Gaian Tarot Artist's Journal

The Sun - Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do I most need to know about my experience at the Readers Studio?

The Sun

Now, there’s a fabulous card to pull for the coming conference.  Joy, happiness, dancing, gratitude, shining like the sun.   My roommate Julie Cuccia-Watts just pulled this card for me and I thank her for it!  It’s an especially good omen for both of us, don’t you think?

One of the things I noticed while I was in Maine was how happy I felt.  It was mostly due to being around the kids, especially Gracie.  Nothing like spending time with your grandchild to have your heart open wide like a sunflower, turning its head toward the sun. Time slowed down, too.  Everything revolved around Gracie’s schedule and there were hours when there was nothing to do but go for walks, read books, play with crayons.  I felt so blessed and grateful to have that time away from my usual packed schedule.  A clue to happiness:  living a slow, mindful life.  I’d like to bring more of that back into my life when I get home.

The more I meditate on the Sun card, the more I think its message for us is to really consider the source of our happiness.  What truly makes you happy?  What brings you joy?  How can you incorporate more of it into your life this week?

I always look forward to hearing what you have to say, dear readers.

Travels East: Maine, Brooklyn and the Readers Studio

(Photo:  Grandma Joanna & Gracie)

Last week I headed to Maine and spent several days with my son Steve, daughter-in-law Jenn and granddaughter Grace (age 15 months).  Craig came too.  We are both just totally nuts about that little girl.  We went for walks, played with crayons and read books, went to Saturday morning story time at the local library, went to playgrounds, went to a big sandy beach . . . and soon it was time to leave again.  We'll be back in the fall.  I put up lots of photos from our trip on Facebook — you should be able to see the photo album even if you're not on Facebook.  

(Photo: Joanna & Kris at the Cafe Clinton)

On Monday, Craig flew home and I headed for Brooklyn.  I visited with Kris Waldherr and Diane Saarinen.  I've known them both online for years but this was the first in-person visit.  They gave me the grand tour of their town, and what a beauty it is.  My friend Debbie Lake came over from Manhattan and joined us at Kris' gallery and studio, where we had a grand time talking art and publishing.  More photos of my Brooklyn visit here. 

Earlier today I made it over to Debbie's apartment in Midtown and shopped for a few necessities, like green juice.  And now I'm at the Newark Sheraton, sharing a room with Julie Cuccia-Watts and resting up for the big event, the Readers Studio.  The excitement is building!

Explorer of Earth (Knight of Pentacles) - Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do we most need to know for the coming week?

Explorer of Earth (Knight of Pentacles)

Hmmm . . . yet another Explorer.  What’s up with that?  Well, by my definition Explorers reflect the “young adult” energy of exploring one’s options, heading out on a quest, looking for adventure, testing oneself.

How does that apply to me right now?  Last week I kept those fiery spinning orbs crazily swinging, yet managed to hold fast to my center.  This week, I’m wrapping up details of work for clients as I prepare to make a journey to the east coast to see my beloved family, including my grandbaby Grace.  The week after that, I’ll visit friends in Brooklyn then it’s off to the Readers Studio. An adventure to be sure!

The young woman in the image is a tracker, someone who intimately knows the ways of the forest and its creatures.  As she examines the earth for animal tracks, she looks up quickly when she hears a bird make an alarm call.  What does the bird signal? Will she notice the rare white deer behind her?   

Even so — how am I intimately connected to the natural world, and what might I be missing?

When I look at this image, I feel a sense of loss.  I’m not spending nearly as much time outside as I used to.  I tell myself it is because I have much less unstructured time than I had a few years back, which is true.  And yet that is my choice, is it not?  I am choosing to put my energies in different places.  

And yet I am exploring a different kind of earth energy — the earth energy of finances and business — as I work with Elizabeth Genco Purvis in her Abundant Business Mastermind group.  I’ve had such grievous financial losses over the last year that I am determined to increase my income, make up for those losses, and experience abundance in my financial life.  

And yet, and yet . . . on this fine Spring morning, the woods are calling my name . . .

And what about you, dear Reader?  What does the Explorer of Earth say to you?

Explorer of Fire (Knight of Wands) - Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do we most need to know for the coming week?

Explorer of Fire (Knight of Wands)

I’ve had a rough few days with a website project for a client.  I’ve been fighting with code and throwing up my hands more than once in frustration and even despair. I worked straight through the Easter weekend.  My choice, but necessary if I want to finish a certain number of projects before I leave for the east coast in nine days.

