Tarot doodles

Do you doodle? I do doodle (another "Buffy" reference here ;)). Sometimes I like to add some doodles to my reading records. It's fun. Do you recognize these cards? :)

They are capybaras...

Queens from Jaśniak Tarot.

From Crystal Tarot.

Magical Forest Tarot.

TdM and Magical Forest.

TdM.

Happy Winter Solstice 2016!

I'm packing today, because we're leaving tomorrow for two and a half weeks - we're visiting our families for Christmas and New Year. This of course means I have to decide what cards to take with me. I decided on this:

Crystal Tarot and Jodorowsky-Camoin Tarot de Marseille

Jodo-Camoin is my all purpose deck I couldn't part with and from Crystal (that I also love a lot) I'm pulling cards for Sacred Days Of Yule Spread by June Kaminski. I started yesterday and plan on continuing till December 31st, so I need the deck with me. I might also do some New Year spreads with it, we'll see!

1. Mother Night of Dreams: - Dec 20th This card reminds us to look for a particular message in our dreams tonight. The ancients believed that our dreams on this night foretold some of the important events in the coming year.

I pulled out 4 of Cups.

To be honest, I didn't feel like my dreams were very profound. I did see my grandfather in the dream and he was telling me that all the signs show that the winter will be very cold. We'll see about that!

2. Yule - Winter Solstice: - Dec 21st This card shows us how best to connect to the Light within and without - it symbolizes the Birth of the Sun.

Today I got 9 of Wands.

I probably should focus on looking for new paths and new ways. I think it's a good message for the new year, especially because that's exactly what I intend on doing. Five of the Wands form a pentagram - it can be a suggestion that I will be under protection and guidance in my search, so I can proceed without worries.

Card Number IX - The Hermit

I did some musings about this card before, but did not post them here. Recently I get The Hermit quite often, so I thought I would write a post about him. Also (and that is the main reason, hehe) I found that a Japanese picture I kept on my refrigerator for quite a while resembles the card and I'm very inspired by Enrique Enriquez idea of seeing tarot in the world around us.

VIIII L'Hermite from Tarot de Marseille, ukiyo-e lady with a lantern, IX The Hermit from Crystal Tarot.

What I struggled with was that 9 is a number I associate with birth - it's the number of months of human pregnancy. Instead of a newborn baby, however, we get a grandpa dressed in a habit. He has a lantern: maybe he's awaking to a new life? Birth is also a shock and a kind of trauma to the baby that was in the darkness and comfy for whole their life. The Hermit is withdrawn and he's looking at the life he left in the past. He has a walking stick - he'll soon walk on, but he still wants a glance at his old shell he's leaving behind.

In the card we can see an old man, round-shouldered with age. Where is he going to in the winter of his life? Maybe he wants to show to other people what he's discovered? His hood is off his head - he's ready for new ideas.

The Hermit is an ascetic, he practices in solitude. He's not afraid to meet his inner self. Isolating himself is to help him find God and himself too.

The counterpart of IX The Hermit is XIX The Sun. The small lantern he's holding will turn into huge celestial body. In The Hermit you're learning alone, in solitude. In The Sun you've got company, you're learning from others. You can see God in another human being and you're much closer to the end of your journey than you were in The Hermit.

In the spreads the card can mean wisdom, experience, solitude, old age, being isolated.

Positive sides: wisdom, experience, self-determination.

Negative sides: loneliness, lack of understanding from others, tiredness.

Card number XV - The Devil

I've written a post where I put some of my thoughts on this cards before, you can find it here.

Today I pulled a card for meditation and it was XV The Devil. And I had some new thoughts.

There's that song by Elvis Presley that I like a lot, "Devil In Disguise" and I did listen to it while writing this post. Devil - the Prince Of Lies, master of deceit... Yeah, I actually think that the Devil is one of the most truthful cards in the deck.

Why is that?

First of all, the tarot Devil rubs our faces in the truths we would prefer to not know about ourselves. He says: "look, look at all this ugliness and awkwardness! Look how false you are". His role is also to unmask false people around us. He points to them, warning us against them. That's because he knows all about baaad things. Look at these three cards: intererstingly the Devil figure has wings on each of them. He is the fallen angel - he has experienced both heaven and hell. He knows it all.

