December 31, 2021: VI of Cups and Ace of Cups; Elemental Dignities 4

Last card pull of the year 2021.  And it is pretty good!

The True Black VI of Cups shows six Cups filled with golden candies, with a white origami flower above them all.  A partially folded paper and two unfolded papers float nearby.  The keywords for this card are innocence, carefree, charity, and sweetness.  

The True Black Ace of Cups is a beautiful card.  A Cup spills clear water onto the golden poppies growing beneath it.  Above the cup, a white dove wearing a golden crown spreads its wings. If we look closely at the dove's chest, we see a scar.  The keywords for this card are love, empathy, bonding, and abundance.

Both of these cards emanate pure and innocent love.  The VI of Cups reminds us of the innocent times and simple pleasures of childhood, of releasing responsibilities and sharing the fun.  The candy is sweet and fun to eat, but we do need to remember that the candy alone does not provide nourishment.  Also, a few candies have fallen out of the Cups, reminding us not to waste the abundance that is surrounding us now.  The Ace of Cups tells of the approach of attraction, love and connectedness.  The poppies represent dreams and remind us that if we care for our dreams, they will manifest. The white dove with the golden crown is a messenger of importance, bringing peace and love. The scar on the dove's chest reminds us that love always gives, even if the giving is difficult to accomplish.

These two cards are truly a great way to move from 2021 to 2022.  Focusing on a child-like enjoyment of life (while still remembering to nourish myself with more than candy) is a great way to begin a new year.  The possibilities of that Ace are wonderful, too.  As an avid gardener, I know the value of tending my blossoms.  Embracing peace and love with gratitude will attract good things.

Since we have an Ace in our card throw today, let's talk about the Aces and Elemental Dignities.  The Aces are the exception to the rules we are talking about, as they are the potential of each element or the root or source of the power of each element, and not the element itself.  Aces contain the components that are required to make or form anything, the same way that the ingredients of a recipe are needed to create the meal (but the ingredients themselves are not the meal, and require action in order to manifest).  The Ace of Cups is the idea of the suit, and it must be acted upon in order to be felt or experienced or its potential will be lost.  Friends or enemies, active or passive all apply, but we need to remember that usually the Aces are not affected by the influence of other elements that might be around them.  

Happy New Year!!  See you next year.

December 30, 2021: VII of Swords and The Empress

Oh boy, time to pay attention.

The image on the True Black VII of Swords shows a white rat, a known carrier of disease and symbol of betrayal, in front of a dark and shadowy curtain that is pierced from behind by the blades of six Swords.  Dangling ominously above the rat, point down, is a seventh golden Sword.  The keywords for this card are betrayal, thievery, plotting, and dishonor.

We've seen The Empress of this deck before.  The image shows a beautiful woman lounging comfortably and confidently on a luxurious golden throne consisting of flowering plants and lushly growing vines, with her knees together and pointed toward the viewer's right.  Her hair is the same color as her throne.  Her body posture is relaxed and she seems aware of how good it feels to enjoy the pleasures of her physical senses.  Her right hand is beginning to pull the white tunic she wears off of her shoulder and she allows her fingers to trail against her skin.  Her left hand cradles a golden, perfectly ripe melon, a symbol of mothering and birth.  Behind her head is a hologram of a diagram of the hormone Oxytocin.  The keywords for this card are mothering, riches, pleasure, and sexuality.

I see the VII of Swords as indicating a situation that involves an empty victory achieved in a passive and subversive way through striving to hold our rules in place, even if they have become outdated or may pose a danger to ourselves or to others.  This card is not the selfish imposition of our beliefs onto others symbolized by the V of Swords, but rather it shows what happens when our minds and our intellect perceive the approach of a change that we believe is not beneficial.  Our instinctive response in this situation is to strive to keep things unchanged, at all costs and even using devious methods.  My VII of Swords is paired with The Empress, a representation of the fertility and cycles of Nature, wild and free and beautiful.  My Empress represents stability, but in a manner that is different from the VII of Swords, which tries to keep things the same.  The Empress manifests fertility and growth of all kinds, and growth cannot happen without change.  Thus she encourages me to let go of the need to dominate or control and instead embrace the pleasure to be had in experiencing life's experiences freely, and through love and honor rather that deceit and betrayal.  

After all, change allows stability to happen, and preventing change encourages stagnation.

December 28, 2021: Destiny and the IX of Wands; Elemental Dignities 3

The True Black Destiny card is the equivalent of The Wheel of Fortune of the Major Arcana.  The image on this card shows a near-human entity, seated with his legs folded in a lotus position.  Destiny, interestingly enough, has four arms and extremely powerful shoulders and chest, but those are not the most alien traits.  His face, what we can see of it, has a beast-like snout and the top of his head is actually a multi-dimensional infinity portal filled with dancing orbs and strands of fate that weave a future which cannot be predicted.  Destiny's two upper hands weave strands of fate from that portal, and his lower hands each hold a triangle, one upright and one reversed, representing opposition: good and evil, heaven and earth, beginning and end.  Below him floats the golden sphere that represents our world.  The keywords for this card are reversal, fate, luck, and inevitability.

The True Black IX of Wands also has a striking image.  We see a pure white wolf, crouching defensively and aggressively with teeth bared and ears laid back in a threatening manner. Behind him almost like a protective wall are nine white beech trees.  Around him in the shadows are several arrows with points in the ground, as if someone had shot them at the wolf.  The keywords for this card are wary, guarded, mistreated, and persevering.

Oh my, this pair of cards tells me that today is important.  It may seem like just a regular day, but some event will present a crossroad, a crossroad that I might not perceive until I have passed it (and missed out on the potential it could offer).  I will need to remain vigilant, and the danger is that I will surrender to the sometimes mind-numbing daily routine, or be distracted by a close call of some kind, and miss the important moment.  I also need to remember that this crossroad might not be physical but rather, some event within my mind or intellect, or within my feelings.  

I need to remember the definition of the word Destiny; it represents the things that could happen to a person or thing in the future, things that are currently hidden but could present an almost unstoppable power to affect my own future.  There is a difference between Destiny and Fate, however.  Fate and the events presented by Fate are beyond our control.  The events foretold by Destiny might be beyond our control, but if we are prepared for them, we can control our response to those events and benefit from them.  

We have a Major Arcana and a Minor Arcana card here.  The suit of Wands corresponds with the element of Fire, which is the element that provides light and heat and energy, and can represent growth, motivation, sexuality, anger and spirituality, to name a few.  It is both destructive and regenerative, which is supportive of that Destiny card.  If we were working with another Minor Arcana card, we could compare the two cards using Elemental Dignities and determine which card is superior.  Since we are dealing with a Major Arcana card here, we need to remember that the Majors have an exception to the format of Elemental Dignities.  The Majors also have elemental correspondences, but since it is in their nature to be transformative cards with long-term affects, they might not be weakened by the presence of another element.  That means most likely, Destiny will be the controlling card of this pair.

However, Destiny (The Wheel) is associated with the element of Fire, just like our IX of Wands.  Plus, my Minor Arcana card has the number 9, which tells of the completeness of the experience of the element of Fire (not completion or ending of a cycle, which is the number 10, but the completeness of manifestation).  We are dealing with Fire (the Destiny card) being supported by Fire (the IX of Wands), and being encouraged to manifest to the fullest extent by the number 9 (a Numerical Dignity bonus).  **gulp**  I'd better fasten my seatbelt and hang on!

December 27, 2021:VIII of Pentacles and Queen of Pentacles

Hope you had a great Christmas!

Today, we are working with the suit of Pentacles.  This suit is about actual outcomes or material manifestations, day-to-day life, and all the things we need to keep our physical self alive and vibrant.  Pentacles are connected to health, career, safety, prosperity, diligence, practical matters, quality rather than quantity, and of course, our physical world and the material resources contained in it that sustain life.

The image on the VIII of Pentacles is of a worn and heavily used hammer or metal mallet; the two faces of  the hammer are red, as if the metal was super-hot because of excessive use.  Floating around the hammer are eight golden coins, each embossed with a part of a star map.  The keywords for this card are crafting, work, quality, and diligence.  

The Queen of Pentacles image shows a seated woman.  Behind her is a leafy plant; one of the leaves stretches up over her head, sheltering her. Around he plant and over her head are golden coins.  She offers a coin to both a bird and a snake, two animals known for their distrust of each other.  The keywords for this card are giving, nurturing, welcoming, and authentic.  

In the Tarot, the number 8 is about the deliberate action or remediation or response to a slowdown or pause that could bring some discomfort.  My VIII of Pentacles is about applying sustained efforts in order to manifest something, even if those efforts are repetitive and boring.  Yes, this card tells of physical effort, the kind of effort that would make a hammer glow from excessive use, but it also tells of attaining both knowledge and a higher understanding of that knowledge (which also takes a sustained effort), as symbolized by the star maps embossed on the eight coins.  This card is about progress mixed with education, not about instant success but rather, about patiently learning skills that will eventually be of use to me over the long term.  The Queen of Pentacles makes practical use of the world around her, using her knowledge of the physical world to create a safe space where all are welcome.  She asks me to take the time and make the effort to learn to do the same. 

Not a bad New Year's resolution.

December 22, 2021: Knight of Swords and King of Wands; Elemental Dignities 2

Active cards for today.  I will make use of these energies to get things done **crosses fingers**!

We've seen the True Black Knight of Swords before.  The card image shows a very active Knight leaping and gyrating, waving two Swords in the air.  The two blades cross over his head and where the Swords cross, they glow.  His armor is silver in color and aerodynamic in style, allowing for all kinds of unusual movements and at the same time offering effective protection.  Behind our Knight flutters written pages.  The keywords for this card are direct, logical, cutting, and agile.

