may be…

The Page is the first stage in the Court cards in Tarot, and I have pulled quite a few of them this month. I seem to be swaying back and forth between the Pages and Knights in many suits, so this makes for an interesting thing for me to consider.

It’s okay to be a dreamer, someone who is optimistic, a hopeless romantic in many ways, but it is important to be aware and keep your emotions in check as well. If one goes to far off the spectrum, these thoughts can become muddled and put you on a path of false awareness.

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

Many of us have watched the Melissa Lenormand project come to fruition. I’ve been following the progression back when the artist, Melissa, started posting samples of her oracle cards on her blog and on the Aeclectic forum.

And, now 250 copies of the first edition of the Melissa Lenormand is finally available for pre-order!

Taken from her web site:

The Melissa Lenormand is an oracle deck based on the French Lenormand style cartomancy system. Created in 2009, and published in 2010 by Melissa’s (and her husband’s!) fledgling game/card publishing company Karmic Egg.

The first edition of this lovely deck is limited to 250 copies.

A Lenormand oracle contains 36 cards. The Melissa Lenormand also contains several alternative art cards, and several informative cards for a total of 45 cards. An instruction booklet is included in the fully printed tuck box.

Delivery of the deck is estimated for 6 weeks (mid-to-late March). Friends who help with pre-orders will receive a very special thank-you gift from me.

To see additional artwork from the deck, visit http://tarotbymelissa.com/oracledeck.

*Any future print-runs of this deck will only contain 36 cards.

You can buy the Melissa Lenormand here.

Melissa also has a blog, offers Tarot readings, and makes gorgeous Tarot bags (I own three!). You can find out more by visiting her web site.

I am eagerly awaiting my copy. March, where are you?

Image: Melissa Lenormand © Karmic Egg (used by permission)

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

Rebecca at TheTarotphile.com is selling one of a kind Tarot bags for $6 (including shipping in the USA), with 100% all proceeds going to the Haiti Relief Fund.

I asked her if I could post this, and she assured me that she had enough material to keep on making bags.

Isn’t it beautiful? I bought one and it should arrive here any day now. My Buckland Romani is going to love it.

via her web site:

I have created a beautiful, special bag to support relief efforts in Haiti.  It’s just $6 (includes shipping!) and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Haiti Relief fund!

Bag measures 5.25″ X 7.5″ tall.  Fully lined.  Cotton print features gorgeous shades of brown, reds, and golds, accented with gold paint for a touch of sparkle.  Gold cord drawstrings. Handmade in a smoke free home.

I usually go with heavy, thick cord drawstrings on my bags however in the interest of keeping cost down to benefit the Haiti Relief fund as much as possible, I went with a slimmer cord.  Still beautiful!

Buy it now

She also sells many other gorgeous Tarot bags that you can view here. I have one of her Tarot bags made specially for us Morgan-Greer enthusiasts, and it’s stunning! She also offers readings.

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

This has been the week of trying new daily spreads! I do my readings at night, right before bedtime. My original intent was to use a 3 card spread I discovered on Aeclectic, but when I looked it up this morning, it appears that I made up my own spread last night. That’s the beauty of Tarot; you can use what works best for you. This is what I came up with:

Reflections Spread

(Left) What can I take from the day?
(Center) What can I take into tomorrow?
(Right) What can I take from today into tomorrow?

The last card helps clarify how you can take the experience from the day into tomorrow. It’s a summary card in many ways, but also takes into account what the focus was for today (position 1) and the focus for the tomorrow (position 2).

(Left) What can I take from the day? – Prince of Swords

Element: Air
Associations: Thought processes; conflict

The centered sword–or gun as it is depicted in the Victoria Regina Tarot–and the bird (a vulture perhaps) along with the stoic facial expression indicate that there is a strong message that requires much thought. I have the inner strength to deal with this issue, but I just need to stay focused. For the past few weeks, I have been mulling over something that I know has to be dealt with, and I need to be strong and confront it.

