Five Things I Learned Last Year as a Tarotist and as a Human

One of the things I love about being a tarot professional is that I am always learning. Never will there be a time when I know everything there is to know about tarot, psychism, writing, reading for others, and teaching others. To be a tarot professional is to be an eternal student.

My spiritual belief system is based on the idea that life is all about healing and learning.

Sometimes lessons come from difficulties. This year I have learned a lot, not because I took time to study, but because the strange and difficult year made it necessary for me to learn. Here, in no particular order, are some things I learned from 2020. Some are things I had known earlier, but this past year brought them into a sharper focus. Some of them were brand new realizations. The first two lessons are specific to being a tarot professional, the rest are about being human.

When looking to the future as a psychic, it is hard, or maybe impossible, to predict what one cannot imagine.

I have always known that imagination is a huge aspect of tarot reading. It has to be so, because the imagination is seated in the brow chakra (third eye) along with our psychic vision.

When I looked toward the future from the relative safety of 2019, I didn’t see a global pandemic because I couldn’t imagine such a thing. Yet, I did see a lot of things in the readings of individuals that didn’t make sense until the pandemic hit. That leads me to the second lesson.

We can piece together information about our collective future when looking at trends in individual readings.

When I did new year readings for people at the beginning of 2020, I saw a lot of cancelled trips. I saw people being able to work from home. I saw people’s kids going to school from home. In those moments, many of my clients thought I had lost my mind. “My boss would never allow us to work from home.” There is no way I am going to homeschool my child.” “We’ve been planning this trip for years”.

A few months later, those same clients reached out to thank me for the heads up on the pandemic.

The good news is that reading for many people over the past year gives me great confidence in our collective future. While I have seen the worst effects of the pandemic for some people, I know, in the end, our society will emerge from this. I know this because so many people have bright futures appear in the cards. I see weddings, new homes, new babies, and college graduations, just as I always have.

It is important to be flexible.

This past year, many of us had to pivot quickly; to change plans, formats, income streams, and family routines. The more we could be flexible in our thinking, the happier we were. The more we were inventive in our problem-solving, the more successful we were.

When we resist inevitable change, we stop growing. This is a huge life lesson which every person must learn; 2020 made it obvious.

Online communities and gatherings can be uplifting, nurturing, and fun.

Teaching and community-building is my one of my favorite parts of my work. When the pandemic had me cancel all my classes and in-person gatherings in my new community center, I was sad.

Yet, a quick pivot to Zoom and livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube turned out to be a gift. Moving our first annual tarot conference, StaarCon, to an online format avoided a disappointing cancellation. Even when we return to our regular in-person groups, classes, and meetups, I will continue to host online events, and thoroughly enjoy them.

Our ability to care for ourselves and each other is paramount.

This past year was a lesson in creative self-care for many of us. It also helped us find to ways to help others, take care of our loved ones, and stay connected with friends and family in a time of isolation.

For example, my daughter and I utilized FaceTime and YouTube to do yoga and Zumba together; a practice we plan to continue into the future. Friends from around the world scheduled regular Zoom game nights, move nights, and cocktail hours. Even when we are able to resume our normal social lives, we now have skills that will help us stay close to those we love who are at a distance.

As we begin a new year, we are hopeful for positive change, healing and restored health. Many of us will carry scars from 2020 that could last a lifetime. At the same time, we have been lucky to learn important skills and lessons that will serve us in the years ahead.

May we all be safe, well, and prosperous in 2021!

An Open Letter to Spiritual Seekers: Disillusion is Part of the Path

Often on social media I am witness to the disappointment of spiritual seekers who have discovered the “dark side” of whatever modality or community they had previously embraced.

It might be a Roman Catholic who is fed up with abusive priests. It might be a tarotist who is disappointed by infighting. It might be a yoga student who got groped by the teacher in class. It might be a Wiccan who is tired of an ego-tripping High Priestess.

In each case, in each rant, blog post or tweet, I hear the same sentiments. “This is someone who should have known better.” “I expected more from someone in their position.” “Given the doctrine, this behavior is hypocritical”.  In most cases, I agree. There are a lot of posers in every spiritual community, and most of them should indeed know better.