The King of Wands stands tall and proud, wearing a golden robe and a crown of golden peacock feathers, holding his staff of office in his right hand and raising his left hand in a gesture of power and greeting.  He is stepping forward with confidence, eyes gazing directly at the viewer.  The keywords for this card are commanding, inspiring, uniting, and creating.

The Knight of Swords is an incredibly active card, emanating powerful energies.  This Knight has chosen to wield two Swords rather than the Sword and shield traditional for this kind of warrior, indicating that pure force is his weapon.  His skill is presenting new ideas that cut through feelings and confusion.  Those ideas are presented in pure form and not prettied up at all.  The King of Wands has power too and is also willing to take risks in order to wield that power, but he also is able to rally others to his cause.  He not only talks the talk, but he also walks the walk.

These two cards tell of lots of energy and focus that could move mountains.  But there is danger here and a need for balance, the balance needed to walk the edge of a blade.  Since we have started talking about Elemental Dignities, let's use them to dig deeper into these two cards.  

When working with Elemental Dignities it is important to remember that these influences go both ways.  An Air card influencing a Fire card is not always the same as a Fire card influencing an Air card.  We can go deeper and examine the transformation of energies through the effects of the four elements by looking at relationships.  

The Knights represent Fire and the suit of Swords represents Air, so here we are dealing with Air influencing Fire. Fire and Air strengthen each other the same way that oxygen can feed and strengthen a fire. Fire gets good impulses from Air that add intellect to its energy, but too much of a good thing is the danger. 

The Kings represent Air and the suit of Wands represents Fire, so here we are dealing with Fire influencing Air. Air and Fire strengthen each other too.  Air enjoys the creativity and enthusiasm that Fire brings, and  the rapidly and visibly increasing growth that is stimulated can be exciting.  However, if there is a limited supply of Air, Fire can use it up quickly and run out of gas.  

Yep, lots of energy.  But I think my King of Wands has the confidence to bring some awareness of consequences to my Knight of Swords, and that Knight will bring infusions of Air and new ideas to the King, so he can keep his passions alive and not get lost in analysis.  

December 20, 2021: Queen of Swords and The Tower

The Tower again!  This time paired with a Queen.

The Queen of Swords shows a woman with her arms out to either side, one palm facing up and the other facing down. Beside her are two Swords, the one on the right is floating in front of her downward-facing palm with point also facing down, and the one on the left is point up and has pierced her upward facing palm. She wears a golden crown made of double-edged blades, and she is surrounded by golden butterflies, one of the symbols of Air in this deck.  The keywords for this card are just, honest, straightforward, and sharp.

The Tower of the True Black Tarot has become a regular for me, it seems.  The card image shows a figure that is literally shattering, as if made from porcelain.  She is holding between her two palms a glowing sphere which is also cracked.  Behind her hips are vines heavy with grapes and at her feet is a fox.  Behind her head and somewhat hidden in the darkness is a large eye.  To her left floats a golden crown, which is broken in half; to her right floats a bouquet of flowers, also broken in half.  The keywords for this card are change, cataclysm, danger, and epiphany.  

The Queen of Swords is often said to be the Minor Arcana representation of the Justice card.  This Queen is intelligent, knowledgeable and wise; she is very perceptive and it is not smart to try to lie to her.  The Queen of Swords represents Water (her rank of Queen) of Air (the suit of Swords), and so she interacts with her world by manifesting Air through Water.  We've spoken a bit about Elemental Dignities, and even the little bit of information I've already posted helps us to understand this Queen.  Air and Water are neutral and can cancel each other out, but their individual energies are still in play.  That means the Queen of Swords can use her intelligence (Air) and her compassion (Water) to manifest in an impartial but effective and compassionate manner.

The Tower has many shades of meaning, but they all basically boil down to an unpleasant truth: in some crucial way we are wrong, and we need to correct our actions.  Let's think about a few "personality traits" of this card.  The Tower is the number 16 card in the second set of ten Major Arcana cards.  The card that corresponds with The Tower in the first set of ten cards is The Lovers, which is about personal choices we make for our own benefit.  When we lose our sense of self that is necessary for the choices of The Lovers, we end up with The Tower.  The Tower also follows The Devil in the Majors.  The Devil often tells of excesses, deceit, and not caring for consequences; The Tower is the natural next step to those excesses, by providing a sudden and unexpected shift.  

To me, The Tower tells of a much-needed adjustment, as well as a "clearing of the land so building can begin" kind of situation.  Yes, The Tower is uncomfortable, but sometimes the discomfort is because Fate or Deity is giving us a good kick in the butt to wake us up.  The True Black Queen of Swords reminds me that it is best to play by the rules.  Yes, doing so may still cause pain and discomfort, but choosing according to my own ethics will take the sting away.  The alternative to that Sword through the palm is The Tower, and I'm not ready to shatter just yet.  

December 19, 2021: V of Wands and VIII of Cups

Two posts in one day!  Can't keep away from these True Black cards.  Here are my cards for today.

The image on the V of Wands shows five Wands clashing with each other; two are branches, two have spearheads (and one of each is broken), and the central Wand is standing tall and true, with three weaving branches supporting a clear sphere.  The keywords for this card are conflict, competition, rivaling, and annoyances.

We've seen the VIII of Cups before.  The image on this card is somewhat striking because there is so much light within the image, a rarity in this deck.  The image shows a dark crevice in which a female octopus has laid her thousands of eggs.  The beautiful strands of eggs hanging from the ceiling of the crevice are golden and appear lit from above.  Below the eggs are bubbles of air, eight clear glasses, and one tiny baby octopus, the first hatchling to emerge.  The keywords for this card are discovery, journey, loneliness, and moving on.

Someone once wrote, when describing the traditional image of the V of Wands, that it looked like five know-it-alls trying to put together a tent.  That is exactly the correct metaphor for this card.  The V of Wands tells of competition for a prize.  Somewhere in this competition is someone who vies for the prize using processes that are unexpected, and that are disrupting the status quo.  Uncomfortable, yes, and they could bring chaos.  However, this novel approach to competition could encourage everyone to try harder and with more enthusiasm.  

The VIII of Cups is a wee bit more optimistic than the traditional image for this card.  Yes, the newly-hatched octopus is alone, but he has his whole life ahead of him.  He also has many siblings who will soon be following him, so his loneliness is not uncomfortable at all.  These cards are telling me that now is the time to leave behind what no longer serves me, leave it behind in the name of new discoveries.  Yes, the path forward will not be easy and my survival may depend on my ability to compete for resources, but these challenges could very well be only minor annoyances and irritations caused by disorganization.  I also need to remember that perhaps the uncomfortable chaos of the V of Wands will offer me a chance to exercise my ability to focus.  After all, one message of the VIII of Cups is that I need to choose to move forward, to react to the situation with which I am presented and at the same time believe that I will be okay.  In order to do that, I need to be able to look past the chaos and randomness of the V of Wands.

Interestingly enough, both of these cards have an astrological connection to Saturn, the V of Wands connected to Saturn in Leo and the VIII of Cups connected to Saturn in Pisces.  Thus, each of these cards brings the restrictive energies of Saturn to their cards.  Leo is about organization, leadership and ego, and when we have five of these personalities all working within the restrictions of Saturn, we get the V of Wands.  Pisces is connected to emotions, dreams and escapism,  the pairing of reality and illusion, and discomfort that brings soul growth.  Yes, our baby octopus was nourished and protected in its egg, but that egg no longer serves to nourish and protect and instead is providing a restriction.  The hatchling shows the focus needed to break free and continue its life journey, leaving the hatching grounds behind.  

I must do the same, and in order to break free and move forward, I can't allow myself to be distracted by ego, or the need to lead or always be right.

December 18, 2021: The High Priestess and the VIII of Swords; Elemental Dignities 1

I threw two cards yesterday, right before leaving for my PBT Yule Ritual, and was excited by the cards I threw. 

The True Black High Priestess is seated on a crescent moon and is wearing a hooded cape almost the same color as the shadowy background.  Around her neck is a large key (representing the potential to be unlocked by the knowledge she guards); floating above her right hand is a pomegranate (representing the fertility of feminine power) and from her left hand dangles a dowsing pendulum (with which she gains less apparent wisdom).  The keywords for this card are mystery, occult knowledge, subconscious, and intuition.

We've seen the VIII of Swords before.  The image on this card shows eight Swords, all with points facing downward.  One large Sword is in the center of the other seven, and the blade of this Sword glows almost up to the hilt, a brilliant yellow at the tip and gradually getting more orange moving up the blade. One of the Swords in the background is also glowing a softer orange.  The seven surrounding Swords seem to be on guard, but several blades (including the softly glowing blade) are shattered.  The keywords for this card are test, crucible, stress, and persecution.

The High Priestess is an important card to me of late (for over the past year), and I have been striving mightily to understand her, with only partial success.  What interests me about the True Black High Priestess is that behind her is a holographic topographic map of the Mariana Trench, a wonderful metaphor for the energies and effects of this card.  At a depth of 7 miles, the Mariana Trench is one of the most hidden and difficult locations to access and study.  Despite the darkness and the dangers, there is much to be learned there, as it is filled with unexplored species and unknown information about the workings of our planet.  The VIII of Swords tells me that there is no courage without fear and no gain without sacrifice.  Now is the time to be brave, to use all of my knowledge and wisdom to learn as much as I can from the current situation even if it is enshrouded in darkness, and either emerge victorious or fail (and learn from that failure).  The test may very well be to trust myself and my abilities, without judgment.

