Category: majors

Moon

Moon
Dark Goddess Tarot

First Impressions:  Initially, I really did not like this card because it looked like a worm on a wheel, however, the more I studied the more I came to appreciate the artwork and to see the card for what it is.

Book:  In the realm of the soul, the moon is your guide, shape shifting, embracing duality, virgin onto herself, wheel of time, souls finding mercy

Guidance:  Reenactment of an old story is at hand, look for a reinterpretation, change comes over time, attune yourself to your rhythms, set your imagination free, get more sleep

Journaling:

What an amazing card today to pull today on the last day of the year and when there is going to be a super moon tomorrow.  I love the thought of doing the soul’s work. I can feel the change afoot in the new year and know that there are amazing things on the horizon.  I can feel the magick in the air.

January 11, 2018

Wow!  This card was incredibly prophetic.  The reenactment of an old story is at hand and I am working hard to respond a different way.  Work is a little weird right now as we just went through a reorganization and I have a new boss, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable.  I also heard that for some joint project we reached out to Jessica about OCM, which also makes me wonder what is going on.   However, there is nothing I can do about any of that.

My initial reaction is to run.  It’s to say, this isn’t going to work out it is time for me to walk away, but they are telling me very clearly to stay and that it will work out.  It goes against all of my instincts, but I am choose to stay and see how it plays out.

The other interesting tidbit of guidance is the reminder to get enough sleep. I’ve learned this week that when I have enough sleep,  I am much more effective at dealing with stressors and weird situations.  When I don’t get enough sleep, I struggle.

Hanged One

Hanged One
Dark Goddess

First Impressions:  I love this card because not only is she hanging upside down in water, her limbs are all akimbo and I’m not sure exactly how she is staying together in the water.  The Hanged One (man) is always about changing my perspective and looking at things from a different point of view.

Book:  What has been, what lives in hidden places, Goddess of the Mother, of the gods, Mother of All, existence killed by her own young.

Guidance:  Surrender, but remember who you are; trust your intuition and be open to it, look at things from a different point of view.

Journaling

Surrender is such a foreign concept to me.  I’ve always been someone who fights to the bloody, brutal end so the thought of surrendering and letting go always seems to me like giving up.  However, past experience has taught me that when I do truly surrender to deity, amazing things happen.  It is hard though because I always want to snatch back control.

Dearest Ones,

Help me to trust you enough to let go.  Let me trust that I a being led and that things will work out exactly the way they are supposed to work out.  Let me trust you have my best intentions at heart.

January 1, 2018

I’m still getting used to writing 2018!  One thing I have learned in my life is that life does move on and that surrendering means that I don’t have to control everything.  Over the past few years, my definition of surrendering has evolved from giving up total control and sitting there passively to trusting that I will be led and doing the work I need to do.  It’s kind of like managing a project, I cannot control how every consultant spends every minute of their day so I need to set the structure and trust them to do what they’re supposed to do. 

Trust is as difficult of a concept for me as surrender so sitting back and not micromanaging is hard for me.  However, when I do sit back and trust others, things work out amazingly well. 

Stars

Stars
Dark Goddess Tarot

First Impressions: I love this card with Spider Woman weaving her web out of stars.  It makes me happy and serves as a reminder that we are all connected.  I also love how Ellen has changed the name of this card to be Stars instead of Star.

Book:  Small things hold the earth in the heavans, she draws light and lfie from the darkness, creating through her thoughts keeps the sky from leaving.

Guidance:  The more you reach for what inspires you, the more your purpose becomes clear.  Act in alignment with your beliefs.  Use stability.  You are part of a network

Journaling:

I love the messages of Spider Woman and the sense of being connected to everyone.  The reminder to not always go at something head on, but to be subtle and thoughtful is important for me to hear.  I also love to meditate on the web and the interconnections of life.

My problem right now is that I don’t really know what I’m passionate about.  There was a time I wanted to write and teach, but I’m not really sure that’s what I want as I’m not sure I want to take that responsibility for others.  In some ways that feels like my mother’s bullshit about making my life about everyone else.

I think I just need to be still with the question and the answer will come to me.

Dearest ones,

Please direct me down the path that is right for me and help me find my joy.

