Liani's Tarot Folio

Tarot People #2: The Page of Cups, Reversed. (Emo Kid)

2009-09-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

What is emo? According to Urban Dictionary, emo means:

Genre of softcore punk music that integrates unenthusiastic melodramatic 17 year olds who dont smile, high pitched overwrought lyrics and inaudible guitar riffs with tight wool sweaters, tighter jeans, itchy scarves (even in the summer), ripped chucks with favorite bands signature, black square rimmed glasses, and ebony greasy unwashed hair that is required to cover at least 3/5ths of the face at an angle.

...sounds like the Page of Cups on a 'reversed' day to me! The Page of Cups even has jet-black hair, which he keeps under a cap because it's so greasy!

For a modern-day Page of Cups in reverse, check out Elmo's tortured teen cousin and you'll get the idea:

Tarot Pets #3: Nine of Pentacles on 9/9/9 (Merlin)

2009-09-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

Much is often made of the bird of prey in the Nine of Pentacles. Some say that it is incongruous that such a refined lady would have a falcon on her fist, trained to kill on command. They then conclude that the card means 'success after the years of patient dedication it takes to get a hunting bird to do as it's told'.

Well, not really. Falconry was a standard, noble pastime for hundreds of years. The fact that Waite and Smith put a hunting bird on a card featuring a noblewoman may not have seemed as weird then as it could now.

Like many things here in the UK at least, there were explicit rules of falconry. For example, you were only permitted to fly the bird that corresponded correctly with your social rank. Kings could have the big guns, like eagles and ger falcons, priests could have sparrowhawks and servants could only have kestrels.

If you were caught flying a bird that was not rightfully yours, you would be stripped naked, tied 'spread-eagled' (this is where the expression comes from), have raw meat tied to your genitals and then have to suffer as the bird you stole ate its fill. (Who THINKS of these punishments...?)

Anyway, in light of this info, I think that, yes, the Nine of Pentacles signifies the rewards of diligent effort... but also the natural prosperity that comes from knowing your RIGHTFUL talents and embracing them consistently, instead of just aspiring to be like someone else.

P.S. the bird here is probably a Merlin, a smallish falcon that was deemed acceptable for ladies of rank. Another possibility is the Peregrine Falcon, but I prefer the magical name of the former :) The red on its head is merely its leather cap, which she would remove with her right hand and her teeth (at least, this is what I once saw a professional falconer do), before sending it off on a mission.

Tarot Cocktails (and competition!) #1: The Queen of Pentacles

2009-09-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to celebrate the start of the cooler season with fruits of the earth. My favourite herb in anything Italian is fresh basil. Follow that with berries for dessert and I'm anyone's...

You know how sometimes you draw two opposing cards and they combine to make the most precious reading, as long as you add intuition? Well, combining basil and berries works in the same way... as long as you add alcohol!

Try this, chilled. I have named it 'The Queen of Pentacles' because it's earthy and bounteous in flavour:

5 fresh basil leaves
1 shot Grand Marnier
1 shot Chambord (or other berry liquor)
3 dashes cranberry juice.
Chopped strawberries.

Trust me!

Blessings,
Liani xo (on holiday in Stratford-upon-Avon!)

PS: This is way too much fun. There have to be other cocktails out there that you can link to tarot cards... Email your recipes to tarotcocktails@gmail.com, along with the card you are naming your cocktail after. The best entries will be published here on the blog and will receive a free 3 card email reading! Get out the blender...

Card of the Moment #3: Chariot. 'Movement in Stillness'.

2009-09-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Bronze chariot, circa 240 BCE. From the reign of Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of China

Illegitimi non carborundum... (Don't let the bastards grind you down)

We all have 'em... people that sap us, hold us back and demean us. Sometimes sticks and stones aren't in the equation and words DO hurt.

You tolerate it for so long, and then the day of the Chariot arrives. You place some distance between yourself and your past tormentors and move off on your own, victorious, to the opposite side of the globe...

