A Review of Lilith by Ambika Devi

Ambika Devi is an artist, yogini, astrologer, tarot reader and musician. Recently she has published her first novel, “Lilith” with Inkwell Productions.

“Lilith” is an ambitious first novel. Ambika Devi’s favorite novel is Tom Robbins’ “Jitterbug Perfume.” The style of “Lilith” is in many ways an homage to Robbins, and to that literary style.

That we could discuss any “literary style” in conjunction with a first novel is impressive. In the interest of full disclosure I will say that this particular literary style is not always one of my favorites. It is impossible for me to know if Ambika Devi really did it well or not. That I could recognize the style for what it is probably speaks well for her.

“Lilith” interested me for two reasons. First, it is a work of spiritual fiction. I love novels that gently illustrate spiritual concepts. I guess spirituality is taught in myths and parables for a reason.

Second, Lilith references tarot. I love to see tarot in movies, books and cartoons, especially when it is accurately represented. One the cover of “Lilith” is Major Arcana 6, the Lovers. One might say that “Lilith” is a 345 page exploration of this card in all its facets. For me, that’s not a bad thing.

There are many characters in “Lilith,” but ultimately only two. The story takes place in one afternoon, but also in a lifetime.

The story explores everything you would expect the Lovers card to explore; relationships, duality, the inner world versus the outer world, the spirit world versus the material world, and more.

At times the spiritual lessons in the story felt a little heavy-handed, and the writing just a wee bit clumsy. To me that feels like first-novel jitters. Ambika is working on her next offering; I imagine it will be even smoother than the first.

Much of the story takes place on the streets of South Philadelphia. The striking descriptions of the food and culture had me longing to visit my own Northeastern collegiate city, New Haven. Next to the masterful weaving of the Lovers archetype throughout the story, the portrayal of an artist’s life in South Philly was my favorite aspect of this book.

I am not sure that “Lilith” will appeal to every reader. It requires some concentration and thought. It’s not a page-turner, and it’s not a trite romance. “Lilith” is a legitimate literary offering covering topics that will be of interest to tarotists, spiritual seekers, yogis and the like, as well as those who, like me, remember fondly their own young adult years enjoying gourmet pizza and falafel in a funky northeastern city.

Watch me interview Ambika Devi.

Watch the trailer for “Lilith.”

Find Yourself with Divination

Who are you, at your core?

This is a topic I often speak about, and write about, because it comes up so often in readings.

One of the reason that divination is so helpful is that divination is a way to help us discover our true identity – our core.

Sometimes we get stuck trying to be the person other people want us to be.

Sometimes we get stuck trying to become the person we think we should be.

Sometimes our self-perception is marred by low self-esteem or over-inflated ego.

Tarot, astrology and numerology are ways for us to look into a cosmic mirror, and discover things that are true about the self.

The more we are able to understand the core self, the more at peace we will be.

There are some people who misuse tools of divination, like tarot. They use the tool only to make predictions in an effort to assuage anxiety about the future. They never use the cards, nor any psychic tool, to actually question their own behaviors and discover more about the self.

The irony is, this very practice works to dispel anxiety, because once we feel solid in who we are, it is very hard to feel anxious about anything. Anxiety is most often born of a misunderstanding of self.

The significator card in a tarot spread is helpful in discerning “Who am I at the present moment?” Significator cards that we chose to represent ourselves help us discern “Who am I at core?”

If you want to learn about yourself, learn about your birth number, your sun, moon and rising sun, and the tarot cards associated with them.

This information should paint a clear picture of your motivations, your path and your sense of self.

There are those who say that we should not read tarot, or use other tools, for ourselves. They people may think we will come from the perspective of the anxious person using tarot to relieve her fear of the future.

But when we use our tools to understand who we are, we become strong, self-aware and healed.

I will be teaching a webinar on self-reading on July 24. Join us!

(This post is cross-posted on my Tarot Topics Community Blog.)

The Fortune Teller is Here

I have been a professional tarot reader for more than twenty years, but I have always resisted being called a “fortune-teller.”