XV The Devil from Crystal Tarot, Jodorowsky-Camoin TdM, Jaśniak Tarot.

What I like about The Devil too, is that sometimes you can interpret him as a card telling you to laugh people in the faces, show them your tongue. Don't care for appearances. Let them be shocked and don't let them chain you up. Also, very important: don't be so serious about yourself all the time! Have a good laugh sometimes :D

And listen to Elvis.

Different faces of the Star

Hello everyone!

Somewhere deep inside I knew I would come back. It's been over a year since my last post. There were various things going on in my life and tarot was not so present during that time. But now I feel that it's time to come back to tarot world.

I have calculated my year card for 2016 (by adding the day and moth of my birthday to the numerals of 2016) and it seems it's XVII The Star. It honestly seems right, because then 2015 was XVI The Tower and 2014 XV The Devil. These were very difficult years for me, and full of radical changes. I'm still recovering. And when I looked at The Star from my favorite Tarot de Marseille deck, it looked to me like she's pouring a lot of dirty water to the sewer. I know it's against the traditional view of crystal clear water... But that's how it looked to me at the time. She's cleansing her life. I need to get rid of many painful things and take the next step.

I took the Star cards from most of my decks and spread them on the table. They all seem to be saying the same thing (except for the "1001 Nights Tarot", but this deck doesn't talk to me anyway).

2017 should be XVIII The Moon... Shoud I worry?

Court card meditation - Pages

It's the last part! As before, there's an English and Polish version of the text.

Page of Wands and Page of Cups

Page of Wands has loads of energy, but doesn't exactly know how to use it properly. He has hundreds of ideas, but his executing part is flawed. Page of Cups is a great dreamer, who more than accomplishing a goal, enjoys imagining it. He is easily distracted.

Page of Wands and Page of Coins

Page of Wands is interested in world's glory, but more so in the process of rivalry over it. Page of Coins wants to build his little stable world and he has no use of being praised.

Page of Wands and Page of Swords

They would quarrel easily, for they both are impulsive. Page of Swords's arguments would be more accurate, but Page of Wands's would be louder. Page of Wands is more light-hearted, Page of Swords - more ambitious.

Page of Swords and Page of Coins

Page of Swords is easily taken by ideals, but he is naive and too credulous. Page of Coins doesn't chase after ideals, he's interested in here and now. Although he's still learning, he's the most stable of the four Pages.

Page of Swords and Page of Cups

Two idealists, but the first one is focused on his quest for truth, the latter awed by the world's beauty. Page of Wands denounces emotional reactions, whilst they are the bread and butter for the Page of Cups.

Page of Cups and Page of Coins

Page of Cups doesn't care about the material world, which flows somewhere behind him. Material world is Page of Coins's world. He likes being financially secure, because that is the way to have a quiet life - his ideal. He lacks the imaginativeness of Page of Cups. Page of Cups, although somehow separated from the real world, draws people to himself with warm light. During parties people gather around him. Page of Coins speaks mainly about work and money, whilst Page of Cups takes the listeners for a wonderful journey.

PAZIOWIE

Paź Buław i Paź Kielichów

Paź Buław ma mnóstwo energii, lecz nie do końca umie ją spożytkować. Ma sto pomysłów na minutę, ale gorzej z ich realizacją. Paź Kielichów to wielki marzyciel, który więcej przyjemności czerpie z wyobrażania sobie swoich celów, niż z wcielania ich w życie. Łatwo się rozprasza.

Paź Buław i Paź Denarów

Paź Buław jest zainteresowany ziemskimi splendorami, lecz bardziej lubi samą rywalizację, niż jej namacalne efekty. Paź Denarów chce budować swoją małą stabilność i nie potrzebuje do tego pochwał.

Paź Buław i Paź Mieczy

Łatwo by się posprzeczali, bo obaj mają gorące głowy. Argumenty Pazia Mieczy byłyby celniejsze, ale racje Pazia Buław głośniej wypowiadane. Paź Buław ma w sobie więcej beztroski, Paź Mieczy – ambicji.

