this is actually kind of funny. the medieval group that i play in was having it's weekly meeting tonight at a local church. a friend and fellow gypsy calls me beforehand and asks if i will bring along some of the decks that i have been selling. i do and she buys two from me. i just think it's funny that this exchange happened in a church, and you know what? i didn't get struck down or anything! do you think the church might frown on that if they knew? and why am i so amused by this? maybe i'm just going to that place they call hell, but ask me if i care. heeheeheeheehee.

 

eala (the trouble-maker)

Hi. I just started The Tarot Coven for other enthusiasts such as myself. Check it out if you are interested. Open to any topic related to the Tarot. Peace, Eala

So, using the Orphalese Tarot program, I did a reading for myself. The general topic was friendship and important relationships in my life. These are some of my first observations and notes, far from what I would consider a full interpretation. Please feel free to add any input/insight, an outside opinion is always helpful when reading for oneself.

The spread I used is the same basic Elemental Spread that I use quite often, each position relating to an area of ones life.

I drew the first five, arranged them and read them, added the next five (the commentaries), read those with the first ones, and then I felt like I needed five sets of three I guess, so I drew another five, and added those to the reading. I may be meditating on this one for awhile, already it is quite revealing.

*****dominant suit, without counting, obviously Cups. Four Majors. 2 threes. 2 nines. 2 sixes: (6 of Cups & Devil #15 (1+5=6)opposite sides of each other. 3 Courts...all Cups.*****

Center/Spirit: Knight of Cups (commentary cards: Queen of Cups, Strength)**on first sight, the Knight, is me, seeking. The Queens appearance is notable because I often have used her as a significator. She seems to be the Knights opposite, more introspective while he is more active, and when placed to the right of the Knight, she almost seems to be blocking his way. Strength (#8) is also quite notable as it is my Soul and Personality card. Just these three center cards tell alot about me.**

East/Air (right): Four of Wands (commentary cards: Six of Cups, Three of Pentacles)**this Four is celebration, welcoming...sometimes heralds weddings or larger events, holidays. the Six of Cups is a friendship card, reflecting old/childhood/past/pastlife relationships, sometimes returning. Offering/recieving of gifts. Memories. Three of Pents, again, working together with another, collaborative efforts.**

South/Fire (bottom): Death (commentary cards: Two of Cups, Page of Cups)**Death is my Zodiac card (Scorpio). With the Two of Cups, I was a little concerned (what relationship is ending/transforming?). Pages can often be messengers. The Page of Cups is sometimes a young me. **

West/Water (left): The Devil (commentary cards: The Hermit, Three of Cups)**The Devil seems to reflect my issues with depression, as is echoed in the Nine of Swords in the North. I never care much for the Devils negative energy in a reading. The Hermit can almost confirm the isolation part of depression, but also, when next to the Devil, sheds light into the darkness. the Three of Cups is a classic friendship and celebration card and seems supportive.**

North/Earth (top): 9 of Swords (commentary cards: Seven of Cups, Ace of Swords)**Again, with the Nine, illness, depression, problems with sleep. Seven of Cups usually means Im spending too much time in fantasy land, but is a card of imagination...MKGreer: tests of the soul and emotions. But the Ace seems fortunate, perhaps the healing I need, a new opportunity. Interesting that there is an Ace in the North with Death in the South...**

I included a screen capture, so again, please, feel free to add any input. For now, Im leaving this one alone. I can always come back to it.

Peace and Happy Reading!

Eala

One of my life long passions has been the Tarot...I thought I would share a bit of my journey...

Tarot is really what led me to eventually becoming a pagan. I recieved my first tarot deck, a Rider-Waite-Smith pocket-sized tarot deck, at the age of fourteen as a Christmas stocking stuffer from my parents. (I had very open minded parents who actually encouraged me to find my own path and instead of freaking out about some of the books I was bringing home to study, they themselves read them for a better understanding. I still to this day think this is one of the coolest things my parents ever did for me and had hoped I could pass this on to my child.) That Christmas, I also received a gift certificate for a favorite book store, which I used to buy Tarot Made Easy by Nancy Garen. With that deck, book, and the library as resources, I learned everything I could about the Tarot. This led me to studying other areas of the "occult" such as palmistry, graphology, astrology, etc. Anything that interested me...other cultures and philosophies and religions and magical practices...I ate it all up.

Im not sure exactly what order it all happened in, but around the age of sixteen, I had gotten into drama in highschool, and ended up auditioning for a part in the community theatre's haunted house (all the audition was was screaming at the top of my lungs...which I did, and got a part.) They put me in the first room of the haunted house which was based very loosely and I now know, inaccurately, on the Salem Witch Trials. I was to play the "evil witch" and chase people around screaming like a banshee, which I was so good at by the way, that I soon lost my voice. Somewhere during my stint at the haunted house, I started reading and learning about the real Salem Witch Trials, which led me to discovering the "official witch of Salem", Laurie Cabot, and her book. Power of the Witch. Around the same time period, I met a dear friend, who I am still friends with, Gypsy, who was interested in many of the same things I was. Together, with another close friend, we formed our first small coven and studied Wicca and Witchcraft. (Luckily, Gypsy's mom was cool with it too.) I was also at the time hanging out alot in a local new age bookstore, the name of which now escapes me, but I remember the owner, Patricia, a nice lady who was always working on her book about the Arcturans (I think she finally got it published, I saw it once in a store..) They offered a weekly women's group that I began attending, but mostly so I could fondle all the decks and crystals....I was probably one of the younger women there...there were things discussed that I would have a better appreciation for now Im sure. But it was a very welcoming atmosphere, and I went back for years until they closed. I bought several decks from that store.

Ive collected many decks throughout the years, many Ive passed on to others who I felt needed them. If Id kept them all, Id probably have over fifty or more decks. But as it stands now, I have around 25 tarot decks, and few oracles, runes and a pendulum. I eventually discovered that I was fascinated in the art of divination as a whole, but the Tarot will always be my favorite, and the form that I have spent the most time with. Im always excited to share my interest in the Tarot, and have often wondered what is the culmination of my long time obsession...am I meant to eventually design my own deck(s)...I am an artist...or write a book, teach a class, read professionally? Im not sure yet, maybe all of these. I would like to do something original with it, approach it from an angle that hasnt been done. I love to get others really turned on to the tarot...there is practically a deck out there for anyone...and it can be such an amazing experience when it clicks.

I am still a pagan. Ive been a part of a few groups/circles/covens, but now I am mostly solitary in my spiritual practice, gathering with kindred spirits on occasion. I almost always have a tarot deck (or two) on me whereever I go, but it seems to be when Ive left it behind is when someone wants a reading, lol. Ill probably have to be buried with my decks! Ha! Ive learned that the Tarot is so much more than a fortune-telling tool, though I am sure that was part of my initial attraction. Now I am a tarot art collector and a tarot artist. I am a reader (a storyteller). Tarot is a wonderful creative springboard for writing and other arts. It is useful in contemplation/meditation. Also spellwork (I love the tarot spell!). Its a game! So many uses.... Just the evolution and history of Tarot alone is incredible to study.

Anyone else obsessed and what decks do you have? Some of my faves are Robin Wood, Aquarian, New Palladini, Voyager, Gilded, Revelations, Morgan-Greer, Herbal, Osho Zen...just to name a few. One of my fave sites is Aeclectic Tarot. Fave Tarot author: Mary K Greer (Tarot for Yourself and 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card!)

Peace and Blessings my friends,

 Eala the Shy