Hang on... although the man on the card has succeded in getting across the river, his vehicle is made out of stone, and the magical creatures he has harnessed seem to be taking an extended pause. (Sphinxes do that. It's the reason why modern engine performance is measured in horsepower and not sphinxpower.)

The fastest way forward, through and out is sometimes not to move much at all. Finding something, anything to be grateful for in the present moment is the most effective way of shifting stuck energy.

It's a paradox truly worthy of inclusion in the Major Arcana, that's for sure.

Tarot Pets #2: The Star (Ibis)

2009-08-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

Now, this bird that's in the background of the Star card...

Is it really an image of the sacred ibis?

...or the scarlet ibis?

Waiter, there's a bird in my Star card! There's an ibis perching on the tree in the background. Every writer I look to maintains that it's the sacred ibis of Egypt, representative of Thoth and Hermes, and symbol of the mind. The mind is coming to rest in the tree, symbolising meditation and the gaining of divine inspiration from the energy of the Star.

Ok. It's just that the sacred ibis is mostly white, and, well, the bird on my Rider-Waite Star card looks kind of red to me...

The scarlet ibis, and for that matter, the roseate spoonbill, are cousins of the sacred ibis. However, they come from South America, which could dilute the ancient Egyptian symbology somewhat. After all, most evidence suggests that the tarot did NOT originate in Egypt anyway, but in the courts of Milan! However, that's a subject for another post. (The Golden Dawn put the ibis on the Star card. There was definitely some ancient Egyptian influence in that society, but it wasn't the only form of mysticism they embraced.)

Nevertheless, if you're a cousin of someone, you share some of their DNA. So I see no reason why the scarlet ibis can't symbolise the mind like his cousin, if he wants to. All that remains is the question of his reddish tint.

Scarlet ibises are born white, but they get redder and redder as they grow older because they eat a particular type of crab, absorbing its colouring. Funny, isn't it, that the crab is an old symbol of the subconscious mind?

By eating and repressing the subconscious, the 'mind bird' has gone red, and needs to meditate in the tree to set things right again. He may not be the only one who'd benefit from a period of self-reflection, either. Perhaps Little Red Riding-Hood had more going on under that cape than we first thought...

Tarot Couture #1: Seven of Wands (Mismatched Shoes!)

2009-08-26T17:00:00.001-07:00

What would you do if you were lying naked in bed and someone broke into your house? In my twenties, I probably would have charged out to tackle (or blind?) the offender. These days... well, I might just cower under the covers and hope they didn't see me.

I always thought that the fellow in the Seven of Wands has thrown on any clothes he can find, grabbed his weapon and raced out to defend the farm. After all, his shoes don't even match.

Then again, I haven't read for any people who've been placed under physical siege like that...

Maybe there's a more subtle meaning to the mismatched shoes, seeing that the majority of my clients who get this card are artists, not victims of farm raids.

Isabelle Radow Kliegman, in Tarot and the Tree of Life, writes:

'(The Seven of Wands) is the card that says, "I have the right to my eccentricities as long as they don't hurt anybody." As Alan Watts puts it so eloquently: "Everyone is entitled to his own weird." If I'm doing something that strikes you as very peculiar - back off.'

So, go forth, Tarot lovers! Fight for your own weird!

Liani xo

PS... Here are some great resources for those interested in connecting Tarot with fashion:

Did you know that over at Polyvore, people make collages of current fashion items and match them to tarot cards? Here's one that's all about the Seven of Wands:

http://www.polyvore.com/365_seven_wands/set?id=6951292

Also, for those of you who like your Tarot in a bottle, there are five new fragrances from Dolce and Gabbana, each honouring a different Major Arcana card:

http://www.examiner.com/x-11580-Denver-Accessories-Examiner~y2009m8d3-DolceGabbana-launch-their-newest-tarot-fragrances

In Memoriam.

2009-08-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

It's not possible to get far past the age of twenty without experiencing grief. For some, that loss comes much earlier. The pain is particularly keen when we lose a mentor, for we often feel unready to 'go it alone'.

