The Deviant Moon Tarot

So, I talked about fear in my last entry. It's time for me to put up or shut up, and use a deck that I was initially going to either return or give away: the Deviant Moon Tarot. Because I saw the images on it, and it scared the crud out of me!

However, it caught my eye again as it sat on my bookshelf, and I decided to read a review of it (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/deviant-moon/review.shtml). I think I'm only afraid of the images and the deck because I'm afraid to explore the darker side of my psyche. So I'm not going to return it or give it away; I'm going to use the deck because it was bought for me by a friend (the wonderful Karen), and because there is no denying our deeper nature.

I'm not going to use this deck with kids, though! :)

Throwing out the book

Lately (the past year or so) I've been more serious about my readings... getting better at them and really using more of my intuition and personal thoughts about what I'm seeing in the cards instead of the traditional meanings that I learned out of either a book or the little instructional booklet that comes with a deck of tarot cards. I've been reading tarot for over twelve years (whoa, that makes me feel old, and I'm not!), and I've only started to learn to trust in my own interpretations now. But from doing so, I have become an immensely better tarot reader, and a better person all around.

So what is it about tarot that makes us so afraid of our own gut instincts? Is it because these cards are outside ourselves, being laid out on the table for us? Does it feel so final and set in stone when those cards are staring up at us from the table, accusing us of our mistakes and faults? Do we feel naked and our souls bared when a spread is laid in front of us for the world to see? What is it exactly that makes us feel we are incapable of reading what the cards have to say without a road map and a guide of symbols as to what each card means?

I think it all boils down to fear. Fear of what we might discover about ourselves, fear of not being capable of reading our cards for ourselves, of not making the right interpretations, of being dead wrong. Fear of looking stupid, or of making a mistake. I've decided to embrace my fears and keeping going in spite of them, and in some cases, because of them.

How about you?

a few thoughts on readings and reversals

First off, I read for several nice people on Friday night at Whimsies, and was glad people came out despite the lousy weather.


It continues to amaze me that tarot really does work. A stranger sits down in front of me, shuffles the cards for a few minutes, and for the span of the reading, I know them; they let me share a little of their hopes, dreams, and plans for the future. And hopefully, when everything goes right, I can tell them a few things and add a little clarity or foresight to their situation.
So, let's try and illuminate a portion of tarot readings that some people get confused about: reversals. These are my thoughts on the subject, but every tarot reader goes about reading the cards differently. If you too read tarot, but don't use my philosophy of reversals, don't worry! Do what works for you!


I do use reversals (upside-down cards) in my readings. When in a relationship position, I interpret a reversed card as a sign of miscommunication within the relationship (just an example). Generally, I interpret upright cards as situations that the querent is in control of, and I interpret reversals as situations that are out of the querent’s hands and therefore shouldn’t stress out about them. I think the basic difference between upright and reversed cards is the intention and motivation behind the situations the cards represent.

This Friday!

Welcome!

Apparently free web hosting is going the way of the dinosaurs, so I've decided to set up shop on the internet the best way I know how—by starting a blog!

In the future I plan on having this blog serve as a tutorial, venting place, sounding board, etc. on all things tarot. So pull up a chair, and I'll lay out the cards for you. Sip some tea, and we'll take a look at life through these crazy cards!

Welcome!