Card of the Day - March 31, 2012

Today's Card is the Queen of Wands from the Shadowscapes Tarot. She is a dynamic woman and is passionate, creative, fun and energetic. Today is a fun day, and the queen represents the soul of the Fire element. Today, is an energetic day- many things will happen, mostly fun. There will be communication and probably travel. It is a good day to meet friends for a party or go for a weekend trip. The queen enjoys playing her harp among the birds and animals. They are in awe of her, almost reminding me of Snow White and her effect on the birds and the bees of the forest. She loves the outdoors, so its a good day to spend outdoors in open spaces and be with nature. 

Card of the Day - March 29, 2012

Taking a break from the Toltec Wisdom deck, I decided to check out my Shadowscapes Tarot deck again for a few days before starting to explore my new Revelations Tarot cards in the month of April. So, today's card is very apt for yes, April Fool's Day and it is our very own 'The Fool' card. Only thing is that in this deck, we have a female fool, and she looks like no fool at all, but a beautiful mermaid-like woman ready to take on a new journey. Today, think about what chances did you take, and what you let go. What risks did you take which were worth it? And what were silly, hasty decisions? When should we be a Fool? At the stages of new beginnings, when our gut feeling tells us to 'go for it' we must always listen to our inner fool. In this card, a long with the pretty girl, the birds, bees and animals are all with her, urging her to take a leap of faith and follow her dreams. Today, you too do the same. Take a leap off your pedestral, and look at things from above, from where things look like fun. 

Card of the Day - March 27, 2012

Today's Card of the Day says : ''Do your best because you want to''. We all know we need to do our best in whatever we do. Doing our best gives us no excuses or room for error. Even if we fail, we would know that we did our best, and it wouldn't upset us. But, we need to do well, because we WANT TO not because our mother forces us or our wife nags us. Only when you realize things on your own, will you be able to succeed. If you need to lose weight, you need to have the will power from within you because you ''want to''. When you succeed, you will be proud of what you have achieved. 

Card of the Day - March 26, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Toltec Wisdom deck is Embrace Your Freedom. Sometimes we take things for granted. We complain that we don't have this, and we don't have that. What you do have, and which is most important, is Freedom. There are so many people in the world who don't even have that - the children in Uganda under the most wanted criminal Kony, for instance or young girls forced to become sex slaves because of poverty. Treasure your freedom, because that is all you're going to need to live a happy life. If you are able to view this message, it means that you are as free as the birds, who have the freedom to love, the freedom to live and the freedom to fly.

Message:


You gain a huge amount of freedom when you take nothing personally. No spell can affect you regardless of how strong it may be. And if you live without fear, if you love, you will be happy with your life.

Card of the Day - March 21, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Toltec Wisdom deck by Don Miguel Ruiz is from one of his Four Agreements " Be Impeccable with your Word " and the Card says "Become a White Magician"                      

The message furthur says " All the magic you possess is based on your word, and you cast spells all the time with your opinions. You can either put a spell on someone with your word, or you can release someone from a spell  "

Have you any idea about the power of your words? Words can heal people as well as hurt them. Once uttered, these words float about in the atmosphere. They are as powerful as spells, and can have a profound effect on people. With kind words, you can heal a hurt soul, and with angry words, you can break a child's heart. You can make people listen to you more, if your words are positive and affirmative. You can make friends with funny words and you can make enemies with angry words. So, today use your words wisely and become a white magician.                                                                                   

Tarot Blog Hop: Ostara - Paint a Journey with new Life

To check out the TarotBlogHop before this one, hop onto Jennifer's blog to see her take on Ostara.

Not being a wiccan or a pagan, I had never heard of the different festivals in the Pagan calendar - Imbolt, Ostara, etc. The first time I heard of Ostara was from a Doreen Virtue deck 'Goddess Guidance oracle cards' and I remember very clearly this very sweet card called Ostara. The card says , 'This is the perfect time for you to start new projects, or assess new ideas and give birth to new conditions." 

