Sensitive Children: night fears, visions, the empath

 

• Night Fears

I slept with my head hidden under the blankets until I was 12 years old. Why? Because at night, in the silence and the dark, I was keenly aware that I was not alone. I could sense the presence of something, or many things, by my bed. I could hear whispered voices, I could see shadow people, and often I could feel something unnamable trying to connect with me.

As a child, I didn’t understand what I was experiencing. I didn’t know that the presence I was aware of couldn’t actually harm me, and I didn’t know how to consciously protect and claim myself and my space, or how to consciously send these ethereal energies away. I didn’t even know that this was possible.

Like any child who feels afraid, my instinct was to hide. And this I did — under the covers.

When I was 12 years old, something happened. I think it stemmed from the fact that I was exhausted from these nights of fear and the lack of sleep. I was sick of waking up drenched in sweat. It may have been a new maturity and more insight coming with puberty. I was tired. I was tired of being terrorized at night. I was tired of feeling like I had to hide in order to be safe, and I finally got to a defiant angry state.

One night, I simply flung the covers back, sat up, and very forcefully said, “This is my room! This is my bed! If you want to come and get me, then do it… or Leave Me Alone!” That was all I needed to do. Little did I know that’s all I had ever needed to do.

1. I showed no fear.
2. I reclaimed my space by ordering the presence to leave.

Be sensitive to small children with night fears. Allow them what they need for comfort. And as is often the case, they need a way to block some of these entities and experiences, whether with a night-light that’s left on, some cozy time in bed with a parent (so comforting!), or someone just to sit with them until they feel calm or fall asleep. When most insensitive or ignorant adults chastise them, telling them that there is nothing there, those adults don’t know how wrong they may be.

• Visions & Psychic Information

I’ve written before of a psychic vision that I had when I was 12 years old, some sort of coming of age time this year must have been for me. On the day my Uncle died, several hours before this occurred, he was laying on the living-room couch listening to music. I was sitting across the room from him, and as I watched, the back of the couch closed over him.  It became the lid on a coffin.  Less than four hours later, he would die of a heart attack.

As most children do, I thought that because I could see this, everyone else in the room could see this also. But as I looked from each adult face to the next, I realized that they were totally unaware of what had just happened. I was too immature and not knowledgeable enough to realize that this was a premonition, a psychic revelation of what was to be just a few hour later.

It would be six years, when I was 18, that I would first talk about this experience with my grandmother. Without any understanding of premonitions or psychic visions, as a child I thought that by SEEING this vision, I had CAUSED this thing to happen. I spent those six years desperately trying to block any visions or psychic information that came to me.

Be aware that young children do not have the mental faculties to digest the psychic visions and information they are picking up. They may not understand the implications of visions and other psychic information. It's very common for children to think that everyone else hears, sees, and feels what they hear, feel, and see. Children don’t realize that they have abilities and are experiencing something that most people do not experience.

• The Empath

Any situation that puts an empath in a group setting can be a nightmare. It is not only an overload of other people’s energy, it is a flurry of unwelcome "knowing"... knowing what other people are thinking. Your brain is rattled and filled with other people’s true thoughts. You can feel their sadness, their happiness, their boredom, their pleasant thoughts, as well as their nasty private thoughts, and their dislikes.  You know what they're truly thinking behind every word they speak.

The classroom is a horror story for a lot of very sensitive empathic children. What’s coming through in a flurry to your conscious mind is also making it difficult, if not impossible, for you to concentrate, to focus on what the teacher is saying. It makes it difficult, if not impossible, to digest the words in a textbook, to focus on a math problem, to stay in the present with clear thoughts. I have to wonder how many children are labeled with attention disorders, when actually, they are receiving an overload of data from the individuals around them.

The perfect classroom experience for the empathic child would be soft instrumental meditative background music. It would be a room filled with live plants, windows open for fresh air and bird sounds and sunshine, or the smell of rain. It would be rooms large enough to have ample space around each desk, around each child. It would be the quiet presence of an animal, a voiceless living thing, a cat or dog or bird or hamster. Until that type of classroom exists, the most we can do is to educate people on the topic of empathic children and what they need to function in this group setting.

Desert Reading ~ Monthly Check-in Spread, August 2021

 

This month’s mantra: Be True to Yourself

You can purchase your very own personal monthly check-in reading that will give you an over-view of the month to come. Follow this link: click HERE

The Tarot Parlour
Intuitive Life Coaching through Tarot

Q&A ~ why do you do the things you do?