Paź Mieczy i Paź Denarów

Paź Mieczy daje się porywać ideom, lecz przyjmuje je zbyt bezkrytycznie, naiwnie. Paź Denarów nie goni za ideami, dla niego ważne jest tu i teraz. Choć dopiero się uczy, jest najstabilniejszym z paziów.

Paź Mieczy i Paź Kielichów

Dwóch idealistów, ale pierwszy skupiony na swoich poszukiwaniach, drugi zaś zachwycający się światem jako takim. Paź Mieczy potępia emocjonalne reakcje, dla Pazia Kielichów są one chlebem powszednim.

Paź Kielichów i Paź Denarów

Paź Kielichów nie dba o świat materialny, on jakby przepływa mimo niego. Paź Denarów żyje głównie w świecie materialnym. Lubi być zabezpieczony finansowo i uważa, że taka stabilność jest kluczem do spokojnego, czyli pożądanego przez niego, życia. Brakuje mu polotu Pazia Kielichów. Paź Kielichów, choć taki oderwany od rzeczywistości, przyciąga do siebie ludzi ciepłym światłem; na imprezach ludzie gromadzą się wokół niego. Paź Denarów rozmawia głównie o pracy czy pieniądzach – Paź Kielichów zabiera słuchaczy w niezwykłą podróż.

Court cards meditation - Knights

As before, there's an English and Polish version.

Knight of Wands and Knight of Cups

Knight of Wands is ambitious and eager to act; Knight of Cups - dreamy, a romantic, searches for beauty in life. Knight of Wands likes challenges, Knight of Cups - new passions to experience.

Knight of Wands and Knight of Coins

Knight of Wands' excitement bursts quickly, but it also burns out easily. Knight of Coins moves forward much slower and carefully, but it's more difficult to put him off his path. Knight of Wands choses ambitious goals for himself and can achieve a lot in a short time - but when he loses, he breaks down and gives up. Knight of Coins choses more easily achievable goals and he's patient. If it turns out, that his goal is impossible to reach for him, he will reconcile and find a new one.

Knight of Wands and Knight of Swords

They could both have long disputes together, but neither of them would be convinced to the other's ideas, for they both hate to lose. Knight of Swords is however more persistent and he would last longer. He can plan in advance, while Knight of Wands acts on the impulse.

Knight of Swords and Knight of Coins

Knight of Swords is and idealist and he wants the world to work the way he believes it should. For him the true beauty lays in logic and he doesn't tolerate irrational actions. He likes to dispute, even to quarrel to convince others to his beliefs. Knight of Coins is a realist, who takes life the way it is. His goals are less ambitious and idealistic, but he tries to reach them consequently.

Knight of Swords and Knight of Cups

Knight of Swords sticks to rules. For Knight of Cups the rules are much more vague. He's also more creative than Knight of Swords, but he lacks self-discipline and determination.

Knight of Cups and Knight of Coins

Knight of Cups is more prone to becoming a "knight-errant" and wander around, because his world changes all the time. It's difficult to draw Knight of Coins away from his path. He's a bit blind to the matters of the heart, while Knight of Cups is a sensitive soul, who appreciates the beauty of art.

Rycerz Buław i Rycerz Kielichów

Rycerz Buław jest ambitny i skory do działania; Rycerz Kielichów – rozmarzony, romantyk, szuka piękna w życiu. Rycerz Buław lubi wyzwania, Rycerz Kielichów – nowe namiętności do przeżywania.

Rycerz Buław i Rycerz Denarów

Zapał Rycerza Buław łatwo się zapala, ale i szybko gaśnie. Rycerz Denarów posuwa się dużo wolniej i ostrożniej, lecz za to trudniej go zniechęcić. Rycerz Buław wyznacza sobie bardzo ambitne cele i może szybko wiele osiągnąć – gdy jednak poniesie porażkę, załamuje się i poddaje. Rycerz Denarów obiera bardziej osiągalne cele i jest cierpliwy. Jeśli jednak okaże się, że cel jest zupełnie niemożliwy do osiągnięcia, pogodzi się z tym i poszuka nowego.