Ostara from Goddess Guidance Oracle cards

When this card comes up in a reading, it is always a good time to do something new. The keyword for Ostara is Fertility. This goddess reminds me so much of our own Tarot goddess, The Empress. The Empress is the archetypal mother figure in the tarot, and in most decks she is shown being pregnant, which is a metaphor for the beginning stages in an important phase in your life. She too represents fertility, and in the scheme of events if you get this card, it represents that events will unfold in the month of March i.e in spring or during the festival of Ostara, also called Easter today. No matter what name she is called by: the Empress or the Spring Goddess, whether she is called Easter or Ostara we must be aware of messages we receive in all forms.

Who is Goddess Ostara?

She is the Teutonic goddess of fertility and springtime, who is sometimes called 'Eostre'. The words East and Easter were both named after Ostara because of the reference to the sun rising in the east, and the increase in sunlight beginning in the Celtic springtime. She is celebrated during the spring equinox as the bringer of increased light and the balance between night time and daytime hours. Call upon Ostara to increase your fruitfulness, fertility or to help you embark on new ventures.

A very pregnant Empress from the Mythic Tarot

Paint your life with Colour!! 

Surround yourself with beautiful flowers, brighten the colours in your wardrobe and your home, and paint your life with the beautiful colours of spring. The colours of spring are red, yellow, green and orange! You can paint a sunny out look within yourself and attract abundance into your life. Also significant are the beautiful and colourful Easter eggs which signify the birth of something new, just like our pregnant Empress.

Ostara To-Do List:

HUG A TREE

1. Read books which interest you.

I have a pile of books in my drawer that are just begging to be read!! Enough of all the procrastinating! Remove your books and tarot cards which are gathering dust, sitting unused in your drawers or cupboards.

2. Spring cleaning! Out with the old, and in with the new, Get rid of all your old junk. Have a garage sale, sell them online or better, donate your old stuff to a good cause. Old books, clothes, shoes and blankets are always needed in old age homes or charity organizations. You can clean your house AND do a good deed both at the same time.

3. Learn something you always wanted to. Learn to sing, or do something creative. Learn a new recipe or join a dance class.

4. Buy a new Tarot deck or revisit an old one in a new way. Have you always wanted a deck but didn't buy it for xyz reason? Do you have a neglected deck in your drawer? Don't think twice!

5. Prep up your Tarot practice by spending more time with your cards. Invent a new spread! Revamp your tarot blog!

6. Plant trees or flowers and watch them grow in the spring time. As they grow, so will you!!

7. Spend time with Nature by taking walks in the park or joining a yoga class in the garden.

8. Hug a tree!! Show them that you love them and are a part of them.

9. Paint the walls of your house with colourful colours. Surround yourself with spring colours by buying something new and colourful. Paint Easter Eggs with love and gift them to your loved ones.

10. Spend some time meditating, while listening to the sounds of the trees, the birds, the bees and the wind. Take the spirit of Springtime within your soul. Deeply breathe in all that oxygen.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Ostara and Happy Easter!! Stay happy and keep hopping!!

The next TarotBlogHop is by Melanie. Check it out!!! :-D 

Card of the Day - March 19, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Totem Deck by Don Miguel Ruiz is from the agreement 'Always do your best'. The message is 'Honour yourself'. How can your honour yourself? The best way is to be yourself and do things which are good for you, your mid, soul and your body. Listen to your body's signs. Putting on weight means you need to exercise, dry skin means you need to moisturize, falling sick means you need to take care of your health and eating habits. You will know when you need something and when something is no longer required in your life. Honor yourself by speaking the truth to yourself.

The card says: Honor the man or woman that you are. Take the risk to express your dream. Taking action is about living fully and expressing what you are.