 

I receive a considerable number of questions from people, and I’ve answered a handful of them here. This just seemed like an easier solution rather than trying to answer individual emails, as more than one person often asks the same question. It just seemed logical to gather the answers all in one place. Remember that these are my opinions, this is about my path... and you asked.

• Is there a difference between a Witch, a Wiccan, and a Pagan?
• What do you feel are some of the major differences?

Yes, there is a difference, and still, most people tend to lump these categories together indiscriminately.

“Pagan” is a broad term that covers a variety of beliefs and practices. It’s an umbrella term that includes witches; Wiccans- every tradition, clan, or solitary path you can think of; Druids; and a garden variety of spiritual practices that stray from the mainstream religions, primarily Christianity.

“Witch” implies someone who is knowledgeable in the Old Ways, more of an ideal: the healer, old wise-woman, and midwife.  A witch is someone who casts spells, practices divination, is proficient in herbal magic, amidst a variety of other magickal practices that are part of her repertoire.   A witch is steeped in earth-based shamanic methods in free-form, not tying her/himself to any particular creed, to any particular set of rules or regulations, group or clan. The witch tends to be a free spirit and often treads where others fear to go when it comes to practicing the occult.

“Wicca” is a religion which encompasses organized and ordered membership, regulations, and practices. It is also an earth-based nature religion which has grown to include a wide variety of paths, traditions, clans, and covens. Most Wiccans abide by the Wiccan Reed and seek membership that comes with required study and measured initiation.

• When did you first realize you were a Witch?

I always knew that I was different and that I often perplexed people, though as a child I wasn’t sure how or why. The earliest memory I have of a "realization" probably came when I was about five years old, crouched alone on a terraced hillside. It was a hot summer day, though I was in a dark cool place, as the hillside was full of trees. I looked to my right, past the wire fence that separated the yard from pasture and watched a herd of cattle grazing in the hot sun, only a few feet away from my cool shadowed world. I reached to the low branch of a young locust tree, wrapped my fingers around a small green stem and gently slid the leaves off, into my palm. I stayed there for quite some time, crouched in my cool dark spot, closing my eyes to listen to the wind in the trees, believing that they were speaking to me.

I don’t remember what I did with the leaves, though I do remember that I wanted them for a reason.

• Is it important for a Witch to have a code of Honor?

It depends upon how you look at it. If, by a "code of honor", you mean that the witch must abide by someone else’s rules, someone else’s measurement of what is right or wrong, then I would have to say no.

Each individual, witch or not, who is an intelligent human being knows when they are doing right and when they are doing something questionable. And questionable in this instance doesn’t necessarily mean something you shouldn’t do.  It can mean something that isn’t always done but needs doing.  It can mean something gritty and serious that must be done.

The Witch, a real witch, moves in a landscape that is neither white nor black, but a landscape filled with shadows that are shades of gray,  To the witch, these shadows are not off limits. Balance is required in all things, including the practice of witchcraft; and once in a while boundaries have to be broken to maintain this balance.

• How would you define “Mojo”?

I would describe Mojo as Magick, magick that incorporates natural elements to produce physical manifestation: herbs, stones, bones, personal items, bodily secretions, potions, powders, images, and symbols. Mojo also relies on intention and will, but not at the same level or intensity as Wiccan magick. With mojo, the magick resides in the molecules of the items used. The traditional voodoo priestess does not consecrate or empower her mojo bag.  She believes the power is already there.

• How do spells work?

Spells work by using the energy of our will and intentions, along with strong visualization, coupled with natural objects such as candles, fire, herbs, stones, photos, images, corresponding objects, etc., to produce physical manifestation into the real world. You must be able to see the objective of your spell as though it already exists. If you cannot visualize what you desire as though it already exists, you will not be able to manifest it into the physical realm.

• Why do you practice so many different forms of witchcraft on your path?

I am an eclectic Witch.

There’s incredible knowledge and magick to be found on a number of occult paths. It’s like a magickal buffet of rich and varied practices that all work in different ways and on different levels. To me, it’s there for the taking, there for my use and my benefit. Spirituality and spiritual practices cannot be contained by the wishes and whims of man, but are spread throughout the universe, meant to touch each individual in a unique and very personal way.  