So often, the spiritual seeker goes away mad. They leave a path that has provided them something important, something vital, because they are disillusioned.

Sometimes, walking away is the right thing to do. Not every spiritual path is for every person. Not every community will resonate for you. Sometimes, tastes change, and that’s OK. Some leaders and teachers truly are frauds, and should be avoided.

But if you are thinking about walking away from a path that you love, because of people whose behavior you don’t love, please think again.

Whether we are talking about dance class or drum circle, any community that forms around creativity and spirituality will draw unto itself a wide variety of people, all of whom need healing.  From those folks, teachers and leaders will emerge. Generally, those who show the most talent and find the most healing are the ones who take on leadership roles. Sometimes, however, the ones who have the largest egos, or the biggest insecurities, will be the ones with the drive for leadership.

Our leaders, our teachers, our priests and our gurus are human, too. The ones whose service is based on ego probably won’t serve you very well. The ones whose service is borne of a true desire to serve may still irritate and disappoint you, but they will serve you nonetheless.

The same is true of the dogma, doctrine and practices of our various modalities and traditions. Sadly, most of everything we are and do is in some way borne of something less than our desire for a great origin myth would prefer. The “ancient and mysterious” tarot began as a game only five hundred years ago. You probably won’t find much authentic Hindu practice in the yoga studio on Main Street. Wicca has been pretending to be an ancient religion since the 1950s.

But does any of this make tarot, or yoga, or Wicca, or any other creative, healing or spiritual pursuit less worthwhile? The answer depends completely on the seeker.

When you set out on your journey as a spiritual seeker, you enter into a contract with the Universe. You will find human teachers along your path, but your ultimate advisor on this course of study is the Universe itself.

The disappointment and disillusionment that you will inevitably find along the way is not meant to deter you from your spiritual path. The disenchantment that you experience is a necessary part of your spiritual path.  Your disillusion may drive you away from a teacher or tradition that doesn’t appeal to you, or doesn’t feel ethical or appropriate. Your disillusion helps you define your path and your identity.

When you become frustrated with your teachers because they’ve let their humanity show, an opportunity for growth has presented itself.

When you see the mistakes your teacher is making, you recognize your own growth, and your own skill. Sometimes our most helpful teachers teach us what not to do, by example.

How you react to those mistakes is another opportunity. Can you gracefully step up and make a difference in your community, without disrespecting your teacher?

Can you accept your teacher’s authority, despite their capacity for error?

Can you break ties with a teacher or a community without drama or bad feelings?

The energy with which you take your next step will determine whether you have taken this opportunity for spiritual growth.

If a leader is clearly breaking the law, abusing people, or something equally heinous, react with the full weight of your anger and indignation, and contact the authorities.

If a leader is simply demonstrating their humanity, enjoy your opportunity to demonstrate your growth by acting in a way that honors people for where they are on their own path.

No human is perfect. Too many of us try to deify particular humans, so that we can place our trust in them. We mistake our spiritual journey as one where we must find our perfect teacher, or our perfect path, or our perfect community.

Progress on the spiritual path comes when we realize that those things can never exist.

Then comes clarity, where we can find value in our teachers, traditions and communities, even when we know the best and the worst about them.

So often, I hear people saying, “I think I have found the teacher (or path, or community) that won’t disappoint me.” My answer is, “I hope not!”

The only reason you would never be disappointed is if you never truly explored, never truly thought for yourself, and never truly grew. Exploration, introspection and self-determination are the goals of the journey. When we stop looking for perfection in others, we start finding peace within.

When we are disappointed with our teachers, it may be a sign of our own increased skill and knowledge. A good teacher knows this, and appreciates when it happens. A smart teacher will learn from her students, and let them pick up the tasks where they excel.

Disillusionment is the gift that replaces false expectations with true understanding., and allows us to embrace the nature and purpose of our humanity. Aren't those things all spiritual seekers are hoping to find?