Card of the Day - March 18, 2012

Today's Card of the Day is from the Four Agreements deck by Don Miguel Ruiz called Totemic Wisdom. The card is Create a Beautiful Dream from the agreement 'Be impeccable with your word'. Creating a dream is such a wonderful thought and idea. Making a difference in this world should be our aim. After we go, we should leave an imprint behind, so that we have affected this world in a positive way. What better way than to make someone's dream come true? It could be your dream, or your mother's or anyone you know or do not know. Make an effort to help those around you to be happy. Fulfill their dreams by being co-operative with them and understanding them better, even if you don't agree with them. 

Card of the Day - March 17, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Toltec Wisdom deck by Don Miguel Ruiz is 'Be aware of unconscious assumptions'. This message comes from the Agreement 'Dont make assumptions'. Even if we do not make assumptions consciously, we could be doing so unconsciously. Be aware of it. We could assume that some one is angry or jealous of us or we could assume that money will keep us happy. Be open to life as things are not always as we think them to be.

MESSAGE:
Assumptions are made so fast and unconsciously most of the time because we have agreements to communicate this way so we have agreed that if it is not safe to ask questions, we have agreed that if people love us, they should know what we feel or how we feel.

Card of the Day - March 16, 2012

Today I discovered a new IPhone App called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I was very fascinated by his four agreements and was amazed that I hadn't heard of his name before. He is a Mexican shaman, and New Age author. He was also featured on the Oprah show, so that I feel makes me trust him more. He writes about how to achieve happiness in our life using Four Agreements:

1. Be Impeccable with your Word
2. Don't take anything personally
3. Don't make assumptions
4. Always do your best

You can check out his book here .

Based on these agreements, he has formed an Iphone App which has different messages which has very cute images. He uses animals as his inspiration and the pictures are very vibrant.

For the rest of March, instead of my Card of the Day, I will be posting images or you can call them 'cards' which are a modern take on our lives. How do we increase spirituality in our lives, one drop at a time. How can we make minor changes everyday to become better human beings? The cards are both front and back and the message is written in the front, and the explanation at the back.

Today's Card is from the Agreement' Always do your best' and the Message is 'Practice makes the master'. 


MESSAGE:
By doing your best over and over, you can master the art of transformation. By doing your best, the habits of misusing your word, taking things personally and making assumptions will become weaker and less frequent with time.

Card of the Day - March 15, 2012

Today's Card of the Day is 'New Location.' You will benefit greatly if you change your current location. Have you been thinking about relocating from your house or shifting your office? Do not hesitate if a good opportunity knocks on your door. You will benefit greatly from any form of change. Do something different today, go to a new place like a garden, beach or for a holiday to a new location.Or you can even try out a new mall, shop or a restaurant that you have been wanting to go to. 

Card of the Day - March 14, 2012

Today's Card of the Day is Inner Child from the Healing with the Fairies oracle cards. Listen to your inner child. Today, do yourself a favour and be just like a child. Be childish, be kiddish, be ridiculous and be crazy. Nurturing your inner child sometimes can rejuvenate you, and you will feel like you are born all over again. Think about your childhood. What made you most happy? Your barbie dolls? Your chalk board? Your coloured  pencils and crayons? Why don't you play a make-believe game with your dolls and toys or draw and paint something? Grown ups always seem stressed out and tensed, while children are always happy and carefree. Be a child for a day, and see the difference. 

Card of the Day - March 13, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Healing with the Fairies oracle cards is 'Problem Resolved' .What a wonderful card to come by! You need not worry anymore as soon your problems are going to be history. Have faith in yourself. The card shows a fairy holding a snake in her hand. It does not seem like a problem to her, and has it wrapped around her fingers and arms. Treat your problems in the same way. They can be tackled and managed. Do not make them seem larger than they are. It is all in the mind. 

A Spiritual Dream... One to think about

I had a very deep, spiritual dream yesterday...... It gave me goosebumps, because it seemed so very real!!

