Grace and Goodwill
I have been thinking about grace recently.
Growing up in the United Methodist Church, I learned about the grace of God. That is, the concept of forgiveness and redemption that is available to all.
At dinner each night, my family would say grace. That is, a short prayer to bless our food, and express our gratitude for the meal we were about to enjoy.
At dance class, my teacher encouraged me to be more graceful.
When teaching me etiquette, my grandmother stressed the importance of being gracious.
As an adult, I often get the sense that many of us need to give ourselves more grace.
This week, I decided to look up the word ‘grace’ and discover what it actually means.
I found ten definitions and uses for the word ‘grace’, and three primary definitions.
The first definition refers to being graceful. In this case, grace is simple elegance or refinement of movement.
Grace is also courteous goodwill.
Grace can also be a verb. In this case, it means to do honor or credit to someone or something by one’s presence.
The spiritual definition of grace includes the bestowal of blessings, and the free and unmerited favor of God. This is primarily derived from Christianity. Yet, I think in our modern times, the concept of grace has reached beyond the church walls and out into the spiritual-but-not-religious communities.
In looking at the three primary definitions, I am struck by two things. One is the word ‘goodwill’. To have goodwill toward all is not easy. To establish a sense of goodwill around oneself by building an exemplary reputation takes time and integrity.
Yet, if we treat all with goodwill and work to build our own goodwill, it is certain that we will always be conducting ourselves graciously.
My other thought is that if we view these three definitions in a combined way, we can approach the concept of spiritual grace.
When we learn to live with spirit, rather than in a battle with spirit, our energy becomes that of elegance and refinement as we move through life gracefully.
When we act with courtesy and goodwill, we bring blessings to ourselves and others.
When we show up for the people and things that matter to us, we are bringing grace to others and to ourselves simply by being present.
The StaarCorner
You may know Rosemary Sunflower as a moderator extraordinaire at StaarCon 2022 and StaarCon 2023. We are very excited to announce that at StaarCon 2024 Rosemary will be a presenter!
Rosemary is a contributor to the Cartomancer Magazine and a deck creator. Her tarot deck, Good Journeys Tarot, was published in July 2023 as a print on demand deck. The accompanying guidebook followed.
About her work as a tarot creator, Rosemary says, "This Journey called life has been long and complicated. Tarot has been transformative both spiritually and emotionally as I have gained further understanding of myself and my world."
At StaarCon 2024, Rosemary’s presentation will be “Why I Designed a Tarot Deck…and You Should Too!”
Make your plan to join us at StaarCon 2024, January 19-21, in person in West Palm Beach or online on Accelevents.
How We Forgive Ourselves with Tarot
Part of being gracious is to be forgiving. Sometimes the hardest thing is to forgive ourselves for past mistakes.
We can use tarot to help us understand and forgive our errors in the distant past, and in the recent past.
As with many topics, we can do our best work with tarot when we ask the right questions, and pull a card, or a few cards, in answer.
Here are some questions that you can ask the cards when you are working to forgive yourself for a past mistake.
Why did I do what I did?
How did this impact me?
How did this impact others?
What might I have done instead?
What did I learn from this?
Why does this situation make me feel so bad?
How can I reframe this situation?
What do I need to know that I have not yet considered?
Is there something I need to do to make things better now?
The Week in Review
This coming Saturday, May 18, from noon to 1 pm, please join me for a free tarot workshop in downtown West Palm Beach at Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. All are welcome!
Remember that I do livestream readings on my YouTube channel throughout each week. Subscribe and hit the bell to receive notifications when I go live.
From Around the Web
If you attended StaarCon 2023, you might have met Justine, a tireless volunteer on our tech crew. She is also a moderator on my YouTube channel. Check out her website, and read her thoughts about StaarCon, tarot, and more.
Here is a gift from StaarCon 2024 headliner Benebell Wen. It is a free downloadable art print of Kuan Yin, which includes the Great Compassion Mantra dharani in Siddhaṃ script.
Here is a Vulnerable Rebirth tarot spread for Welcoming Change and Grace, from The School of Magical Homemaking.
Creation and Divination
How do you express your creativity? Does your creativity influence or affect your divination?
If you have something that you have created that you would like to share in this column, or some thoughts about creativity and divination, please email me.
In tarot, one of the Major Arcana cards that expresses the energy of grace to me is the Empress.
We know the Empress as a card of motherhood, fertility, luxury, beauty, and fecundity.
I was happy to receive the submission of the following poem, a beautiful tribute to the poet’s mother. In this poem, I think many of us with see the Empress, our own mother, or perhaps ourselves.
Yin Yang
A Tribute to my Mother
Like the bow and stern of a ship
She is yin yang energy
Breaking waves in front
Falling back to the narrow
To not go down
The wind in the sail
A stabilizing force to not go adrift
Maneuvering storms raging beneath
A balancing act beyond defeat
Combined
She is discerning
Protecting and nurturing
Inner strength is self-reliance
A pioneer you would like to meet
Paving a way beyond defeat
Threads twisting by her feet
With a machine making a living
Without the masculine
There is still a feminine
By P.C. Bain
Upcoming Events
Card and Craft Academy
Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!
Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
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
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
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
The Elemental Major Arcana
Minor Arcana Numbers, Elements, and Truth
Personal Healing with Tarot
Create and Interpret Custom Tarot Spreads
What the Court Cards Want You to Know
How Spirit Speaks Through Tarot
Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
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 classes www.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com
YouTube @YourTarotFairyGodmother
Instagram @christianatarot @staarcon
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.
Zoom parties and group instruction available almost everywhere!
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 6 Issue 11
March 15, 2023