We have to be open-minded enough not to be afraid to explore other religions, other forms of spirituality. Human beings have a terrible habit of pigeon-holing everything, thinking that everything must fit into specific boxes and that you can’t mix and match or you’ll mess things up.  And then there is the newest fad of "spiritual appropriation", an example of human beings trying to put restrictions on our spirit, on our souls, on our very personal journey of exploration to connect with the divine using resources provided by the Universe.

I practice many forms of witchcraft because Spirit calls to me in many different voices.

Magickal Herbs ~ myrrh, sandalwood, carnation

 

This blog post will touch on three herbs that I particularly enjoy, the third one I enjoy both magickally and mundanely, as a bouquet.  Just a hint, if you want to get a lady a bouquet of flowers that will have some lasting power and are beautiful to boot, get her carnations.  The first one is actually a resin, if you really want to get technical, and the second one is a bark.  But they all fall under the wonderful world of Herbs in my magickal practice.

The following herbs share the energy and power to heal.  Although these herbs have healing powers in common, they also contain individual energies, which can be used in a variety of spells and personal magick.

Myrrh

• Energy: Receptive (Feminine)
• Planet: Moon
• Element: Water
• Deities: Isis, Adonis, Ra, Marian
• Powers: Protection, Exorcism, healing, Spirituality
• Ritual Uses: Myrrh was burned to Ra at noon in ancient Egypt, and was also fumed in the temples of Isis.
• Magical Uses:

Burned as an incense myrrh purifies the area, lifts the vibrations and creates peace. However, it is rarely burned alone; usually in conjunction with frankincense or other resins. Myrrh increases the power of any incense to which it is added.

Myrrh is also included in healing incenses and sachets, and its smoke is used to consecrate, purify, and bless objects such as amulets, talismans, charms, and magical tools. Myrrh also aids meditation and contemplation. It is often added to sachets, usually with frankincense.

In hoodoo tradition it's believed that mixing myrrh with tobacco and damiana and sprinkling it in your mailbox, or on your phone, will call back a lost lover.  Make sure this is really what you want, remember there's usually a reason a relationship ends, and ending a relationship the second time is often messier and more unpleasant than the first go-around.

Sandalwood

• Energy: Receptive (Feminine)
• Planet: Moon
• Element: Water
• Powers: Protection, wishes, healing, exorcism, spirituality
• Magical Uses:

Sandalwood powder is burned during protection, healing, and exorcism spells. When mixed with lavender it makes an incense designed to conjure spirits.

This fragrant wood possesses very high spiritual vibrations and is burned at séances and Full Moon rituals when mixed with frankincense. Write your wish on a chip of sandalwood and burn in the censer or cauldron. As it burns it sets the magic flowing, but remember to visualize your wish at the same time.

Sandalwood beads are protective and promote a spiritual awareness when worn.

Powdered sandalwood can be scattered about a place to clear it of negativity, and is also used as an incense base.

Carnation

• Energy: Projective (Masculine)
• Planet: Sun
• Element: Fire
• Deity: Jupiter
• Powers: Protection, strength, healing
• Magical Uses:

Worn during Elizabethan times to prevent coming to an untimely death on the scaffold, carnations can be used in all-purpose protective spells.

Carnations are placed in convalescent rooms to give the healing patient strength and energy, and are also used in healing spells. Place fresh carnations (red are best) on the altar during healing rituals and add the dried blossoms to sachets and incense for the same purpose.

Pay attention to the element of color, it's important.  Below are just a few of the basic colors to begin with:

• Red blossoms: used for love, romance, and sex magick
• Yellow blossoms: used to enhance communication and to spark creativity
• Pink blossoms: used for peace and friendship, and to restore good feelings after an argument
• White: to connect with the divine, to restore truth, to cleanse and purify
• Purple blossoms:  handy for court cases and spells where growth and plenty are the desire

Disclaimer:

Never ingest any herbs, or feed them to someone else, if you are not absolutely sure they are safe! When in doubt, don't.

Pagan Holidays ~ Lammas, August 1

 

Pagans refer to the progression through the seasons as "The Wheel of the Year". Not only does this wheel encompass pagan holidays, including those now cloaked with Christian traditions, but a variety of energies as well. These energies are a combination of astrological influences, moon phases and full moons, solstices and equinoxes, the changing of seasons, and the magick of time.