THE DREAM

Earlier part of the dream, I was eating a buffet with my family. There were many courses. There was one of cornflakes and fruits. Then there was puri and mango puree . Then there was an interesting ice cream counter. There were many sizes of cones and many flavors. As I was taking the ice-cream everything vanished and there were some shadows and this voice started talking . It was a bit scary and then a coffin started moving . Then the entire dream there was a commanding voice talking to me and everybody else, like giving a lecture.

It was a huge place and only those who were enlightened and needed to be there were there. To the rest it was shut. A lesson was being taught about a rusty coffin and I don't know the name of the person but there was a lesson going on about him . Tht person wanted tarot and other esoetric knowledge to be preserved in the world because such ppl were being killed. He said I don't care if I die doing this but this information will be spread everywhere not here but in India and china because they are ready. I saw elephants which they said are very old and ancient dated back to something BC which he said you people have gotten the dates all wrong. But to make it easier we ll stick to those dates . I remember the words Knights Templar. . i think he spoke about them in some detail, but i couldnt recall anything later. I saw flashes of few cards in the air. One said BOTA. he said the most important tarot cards are 1,2 and 3. The number 3 card is the card of the tarot and it's you. I started screaming loudly I don't know why. I had long hair and was wearing a robe a long dress like a gown, the dream was black and white.In the dream, I said to myself, " I knew it. Everything is related.. Tarot and my phd". I looked behind and people would sometimes enter looking like students of hogwarts dressed in robes and hats. I felt part of an elite crowd who were ready for the knowledge. I remember the flash words "You are the Tarot" I asked many questions to that voice and got very intelligent answers but I don't remember any of it I'm sure my subconscious does and at tht time I was previlidged to be there and get those answers.

 End of Dream

DREAM ANALYSIS

What Im wondering is why did I scream? Was i afraid of something? or did i realise something? Since the dream was in black and white is this a flashback? Is it a past life dream, where I was a witch and a part of something which i was killed for? I cant stop thinking about this dream.. The number 3 card in the tarot is the empress. He said the most imp cards are 1,2, and 3 - the magician, high priestess and empress.. well, ok.. i guess this needs some deep study. 

After googling I figured that the person in the dream could be Paul Foster Case. There were two creepy things. One, in the dream I saw a huge piano and it was playing in the entire dream. On wikipedia it shows that this guy used to play piano since he was 5 yrs old and he played a church organ. Come to think of it, the sound was more like an organ, than a piano!! Another thing, wiki says that he used to have lucid dreams. And he came in my dreams.. OMG!

TAROT READING

I asked the Tarot ,''Whats the message of this dream?''

I got the 7 OF WANDS, THE FOOL AND THE KNIGHT OF SWORDS

I think the Knights Templar could be represented by the Knight of Swords, they were knights with Swords and had intellect and wisdom.  

Also 7 of Wands shows a person fighting for the truth and everyone else against them. The Fool shows someone going ahead with things on their own like on a journey. I think this dream is encouraging me to start my own journey.

Why did I scream in the dream?

 I got the 5 of SWORDS, 6 OF CUPS, 3 OF SWORDS, PAGE OF SWORDS

I see alot of swords in general, showing some sort of a fight, betrayal defeat and some injustice. 3 of swords shows betrayal. 6 of cups is a card of nostalgia, remembering the past, so i think a part of me really rememberd my past life and the memories of that made me remember what happened and so i screamed. I cant forget how i looked. I knew it was me, but i looked so different. 

BTW I came across this book by Paul Foster Case called 'A Study of the Introduction of the Tarot,' as i thought i should read it, and in it the Swords element signifies the 'astral body'. And there have been quite a lot of Swords in this tarot reading.

IN RETROSPECT

I need to study deeper about Tarot and other esoteric sciences like BOTA, Knights templar, etc. I'm happy that I have got clarity and direction in my life.. I feel like the Fool, on a new journey into the unknown................