Blessings, Raine

Magician

Magician
Dark Goddess Tarot

First Impressions:  I love this depiction of Isis with her arms outstretched and her wings surrounding Osiris.  For me this is a reminder of the transforming and magical power of love.

Book:  Wife, Mother, Queen, Protector

Guidance:  Use words of power to achieve your goals, see clearly what you want, change what you can

Journaling:

Interesting card today as I’ve been feeling very magical lately.  I finally feel as if I can achieve what I want/need in my life.  The past month has been hell, but I’m finally feeling positive.  Isis is about creating magic, but she is also the pure power of love.

December 18, 2017

Isis is not only magic, she is also a cared of pure love.  She goes after what she wants from a place of love.

December 27, 2017

I love both Isis and Nephthys and it is very powerful to be surrounded by their wings and feel their great love.  Isis always gets all the publicity because she was the queen, but Nephthys is just as powerful and together they compliment each other.  Isis is the romantic love, while Nephthys is sisterly love and the all encompassing love for humanity.

Every since I have been dedicated to Nephthys, I’ve see the positive, independent side of her, but lately I have been starting to feel the warm and loving side of her.  Despite her own horribly abusive marriage, she stood by Isis’ side as she went looking for Osiris and she is the one who is the one who comforts those who are in mourning.  She is the one who loves when it is painful to love, she is the one who loves through encouraging people to get back up and to stand on their own two feet after something traumatic has happened.

Daily Draw: Magician

First Impressions:  Make things happen

Book:  Serious person, fully aware of the laws of cause and effect

Guidance:  Learning to control your will to accomplish what you want, message of discipline and responsibility, be aware of controlling and manipulating

Journaling

I love the reminder that I can create what I want in my life.  I am also reminded of the old adage that with great power comes great responsibility.  There have been so many cases lately of powerful people brought down because they thought they were above the law.  However power can also be used to positively impact the world. 

I also take this card as a reminder to believe in the power of magick and the universe!  There are forces in the world that we cannot understand and being in touch with them can help us better understand the world around us.

November 20, 2017

I needed this reminder to reconnect with magick.  The past week has been really rough as I was juggling multiple projects and multiple roles.  I sometimes feel like there isn’t enough time to get the work done, which means I don’t have time for me.  I need to do a better job of making time for me.

November 8, 2018

Interesting as I pulled this card this evening as well.  This is a card that reminds me I hold the keys to my own fate.  I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to own my life.  I’m realizing that I need to start setting some serious boundaries around work or I will let myself get consumed.  I’m not sure yet what all of those boundaries are, but I do know that I will never take another red eye flight again.  They totally mess with my body and I am out of commission for a few days after ward.  I already have the rule of no early morning flights for the same reason.  Not sure what the rest of my personal rules are, but I’m working on that list.

Moon

Moon
Dark Goddess Tarot

First Impressions:  I didn’t like this card the first time I saw it as it felt like there was a snake or worm encircling the moon.  However, the more I’ve meditated on it and spent time with it, I’m more appreciative of the beauty of the card.  It shows Adrianhod weaving the moon.  I like that her silver wheel is the Wheel of Time, but of the seasons and reincarnation.  My first impressions of this card are it is a time for intuition, but also the possibility of being disillusioned.

Book:  Weaver creating destiny, guide in the realm of the soul, shapeshifter, manifesting destiny

Guide:  Let change unfold, look for meanings and guidance, let your imagination journey

Journaling:  

Cairn
Bell Tower in Sedona, AZ

I needed to hear this guidance about letting things manifest differently than desired.  I need to trust deity and I do’t do a good job with trust.  I think I am such an absolute control freak because I don’t trust anyone.  I need to go back and listen to the lessons of the cairns that they provided in Arizona.  I need to see the first cairn, walk to it, then walk to the next cairn.  I do not need to be shown the whole path at once.

December 18, 2017

I’m realizing that one of the reasons tarot appeals to me is that it appeals to both my logic and my intuition.

Justice (Reversed)

Justice
Gilded Tarot

First Impressions:  I love this card as it shows justice in a triangle with the sun the bottom and her holding two arms of the triangle.  It is a striking card.  Justice is blind.  Reversed this card says I’m not making balanced decisions.