To me, “fortune-teller” conjures the image of a fraud, a shyster, a creepy superstitious person, or a cheesy carnival act.

Other people have consistently called me a fortune-teller throughout my career, with neither ridicule nor malice.

“The fortune-teller’s here!” my handler confirms as I arrive at the swanky hotel to entertain at the corporate function.

Currently in the tarot community, stigma around the concept of “fortune-telling” exists.  I love that we tarot for counseling, coaching, insight, introspection, perspective, manifesting and healing, and I see the efficacy of these more psychological and spiritual approaches to tarot.

For the layperson or the novice, the difference between fortune-telling and a more introspective approach to tarot might be summed up with this one concept. Fortune-telling involves predicting the future.

Future predictions aren’t the centerpiece of most of my readings, but I do make some predictions for each person. For me, that’s just part of giving a reading.

I think we are sometimes uncomfortable making future predictions for a few of reasons. First, not every future is predictable. Some things really are up to free will, chance and the grace of a Higher Power.

Second, some clients (and some readers) become obsessed, or even addicted. The very act of future prediction seems to contribute to a high state of anxiety in some people, rather than bringing clarity and insight as it does for most of us.

Finally, the idea that the future is set and unfolding without our assistance can encourage people not to be proactive on their own behalf.

My angst around fortune-telling was so great that it inspired the title of my first book, “Fortune Stellar.”

With the recent popularity of the Lenormand deck, the topic of fortune-telling is once again on my mind. Lenormand is a tool of fortune-telling and makes no bones about it. As I play with my Lenormand cards I feel a sense of freedom. It even feels a bit like healing. What is so wrong with predicting the future?

Sports forecasters do it.  Economic advisors do it. Meteorologists do it.

Tarot readers do it too. Some of us are damn good at it.

In psychology, the term “fortune-telling” is used to describe the thinking error that causes us to not attempt something because we feel we already know what the outcome will be.  Often I find myself encouraging my clients not to engage in this behavior, but of course I don’t call it “fortune-telling,” because that would just be confusing.

I still won’t refer to myself as a fortune-teller. Never will I suggest that waiting for a predicted future is better than proactively creating your own future. But, you know what? The miraculous thing is that cartomancy (divination with cards) gives us all sorts of valuable insight and information. If some of that’s “fortune-telling,” so be it.

Tarot and the Woman Alone

A recent conversation got me thinking, once again, about tarot and feminism. I think about tarot and feminism a lot. I like feminist tarot decks. I like to think about the ways women are portrayed in tarot. I like to see how societal attitudes about women are reflected in tarot art and archetypes. I like to think about tarot and culture in general.

I notice that a lot of tarot readers and clients are female. Often we use the cards to find our power and strength as women.
The irony is this. Tarot, as a device that emerged from Renaissance Italy, is, by its very nature, not feminist. Tarot is also not inclusive in many other ways.

And yet, tarot is totally inclusive and totally without prejudice in the way it operates. Tarot speaks to all of us, if we let it.

To make tarot more inclusive, modern tarot artists and authors have produced decks that show people of various ages, ethnicities and sizes. The Court cards are often redefined to be less patriarchal. Some of the classic-but-misogynistic interpretations of certain cards are falling out of favor with modern tarotists. Those old-fashioned interpretations are being replaced with interpretations that regard powerful, truthful women as positive and helpful rather than negative and dangerous.

The thing is, every tool, every text and every artwork is a product of its times, no matter how sacred and meaningful it might be. As we grow and evolve, we have to find a way to allow our sacred tools to grow with us. Tarot never seems to have a problem doing that.

Women, and feminine energy, are portrayed in tarot in many different ways. Today I am thinking about two Minor Arcana cards that traditionally indicate “a woman alone.” It’s interesting to think about how our feelings about women’s relationships and behaviors have changed in the 500 years of tarot’s existence.