(Center) What can I take into tomorrow? – Princess of Swords

Element: Air
Associations: Thought processes; conflict

Instead of staying focused on what needs to be dealt with, I am digressing and avoiding the issue. The book in the card shows how the message is in plain writing (literally), but instead of paying attention and understanding that, my thoughts are elsewhere. I would much rather focus on the butterfly and daydream in hopes of coming up a solution. It’s important to not deceive myself. The butterfly could be a metaphor for cycles and what is to come.

(Right) What can I take from today into tomorrow? – 5 of Coins (Pentacles)

Element: Earth
Associations: Possessions; financial growth; status

Due to the potential lack of focus, there is a sense of sorrow. And, in this case, the issues are of a monetary one.

Summary:

I am going to be strong and tackle this issue. There’s no sense in having my heads in the clouds. I know what I have to do.  The 5 of Coins (Pentacles) resonates on many levels, as it is the cause of the issue at hand as well as the general sentiment. Regardless, I know I will feel better afterwords. Really.

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

Has it really been three weeks since my last post? So far, this year has been off to a busy start. After a busy work week and preparing to go away, going away and then coming back and getting things back up to speed, I feel like I lost track of time! Needless to stay, I am ready to get things back on track with this blog. Posting three times a week (under normal conditions!) isn’t too much to ask of myself.

Whilst I have not been blogging, I have still been doing daily draws. Single card draws for reflections work well, and I like the simplicity of three card spreads (past – present – future or the like). However, I have become quite fond of two card spreads as well. Clear and to the point, they offer a concise way to do a assist in clarifying the issue depicted in the first card drawn. Sometimes, less is better!

I assume that there are variations of this simple spread, but this is what I came up with:

2 Card Spread: (Left)Focus and (Right) Solution

(Left) Focus – Page of Swords

Element: Air
Associations: Thought processes; conflict

The focus of the Page of Swords is standing on guard and being attentive to one’s surroundings. Within the court cards, the Page is the youngest of the court and represents learning and the attributes of the suit.

In The Victorian Romantic Tarot, the young page is outside in the courtyard outside of a castle, holding his gun and looking to his left, representing action. He is on the look out, but looks like he can protect himself. The grounds are lush with grass and vegetation and he wears a red coat with regal lion decor on it, denoting strength.

In The Bohemian Gothic Tarot, we see a girl as the page. She appears to be standing in castle grounds at night. There is a light, but it is not on. Instead the luminous moon is behind it, adding an element of mystery. When compared to The page in the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the page in The Bohemian Gothic Tarot appears on edge. Her body language indicates that she has closed herself off, as opposed to the active stance of the other page. She also gazes to the left as if she is awaiting what will happen next. Her coat is buttoned to her collar and a gold cross necklace hangs at her neck. She may have the inner strength to protect herself, but that is all that she has right now. But, her faith may fail her as well; the angel statue in the background sits down and looks asleep as it leans on a sword.

(Right) Solution – 9 of Pentacles

The focus of the 9 of Pentacles is the culmination of wealth in many ways, including material gains, the path taken to get to that point, and a robust lifestyle.

Element: Earth
Associations: Possessions; financial growth; status

In The Victorian Romantic Tarot, a woman stands confidently with her hand on her hip, gazing, looking as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. She holds a basket overflowing with daisies representing her connection to earth, growth and strength. She wears a yellow silk bodice around her waist, the color another symbolic reference connected to the daisies and the outdoors. Her white gown has an abundant amount of material on it and she wears a black hat with an enormous brim. She is relishing in the abundance of things gained, life in general and the experiences that happen within various cycles of life. In the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles reminds me of the themes in the Empress card and certainly bares a resemblance to her in many ways.

In the Bohemian Gothic Tarot, the woman shown almost appears to be a slave to her lifestyle. She wears a white wig, a common practice for high society in the 19th century. What strikes me is the silver headdress worn at the crown of the wig; it almost looks like a spider. She wears a black dress with a white rope, denoting duality and balance. But, is she balanced? Perhaps she thinks she is. But, by the looks of the vulture, she seems to be possessed by her wealth. Her red fan and red shoes are the only other colors in the card, each serving as a metaphor. Her passion helps her stand her ground. And, the red fan helps her keep her cool. A vulture sits perched on the stone at the top of the landing that the woman is on and the skulls of other vultures appear on the ground, symbolic of the cycles of life. There is a pattern here, and even though the woman lives in a big house–as seen in the distance–she is trapped by her lifestyle.