Late yesterday afternoon I turned up this card, the Explorer of Fire, for the week to come.  My first thought was a jaundiced, “watch out! she’s gonna get burned!”  Then I began to think about the skill and the focus necessary to keep those flaming orbs going.  If the firespinner gets upset or pulled off center, she’s going to lose control and very well may get burned. 

I began to re-vision myself as calm, cool and collected even as I keep those fiery balls spinning — the balls of course being a metaphor for my many projects, including the difficult coding.  I stopped working, went for a walk, cooked a lovely Easter dinner of stir fried veggies, tofu and rice with Craig.  Took the evening off and of course everything looks so much better this morning.

It’ll be a busy week, for sure.  But I’m confident I can stay calm and centered and keep those fireballs spinning through the air.  

How about you, dear reader?  How does this card apply to your life?

Sneak Preview - Tarot Amulets!

(Click on the images to see larger versions.)

I've been dreaming and designing one-of-a-kind Tarot amulets since this time last year.  It took me several months of on-again, off-again work on techniques and prototypes to come up with something that I really, really like — but I'm so pleased with the final results.

Each amulet is one-of-a-kind, handmade and signed by me, and carries the energy of a particular Tarot card. I condensed the spirit of each card down into one simple word.  For example, the Magician says "Magic," the High Priestess "Listen" and the Fool, "Leap."  The amulets are made of polymer clay, gold leaf, sparkly mica powder and archival prints of Rider-Waite-Smith images. (I'll make some amulets with Gaian Tarot prints eventually but right now I'm honoring St. Pixie – Pamela Colman Smith.)

The beautiful beaded necklaces are designed and made by Lunaea Weatherstone, who is taking a break from making her wondrous Goddess rosaries to help me out.  

We are both working hard to finish up a batch of Tarot amulet necklaces that I will take to sell at my vending table at the Readers Studio at the end of the month.  (Each necklace sells for $75.00.)  When I return, I'll put some up on my site to sell too.   Please let me know if you have a favorite Tarot card that you'd like to see made into an amulet necklace.

Happy Ostara!

(PS  I hear registration for the Readers Studio closes on Friday, April 17th. If you haven't signed up yet, please consider joining us!)

Temperance - Gaian Tarot Card of the Week

What do we most need to know for the coming week?

Temperance

Mmmmm, I love this card.  When this card turns up in a reading, I always ask myself:  what is the sacred third that is made from blending or synthesizing a set of opposites? 

Blue and red make purple, rain and sun make rainbows, water and fire make steam.  No surprise that this card then is the signature card of both healers and artists.

What are the “opposites” I’m working with in my life right now, and how can I synthesize them? 

Craig and I were in a mortgage broker’s office the other day, applying for a loan so that we can finish the purchase of Rainbow Cottage. We initially signed the contract for it in the fall of 2007, when it was worth $100K more than it is today.  “Chaos and opportunity go hand in hand, like yin and yang,” said the broker.  “You’ve experienced the chaos (of the current downtrend in housing). Now it’s time to experience the opportunity.”

Hmmm . . .  I like a broker who knows about yin and yang!  We are still in the midst of this “opportunity” and do not yet know the outcome, yet I am still trusting that all shall be well.  The synthesis of this situation will be as beautiful as the swirling colors in the Temperance card.

As I meditated on the card this morning, I thought about other sets of opposites in my life:  web design work / Tarot & art work;  staying home / traveling;  physical exercise / meditation & contemplation.  I’m sure there are more.  So I’m thinking about how an artist or a healer might find the blend, the synthesis, the sacred third. 

The last few days have brought brilliant sunshine to the grey and rainy Northwest, and everyone has rushed outside to go for walks, dig in the garden and turn our faces to the sky to be warmed.  It’s the deep contrast that makes us value the sun so highly.  It’s the dance of rain and sun that is more beautiful and precious than either one alone.

During the coming week, I’ll be working on websites for several clients, preparing to vend at the upcoming Readers Studio (I’ve made cool new Tarot amulets to sell — stay tuned for photos!), and going down deep as I work through the necessary questions for Elizabeth Genco Purvis’ Abundant Business Mastermind Group.  The monthly Tarot Meetup is this week too and a few other odds and ends that need attention, including another round at the mortgage broker’s office.  Hmm, what lovely shade of mauve or purple will arise from the chaos (nay, opportunity!) of this coming week?

How about you, dear Reader?  What does the Temperance card say to you?