Like many of us, my new friend Georgianna (of thetarotroom.com) had a rather unusual teacher when it came to learning the Game of Life. After 'going it alone' since his passing twelve years ago, she recently found herself catapulted into a mystical experience, thanks to a random Twitter post from her book club, urging her to 'listen to the ghosts of her own past'.

Georgianna writes:

'In Kissing the Limitless by T Thorn Coyle (the book we’re reading for the book club), Coyle suggests we write a letter to our ancestors to ask for direction on our journey. I started writing a few letters but they were all too sappy. Al would have just laughed at them. So I decided to pull a card instead.'

I was overcome by the simplicity and emotional impact of Georgianna's ritual and decided to try it myself. My greatest teacher was a silvery, chain-smoking Irish fairy called Margaret. She was my surrogate mother, grandmother and Lord High Executioner. Maybe's she's in a bar with Georgianna's 'Al' in the afterlife, as she too would probably scoff at the notion of me writing her a letter.

I got quiet, lit a candle (instead of a cigarette, for, unlike Margaret, I don't smoke) and just asked her straight out: 'What would you tell me if you were here today?'

The card I drew was perfect. I think I'm going to need a new deck for readings, as I've taken to carrying just that one card around with me everywhere.

I hope you will take the time to try this profound ritual. Also, please visit Georgianna at the link below to read the full story of her unforgettable mentor, Al.

the tarot room: Al Rush and the 10 of Vessels

Tarot Pets #1: King of Wands (Lizard)

2009-08-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

In our current age, having a lot of 'yang' in your energy field can get you labeled as a jock. This is most unfair, because one needs a certain fire in the belly to accomplish goals and show good leadership.

Some people channel their yang productively, whereas others do it aggressively...

So what is it that differentiates a Republican rancher like Theodore Roosevelt from one like, oh, I don't know, say... George Bush?

It all comes down to the size of their lizard. If you look on the King of Wands card, you'll see that he has a nice one, basking right there in the foreground.

The lizard is a symbol of stillness and perception. Mix that in with the vigorous, yang energy of the Wands family, and you've got a fantastic, balanced leader.

Cards in the Sky #2: Nine of Swords (Mars in Gemini)

2009-08-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

For every high-energy, upwardly-mobile being out there, there's a volatile, neurotic older sibling. At least, that's how it is at the moment with with Mercury and Mars! While Mercury's busy prospering his way through Virgo, Mars is angsting through Gemini. Take a look at the Nine of Swords to see what I mean.

The bad news? When Mars gets neurotic, so can you.

The good news? This is going to end on August 26... when Mars goes into Cancer for some excellent, passive-aggressive tomfoolery (don't worry... I'm only half serious).

The irony about getting into a Nine of Swords mindset is that, while you become instantly world-class at assessing your problems from every miniscule, yet harrowing, angle...

...you miss the one thought that can actually help you:

YOU CAN STOP THIS. NOW.

See those nine swords harrassing the sleepless woman on the card? They're just thoughts... but the poor lass is doing nothing to defend against them.

Light can and does beat the dark. If you're reading this, there's life force in you yet. Some see it as a spark, hear it as a tone or feel it as warmth. Take it, fuel it and expand it outwards against those nasty swords. Don't worry if you feel nothing at first... occupy your mind with this task as you breathe.

And for heaven's sake, turn the lamp on.

Cards in the Sky #1: Ten of Pentacles (Mercury in Virgo)

2009-08-20T05:28:00.001-07:00

Mercury is currently in Virgo and will remain there until August 25, 2009. Sometimes the energy of astrological events has a tarot correspondence... and that's the case right now! The Ten of Pentacles is traditionally regarded as the 'Mercury in Virgo' card.

Mercury (fast moving go-getter that he is) is so brilliant in Virgo, an Earth sign of stability and practicality, that he actually rules that sign.... which means happy times in the sky :)

Mercury in Virgo is all about going beyond materialism. It's about getting what you need, and then getting off your laurels to go use your abundance in the service of others.

