Today I had the pleasure to teach Tarot 1 to five students.
As always I had lots of fun. Tomorrow I will teach Tarot 2.
Why would I want to learn how to read Tarot?
Anna Tasselli Kocher owner of Wisdom and Healing in Guelph.
What are the benefits of knowing how to read Tarot? What’s in it for me?
Plenty, I would say.
I never needed a reason. I was fascinated by Tarot cards from a young age, but I understand that we do not all share the same interests.
Let’s say you have no intention of reading cards for people.
Why would you want to learn how to read Tarot?
To gain insight into your personal life.
To develop a skill that helps you shut down external distractions and focus on you, your plans and what is going on in your life.
To strengthen your intuition and your self confidence.
To get creative ideas if you are a writer.
To be able to assess situations in your life from a detached, more objective perspective.
Are you surprised? Are you intrigued a little?
Check the link if you would like to know more. Learn how to read Tarot
The Devil is orange!
The Devil card came up in my daily Tarot reading today.
I decided to reflect on it. I started by coloring an image of the card. The next step was to read what the author of the book I am using had to say about it.
It was not long before I noticed, for the first time, that the Devil in the Radiant R.W.S. deck is orange!
Let it sink for a moment, or two.
By the way, the book I am working with is Living Tarot by Amber Jayanti.
The process made me smile. Tarot cards have a great sense of humor.
How to calculate your personal year.
Let me show you how to calculate your personal year.
It is simple.
Add the day and the month of your birth to the year you want.
As an example, say you were born on the 11 of May and you want to find out your personal year for 2017.
11 = 1+1 = 2
May = 5
2017 = 2+0+1+7 = 10 = 1 + 0 = 1
2+5+1= 8 Your personal year for 2017 would be 8.
Notice that in Numerology 11 and 22 are called Master Numbers, which means they are very powerful and don’t usually get reduced to a single digit.
In the calculation for your personal year Master Numbers are reduced.
I am in a personal year 7.
What does that mean?
In Tarot terms that would be a Chariot year, or in the Gaian Tarot deck, which I am currently using, the Canoe.
Both well express the energy of the number 7.
As you can see the person in both cards is alone.
In a year 7 we crave alone time to think and to do things on our own.
It is usually a year of self discovery, of expansion.
It is a time to go beyond the comfort zone to find out what we are capable of.
Self discipline, courage and a strong will are required to achieve progress.
Now let’s remember that we are all in a Universal year 1. I just wrote about that, if you missed it, here is the link 2017 is a Universal year 1. The year of the Magician.
As I said there, the Universal year is the ocean and the Personal year is your little island in it.
We know that a year 1 is a year of bold, creative , innovative actions.
A year 1 favours those that can think independently, that are willing to try new things and that act fast.
Look at your personal year and see where you are. To know the characteristics of each year check this link Personal year and Universal year number
Being in a Personal year 7 I should be fine, because I am willing to work hard and in new ways to achieve my goals.
2017 is a Universal year 1. The year of the Magician.
Welcome to 2017
a Universal year 1.
In Tarot terms 2017 is the year of The Magician.
Every January 1st many of us feel like the person in The Existence card, The Osho Zen deck version of the Magician.
A new year is often seen as a chance to start fresh and create a new better version of ourselves.
To successfully do that, we need to let go of our mistakes and of the bad habits and concepts that keep us stuck.
In Numerology a year 9 is when we are asked to finish what we started and let go of everything and every one that does not help us anymore.
2016 was a Universal year 9, the time to clean up house and make space and time for the new opportunities and goals of 2017, a year 1.
In Numerology life goes on in 9 years cycles.
There is a Universal year which impacts everyone and a Personal year which represents your own little world.
The Universal year is the big ocean and the Personal year is your own little island in it.
For a more detailed explanation you might want to read another post of mine Personal year and Universal year number .
The 1 energy is intense, creative, single minded, original, self centered and self sustaining.
2017 will likely bring lots of changes and innovation.
It is a year well suited for creative, original people who prefer to work on their own and are not afraid of walking off the paved path.
The Magician represents all those people who march at the beat of their own drum.
The Magician is an A personality. Someone who is creative, courageous and who is skilled at many things. The Magician can inspire us, but he does not play well with others as he does not follow the rules.
In a Universal year 1 the time is now, not later.
It is a time for action and for decisive people.
Let me close with some good affirmations for a year 1.
Seize the moment.
You have got the power.
If you can visualize it you can create it.
Stay with it, don’t get distracted.
Just do it.
