Gaian Tarot Artist's Journal

Midsummer Newsletter Preview: Coming out next Tuesday

Yup, I have another issue of the Gaian Tarot email newsletter coming out next week. 

Here's what you'll find in it:

• Summer Sale ends soon!  10% off decks, prints and readings! Discount good through the end of July.
• Introducing the Gaian Tarot Eights, including divinatory meanings
• A unique spread for using the Gaian Tarot Majors by Carolyn Cushing
• Upcoming Workshops and Travels
• A Review of One of my Favorite Books
• And an excellent Summer Salad recipe from Alma Tierra Kitchen

PLUS!!  I'll be raffling off a FREE half-hour Gaian Tarot reading by phone or video chat in each newsletter (a $45.00 value).  If you're on the subscriber list, you're eligible for the raffle.

You wouldn't want to miss all that, would you?  Sign up now if you're not already on the list!  

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8 of Earth, 8 of Pentacles

Like a master craftsman and his apprentice, a father teaches his young daughter to drum. He is a mentor and role model to her, and the devotion between them seals the lessons of rhythm and tempo.

The test of this Eight speaks to the long apprenticeship that is sometimes required when we work to manifest our vision in the world. We must learn our craft and practice it diligently, reaching a high level of skill, before we can walk the path of right livelihood.

8 of Water, 8 of Cups

Just finished the 8 of Water . . .

A woman swims upstream in a river, intent on reaching her destination.  She is taking action to live her dream and to live authentically, even though at times it is very difficult to go against the current.  This current may symbolize an outmoded way of doing things that no longer serves her.  Or it may represent mainstream, “accepted” values and standards, and  she is drawn to live her life in a more unique way.  As a water card, there are many emotions involved here. There may be times when she feels like she's in over her head, when she wants to turn around and let the current take her swiftly and easily downstream. But then she'll just have to pick herself up and head upstream again, after having lost a lot of ground. 

“Stay true to yourself,” the River whispers.  “Keep to your course ‘til you make landfall.”

8 of Fire, 8 of Wands

My 8 of Fire is a simple card, that echoes the RWS imagery of eight wands flying through the air.  

Meteors with trails like sparkling diamonds, streak swiftly towards the earth. Meteor showers are spectacular sights that fill our hearts with awe and wonder. The ancients believed they were portents of great change, for good or ill. They can inspire us to move quickly and burn brightly, as we move towards making our visions a reality.

On to the 8 of Water!

Gaian Tarot Music Video!

Somewhere online I stumbled across Animoto, a great little service that allows you to make your own music videos — or rather they make them for you.  It's free if your video is 30 seconds, or $3.00 for a full song. Such a deal!  You can upload your art or photographs and add a tune, and they do the rest.  How cool is that?  (Of course you need to be sure you have the permission of the copyright holder for both music and images.)  

So here's my Gaian Tarot video, set to Craig's "Circle Song," which he recorded about ten years ago on his CD "Beyond the Cedar Moon."   Enjoy!

8 of Air, 8 of Swords

Are you wondering why this 8 of Air is so different from the RWS 8 of Swords?   It’s because I’m looking at the energy of the number (8) and how it’s expressed in its element (in this case, Air — which is about communication, conversation, making plans, study, talking and listening — all that good Gemini/Sag/Aquarian stuff!).

If you remember, I’m following Teresa Michelsen’s vision of the numbers as 3 sets of 3 mini-dramas, plus the transitional 10.  The three middle cards (2, 5 and 8) are the challenge cards in each of these mini-dramas.  I see the 2’s as a test of choice; the 5’s as a test from the world outside; and the 8’s as a test of transforming the vision or intention of the 7 into reality. 

In the 8 of Air, we see a small group of people sitting in circle.  They’re holding council.  One man is talking while the others are actively listening.  Perhaps they are planning a political action, remembering the words of Margaret Mead: “Never doubt the ability of a small group of concerned citizens to change the world.”  Perhaps they are working to achieve consensus on an issue that is important to their bonds as a spiritual group.  Maybe they are a peer counseling group. Or they could be participating in the deep transformation that can happen when we tell our authentic stories, and others listen deeply from their hearts.