Rycerz Buław i Rycerz Mieczy

Obaj mogliby prowadzić długie dysputy, ale raczej jeden nie przekonałby drugiego, bo obaj nie znoszą przegrywać. Rycerz Mieczy jest jednak bardziej (i dłużej) zawzięty. Potrafi planować z wyprzedzeniem, podczas gdy Rycerz Buław idzie na żywioł.

Rycerz Mieczy i Rycerz Denarów

Rycerz Mieczy to idealista i chciałby, aby cały świat działał tak, jak on to sobie umyślił. Dla niego piękno leży w logice i nie akceptuje irracjonalnych zachowań. Lubi dyskutować, wręcz kłócić się z innymi i dowodzić swoich racji. Rycerz Denarów to realista, który bierze życie takim, jakie jest. Stawia sobie mniej ambitne i idealistyczne cele, lecz dąży do nich konsekwentnie.

Rycerz Mieczy i Rycerz Kielichów

Rycerz Mieczy trzyma się zasad i reguł. Dla Rycerza Kielichów są one dużo bardziej mgliste. Jest też bardziej kreatywny od Rycerza Mieczy, ale brak mu samodyscypliny i determinacji.

Rycerz Kielichów i Rycerz Denarów

Rycerzowi Kielichów łatwo jest zostać „błędnym rycerzem”, bo jego świat wciąż się zmienia. Rycerza Denarów trudno zawrócić z raz obranego kierunku. Rycerz Denarów jest nieco głuchy na porywy serca, Rycerz Kielichów to wrażliwiec, doceniający piękno sztuki.

Court cards meditation - Queens

Like before, there's an English and Polish version.

Queen of Wands and Queen of Cups

An extrovert and an introvert. Queen of Wands acts in the outside world, she emanates with energy. Queen of Cups focuses the light inside herself, she's quieter, she has her own inner world and she lives in that world more than in the real one. Queen of Wands likes to act, to dominate; Queen of Cups - to feel and and watch from a distance.

Queen of Wands and Queen of Coins

Queen of Wands acts quickly, Queen of Coins takes her time with making a decision. Queen of Wands often shows off her power, Queen of Coins is content with being aware that she has the power.

Queen of Wands and Queen of Swords

Queen of Wands acts much more on the impulse than Queen of Swords. She gets easily excited about new plans, which Queen of Swords prefers to calmly examine and analyze first. Queen of Wands bursts with emotions, Queen of Swords keeps them to herself.

Queen of Swords and Queen of Coins

Queen of Swords is an ascetic, Queen of Coins likes luxury and is very down-to-earth. She is, however, warmer than Queen of Swords. She understands the hardships of everyday life better and she's not so very much upset, when what happens doesn't match her ideals. Queen of Swords is ready for intellectual dispute, which doesn't suit Queen of Coins - mainly because she's not interested in it.

Queen of Swords and Queen of Cups

The first one uses her head to think - the latter feels rather than thinks, with whole her being. She doesn't distinguish between thinking and feeling. She can't make up her mind easily, because her moods change so quickly. Queen of Swords judges her situation with cool mind and rarely changes her mind. She uses less words to express her thoughts than Queen of Cups needs to express her feelings.

Queen of Cups and Queen of Coins

Queen of Cups is a dreamer and a romantic soul, Queen of Coins is a pragmatic woman - they could be a good team together. Queen of Cups is easily swayed by her moods, Queen of Coins is more stable. Queen of Cups has a role of a heroine of a drama, Queen of Coins is her attentively listening friend.

Polish text:

Królowa Buław i Królowa Kielichów

Ekstrawertyczka i introwertyczka. Królowa Buław działa w zewnętrznym świecie, promieniuje energią. Królowa Kielichów skupia światło w sobie, jest cichsza, ma cały swój wewnętrzny świat, który przeżywa bardziej, niż rzeczywisty. Królowa Buław lubi działać, dominować, Królowa Kielichów – odczuwać, pozostawać na pozycji obserwatorki.