November, Page of swords and Wheel of Fortune.
So far this month has felt like a roller coaster.
I, like many others, am trying to figure out what will be the consequences of the recent election in the United States.
There is a lot of uncertainty in the air.
Closer to my home there have also been lots of changes and the “dust” has yet to settle completely.
Lately I have consulted Tarot more often than usual and it has been helpful.
From a Numerology perspective we are at the end of a Universal year 9. The high level of emotions in the air should not surprise us.
In a year 9 we prepare for a shift. We let go of what we have outgrown to make space for new endeavors. We finish things up.
At the end of a year 9 we feel the sadness of leaving the familiar. We sense the shift in the air, but are yet unable to see it clearly.
If I had to put it in Tarot words I would pick the Page of Swords (air) and the Wheel of Fortune (earth).
Every month I pick a different deck for personal use . The current one is The Guilded Tarot deck by Ciro Marchetti.
The Page of air is about news that foretell of change coming. The page of swords well represents the nervousness felt, the vigilance and the strong desire to be ready to react fast.
The Wheel of Fortune shows the strong external energy at play. Think of being in a ship picked up by a huge wave. You cannot fight it. You do not know where you are going. You need to wait for the wave to end before you can see where you are and appraise the situation.
The Wheel upright will usher in new opportunities, a fresh start.
The Wheel reversed will bring in many challenges.
Time will tell.
Thanks Giving and The Wheel.
Today in Canada we celebrate Thanks Giving.
I was raised in Italy where such holiday does not exist.
After twenty six years living here I still don’t cook a special meal for it and my kids are free to go celebrate the holiday wherever they want.
Don’t get me wrong. I like the concept of giving thanks for all that is good in our lives.
I believe we all tend to take a lot for granted.
I try everyday to stop and notice the goodness in my everyday life.
I am very grateful for the wonderful weather we are having, particularly when I am well aware of the havoc caused by a hurricane south of us.
My thoughts and prayers go to all affected by it and to the people of Haiti in particular.
As I look around me and I see the glorious Autumn colours, I give thanks.
I show my appreciation by going for long walks with my dog and by gardening like crazy.
My house needs to be cleaned and I will take care of the basics later on, but my full attention now is outside.
I am well aware that these amazing days are numbered. The temperature just dropped significantly, a sure sign that rain, frost, shorter days and even snow are not that far away.
As usual, Tarot is right on the mark, as The Wheel of fortune is the focus of my daily reading.
The Wheel is all about doing our best with the opportunities we have. The importance of being in tune with our surroundings and of fully living in the present.
As always, thank you for reading what I write and seize the moment!
The Sun, Tarot Major Arcanum 19
One of my daily cards today was the Sun, Tarot Major Arcanum 19.
I was using the Osho Zen deck, where the card is called Innocence.
The picture well reflects my emotions this morning.
I have a young dog, Misty, which is full of energy.
Today I took her to a beautiful park along the river not far from my home. We go there often.
Fall is in the air. As we walked leisurely I could not help but notice the beauty around me.
The trees, the green lawn, all the birds around us.
We met crows, all kinds of ducks, seagulls and squirrels.
I felt I had to take pictures in an attempt to share the joy.
I am old school, but I made do with the camera on my phone.
As we were walking among the beautiful flowers I felt so lucky to be there, able to enjoy such beauty.
As we walked along the river I noticed the level of the water was high making the river more beautiful.
I watched mesmerized the water moving gracefully up close.
As we approached the end of the park, I noticed three magnificent birds sitting gracefully on the branch of a tree above the water. I had never seen them before. I don’t know if I will again.
It felt like an unexpected gift. I peeked at them trough the bushes and the trees with the same playful joy of the old man in the Innocence card.
I am not sure why today I was so attuned with the environment around me, but I am glad I was.
The energy of the Sun card totally came alive for me today.
Reflecting about family and heritage with the help of Tarot.
My mom and her long time companion have just gone back to Italy after spending 25 days with me in Canada.
I was lucky to spend time with both.
While living and travelling with them, I had the opportunity to get reacquainted with my mom.
She looks very good for her age, but time passes for everyone. She has changed a lot. I was not prepared for it.
There is a new fragility about her. She has always been strong like a rock. The queen of Air I know, is now somewhat vulnerable. That changes the dynamics established between us over a life time.
Interacting with her has made me more aware of the changes in both of our lives.
As I reflect about family and heritage, I have decided to pick 7 Tarot cards to help me put into words what I am feeling.