When is it Cool to Call People Out?

There is a growing trend in popular culture and social media to encourage people to speak out about the inappropriate behavior of others, and to name names.

I understand the concept of “silence equals consent,” and I understand that calling out bullies and harassers keeps people safer. Bullies and harassers only have power if we give them an environment in which to function.

I also know the courage to it takes to break silence and share our stories of abuse.

Sometimes our voices work to shine needed light into dark places.

Sometimes it is delightfully entertaining to call out hypocrisy, ego, stupidity and greed when we see it in the pompous, and the self-righteous.

I think, however, there comes a time that “calling people out” becomes another form of bullying.

When we decide to tell the entire world about someone’s transgressions, or when we issue an edict that none of our social media friends may also be friends with one who has offended us, I think we need to be clear about our motivation.

Calling people out is a way of protecting others from known dangers. Calling people out keeps bullies from lurking in the shadows and hurting others.

Sometimes, though, we name names because we are hurt, or offended. We want to strike back at someone whom we perceive has harmed us.

I think that is the moral line in the sand. Calling people out as a way of preventing further abuse helps our communities. Calling people out as a way of processing anger or hurt, or as a way of seeking revenge, can be a very low way of handling a problem.

Sometimes it takes courage to break silence. Sometimes it takes even more courage to keep it.

Lammas Tarot Blog Hop: My Harvest Table

Welcome to the Tarot Blog Hop. This time around we have twenty writers all blogging on the same topic. Perhaps you are visiting me from Alison Coals' blog. When you finish here, hop over to Chloe's Celtic Lenormand blog. If you find a break in the chain, visit the Master List.

Today is Lammas, also known as Lughnassad. It is the cross-quarter day between the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox. It time for the Tarot Blog Hop once again.

At this turn of the Wheel we celebrate the first harvest. Our wrangler, Arwen, has given us our topic. We are all to answer this question in whatever way we see fit.

What can I share from my table to enrich my community?

I thought it would be fun to do a tarot spread to answer that question.

I divided the tarot deck into its suits. I decided to draw one card from each suit to provide the reading. The card I drew from the Major Arcana would represent my table. The Cups card would be the beverage. The veggies would be represented by the Wands. The Pentacles would supply the grains and the Swords would be the proteins.

I am a member of many communities. Since this is the Tarot Blog Hop I wanted to focus this question specifically on my tarot community of peers, mentors, students, clients and friends.

My table is the platform on which my work is based. The card I pulled to represent that table is the Hierophant.

To me this says that my work, and my sharing in my community, is based on the expertise and spiritual wisdom gleaned from two decades of professional tarot, as well as from the wisdom of my own teachers and mentors. The Hierophant is often about written teachings. When I first started learning tarot the books by Eden Gray and Mary K. Greer were invaluable to my journey. Now I write tarot books that offer lessons to assist the journeys of others. I also offer webinars, many of them free, to my community. Within the community, my table is teaching - the teaching I have received and the teaching I now offer.

On the table we have beverages. What libation can I pour for my community? From the suit of Cups I drew the Page of Cups.

I love this card. There are so many references that are appropriate here. On one hand I see this card as simply “A message of love.” It reminds me that the ultimate purpose of the work I do is to put people in touch with Spirit, which we experience as love. The Page is also a student. While the Hierophant reminds me that I am a teacher, the Page of Cups reminds me that I am also eternally a student.

For our meal we have a generous helping of fresh vegetables, as symbolized by the Wands. The Wands card that I drew is the Four of Wands.

The Four of Wands can often represent community gatherings and events. Over the years I have organized and participated in many community events. The Four of Wands is a reminder to continue to gather with my community by holidng and attending events. The Four of Wands is also a card that discusses marriage. As an ordained minister I often have the privilege of solemnizing sacred unions. Weddings can be some of the happiest community gatherings.

The term “Lammas” was originally "Loaf-mass". Sprung from the Pagan holiday of Lughnassad, Loaf-mass was a time of Christian charity. People would gather grain and bake bread to give to the poor. Lughnassad is specifically a holiday of reaping the grains.