The first card I want to discuss is the Queen of Swords. Traditionally, the Queen of Swords is, of the four Queens, the Queen most likely to be widowed, single, childless or divorced.

Historically, the Queen of Swords is unfortunate, sad, or ill-tempered. One wonders which came first, her poor temperament or her single status.

In many older tarot books the Queen of Swords is accompanied by interpretations such as “Don’t trust this woman!” Typically, the Queen of Swords is seen as sharp-tongued.  I think the reason for this is her association with the element of Air.

As the Queen of Air, the Queen of Swords is compelled to speak the truth, and to speak her mind. In a society where women are expected to be silent and to have no opinions, the Queen of Swords would be quite unwelcome.

Today, the Queen of Swords can be a business leader, a trustworthy companion, a teacher, writer or student, or the friend who will indeed tell you that you dress makes your butt look huge.

Truly, the essence of the card itself has not changed. Our ability to value the intelligence of a woman has.

The second “woman alone” card is the Nine of Pentacles. Key words for this card often include “security” and “inheritance.” What we see in the RWS (Rider Waite Smith) image is a woman whose security and autonomy comes from the protection of her father. Here, there is family money. She remains alone in her garden unmolested because she enjoys the privilege of wealth and position.

Today, we often interpret the Nine of Pentacles as being secure in oneself. That is, secure enough to be happily single. We may see the Nine of Pentacles as a woman who is able to pay her own way, or to create her own security. Today, she is under her own protection, rather than that of male relative.

Over time, it seems the energy around these two cards has changed, just as our perception of women has changed.
In their traditional archetypes, each card might be seen as expressing a certain level of misogyny.

The Queen of Swords is undesirable because she speaks her truth, and in her undesirability she is unhappy and unenviable.

The Nine of Pentacles is secure not because of her own strength, but because of the male protection afforded her.

Today, we may see both these cards as symbols of feminine empowerment. Today, both these cards remind us that it is fine to be single. Both these cards now affirm our strength, and our ability to be self-determining.

While the archetypes in tarot remain fixed, our attitudes about those archetypes change. In many ways, tarot becomes not just a mirror of the self, but also a reflection of our changing society.

A Vision Realized: A Review of Oracle of Visions

Ciro Marchetti’s “Oracle of Visions” has been in my personal vision since before his completion of the original project.

I have been a Ciro Marchetti fan since Gilded Tarot was first released. I met Ciro first when he graciously invited me to his home to interview him about his then-forthcoming “Legacy of the Divine Tarot.”

I invited Ciro to speak to my Tarot Meetup in West Palm Beach. At the time, we were a group of rabid tarotists who wanted to hear about his work as a tarot artist. Ciro complied, but was most excited to share some images from his new project, an oracle deck.

At the time, I had no interest in non-tarot oracles. I like the structure of tarot, its history, its correspondences, its archetypes. A tarot deck feels to me like a complete guide to human existence. Most oracle decks feel like an incomplete and random subset of possibilities. Most tarot images make sense to me. Many oracles seem contrived. Why is this angel the symbol of hope, or that unicorn the symbol of power? For me, the operation of an oracular device is random, the design of it should be anything but.

I was prepared to politely admire Ciro’s oracle images, and then turn the discussion back to my favorite topic; tarot. What happened surprised me.

Ciro’s oracle images spoke to me. I mean, they really spoke to me. They made me feel things more deeply than I would have imagined. There was one image in particular that gave me a visceral response. I began to anticipate “Oracle of Visions” as a new and unique device, rather than just another deck of pretty pictures

As Ciro worked on the accompanying book for his oracle, he invited Mary Ellen Collins, Garnet Schaeffer and me to the lovely home he shares with his talented wife, Maria, to play with his prototype deck and help him organize his thoughts for his book.

I know Mary Ellen and Garnet were just as thrilled as I to be some of the first people on the planet to work with the “Oracle of Visions.”

Ciro Marchetti first released “Oracle of Visions” as a self-published collector’s deck. I am happy to have a copy of that edition. I was curious to see how the newly published U.S. Games edition of “Oracle of Visions” would compare with the premium self-published edition.