Card of the Day - March 12, 2012

Today's Card of the day from the Healing with the Fairies Oracle cards is Trust Your Intuition. Very often, we get nagging thoughts which tell us what to do, and we 'know' we must listen to it, but we prefer to be logical and practical and put those thoughts aside. Being practical all the time can lead us to become dry and boring individuals, it sucks out all the humanity and liveliness in us. Today is a reminder to trust our intuition. You could be in a situation today which requires you to make a decision or make a choice. Choose with your heart, not with your head. We have so many layers of consciousness which give us signs and clues about what is the right thing to do. Listen to the hunches which you have - they could tell you to go for a spontaneous vacation or help you avoid a bad investment.

I came across this interesting blog on the topic of intuition http://mywingsofdesireblog.blogspot.in/2011/03/listen-to-your-intuition-or-not.html

Card of the Day - March 11, 2012

Today's Card of the Day is from the Healing with the Fairies Oracle cards. It is Financial Flow. Finally there is a sudden change in your fortunes and money is coming to you from different sources. Finances which have been stuck since quite some time, will finally come to you. This is a good time for starting new projects as luck and fortune is favouring you. Today will be a good day, so look forward to it. 

Card of the Day - March 9, 2012

Today, we have the message of the most romantic couple of the Tarot, The Lovers. Specially in this deck, the Shadowscapes Tarot, they seem to be in a blissful state like in a fairy tale. They are standing atop a mountain of flowers surrounded by love birds and doves with no care about the world. There is a small snake lurking about but they couldn't be bothered. With love, comes temptation, but if it is true love, then nothing can tempt you. They are like husband and wife, king and queen, prince and princess. Today, prioritize your love life and your better half. There are some things in life which are very special and priceless. Love is one of them. Spend the day to show them that you care and appreciate them.

Woman's Day with my Tarot girlfriends

I wish all you lovely women out there a very very Happy Women's Day! So, today is a day dedicated to us mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, girlfriends, grandmas and granddaughters. What makes women so special and unique? There are umpteen jokes and stereotypes about us : we cannot drive, we nag, we criticize, we are obsessive, we go crazy in malls and spend hours shopping. But who are we really? Today, I thought about an exercise we can do to answer this question. Who best to ask than our best friends in the Tarot, our gal pals! Let me introduce to you my best friends who I know best and who know me best. What can they teach me and what can I learn from them? What makes me a woman? How can I be a woman of substance? The main question I ask myself is that what can I learn from each of these cards. As we know, each card in the Major Arcana is formed from an archetype which is thousands of years old. So we have important lessons to learn from these ladies as they are truly wise.

So let me introduce you to my lovely besties :-

1) The High Priestess

What can we learn from her? She is a mysterious lady, and is every man's dream. She teaches us to listen to our intuition and follow our instincts. She is the subconscious mind, the part of us that 'knows' whats going to happen. She is our gut feeling and the butterflies in our stomach. We need to embrace her quiet confidence and wisdom in our lives. With a book in one hand, and a crystal ball in the other, in this Robin Wood deck she is a wonderful source of inner wisdom of the past, present and the future.

2) The Empress

She is the hot mamma! She's pregnant and is the archetypal mother of the cards. She teaches us to be caring, nurturing and patient. She is patiently waiting for her fruits of her labor and whilst doing so she sits all by herself enjoying the natural forests, birds and bees. She teaches us to appreciate Mother Nature. An important part of a woman is to be a nurturer and a mother, if even not to a child, to any one, a friend, a husband or even a pet.

3) The Queen of Cups

Since she belongs to the Cups suit, she represents the water element. She is full of sensitivity, emotion and love. She teaches us to love unconditionally and to keep giving irrespective of the consequences. Love for her is eternal and she supports her husband no matter what. She lives in a fairy tale world and is a true blue romantic. We need to learn to be creative, imaginative and child-like like her.