As the dog days of summer are still upon us, it’s strange to realize that so is the first of the pagan harvest festivals, Lammas…aka Lughnasadgh. Summer will soon be winding down, and August is the transition that will carry us into autumn. As we celebrate the first harvest of wheat, let’s also celebrate the changing of seasons, the transparency of time, and the miracle of continuity.

Happy Lammas!

August

Barley Moon

• Herbs: rosemary, jasmine, lilac, violet, calamus
• Stones: bronzite, peridot, green sapphire
• Scents: frankincense, heliotrope
• Colors: yellow, gold, green
• Trees: hazel, alder, cedar
• Deities: Ganesha, Hathor, Hecate, Nemesis
• Astrological Signs: Leo, Virgo
• Elements: Earth/Air

Crafting Your Magic:

The Barley Moon is the time to reap the harvest of magic cast at the beginning of the summer season. It’s a time for the powerful assertive energy of Leo to give way to the calmer vibrations of Virgo. Do magic at this time to cleanse before the winter, cleansing not only your personal space, but intangible aspects as well. Clear out unwanted rubbish, whether it be inertia, conflict, indecisiveness, or some other personal weakness. As the summer winds down and wildlife begins to prepare itself for the dark months to come, this is where the heart of your magic lay as well.

August 1: Lammas

(aka, Lughnasadgh)

• Traditions: celebration of first harvest/grain harvest, celebration of the Feast of Bread, weather magic, gathering bilberries as a symbol of abundance, games showcasing athletic ability

• Pagan Lore:  Lugh…Lughnasadh celebrates the Irish god:

Lugh or Lug (Old Irish: Modern Irish: Lú) is one of the most prominent gods in Irish mythology. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lugh is portrayed as a warrior, a king, a master craftsman and a savior. He is associated with skill and mastery in multiple disciplines, including the arts. He is also associated with oaths, truth and the law, and therefore with rightful kingship. Lugh is linked with the harvest festival of Lughnasadh, which bears his name. His most common epithets are Lámfada ("of the long hand," possibly for his skill with a spear or his ability as a ruler) and Samildánach ("equally skilled in many arts").

In mythology, Lugh is the son of Cian and Ethniu (or Ethliu). He is the maternal grandson of the Fomorian tyrant Balor, whom Lugh kills in the Battle of Mag Tuired. His foster-father is the sea god Manannán. Lugh's son is the hero Cú Chulainn, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lugh.

Lugh has several magical possessions. He wields an unstoppable fiery spear, a sling stone, and owns a hound named Failinis. He is said to have invented fidchell (a Gaelic equivalent of chess), ball games, and horse racing.

He corresponds to the pan-Celtic god Lugus, and his Welsh counterpart is Lleu Llaw Gyffes. He has also been equated with Mercury, as well as Apollo. 

This is the first of the harvest festivals, and in the ancient world this was indeed a time of celebration. A successful harvest would mean survival in the harsh winter months to come. In the northern countries this was a celebration of the first harvest of wheat and grain, thus bread is featured in the celebration of Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas. Freshly baked loaves of aromatic bread are the main feature found upon pagan alters for this holiday.

As modern-day Pagans celebrate the festival of Lughnasadh, they will build roaring bonfires, feed each other a mouthful of bread, and with wine they will toast each other… "May you eat the bread of life."

For more more information on Pagan Holidays, including videos and rituals, visit my website, The Witch’s Corner:  click  HERE

Sources of Information

The information on Lugh can be found at Wikipedia.  Much of the text on the holiday of Lammas can be found in my book, The Gray Witch's Grimoire.

© The Gray Witch’s Grimoire

Amythyst Raine 2011

Tarot Flirts with Astrology ~ Where were you in July 2017?

 

It is always said that a tarot reading will be pertinent to you whenever you might stumble upon it and become privy to the information laid before you, and this is very true.  But it is also fascinating, and reconfirming, to look back on readings and see just how closely they played out in your life.

We'll do both with this post.

The following cards were drawn and read for each of the zodiac signs on July 9th, 2017.  Were they pertinent to you then?  Do they apply to you now?