I’m happy to report that the US. Games version of “Oracle of Visions” is delicious. It’s a smaller package than the collector’s edition.  The deck and book come in a lovely, premium-quality box with a lift-off cover.  The 140-page booklet fits snuggly in the box. The 52-card oracle is essentially the same as the first edition, except that the card edges aren’t gold.

To those folks who have already purchases the collector’s edition, here is my advice.  Pack your collector’s edition away for safe-keeping. Get a copy of the U.S. Games edition and let yourself play with these fabulous images, without having to worry about keeping them in pristine condition. The fact is, “Oracle of Visions” contains some of the most evocative images you will ever have the pleasure to explore.

“Oracle of Visions” separates itself from most original oracles in a number of ways. First, of course, it contains the inimitable artwork of Ciro Marchetti. Second, there is nothing preachy, religious or dogmatic about “Oracle of Visions”. 

In the design and production of three tarot decks, Ciro Marchetti learned a great deal about tarot tradition and the structure of tarot. He also learned that we tarotists can sometimes cling to our own understanding of a card, unwilling to stretch to see someone else’s vision.

“Oracle of Visions” is a remedy to that, just as it will be a remedy to any situation where we allow ourselves to be limited by dogma, expectation and self-imposed barriers. “Oracle of Visions” is aptly named in that one of its major functions is to allow each seeker to find their own vision within the intricate images.

The cards are large, with a black and gold border. Each card is numbered at the top, and has a stylized “OV” for “Oracle of Visions” at the bottom. These are the only writing on the cards. Each image is symbolically and graphically rich, with many opportunities for interpretation and introspection.

The book offers key phrases, descriptions and possible interpretations for each card, along with a quotation that seems to match the energy of the card. I like the scope of the quotation sources; they include everything from Charles Darwin to Cat Stevens.

The book includes some ideas of ways to work with the “Oracle of Visions”, as well as some of Marchetti’s thoughts about his journey to create this oracle.

In the card interpretations themselves, as well as the ways we can use the cards, Marchetti’s goal for us is that we be flexible, intuitive, open and exploratory There is no history, there are no traditions, and there are no sacred mysteries in the “Oracle of Visions,” except the ones we find for ourselves.

As I look through my new “Oracle of Visions”, I come to the card that first spoke to me. It’s card 24. The Key phrases for this card are “Letting Go” and “Offering a Way Out.” When I look at this card now, it is as if I were looking at a younger picture of myself, taken during a difficult time.  I have grown, healed and changed since this card first spoke to me. I think some of that healing came from my connection with this image.

Now, I am still grateful for this image, but it no longer pulls at me. I look through the deck again, to find a card that speaks to me today – a card that can help me heal and grow today. I know that random draws with “Oracle of Visions” can be very insightful, but today I want to choose a card visually, rather than at random.

The image that pulls at me today is card 3.  The key phrases are “Dreams,” “Meditation” and “Spiritual Escape.” As I read further, I see that the rich imagery in the card – the frog, the fish, the bird, and many other symbols, are not there on a whim. Each is a symbol of dreams. Marchetti draws on a variety of cultures to include symbols, archetypes and sacred images. I am sure these images impact us on a metaphysical level, as well as simply visually.

“Oracle of Visions” will be a great addition to any collection. It separates itself from many oracles in that this deck could be a gift for anyone who appreciates art – regardless of spiritual or metaphysical inclination.

The uses for “Oracle of Visions” are limited only by your imagination. When chosen either randomly or cognitively, these cards can provide spiritual guidance in divination and introspection. They work equally well as creative prompts. I can imagine using them in meditation as well.

Now that “Oracle of Visions” is available through U.S. Games I will be very excited to see the ways intuitive, spiritual and creative people find to weave this tool into their practices.

Check out my video review to see this wonderful deck in action!

Christiana Gaudet Reviews Oracle of Visions

Video of Christiana Gaudet Reviews Oracle of Visions