Within my Yule Ritual I was encouraged to explore information once again, this time to explore Elemental Dignities and their relationships with Tarot cards.  A "dignity" in the world of Tarot is defined as anything that could modify the meaning of a card.  There are several dignities that can affect the meaning of a particular card: the familiar upright and reversed dignities, positional dignities (for example, throwing The Lovers in a business-related speed position could have a negative influence on the potential outcome of a business-focused reading), numerological dignities (for example, having more than one card of a particular number showing up in a spread could indicate the correspondences of that number are also in play within the spread), or even image symbolism dignities (throwing multiple cards with images that are the same or related could support the importance of those cards).  

We can use the elements to classify groups of cards as being positive or negative, or as having interactions that are strong or weak.  Friendly interactions would bring a more positive interpretation, and the energies of the cards would be more powerful and dominant in a reading.  Neutral interactions would focus more on basic interpretations and would have a more normal and balanced strength of effects and manifestations.  Unfriendly interactions would offer more negative interpretations, with card energies that are weaker and have less influence.

Combine these concepts with the elements, and we get:

Fire and air are friendly; they are active and support each other.  Water and Earth are friendly; they are passive but support each other.  Fire and Earth are neutral; they can cancel each other out but each still has individual power.  Air and Water are also neutral, with the same ability to cancel each other out yet each retaining individual power.  Fire and Water are unfriendly, and weaken each other.  Air and Earth are also unfriendly, and likewise weaken each other.

Good start!!

December 17, 2021: The Tower and the VI of Coins

Yes, I haven't been here for a week.  Unfortunately my posts will be a bit sporadic until after Christmas.  I will get here when I can.  

The Tower shows a figure that is literally cracking apart, as if made from porcelain.  Since Arthur uses the pronoun "she," I will assume the figure is female (although her gender is not apparent).  She is holding between her two palms a glowing sphere which is also cracked.  Behind her are vines heavy with grapes and at her feet is a fox.  Behind her head and somewhat hidden in the darkness is a large eye. To her left floats a golden crown which is broken in half; to her right floats a bouquet of flowers, also cut in half. The keywords for this card are change, cataclysm, danger, and epiphany.  

The True Black VI of Pentacles shows three golden coins resting on a platform made of woven vines; below the three golden coins are three other coins, also laced into the vines but in the shadow created by the three golden coins above.  These darker coins lack the golden glow of the coins above.  Floating above the golden coins are a golden scepter (a symbol of authority) and a hardcover book open so we can see writing on the pages (a symbol of knowledge).  The keywords for this card are inequality, dominance, appraisal and contrast.

Sudden change is never fun, and the sudden change foretold by The Tower is usually at the very least extremely uncomfortable and unsettling.  The fox and grapes in the image of this card tell of cognitive dissonance, and warns that circumstances could present situations that will allow me to adjust my own beliefs to the point of being disconnected from reality, which will require a sudden and chaotic adjustment in order to reconnect with reality.  

The VI of Pentacles is a card of resources, particularly resources of the physical world.  It tells me to be aware that managing those resources could be key.  I need to remember that often, the "haves" will control and dominate, even to the point of being unfair to the "have nots" unless the "haves" maintain a connection to reality.  Part of the solution to this D/s kind of relationship is acceptance of the situation.  Another part is awareness of the other side to the point of being able to walk in their shoes.  This is how the vertical and horizontal balance of the number 6 is achieved.  The Tower is about chaos, unforeseen circumstances, and challenges that offer growth through discomfort.  It tells of the sudden destruction that clears the decks in a violent manner, making necessary adjustments so something new can be started. This card pair could be warning me of what could happen if I don't pay careful attention to my VI of Pentacles.  However, The Tower could be the cause that allows me to see what is needed for achieving that vertical and horizontal balance of the VI of Pentacles, rather than the outcome if I ignore the need for that balance.  This makes more sense when we take into account the elemental correspondences of these two cards.  Pentacles are of the element of Earth and The Tower is of the element of Fire; Fire transforms Earth, chemically changing what it burns and leaving us with a drastically changed landscape.  

Yule Blessings to all!  I will be back when I can.

 

December 10, 2021: Page of Cups and The Fool

Oh, fun!

We've talked about the Page of Cups before and at that time I found a direct connection to my own persona in this card.  The card image shows a youth holding a clear cup of golden honeyed water with one hand while supporting the white rabbit that is sitting on her shoulder with the other hand.  She has a gold ribbon tied loosely around her waist and the two strands flow gracefully behind her.  Two golden fish circle above her head and by her feet is an open oyster containing a golden pearl.  The keywords for this card are childlike, caring, soft, and hopeful.

The True Black Fool card image is of a young child of 2 or 3 years surrounded by the symbols of the elements.  The child has a gold butterfly on her nose, water lilies surround her feet, and levitating fish and birds with flapping wings above.  Behind the child are stylized holographic wings that look like tightly-coiled spirals or springs.  The keywords for this card are beginning, inexperience, spontaneous, and openness.

These cards appear to give me a personal message.  My persona is being validated, with a tiny warning.  Like the Page of Cups, The Fool is a dreamer who is awed by the unknown, rather than fearing it the way adults fear the unknown.  The Fool sees awesome new experiences rather than unseen or hidden dangers. Those "wings" behind the infant Fool represent the Lorenz Attractor of Chaos theory.  Chaos theory tells of measurable futures that are highly susceptible to conditions at the beginning of the process.  Yes, there is a lot of potential here, but even the slightest of changes could invalidate the whole thing.  My Page of Cups, like my Fool (who has yet to choose a path in life and perhaps does not yet have the experience to make that choice), may be inexperienced with feelings, emotions and dreams, but she encourages me to open myself to the joys of the unknown.  

Like I said, fun!

December 9, 2021: Anant and V of Swords

 Lots of Swords cards lately, but that makes sense.  My mind has been going a mile a minute.

Anant is an extra Major Arcana card unique to the True Black Tarot.  The image on this card shows a golden fetus surrounded by two coils of a golden serpent; behind is a black star field.  "Anant" is the name of the serpent surrounding the fetus, and it means "remainder," representing that which exists when all else ceases, that which is not a temporal being but rather, exists outside of the rules and constraints that apply to temporal beings.  The fetus bridges the ending and the beginning.  The keywords for this card are endless, infinite, exempt, and cyclical.

The V of Swords shows a large sickle-shaped golden Sword with the handle down; the base is surrounded by white flowers which are healthy close to the golden Sword but the ones farther away are drying up.  Behind this Sword are four other Swords with points down and handles up; these Swords are cracked and broken.  Each of the four Swords is attached to the larger Sword by a gold cord.  The keywords for this card are selfish, criminal, immoral, and conflict.

I get the feeling that I am being warned here.  Lots of hidden potential in that Anant card.  The star field is Barnard 68, a "dark nebula" that appears like a cosmic void because of the amount of dark dust that surrounds it.  That dark dust will eventually coalesce into stars but right now the nebula is hidden.  The V of Swords to me always warns of some kind of selfishness or devious action, and I think it may be coming from outside of me but at the same time it is tied to me in some way.  If I can manage to successfully avoid whatever pitfall is approaching, I might be presented with some kind of new opportunity for growth of some kind, maybe growth that would increase my ability to share my inner light.

 

December 7, 2021: Knight of Swords and Ace of Pentacles

Yes, I know; today is the 8th.  But yesterday's card throw when taken with the cards of the day before are important enough to me that I need to interpret them.  I did not have time yesterday to do so, but here I am, better late than not at all.

The True Black Knight of Swords image shows a very active Knight leaping and waving two Swords in the air.  They cross over his head and where the Swords cross, they glow.  His armor is silver in color and aerodynamic in style, allowing for lots of movement and at the same time offering protection.  Behind our Knight flutters written pages.  The keywords for this card are direct, logical, cutting, and agile.   After pondering the two cards of December 6 for a bit, I felt that this Knight of Swords was representing The Hubs.

The other card in this throw is the Ace of Pentacles. The image on this one shows a large golden coin floating among vines laden with golden coins; in the background are jagged mountains and in the shadow of that large golden coin are a hammer and an axe.  The keywords for this card are wealth, stability, practicality, and working.

Here I am being given additional understanding of the mental workings and focuses of The Hubs.  As a bit of background, he owns his own business and has worked for himself for almost 30 years.  He works hard, seven days a week when necessary.  He does manifest the potential of the Ace of Pentacles, which tells of a stable business built upon trust, hard work and an eye to the future.  The golden coins prolifically blooming on the week-tended vines tell of a long-term project that is nurtured and loved, and that is his attitude about his business.  The Knight of Swords uses his mind as well as his physical energy the same way that The Hubs uses his mind as well as his physical energy to bring in business and to keep current clients happy.

There you go . . . The Hubs in a nut shell.

December 6, 2021: Knight of Swords and Page of Cups

 It is a Court Cards kind of day, I guess.

The Knight of Swords generally appears to be the most active of the Knights, and the True Black Knight of Swords is no exception.  The image on this card shows a Knight holding two swords (no shield for this Knight for his force and power is uncompromising) crossed over his head and glowing where they meet, and leaping agilely into the air.  His armor is silver, appearing very aerodynamic, and allowing all kinds of movement while offering protection.  The keywords for this card are direct, logical, cutting, and agile.

The image on the Page of Cups shows a youth holding a clear cup of golden liquid with one hand while supporting the white rabbit sitting on her shoulder with the other. She has a gold ribbon around her waist and flowing around her legs.  Two golden fish circle her head and at her feet is an oyster, opened so we can see the glistening pearl resting within.  The keywords for this card are childlike, caring, soft, and hopeful.