• Aquarius ~ 10/Swords (reversed)

There’s nothing worse than being nailed to the wall, other than being pinned down and cornered to do something you were hoping to get out of, or being called out on the rug to explain yourself or your actions– and this last one is going to be a spine tingling adrenalin rush experience for some of you Aquarians. This is always a difficult card when it rears it’s ugly head, and for many of you, you didn’t see this coming (until now). The best thing about this card is that it’s reversed. Many of you are going to claw your way out of an unpleasant confrontation, or situation, and find solid footing once more. Kiss the ground when you get there, and make sure this doesn’t happen again, do what you have to do, change what you have to change.

• Capricorn ~ King/Swords (reversed)

Something is left unsaid. Communication is not happening, and it has to be resolved before it’s too late. There are reasons and ways in which things that need to be said, may never be heard. Make sure you have no regrets. Don’t be afraid of sounding silly, don’t be afraid to face disagreement, don’t be afraid to be wrong, don’t gloat if you are right. The words lay like a choking parcel of food caught in the throat. Don’t swallow them. Open your mouth and set them free, along with your conscience, your soul, and your peace of mind.

• Pisces ~ 3/Swords

Some of you may face heartbreak or disappointment. Lessons are learned, wounds will heal. Life will pick you back up and carry you forward on your path, mercilessly marching you towards new horizons and experiences and awakenings. What we learn from heartbreak, pain, and sorrow is that it’s not the end, but only a pivotal point on our journey. Be strong, ride the waves, wait out the storm. Calm seas and peace await once the clouds have parted.

• Aries ~ The Tower

Many of you are going to be called upon to endure great changes and disruptions in your life. For some it may be connected to relationships and family, for others it could be jobs and careers, and for still others it will be something unique to you and your personal experience, earth-shattering, life-changing. Oh, how we fight major life transitions, kicking and screaming our way through the storm, even when we know that things will be better when we reach the other side. Many of you Aries will be put to the test, stretched beyond your limits, tried by fire, tempered like steel. This is where you find out how strong you really are.

• Taurus ~ Temperance (reversed)

This card is all about balance in our lives, and since it’s standing on it’s head for you, there’s a problem in this area. Many of you may find yourselves feeling up in the air, either overwhelmed with work, or not getting enough hours; some of you may be experiencing unexpected upsets with health issues, which so often kicks our lives out of balance on a variety of levels. You’re like a cat right now, Taurus, in free-fall. You’re going to have to figure out what you have to do to turn yourself around so that you land on your feet.

• Gemini ~ Knight/Cups (reversed)

For some Gemini, the Knight-in-Shining Armor fairytale is going to remain a myth. For some of you this may mean that you have unrealistic expectations, and if you don’t lower the bar to a more human level, no one is going to pass the test, no one is going to be quite good enough. Developing a successful relationship with someone means that you learn to accept their very human flaws (This doesn’t mean that we “settle” for losers, which is the flip side of this coin.). It means that human beings aren’t perfect, and everyone has their own little quirks; and if we meet someone and fall in love, you learn to accept the WHOLE person, quirks included.

• Cancer ~ 7/Cups (reversed)

Many of you Cancers will be making very important decisions during this period, and some of you will not be facing all the facts and may even be colorizing your choices and decisions with rosy glasses and less than a solid grip on reality. Be sure to honestly look at all the questions in order to find all the answers. Study the choices and brutally asses whether you can make them work in the real world. In order to have a successful game plan, you have to have a logical and realistic course of action. Now, go for it, Cancer!

• Leo ~ 4/Pentacles (reversed)

Many of you Leos may have issues coming up that you’ll find rather challenging during this period, and some of these issues will involve relinquishing control (a horror scenario for strong and independent Leo). You may also be faced with unexpected financial circumstances that require substantial payments, which means breaking into savings, which means parting with your dearly beloved and precious golden coins. I know, Leo, you lovingly tend your growing nest egg and having to slice it open and remove a chunk is going to be difficult and unpleasant. Never fear, once this issue is resolved, life will resume as before.

• Virgo ~ The Moon (reversed)

You will find yourself surrounded by deception. Either someone isn’t being honest with you, or you are not being honest with yourself. Some Virgos might feel that they’ve entered the twilight zone. There’s a very thin line between reality and fantasy, and when you find yourself in an extremely stressful unpleasant situation, it can make recognizing this line very difficult, which can make it dangerous on a variety of levels. During this time, seek out individuals, spiritual practices, or professionals to help you find the answers you need. It’s not a sign of weakness to seek help making right decisions, or getting through traumatic or challenging circumstances.