It's pretty rude that Mercury would enter Virgo right now when the world is suffering so much from the credit crunch. Who has time to think of others when they're worrying how to pay for the next round of bills? I don't see too many laurels about for people to rest on.

If only we all knew the three things that white-haired guy in the foreground of the Ten of Pentacles knows...

1) Abundance isn't just money.

2) Working out how to serve others joyfully is always the way to prosperity, even when you're hurting the most.

3) Working out how to serve others joyfully is always the way to prosperity, ESPECIALLY when you're hurting the most.

Thanks, Mercury! I'm glad you stopped off in Virgo after all.

Tarot People #1: The Page of Cups. 'Taylor the Latte Boy'! Who knew?

2009-08-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

...he even has the latte cup in his hand!

Card of the Moment #2: Strength. 'Softness overcomes Hardness'

2009-08-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

Some days we're only here with five percent of our soul. Much of the other ninety-five percent is stuck in the agonies of the past...

That's something I was determined to resolve when I took up meditation. I remember sitting with others in a ring at one seminar, each person sharing a summary of their seemingly traumatic upbringing. The aim was to get it out, once and for all, and leave it behind in that conference room.

The time came for a shy, blue-eyed lady to take her turn. She told of her childhood in the Channel Islands, between Britain and France. Left entirely undefended by Churchill in the war, they were soon overtaken by the Nazis, and the islanders had to submit to the harsh rules of the occupation or perish.

There was a moment of silence following her tale, then: 'Wow... Your childhood WINS!' from someone else in the group.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society deals with that same painful period in history, and yet is one of the most charming and uplifting books I've read. The moral is simple, but eternal: You can't overcome a force more brutal than you are by railing against it. Or, as the Taoists would say:

"Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water.
Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better;
It has no equal.

The weak can overcome the strong;
The supple can overcome the stiff.
Under heaven everyone knows this,
Yet no one puts it into practice."

Excerpt from Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78

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SO....

What can the Strength card indicate if I'm asking the following questions?

Q) What does he/she think of me?
A) Who you really are is getting noticed... no need for a flashy show.

Q) What should I do about my problem?
A) 'Softly, softly, catchy monkey...'

...But what if the card comes out upside down (reversed)?
Time to re-read Chapter 78 of the Tao Te Ching!

AND...

What's a good affirmation to use if I draw this card?
...take your pick:

I am what I am.

In having faith in the beauty within me, I develop trust.

In softness I have strength.

In silence I walk with the gods.

In peace I understand myself and the world.

In conflict I walk away.

In detachment I am free.

In respecting all living things, I respect myself.

In dedication I honour the courage within me.

In eternity I have compassion for the nature of all things.

In love I unconditionally accept the evolution of others.

In freedom I have power.

In my individuality, I express the God-Force within me.

In service I give of what I have become.

I am what I am:
Eternal, immortal, universal, and infinite.

(Stuart Wilde: Warrior's Prayer).

Card of the Moment #1: Ace of Swords. 'The Penny Drops'

2009-08-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

Remember the days before cell phones when you had to carry loose change in case you wanted to make a call? You'd hear the coin clank down into the machine once you'd established the connection.

When you draw the Ace of Swords, you might get a blinding epiphany, but it might also just be a 'phone box moment' where the penny drops and you suddenly get clarity....

...like John Linnell did, in the bizarrely fabulous song, 'Montana' from the even weirder album, 'State Songs':

'Then it hit me that Montana was really just a leg
With the round part just the way you would expect
And it started with a feeling that ended in a leg
And it seemed to me Montana was a leg' (?????????)

(http://www.rhapsody.com/john-linnell/state-songs/montana/lyrics.html)

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SO....

What can the Ace of Swords indicate if I'm asking the following questions?

Q) What does he/she think of me?
A) It's about to get REALLY clear, either way :)

Q) What should I do about my problem?
A) Wait for the blinding flash... then act!

...But what if the card comes out upside down (reversed)?
You're confused. And when you're confused, the rule is often... WAIT.

AND...

What's a good affirmation to use if I draw this card?
"I AM NOW OPEN TO A BRILLIANT NEW INSIGHT"