The Knights are interesting cards.  They manifest their suit with strength and focus, even to the point of being excessive.  Knights can be seen as mercenaries who loyally focus only on the tasks given them by their lord and benefactor, without considering their own desires.  Or, they can be seen as rich and privileged sons who are given power and authority but whose life experiences have not yet taught them empathy and compassion.  Our Knight of Swords is quite goal-oriented; his job is to make things happen and he does this in a fierce, straightforward, and uncompromising manner.  He is not all force, though; he also wields intelligence.  After all, the suit of Swords is about the mind and its workings.  Sometimes he brings ideas instead of battle, as evidenced by the written pages that flutter behind him.

Our Page seems to be the exact opposite.  She is gentle and innocent, and brings opportunities to open up and grow and immerse herself in new experiences regarding emotions, creativity, and spirituality.  She reminds me that openness and cooperation are wonderful things, and that there is nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves.  Her innocent optimism is probably something the Knight of Swords would have trouble understanding, for he is about action and she is about feelings.  

I need to be aware that these opposing and possibly conflicting energies are out and about today.  I guess I should not judge anyone too quickly, including myself.

Addition: So after sleeping on this, I think I get it.  My Hubs is the Knight of Swords for sure.  He is mentally focused, straightforward, and sometimes hurtfully blunt without any premeditated plan to cause hurt with his words.  He is down to earth and has an amazing ability to focus and get the job done.  I on the other hand am whimsical and dreamy and while I most certainly have a stubborn side, I tend to be disconnected to the logical and analytical world that requires planning.  These two cards are our significators, and they need to learn to work together, just as The Hubs and I need to work together.  By understanding them both, I can hopefully be better prepared for the bumps on the road that occur during married life.  Once again, the True Black Tarot comes through.

December 5, 2021: Justice and the Knight of Cups

Another clear message, and applicable to my mood today.  The True Black Tarot is pretty amazing!

The figure on the Justice card stands tall and faces the observer, but her eyes and face are hidden behind a white veil held in place by a golden crown (representing the authority of impartial truth).  In her right hand (the traditional hand of power) she holds the sword that executes justice and equalizes wrongdoing; in her left hand (traditionally the receptive hand) she holds the scales that measure the weight of one's heart.  Behind her is a holograph of the constellation Libra, one of the four cardinal virtues of Rome (Prudence, Courage and Temperance are the other three).  This version of the Justice card is about blind justice (rather than the Divine justice that is present when the figure looks into the viewer's eyes) and Arthur sees her as a sentinel who answers to no man or no power, but only to the searing light of truth (represented by the glowing orb behind her head).  The keywords of this card are fairness, impartiality, karma, and clarity.

The Knight of Cups wears beautifully designed armor fashioned from gold that looks dramatic and eye-catching but that might not work so well in a battle.  Our Knight wears a mask of gold that completely covers his eyes, with double wings and a stylized halo made of golden vines above and behind his head.  He wears fancy epaulets made of gold on his shoulders and a stylized golden kilt with many strands of gold coins hanging like a fringe at the front closure.  He has one hand on his heart, and the other hand holds a golden rose which is beginning to lose its petals.  Beside him floats a dagger made of water, which is beginning to drip into a cup floating just below the dagger's point.  The water in the cup appears to be sloshing about.  The keywords for this card are emotional, brooding, artistic, and dreaming.

Emotions and feelings can be like addictive drugs that blind us to reality, and my Knight of Cups is reminding me of that.  Yes, visions are the first steps to manifestation and feelings can support and add to our own good health and sense of well-being.  However it is easy to become addicted to certain feelings (such as anger), and to allow those feelings to color our perception and blind us to reality.  Justice weighs both the cause of the issue in play and effects of the manifestation of that issue.  The figure representing Justice must understand those concepts and then present a conscious and deliberate response to what has occurred thus far in a completely impartial manner, without allowing emotions or prejudices or expectations or favoritism to affect any outcome. 

There is a warning here that giving emotions and feelings too much power might end up making me ineffective.  Better for today that I should not view the world from my own perspective and instead understand that things might appear different when viewed from outside my own Self.

December 4, 2021: X of Swords and VIII of Swords

Well, looks like it is a Swords kind of day; lots of focus on the workings of my mind.

The True Black X of Swords image shows a large Sword, point down and grounded, surrounded by nine other Swords with points up.  Impaled on six of those Swords is a dead bird; sitting on the hilt of the large center Sword is a live bird.  Behind the bird is an orange sun in a dark sky.  The keywords for this card are crisis, breakdown, perseverance, and closure.

The VIII of Swords image shows eight Swords, all points facing downward, with one large Sword in the center.  The blade of the center Sword is glowing almost to the hilt, brilliant yellow down at the tip and gradually getting more orange moving up the blade.  One of the other smaller Swords is also glowing with a color more orange than yellow.  The keywords for this card are test, crucible, stress, persecution.

The message here is pretty clear.  The traditional image on the VIII of Swords shows a blindfolded and bound woman surrounded by eight Swords, points down into the rough and wet ground, with a large craggy mountain in the background.  She appears to be trapped, but is she really?  In the True Black Tarot, this card tells of a test, one that appears difficult if not impossible to pass, and of a struggle that is sapping our energy. However upon closer examination, we find that a few of the Swords that ring the large Sword in the center are broken.  That center Sword may be glowing with the heat of effort, but the foes partially hidden by the gloom are not as sturdy and powerful as they seem to be.  The X of Swords reinforces this.  A battle has occurred and six dead birds impaled on Swords with other Swords surrounding them, are all evidence of a brutal fight.  But the fight is over and sun has risen in the dark morning sky, and a survivor is perched atop the center Sword, ready to face the new morning.  Yes, there has been suffering and trauma and mental stress, but there is also completion.  The limitations we see upon first glance within both of these card images are not as limiting as they first appear; they can only hold us back if we let them.

December 2, 2021: IX of Swords and King of Swords

Okay, this is a startling image.  The True Black IX of Swords shows a silver Sword, point upward.  Impaled on the Sword is a white rabbit, with the Sword entering the rabbit's back and bursting through its belly.  Spraying upward out of the belly of the rabbit are what appear on initial glance to be drops of blood but on closer examination, we see they are actually red rose petals.  Ringing this gruesome image are eight other swords, points facing downward.  The keywords for this card are nightmare, desperation, terror, and worry.

The King of Swords stands straight and tall; before him and held firmly in his hands, point downward and buried in the earth, is a large, unadorned and powerful-looking Sword.  He is wearing a golden crown made of blades, with points on either end.  His long dark hair is blowing in a strong wind, blocking his face; his dark cape is also blowing to the side yet despite that strong wind buffeting him, the King of Swords stands firm, planted as strongly as his huge blade.  Butterflies flutter around his head.  The keywords for this card are impartial, true, decisive, and logical.

Let's face it, Swords cards are not particularly comfortable.  They present challenges and ask us to focus intently and struggle diligently in order to manifest some difficult to achieve outcome.  Combine that with the number 9, which represents a completeness or fullness of manifestation, and we can easily see why the card image on this IX of Swords is so uncomfortable.  Another consideration regarding the Swords cards is that they also represent purposeful actions and the thoughts, intentions or beliefs behind them.  These Swords-encouraged actions are different from those presented by other Minor Arcana cards because these actions are deliberate and in response to effects presented to us by the other elements around us.  In the end, we are the main catalyst that creates the manifestations presented by the Swords cards, and there is no more perfect metaphor for this than the King of Swords.  

This King is deeply grounded and solidly logical.  While he prefers not to involve emotions, a window into his chest shows a perfect gold orb, proof that he is not heartless.  Here is one who manifests ideas into reality using long-term planning and an impartial focus.  He will notice the dream-like quality of the image on that IX of Swords and the brutally impaled white rabbit who bleeds beautiful rose petals instead of blood, and he will remind me that the suit of Swords is about the mind and its workings.  The fear and terror the image of the IX of Swords creates is also in my mind, and can be conquered with logic.  Fear, after all, is the mind killer, the little death that brings total obliteration.  If we face it and allow it to flow through us, fear will go past, and only we will remain.

December 1, 2021: X of Pentacles and The Hierophant

 Oooh, interesting cards today!

The True Black X of Pentacles shows a beautiful white elephant rearing up triumphantly and reaching upward with trunk and tusks, his hind legs upon a square raised platform of stacked gold bricks.  Behind him are ten golden coins arranged in a circle along with two well-established trees with straight and thick trunks.  The keywords for this card are prosperity, stability, family, and longevity.

Like the other True Black Major Arcana cards, The Hierophant image gives us lots to think about.  Our Hierophant is seated on a platform of large bricks, situated in a manner that provides the most support to the whole structure.  His elaborate golden headdress is made of interlocking pieces; the front of that headdress comes down over his face with stylized eye and nose openings allowing him to see and breathe and at the same time, hide his personal identity.  He holds a large open book in his right hand and his staff of office topped by a large bee's nest in his left.  Behind The Hierophant is a hologram of Australia's Lake Mungo, the location of the world's oldest ritually cremated remains.  The keywords for this card are belief, cooperation, community and tradition.

The white elephant is a symbol of power, prosperity and glory; and it takes a lot of wealth to obtain and keep such a rare animal in good health and well-being.  Besides the golden coins and the very strong and stable and well-established trees, this white elephant is a very apt symbol for the energies and message of the X of Pentacles.  The number 10 reduces to 1 (1 + 0 = 1), and this card tells of the completion of a cycle within the physical world correspondences and effects (10 + Pentacles).  This card represents attainment, attainment gotten through patience and hard, diligent effort.  And that attainment is a good thing.  However, the danger here is within resting on one's laurels for too long, which could bring stagnation.  The Hierophant offers a possible method for dispelling stagnation: focusing on the higher good of the group.  