4) The Queen of Swords

Belonging to the Swords suit, she is just like a sword - sharp and dangerous. She can be an intellectual who is sharp and shrewd. She teaches us to be independent and self sufficient. She can make a name for herself, even at the expense of others. She has no sympathy for the weak. She teaches us that a man is not necessary to fulfill your dreams.

5) The Queen of Pentacles

Riding in luxury, she is one queen who is really balanced, and she enjoys her life. She enjoys what she does. She is a home maker and an organizer. She is one of those women who loves to bake pies and make jams and pickles. She is like Goddess Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home.She loves preparing home cooked meals and her house will always be neat and clean. A house with her is truly a home.

6) The Queen of Wands

She is the career woman. She loves talking, discussing and has an opinion about everything. She is positive and energetic. Her passion to her work and her life is contagious. She is the life of the party. She teaches us to take things lightly, have a sense of humor and to positively follow our goals. She belongs to the Wands suit and represents the fire element. She teaches us to be ambitious, follow our goals and make our dreams a reality.


What wonderful role models we have in our Tarot cards! I'm so proud to be a woman and to know such lovely women! I'm sure there are many more lessons we can learn from the other cards as well, these are just a few! So discover new parts of yourself today on Woman's Day by spending sometime with your dearest friends.....

TOP 5 WOMEN TAROT DECKS: 

Check out these women oriented Tarot decks!! There are many more feminist tarot decks available out there with feminine energy, but these are few of my favorite picks.

1) The Housewives Tarot is a fun filled deck, each card will keep you laughing in splits. The women of the 1950's in this deck are so cheeky! Isn't she like Jessica Chaistan's character in The Help?

2) The Goddess Tarot - The tarot cards are dedicated to different goddesses in the world. 

3) Motherpeace Tarot - This deck is dedicated to all the women in the world and it is one of the first feminist decks. It is also a round card deck. A classic. 

4) Vanessa Tarot - This is a deck with modern leanings, for the women of today's generation!

5) Gaian Tarot - This photographic deck is dedicated to Mother Earth, Gaia. This deck was released last year, 2011 and is already the #2 deck on the Top Decks of 2011 in the Aeceletic.net internet poll. 

Card of the Day - March 5, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Shadowscapes Tarot is the Wheel of Fortune. While the fortunes of your life keep on rolling and rolling, they are about to take another turn for the better. Long overdue money shall be received today, and unexpectedly things might turn in your favour because of lady luck. Today you can say, is a lucky day. So buy a lottery ticket or play a game of roulette. You may get lucky! Everything is connected in the circle of life, and there are no coincidences. 

Card of the Day - March 3, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Shadowscapes Tarot is the 7 of Wands. Today you are very determined and stubborn.You finally know what you are supposed to do. You will be strong even though others around you will try to put you down. You might feel lonely while you make your own decisions and do your own thing. Do not worry. You have made the right decision and eventually others will see that and look up to you in the long run. There is a lot of competition in this dog eats dog world. You are a strong force and are like the vixen in the card protecting her babies from the badger. Do not underestimate yourself.

Card of the Day - March 1, 2012

Today's Card of the Day from the Shadowscapes Tarot is the 9 of Swords. This card shows a man being haunted literally by ravens whirling above his head. The ravens are constant reminders that something is wrong. Sometimes we see birds cawing and flocking about usually when there is a time of crisis such as a tsunami or an earthquake. I remember seeing ths once when there was an earthquake. Birds have a sixth sense and they 'know' that something is wrong. Similarly in this card, you 'know' that something is wrong in your life, and something is missing. Try and find out what is that thing is you are missing in your life. You have wings, but are unable to fly. Try seeking the reason why you doubt yourself.

The book says :
Stormcrows herald impending dissolution
with voices cawing raucous absolution
round and round and spiraling ever near
one future sought - one future feared.