The 6 of Water represents my childhood, my memories of growing up. It is a collection of snapshots of moments, feelings and experiences shared with people I once loved.
The 10 of Earth stands for my upbringing, for the times I grew up in, customs, traditions I have learned from my family and my country of origin.
The 2 of Water represents the love, affinity, loyalty and joy that I share with my family, my original pack.
The 6 of Earth is the give and get of every relationship. It changes over time and is different with every person, but at the base there is a common principal of fairness and cooperation.
The Wheel of Fortune reminds me of the inevitable passing of time and of the changes that come with it.
The now vulnerable children will grow and their strong parents will weaken. As adults they will perhaps have children of their own. If they are lucky, they will be able to depend on them when they too will become old.
The Lovers card speaks to us of love, loyalty and commitment. Of honouring our promises and making important decisions from a place of love and compassion.
Lastly, the Empress (Gardener) is the nurturing and creative side of life. It is our mother, the one that nurtures, protects us, guides us, encourages us and eventually gives us the courage and the space to spread our wings and become who we want to be.
Never is the circle of life as clear as when several generations gather together for family events.
What about you? What do you think? Would you pick different cards? If so, what cards and why?
Playing with Tarot with a focus on travel and vacations.
Playing with Tarot with a focus on travel and vacations.
As some of you know, I am the host of the Meet Up Guelph Tarot and Energy Healing Group and I host Playing with Tarot meetings once a month.
In those meetings Tarot enthusiasts get together to ask questions, offer suggestions and read the cards.
It is a collaborative effort aimed at deepening our knowledge of Tarot while having fun.
In my opinion, new Tarot students often make learning harder than it has to be.
I certainly did. It is not all about memorization, it is also about paying attention and opening to the process.
Over thinking can block the intuitive process. I find thinking aloud helps.
One important step in learning Tarot is in becoming familiar with the cards. Playing with them is a great way to do that.
With that in mind I suggest a simple fun exercise.
I write this as we approach the end of June. Travel and vacations are on the mind of many.
I suggest you pick your deck and flip through the cards. Look for images that make you think of travel or leisure time.
Jot down just a few words for each. Do not over think it. Have fun with it.
Don’t look at my list until you have done your own.
Did you find any similarities?
Do you have very different interpretations than mine?
Did you have eureka ideas for different cards?
Share it with me. I would love to know. Please do not forget to write the name of the deck you are using.
I am using the Universal Tarot deck.
10 of pentacles
Spending holidays with family and relatives.
Visiting museums or cities rich of history.
3 of cups
Socializing, dancing, vacationing with friends. Travelling to attend celebrations like weddings and bachelorette’s parties. Week ends away with friends.
9 of cups
The trip of a life time. A graduation trip. A wine tour. A vacation with a focus on food, drinks or pampering.
Sun.
Travel to places you have not seen before. A vacation in a warm place. Horse riding tours. A school trip. Taking time to travel after graduation and before starting college or university.
10 of cups
Vacations spent relaxing at home. Having house guests during the holidays. Family vacations or to places kids oriented.
5 of pentacles.
Unpleasant travel as in the case of people fleeing their homeland. Unpleasant time away from home due to illness, injury, unexpected expenses or just not fitting in.
9 of pentacles
Relaxing at home or in the country side. Time spent in nature. Gardening. Taking time for ourselves.
Wheel of fortune
Unexpected, unplanned travel. A lucky unexpected invitation. Winning a free vacation.
Knight of pentacles
Well planned travel by car, train or bus.
2 of wands
Indecision, multiple options, ending staying put. Preparing for a journey.
Fool
Travels without plans. Deciding where to go along the way. It is about the journey, not the destination.
4 of swords
Being grounded. Travel for medical reasons or to attend a funeral.
King of cups
A cruise. Vacations at the seaside or by the lake. Fishing trips. Art related travel.
6 of swords
Vacations on an island. A cruise. Travel by water or to be near water. Travel over sea.
3 of pentacles
Travel for work, training or specialization. Museum tours.
Knight of swords
Impulsive trips. Short trips. Travel by air. A journey to take care of business , fix a problem or rescue someone.
Chariot
Travel abroad. Sport related travel. A journey related to a business expansion.
5 of wands
Travel to compete, sport related. Our wants and interests are at odds with those of our travelling companions.
4 of wands
Destination wedding. Family reunions. Travel to attend family celebrations.
8 of pentacles
Going to study abroad or in a different city. Business trip.
4 of pentacles.
Going nowhere. Staying at home. Too busy with work to take time off. Wanting to save money or take care of things at home.