This version of The Hierophant is anonymous, for his personal identity is not a part of his Purpose. Instead, he is to be the Vau that holds tradition in place and that bridges Spirit and the group by sharing tradition and knowledge.  He has an obligation to work for the highest good of all, and he reminds me that reaching the stage of life represented by the X of Pentacles does not mean I am done.  Rather, in order to begin the next cycle and climb the next rung of the ladder that is my own Purpose, I need to share the wealth in the name of gratitude.  I have a lot to be grateful for, and perhaps one good way of using this bounty (rather than allowing it to lay fallow in some storage shed) and activating it so that it becomes a tool of further manifestation by sharing it. 

November 29, 2021: The Magician and the VII of Pentacles

Gotta love repeat cards!

The Magician card has such a powerful image! It shows a man with a beard in a hooded robe; the shadow of the hood blocks his eyes so we cannot see if he is looking at us, or if his eyes are closed.  Behind him is a dark horizon; the sky behind the horizon is lit with orange smoke and steam and sparks, as if a conflagration was burning just out of sight.  Silhouettes of wands and swords grounded in the dark earth surround him, and above him is a golden lemniscate or infinity symbol, representing infinite quantity.  The Magician's arms are raised with elbows facing out; his thumbs meet just below his throat and his fingers are arranged in the same mudra as traditionally seen in The Hierophant card except the fingers of his right hand are pointing downward with palm facing in and the fingers of his left hand are pointing upward with palm out.  Behind and above him is part of a sky map of the Southern Hemisphere.  The keywords for this card are creation, manifestation, power, and will.

The VII of Pentacles is a pretty card.  Its image shows six gold coins on one side of a scale and a list of tasks on the other side; that list of tasks is just a bit heavier than the gold coins.  Below the coin side of the scale is some unharvested wheat; below the task list are Lily of the Valley in bloom.  In front of them all is a large gold coin, partially buried in the soil.  The keywords for this card are reward, evaluation, rest, and pride.

As stated elsewhere in this blog, The Magician is a personally significant card for me, and when he shows up I am usually being told to make use of my skills, my connection to the elements and Nature, and my connection to Deity in order to get something manifested.  It not only takes knowledge, skills and connections to wield this power, but also concentration and the ability to focus.  The glowing orb at The Magician's heart is surrounded by orbs and sparkles, and combined with the other symbols of this card, urge me to understand the workings of my world in order to access its powers.  Because of the manner in which I was gifted this card, I am also being reminded that confidence can be the ribbon that ties all these other effects together.  

The VII of Pentacles is the perfect grounding card to go with The Magician.  This card is about pausing in order to evaluate how much progress has been made, and resting in order to prepare for the next step, whatever that may be. I am reminded by the partly buried coin and the To-Do list that I should make certain the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted before I decide whether or not what I have done is enough. Wheat is a symbol of fertility, harvest, the basic necessities of life, and life itself, and Lily of the Valley, representing good luck, prosperity, humility, protection, and trustworthiness, is said to attract happiness.  These symbols tell me that this VII of Pentacles is a positive omen, especially if it can keep my Magician grounded, focused, realistic, and conscious of consequences.  

November 28, 2021: The Moon and the Page of Pentacles

The True Black Moon card has the most intriguing image that begs a second glance.  A large crescent Moon is acting as a conduit for a strong flow of water.  Below and in front of the crescent is a woman, seated with her left leg crossed over her right and lit dramatically from above.  One hand holds her long hair back so she can gaze downward unimpeded and the other hand reaches down toward a glass bowl on a three-legged stand at her feet; that bowl contains still water, in which we can see a reflection of her hand.  Above the large crescent, ominously gesturing over the whole image, is a large hand.  The keywords for this card are intuition, psychic, fear, and illusion. 

We have seen the Page of Pentacles before.  The image on this card shows a powerful-looking woman with very short hair pulling herself up into an overgrown canopy of vines so she can reach a golden coin, fruit of the vines above her.  The keywords for this card are physical, earthly, initiative, and practical.  

The Moon is such a powerful card.  It represents the archetype of dreams, instincts, and the anima; all very powerful effects that are internally experienced and that are difficult to be proven to exist through physical-world measuring devices.  Our Moon revolves around our planet in a synchronous rotation, always showing the same face and hiding the features found on the dark side.  Because our Moon is actually reflecting sunlight, its appearance changes as it passes through regular phases in the night sky.  Occasionally, our moon passes through the shadow of the Earth and out of the light of the Sun, causing it to change color and appearance drastically, albeit temporarily.  This reflective action also causes our Moon to appear creamy white when its surface is actually dark.  Our Moon controls the tides of our oceans, and occasionally it completely blocks the light of the Sun for a few dramatic moments.  All of these traits of our own satellite and its effects on our world also apply to the energies of The Moon, and the ever-changing dreams, visions and manifestations this card brings.

Illusion is powerful; it can be a creative catalyst or it can be our downfall.  It can convince a person that something is true and valid when actually the believed-in effect is being created in the mind.  This is neutral, neither good nor bad; it is what we do with that mental belief that matters. The image on the card tells me this, for if I look closely, I will see that ominous hand above the flowing water is actually the same hand that is reaching for the bowl of water at the feet of the woman.  The placebo effect is a perfect example of the power of belief and its ability to encourage a beneficial health outcome.  Humanity's recent embrace of conspiracy theories is an example of the harmful effects of the power of belief.  For me, the True Black card is shining light on the power to be had through viewing things in a different light and through visualizing in detail a desired outcome.  There is energy to be had, energy whose ebb and flow can be controlled in part by how I view things.  Is the glass half full or half empty?  Both are true.

My Page of Pentacles is encouraging me to find the focus within me that will allow me to control that ebb and flow.  She is showing me that I can accomplish this with my own body by pursuing a new understanding of my own power, through physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual efforts.  She tells me I can literally lift myself up by applying muscle power, so the fact that the shining gold coin appears out of reach is actually an illusion.  It turns out that I can reach it after all.

November 27, 2021: II of Swords and VI of Pentacles

Well, I guess I missed something in my interpretation of the II of Swords yesterday, because despite a thorough shuffle and cutting of the deck, that is my first card again today.  Time to look a bit closer.

The II of Swords shows two crossed Swords with tips pointed downward.  At first glance the Swords appear identical but they are not; their handles are different and the blades are embossed with patterns, again appearing the same but actually slightly different.  Immediately below the handles, the Swords are intact, but in the area where they cross and below, the swords are crumbling apart.  The piece of paper containing the message is shredded, not crinkled (as I stated yesterday), looking like it was clawed.  The keywords again for this card are blocked off, refusal, avoidance, and stuck.

The image on the True Black VI of Pentacles shows three golden coins resting on a platform of woven vines; below the three golden coins are three other coins, also laced into the vines but in the shadow created by the three golden coins. These darker coins lack the glowing illumination of the golden coins, not pretty at all.  Above the golden coins are a golden scepter (a symbol of authority) and a hard-cover book open so we can see writing on the pages (a symbol of knowledge).  The keywords for this card are inequality, domination, appraisal, and contrast.  

Arthur's description of the II of Swords specifically states that whatever the card is referring to requires action of some kind, even if I am uncomfortable about taking that action.  The two Swords are wearing each other down without accomplishing anything, telling me that refusing to choose action of some kind is the worst choice of all.  Resolution is needed, and procrastinating will cause things to disintegrate beyond repair.  Today's companion to my II of Swords is focused on the physical world (rather than the enthusiasm and warmth of yesterday's Queen of Wands), and one of the things the VI of Pentacles refers to is resources and the managing of those resources.  Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin, but that does not always create situations of balance or equality.  Abundance can be a tool of extremes, allowing someone to control a situation and dominate an issue unfairly, or allowing someone to help offer equity to those who are lacking.  Receiving assistance at a time of need can be empowering and life-changing, or it could serve to lessen a person's sense of worth, beating them down even further. 

There are things to ponder here.  That II of Swords could be warning me that I am not seeing the reality of something and thus I am unable to determine the appropriate action to take, an action that will affect others in some way, especially if I don't take that action. Perhaps I am being told to not expect the harvest to resemble the investment, or to remember that while mine is the hand that gives or takes, I am doing so in the name of others.  Either way there is something being missed.   No matter what, action needs to be taken and the concepts of authority and knowledge are involved; perhaps they are the names of the two Swords, and neither one is supposed to win outright.

November 26, 2021: II of Swords and Queen of Wands

Back to reality after the Thanksgiving holiday, and as expected, the True Black Tarot has given me some good advice to ponder.

The image on the II of Swords shows two crossed Swords, both tips pointed downward and beginning to disintegrate.  Between them is a paper containing a message of some sort; it is wrinkled and torn as if crumpled by its reader.  The keywords for this card are blocked off, refusal, avoidance, and stuck.

The True Black Queen of Wands is wearing a warm, golden dress, is crowned by golden peacock feathers, and holds a golden rose blossom in one hand and her staff of rank, emanating a golden light, in the other hand.  The keywords for this card are beautiful, empathic, confident, and optimistic.

