The Mask, and What Is Beneath
I have always loved Halloween. As a child, I loved dressing in costume and trick or treating in my neighborhood. As a younger adult, I loved costume contests and parties. I remember one Halloween my friends and I dressed in costume and took the train from New Haven to New York City to see a concert in the city. There is something exciting about being able to go to work, or ride a train, or go to a nightclub wearing something crazy that would not be acceptable on any other day.
As I got older, I learned the spiritual practices associated with October 31, and understood the origins of our Halloween traditions. I found meaning in these practices. Yet, I still love a good Halloween party, and I love a great costume.
There is something fun about pretending to be something, or someone, different than what we are. There is a freedom to act with other costumed people in ways that are different from our regular social interactions. Costumes allow us to play a role. Costumes can strengthen our confidence, since, in that moment, we are not being ourselves.
Yet, on the other 364 days of the year, many of pretend to be something different than we are. Sometimes we are hiding something about ourselves that we feel others cannot or will not accept. Sometimes we are hiding something about ourselves that we do not want to acknowledge or accept. Sometimes we truly do not know who we are, and so we pretend to be what we think we should be.
The metaphoric masks we wear day to day do not make us look like kitties or vampires or superheroes. Very often, when we mask our feelings and natural behaviors in an effort to fit in, we also diminish our own energy and personal power.
‘Social masking’ is a term that describe the behavior that neurodivergent people learn to fit in better with neurotypical people. Sometimes it is necessary to fit in. We have all heard the expression, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”.
Yet, if we find ourselves trying to diminish ourselves in order to fit in with others, we need to take a hard look at what is going on. Are we surrounded by people who will not understand us? Or are we simply afraid to be real and be vulnerable? Do we need to find people who are more like us? Or do we need to trust the people around us to accept us as we truly are?
Each situation is different. The important thing is that we each need to know our true selves, and we each need places and people that allow us to fully embrace who we are.
Join Us for Class Tonight!
Tonight, at 7 pm ET, I will present How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot on Zoom and in person in my Palm City office. It is not too late to sign up to attend!
This class is about how spirit speaks in a tarot reading, and what we can do to facilitate and manage this process. A tarot reading should always be an otherworldly experience. You may connect with a loved one in spirit. You may receive messages from spiritual beings, such as angels, saints, deities, guides, and guardians.
In this two-hour class you will learn how to hear the voice of spirit in a tarot reading, whether reading for yourself or others. You will learn to empower your readings with the presence of divine helpers, each and every time you pull a card.
Visit EventBrite to purchase your ticket.
The class will be available at cardandcraftacademy.com after November 2nd.
Visit christianagaudet.com for more information!
The StaarCorner
Episode 3 of the StaarCast Variety Show features an interview with Maria Alviz Hernando, and a panel discussion with Jaymi Elford, Lainie Sevente Wulkan, and Kim Danbert. You will also find a Tarot Conference Survival Guide with Marion Kirk, and a sneak peek at a psychic fair set-up with Peter Coe. Join your hosts, Christiana Gaudet and Frank Kwiatkowski, for a fun and interesting exploration of all things tarot.
You can watch this episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts!
A Two-card Spread about Your Mask and Your True Self
If you are caught in a bit of an identity crisis, or if you are wondering if you are being true to yourself, try this revealing two-card tarot spread. Think about the situation, setting, or relationship in which you are curious about your presentation and authenticity.
Shuffle, and pull two cards.
Let the first card describe the energy of the mask you are presenting in this situation.
Let the second card describe your true self, and how you are internally responding to this situation.
The Week in Review
I had so much fun teaching a beginner tarot workshop at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach this past Saturday. I will be returning for another exciting tarot class on March 18.
If you are a member of my YouTube channel and you missed our members-only livestream, Calling in the Ancestors, you can watch the replay.
From Around the (Spooky) Web
There is a new Halloween movie out this year, Hocus Pocus 2. Here is an article from Newsweek about how real witches are standing in support of this movie.
Do you watch Stranger Things? Now there is a Stranger Things tarot deck!
According to Vice, here are the best tarot decks for Halloween and beyond!
Guidance on the Journey
The Six of Cups is a card of happiness and pleasure. This card also represents nostalgia, childhood memories, and reunions. Some people see this as a card of past life connections and soul contracts.
The keyword from which all these various interpretations spring is ‘past’. The Six of Cups speaks of things from the past, and our memories and connections of the past.
As such, the Six of Cups can be a helpful reminder to be true to ourselves, and to know our true self, and present our true self to others.
Sometimes, when the Six of Cups appears, this card can be an admonition from the universe to remember who you are.
Remembering who you are is an essential exercise, especially as you age, and as you feel changed by life’s traumas.
Remembering who you are can allow you to align yourself with your moral compass and make the decision to do the right thing. Remembering who you are can remind you that you are strong and capable. Remembering who you are can offer a course correction, allowing you to follow your best path in life.
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop
Tarot Spreads Tools and Techniques Workshop
Tarot for Magic and Mediumship
Tarot Communication for Clarity and Depth
Weaving the Tarot Reading Story
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
cardandcraftacademy.com
About Christiana Gaudet
Card and Craft, Inc.
Southeastern Tarot Artists and Readers, LLC.
Christiana Gaudet
3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152
Email cgaudet@cardandcraft.com
On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.
Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.
Call toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232 x102
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.
Schedule online at cardandcraft.10to8.com.
Agent inquiries are welcome.
Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 43
October 26, 2022