Królowa Buław i Królowa Denarów

Królowa Denarów działa szybko, Królowa Denarów zastanawia się dłużej. Królowa Buław często zaznacza swoją siłę, Królowa Denarów zadowala się świadomością, że ją posiada.

Królowa Buław i Królowa Mieczy

Królowa Buław jest dużo bardziej impulsywna niż Królowa Mieczy. Łatwo zapala się do pomysłów, które Królowa Mieczy woli najpierw spokojnie przeanalizować. Królowa Buław bucha emocjami, Królowa Mieczy zachowuje je dla siebie.

Królowa Mieczy i Królowa Denarów

Królowa Mieczy jest raczej ascetką, Królowa Denarów lubi dostatek i twardo stąpa po ziemi – jest jednak cieplejsza od Królowej Mieczy. Lepiej rozumie prozę życia i nie przejmuje się tak bardzo, gdy coś nie zgadza się z jej ideami. Królowa Mieczy jest gotowa do intelektualnych dysput, do których Królowa Denarów raczej się nie nadaje – głównie dlatego, że nie wydają jej się interesujące.

Królowa Mieczy i Królowa Kielichów

Pierwsza myśli głową, druga czuje całą sobą, nie oddziela myśli od czucia. Królowa Kielichów nie potrafi być zdecydowana, bo zmienne są jej nastroje. Królowa Mieczy na zimno ocenia sytuację i  z reguły pozostaje przy swoim zdaniu. Ujmuje swoje myśli w mniej słów, niż Królowa Kielichów ujmuje swoje uczucia.

Królowa Kielichów i Królowa Denarów

Królowa Kielichów to marzycielka i romantyczka, Królowa Denarów to kobieta praktyczna – tworzyłyby dobry zespół. Królowa Kielichów łatwiej poddaje się nastrojom, Królowa Denarów jest bardziej stabilna. Królowa Kielichów to bohaterka dramatów, a Królowa Denarów to jej cierpliwie słuchająca przyjaciółka.

Court cards meditation - Kings

One day (probably already a year ago) I did a meditation on court cards. To understand them better, I used a method of comparison. How does one King differ from another? I used my mp3 player to record what I'm saying and then wrote it all down. Then I translated it to English from Polish, so forgive me for odd choice of words and strange grammar constructions...

I used Crystal Tarot for this purpose. And under the English text there's the original Polish one for anyone reading in Polish :)

King of Wands and King of Cups
King of Wands is more imperious and determined. He thinks less about what others think or feel - his orders are to be obeyed. He has an aura of strength, he's a good leader.

King of Cups is more brooding - he tries to understand others and he also forgives more. He sees people more as partners than his subjects. He's very willing to counsel. His actions are slower.

King of Wands and King of Coins

King of Coins is more rational. He does what will bring profit for him, not what he would like to do. King of Wands is more energetic and he doesn't give his subjects too much time to think for themselves.

King of Wands and King of Swords

King of Wands needs less time to make a decision than the King of Swords. His choices are less logical, more instinctive. Sometimes he has a caprice to be generous, much less so the King of Swords, who doesn't forgive easily.

King of Swords and King of Coins

King of Swords loves the process of devising a plan, he forms and improves them, until they're perfect. He's quite ruthless in his opinions on others. If someone got into trouble because of their own stupidity, he won't help them. He also doesn't accept taking irrational, illogical actions.

King of Coins is much more down-to-earth. He has no use for deliberating on thousands of possibilities just for the pleasure of deliberating. If he's doing something, his goal is always very clear. He acts in the real world, in the given circumstances and he adjusts his actions to them. He doesn't try to change them.

King of Swords and King of Cups

King of Swords judges everything according to rules and law. King of Cups looks deeper, into his subjects' souls and takes his people's motives into consideration. He rules with feeling, King of Swords - ruthlessly, though theoretically he's just.

King of Cups and King of Coins 

King of Coins also broods less than King of Cups. He judges other by his own experience and that's all. King of Cups is more understanding, he cares for others' motives and he deliberates on them in his heart.