These two cards may seem to be opposing in their message at first glance.  After all, the II of Swords tells of a mental closing out of the rest of the world, while the Queen of Wands is out in the world, adding her delightful fire and warmth to the things she loves to do and the people she loves to be with.  These two cards at this time, however, do offer a valuable message.  The holiday season is upon us.  Last year we were all locked away in order to protect ourselves from Covid. This year, we are vaccinated and once again have the opportunity to joyously reconnect with family members and loved ones.  Perhaps this reconnection might not be easy at first, perhaps we fear that we have lost the ability to be with other people.  The necessity of shutting out the world has been valid, but there comes a time when we must take the walls down.

I am a homebody.  I love where I live and I could easily become a recluse, particularly as the days become colder and windier.  I can easily come up with excuses to postpone getting out into the world until later tonight, tomorrow afternoon, next week, or next month.  The fact that my home is my peaceful place is awesome; I don't need to go anywhere in order to feel calm and joyful, to love life.  I also love to experience a true connection with someone, a connection based on caring and respect, and the excitement of learning something new.  I love shared experiences, enjoyed with people I love and respect.  These need to be accomplished by taking down the walls and choosing to get out into the world, for not choosing is also a choice (something this card is certainly representing).  The Queen of Wands is generally a positive omen, and her presence in my card throw today is encouraging me to step out of the solitude of the II of Swords, for love and loving relationships are the reason for the season.  

November 25, 2021: Ace of Pentacles and Page of Pentacles

 Perfect throw for Thanksgiving Day!

The image on the True Black Ace of Pentacles shows a huge golden coin floating among vines laden with golden coins and above jagged golden mountain peaks.  Floating below the large glowing coin (and in the shadow of that coin) are a hammer and and axe.  The blades of both are behind the mountains.  The keywords for this card are wealth, stability, practicality, and working.

The Page of Pentacles image shows a powerful-looking girl with very short hair pulling herself up into an overgrown canopy of vines, reaching for a golden coin, fruit of the vines above her.  The keywords for this card are physical, earthly, initiative, and practical.

These two cards are a pleasant surprise for a day that is about gratitude (and this year, the day after my own Solar Return and the first day of the next solar year of my life).  I am being reminded of the many, many blessings I have in the physical world.  These blessings are in part things I am already experiencing, and perhaps the day after my Solar Return is a good day to think about what I have already achieved.  Gratitude is the word of the day, and I do have much to be thankful for.  I live in the best place ever, between an ocean and a bay, and I am surrounded by the plants and living creatures that inhabit those worlds.  I have a huge and beneficial practice with my physical and subtle body through yoga and energy work.  I try to challenge my mind all the time.  I have a deep connection to Deity and my Guides.

I am also being reminded that I am not done; what I have already achieved is a foundation to move onward, to move deeper.  There is so much potential to maintain the sense of well-being that fills me, and to grow my appreciation for the beauty of Nature that surrounds me, and at the same time be practical and aware of my responsibilities.  I have the ability to be detail-oriented, to follow bits of knowledge down the rabbit hole and come back out better than I was before.  I do need to learn how to be patient and allow things to happen on their own timeline, and I need to get better at thinking out of the box rather than allowing what I already know to shut me in.  This True Black Page uses her own strength to lift herself up so her goal is within reach; I have her confidence and strength and if I believe in myself, I can access them both.  I should see challenges and the unknown as exciting opportunities for new experiences, for what I have built should allow me to embrace those opportunities without fear.  

That potential in the physical world includes the potential to be more physically healthy.  Since the physical body is connected to the energy body, the emotional body, the mental body and the spiritual body, those too will benefit from my efforts to be healthy and active.  My love of learning will serve me well, for I am not intimidated by "not knowing," as long as I have the opportunity to learn.  My awe of Nature and of my interactions with Deity have only grown stronger with each year of my life.  Yes, I do have a lot to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 23, 2021: IV of Swords and VIII of Cups

Again, perfect cards for what I need today. 

The image on the True Black IV of Swords is of four beautiful floating blades that appear to have been created using the flint knapping process, each with a slightly different shaped blade, all with points grounded or aiming downward.  The center and largest blade floats over a glowing pond and golden water lily blooms.  The keywords for this card are resting, rejuvenating, preparing, and healing.

The True Black VIII of Cups is somewhat unique in this deck because it has so much light in the image.  This one shows a crevice in which a female octopus has laid her eggs.  The beautiful strands of eggs hanging from the ceiling of the crevice are golden and appear lit from above.  Below the eggs are bubbles of air, and one tiny baby octopus, the first hatchling to emerge.  The keywords for this card are discovery, journey, loneliness, and moving on.

The IV of Swords in this deck seems to be more about healing and resting after expending a lot of energy in preparation for a new effort. The whole sense of this card is of peace and solitude.  Yes, sometimes the quiet alone time is lonely, but sometimes that alone time is when we detach ourselves from the stresses of the mind (this is, after all, the suit that connects to the intellect and the workings of the mind) and recharge our batteries so that we can re-engage with our thoughts clear and energized.  The VIII of Cups of this deck is also a bit more optimistic than the usual images associated with this card.  The number 8 is about taking deliberate action in order to prevent stagnation, and the hatching of an egg happens at this exact moment.  It happens when the young has reached enough development to survive without the protection of the egg and when the yolk is no longer sufficient to support and feed the young.  In other words, if the egg did not hatch, degeneration would begin and the young would not survive.  I need to prepare, to be sure my mind, my body and my spirit are ready for new experience, and I need to release what has been protecting me from those experiences, acknowledging that protection was well done but no longer applies, in order to move forward into the unknown.  If I have healed and prepared sufficiently, I will have the ability to move forward, acknowledge the intimidation of the unknown, and wholeheartedly believe in the value of the choices I have made.

November 22, 2021: VIII of Pentacles and X of Wands

Oh what perfect cards for today!  The Hubs took me out for dinner last night to celebrate birthdays, and I have a touch of a hangover.  Not enough to debilitate me, but certainly enough to slow me down.  Let's dig in.

The image on the True Black VIII of Pentacles shows a worn and heavily-used hammer or metal mallet; the two faces of the hammer are red, as if the metal was super-hot because of excessive use.  Floating around the hammer are eight golden coins, each embossed with a part of a star map. This card tells of a person with hard-earned skills who is attentive to details and who has the patience to understand that things of worth are not created immediately.  They usually require a sustained effort in order to manifest.  This card is not just about physical efforts; it also represents the attainment of knowledge and a higher understanding of that knowledge; hence the star charts on the coins. Crowley named this card Prudence and described it as "intelligence lovingly applied to material matters." The keywords for this card are crafting, work, quality, and diligence.

The X of Wands shows a golden Hercules beetle; on his back is stacked ten sticks.  In the midst of those sticks is a smaller Hercules beetle, riding along with the sticks piled high and being carried by the larger beetle.  In the Minor Arcana, the number 10 cards represent the completion of a cycle of the entire suit, and since Wands represent the element of Fire, it is easy to understand what this card means: I have only to think about a campfire that has burned itself out.  No more flames, no more warmth, just smoke and a few embers.  The problem here is that while I feel out of gas (sorry for mixing metaphors), I have not yet reached my destination, so I need to keep moving onward.  The keywords for this card are overwhelmed, burdened, struggling, and near goal.

Yeah, I get the message for sure.  Today I am having trouble concentrating on even the simplest of tasks.  I am pushing forward, doing what needs to be done, but all I want to do is either go back to bed or sit in front of the fire with a book.  The day ahead seems eternal, stretching before me.  But I am being shown that the correct response is to continue working hard, diligently doing what needs to be done, no matter how overburdened I feel.  I am also being told that this day just might be about both progress and education.  If I can last through the day and suppress my need to give up and instead, push myself beyond what I believe I can endure, I will learn something: I will learn just how tough I am.  What I learn today may be of use to me tomorrow.

November 21, 2021: The Magician and The Empress

 What a great pair to follow yesterday's throw!  I am trying real hard to not spend more time describing the images than interpreting the cards, but I keep getting lost in the symbolism.  **deep breath**  Okay.

The True Black Magician is awesome.  The image shows a man with a beard wearing a hooded robe. Behind him is a dark horizon lined with sparks, billows of smoke and steam, and orange light, as if a conflagration was burning just out of sight.  Silhouettes of Wands and Swords grounded in the earth are behind him  Above him is the lemniscate, used to represent an infinite quantity.  The Magician has his arms raised with thumbs meeting at his throat, with fingers in the same mudra as The Hierophant but with one hand pointing up with palm out and the other hand pointing down with palm in.  Below his hands and at heart level is a glowing orb of energy, seeming to emit sparks that look like stars and planets. Behind him is a part of a sky map of the Southern Hemisphere.

The Empress of this deck has an aura of feminine confidence to me.  She is lounging on a beautiful golden throne consisting of flowering plants and overgrown vines, with her knees together and pointed toward the viewer's right.  Her hair is the same color as her throne.  Her body posture is relaxed and sensually aware of how good it feels to relax and enjoy the pleasures of her physical senses.  Her right hand is beginning to pull the white tunic she wears off of her shoulder, allowing her fingers to trail against her skin; her left hand cradles a golden, perfectly ripe melon, a symbol of mothering and birth.  Behind her head is a diagram of the hormone Oxytocin.

The Magician is a personally significant card for me, and having him show up today, after beginning to work with this powerful deck and after yesterday's cards, is meaningful.  His keywords in this deck are creation, manifestation, power and will.  He is all about being a bridge or conduit between the Earthly energies and effects, and the powers of the Divine.  His intellect, wisdom, and honed skills allow him to not only open himself to the flow of those energies, but also to use them to manifest his own will.  The Magician makes things happen in a hands-on way because he has experience with the use of secret knowledge and a strong connection to his own intellect, and he tends to be oblivious of the constrictions of the concepts of normal rules and accepted behavior.  In a sense, he has achieved the ability to work with the potential of the Aces of the Minor Arcana.  Indeed, one interpretation of that infinity symbol is of a potential infinity, rather than an actual infinite quantity.  He focuses outward to grasp the needed tools, but then he brings his focus inward in order to infuse those effects and powers with his own needs and then manifests them.