Summary:

Focus: I may be on guard, but I must have confidence to be able to succeed. Perhaps there is blockage, or the path isn’t clear. I’ll have to test out the waters both physically and mentally, and trust that I can come to a resolution.

Solution: Once I have gained the confidence and am no longer on guard, I can enjoy the good things in life. Abundance is something that can be earned or simply gained. It will be key to remember that wealth doesn’t necessarily mean material gains; one doesn’t want to be a slave to their own environment. Appreciate the things that you have.

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

I read a post on Tarot Dame’s Blog featuring a New Year Spread last week. I was planning doing a 3 card reading using the past, present and future positions, and this spread is a fun take on it:

New Year Spread

(Left)What I should leave behind me when the new year arrives?
(Center)What I should take with me in the new year?
(Right)What I have to look forward to in the coming year?

My first observation was that I drew three Major Arcana cards. This implies that each of the answers involves a significant event or stage. Valuable and possibly life-changing events are in the works for 2010. Most of us feel this way when we start the year and we tend to focus on the immediate. Sometimes it’s wise to take a step back and observe where we where, where we are, and where we are going.

(Left)What I should leave behind me when the new year arrives? – The Empress

I drew The Hanged Man from The Victorian Romantic this past Christmas Eve. It signifies sacrifice and physical sacrifice to learn something new and insightful, or removing oneself from day-to-day activities to seek something new.

In The Bohemian Gothic Hanged Man, my eyes quickly gravitated towards the moon which creates an aura of mystery. The Moon is directly above the suspended figure that hangs from the window of an old gothic building, illuminating the scene and the calm waters behind him. An owl sits on the outer ledge of the building towards the left corner, a metaphor for actively becoming wise.

Summary:

Together, they represent seeking answers in a solitary environment by methods. The focus is natural and organic. I should take into account any lessons I have learned and remember that material things are just a temporary solution. Last year was a difficult one, as I am sure it was for many die to the current financial climate. The answer to this question tells me that I should make a move and that it’s time to step out.

(Center)What I should take with me in the new year? – Death

The Victorian Romantic Tarot The Empress shows a woman who looks maternal, is full of life, love and happiness. She is the epitome of nature and nurture working together in sync. She sits on a stone monument and is surrounded by flowers, two children and doves, symbolic of strength, creativity, growth and purity.

The Bohemian Gothic Tarot shows life, but also death. We see a woman who has grey hair and may be a grandmother to the child in the card. And, in a mirror behind the woman, we see her reflection depicted as a skull. This is symbolic of the cycles of life. This Empress is in a lushly decorated room and looks quite wealthy. While material things may make us happy in the short-term, they will mean nothing in the long-term when we pass on…

Summary:

In the New Year, I should focus on embracing life and the happiness that can be achieved through relationships with family and friends, as well as creative projects. They will come to an and–as all things do–but, these experiences are most valuable.

(Right)What I have to look forward to in the coming year? – The Hanged Man

The Victorian Romantic Death card shows various types of people in a scene with the Grim Reaper, an archetype for death. Once The Grim Reaper makes the cut with the blade, the end will be here. But in tarot, The Death card doesn’t mean a physical death; it represents the end of a stage in life, and the start of a new one. They people don’t appear fearful; a women holds up a baby and a man holds a skull with a laurel crown on it in his left hand. In the Victorian Romantic Gold, which is what I am reading with, the skull and laurel are gold, emphasizing the details. There will be conscious victory in the end.