Król Buław i Król Kielichów

Król Buław jest bardziej władczy i zdecydowany, mniej myśli o tym, co czują czy myślą inni - jego rozkazy mają być wykonane. Roztacza aurę siły, jest dobrym przywódcą.

Król Kielichów więcej rozmyśla - stara się zrozumieć innych i więcej wybacza. Widzi w ludziach bardziej partnerów, niż poddanych, chętnie doradza; jego działania są powolniejsze.

Król Buław i Król Denarów

Król Denarów jest bardziej racjonalny. Robi to, co mu da korzyści, a nie to, co mu się podoba. Król Buław jest energiczniejszy i nie daje poddanym czasu na samodzielne myślenie.

Król Buław i Król Mieczy

Król Buław krócej się zastanawia przed podjęciem decyzji, niż Król Mieczy. Robi to mniej logicznie, a bardziej instynktownie. Miewa też kaprysy dobroduszności, co raczej nie przytrafia się Królowi Mieczy, bo Król Mieczy nie wybacza zbyt łatwo.

Król Mieczy i Król Denarów

Król Mieczy uwielbia snuć plany, cyzeluje je, aż będą doskonałe. Jest dosyć bezwzględny w ocenie i jeśli ktoś wpadł w tarapaty przez własną głupotę – raczej mu nie pomoże. Nie akceptuje też nielogicznych działań.

Król Denarów dużo bardziej twardo stąpa po ziemi. Nie rozważa tysiąca scenariuszy tylko dla przyjemności rozważania. Jeśli coś robi, ma to jasno określony cel. Działa w świecie rzeczywistym, czyli w zastanych warunkach, dostosowuje się o nich, zamiast zmieniać je na siłę.

Król Mieczy i Król Kielichów

Król Mieczy ocenia wszystko według zasad, litery prawa. Król Kielichów zagląda w głąb, w dusze poddanych i bierze ich pobudki pod uwagę. Rządzi z wyczuciem, Król Mieczy zaś – bezwzględnie, choć teoretycznie sprawiedliwie.

Król Kielichów i Król Denarów

Król Denarów również mniej rozmyśla, niż Król Kielichów. Ocenia innych wedle swojego doświadczenia i na tym koniec. Król Kielichów jest bardziej wyrozumiały, uwzględnia motywy innych i rozważa je w swoim sercu.

September - to sum up

Since I'm lacking time for readings (time when I am not sleepy and can focus properly), September went in a blink of an eye - without the monthly read. Moreover, even September is almost gone...

I decided to make a reading about the past - it's also a good exercise.

I used Crystal Tarot.

Atmosphere of the month: IX The Hermit

Health: 3 of Wands, Knight of Coins, Ace of Cups

Family: X The Wheel of Fortune

Writing: VII The Chariot

I think the Hermit tells about my decision to go back home instead of staying longer at my parents' place and live a life on my own.

Health: 3/Wands show some eruption of energy, an injury I got. Then the Knight - my slow convalescence and the Ace - new hope.

With family I had my ups and downs, like in the Wheel :)

Writing: I got a positive response from one publishing house, so there's the victorious Chariot of good news. 

Twelve Houses - an exercise

Le Stelle on her blog made a wonderful example of how to use the Twelve Houses spread, otherwise known as Astrological Wheel. She made the example on an imaginary client. This made me instantly want to make a similar exercise :) As my guinea pig I used a character from a story I wrote - I know mostly everything about him :D His name is Vri.

So this is my exercise done according to Le Stelle's:

1st House, Aries, Fire: psychic condition of the querent. XVIII The Moon

2nd House, Taurus, Earth: money, earthly goods. King of Cups

3rd House, Gemini, Air: people close to us (more distant relatives, friends), but not the family that lived with the querent. 5 of Pentacles

4th House, Cancer, Water: emotions, closest family. King of Wands

5th House, Leo, Fire: children and small pleasures in querent's life. IV The Emperor

6th House, Virgo, Earth: working place and environment. 7 of Wands

7th House, Libra, Air: relationships, atmosphere at home, partner of the querent. 9 of Swords

8th House, Scorpio, Water: things hidden, secrets, sexuality. 10 of Pentacles

9th House, Sagittarius, Fire: learning, exploring, traveling. Queen of Wands

10th House, Capricorn, Earth: career, social status. VI The Lovers

11th House, Aquarius, Air: people more distant to the querent, exchanging of thoughts. 3 of Wands

12th House, Pisces, Water: what the querent doesn't expect. 2 of Swords

Card in the middle: a summing up card. 3 of Swords

Le Stelle advises to read a card with cards next to it and the card on the opposite side of the Wheel.