• Libra ~ Princess/Pentacles

Messages and answers to financial issues will be forthcoming in a very timely manner. Some of you Libras will discover previously unknown facts, or knowledge, that will benefit upcoming decisions and will also shed light on circumstances, or people, surrounding you. Knowledge is power, the more you have, the stronger you’ll be. There’s s solitary flair about many of you Libras, intent on personal self-discovery, with a renewed interest in old and unfinished projects. Make your own kind of magic during this period.

• Scorpio ~ 6/Pentacles

“The more the merrier” will be your mantra at this time, Scorpio. Where before there was not enough, now you will have a surplus. However, don’t let your guard down, don’t waste precious time or opportunities that come your way. Continue this forward progression with right action, solid common sense, determination, and a strong work ethic. It’s time for many Scorpios to climb the ladder to success. We so often talk about setting goals, but we so seldom stop and relish the accomplishment of meeting those goals. Do this, Scorpio.

• Sagittarius ~ Knight/Pentacles

For some of you Sagittarians bouncing merrily through this year, you’re going to find yourself stopped short by the need for quiet practicality. Solid common sense, thorough and slow thought processes to work through an issue, are going to assure your happiness continues through 2017. Don’t be rushed into making any decisions. Remember, the show can’t go on until you say it does. The wonderful grounding aspect of this Knight will bode you well, reconnecting you to Earth energy and the solidity you need at this time.

From Casa Monteraine ~ It will be okay, it will be okay, it will be okay

 

Here's the latest video tarot reading from Arizona, taped at our homestead Casa Monteraine.  This reading was a sh**t show, with high winds, my dog, trying to hang onto my cards, and just lots of fast and scattered energy about.  If you connect with this reading, my gawds, you were absolutely suppose to hear it!  Good luck... persevere and beware.

5 Things Women Should Stop Doing After 60

 

Hello and Greetings from sunny Arizona!... I've just discovered another remarkable lady @ YouTube!  I'm passing her on here to anyone who feels the connection:

Sixty and Me is a community for bold and fearless women who are excited to be 60 years old and want to create a new lifestyle - independent, healthy and financially secure. If you want to stay connected and be the first to get our best content, please sign-up to Sixty and Me newsletter here:

http://sixtyandme.com/sign-up-to-sixty-and-me-newsletter.

The 6s ~ from my book The Ultimate Tarot Guide

 

The 6s ~ To gain, to escape, to win, to remember

Pentacles ~ It’s all about embracing the gift of generosity. It’s learning to put someone else’s needs before your own. It’s also about learning to accept generosity gracefully.

Tithing, loans, gifts, gratitude, generosity, sharing, abundance

• 6/Pentacles ~ With this card comes the willingness and ability to help those around you. The main gist of this card points to money and finances, of course, but it can go way beyond this. There is the idea of being honest, of dividing assets equally. “There’s more where this comes from”, the six of pentacles seems to be saying. But also… “Keep it fair”, and “”Don’t cheat”. With this card comes the wonderful feeling of no regrets.

Reversed: There may be people around you who are unscrupulous and more than willing to steal or cheat you out of money and possessions. There is also the idea of cutting down on spending, pinching pennies, and being wise and frugal with your checking account. With the six of pentacles comes the feeling of having all of your eggs in one basket, the idea of gambling, risk taking, the dare devil.

Personal Connection:
Throughout a life-time spanning several decades, six of them at this writing, I’ve experienced the six of pentacles up close and personal. As one friend put it, talking about her own family’s material and financial life, “It’s either feast or famine.” And that’s so true. You hear about people coming from dirt poor backgrounds, and then gaining millions of dollars through their determination, hard-work, and talent, only to lose all of it in one-fell foolish swoop, winding right back up where they started. Maybe there’s a lesson here, or maybe we’re reading way more into it than we should. Could this just be the universal natural law of things?

Swords ~ It’s all about movement and travel, moving on, moving away, beginning again.

Divorce, movement, travel,(especially across water)

Adventure, beginnings, independence, melancholy, being adrift

• 6/Swords ~ This comes up so often when a divorce, separation, or familial estrangement surfaces. It’s also a card that may imply that it’s actually time to move on and that this may be a logical next step. And there is, indeed, the feeling of movement with the six of swords. Even when it means a severance of old ties, there is the tantalizing idea of new adventures.