Book:  Pausing for a self check, not recognizing we are out of balance, psychic imbalance

Guidance:  Embrace the chaos, live in love, take time to balance your energy

Journaling:

Interesting card as I could read this many ways.  I could read it as being out of balance and listening to other people instead of myself.  I could also read it as a perversion of justice and things that should happen, not flowing they way they should.  I think i’m just going to sit with it and see what happens.

January 25, 2018

This card is again a warning that I’m out of balance.  This week was physically rough as I got pulled in multiple directions for OCM and had to be responsive even though I had no extra time.  I am mindful of people pulling  my consultants in multiple directions, but there is no one who does that for me.  I’m left to my own devices with people continually tugging on me.  The problem is that it it really isn’t a lot of work, but the distractions make me lose focus.

On the plus side, I’ve been getting better about managing my own energy needs and saying no to things that are just energy sucks.  It isn’t always easy, but I’m doing it.

Hanson-Roberts Recap

Type of Spreads:  Daily Draws

Time Frame:  September 10, 2016 to October 8, 2016

Overall Rating:  😎😎😎😎😎

Theme:  This deck follows the RWS, but gives a fresher perspective.  I love the colors on the cards and I love that that the images are closer and more intimate.  It feels as if I can really study them and get to know them.  I also  love the colors on this deck.

Impressions:

I really enjoyed working with this deck.  It is a nice size to hold in my hand and I enjoy the artwork.  One of the things I learned from playing with this deck is that playing solitaire is a great way to get comfortable working with the cards.

Overall, I feel the cards truly took on my energy and they felt like an old friend when I picked them up.  I have to be honest and say that part of me wants to keep working with this deck, but I know that it is good to get familiar with all my decks.

Favorite Cards

Six of Pentacles
Hanson Roberts

My first experience with the six of pentacles was with the DruidCraft deck and that experience left me traumatized as for me that card showed a very poor may being asked to give more than he could afford.  However, as I’ve explored other decks and dug deeper into the tarot, I’ve realized that the card is not about giving more than you can afford, but about both giving and receiving with an open heart.  As a result, I’ve learned to appreciate the card overall.

What I like about this version of the six of pentacles is that he looks happy to share what he has.  He is giving with an open heart instead of giving from a place of gamesmanship or having to give to impress people.  I also love that he is measuring what he gives out and I take that to mean that he is only giving what he can afford to give.

Queen of Cups
Hanson Roberts

The Queen of Cups is always one of my favorite cards because in all the decks I have, she carries herself regally, but she is also very approachable.  That holds true in this deck as well as she looks like a woman who is enjoying her morning coffee.  Her air is a little bit messy and she’s holding the cup with two hands just like someone who really needs her morning caffeine.

She’s also looking deep into the cup as if she’s doing a little bit of scrying while she’s contemplating her coffee.  Overall she looks very balanced and sure of herself, but she also looks like someone I wouldn’t mind getting to know ad hang out with.

Justice
Hanson Roberts

Justice is another beautiful woman who looks dedicated and ready to do business, but approachable.  She looks as if she is someone who will truly listen to both sides of the story.  Our lady justice is also fully engaged and ready to hear with all of her senses.  She is not blind to what is before her.

I get the sense that this is someone who will truly listen and find the heart of the matter versus just the cold black and white of the facts.  Whatever justice she dispenses will be fair and compassionate.

Queen of Rods
Hanson Roberts

I love all the sun energy in this card.  Rods are the cards of fire and some artists go for flame with their interpretations, but Hanson and Roberts went for the energy of the sun and it truly works.  The sun elements in this card include the solar cross on her necklace, the sunburst of her thrown, the sunflower she’s holding, the yellow cat, and the lion.

I especially love the juxtopositon of the cat and the lion as that gives us both the fun and friendly feline energy and the fiercer energy of the cat’s larger cousin.  Although this is not an Egyptian deck by any stretch of the imagination, this deck makes me think of Sekhemet  and Bast with all the solar energy.