1. The Moon, 2/Swords, King/Cups, 9/Swords.

Vri is in a very bad psychological condition. He just came back home and realised that a lot of things changed and his loved one doesn't feel the same about him, because he selfishly left her for so long. He now understands (King/Cups) he was delusional (The Moon), that he hurt her deeply (9/Swords) and she's not so likely to forgive him easily (2/Swords).

2. King/Cups, The Moon, 5/Pentacles, 10/Pentacles.

He doesn't eve think about money. He can loose everything (5/Pents), he can be wealthy (10/Pents) for he brought marvelous things from his travels, but he thinks more about emotions now (King/Cups, The Moon).

3. 5/Pents, King/Cups, King/Wands, Queen/Wands.

The triangle is very well shown here: a crisis (5/Pents) between him (King/Cups), his love (Queen/Wands) and her lawful husband (King/Wands).

4. King/Wands, 5/Pents, The Emperor, The Lovers.

He would like to regain his position (King/Wands) with his love, the queen (The Lovers), but her husband's position (The Emperor) is stronger than ever.

5. The Emperor, King/Wands, 7/Wands, 3/Wands.

Well, he just learned about a new child in his love's life and he also tries to be a father to his own son (The Emperor). He wants to fight for that (7/Wands) with his rival (King/Wands) and he'll do whatever he can (3/Wands).

6. 7/Wands, The Emperor, 9/Swords, 2/Swords.

Courtiers don't exactly know how to welcome him back at court (2/Swords), but they can see that he's not the queen's favourite anymore (7/Wands), the king (The Emperor) is stronger, so they allow themselves to be a bit nasty to him (9/Swords), especially in words.

7. 9/Swords, 7/Wands, 10/Pents, The Moon.

That's bad... There's grief and grudge (9/Swords), chaos (7/Wands) and distrust (The Moon), but the only light in that dark tunnel is 10/Pents: she didn't give up being family with him completely.

8. 10/Pents, 9/Swords, Queen/Wands, King/Cups.

He secretly wants a real home (10/Pents), but instead of that he keeps hurting (9/Swords) her (Queen/Wands) and well, he loves her in his own, weird way (King/Cups).

9. Queen/Wands, 10/Pents, The Lovers, 5/Pents.

He traveled selfishly, not thinking about other people (Queen/Pents), but that is going to stop (the Queen stumps on an Sagittarius' arrow), because from now on he's to create a more stable relationship (10/Pents) and she will probably forgive him in the end (The Lovers). 5/Pents added here looks like overcoming the crisis.

10. The Lovers, Queen/Wands, 3/Wands, King/Wands.

And he regains his position! (King/Wands, 3/Wands) thanks to the queen (Queen/Wands) loving him (The Lovers).

11. 3/Wands, The Lovers, 2/Swords, The Emperor.

The courtiers may not like him (2/Swords), but they can see that things changed (3/Wands) and it's time to respect him again, because of the influence he has on the queen (The Lovers, The Emperor).

12. 2/Swords, 3/Wands, The Moon, 7/Wands.

He doesn't expect that his not easily gained balance (2/Swords) will soon fall apart (7/Wands), it won't stay the same (3/Wands), because the destiny feared by his queen is approaching (The Moon).

Sum-up card: 3/Swords.

Vri caused a lot of havoc and pain, but that situation will change. His love will forgive him... but there won't be any happiness forever.

This was interesting! And fits the story so well! The next step you can make is to look at the triangles created by the elements (Fire as career, Earth as money and physical health, Swords as intellectual sphere and Cups for feelings), but I think I've quite exhausted the topic here, so I'll stop now :)

What kind of tarot reader am I?