Pairing The Magician with the True Black Empress is such an interesting concept.  He is all about power and the owning and using of power, and she is all about pleasure, the pleasure that comes from lush materials, intense sex, a loving embrace, and the release that comes from laughter.  The Empress is surrounded with bounty, both the fruits of a fertile earth and the sense of home and health and well-being that cannot be purchased with any coin.  The Empress also understands that gratitude and sharing are both an integral part of the pleasures she offers.  Yes, she is fertility personified, but that fertility only works when it is shared, not guarded jealously.  Her keywords are mothering, riches, pleasure and sexuality.  Oxytocin is a hormone that is released into the blood in response to sexual activity, physical embraces, and birth labor, and it plays a role in social bonding, the feelings of empathy and generosity, and reproduction.  

There is a message here for me, and it is empowering.  The Magician reminds me that I have survived the extremes of the energies and powers of the physical world, survived alone and made my own decisions that allowed me to benefit from and learn from the experience.  The Empress reminds me that my inner sense of rightness and purpose (and the pleasure that comes from that inner sense) can be applied in many different ways in order to create a more fulfilling tomorrow.  The Empress is reminding The Magician that power, knowledge and skill are empty without connections, enjoyment and a grateful awareness of the bounties offered by the Earth.  Yes, The Magician can connect the powers of the elements with the powers of the Divine, but The Empress can access the power of transformation and creativity that is inherent within Nature and manifest that power in the physical world.  In a way, the workings of The Magician might be only an imitation of that transformative and creative natural manifestation of Deity that is Nature.

Hmmmm . . .

November 20, 2021: The Tower and the Queen of Cups

 Welcome to the True Black Tarot!  This deck is amazing, high end, exquisite to see and touch, but my favorite thing about this deck is the way the cards speak to each other.  Let's get started!  As usual, I will throw two cards; for now, as I get to know this deck, I will not be interpreting reversals.

My two cards are The Tower and the Queen of Cups.  Now that is an interesting start.  The True Black Tower shows a figure that is literally cracking apart, as if made from porcelain. I cannot tell for sure if this figure is male or female (one of the nice things about the images on these cards is that many are somewhat gender-neutral) but Arthur uses the pronoun "she" in the card description, so I will go with that.  She is holding a glowing sphere (which is also cracked) between her palms. Floating next to her on the left is a crown and on the right is a flower blossom; both are cracked in half. Behind her are vines heavy with grapes, and at her feet is a fox.  Behind her head and somewhat hidden in the darkness is a large eye.

The Queen of Cups is standing in profile to the viewer, her hair flowing around her as if she was immersed in water; she is wearing a ribbon around her neck, and the ends of the ribbon are also floating.  She holds a clear glass cup in one hand, with her other hand over the cup, creating golden angelfish after angelfish.  They float upward, circling over her head and creating her golden crown.  Above the crown floats an oracle ball; at her feet are two koi fish, one black and one white.

The shattered figure on The Tower really personifies the sudden and violent change that this card signifies.  She is vivisected by a large crack, one knee is cracked, both elbows and one shoulder are cracked, and one eye socket is shattered.  Whatever has happened to her has been uncomfortable at the very least, and more likely life-changing.  The grapes and fox are a homage to a parable in which a fox tries to jump up and grab the ripe and juicy grapes hanging just out of reach and when he fails, declares that the grapes are sour and he doesn't want them anyway.  Arthur describes this as cognitive dissonance, which is defined as the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs or attitudes, especially relating to behavioral decisions and attitude changes. The danger is that you will adjust your beliefs to the point that you are not connected to reality, and will hasten a sudden and chaotic adjustment because of this.  The Tower is not always a bad card, at least in the long term.  After all, in order to build a home on raw land, a builder must first clear the land, destroying what is currently there. The keywords for The Tower are change, cataclysm, danger and epiphany.  Yes, there is danger when dealing with The Tower and the lack of power and control over the situation can be frightening, but sometimes the shattering of what is currently in place clears space for something new.  We just need to keep our eyes open so that we can learn from our mistakes.

The True Black Queen of Cups seems gentle and warm and nurturing.  Indeed, nurturing is one of her keywords, along with intuitive, understanding, and tender.  She gently creates the tiny golden angelfish through her own giving and selfless love, and they manifest that love, following her to be near.  The oracle ball above her head reminds us that the element of Water is also about dreams and visions, and the image on this card does have a dreamy feel to it.  The two koi circling at her feet symbolize the balance of the dark depths of the deep water along with the sparkling glimmers of a fountain in the sun, balanced in harmony within the energies of this lovely Queen.

Yes, sometimes we need to destroy in order to create.  Perhaps I am being warned today that I need to keep my eyes open and my senses alert, for even if things crumble around me, I can make lemonade from lemons by learning from the experience.  I must do this through love, not through anger or resentment, and be grateful for the opportunity to create something new.  The reward for enduring through the discomfort and fear could very well be an epiphany.

New Tarot Deck coming soon!!

 I finally ordered the True Black Tarot, and I can't wait to start delving into this one.  I will begin posting again once I receive the deck.  Soon!!

April 29, 2021: VI The Lovers and the V of Earth

My cards in today's pair from The Wayfarer Tarot are VI The Lovers and the V of Earth.

The Lovers is a beautiful card.  The image on The Lovers card  of The Wayfarer Tarot shows an elderly couple sitting on a bench under an arbor in a beautifully flowering garden.  Behind the couple is a lush green lawn, stretching to the mountains in the distance; above them is a beautiful blue sky.  The flower blossoms are vibrant and lovely:  red roses for deep love and affection, purple pansies for beauty, nobility and loving feelings, red and orange zinnias for endurance, friendship, and long lasting affection, alongside green leaves, stems and vines. Winding its way through the flowers and leaves is a serpent representing temptation, the flow of energy, and the shedding of the old self. They are holding hands and looking at each other, as if blind to the beauty around them and only able to see each other.  He looks like he is talking and gesturing to her, telling her some story, and she listens attentively, enjoying his enthusiasm.  

The image on the V of Earth shows a man and a woman struggling to carry huge and heavy stones in the middle of a pelting rain storm.  The woman holds three huge stones, and is facing the viewer; the man is bent over with two stones on his back, holding a wooden cane with both hands to support himself.  Behind them is a tree covered with pink blossoms.  This image shows weight, pain, struggles, sadness, and maybe even injuries.  Every step is a challenge, and there is no end in sight.  

Yes, The Lovers of the Tarot Major Arcana represents love of all kinds, including romantic love, but this card has other meanings as well.  It can represent the effort to find a partner, the difficulty of choosing between several potential partners, consciously and deliberately chosen connections, and meaningful relationships.  It can have a more general meaning as well, indicating cohesiveness, or the meshing of complimentary energies or balancing forces to create something greater than the sum of its parts.  All of these things can be seen within the image of this card.  The couple are older, and have been together for a long while, standing the test of time.  They have created and maintained a beautiful, healthy and fertile world for themselves, no small task.  Despite their age and the years they have been together, they are still comfortable with each other, and enjoy each other's company.  This card is reminding me of the support, nurturing and understanding that can come from a long term relationship, a relationship that is cared for the way the couple in this card image have cared for their garden.  This kind of relationship requires work, understanding of differences, forgiveness, and joy; it is worth every effort.  

The V of Earth can represent some situation in the mundane or physical world that feels overwhelming. Dealing with heavy weights in the pouring rain with no end in sight can cause us to believe that we have no help and that we are wasting our efforts in trying to succeed.  The exhaustion of struggling can feel never-ending and our energy supplies can feel depleted, but the couple on this card are still standing, despite the heavy weight they both carry.  Often, this card reminds us that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  It also reminds us that if we feel overwhelmed, we need to look around for assistance.  This couple are so focused on their burdens that they do not see that tree covered with springtime blossoms behind them.  Perhaps just seeing that beauty would help them endure.

Having someone to share burdens with, someone with whom we have had a long and evolving relationship, makes struggles a bit less burdensome.  I'm sure the loving couple in the image of The Lovers have sometimes felt like the couple in the image of the V of Earth, but they stayed together and endured.  That is my message for today.  

For card images, head over to my Instagram account, orange-dancing-sparkles.

April 28, 2021: VII of Water and the Queen of Air

Still working with the lovely Wayfarer Tarot (by Salipero-Babb and Shipman); today's pair is the VII of Water and the Queen of Air.

The image on the VII of Water shows a person sitting on a beach with legs folded; he appears indistinct and I am guessing that he is meditating.  Floating in front of him are seven boats; each boat contains an object: an airplane representing adventure, a house representing stability, an open book representing learning and wisdom, a heart representing love, a cobra representing power and danger, a tree representing having roots in the ground, and jewels and money representing potential distractions.  The element of Water is about dreams, visions and imagination and the number 7 tells of a pause and assessment before choosing the next step.  The image on the VII of Water hints at possible choices, any of which could be beneficial or dangerous, depending on how they are used.  

The Queen of Air is feeding corn to several ravens, wearing a smile on her face.  The ravens are not afraid of her at all because she has done the work to create relationships with them.  Our Queen knows what to do in order to create relationships, and she has the courage and patience to make those relationships happen, focusing her mind on the task at hand.  Like the ravens she feeds, this Queen is cunning and wise, and can escape any cage.  