Reversed: Relationships are up in the air, there comes with that the energy of indecision, tumultuous emotions, miss-communication, and a general “Mercury Retrograde” atmosphere. The six of swords reversed is telling you that, just like the boat on the card, you are straying adrift, possibly into dangerous waters, and definitely with no compass. There may be hidden sandbars below the water’s surface, or jagged rocks, all of which could be problematic for you.

Personal Connection:
This card has impacted my life in tremendous tumultuous ever transitioning ways, long before I even knew of its existence. Don’t be surprised when it surfaces amidst feelings of being adrift, feelings of confusion and upheaval, at times of nerve-wracking and upsetting changes. The water on so many variations of this card looks so calm and is so deceptive. No matter how many times I’ve found myself in this boat, peering over the bow, trying in vain to set a decisive course, I never realized that I would eventually come to shore and plant my feet on firm solid ground, with little or no navigation.

I think the connection with this card is faith.

Wands ~ It’s all about winning, savoring victory, enjoying the accolades, and reaping the rewards of your effort.

Victory, victor, headiness, ego, minions, dignity, endurance, good sport, gracious defeat

• 6/Wands ~ You ride victorious through the street (and life) feeling proud, accomplished, self-confident, and sometimes maybe even a wee bit egotistical or narcissistic. There comes the idea of elevation, and with that a lot of pressure placed around perfectionism and gaining someone’s approval. We all want to remember that a lot of people who find themselves on a pedestal discover that it is a solitary and very lonely place to be.

Reversed: Someone has gotten to the top, succeeded with an accomplishment, came out victorious, but they did so with the aid of shady tactics, or shady people, and it’s all rather tainted, if not a bit tarnished. There is the idea that someone at the top may soon suffer a big fall. There is also the weight of too much expectation, the weight of negative opinions, too much stress, and a lack of personal freedom or motivation.

My Personal Connection:
We all love those blazing glorious victorious moments in life, even if its in someone elses life. Maybe that’s why those musical talent shows are so popular right now. We experience this sensation vicariously when we watch some mousy nervous mundane individual take the stage, and then are stunned when the music begins and there is some magical humongous transformation of this individual, rousing the audience to a standing ovation, bringing the judges to tears. It’s a moment of victory, a personal moment of victory, yet one we get to witness and share.

I think the main thing here is that we have to realize how fleeting this high-lighted moment is, and that life will slip back into place and march forward quietly, with hardly a hiccup. Maybe the connection here is learning to accept that most of life will go unrecognized, unpraised, without making nary a mark on the world. And it’s this part of our existence that is the most important part, it’s this part we should cherish more than any other.

Cups ~ It’s all about holding on to memories, looking back with a new perspective. it’s about being able to move forward using lessons learned from the past.

Nostalgia, wistfulness, childhood, connections, ancestors, memories, associations

• 6/Cups ~ Our past will affect our future, this is a given. Sometimes this past encompasses our childhood and the relationships that tied us to family, and sometimes this past reaches back in history to previous life times, identities, and lessons learned. There is always a wistfulness with this card that idolizes our memories and idealizes our connections.

Reversed: For some unfortunate people, memories of the past may be haunting, slightly disturbing, or unsettling in some unique and very personal way. This card reversed also implies that someone may be hiding something from their past. There is the idea of subterfuge, mysteries, secrets, hidden agendas, and unfinished business.

My Personal Connection:
This card is one that connects closely for me, and one I have mixed feelings about. On one hand, I have incredible childhood memories of my grandmother, my aunt, the Victorian house in the country, my beautiful room in the town house when we moved, my beloved pets, and soft quiet moments. I have feelings of being cocooned, protected, and safe. On the other hand, I’ve dealt with feelings of abandonment (my parents), the stressful feeling of being a child caught between custody disputes, realizing that I had no control over my life and major decisions in it, and that nothing was stable, solid, or secure. It had all been an illusion.

I have had to deal early on with feelings of being caught emotionally and physically between my grandmother and some strange twisted feud with my father. Somewhere along the way, the subject of this feud – me – was forgotten, and it was only the power struggle that was important to him. He was a man awash with the energy of revenge.

If this card is difficult for you, know that you’re not alone. This is the case for an overwhelming number of people, whom I suspect all have their own daunting stories.

[SOURCE: my book, The Ultimate Tarot Guide for Your Personal Tarot Journey...
click HERE ]

From Casa Monteraine ~ just do it

 

The Tarot Parlour