I used Celtic Cross with positions meanings according to authors of Polish magazine "Tarocista", I. Podlaska and M. Krogulska.

1. My situation. III The Empress

2. An obstacle. VIII Justice

3. (at the top) Our ideal. 3 of Swords

4. (at the bottom) Source of the problem. Knight of Wands

5. (on the left) The past. 9 of Cups

6. (on the right) Near future. 6 of Swords

7. My attitude and knowledge. 10 of Wands

8. My environment. 10 of Cups

9. My emotions connected to the problem. 8 of Pentacles

10. The result. 4 of Wands

I have a potential and am very creative (III), but I restrain myself with perfectionism and criticism (VIII). My ideal is to connect the creative energy with intellectual understanding (3/Swords: creative III and intellectual Swords). The base of my problems is my ambition and impatience (Knight/Wands). In the past I had a break from tarot and it was connected to my mental and emotional disposition at that time (IX and Cups). In the near future it's possible for me to find a good partner for discussions (VI and Swords), for I have joined a Polish tarot forum. My attitude is... too grabby :D (10/Wands). I want too much, I want to be very good, but I don't have yet that much of experience. My environment (10/Cups) is very welcoming - I believe it's about that forum. I fear that I am too down-to-earth (8/Pentacles), but in the end I should find some balance in my desires (4/Wands).

My dancing class

I decided to start giving Nihon Buyo dancing classes (I recently got a permission from my sensei) and put an advertisement about it. Then I pulled the cards to see what to expect in the next 3 weeks. I used reversals this time, because recently I'm trying to figure them out (my tarot books are still on their way!).

I used the Star spread.

The situation: XVII The Star (reversed=Rx).

What helps: 6 of Swords.

What is against: Ace of Wands (Rx).

The first week: Knight of Wands (Rx)

The second week: XIX The Sun (Rx)

The third week: 10 of Pentacles

Result: III The Empress

I don't think I should read reversals as the opposites, only as weakened meanings of the cards. So it seems that there is some hope, but not much. Advertising via Internet is good (that's what I did), for swords stand for communication and 6 is a balanced number. As for the Ace of Wands I thought it's very hot recently and people won't have energy in them to try something new. The first week, Knight/Wands - actually two people answered, but none of them can start classes. One of them didn't exclude attending my class when she's back to Switzerland (Knight - travelling). The second week promises some interested people again, but probably without good result. The third week looks like I could earn some money. The Empress as a result... I'm not sure. It could mean I'll be sitting with my hands in my lap waiting for students. Or maybe I'll earn some money. We will see!

To buy or not to buy

I have a great desire for Alexander Daniloff's Tarot Deck. It charmed me the moment I saw the scans of the cards. The problem is the price (for me 80 euro is quite a lot!) and also a bit grim aura of the deck. I am a person who wants to read from all decks that I own, so I'm wondering whether even if I buy that deck, will I be willing to read from it?

I asked: how happy would I be with that deck? How would the readings with it be? Advice.

I got 8 of Cups, Page of Wands and 2 of Swords.

As I thought, I can be a bit overwhelmed by that deck (8/Cups), but on the other hand it can give me new, interesting readings! (Page of Wands). Advice: think well before buying... And what to do?! :D

Is my book ready?

I'm preparing to self-publish my novel that I wrote some time ago and couldn't find a publisher willing to take risk with a debut. Recently I read it again and felt sorry that it's not being read, for I had a lot of fun reading it, so I decided to make an e-book, but of course before that I made some corrections. The problem is that it's difficult to tell when to stop! So I asked my Crystal Tarot for advice.

How ready the book is? What will happen if I still keep correcting it?

I got XIII Death and 4 of Pentacles. I pulled an additional card to clarify Death, it was Ace of Swords.

Seems my book is dead ready :D If I proceed, it will be killed, it will be too much. The Ace also suggests that the text (Swords are connected to words, communicating, writing) is as perfect, as it can get. More fixing won't make it light and easily read (4 of Pentacles).

By the way, I think this deck is absolutely stunning, I love, love it!