Least Favorite Cards

Ace of Cups
Hanson Roberts
This card is beautiful and if I wasn’t hung up on more traditional meanings to be found in the Tarot, I might actually like it.  I do love the clouds in the background and the cup kind of just hanging out on top of the water.  However, what I don’t like is that the water falling from the sky seems to be missing the cup.  I don’t get the sense of water overflowing the cup into the stream like I do in other cards. 
When I truly look at this card, it almost seems as if the card is being held aloft by the streams of water like a hot air balloon.  It is an interesting interpretation, but overall I really don’t like it.
Eight of Rods
Hanson Roberts
I have to be honest and say that I never really like the eight of rods/wands as it seems to be a boring card.  However, there are some versions okay with because you don’t know if the wands are going up or coming down.  In this version its pretty apparent they are coming down because in all of the rods, the blossoms have been shown pointing up.
This is just a boring card with very low energy and I truly get no sense of what is supposed to be happening in this card.
High Priestess
Hanson Roberts
I don’t like this card at all because there is too much religious symbolism.  She is wearing a cross, she has the moon goddess symbol in her headdress, and the scroll may be Jewish.  It is just way too much and overwhelming.  I realize that the mixed symbolism also appears on other High Priestess cards, but I don’t like it.
Even though I am not a Christian, what I like about the Christian Church is that they’ve chosen one mythology to follow.  They are not trying to be all things to all people like this High Priestess is.
HIerophant
Hanson Roberts
The Hierophant is one of those cards that I usually don’t like, but that there are some decks that have a version I like.  This is not one of those decks.  I do not like this hierophant as he represents everything I believe is wrong with the Christian church.  He looks cruel and the two children are bowing before him.  It also looks as if he might be ready to strike them with his stick thingy.  
Additionally, he looks totally disengaged.  It doesn’t appear as if he is connected at all with heaven or earth.  He just appears in his own little world.
Summary
Overall, I really like this deck and it is a deck that I will read with again.

Hanged Man

Hanged Man
Hanson-Roberts

First Impressions:  This Hanged Man is hanging from a beam instead of a treat.  He is surrounded by mistletoe and his eyes are wide open.  There is a glow around his head as it seems he has found inner peace.  This card speaks to me of surrender, contemplation, and approaching things from a different point of view.

Book:  Reversal of values, patience, surrender, sacrifice, peace, freedom comes from commitment, non-resistance, new perspective.

Guidance:  Let go of your striving, surrender, love yourself, trust yourself.

Journaling:

Today was all about Isa and this card was perfect as I believe that the Hanged Man is the tarot version of Isa.  I need to just let go and surrender.  There are things I can do nothing about and the best course of action is to let go and quit struggling.  It will all fall into place.

December 23, 2017

I am getting so much better at just surrendering and waiting.  It is still a very uncomfortable place for me, but I am better at actually executing.  I am someone who always wants to fix, manage, and control (thank you Al Anon for teaching me that) and sometimes there are things I cannot fix, manage, and control and I have to let go and see how it all plays out.

The shakeup at work has me a little worried, but there is nothing I can do to change what is happening.  My guides are telling me to trust and that it will all work out so that’s what I’m going to do.  I know that I could start frantically looking for a new job, but that’s not what I want to do.  I want to stay here and to build something and my guides are telling me that this is where I belong so I’m going to stay for now.

The Magician

Magician
Hanson Roberts

First Impressions:  I always call this version of The Magician the Staying Alive card because he reminds me of John Travolta in Staying Alive.  He also reminds me of Fabio with the bare chest.  I love the roses in the tree around him which makes me smile.  This card speaks to me of directing power, using resources wisely, and making things happen.

Book:  Creativity, inspiration, letting inspiration flow through you, power of the mind, card of individuality

Guidance:  Trust and let go of worries, master yourself

Journaling:

What an appropriate card for today.  I truly had to channel energy today and make things work that seemed impossible.  I’ve also realized what one of my key skills is: I am a closer and I can make things happen that seem impossible.  I can also create order out of chaos.

December 23, 2017

I have absolutely no clue what was going on that I felt this card was important.  I know I was working at Gateway last year, but I’m not sure what was happening.  However, I do know that I’ve always been a closer as I’m creative and I find ways to make things work that other people can’t see.  I also a a bulldog and I don’t let go when I think there is a way.  Sometimes I hold on to things longer than I should and I am learning that sometimes it is okay to let go and walk away, but I’m also proud of the creativity I bring to my life.