In The Bohemian Gothic Death card, we see three skeletons in a church. One wears a red robe and holds an hourglass, while the other two lay covered on a bed of skeletons. There is a theme of duality represented in the stone scenery, but there is no balance here.  Time is running out in the hourglass, but the people are already dead in this card’s scenery. If that is the case, than time doesn’t matter. Does this represent being stuck in time?

Summary:

In the upcoming year, there will be a life changing transition or stage that may be drastic, but if I come out unscathed, it can be a great new beginning. I must not allow myself to get stuck in the past and must do my best to accept any changes instead of fighting them. An arrested development will work against me.

Image: The Victorian Romantic Tarot © Magic Realist Press

Image: The Bohemian Gothic Tarot © Magic Realist Press

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

Confused yet?

It’s time for me to take a sip of tea. It’s almost bedtime you know.

I’ve read Reversals with cards in their reversed positions. I was considering reading Reversals after I turned the cards right side up since I find reversed cards unaesthetic to look at when compared to upright cards. But, I don’t need to worry about that now! Last night, my Bohemian Gothic Tarot taught me a lesson: I realized that I do not want to read Reversals. Why? I tend to read the cards using many meanings, including some of the darker and optimistic side of things. I find them restricting in many ways. I will interpret the cards and how they relate to the reading or question by using their position among other cards, by experimenting with elemental dignities, and by leaving the door open to intuition.

Oh, and I also discovered a great shuffling method…by accident. And, it will keep all of my cards upright. But, if one happens to come out in the reversed position, I’ll take that into account and will place a small quartz stone under the card in the reading as a reminder that this card beckons to be noticed. But that’s another post. Stay tuned!

Do you use Reversals? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments about Reversals. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way. Use what works best for you.

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

aurarcana is honored to be The Tarot School’s first featured blog for 2010 (January 2010) in their monthly “Tarot Tips” newsletter!

I just learned this news today when I received and email from the Tarot School’s very own Ruth Ann Amberstone.

I am flattered and quite humbled to be honored by the prestigious The Tarot School. This blog was created as an outlet for me to write about my experiences with Tarot and to harness my web design skills (which I currently use at my day job). It’s been a hobby of sorts in so many ways.

There are so many great Tarot blogs an I thought that would be an opportune time to mention some of my favorites:

• Bonnie Cehovet
• Cat ‘N Owl
• Corrine Kenner’s Tarot Blog
• Daily Reading & Meditation
• Dynamic Dreamer ~ Art Weaver: The Mythic, Tarot Fairy Tale musings of Lisa Hunt
• Iceclone’s Blog
• Interactive Tarot Blog
• Mary K. Greer’s Tarot Blog
• Quirkeries
• Tarot Broad’s Bon Mots
• Tarot By Arwen
• Tarot Dame
• Tarot Elements
• Tarot Eon
• Tarot Healing by Lisa
• Tarot Notes – Major and Minor
• Tarotscope Happenings
• The Tarot Channel
• The Tarot Lady Blog

There’s a great community here and it’s great to be a part of something like this.

Here’s a warm thanks to all of my readers (both new and old)!

And, If you don’t already get Tarot Tips, you can see the January 1st issue, along with archived back issues here.

In addition, learn more about the renowned 2010 Readers Studio Tarot conference from April 23-25, 2010 at LaGuardia Marriott Hotel, New York.

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.

There’s an interesting article in today’s Sunday New York Times, “The Future: Cloudy, With Platitudes“.

It’s unfortunate that  this type  of advice comes off as hokey to the person who is interested in the services. Then again, many of the”professionals” (I use that term loosely here) who offer these services are a farce; psychic services can be a hoax to lure people into believing false hopes. But, there is always a flip side to everything. There are people who practice the metaphysical sciences and do it truthfully, in hopes of expanding one’s mind, the power of understanding the unconscious and free will.

When I read or write about the Tarot cards I pull, I hope tap into the emotive aspects and how I can relate them to life. The scenes are relative and can open doors to scenes and situations that may not have been obvious before. And, I’d rather have fun exploring on my own. I’m not fond of tacky neon signs that advertise services for anything…

© 2010, aurarcana | A Tarot Blog. All rights reserved.