In this spread grains are represented by the suit of Pentacles. The card I drew is the Three of Pentacles.

To me this card is about professionalism – being a master of my craft. The Three of Wands blends creativity with hard work to achieve a great finished product. Because tarot is somewhat maligned and misrepresented in the mainstream I do think it is extra important to be a good example of tarot professionalism, as do many of my peers. It is from this grain that we are able to create something new in the world. We create respect for who we are and what we do, just as the craftsman in the Three of Pentacles has earn respect for his work.

The suit of Swords represents the proteins of our harvest meal. From that suit I drew the Ten of Swords.

The Ten of Swords can be a very painful card. It is here that I do what all good tarot readers and mentors do. I try to use my skills to offer comfort - to alleviate pain and fear for my clients, my students and in support of my peers.
So often in spiritual communities there is sadly more competition than cooperation. The Wiccans even have a name for it – “witch wars.” Our ability to work together and support each other as a community celebrating each other’s successes and sharing the lessons of our experience with each other is what makes our community strong as a good meal makes the body strong.

These, then, are the offerings of my harvest table - the Hierophant, the Page of Cups, the Four of Wands, the Three of Pentacles and the Ten of Swords, which I interpret as teaching, learning, love, community gathering, professionalism, comfort and cooperation.

A blessed harvest to you all!

The illustration for this post is a picture of the four tools, or four suit icons, baked in bread. This was a tradition of the Pocono Tarot Picnic, a harvest celebration held by our tarot community in Northeastern Pennsyvania - a wonderful community gathering indeed.

Now it is time to visit the next post in the Blog Hop, Chloe's Celtic Lenormand.
If you are working backward, visit Alison Coals' blog.
If you find a break in the chain, visit the Master List.

Getting Along

I'm sure many people notice synchronicity in their lives. Tarot readers may notice it more because it shows up in readings as well as in their own lives.

The sort of synchronicity I mean is this. A particular theme shows up as a type of problem that everyone seems to be having at once.

The one that happened to me this week teaches a lesson that I have already learned. So why did it show up for me? I think it showed up because I was able to offer appropriate advice that came both from my own heart and from the cards.

The theme of the week was "getting along with others." This theme showed up especially in business relationships and friendships.

When we talk about the importance of getting along I need to make one thing clear. There are times, especially with families and spouses, when we need to understand the differences between misunderstandings and abuse.

Every family will suffer misunderstandings that are born of stress, personality differences and differences of opinion. Sometimes family relationships (and romantic relationships) can become toxic and/or abusive. When this is the case we need boundaries. Sometimes we need to practice compassionate detachment and end the relationship.

The relationship issues that have come up as a theme for me this week are not about those kinds of relationships. The kinds of relationships I am addressing here are relationships that are an obvious mutual benefit but have run into trouble.

The basic question is this. What happens when you and a friend or business associate are angry with each other?

Somehow anger and hurt feelings often cause us to lose the rational, mature mind and revert to acting like pedantic children in the sandbox. Pride and ego keep us from extending the olive branch. An apology seems like a sign of weakness.

Tarot offers solutions to these problems both in the act of tarot reading and in the spiritual messages from individual cards.

Major Arcana 8, Strength, reminds us that we are strongest when we come from a place of love rather than anger. If we can initiate solving the problem in a loving way we have an opportunity to become the bigger person. It's called the high road for a reason!

Major Arcana 11, Justice, reminds us to do the right thing, no matter what. We cannot let hurt and anger define our moral compass.

Major Arcana 20, Judgment, teaches us to put closure to upsetting incidents and move forward, led by the voice of the angels.

In tarot numerology six can be about victory, glory and service. The sixes in the Minor Arcana each give us an indication of ways to handle conflict.

The Six of Swords tells us to let logic be our guide rather than emotion.

The Six of Cups reminds us to honor our longstanding relationships.

The Six of Pentacles reminds us of the need to help each other and treat each other fairly.

The Six of Wands is the card of victory. When we can handle situations with grace, ease and fairness then everyone wins!