In the RWS 8 of Swords, we may feel blind and unable to move.  It’s more of a challenge from the inside out.  In my 8 of Air, the challenge has to do with making a vision into a reality, with the help of others.  But it’s also about the challenge of working with other people in small groups.  Anyone who has spent hours in circle, attempting to reach consensus, will understand the shadow side of this card!

May we all learn to give good attention to others, to listen deeply and to listen well.

This card is dedicated to James Wells and his work with council circle.

Newsletter Preview: Coming out next Tuesday

I've been learning a thing or two about marketing and promotion from internet marketing maven Elizabeth Genco of BuildYourMetaphysicalBusiness.com.  I met Elizabeth at the Readers Studio this year (really, folks! all the cool people go to the RS!) and was impressed with the depth of her marketing know-how as well as her cheery personality.   I asked Elizabeth to do a critique of my upcoming Gaian Tarot Newsletter, which she did yesterday by phone.  Wow!  I'll be incorporating many of her ideas into the next one, and I hope you'll like it.  Here's one of her ideas now:  I'm giving you a sneak peak at the next newsletter right here, and hope you'll sign up for it if you're not already on the list.

So!  The first issue of the Gaian Tarot email newsletter since last fall will be going out next Tuesday, June 10th.  (I plan to be more regular with the newsletter, probably bimonthly.) 

NEW!!  RAFFLE!!!  I'll be raffling off a FREE half-hour Gaian Tarot reading by phone or video chat in each newsletter (a $45.00 value).  Now if that isn't a good reason to sign up — there's more!

Here's what you'll find in this issue:

• Summer Solstice Sale!  10% off decks, prints and readings! Discount good through the end of July.
• Introducing the Gaian Tarot Sevens, including divinatory meanings
• A unique spread for using the Gaian Tarot Majors by Beth Owl's Daughter
• My Upcoming Workshops and Travels
• A Recommended Resource or two for Tarot aficionados
• A really! yummy! summertime recipe (raw, vegan and gluten free!)

You wouldn't want to miss all that, would you?  Sign up now if you're not already on the list!

Name:

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Seven of Earth

With the arrival of summer here in the Pacific Northwest, I've been spending as much time as possible outside. I've either had a weeding tool in hand or a fistful of colored pencils.  Yesterday I finished the last of the Sevens.  Here's my 7 of Earth, which is a bit different from the usual "waiting for the harvest" theme of the RWS 7 of Pentacles.

Remember that in the Sevens, we set a new goal for ourselves, one that reflects our inner work (as opposed to a goal in the everyday world).  With the 7 of Earth, we set some kind of practical goal that manifests in the physical world.

A woman plants a red cedar sapling near a creek where salmon spawn.  She is volunteering for a habitat restoration project in an area that was once heavily logged.  Western Red Cedar is a slow-growing species that won’t reach a mature height of 150 feet for twenty years. As it grows, it helps to shade the stream, keeping the water cool so young salmon can thrive.

When the Seven of Earth appears in a reading, we set a goal for ourselves that involves long-term planning.  We don’t expect to see results immediately but are content to know that we are working slowly and steadily toward our goal. We learn to be patient. We’re not on our own timeline here — instead, we’re on Mother Earth’s timeline!  We learn to live in synch with Her rhythms and cycles.  We trust that our efforts are worthwhile, even if we don’t see the fruits of our labors for a very long time.

Seven of Water, Final

Sketch - Seven of Water

Yes I'm back on track with the Sevens and feeling so good about it!

For me, the Sevens are about: being focused on your path (like that Major 7, the Chariot); initiation; setting a goal; inner work. Water of course is the suit of dreams, compassion, spirituality and love, as well as fantasy and illusion.

Here we see a fellow who has chosen one dream out of many possible dreams, and is drinking it down.  It's the moment of commitment for him.

In a nice bit of synchronicity, this week I initiated a new goal for myself: an early morning water aerobics class.  How's that for a literal reading of this card!