The VII of Water has a kind of dreamy or hazy feel about it, as if it is difficult to focus on one thing.  Being distracted by many choices could prevent any choice from happening.  The Wayfarer Tarot Guidebook states that the VII of Water is connected to The Chariot, one of the cards from my last entry.  That card reminded me to pay attention, too.  The VII of Water offers one example of meditation, with its indistinct figure viewed from the back.  It is not uncommon to work through choices while meditating, but we need to remember that what we see in our mind's eye could be not quite clear.

The Queen of Air tells me that I will need to use my wits, the things I have learned, and the wisdom I have accumulated, in order to move forward.  I've survived many challenges and I need to remember that those challenges have made me stronger and more skilled, so I should have confidence in my abilities.  The Queens of the Court embody their suit in an inner manner, so this Queen has a penetrating mind, independence, a skill for organizing, and she analyzes before she chooses.  She may be unsettling to some, but that could be because of her honesty and adherence to truth.

Focus and courage, choosing wisely even if that choice is not to choose (as long as not choosing is a deliberate action and not caused by indecision) are the messages of the day.

You can find images of these cards on my Instagram page, orange-dancing-sparkles.

April 26, 2021: X of Air and VII The Chariot

Continuing with the powerful Wayfarer Tarot (by Salpietro-Babb and Shipman), today my cards are the X of Air and VII The Chariot.  Nice that I have a Minor and a Major to play with today.

One of our Pages yesterday was of the suit of Air, and we already learned that the raven symbolizes the mind and thought, as well as learning through both an active search for data and the use of the intuition to receive messages and direction.  The image on our X of Air shows a raven sitting in the branches of a tree, with his mouth open as if he was calling out.  One nearby branch is covered with large thorns, and a part of that branch is wrapped around the raven's neck.  

My other card is VII The Chariot, and this is one of the cards that drew me to this deck.  The image is of the space shuttle, arriving to its orbital position above the atmosphere of our world thanks to the hard work, skill, and direction of the Charioteer.  This particular representation of the Major Arcana card really shows the momentum, power and force that is offered by this card, should we have the skill and courage to access them.  

The ten cards of the Minors tell of completion (as opposed to the nine cards, which tell of completeNESS), so the X of Air is letting us know that we are at the end of a cycle (also validating the new possibilities hinted at by my Page of Air yesterday).  Dealing with the ten numbered cards of the suit of Air can be quite challenging; each card presents a new obstacle to overcome, kind of like going to the gym and working out the different muscles in the body.  Dealing with each obstacle can bring pain and bruising and tears, but in the end we are made stronger by what we overcome.  This card is telling me that while I may be battered and wounded, I've succeeded as well.  There may have been times that I have wanted to give up, but I didn't do that; I hung in there.  This final challenge is not as difficult as it appears to be, and I have the skill set to extricate myself from the thorns without getting scratched.  

To me, The Chariot of The Wayfarer Tarot offers a modern metaphor for the more traditional image.  This Chariot is not propelled by wheels but rather, by burning fuel.  Travel has become commonplace in our modern world, whether by car, train, airplane or jet.  I am being told to examine where I am going, because the possibilities are truly endless, like the Universe around me.  The key is to plan carefully so that I know what direction to aim for, and so I know how to focus my aim so it is effective.

The digital Guidebook for this deck states that the X of Air is connected to The Magician and The Wheel of the Majors.  The Magician works within the element of Air, and he is a personally significant card for me so the message of the X of Air is also personal.  The Chariot refines the message of the X of Air by reminding me that for a successful space launch, preparation needs to be careful and timing needs to be perfect.  My own leap into space needs to take into consideration the other larger forces that could have an effect on the launch and the space ship's trajectory.

Interesting.  Card images can be found on my Instagram account, orange_dancing_sparkles.

April 25, 2021: Page of Earth and Page of Air

Things have been busy for me, but I finally have time to begin working with The Wayfarer Tarot.  I shuffled these lovely cards and threw my first card pair.  Very interesting way to begin working with this deck, a pair of Pages.  I like it already!

Generally speaking, the Pages of the Tarot Court are seen as representing a youthful manifestation of the suit, however that does not have to mean young in years.  A senior citizen could certainly be seen as a Page if that senior has the outlook of a youth, free from pre-conceived expectations, open to new ideas and experiences, and eager to share his or her ideas.  

Pages are messengers or attendants to higher-ups, waiting on or serving as well as learning.  They are still developing the perception of who they are, their place in the world, and what they are becoming, and thus they enthusiastically embrace new experiences and opportunities to practice new skills.  Because they have no prior experiences or expectations, they are open to receiving the more subtle messages of their suits.

The image on The Wayfarer Tarot Page of Earth shows a young boy standing before a large tree with a dark opening at its base, holding out an apple to the viewer.  Earth is the suit of manifestation, and this Page is offering a message: things are just about to happen in your physical world.  His message could be specific, regarding a career change or new health insights, or he could just be saying, "look at me, watch how I move through the world, and be the same."  The Page of Earth is about beginnings and about what is just starting to manifest, so in a way he is sharing a possible future. If we choose to listen to the Page and hear his message, we have the power to understand the possibilities available to us right now and change our trajectory in accordance with those possibilities.

The image on the Page of Air shows a young girl in pigtails and an ankle-length dress holding a raven in her arms.    The element of Air represents the mind, the intellect and wisdom, and the message presented by this Page is connected to those things.  This Page is cradling a raven in her arms; the raven represents the mind, thought, and a two-prong method for learning: the active search for information and the passive use of the intuition to perceive information.  The Page of Air may be at a basic or early stage of learning, but she is courageous enough to take her own path forward.  She will do the work to research, to read, to indulge her endless curiosity and she will end up startling you with her knowledge (which is beyond her beginner status).

The Page of Earth reminds me that I already know what the "now" looks like, so I should shift my focus to what could be coming toward me in my physical world.  "Appreciate where you've been," he tells me, "and see your Path thus far as a blessing filled with gifts that you can use moving forward."  He tells me to be practical and flexible, but also to jump in with two feet and embrace the world of nature around me, my own body and its abilities and strengths, and those who travel through life with me.

The Page of Air is telling me that now is not the time to be satisfied with basic and more general knowledge.  The process of learning keeps the brain alive and keeps the mind strong and adaptable, which will allow me to not only survive the winds of change that are beginning to blow, but to thrive within them.  Everything manifested in the physical world begins as a thought or an idea, and new thoughts and ideas are the realm of the Page of Air; I should open my mind without expectations, and enjoy what is coming.

Well, I like this deck already!!  I will post images of the cards on my Instagram account, orange_dancing_sparkles.  

April 19, 2021: A new deck to explore: The Shadowland Tarot

It is time to begin a new exploration of the Tarot, and this round we will dive deep into The Shadowland Tarot by Monica Bodirsky.  I just love the artwork of this deck!  The Shadowland Tarot uses a combination of whimsy and monsters that are spooky but not scary to perceive traditional Tarot symbolism in a new way.  The images of the cards are quirky and playful, but they draw from the traditional archetypes and imagery symbolism we have all come to know and love.  

The Shadowland Tarot does focus on shadow work, but the theme of this deck seems to be very accepting of our differences rather than seeing those differences as an indication that we are broken and need to be fixed.  This is an inclusive deck that celebrates the unlit corners within each of us, and shows us how to face the skeletons, mummies, bats, ghosts and spiders that live there and accept them as maybe being peculiar, but not frightening.  

I did a more in depth review of The Shadowlands Tarot in the July 2020 issue of PaganPages.org. You can check out some of the card images on the author's website (https://www.monicabodirsky.com) or her FaceBook page at Monica Bodirsky Design.

My next post will begin our exploration by comparing two cards.  

April 16, 2021: The Decameron Tarot, a review

I have now looked at all of the cards of the Decameron Tarot, and I've gotten to know this erotic and very non-traditional deck. The Decameron Tarot is created by Giacinto Gaudenzi and Luciano Spadanuda, and was published by Lo Scarabeo in 2003.  It is a 78 card Tarot deck with the traditional Major Arcana card names, a Minor Arcana with four suits, Wands (Fire), Swords (Air), Chalices (Water) and Pentacles (Earth), and with a Court consisting of Knave, Knight, King and Queen.  The cards themselves are 2 5/8 inches by 4 3/4 inches, with color images in a Medieval style, with a smooth glossy finish.  The guidebook that comes with the deck is a traditional "LWB" (Little White Book) guidebook that contains a basic description of the focus of the deck and suggested key phrases for each card.

The Decameron Tarot is based loosely on the book, The Decameron, which is a work by Giovanni Boccaccio written between 1348 and 1358 that contains a hundred tales supposedly told over ten days by a group of ten people who fled from Florence to the countryside to avoid the Black Death.  I was able to get a really nice translation of the Decameron Tarot by Wayne A. Rebhorn and I'm glad I took the time to read the book.  While the book is not written in an erotic style, there is certainly a lot of sex and romance within the stories themselves.  Through reading The Decameron I was able to understand the woman's place in this culture and time, and this helped me to more easily accept a few of the card images which as a woman were very uncomfortable for me.  

This is not a good deck for a beginner who is still learning the traditional meanings of the Tarot deck or who is looking to learn how to interpret the cards because the majority of the card meanings are non-traditional.  However if you have a good solid base in the symbolism of the Tarot, this deck can encourage you to look at some of the traditional interpretations in a new way.

I will continue working with this deck, and I will post my Wheel of the Year readings using the Decameron Tarot on or near the first of each month through 2021.  In the mean time, I will be choosing another deck to explore, so stay tuned!